Jacob Lawrence, "There are Many Churches in Harlem" (1943)

Jacob Lawrence, There Are Many Churches in Harlem The People Are Very Religious (1943)

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July 1, 2003:

"Red Devil" fireworks stand, Manor Drive, Pacifica, CA. Woman in a white sun dress acts as barker, encouraging passing drivers to stop. Printed messages on signboards above and to both sides of the stand proclaim that it belongs to a local church. Holy Cross Lutheran, raising money for God.

Walking by, you tell her, "Odd. I've actually read the New Testament. Several times. And I seem to have forgotten the part about 'Jesus loves the little dynamite sticks.'"

Sun dress woman is not amused. Scowling, she's about to burst into scripture. Instead you pre-empt her by bursting out laughing. Red Devil. Gotcha. On her, however, the irony is helplessly lost.

From: robxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 12:32 AM
To: Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

This is the quote attributed to Lxx:

"My name is Lxx Kxxxx and I am a gospel preacher for a congregation in Tulsa Oklahoma...what I believe about God is that any conscious punishment he inflicts upon any man always seems to be directing the punished to improve their behavior (or at least in its intent). In other words, the punishment was for the purpose of discipline. Even on the occasions when God saw fit to wipe out an existing people--even then--the living benefited from what they saw and did. I wonder, what good would it be to eternally punish the lost? Would this be intended to direct them toward better behavior? Even if their behavior in 'hell' did improve, wouldn't it be ultimately worthless? I just can't see any godly reason to torment people (even lost people) for all eternity. I can see no eternal benefit of tormenting lost people. No benefit for God, no benefit for the lost, and no benefit for the saved!"

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From: Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 8:25 AM
To: robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

It appears to me he is placing himself as the judge for the lost and not looking to what God has indicated he will do for eternity it will be interesting to hear his response when we talk to him.

Bxxxx

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From: Rxxxxxx Nxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 9:04 AM
To: Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

I agree with Brian. If indeed this quotation is accurate, it reminds me of comments I have heard over the years that essentially stated that people were unable to believe that a loving God would actually send anyone to eternal damnation, that it was just a scare tactic.

Rxxx

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From: Bxxxxx, Bxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 9:06 AM
To: Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

Do we want to continue the process of setting up a video conference, or should we address this with him now?

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From: Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 9:20 AM
To: Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

I think we need to address this issue first because the Godly reason for hell is God requires our lives to submit to him in obedience during our stay on earth and if we fail to do that we will destined for eternal damnation if he does not believe this then he may have a bigger issue with the authority of scripture. I think it would be a major stumbling block in the future.

Bxxxx

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From: Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 2:35 PM
To: Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

I agree with Brian. I felt really uncomfortable with his view of hell. God is a God of love, but he loves us enough to let us choose our destiny- Obedience and Heaven or Disobedience and Hell.

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From: Bxxxxxx Cxxxxxxx
Sent: Thursday, May 08, 2003 2:35 PM
To: Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

I think we need to ask him about the issue. But, I would like to see his facial expression and body language, rather than giving him a chance to give a well thought out written response. As is evident with his answers on the questionnaire, he has a smooth writing style.

Bxxxxxx

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From: Mark Phillips
Sent: Friday, May 09, 2003 5:02 PM
To: Bxxxxxx Cxxxxxxx, Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Rxxx Nxxxxxx; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

While I'm impressed with what a manipulative bunch of shady intriguers this correspondence makes you lot appear to be, I can't think of a reason why you'd choose to share this exercise in underhanded and unethical scheming with a total stranger. I promise I'm not on the Sneaky Interviewers mailing list. If there's any chance you could spare me from here on I'll be grateful.

--Mark

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From: Rxxxxxx Nxxxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 10:41 AM
To: Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Bxxxxxx.Cxxxxxx@xxxxx12.org; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Mark Phillips; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

Mark,

After having read your message, I feel a need to respond to it.

Any time there is a group working on a project, there will always be differences of opinion. As always, we respect the opinions of the various individuals whether we agree or not. However, I must take exception to your reference of unethical activity. Please clarify what actions you perceive as unethical as I am not aware of any such activity and feel an apology to the group is in order.

Regards,

Rxxx Nxxxxxx

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From: Mark Phillips
Sent: Saturday, May 10, 2003 4:29 PM
To: Bxxxxxx Cxxxxxxx, Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Kxxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; robxxxxxx; Kxxx Oxxxxxxx; Bxxxxx, Bxxxx; Bxxxxx Pxxxx; Dxxxxxx Axxxxxx; kxxxxxxxx@aol.com; Rxxx Nxxxxxx; Mxxx Hxxxxx; Nxxxxx Pxxxxxxx); Rxxxxxx Mxxxxxxxx; Rxxx & Dxxxx Nxxxxxx; Txxxxx & Nxxxxx Exxxxx; Wxxx, Vxxx
Subject: RE: Kxxxx Questionnaire

Standard 'net etiquette suggests that you owe me an apology for spamming me with multiple messages I neither requested nor respect.

Re objectionable ethics, here's a suggested draft communication to your candidate:

"Dear Mr. Kxxxx, I have the sense that we may have some areas of disagreement which, as you can understand, might impact my opinion of your candidacy. Can you clear them up for me? I'm happy to talk at your convenience. My number is xxx-xxxx. Or if you're more comfortable with writing I'm happy to chat via email."
Contrast this with:
"I would like to see his facial expression and body language, rather than giving him a chance to give a well thought out written response."
What you people seem to be saying is that you mistrust your candidate, therefore you're going to proceed with the same lack of forthrightness you suspect in him. More than that, you're going to go out of your collective way to organize an ambush, that is, a manipulative confrontation, rather than a discussion on equal terms. One of your group sent a private note explaining your concern about 'wolves in sheep's clothing.' But you're the only wolves I see here, and it's all the more appalling to learn that you're a church, of all things.

I wrote my first note and now this longer one from my own sense of ethical commitment. Evil rules the world because good people don't fight. That's as much fight as you bunch deserve. Please go away.

--Mark

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Rating: 1 by Anonymous, 05.16.03
This weblog is self-righteous and condescending drivel unworthy of anyone's attention.

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From: Bxxxxx, Bxxxx
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 8:25 PM
To: Mark Phillips
Subject:

Mark-

I'd like to apologize for enduring numerous emails that were obviously not intended for you. You were subjected to random snippets of conversation about our considerations for hiring a staff member. Unfortunately much of what you saw was less than reasoned responses by a few members of a committee. This was the result of the failure by a few to grasp some net basics including domain suffix importance. They believed you to be mark@xxxxxxxxxxxx.net and rather than actually reading your response, they just fired back without thinking.

Sorry.

FYI, the solution reached by cooler heads was indeed what you outlined in your response.

Bxxxx Bxxxxx

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From: Mark Phillips
Sent: Saturday, May 17, 2003 10:45 PM
To: Bxxxx Bxxxxx
Subject: RE:

Watch your back.

--Mark

What is is about the combination of Christians with explosives that makes you nervous?

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