With deep sympathy for those most directly affected by the latest outbreak of random murder and mayhem.

With questions about the United Church Moderator's suggestion that such things stand beyond the threshold of comprehension.

The principle question: Are we going to persist in assuming that there are no identifiable root causes for particular outbreaks of senseless violence?

Lots of questions this morning.

I need to know how to take the Bible stories out of the realm of "really did happen"  into the reality that they "maybe didn't happen" but they are written for a reason.How do we find the reason?

I need to know how Jesus fits into this. Who is he and why is he?

I need to know today as much as the people that Paul was speaking to.

I need to know exactlywhat the word Christ means for Christians today.

Here starts the first lesson

Does it matter if Mary was a virgin?

Does it matter if the Christ story differs for different people?

Does it matter if people believe in a physical, spiritual ressurrection or no ressurection at all?

Does it matter if Jesus is Son of God or God's presence in the world?

Does it matter and should we all get our tails in a knot?

If it matters, why?

    I was was watching a movie by Miranda July today called "Are You The Favorite Person of Anybody".

I notice the tendency for people (both Christain and secular) to discuss God and science as though the two are mutually exclusive. Science, which is a product of flawed human intelligence (flawed in the sense that no human has ever been shown to be infallible), is quoted time and time again as being able to prove the non-existence of God, or at least the non-existence of the God as set out in the Biblical record.

    Many people ask, "Why am I here?", "Does God exist?", "What is my purpose?", "Does God really care?" A new book called 'Nest Among The Stars', answers these questions, and many others of a similar nature, in a fast paced, interesting, 'can't-put-it-down', popular fiction style.