What constitutes rape, exactly? This question is being discussed, on some level, over the news pages and in the blogosphere because of a phrase included in Bill H.R. 3, also known as "No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act."

Sec. 309 reads:

‘TREATMENT OF ABORTIONS RELATED TO RAPE, INCEST, OR PRESERVING THE LIFE OF THE MOTHER.

‘The limitations established in sections 301, 302, 303, and 304 shall not apply to an abortion --
‘(1) if the pregnancy occurred because the pregnant female was the subject of an act of forcible rape or, if a minor, an act of incest; or
‘(2) in the case where the pregnant female suffers from a physical disorder, physical injury, or physical illness that would, as certified by a physician, place the pregnant female in danger of death unless an abortion is performed, including a life-endangering physical condition caused by or arising from the pregnancy itself. (Emphasis mine).

Lent is still a new thing for me. I didn't grow up observing it--or even really aware that it existed. Our church went from Christmas Eve to Palm Sunday with nothing special in between (or so it seemed to me). A few years ago, once I moved to NYC, I was worshiping at a church which encouraged members to add a spiritual practice during Lent rather than give something up. I liked that idea, and wanted more practice praying, so I started a daily prayer time.

In other years, I've given up television (allowed me time to read a thick novel while in my last semester of seminary) and the word "should."

This year, it took me a long time to figure out what I was going to do. In fact, I didn't know for sure until I was in the middle of the 7am Ash Wednesday service I was leading.

I preached this sermon this morning. The text is Ephesians 6:10-20.

When I first chose this text to preach on today, like many times when I choose a text—or it chooses me—I thought I already had it figured out. As a young friend of mine used to say, “easy peezy, lemon squeezy.” Well, elements of those early thoughts certainly stayed with me and made it into today’s sermon, but the process of getting there ended up being more “squeezy” than easy.

When I first read this text, a couple things came to mind. The first was the concept of being “soldiers for Christ,” or “warriors for Jesus.” These are terms often used by some Evangelical groups, much of the time with their children and youth ministries, to try and create “God’s army,” to go out and save the world from sin. They often use just this passage as their starting point. In the film, “Jesus Camp,” about an Evangelical summer camp, they often mention joining this army.

I got all excited just now poking around Etsy, "window" shopping for stuff for my as-yet-to-be-found new place, when I came across these pillows.

I was just ready to add them to my favorites when I took a second look. Something wasn't right. And then I realized: these are not the silhouettes of Africans.

As I listened to NPR over my alarm clock this morning, still groggy at 6am, I heard something that perked me right up: President Obama has spoken out against the tax on AIG execs' bonuses.

Thank goodness! I felt I was the only one thinking this was a Bad Idea. Yes, I understand the anger people are feeling over the mis-use of the government's/tax-payer's money. I'm feeling it too--as well as disbelief, rage, and disgust at the extent of the greed in the corporate world.

Diane Feinstein just said that future generations will look back on today as the turning point for real change. I hope she is right, and that Obama can really bring us lasting change. I worry, though, that his administration will bring good things...for four--or eight--years, but no longer. It will not be on his shoulders, but on ours, to ensure the real change happens and continues.

I'm jealous of all my friends who are freezing in Washington, DC as they stand (or for some really lucky ones, sit) in the cold to witness the inauguration of Barack Obama in person. But here I am in NH, watching it on TV with millions of others. In fact, children at the school almost-President Obama attended in Jarkarta, Indonesia, although it is almost midnight there, are also watching on a television set.

Since I'm warm and inside and in front of a computer, I'm going to try my hand at live blogging. I'll periodically post in the next hour or so as the inauguration events unfold.

There is so much anticipation for noon today. I can feel it coming from the crowds in DC, from just about every friend's status update on Facebook. I got chills watching the motorcade. This is BIG HISTORY, and everyone knows it.

I love most right now seeing the many American flags waving on the Mall, because for so long, patriotism was a "conservative thing." But today, millions are proud once again to be Americans, and are excited to wave that flag.

Hurricane Gustav is heading for the Gulf of Mexico, having already hit Haiti and probably hitting Cuba on its way today. It's expected to gain strength over the warm waters, and make landfall in the US anywhere between Florida and Texas. That puts New Orleans most likely right in its path. Needless to say, residents there are worried.

I am too. Not only because I know that three years is not nearly enough time to erase memories and anxieties of the trauma of Katrina (having lived in NYC the last four years, I am quite aware of the reaction to a low-flying plane or unexplained smoky air), but also because having spent time in New Orleans this past January, and engaged many of its residents, I feel a deep connection to that wonderfully unique city.

I also know from my time there that New Orleans has only begun to move from recovery to renewal, and the prospect of having much of that wiped away is just plain scary. This photo was taken from inside the home I was helping to construct for a family, of their street, lined with FEMA trailers. For many, FEMA trailers are the only homes people have now. They are certainly not designed to withstand a strong hurricane.

So on the anniversary of the day people woke up after Katrina hit and many mistakenly thought they'd be made it through the worst of it, the people of New Orleans are in my prayers. May you be comforted, may you be protected, and may you be safe.

For many different reasons, I have yet to see most of the DNC speeches from this past week. Last night, however, I did get to watch Obama's acceptance speech. Even listening with a critical ear, paying attention to rhetoric and to phrases and ideas created to evoke emotion... I was moved. I want this man as my next president. Yes, although it's becoming such an over-used word, I see hope in him. I see in him--while accepting it will not happen easily or overnight--a commitment to alter the way we do politics in this country. There's a reason that many people--particularly the young and marginalized--don't vote: they don't see it as important, because they feel like it won't matter because politics will always be politics (and although I vote, I've felt the same many times). When stories come out about politicians who lie, cheat, steal or do any other number of unethical things, it makes headlines for a day or two, but people aren't really shocked, because we've come to expect that from politicians. People get frustrated with how things are--that children are under-insured, that workers can't make a living wage, that a war no one can seem to justify is still going on and our servicepersons are still in harm's way, etc, etc--and don't take action because they don't see the political process as doing anything. I think this is really what Obama wants to change, and I'm excited about it!

And now, on the "what the...?" side: In an obvious ploy to attract bitter Hillary supporters (and I'm clearly not saying all Hillary supporters are bitter, but there are some), John McCain has selected a woman, Sarah Palin, as his running-mate. Well, great, right? At least we can get a woman in the White House one way or another! Wrong. Just wrong, wrong, wrong. Does he really think the women who previously supported Hillary are that gullible? Come on! Palin is ridiculously conservative, and even more ridiculously inexperienced!

I ran across this AP article today and felt like giving the South Los Angeles City Council a round of applause. In short, they have placed a moratorium on the opening of new fast food restaurants in the area, hoping to give healthier restaurants and grocery stores an opportunity to step in.

Bravo! Studies have long shown that those living in economically poorer neighborhoods are much more obese than their middle or upper class counterparts. At first, this wouldn't make sense. If you have no money, you don't eat as much, so you'd be thinner, right? Well, in developing countries that may certainly be the case, but here in these United States, we've got these things called dollar menus, in which one can buy a whole meal for less than a tank of gas. Well, that's great for the poor, right? Cheap food is easier on the budget, no wonder poor neighborhoods are filled with fast food restaurants.

Oh, wait, one problem: the foods on those menus (and the majority of the foods these restaurants serve) aren't healthy. They're high in calories, high in fat and cholesterol, and low in nutritional value.

Opponents of the moratorium argue with this blanket conception.