May 3, 2010

Kopp Disclosure
(John 3:19-21)

@#$%



@#$%

The clips at the beginning and end of this edition were used by "Howard and Kopp with Real People" at the beginning and end of our television show which was broadcast by Adelphia Community Cablevision near Pittsburgh over a decade ago.

We talked about faith, interviewed people, and did our iconoclastic worst to confront the culture with an authentic Christology as described by Hans Kung while praying/trying to be on the cutting edge of ecclesiastical evolution: the Church's agenda should be "to discover what is permanent...originally meant, before it was covered with the dust and debris of two thousand years...This is not another gospel, but the same ancient gospel rediscovered for today!"

We were/are just a couple of clergy guys trying to have fun while saying nice things about Jesus and exploring the many ways that our Lord works in the lives of real people.

Posers hated us and tried to hurt us in creepy ways when efforts to control us failed.

Authentics wondered why we wouldn't/couldn't go commercial/national.

Almost.

On the positive side of almost, we did a demo for some outfit in California and finished second to some reality show starring some chick named Paris.

From what I've been told since relocation ended the show, we helped expand some wineskins even while tightening the noose around our necks to the pleasure of posers.

@#$%

I thought about that on Saturday when Ralph interviewed me on a local radio station in the inaugural edition of Food and Fellowship; also reminding me of the fellah who didn't catch the humor when he said to his "church lady" wife, "I hope the pastor appreciated you having him for lunch."

Always eager to talk about Jesus, I was, uh, the, uh, fellowship and a strikingly attractive manager of a local Italian restaurant was, uh, the, uh, food and we had a great time; especially when my mouth was so filled with pasta, cannolis, and other delights that Ralph and Theresa had a chance to talk.

Ralph is a real professional who really likes Jesus; and I expect the show to gain ratings and stay on the air.

Driving back from the show, David Watermulder, an early hero of mine, came to mind; recalling how he introduced Martin E. Marty to a gathering of congregants and clerical wannabes almost 40 years ago, "We share this in common. We will preach anywhere at anytime to anyone about the Lord."

I try.

@#$%

I've been deluged with calls and e-mails since the show; asking if I'd consider doing a weekly gig on radio akin to Ralph's without the food and more like the format of the aforementioned near Iron City.

Well, nobody who runs a station has asked and I don't have time to inquire; but, yeah, I'd do it.

Three conditions.

First, though I'm still paying off the plastic and gotta figure out a way to pay off my modest bill at the golf club behind the house so my kids and wife can play now that they've decided they want to play after years of dissing the whole thing before I even think about buying a Road King and donating a multi-purpose room to the church in honor of my predecessor, I don't want compensation because that would cause a conflict of interest between authenticity and posing and somebody trying to control the content of the show.

Second, I ain't payin' for the time or raisin' $ for the time 'cause my primary call is, remains, and will always be preachin', pastorin', teachin', buryin', and pointin' people to Jesus. In other words, I don't have the time to do that; and if those who want me to do it really want me to do it...

Third, I get to keep the bumper music and bring Howard out of retirement for the inaugural show.

@#$%

Ralph asked on Saturday, "When I read one of your books along with your bio and blog, I got the sense that you feel incomplete; as if something is missing. Care to comment on that?"

Not thinking of the plastic or mule which surprised me afterwards, I answered, "Well, Ralph, I've always felt feeling you've arrived means you haven't started. Our Lord always has new and exciting ways to experience Him and honor Him. He's always got something better in mind for us. He's not dead. He's alive. And I'm trying to be alive in and for Him."

Or something like that.

So, yeah, I'll do whatever...

@#$%



@#$%

Blessings and Love!