Sacramental Living

Champis, The Sheep Herding Rabbit

2012-02-03T12:28:00.001-05:00

Gotta love a video with a rabbit and sheep. This is from a farm in northern Sweden, where apparently their rabbits are quite talented!
I wonder of Champis says, "Baa, Ram, Ewe."?

Cultural Divisions

2012-01-25T12:36:00.001-05:00

I'll have more to write about this later, but thought I'd post this because it is interesting. I don't think this quiz is quite accurate. How I live, my political and religious beliefs do not fall into neat categories. Scroll down to the bottom of the box if you'd like to take the quiz, produced by AEI.

How Thick Is Your Bubble?

Guest

Score » 7 out of 20 (35% )
Result

On a scale from 0 to 20 points, where 20 signifies full engagement with mainstream American culture and 0 signifies deep cultural isolation within the new upper class bubble, you scored between 5 and 8.

In other words, you can see through your bubble, but you need to get out more.

Quiz School

Take this quiz & get your score

How Thick Is Your Bubble? » Quiz Creator

Auld Lang Syne

2011-12-31T00:54:00.000-05:00

or, old long-since. The poem by Robert Burns is of friends past and present and of the goodness and kindness which we hope follows them and the memories we keep.

Here's my favourite version of the song, sung by Eddi Reader.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and never brought to mind ?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

and auld lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my jo (or my dear),

for auld lang syne,

we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely ye’ll be your pint-stowp !

and surely I’ll be mine !

And we’ll tak a cup o’ kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae run about the braes,

and pu’d the gowans fine ;

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit,

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We twa hae paidl’d i' the burn,

frae morning sun till dine ;

But seas between us braid hae roar’d

sin auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere !

and gie's a hand o’ thine !

And we’ll tak a right gude-willy waught,

for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T00:35:00.001-05:00

One of the things that this past season of Advent has pressed upon me is that I do not look enough to Jesus. What I forget is that everything points to him. I don't mean I literally forget, but I get distracted, and oftentimes what or whom is directing my attention to Christ ends up the receiver of my focus. When I read of Adam and Eve, of Abraham, Sarah and Isaac, of Moses and the law, of Deborah and the other Judges, David and the Kingdom of Israel, the Prophets, Luke's Gospel, Paul's letters, they all point to Jesus. Jesus said, "If you've seen me you've seen the Father.", yet I tend to focus everywhere else, even on things which are good, such as family, doctrine, health, service, etc.

I need to remember that Jesus is the source of all that is good and just and loving and life. What better time to than Christmas, when so much of the world is pointing, to really look, not at who is pointing, (or not pointing for that matter), but to whom they point.

Everything begins and ends in Jesus. Amen.

"Of the Father's Love Begotten"

by Aurelius C. Prudentius, 413, cento

Translated by John. M. Neale, 1818-1866

and Henry W. Baker, 1821-1977

1. Of the Father's love begotten

Ere the worlds began to be,

He is Alpha and Omega,

He the Source, the Ending He,

Of the things that are, that have been,

And that future years shall see

Evermore and evermore.

2. Oh, that birth forever blessed

When the Virgin, full of grace,

By the Holy Ghost conceiving,

Bare the Savior of our race,

And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,

First revealed His sacred face

Evermore and evermore.

3. O ye heights of heaven, adore Him;

Angel hosts, His praises sing;

Powers, dominions, bow before Him

And extol our God and King.

Let no tongue on earth be silent,

Every voice in concert ring

Evermore and evermore.

4. This is He whom Heaven-taught singers

Sang of old with one accord;

Whom the Scriptures of the prophets

Promised in their faithful word.

Now He shines, the Long-expected;

Let creation praise its Lord

Evermore and evermore.

5. Christ, to Thee, with God the Father,

And, O Holy Ghost, to Thee

Hymn and chant and high thanksgiving

And unending praises be,

Honor, glory, and dominion,

And eternal victory

Evermore and evermore.

Fourth Sunday In Advent 2011

2011-12-18T22:40:00.001-05:00

The lectionary readings for today are:

First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16

Psalm: Luke 1:47-55 (Luke 1:46b-55 NRSV)

Psalm (Alt.): Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26

Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27

Gospel: Luke 1:26-38

I love the Gospel according to Luke, and while I have every intention of completing a series on this gospel at some point, I'll take a bit of what a future post may contain to mark this day.

In the society in which Mary lived, she would have been pretty much a nobody: poor, a female and unmarried. To get much lower, one would have had to have been an expendable, basically a beggar or leper. Now, she was not alone, most of society were peasants, but she would have been much more vulnerable than a married man in that class. Yet it is she who found favor with God. Displayed for us is the thread woven throughout scripture, that God is no respecter of persons. In fact, he seems to always be turning our ideas of status upside down. Here, before Jesus, God incarnate, is conceived, the lessons he will teach on his earthly life are being taught already through a peasant Jewish girl.

When confronted with the message from the angel Gabriel, that she will bear a son, Mary asks for no sign, but for understanding. The angel Gabriel graciously gives her both, understanding in how the God most High will overshadow her and a sign in that her elderly cousin Elizabeth has conceived and will have a son.

Nothing is impossible with God, not for Mary, and not for us.

Mary places her life in God's hands.

Lord give me not a sign, but trust and understanding.

Top 10 Reasons Why Men Shouldn’t Be Senior Pastors

2011-12-13T23:03:00.000-05:00

Borrowed this from Eagle, a frequent commenter over at IMonk.

For those who are familiar with the arguments as to why women shouldn't be pastors or ministers, (despite the fact that women were prophets, deacons apostles and teachers in the early church), this list puts them in a whole new light.

10. A man’s place is in the army.

9. For men who have children, their duties might distract them from the responsibilities of being a parent.

8. Their physical build indicates that men are more suited to tasks such as chopping down trees and wrestling mountain lions. It would be “unnatural” for them to do other forms of work.

7. Man was created before woman. It is therefore obvious that man was a prototype. Thus, they represent an experiment, rather than the crowning achievement of creation.

6. Men are too emotional to be priests or pastors. This is easily demonstrated by their conduct at football games and watching basketball tournaments.

5. Some men are handsome; they will distract women worshipers.

4. To be an ordained pastor is to nurture the congregation. But this is not a traditional male role. Rather, throughout history, women have been considered to be not only more skilled than men at nurturing, but also more frequently attracted to it. This makes them the obvious choice for ordination.

3. Men are overly prone to violence. No really manly man wants to settle disputes by any means other than by fighting about it. Thus, they would be poor role models, as well as being dangerously unstable in positions of leadership.

2. Men can still be involved in church activities, even without being ordained. They can sweep paths, repair the church roof, change the oil in the church vans, and maybe even lead the singing on Father’s Day. By confining themselves to such traditional male roles, they can still be vitally important in the life of the Church.

1. In the New Testament account, the person who betrayed Jesus was a man. Thus, his lack of faith and ensuing punishment stands as a symbol of the subordinated position that all men should take.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus” Galatians 3:28

Third Sunday In Advent 2011

2011-12-11T21:31:00.003-05:00

The lectionary readings for today are:
First Reading: Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11

Psalm: Psalm 126

Psalm (Alt.): Luke 1:47-55 (Luke 1:46b-55 NRSV)

Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28

This Sunday is also known as Gaudete Sunday, the Sunday of rejoicing. I don't know how much rejoicing we do these days in our culture. It seems to me we mostly anesthetize our emotions, largely by distraction, so as to not feel too much pain, but that also means we do not feel much joy. We seem surprised when either come upon us, but how we are undone when they do! I pray that God diverts me from my diversions, so that I may know the joy and hope that Mary expresses.

The video below is from Sheppard's Magnificat.

Saint Nicholas

2011-12-06T10:22:00.000-05:00

Today is the Feast of St. Nicholas. I've always loved Santa Claus. In fact, when I learned that there was no Santa Claus while in second grade, I simply refused to believe it. Later, I learned that my stubbornness was not without reason. There really had been a Santa Claus, though the name has morphed and he was much more than a jolly old man. He was a Christ follower, a Christian, and all the legends of gift giving and magic were true in the best sense. Nicholas of Myra was a wealthy man whose faith in Christ transformed his life to one of self sacrifice and healing.

During this Advent season, how wonderful it is to remember this faithful man who came before us. This is what I love about the communion of saints. He is as real today as he was over 1500 years ago. Sometimes a child's stubborn faithfulness is a good thing.

Here's a video clip of the real story of this beloved man.

Second Sunday In Advent

2011-12-04T21:57:00.000-05:00

He tends his flock like a shepherd:
He gathers the lambs in his arms
and carries them close to his heart;
he gently leads those that have young.

Today's lessons are:

Isaiah 40:1-11
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 (13)
2 Peter 3:8-15a
Mark 1:1-8

These are incredibly beautiful and hopeful passages reflecting God's goodness, mercy and love, and ones that I need to hear. When so often my thoughts about God reflect more a hard taskmaster or a distant lawmaker, I need to be reminded that we have a Father who is patient, merciful and makes everything right, whether from Isaiah's words that rough places will be made smooth and our sins have been paid for, or Peter describing the destruction of the heavens and earth when all will be exposed and making way for the new heavens and new earth.

Mark tells us it is John, son of Elizabeth and Zachariah who is the voice from Isaiah. Having waited hundreds of years, Israel finally hears what they have longed for; the Messiah is near, so be prepared. Peter repeats this theme. Wait patiently and be prepared. He will come and all will be made right.

Happy Birthday, C.S. Lewis

2011-11-29T19:12:00.001-05:00

Today is C.S. Lewis's birthday. Born 113 years ago, the impact he has had on the Christian world is immeasurable. From his ability to speak across denominational lines, to his facility to communicate to both the specialist and the commoner, and to his prolific writing across many genres, including fantasy, theology, scholarly criticism and poetry, his is a singular achievement.

Below are two recordings of his voice when giving his broadcast talks over the BBC during World War II. It is said that his voice was one of the most recognized voices in England at the time, second only to Winston Churchill.

There are very few recording of his voice remaining. There are a couple more, besides the following, one of a lecture he gave and another a modified version of his book, The Four Loves.

Advent In Two Minutes

2011-11-28T11:14:00.001-05:00

A friend of mine posted this on Facebook. I especially like the line,

If you're sick of Christmas by December 25 then you're not doing Advent correctly.

Thanks, Tresa.

Update:
Another good one.

Advent Conspiracy 2011 Promo
- Watch more Videos at Vodpod.

H/T Barb

First Sunday In Advent 2011

2011-11-27T20:38:00.000-05:00

The lectionary readings for the first Sunday in Advent are as follows:

Isaiah 64:1-9
Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19 (7)
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:24-37

The predominate focus of these scriptures is on the Parousia. What strikes me about the passage in Mark is Christ's analogy of a man leaving his servants with an assigned task. In all of Jesus' instructions about the final judgment, the criteria is not how correct are one's beliefs, but how one served. We in the church place a good amount of time concerning ourselves with correct doctrine, and that is important because how we believe informs how we live, spend our time and understand reality, but it is Christ who transforms. Truth that arrives not just in doctrines or statements or creeds, but truth in the flesh, God incarnate.

Today is the first Sunday in the church year. I gathered together with other Christians to be the Church in receiving Christ's body and blood in order to be transformed so that I may reflect Christ's light to the world. In this season of Advent, when we remember the prophets and their telling of the one who would come to save, even as we look for his return, I want to take more seriously how Christ is transforming me and be about the task he has given.

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

2011-11-24T11:36:00.000-05:00

Here's a lovey series of photos by photographer Jim Crotty set to the Shaker song, Simple Gifts, performed by Alison Krauss and Yo Yo Ma.

As the church year is ending, it is a good time to remember just how many blessings we have received. May the Lord continue to bless us with grace and goodness.

Pressure

2011-11-02T16:35:00.000-04:00

Saw this wonderful quote attributed to Archbishop Rowan Williams over on Ian Morgan Cron's blog in the comments:

The Church is what happens when a group of believers come under the pressure of Jesus.

Feeling pressured? I am. Perhaps it is the weight of glory, being conformed to Christ.

All Saints' Day

2011-11-01T14:37:00.002-04:00

How it thrills me when I hear the words of the Liturgy, "Therefore with the angels and archangels and all the company of Heaven," for I know that she is there with the company of Heaven, the Communion of Saints, with the Lord. The nearer I come to my Lord in Holy Communion, the nearer I come to the saints, to my own loved ones.....

Do learn to love the Altar as the meeting place with your beloved who have passed within the veil. Here again the Sacrament is the heart of our religion. The Blessed sacrament links us not merely to Bethlehem and Calvary, but to the whole world beyond the grave as well, for at the Altar, the infinite is shrined in the finite; Heaven stoops down to earth; and the seen and unseen meet.

Berthold Von Schenk

Lauren Winner

2011-10-25T18:18:00.002-04:00

is coming to Roanoke! I read her first book, Girl Meets God, about ten years ago. It was raw and real and I loved reading every bit of it.

She will be speaking at Hollins University, November 9, at 7:00 PM.

Dissatisfied And Not Loving It

2011-08-20T01:02:00.001-04:00

I hope Dallas Willard it right. Over at IMonk on Monday, Chaplain Mike posted a quote of his:

It is spiritually formative to be dissatisfied and unable to resolve it.

If this is true, I think I'll should be pretty beautifully spiritually formed when this current funk ends. As of now I feel like a prepubescent with hands and feet too large as I clumsily try to move through life. Overall, the feeling is of being out of sync or off balance. A certain amount of this is normal for me. I've never fit any conventions very well, though after all the insecurities of adolescent and young adulthood, I've managed to deal with my oddities pretty well and am blessed to have a husband who actually loves them, well, most of the time anyway. This, however is not a matter of just being a little against the grain.

There have been outside forces which have contributed to this of course, but trying to figure out where that ends and my part begins seems pretty impossible. So, here I am, with a loving husband, family, friends yet a continued sense that something is off. In part, this is why I haven't written much these last few months, and as many of you will know, once something is put off, it becomes larger and insecurities grow. I want to be able to share hopefulness, goodness and beauty, but all I have is spiritual, unresolvable dissatisfaction.

So, I've decided to just go ahead and write, spiritually unresolved and all. Thanks for sticking with me, and perhaps after this season is over, I can right something more encouraging, maybe even a little bit beautiful and good, Lord willing.

Happy 15th Birthday, Emma!

2011-07-09T11:40:00.000-04:00

Olivia and Emma

Wow! It is hard to believe that a full year has already passed since I posted this. Emma's life is much as one would expect a 15 year old's to be. She's been practicing driving off road with her dad and doing quite well, loves hanging out with her friends, clothes shopping, participating in church youth events and was confirmed on Pentecost Sunday this year. Some things, gratefully haven't changed. She still hangs with her little sister, Olivia, and her grandparents, has had the same best friends for years, dances and is wonderful with younger children. She is a blessing.

Happy birthday, lovely Emma! Here's to another wonderful year.

Dogma

2011-05-16T00:57:00.000-04:00

I came across this cartoon years ago in an NPR catalog and thought it hilarious. I saw it again today and thought I'd share. Enjoy.

Morning Has Broken

2011-04-24T03:00:00.001-04:00

Most likely you're thinking of the song Cat Stevens recorded about now. It wasn't until I had children that I learned the song was originally a poem written by Eleanor Fargeon. She was a prolific writer of verse, and I remember reading in one of her compilations her lighthearted lament at not being a true poet, but simply a writer of children's verse. She viewed herself as not quite having the talent for which she yearned.

It is a common lament, to regret not reaching one's potential or experiencing one's dreams. It is the way of the world. We go about life knowing we will not do or be all that we wanted or hoped. In the middle of such ordinariness, Easter comes upon us, and I'm so appreciative of Jesus and how he revealed himself after the resurrection amidst the ordinariness of life. He met Mary in the garden, as she went about a task which was common in that society, the anointing of the dead. He met two disciples returning home from Jerusalem after Passover. Another ordinary time and ordinary task, along with a lot of confusion about what had happened to Jesus. They were walking and talking and Jesus walked and talked with them. He stood on the shore as a group fishermen, his friends, were trying to catch some fish and failing. In fact they had given up. He give instructions as to how to catch a boatload of fish and proceeded to make them breakfast. Every time, it was a chance for a new beginning, a new life. Morning had broken. The eighth day.

This year as we celebrate Easter, I want to remember this especially, that God calls us to be faithful, not fantastic. He accepts our everyday faithfulness, walks with us and will one day clothe us in splendor as we see him in glory. I want to remember a simple song which praises God our creator and gives us a glimpse of the new heavens and new earth, written by a woman who loved God enough to express it in a children's verse.

I Will Follow

2011-04-05T11:26:00.000-04:00

Not only is this the title to an early U2 song, but what Jesus calls us to do. It is not easy. To follow requires listening, watching, trusting and obeying. In a very real sense there are no leaders in the church, only followers. There are those who want to be leaders, but the problem with taking on the label and position of leader, is that one receives the focus and the faith of those who should be looking to and putting their faith in Jesus. For those called to be teachers, evangelists, apostles, etc., the call is not to lead, but to point, to say, "Come and see", not, "Follow me and we'll do great things."

David Horn writes how taking on big visions, big schemes from "leaders" in the church is just the opposite of what Jesus called us to do. He uses a quote from Bonhoeffer's book, Life Together to illustrate the pitfalls of taking on the role of leader.

God hates visionary dreaming; it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious. The man who fashions a visionary ideal of community demands that it be realized by God, by others, and by himself. He enters the community of Christians with his demands, sets up his own law, and judges the brethren and God Himself accordingly. He stands adamant, a living reproach to all others in the circle of brethren. He acts as if he is the creator of the Christian community, as if his dream binds men together. When things do not go his way, he calls the effort a failure. When his ideal picture is destroyed, he sees the community going to smash. So he becomes first an accuser of his brethren, then an accuser of God, and finally the despairing accuser of himself.

I titled this post, I Will Follow, not because I do it well, or even want it well, but because Jesus has called. He has instructed his disciples to proclaim the Kingdom, to feed, to heal, to instruct, to serve, to become like children, to die to self, to love. This idea of leading is our own invention and desire, and one which I am prone to buy into. I think we in the church have done this because what Jesus calls us to do is just so hard. How much we must rely on his grace.

Lorica Of St. Patrick

2011-03-17T12:16:00.001-04:00

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God's strength to pilot me;
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a mulitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

The Sea

2011-03-14T02:11:00.001-04:00

Atlantis rediscovered

A legend; perhaps not

Tsunamis wreaking havoc

Eternal we are not

The sea it will take over

Envelop all we see

Waves wash all and carry all

Nevermore to be

The longing in me pulses

As though in labour pains

Creation seeks its freedom

Heaven to regain

Some Thoughts For Ash Wednesday

2011-03-09T12:57:00.000-05:00

Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, which is a movable forty day fast which correlates to the preeminent season of Easter, the fifty day feast.

So, why the ashes and why the fasting? The ashes are a sign of mourning and repentance. We humans are destined to death. Everything in our short life here on earth is leading to the inevitable time when our bodies give out. No matter how well we eat, how much we exercise or meditate, we are dying. Our 21st century western society would have us deny this fact. Simply observing various health campaigns, the emphasis on youth culture, the prevalence of plastic surgery and anti aging creams and lotions, and the relegation of the elderly into institutions, it becomes clear that ours is a society in deep denial and avoidance of this very fact.

Ash Wednesday reminds us of our mortality, or our finiteness and of what has lead us to this inevitable destination. It places in the forefront, that it is sin which leads to death and is a call to repentance and in fact to new life. As the ashes are placed on our foreheads, we will be reminded that from dust we have come and to dust we will return. It is to shake us out of our daydream into reality. We wear the ashes as a reminder of our complicity with death and a sign of our repentance for that complicity. Job 42:3-6, Jeremiah 6:26, Daniel 9:3

The fasting during Lent reminds us of where our true desire lies and reorients our thoughts to where our true hunger is fulfilled, in God. To reorient is to repent, to accept God's forgiveness and to accept the Christ life that now lives within us.

C.S. Lewis wrote in Mere Christianity:

A live body is not one that never gets hurt, but one that can to some extent repair itself. In the same way a Christian is not a man who never goes wrong, but a man who is enabled to repent and pick himself up and begin over again after each stumble - because the Christ-life is inside him, repairing him all the time, enabling him to repeat (in some degree) the kind of voluntary death which Christ Himself carried out.

We all are dying. The voluntary death to self leads to life. The grasping of life leads to death. Ash Wednesday and Lent makes us more aware of this choice and aids in orienting our lives to the only one who can give life.

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. Matthew 16:25

Happy 10th Birthday, Olivia!

2011-03-02T09:07:00.000-05:00

Today, my youngest enters into double digits. What a lovely and thoughtful person she is becoming. She loves animals, particularly horses and has now completed her first horse tournament, placing second in Walk and Trot Equitation in her age group. She dreams of running a farm and is becoming quite the pianist. Kindness, loyalty and diligence are qualities which immediately come to mind when describing her.

Happy birthday, dear, sweet daughter!

Saint Valentine's Day

2011-02-14T13:44:00.000-05:00

Happy Saint Valentine's day.

While it would be easy to be cynical about the commercialism or possible legendary origins of the holiday, I want to focus on what good may come out of celebrating a day such as this. Though most of the stories revolving around Saint Valentine cannot be verified beyond a doubt, some stories ring true. One story goes that Claudius II outlawed marriage in order to fill the ranks of his army for his unpopular military campaigns. Just from viewing the coins from his reign, one can see that security was a top priority for the emperor. It is told that Valentine, or Valentinus, defied the order and married young couples anyway. Another story that rings true is that the emperor actually liked Valentinus, but ordered the priest executed after he tried to convert him. Still, one story that seems more legendary, but that I would not dismiss out of hand is how Valentinus performed the miracle of healing the daughter of one of his jailers. There is a lovely children's book which tells a story around this act, titled, Saint Valentine.

So, how can we best celebrate the life of this saint? I think we can celebrate this day by truly showing our love for one another. There is the idea of romantic love which is wonderful and exciting, but even this is but a shadow if it is not built upon acts of sacrifice and giving of oneself. In fact, if one were to go back to the roots of romantic love, and not just the shadow we see perpetuated in our culture today, it is built on placing the other above the self, or as Aristotle said of love, it is "to will the good to another for the other's sake". Is this not the very thing that makes a good marriage, or any good relationship? Of the characteristics I have found in common with good, strong marriages, that each spouse thinks the other is the self-giving partner in the relationship, seems to me the very best.

A Songless Sect

2011-02-07T23:42:00.001-05:00

Patrick Mitchell, an Irish blogger, attended a lecture given by Daniel Dennett, well know anti-theist. He was struck by how the lecture was couched in religious terms, even to the point of introducing atheistic hymns. It would appear that all humans are creatures of faith and worship, or as Bob Dylan sang, you're gonna have to serve somebody. Here's what Mitchell writes about that portion of the lecture.

He even played a couple of secular gospel hymns, complete with lyrics like “Bowing to reason we stand together” and “We’ve turned the page, don’t be afraid of the world we’re creating, come on in …” [He said he played these in the States and the crowd was up singing and partying - not a person even twitched in Dublin. An atheist questioner afterwards pleaded with him to drop the 'brutal' music and try comedy as a route to joy].

I guess Dennett hasn't heard yet that atheists don't have no songs.

Not Ranting And Raving, But Convicted

2011-01-14T10:42:00.001-05:00

Over at IMonk, Jeff Dunn is doing a bit of ranting and raving, and really, I don't blame him. As I have been studying the Gospel of Luke, I have become more and more convicted that I don't really follow Christ as he calls me to, and more than that, I for the most part do not see the church, at least here in America following him as he calls us either.

One of the things that I see relates to what Dunn is preaching against is the substitute of technique for obedience to our Lord. It is the easy road and one that suits our society perfectly. We are a technique oriented people. It is how we live. It is how we control. It is also the opposite of faith.

Have issues with money? Well, my goodness, don't give it away and be overly generous out of love for God and man. Disregard the widow and her two mites. What a fool she was to not put at least 10% away in savings. Jesus only meant for the rich, young ruler to give everything away, not anyone else. He wouldn't ask that of you or me. Look at all the Old Testament writings that encourage savings and thrift. Just don't bother reading the prophets and of God's judgement because of not helping the poor and widows. We're not greedy like those Israelites. And don't get all excited about how the earliest church shared everything they had with one another. That would be too radical and was only for that time and place anyway. God wouldn't ask that of us. Instead, follow this formula and watch your money grow!

Having marriage problems? It has nothing to do with dying to self and submitting to one another out of love for Christ. Nooooo. It is really because the husband isn't being respected or the woman isn't being loved, or you just aren't having enough date nights, or you haven't set up the right boundaries, or you don't speak the other's love language, or, well you get the idea.

What if we really died to self and lived to Christ? What if we gave so generously that none of our brothers and sisters in Christ were in need? What if we sacrificed our comfort that the poorest in our community knew they didn't have to worry about their daily needs, because Christ's representatives lived near them and wouldn't let them be in want? What if instead of worrying about being taken advantage of, we simply said, "Come."?

What would our marriages and families look like if we consistently put the other first? What if we stopped worrying about our needs being met and instead sought out ways to serve the other?

What if we stopped searching for a magic formula and simply said, "I surrender. I am a slave. I have no rights. My trust and my hope are entirely in the Lord."?

Do we take Jesus words seriously? Do we really believe them? I must not, because I do not follow them. I cannot, because I do not daily take up my cross. This is what Peter Kreeft calls moral insanity. It is what Jesus says leads to death. It is sin.

I am morally insane. Jesus, come heal me. I do not take up my cross. Jesus, help me bear the burden. I do not trust the one who gives life. Jesus, I believe, help my unbelief.

The Gospel Of Luke: Introduction and Preface

2011-01-05T10:26:00.002-05:00

Authorship
Luke is widely held as the author of The Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles. Both tradition and internal evidence upholds this view. Though neither book names its author, the author places himself in the story in Acts as a companion to Paul, and three of Paul’s letters, Colossians, Philemon and II Timothy refer to him as his companion.

Dating
There is a wide range of thought as to when the Gospel of Luke was written, most within the range of 60 – 90 AD. I hold to a date around the early to mid 60’s for two reasons: Neither the death of Paul nor his letters, (they were more widely distributed in the latter years), are mentioned in Luke’s account. Luke also sees the need to give a defense of the gentiles place in God’s plan, which there would be little need for if it had been written at a later date.

Biography
Lucas, or Luke, is probably an abbreviation of the name Lucanus. From this name and the fact that he was a physician, it is thought by some that he may have been a slave. Slaves at this time in the Roman Empire were sometimes given a shortened or nickname of their master, and in wealthy families, a slave was often chosen to be educated in medicine to be the family doctor.

That Luke was educated is obvious from his writings. Both the Gospel of Luke and The Acts of the Apostles are written in a higher literary style than the other New Testament books. The allusions to the Septuagint in his gospel and the Hellenistic narrative form both of his books take testify to his intelligence and education.

His grasp of the Septuagint is so great, that it is assumed that he was either a Gentile proselyte or a God-fearer like Cornelius or the Centurion from Luke 7. He was not likely born a Jew, as Paul lists him among the uncircumcised in his letter to the Colossians.

Tradition holds that Luke was from Antioch in Syria. He enters the story in Acts when Paul, Silas and Timothy reach Troas, 50. From there he goes with them to Philippi, 50-57, and remains there. He then journeys with Paul to Jerusalem, 57-61, and then onto Rome, 61.

He is referred to in Acts 16:11-18, 17:1, 20:5-21:18, 27:1, 28:1, 12-16, and by Paul in Colossians 4:14, II Timothy 4:11, and Philemon vs.23&24.

Genre
History – Luke’s gospel is often viewed as historic narrative. His style, particularly in the preface of the gospel follows Hellenistic form for the historic narrative in this general time period, similar to Josephus.

Theology – Luke tells the story not only to be accurate and to convey facts, but to place them in an order to comprehend their meaning better. There are major strands woven throughout this gospel: God’s sovereignty and faithfulness, mission of Jesus as he comes against cosmic forces which are opposed to God, Christ as messiah, servant, prophet, king, son of man, and Lord, Holy Spirit, cross, etc.

Narrative theology - This is a term used by Michael Travers to describe the genre Luke uses.It is truth told. The reason to use the narrative, to tell the stories, is to bridge the head and the heart using the imagination. Luke’s writing style weaves history, prophecy, teachings, drama and parables in order to cause the reader to understand their meaning, not just to know the facts.

The purpose in understanding the genre is because it tells us what to expect.If we see Luke as simply a history book, we will look for facts, places, dates, etc. If we look at it as simply theology, we will likely look for doctrinal propositions and categories. If we look at it as a story, a true story, but a story none the less, we can then become part of it. A reader is always a part of the story. We can identify with characters, we can imagine the settings, we can be there, and in doing so, we can meet Jesus and let his words and actions change us.

The Uniqueness of Luke
Luke is considered one of the synoptic gospels because of its similarity to both Matthew and Mark, but it is also quite unique. It is the longest gospel, with twenty four chapters. Along with Acts, Luke’s writings are a full ¼ of the New Testament. There are at least nine parables, five teachings, and seventeen narrative accounts which are in Luke alone. He also emphasizes feasts/food, women, the poor, the outcast, children, gentiles, the Temple /Jerusalem, prayer and God’s sovereignty.

Luke also serves as a bridge, between Jews and Gentiles and Jesus ministry and the church.
It is the only gospel written by a gentile and the only gospel with a sequel.

Preface
Luke 1:1-4

Luke’s preface follows closely the form of a Hellenistic historic narrative.Accuracy was important in such endevours, but so was good writing and storytelling to keep the reader engaged and aid in understanding.The preface set the tone.

Luke begins with acknowledging that others have attempted writing narratives of the things that have happened, perhaps Mark or Matthew. He mentions eyewitnesses who have delivered the accounts to them. This need not be limited to written accounts. Luke spent a few years in Jerusalem, where there must have been many who had been with Jesus. It would make sense that he gained much from female witnesses since his later accounts of the Nativity and details of Herod’s household would likely have been informed by Mary and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward, Chuza. Most New Testament scholars have attempted to explain the differences between the synoptic gospels by suggesting a possible earlier source, Q (for quelle, or source), or for Matthew, another source called M, or for Luke, another source called L. These sources have often been thought of as written documents, but could very well have been the eyewitnesses or stories and traditions that had been relayed.

Luke sees it fitting that he should also make the attempt, perhaps one more orderly or for a wider audience.He addresses the letter to, most excellent Theophilus, a common name in that time, meaning God adorer or lover of God, who must have been of high rank or status by the way he is addressed and perhaps was Luke’s patron, commissioning this work. Luke states that his purpose in writing is to give an orderly, accurate account. This does not necessarily mean chronological order, but one that conveys the meaning and importance of the events which took place. He wants Theophilus and others who would hear or read what he has written to understand and be assured of the accuracy of what they have already been taught, so Theophilus must already be a believer.

References are: Luke by Darrel Bock, The Gospel of Luke,Sacra Pagina by Luke Timothy Johnson, The Gospel of Luke, Joel B. Green, and of course, the Gospel of Luke.

Looking Back And Looking Forward

2011-01-03T01:43:00.001-05:00

It can be a disappointing thing to begin a new year. For me the promise of a new start is idealized while the living it out is not much different from the year before in most ways. This past year was a bit of a lost one for me. Not that it wasn't worthwhile, but I have been a bit directionless, dabbling a bit here, trying a bit there. I tend to be a Jill of all trades and master of none anyway, but even more so this past year.

I'm trying to do better this time around. A few weeks ago I sat down and wrote out both my activities and my goals. I use the word goals very loosely. Except for my daughters' educations, there are no firm plans to get from point A to point B.

What I have been participating in this past year is:

Teaching my daughters
Participated in a small homeschool coop
Daily household upkeep
Learning Koine Greek
Teaching a class on the Liturgy
Participated in an Thomas Aquinas study group
Blogging
Church choir member
Chairman of the Adult Education team at church
Substitute teach for the Adult Sunday School
Lector
Communion bread baker
Communion assistant

This list looks and sounds more impressive than it is. Many of these things are sporadic and don't really take up much time, but others are pretty time consuming.

My goal and/or hopes are:

Prepare daughters for college (This is the one that is a goal.)
Prepare myself for seminary (This is more of a hope.)
Grow deeper in my understanding of God's word.
Develop artistic abilities.

In planning, this next year looks similar, the exceptions being, I'll now be teaching a class on the Gospel of Luke instead of the Liturgy and I have resigned from the choir. The study of the Gospel of Luke has already been a real blessing and I hope to draw closer to Christ as I work through this. Deciding to leave the choir surprised me in a way, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense.

There are some things that happened this year that were outside of the norm. I continued to heal both physically and emotionally after losing our baby. David fell from a ladder, breaking four ribs, a vertebrae and puncturing a lung. Some friendships grew more distant and others grew closer. My father suffered his fourth stroke. This seems to be the stuff of life, but the past year packed in a bit more stuff than I'd have preferred. Through it all though, I've found that while some people can be incredibly callous, most are kind, and some extraordinarily so, it makes a world of difference to have a good doctor who also has a nice personality and that even when it feels as though God is A.W.AO.L., he is there, walking alongside.

Church History

2010-12-27T13:09:00.002-05:00

Adult Sunday School Community Groups

Winter/ Spring study

Church History in Plain Language

Led by our Pastors:

Mark Graham

Elijah Mwitanti

Gerry McDermott

The Gospel of Luke

2010-12-27T13:02:00.000-05:00

The Gospel of Luke

Study begins Wednesday, January 5

In the Community Room on the upper level

Come My Light

2010-12-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

Prayer of St. Dimitri of Rostov:

Come, my Light,
and illumine my darkness.
Come, my Life,
and revive me from death.
Come, my Physician,
and heal my wounds,
Come, Flame of divine love,
and burn up the thorns of my sins,
Kindling my heart
with the flame of your love.
Come, my King,
rule the throne of my heart,
For you alone are my King
and my Lord.

The Pain And Hope Of Beauty

2010-12-24T03:21:00.000-05:00

There is an ache or sometimes even a stabbing pain felt when I encounter beauty. From what I've read of the poets, and others who write of these things, this is not an odd occurrence, but rather, I think, a common one. It is as if something or someone wonderful has been lost and there is a deep longing to be reunited. As a Christian, this makes sense from the standpoint of the fall. Humankind has lost the deep unencumbered communion with God, and so we are reminded of the depth of this loss when we experience this aspect of him reflected in his creation. Most of our lives are spent in the mundane, doing what needs to be done to get on with life, over and over again. This is not a bad thing, but there is a sense that there is so much more. As Lewis said,

We do not want merely to see beauty, though, God knows, even that is bounty enough. We want something else which can hardly be put into words — to be united with the beauty we see, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves, to bathe in it, to become part of it.

I've been thinking of this as we come near to Christmas. How Jesus arrived in the mundane, giving up the glory that was inherently his. We like to doctor up the story, either in the direction of the ethereal, almost otherworldly birth with no pain and Mary serenely looking over baby Jesus all beautiful, neat and clean with light emanating from their faces, or in telling that he was born in a barn with animals and mayhem all around, along with a nasty innkeeper who wouldn't give Mary and Joseph a room for the night.

The facts are just a bit too boring and mundane for our desires. Mary and Joseph were probably staying in a relative's home in the lower level where the stores and animals would have been kept. (The Greek word translated 'inn' in Luke 2 can also be translated 'upper room') We know there is a manger from the Gospel of Luke, but we don't know if there were any animals around. We don't know how long they were there before Mary gave birth, though the story is often portrayed in our movies and books that they made it to the 'stable' just in time.

God has chosen largely to work in the mundane. Jesus came into this world, like many babies before and after, in a house with two parents who loved him. Mary and Joseph were working out their life in the context of their faith and vocation in the culture in which they were born, just as we do with our lives. In the midst of all of this are sometimes signs, such as the beauty of a piece of music, or a dream with a message, but signs are pointers. They point us to the one who has returned to glory and splendour, even as he is preparing us to enter such a state.

1 John 3:2
Beloved, we areGod’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

Have You Been Shocked?

2010-12-21T01:00:00.003-05:00

Here is a lecture by one of my favourite living philosophers and authors, Peter Kreeft, given at Saddleback Church. His lecture is taken mostly from his book, Jesus Shock, though he leaves out the most Roman Catholic elements of the book, he engages the ideas that both Evangelical Protestants and Roman Catholics can agree upon, namely, that meeting Jesus will change you and your world. He is not neutral, he is not safe, but he is good, true and beautiful.

There's a great deal of 'housekeeping' at the start of the video, so if you just want the lecture, begin at minute 16:00.

H/T Scot McKnight.

Dear, Dear Joseph

2010-12-19T00:17:00.001-05:00

There has always been a soft spot in my heart for Joseph. We observe his kind heart, even before he's let in on the secret of Mary's child in the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 1:18-25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.

All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
"Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with us."
When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

There are times when God just doesn't seem to make sense. Why put Joseph through the torment of thinking Mary had been unfaithful? Why put Mary in such a questionable position? I don't have any good answers for this, but that God works in our failings and weaknesses, and sometimes even in our strength. He chose Joseph, who showed himself a man of kindness and character, which of course he knew him to be. A man who listened to God, who paid attention to his dreams and didn't hesitate. This is the man whose obedience and quick action will later save Jesus from Herod's soldiers. This is the man who would raise God's son, who would raise God incarnate.

This last Sunday in Advent, I'll say a special prayer of thanksgiving for Joseph, and remember his kindness.

The Candle Of Joy

2010-12-12T07:17:00.001-05:00

Today we light the candle of joy on the Advent wreath. Mary could teach us much about hopeful, joyful waiting. Here is her Magnificat.

My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me--holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants for ever, even as he said to our fathers.
Luke 1:46-55

Not only does Mary wait, but all of Israel has been waiting, looking for their redeemer and Messiah. There is joy in the annunciation and in the trusted, hopeful expectation. We have been told of the Messiah's return, when all will be put to rights.

Today is Gaudete Sunday, a time of rejoicing. May we be as joyful in our waiting as Mary was in hers.

The Snowman

2010-12-10T01:59:00.001-05:00

I suppose many things triggered my recalling this lovely little film: the recent snowfall, the advent of Christmas and a discussion with my daughter, Olivia, about the Aurora Borealis.

It was adapted from a picture book by Raymond Briggs in 1982. The illustrations are simple and beautiful, as is the music. There is no dialog, only a few words spoken at the beginning as a way of introduction. Music and action tell the bittersweet story; a story of joy, wonder and loss.

Here is a scene which includes the only song in the score. Be sure to enlarge it to full screen.

A thank you to my friend Maggie, who introduced me to this film many years ago.

Christmas Books

2010-12-07T14:11:00.002-05:00

Every Advent, I gather all our Christmas books and place them in a large basket in the living room. For quiet afternoons or evenings, it is nice to not have to go searching for that "certain" Christmas book that seems to make this holiday more complete. Through the years, I've collected various ones, from craft idea books to children's and short stories, to novels. I thought I'd share some of our family's collection. There may be some you would like to share and I invite you to in the comments.

I'll begin with books geared toward children, with the reminder of what C.S. Lewis said about children's books.

A children's story that can only be enjoyed by children is not a good children's story in the slightest.

The first was like finding a treasure. It is a collection of stories Tolkien wrote for his children as Father Christmas over many years, complete with his illustrations. It is

Letters From Father Christmas

I have a hardback version from 1995, which presents his letters individually to be removed from envelops pasted in the book, very much like the Jolly Postman books. Like I said, a real treasure.

Speaking of the Jolly Postman, there is


The Jolly Christmas Postman

This book is great fun and quite clever as it incorporates characters from beloved fairy tales.

Another children's book which is short but quite sweet is

Santa's Favorite Story

For an older child, there is

Emma's Christmas Wish

Of course we had to have this! In fact, I believe we were given two when our eldest daughter, Emma, was still quite young.

This is a good one with a bit of tension.


The Story of Holly and Ivy

A couple of older ones that are quite enjoyable are

The Birds' Christmas Carol

and


Turkey for Christmas

There are the short stories of George MacDonald

The Christmas Stories of George MacDonald

And Celtic short stories

A Celtic Christmas A Celtic Christmas: Classic Tales from the Emerald Isle

Of course there's Dickens with

A Christmas Carol

and the sweet

Cricket on the Hearth

Here's one about getting the great Saint Nicholas right.

The True Saint Nicholas

There are of course picture books which tell of the whole reason for Christmas.

The Story of Christmas

and

The Story of Christmas

Of course, I would highly recommend reading about the Nativity right out of the Gospel of Luke.

Advent is a time to prepare for the coming of Christ and it is appropriate that we think of these things when we recall and celebrate his incarnation. One of the ways to do this is to prepare and light an Advent wreath. A very helpful book to use in this preparation is

We Light the Candles

Well, though not a complete list of our Christmas books, this is a start. There's one that is on my list which I have not purchased yet, but perhaps will soon.
It is

The Glorious Impossible

It is indeed the time to reflect upon and celebrate the Glorious Impossible!

Silly Things Grown-ups Say

2010-12-04T15:27:00.004-05:00

“That’s who Aslan stands for as well as a mentor figure for kids – that’s what he means for me.”
-Liam Neeson

I guess he's forgotten this from the stories.

"Who is Aslan?" asked Susan.
"Aslan?" said Mr. Beaver, "Why don't you know? He's the King. He's the Lord of the whole wood, but not often here you understand. Never in my time or my father's time. But the word has reached us that he has come back. He is n Narnia at this moment. He'll settle the White Queen all right. It is he, not you, that will save Mr. Tumnus."
"She won't turn him into stone too?" said Edmund.
"Lord love you, Son of Adam, what a simple thing to say!" answered Mr. Beaver with a great laugh. "Turn him into stone? If she can stand on her two feet and look him in the face it'll be the most she can do and more than I expect of her. No, no. He'll put all to rights as in says in the old rhyme in these parts:-

Wrong will be right, when Aslan comes in sight,
At the sound of his roar, sorrows will be no more,
When he bares his teeth, winter meets its death
And when he shakes his mane, we shall have spring
again.

You'll understand when you see him."
"But shall we see him?" asked Susan.
"Why, Daughter of Eve, that's what I brought you here for. I'm to lead you where you shall meet him, " said Mr. Beaver.
"Is-is he a man?" asked Lucy.
"Aslan a man!" said Mr. Beaver sternly. "Certainly no. I tell you he is the King of the wood and the son of the great Emperor-Beyond-the-Sea. Don't you know who is the King of Beasts? Aslan is a lion-the Lion, the great Lion."
"Ooh!" said Susan, "I'd thought he was a man. Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion."
"That you will, dearie, and no mistake," said Mrs. Beaver, "if there's anyone who can appear before Aslan without their knees knocking, they're either braver than most or else just silly."
"Then he isn't safe?" said Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver. "Don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

Mentor? Um, no, and any child who reads The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe would never make that mistake.

Do You Know Jack?

2010-12-03T10:43:00.001-05:00

The way one gets to know a writer is obviously, to read what he or she writes. Perhaps one reason so many people have a great affection for Lewis is because he wrote so much! From fantasy, literary fiction, apologetics, theology, autobiography, and more, there is a great deal to glean. Lewis, being a prolific author and one that wrote on spiritual and theological matters, viewed this role as a great responsibility. In doing so, he took on the obligation of corresponding with his readers, scheduling two to three hours every morning for replying to the many letters he received. Because of this we also have a great many letters of his, both from his personal relationships, but also from his readership, which was vast. We who have come after his life on Earth are blessed that so much of his correspondence has been saved and published. Oftentimes a great quote of his will come from his letters, rather than his published works.

The first compilation of some of Jack's (as he was referred to by friends and family) correspondence, was, Letters of C.S. Lewis. This was followed by Letters to an American Lady, C.S. Lewis' Letters to Children, The Latin Letters of C.S. Lewis, and eventually, three large volumes of The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis. I have not read all of these, but I have read Letters of C.S. Lewis, his Letters to Children, and some of the Collected Letters. These add a whole different dimension to understanding his thoughts and development as a person and of his faith.

Many other writers, fascinated by this man have written biographies or analysis of his works. Some that I can recommend, beginning with the biographies, are: Tolkien and C.S. Lewis: The Gift of Friendship, Remembering C.S. Lewis, C.S. Lewis at the Breakfast Table, and Jack: A Life of C.S. Lewis. For analysis: C.S. Lewis as Philosopher, Planet Narnia, C.S. Lewis Companion and Guide, and C.S. Lewis for the Third Millennium. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but one from which I can personally endorse. They all have their points of view, some of the writers are Roman Catholic and some are Protestant which at times comes through, but all are beneficial.

There have also been documentaries which include: The Magic Never Ends, The Life of C.S. Lewis, and The Life of C.S. Lewis: Through Joy and Beyond.

The film Shadowlands, written by William Nicholson has been produced twice, once for the BBC which stars Joss Ackland and the other for the big screen starring Anthony Hopkins. There really is a great deal of difference between the two, and I would by far recommend the BBC version. The story begins at Lewis' meeting of his future wife, Joy Davidman.

For a complete bibliography of his writings, see here.

The C.S. Lewis Bible

2010-11-30T13:59:00.000-05:00

Those of you who know me personally or through this blog will appreciate that I have a great love for C.S. Lewis. His writings convey wisdom, intellect and character with great transparency, so much so that one who reads him widely and deeply gain a sense of really knowing the man. This said, it may surprise some to know that the newest publication of some of his works leaves me apprehensive. The latest publication is, The C.S. Lewis Bible.

Ever since reading my dad's Ryrie Study Bible as a teen and perceiving a definite slant in the commentary, I've been hesitant to purchase a study Bible. I like my Bible straight. I even refrain from making notes in my own Bible so as not to influence or dampen what the Holy Spirit may bring to mind in subsequent readings. This is not to say that I do not recommend commentaries. I do. But I recommend reading several and reading them after having read the passage in the Bible on which is being commented, so that one receives the full affect of scripture before anyone's further interpretation.

I also like Lewis straight and in context. He was such a wise and prolific writer, that to find quotes about almost any aspect of life is easy and often helpful when trying to grasp an issue. One of the contributors to the new C.S. Lewis Bible, Jerry Root, whom I've had to good pleasure to meet and learn from when he came to Roanoke to speak on Lewis, has even co-edited a book of Lewis quotations, The Quotable Lewis. This is a great reference book, particularly when one remembers a quote from Lewis but can't remember which of his many books or letters from which it comes. However, I would never recommend taking this book and reading these snippets in order to grasp Lewis' thoughts, yet this is what this new Bible has done. Lewis himself hasn't written commentary of the scripture, but quotes of his which are thought to relate to a passage of scripture are printed as his commentary. As with any great thinker, one should read what is written in context to gain a fuller understanding of the thoughts behind the quote.

The final reason which causes my apprehension is that I think Lewis himself would be appalled to have a Bible named after him. Lewis was a very humble man, insisting that he was just a layman and not an expert on scripture or church matters. He even turned down Knighthood when offered to him, though he held the idea of knighthood very highly. While it seems a great honour, and I'm sure many if not all of those who worked on this project had the very best of intentions, I don't think Lewis himself will be very pleased.

To learn a bit more about this study Bible, listen to this podcast over at Books and Culture website.

Advent: A Time To Prepare

2010-11-28T00:44:00.023-05:00

Jesus said to the disciples, "For as the days of Noah were, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day Noah entered the ark, and they knew nothing until the flood came and swept them all away, so too will be the coming of the Son of Man. Then two will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding meal together; one will be taken and one will be left. Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour. Matthew 24:37-44

Today is the first Sunday in Advent. I love Advent and it has become my favorite church season. Begun in 367 AD by Hilary de Poitiers as a three week preparation for Christmas, it is a time of preparation, expectation and hope. Yes, Jesus has come, he is indeed God incarnate, yet he is coming again. I suppose for me, waiting for the eschaton becomes more real for me during this time. How can I prepare? As Archbishop Rowan Williams asks, "What will happen if Jesus is allowed into my life more fully and radically?"

So, to prepare will take time, time to study, to pray, to reflect. Already my schedule is filled - every weekend taken up with choir and ballet rehearsals and performances, and there is the shopping to do, along with normal life and responsibilities. It's as though Satan has devised a way that leaves us more exhausted, more depleted, so that by the time of Christmas and celebration, we no long want to hear another Christmas hymn or attend another gathering, or give to another worthy cause, because we and our bank accounts are spent. I don't want it to be this way and I'll have to think more about what this may mean to be able to work around what has already been committed to this year, but also to better plan for the next.

Following is a wonderful Advent message given by Archbishop Williams. I hope you find it as much a blessing and inspiration as I have.

Thanksgiving and The Great Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T01:28:00.000-05:00

I came across this cartoon this evening.

It reminded me of what Alexander Schmemann wrote in For the Life of the World.

And in the Bible to bless God is not a “religious” or a “cultic” act, but the very way of life. God blessed the world, blessed man, blessed the seventh day (that is time), and this means that he filled all that exists with His love and goodness, made all this “very good.” So the only natural (and not “supernatural”) reaction of man to whom God gave this blessed and sanctified world, is to bless God in return, to thank Him, to see the world as God sees it and — in this act of gratitude and adoration — to know, name and possess the world. All rational, spiritual and other qualities of man, distinguishing him from other creatures, have their focus and ultimate fulfillment in this capacity to bless God, to know, so to speak, the meaning of the thirst and hunger that constitutes his life. “Homo sapiens,” “homo faber” … yes, but first of all, “homo adorans.” The first, the basic definition of man is that he is the priest. He stands in the center of the world and unifies it in his act of blessing God, of both receiving the world from God and offering it to God — and by filling the world with this eucharist, he transforms his life, the one that he receives from the world, into life in God, into communion with Him. The world was created as the “matter,” the material of one all-embracing eucharist, and man was created as the priest of this cosmic sacrament.

The word eucharist means thanksgiving. Every Sunday, we meet to join in the Great Thanksgiving, but what about every other day, or every other minute for that matter? As Schmemann said, every moment is to be lived eucharistically, thankfully, recognizing the One who has blessed us. Schmemann goes on to say that when mankind ate of the food in the garden which was not given as a blessing, it was eaten not as communion with God but as an end in itself. Because of this we are now inclined to forget God, to become dependent on the food itself or powers or fate and without communion with God, there is no life.

Of course, God has not left us to this fate. He has come down, to rescue us, to transform us, that we may again live our lives in continuous communion with him, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are once again, receiving the blessing of this world and in our role as priest, able to bless God in return.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!

High Culture's Answer To The Flash Mob

2010-11-08T22:07:00.000-05:00

Or, as my husband said, "The veil became a little thinner at Macy's."

Enjoy.

H/T to Jean McDermott

The One I Love, Whose Name I Do Not Know

2010-11-07T02:08:00.000-05:00

When our baby died almost a year ago it was only a tiny little fetus. I did not have the opportunity to hold, name, (though while I was pregnant, our girls would call the baby, P.E.R.C.- the initials of names we were considering), or say goodbye . Our dear friend and pastor, Gerry offered to hold a funeral for our child, but David and I decided not to have one. I wonder now if that had been the right choice. When babies die this way, this early, there seems to be an expectation in our society that we are to 'move on' and not spend too much time grieving, and I'm sure that influenced our decision.

Today is All Saints Sunday. As I wrote in my previous post, November 1st was All Saints Day, but many congregations will remember those who have died in Christ today. David and I talked about if we should include our baby among those who will be remembered, and I spoke with another dear friend and pastor, Mark, and we've made a different kind of decision for today. Today, when the names of those in our congregation who have died this past year are named and remembered, our little one will be remembered too, as Baby Hawkins. I wish we had a name for him or her, but I know she or he is not without one. Revelation 2:17 says:

To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it.

C.S. Lewis writes of this verse in The Problem of Pain,

What can be more a man's own than this new name which even in eternity remains a secret between God and him? And what shall we take this secrecy to mean? Surely, that each of the redeemed shall forever know and praise some one aspect of the divine beauty better than any other creature can. Why else were individuals created, but that God, loving all infinitely, should love each differently? And this difference, so far from impairing, floods with meaning the love of all blessed creatures for one another, the communion of the saints. If all experienced God in the same way and returned Him an identical worship, the song of the church triumphant would have no symphony, it would be like an orchestra in which all the instruments played the same note. Aristotle has told us that a city is a unity of unlikes, and St. Paul that a body is a unity of different members. Heaven is a city, and a Body, because the blessed remain eternally different: a society, because each has something to tell all the others - fresh and ever fresh news of the 'My God' whom each finds in Him whom all praise as 'Our God.' For doubtless the continually successful, yet never completed, attempt by each soul to communicate its unique vision to all others (and that by means whereof earthly art and philosophy are but clumsy imitations) is also among the ends for which the individual was created.

Our child has a name, one more perfect and revealing than our family could have chosen, given by the One who loves perfectly, just as all the saints do. Today is a day we don't just 'move on' or any other such ridiculous notion, but we remember, even as we look forward in hope.

All Hallows' Eve

2010-10-31T00:23:00.002-04:00

I am of a different mind ten times in the course of a day. But I resist the devil, and often it is with a fart that I chase him away. When he tempts me with silly sins I say, “Devil, yesterday I broke wind too. Have you written it down on your list?”

The best way to drive out the devil, if he will not yield to texts of Scripture, is to jeer and flout him, for he cannot bear scorn.

- Martin Luther

Tomorrow is All Saints Day, when we remember all who have died in the Lord. Today, or technically tonight, is All Hallows' Eve, or Halloween. All Hallows' Eve, historically, is a day when the Christian community has said to Satan, "You have no power over us. Our Lord has defeated you and the powers of sin and death, therefore, we trust in his love and power and will be victorious." Thus comes the tradition of dressing up in costumes - to mock Satan.

It is also Reformation Day and for many Protestants, the day when we commemorate the reformation of the church. Is it any wonder that Martin Luther, who struggled mightily with Satan and accepting Christ's power of forgiveness and atonement, would choose All Hallows' Eve to nail his Ninety-five Thesis to the door of the church in Wittenberg? This document that mainly challenged the use of indulgences required by the Church to pay for one's self or loved ones out of the punishment of purgatory, would be seen by many. (Unknown to Luther, it was soon after printed in the vernacular so that it could be read by even more.) A very daring act for a monk and teacher in the Church. An act that flouted and dared the powers of evil which had become entrenched in the hierarchy of the Church at that time.

This day is largely a secular holiday in the States. While I don't minimize the destruction that can be done with the wrong attitude, I really hope that soon, we who are Christians can reclaim the attitude and perspective in which it began nearly two thousand years ago. This is a day to remember whose world this really is, and that for the spirits and forces that would destroy, their power is not only limited, but has an expiration date.

C.S. Lewis says in his preface to The Screwtape Letters,

There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.

So, today, to the Devil who would tempt and discourage and destroy, I say, "Boo!", and remember all those who've gone before me, who in word and deed, often at great sacrifice, did the same.

Almighty God,
your saints are one with you
in the mystical body of Christ:
give us grace to follow them
in all virtue and holiness
until we come to those inexpressible joys
which you have prepared for those
who truly love you;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who is alive with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God now and for ever.
Amen.

Happy St. Crispin's Day

2010-10-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

Named for the twin martyrs, Crispinus and Crispianus, c 286 A.D.. Though no longer noted on the Roman liturgical calendar, it remains in the Anglican Book of Common Prayer.

The St. Crispin's Day speech from Shakespeare's, Henry V, given by King Henry to rally the troops for the Battle of Agincourt, is portrayed here by Kenneth Brannagh.

Evolution, Devolution, Revolution Part 1

2010-10-14T23:03:00.000-04:00

It is amazing to me what significance the book of Genesis has on our understanding of God, life and how we view the world. With all the debates among Christians about whether evolution can be accepted, too often other questions and meanings get lost in the debate. A couple of weeks ago, I read two articles; one by Rachel Held Evans and the other by Lisa Dye. Both are about Genesis and both are about truth, but from very different angles.

Evolution is an enormous object of interest to many American Christians. One facet totally refutes evolution, seeing it as contrary to scripture, while another holds a more nuanced view and works at reconciling both biblical and scientific truth. I hold to the second view. From the time I was in second grade and asked my dad how there could be real dinosaur bones buried in the ground, (I assume up until that point I believed dinosaurs to be a myth, but my memory is unclear on this point.), and he answered that they must have really been here, I have worked at figuring out how this could be.

When I was in college, the church my parents began attending had a wonderful video series in their library, titled, Does God Exist ?, which held multiple lessons by John Clayton, a scientist and high school science teacher. Through these, he taught some of the fallacies evolutionists have taught along the way, but he didn't dismiss everything that they taught. The point of the series was of course a defense of the Christian faith, but there were so many answers, or potential answers to my questions, that I poured over the series multiple times.

After I left college and become more well read, I discovered that a majority of the Christian authors I loved and respected had no problem with this reconciliation. I was also encountering more Christians personally that were of this same mind. Granted, the majority that I knew were still anti evolution, but as my horizons were broadening and I learned more, there was a real burden that was lightening. This is the kind of stuff that can keep me up at night, so as Evans explains in her article, I didn't have to choose between the two. They didn't cancel each other out, and as I studied more, I found just how complimentary they could be.

There are still areas that are unclear, which I will write about soon, but I wanted to get this series started with a bit of my background and understanding, then move onto some of the theological challenges in understanding scripture and the universe God created.

Worship For Mission

2010-09-22T09:17:00.002-04:00

I had a conversation the other day with a friend. We were discussing the purpose of worship on Sundays, when we come together for word and sacrament. I shared my disagreement with the idea of using that time of worship largely or primarily for evangelism. That the time together is for the body of Christ, to confess our sins, hear his word and receive him in the bread and the wine. It is a time for strengthening the body of Christ to go into the world, our neighborhoods and be Christ to the people we meet, to invite them into our lives.

Just last night, I was reading of Jesus and the disciples on the road to Emmaus. I was struck by how Christ led the disciples in word and sacrament.

Luke 24

13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.28 So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, 29 but they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent.” So he went in to stay with them. 30 When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. 32 They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” 33 And they rose that same hour and returned to Jerusalem. And they found the eleven and those who were with them gathered together, 34 saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!” 35 Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he was known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Now, these disciples had had a very bad and confusing few days. Their hoped for saviour had been crucified, yet there were rumors that he had risen. They didn't know what to make of all that had happened, so they were going home. But Jesus loves his disciples and won't let them stay in a state of confusion, so he gives them the word, his word, himself. He helps them to understand. Then he gives them himself, revealed by the breaking of the bread. The disciple response isn't to go to bed deeply satisfied after their long journey. No, their response is to go and tell.

Isn't that what we, the body of Christ should do? Come together to find clarity and hope in God's word, let Christ reveal himself to us in the eucharist, so that we will be strengthened in wisdom and faith to share Christ with the world?

Yeshua The Super Jew-100% Kosher

2010-09-20T12:17:00.002-04:00

This provocative title is actually the name of the first of four talks to be given by Brian Kvasnica at St. John Lutheran Church on September 25 and 26. I have not met Brian, but have heard rave reviews from many of my friends who have had the pleasure of his knowledge and understanding of Christianity's relationship with Judaism as he has guided them through Israel. If you'd like to find out for yourself what could be the meaning behind such a title, come out this weekend and give him a listen.

Remembering

2010-09-08T13:11:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I stopped by to pay our car insurance at the local office. The agent who I saw there, I hadn't seen since last November. Early November. As Olivia and I were entering through the doorway, the agent's face lit up and she asked where was my "baby on board" sign. She didn't know that I had lost our baby just weeks after having seen her last. I told her we had lost the baby and I could see the regret on her face immediately. She told me how sorry she was. I told her it was all right, that it had been tough, but that we were okay. She explained again that she was so sorry. What I then told her and what I hope she takes to heart is that it really is okay, that it is just so good that she remembered. She remembered our baby.

The word remember is a particularly interesting word, suggesting more than merely a thought, but a bringing back together. To re-member. The Greek work for this is anamnesis. When the church celebrates the Eucharist, this word, anamnesis, is used to describe what happens. Christ is present. Christ is remembered.

By faith we know that those who die in the Lord are not in fact dead, but are resting in Jesus. What does this mean exactly when we remember our loved ones? I am not sure, but am convinced it is more than a thought.

Liturgy and Life

2010-09-01T12:08:00.001-04:00

I have been preparing to teach a class on the Christian Liturgy. One of my main concerns as I work out how to present what I'm learning is how to break the liturgy down, to take it apart, without killing the mystery and life which it holds, such as what happens when one dissects a frog, leaving an understanding of systems but losing on understanding of its "frogginess", or as Bitzer from Hard Times, by Dickens, would understand a horse.

'Bitzer,' said Thomas Gradgrind. 'Your definition of a horse.'

'Quadruped. Graminivorous. Forty teeth, namely twenty-four grinders, four eye-teeth, and twelve incisive. Sheds coat in the spring; in marshy countries, sheds hoofs, too. Hoofs hard, but requiring to be shod with iron. Age known by marks in mouth.' Thus (and much more) Bitzer.

'Now girl number twenty,' said Mr. Gradgrind. 'You know what a horse is.'

Perhaps the only way to prevent such a thing from happening is to participate. Just as we would greatly increase our understanding of "frogginess" by observing frogs in their natural habitat or of horses by living around them as did Sally Jupe, a.k.a., girl number twenty, and even more so by becoming a frog or a horse if that were possible, Christ invites us to participate in the divine, looking forward to the Heavenly banquet, we may partake of it in the here and now in the bread and the wine, because Christ himself is present. Christ lives in us and we in him. That is what prevents the liturgy from becoming a just a system or ritual or set of theories.

Bureaucracy and Freedom

2010-08-26T10:51:00.002-04:00

I really enjoy watching Governor Christie answer the press's questions. He's such a straight shooter, that he reveals more than the inquirer really wants to know. Here he is answering a question of how New Jersey lost money from the federal government in the "Race to the Top" program. There are a few things to observe and a few questions to be asked after watching this.

For one thing, this is the kind of bureaucratic decision making that brings about nightmares for anyone needing to deal with the government. Just how necessary are all those forms and just how much information is needed to asses the progress of a state's schools? Why is the federal government even involved in a state's education policies? Has there been any improvement in education since the beginning of the federalization of education in the early 20th century?

I admire greatly, the Governor's taking the heat and not firing a mid-level employee for an understandable and repairable mistake. The fact that the missing information was easily attainable by the feds and was even given to them verbally shows the frightening power those who work in the federal government have over those who rely on them. I can't imagine that this decision would have been made if Governor Christie were a Democrat. The more individuals, communities, states, etc. rely on the federal government for any kind of funding, the more power it will have over our everyday lives and we will be subject to their whims and political allegiances. Conversely, if the state of New Jersey finds itself unshackled by the demands of the federal government, it may in fact have the flexibility to better educate its children and exercise a bit more freedom.

This is just another example of why we homeschool.

What's Eating You?

2010-08-18T11:01:00.006-04:00

Jesus says,

I have come that you may have life, and that you may have it more abundantly.

And,

Take and eat, this is my body which is given for you.

I was thinking of this the other day, of how all the gods, demons, and idols of this world do not give life, but take it. They feed on us, whether the gods Molech, Baal, the Aztec god, Tezcatlipoca, the Greek/Roman system of gods, the gods of Hindu or ancestral spirits in Africa. All require sacrifice, some even human sacrifice to please and feed them.

C.S. Lewis' character Screwtape expresses this well in The Screwtape Letters

To us a human is primarily food; our aim is the absorption of its will into ours, the increase of our own area of selfhood at its expense.

As does the apostle, Peter,

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

These are simply the obvious gods, but the idols of this world are even more subtle than this. We in the west, people of technology and materialism have our own idols. We, ironically, are called consumers, yet we work to make money to buy things that eat at our time and energy, and what is this life but our time and energy? We kill time watching television or surfing the internet. We buy too much and the wrong kind of food so that our health deteriorates at a faster pace than normal. Temporarily we feel powerful, then at times wonder why our lives feel out of control, why our relationships seem shallow and where our time has gone.

Then we come to Jesus' words,

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

On it's face, doesn't this seem contradictory? Jesus wants to give us life, yet he requires we lose it. If God and the demons require sacrifice, then what's the difference?

One thing we must consider is the nature of sacrifice. God commanded Israel to sacrifice, not because he needed anything or required cajoling in return for some favour. God required sacrifice for the life of mankind, to show the grievousness of sin and to prepare the way for Jesus' sacrifice which was for all sins for all time. The fact is, is that we all sacrifice, we all live to something, but it is in living to God, which Jesus has shown, that we are to truly and fully live.

What is the purpose of sacrifice? It is love. Love by nature is sacrificial, but when we separate love of God and people from the sacrifice then it is all for naught.

The apostle Paul says,

If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

We may have life, and have it abundantly, yet how much I sacrifice to the idols of this age.

Kyrie eleison.

The Best Political Ad.

2010-08-17T11:40:00.000-04:00

I've seen in a long time.

There is a reason why the Republican party continues to hearken back to Ronald Reagan. He not only was an outstanding communicator, but understood the value of liberty down to his bones. He had another gift in that he did not confuse disagreeing with a person's beliefs with dislike for that person. I think we have lost that distinction to a great extent in our society, whether in politics, church, or in the culture at large. We could learn a lot from this great man.

Tea And Scones

2010-08-13T11:55:00.001-04:00

or coffee and chocolate cake or milk and cookies, but please, no cupcakes! Cupcakes, when they were used normally are actually okay in my book, but these twee, wine paired, over the top monstrosities have got to go. What is an appropriate use of cupcakes? Pot-lucks and school room birthdays.

The idea of a cupcake is so that one can serve a lot of people a bit of cake and icing without having to use utensils, but not anymore. Just try eating one of these bloated, icing globbed creations without a fork or knife. It's impossible unless you enjoy icing shoved into your nostrils. And now, they're everywhere, springing up in towns, cities, and television shows near you. In the small city in which I live there are at least two. Not surprisingly, even Congress has installed a cupcake toppings bar.

I am not against this trend simply to be anti-trend. I am against it because it is childish and expensive. It's like ordering a daiquiri when one can have a great gin and tonic. I long for the return the real bakeries with fresh tarts, scones, cakes, pies, french bread, croissants, hard rolls, and hot cross buns during Lent. A small selection of cupcakes that can be eaten in hand for those under eight years old may be tolerated.

The End Of College

2010-08-03T23:29:00.000-04:00

Here's an article at Daily Finance, which lists seven reasons not to send your kids to college. All the reasons given have to do with finances - basically that one will not receive a proper return on the investment. I think we have gotten things completely mixed up as to the purpose of college. It used to be its purpose was to obtain an education and the purpose of an education was to become more fully human, to expand one's mind and shape proper sensibilities so as to know and understand what is true, good and beautiful.

If one wants a career, wouldn't apprenticeships be a much better solution than four to five years of classes and thousands of dollars of debt?

Toward the end of the article a few suggestions are given as to how to receive an education without college: traveling abroad, volunteering or simply reading. I think a great deal can be learned under a wise tutor or professor, but that is not what many of our colleges offer anymore, nor is it what is expected of them.

Joy, Happiness, Duty, or Love?

2010-08-02T02:08:00.003-04:00

Rod Dreher and Damon Linker have had a bit of a back and forth regarding Jennifer Senior's article which asks why modern day parenting leads to unhappiness. Dreher proposes that parenting is not about happiness, but about joy and that happiness is transformed into joy in the sacrifice. Linker takes him on by saying his position is too Kantian in choosing duty over self indulgence and calling it joy; that there has to be a more integrated, less polarizing way of looking at raising children based on the Aristotelian philosophy of happiness. (Senior touches on this at the end of her article.)

My mind keeps recalling the Wendell Berry book titled, What are People For?. Isn't that a great title? I imagine how one answers that question will reveal a great deal about, not only one's relationship with one's children, but also with all other relationships. People aren't for using, to bring us joy or happiness, or to whom we must perform some sort of duty. People are for loving and relating. It's not easy and it goes beyond mere affection, but in the end, that is what people are for. When one loves another, one forgets oneself and the evaluation of one's own happiness doesn't take place, because one's thoughts are of the other. A true humility is present.

A loving parent changing a diaper isn't getting any happiness per se, but neither is he just doing his duty in this task. The task is done for the good and health of the child. In doing the task, he is building the relationship on trust and kindness. In our family, diaper changing was often a time of singing and conversing, because we were relating to and caring for our child, a fellow human, made in the image of God.

This idea that another person is going to make one happy or bring fulfillment is very damaging to both parties. It will lead to constant frustration, disappointment and blaming the other for one's misery. The fact that so many surveys have been taken to measure parents' happiness, as is detailed in Senior's piece, is quite telling in itself. You may not be evaluating your happiness, but some social scientist wants to. I can't help but wonder why and to what purpose. Are children now seen by society at large as a net loss? It is starting to look that way.

Love looks out for the other, cares for the other, hopes for the good of the other. In the words of St. Paul, Love never fails. I hope someone develops a survey to ascertain if having children encourages adults to be more loving.

Twenty Years And Counting

2010-07-14T09:34:00.000-04:00

It is a strange phenomenon that what seems like just yesterday can also seem like 'has always been', but we mark time, and the calendar tells it was twenty years ago today that David and I were married.

How to describe a life that has brought two people together with both things in common and things not, that has, through love and commitment, become a family? I describe it as miraculous and beautiful.

With all the problems and joys that fill up twenty years, I thank God for his grace and wisdom that we have relied upon to see us to this point. I thank David for being the man he is: kind, industrious, intelligent, patient. What great qualities to bring to a marriage and on which to create a family. Even through the tragedies, I realize we have a beautiful life....we have loved each other well.

Happy Birthday, Emma!

2010-07-09T00:48:00.000-04:00

Emma is now fourteen and becoming quite a lovely young woman. This Saturday she'll be off on a mission trip with the youth group at church, soon followed by a week of dance intensive and then begins her freshman year of high school (homeschooled, of course). I realize the life changes will come more quickly now, but I'm not apprehensive. She is fun loving, responsible and has her own sense of style and of herself. I have so much for which to be thankful and optimistic. She is truly a blessing.

Happy birthday, dear Emma.

Happy Independence Day

2010-07-04T01:05:00.001-04:00

We have been given such a gift, to be born or received into such a country as these United States. Just a cursory view of past civilizations reveals how truly unique is our small place in history . A republic with the stated purpose of freedom and justice for all is indeed rare. Like so many gifts, it is often taken for granted or used as a means for obtaining power and control by those whose intentions are not those of pursuing freedom and justice. While we are right to be vigilant in keeping those forces at bay, I also think it is important, especially now when our economy is failing, our freedoms are being legislated away and justice is too often denied, that we not place our faith in those things which will not last. There is a great quote by C.S. Lewis:

A man may have to die for our country: but no man must, in any exclusive sense, live for his country. He who surrenders himself without reservation to the temporal claims of a nation, or a party, or a class is rendering to Caesar that which, of all things, most emphatically belongs to God: himself.

So, let us be good stewards in praying for and electing good and true politicians, let us lend our voice for those who are in need of justice, use our freedoms to do good, all the while placing our trust in the Author of life and liberty. Let us live to God.

Do You Follow Fashion?

2010-06-29T15:17:00.003-04:00

I don't. It's not that I haven't tried, it's just that I don't get it. I remember as a teenager, being really perplexed by not being able to put together an outfit like everyone else did. There were always discrepencies between what was in the fashion magazines and what people really wore. For a while I stuck with jeans and sweaters because it was ultimately safe. How I found what I really liked was by watching movies and television. I fell in love with the fashions worn in Chariot's of Fire, the Giorgio Armani clothing that adorned the fashion models shown on Style with Elsa Klensch, many of the outfits worn by Lisa Bonet on The Cosby Show, and later the fashions on the BBC series, House of Eliott.

This led to a certain freedom in how I dress. As my eldest daughter, Emma, tells me, "Mom, you have a style, it's just not in style!". Well, that suits me just fine. What got me thinking about all of this, is this graphic that Hipster Christianity sent out on Facebook. My suggestion would be to skip the cycle and wear what you find to be beautiful and useful. If you happen to land on the cycle every once in a while, no worries. Life is too short to be concerned with being too hip or not hip enough.

Terrafugia Transition

2010-06-29T09:42:00.002-04:00

That is the name of a new lightweight airplane that can also be legally driven on the road.

Very cool.
I can't help but think of the aircraft in Metropolis, flying around the city.

The Vatican Gives Two Thumbs Up

2010-06-17T11:19:00.000-04:00

to the Blues Brothers. That's right, the Vatican has given it's endorsement to the Blues Brothers, just in time for the film's 30th anniversary. It's good to know they have a sense of humor.
Here's to Jake and Elwood and their mission from God.

Who's Winning?

2010-06-16T17:35:00.001-04:00

Another hat tip to Rod Dreher. He's been blogging about Stephen Prothero's new book titled God is Not One, which points out what should be obvious, that the world religions are not the same. They ask different questions, give different answers and define what it means to be human differently. Now Prothero's been interviewed by Stephen Colbert.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Stephen Prothero

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Fox News

I like that Colbert is willing to humorously interview religious writers and thinkers. So much of the time issues of faith are removed from the public square. Here's an interview with N.T. Wright.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Bishop N.T. Wright

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Fox News

And here's another with scientist and Christian Francis Collins.

The Colbert Report

Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c

Francis Collins

www.colbertnation.com

Colbert Report Full Episodes

Political Humor

Fox News

Frustrations With Technology

2010-06-09T13:32:00.001-04:00

Sorry the Like button isn't working correctly, folks. Have been attempting to fix it, but cautiously, so that I don't remove the necessary html code and lose the blog! Thanks for your patience.

Update:
I have at least been able to remove the problem without any damage! Thanks again for your patience.

In What Time Do You Live?

2010-06-09T10:20:00.002-04:00

Hat tip to Rod Dreher for this educational and entertaining video, The Secret Powers of Time. In it, time perspective is described by where one lives in relation to the equator, but then is also described by how one's brain is rewired by the use of technology. One thing in particular that I think is significant, is the speaker, Philip Zimbardo's description of schools. He says that schools are passive. I think this is accurate, but regrettable. Real learning is active and engaged. This is what John Taylor Gatto describes so well in his book, Dumbing Us Down, when he describes what schools do is everything but provide students with an education. Yes, I know there are many wonderful teachers out there, but the good ones are always having to find a way to work around the system of public and often private educational institutions.

A Story Of Life

2010-06-08T09:21:00.001-04:00

Below is a clip of Andrea Bocelli telling the story of his brave mother, choosing to let him live despite the odds of his having a disability. I am reminded of what C.S. Lewis says in Mere Christianity.

Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point, which means, at the point of highest reality. A chastity or honesty or mercy which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it become risky.

Judaism And Fantasy

2010-06-03T01:41:00.002-04:00

Yesterday, I received a new journal in the mail, Jewish Review of Books. I haven't ordered it and it is the first issue, so I figure I must be on a mailing list, perhaps since I subscribe to First Things.

One of the articles is fascinating to me. It is titled, Why There is No Jewish Narnia, by Michael Weingrad. The first thing that impresses me about the article is how well the author knows some of the more obscure facts about Tolkien and Lewis. The second is the truly thoughtful and revealing reasons he gives for the lack of fantasy literature written by Jewish authors.

The reasons he gives are that:

1. Much fantasy is tied to the medieval feudal system which is not welcoming to Jews.
2. Jews are heavily invested in modernity.
3. Since the Holocaust, fantasy can make redemption seem too easy.
4. Judaism to a large degree has banished magical and mythological elements. (Remember, Tolkien and Dyson had been instrumental in Lewis's conversion to Christianity by showing how Christianity was true myth.)

He says:

To put it crudely, if Christianity is a fantasy religion, then Judaism is a science fiction religion If the former is individualistic, magical, and salvationist, the latter is collective, technical, and this worldly.

Weingrad goes on to say that these differences are reflected in the much greater number of Jews who are science fiction writers. There are those who are breaking into the fantasy genre and he reviews two books whose authors who are doing just that. One is called The Magicians, by Leve Grossman, which is more satirical in nature and Ha-Mayim she-bein ha-olamot (The Water Between the Worlds), by Hagar Yanai, a second in a trilogy aimed at adolescents.

I've linked to the article above. Do make time to read it. It is as revealing in its presentation of the Christian faith and its way of seeing the world as it is the Jewish faith.

So, What Is A Blog, Anyway?

2010-06-01T11:15:00.003-04:00

Switched asks, "What is a blog?". There are some interesting answers, like the guy who refers to bloggers as only a third as smart as they really are. Huh?

After Camping Conversation

2010-05-31T18:00:00.002-04:00

After camping this weekend, our family stopped for a bite to eat, and this a summarized portion of the conversation we had.

Emma: I think we should go see Robin Hood.
David: No, I don't think we'll be going to see that.
Emma: I read the book for school.
David: Really? How old is the story?
Emma: I think it was written around the 1850's.
Me: The story of Robin Hood has been around for hundred's of years, and many legends have grown around the historical figure. The story you read was written by Roger Lancelyn Green, probably in the 1930's or 40's.
Emma: I was only about 100 years off.
Me: Yes, that's right. Did you know Roger Lancelyn Green was a good friend of C.S. Lewis's?
Emma: You talk about C.S. Lewis so much, it's like he's your best friend. Really, it's like you're going to meet him at Annie Moore's on Wednesday.
David: Emma, I think you just paid your mother the greatest compliment she could receive.

Nota bene: RLG's The Adventure's of Robin Hood was published in 1956.

For Ascension Sunday

2010-05-20T01:32:00.000-04:00

this is what we sang in choir.

I love this song both for its beauty and meaning. It is one of my favourite chorale pieces to sing. It was written by Thomas Tallis, an English composer, during the reign of Edward VI. The words are taken from The Gospel of John 14:15-17

15If ye love me, keep my commandments.
16And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

What a wonderful promise.

The Toymaker

2010-05-14T21:36:00.000-04:00

For those who like art or have children who like paper crafts and to make their own toys, here is a wonderful website called The Toymaker. These are really beautiful and there are even templates for boxes to use for gifts. If you sign up for their newsletter, you'll be sent fun toys to make every month. Lovely watercolors.

Juniper Green For A Fine Warm Weather Drink

2010-05-14T19:53:00.002-04:00

Bought a bottle of Juniper Green today. Gin and tonic season is upon us!
Update: Getting inquiries, so here's the website.

Western Evangelical Crack-up

2010-05-14T18:10:00.002-04:00

Over at Rod Dreher's blog he asks, "Are you a Christian hipster?", and links to this quiz which is set on a website about the book Hipster Christianity, by Brett McCracken. It is an interesting take on what's going on in Protestant circles today. Are these signs of hipness really just signs of Evangelicals looking for a more meaningful way of worshiping and living out their daily life in a way consistent with their Christian faith? I'm not talking about the person who's trying to be hip, as in the ironic video in my previous post, but those who are really trying to let their faith form how they live rather than allowing certain western cultural norms define their faith.

A while back, I posted about an article the late Michael Spencer wrote for The Christian Science Monitor, titled, The Coming Evangelical Collapse. I think this hipness is a sign of the collapse, or perhaps it's reformation.

For what it's worth, here is my quiz result.

Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
86 / 120
High CHQ. You are a pretty progressive, stylish, hipster-leaning Christian, even while you could easily feel at home in a decidedly un-hip non-denominational church. You are conservative on some issues and liberal on others, and sometimes you grow weary of trendy "alt-Christianity." But make no mistake: You are a Christian hipster to at least some degree.

I don't think anyone who has read much of what I've written would think I'd be comfortable in a non-denominational congregation, which here in the States, usually means free form, seeker friendly, non-liturgical.

If you take the quiz, check out the whole website. Kind of funny what is being defined as hip, like being well read!

Worship And Relevance

2010-05-08T15:52:00.003-04:00

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.
The folks at North Point Media are really good sports to produce this video. What a hoot! In other ways, though, it is pretty disturbing. The desire to be relevant actually results in being faddish and temporary.

If one would consider the historical liturgy, it is incredibly scriptural, ties us in a real, concrete way to the ancient church and to the church catholic, and builds to the important act and gift of receiving Christ in the bread and the wine. There is real beauty and holiness in that. How much more relevant can one get?! It also removes the need or desire to always come up with something new. The newness comes not in the liturgy, but how God works on us and forms us through the liturgy. In Letters to Malcolm: Chiefly on Prayer, Lewis writes:

Every service is a structure of acts and words through which we receive a sacrament, or repent, or supplicate, or adore. And it enables us to do these things best – if you like, it “works” best – when, through long familiarity, we don’t have to think about it. As long as you notice, and have to count the steps, you are not yet dancing but only learning to dance…Thus my whole liturgiological position really boils down to an entreaty for permanence and uniformity.

Some more good helpful thoughts on the liturgy can be found at I Monk.

Hat tip to Scot McKnight over at Jesus Creed for the video.

The Lutherans Song

2010-05-07T00:23:00.003-04:00

A little dated, but still good fun!

Lyle Lovett, John Mellencamp, Ace Frehley of KISS
St. Olaf, Henry Muhlenberg, Gustavus Adolphus
'89 and 1992's Miss America
Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, William Rehnquist, we swear-ica
Bruce Willis, Lonnie Anderson, David Hasselhoff
William Hurt, William H. Macey, Kris Kristofferson are Lutherans
And on the late night TV screen, Andy Richter could tell somebody "what does this mean"
Steve Jobs of the Apple computer
Gary Larson of the Far Side cartoon
Three different astronauts who flew shuttles toward the moon
Dave Winfield and NASCAR's Dales, Earnhardt and Jarrett, each had an acolyte gown and were happy to wear it
Tim Johnson, Fritz Hollings, Paul Simon and Ed Meece all have been known to sing a little "this is the feast"
You know who likes his potluck dinner? Troy Aikman the Super Bowl winner
Governers of Indiana, Minnesota, Wyoming, Kansas, Idaho, Montana and Tennessee
And Pachabel, with a Canon In D
And Woody from Cheers and Cindy McTee these all sing a little Lutheran liturgy
Elke Sommer, Martin Marty and Lucas Cranach, The Old
Albert Swietzer, Soren Kierkegaard and Dag Hammerskold
Sally Struthers, Anne Margaret, and J.A.O. Preuss
Mary Hart, Garrison Keiller, Lake Wobegon's voice
Liv Ullman, Tom Landry, Professor Pelliken whose name is Jaroslav
Pauls -- Gerhardt, Manz, Meir and Stormin' Norman Schwartzkopf
Robert Cade, the Gatorade maker
Johannes Keppler and Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Martin Luther wasn't born a Lutheran and that might be a shock, but Mark Hansen was, April Larson and Johann Sebastian Bach
There are foods that Lutherans adopt, for example, the pretzel
Dana Carvey is a Lutheran, now "isn't that special?"
Yes, these all are Lutherans but still only just a few
The most notable Lutherans of all are every single one of you!

The Lutherans Song was commissioned for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America national youth gathering. Written and performed by Michael Bridges and George Baum.

Organic Fruits And Vegetables

2010-05-04T11:28:00.008-04:00

A helpful chart to navigate the challenge between eating healthily without going broke.

You can get the file to download here.

Hat tip to Slashfood.

Update: Having trouble with the image. Will keep working at it, but in the meantime, check out the link.

U.N. = Unbelievable

2010-04-30T12:55:00.000-04:00

The United Nations has long entered the self-parodying phase of it's existence when governments with such stellar human rights records such as China and Saudi Arabia were allowed on the Commission for Human Rights which was then transformed into the Human Rights Council, and it looks as though they intend to stay there. I read last night that Iran has been elected to the Commission on the Status of Women, with no objection from the U.S. I might add. Read here for a list of laws against women in Iran. Here are just a few.

Must have husband's permission to obtain a passport.
Will receive 74 strokes of the lash for appearing in public without an Islamic hejab.
Cannot leave home without husband's permission.
Can be divorced for any reason without recourse or prior knowledge.

This picture is of an Iranian girl being prepared for stoning. The government that condones this now sits on the Commission on the Status of Women. Travesty is not too strong a word.

Boxen

2010-04-28T19:26:00.002-04:00

Today I purchased C.S. Lewis' book, Boxen, which he wrote with his elder brother Warnie when they were children. Normally, I would have put off the splurge, and in fact this book is in my 'to buy' list at Amazon, but there it was in real, tangible life, and I didn't resist. I didn't even try.

Lewis' childhood literary influences were E. Nesbitt, Arthur Conan Doyle and Mark Twain, but his most loved was Beatrix Potter, where he found beauty.

He writes of how he began writing in Surprised by Joy:

What drove me to write was the extreme manual clumsiness from which I have always suffered. I attribute it to a physical defect which my brother and I both inherit from our father; we have only one joint in the thumb....As a last resource, as a pis aller, I was driven to write stories instead; little dreaming to what a world of happiness I was being admitted. You can do more with a castle in a story than with the best cardboard castle that ever stood on a nursery table.
I soon staked out a claim to one of the attics and made it "my study." Pictures, of my won making or cut from the brightly coloured Christmas numbers of magazines, were nailed on the walls. There I kept my pen and inkpot and writing books and paintbox; and there

What more felicity can fall to creature
Than to enjoy delight with liberty?

Here my first stories were written, and illustrated, with enormous satisfaction. They were an attempt to combine my two chief literary pleasures-"dressed animals" and "knights in armour."

The Simpson's Show Of Solidarity

2010-04-27T10:05:00.000-04:00

N.T. Wright To Retire

2010-04-27T09:34:00.000-04:00

Wow! N.T. Wright will retire as Bishop of Durham this August. I've been amazed at his ability to fulfill this role with his abundance of writing and his speaking schedule, and he says it has become increasingly difficult. I can't help but think this will leave a huge hole in the leadership of the Anglican church, but Wright will continue writing and teaching, so the while the Anglican Church will lose a leader, the world at large will still benefit from his great mind and heart for Christ.

His new position will be Research Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

Caving In To Totalitarians

2010-04-26T10:08:00.000-04:00

Ross Douthat, writing in Sunday's New York Times, examines the cowardice of western European and North American societies in their caving to Islamists threats. Here's a portion of his article.

In a way, the muzzling of “South Park” is no more disquieting than any other example of Western institutions’ cowering before the threat of Islamist violence. It’s no worse than the German opera house that temporarily suspended performances of Mozart’s opera “Idomeneo” because it included a scene featuring Muhammad’s severed head. Or Random House’s decision to cancel the publication of a novel about the prophet’s third wife. Or Yale University Press’s refusal to publish the controversial Danish cartoons ... in a book about the Danish cartoon crisis. Or the fact that various Western journalists, intellectuals and politicians — the list includes Oriana Fallaci in Italy, Michel Houellebecq in France, Mark Steyn in Canada and Geert Wilders in the Netherlands — have been hauled before courts and “human rights” tribunals, in supposedly liberal societies, for daring to give offense to Islam.

But there’s still a sense in which the “South Park” case is particularly illuminating. Not because it tells us anything new about the lines that writers and entertainers suddenly aren’t allowed to cross. But because it’s a reminder that Islam is just about the only place where we draw any lines at all.

Across 14 on-air years, there’s no icon “South Park” hasn’t trampled, no vein of shock-comedy (sexual, scatalogical, blasphemous) it hasn’t mined. In a less jaded era, its creators would have been the rightful heirs of Oscar Wilde or Lenny Bruce — taking frequent risks to fillet the culture’s sacred cows.

In ours, though, even Parker’s and Stone’s wildest outrages often just blur into the scenery. In a country where the latest hit movie, “Kick-Ass,” features an 11-year-old girl spitting obscenities and gutting bad guys while dressed in pedophile-bait outfits, there isn’t much room for real transgression. Our culture has few taboos that can’t be violated, and our establishment has largely given up on setting standards in the first place.

Except where Islam is concerned. There, the standards are established under threat of violence, and accepted out of a mix of self-preservation and self-loathing.

This is what decadence looks like: a frantic coarseness that “bravely” trashes its own values and traditions, and then knuckles under swiftly to totalitarianism and brute force.

How very "brave" are our culture makers until a foreign, "other" culture makes threats. They don't self regulate in the interest of good taste, honor, or the respect of another. Is this an example of familiarity breeding contempt?

Signs Of Spring

2010-04-24T11:35:00.003-04:00

This spring, a house finch and her mate have decided to take up residence in our front door wreath. We're having a great time observing all their comings and goings. Here are some pictures taken at Easter.

Here's the mama finch getting settled.

Here she is all nestled in.

Three eggs as of Easter, she has laid three more since.

At night the daddy finch rests on top of the wreath warding off dangers.

*Pictures taken by Emma Hawkins.

Christianity And Culture: Living In The Image Of God Part 2

2010-04-23T11:01:00.003-04:00

As we think about how to evaluate and understand culture, let's take a closer look at idolatry.

There is no neutral ground in the universe: every square inch, every split second, is claimed by God and counterclaimed by Satan. C.S. Lewis

I would suggest that this first consequence of the fall, being inclined toward idolatry, is the greatest of the consequences, and is the root of all other consequences.

Evil consists not in being created but in the rebellious idolatry by which humans worship and honor elements of the natural world rather than the God who made them. The result is that the cosmos is out of joint. Instead of humans being God’s vice-regents over creation, they ignore the creator and try to worship something less demanding, something that will give them a short-term fix of power or pleasure. N.T. Wright

Idolatry-

1. Is anything that is put in place of God - We use idols to avoid God and his holiness.

For when we cease to worship God, we do not worship nothing, we worship anything. G.K. Chesterton

2. Comes in pairs - Dominion and trust are replaced with domination and overdependence. The nearby god results from the need of dominion corrupted into domination and the faraway god results from the need for trust corrupted into overdependence. Jeremiah 23:23-24
Examples of nearby gods are technique, expertise, money, health, and law/legalism.
Examples of faraway gods are chance, fate, self-esteem, financial security, and our own idea of God.

3. Deceives - Enslaves and overpowers us. Tolkien’s literary portrayal of Smeagol being transformed into Gollum is an excellent image of what happens to us when we turn to idols. He can no longer say “I” and can only say,“we”. It is the psychology of damnation. Whatever we worship, we become.

Psalm 115:4-8

4 Their idols are silver and gold,
the work of human hands.
5 They have mouths, but do not speak;
eyes, but do not see.
6 They have ears, but do not hear;
noses, but do not smell.
7 They have hands, but do not feel;
feet, but do not walk;
and they do not make a sound in their throat.
8 Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.

A man is in bondage to whatever he cannot part with that is less than himself. George MacDonald

4. Fails us, which we see happen to Baal's prophets in I Kings 18:20-29.

20 So Ahab sent to all the people of Israel and gathered the prophets together at Mount Carmel. 21 And Elijah came near to all the people and said, “How long will you go limping between two different opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal, then follow him.” And the people did not answer him a word. 22 Then Elijah said to the people, “I, even I only, am left a prophet of the Lord, but Baal's prophets are 450 men. 23 Let two bulls be given to us, and let them choose one bull for themselves and cut it in pieces and lay it on the wood, but put no fire to it. And I will prepare the other bull and lay it on the wood and put no fire to it. 24 And you call upon the name of your god, and I will call upon the name of the Lord, and the God who answers by fire, he is God.” And all the people answered, “It is well spoken.” 25 Then Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, “Choose for yourselves one bull and prepare it first, for you are many, and call upon the name of your god, but put no fire to it.” 26 And they took the bull that was given them, and they prepared it and called upon the name of Baal from morning until noon, saying, “O Baal, answer us!” But there was no voice, and no one answered. And they limped around the altar that they had made. 27 And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 28 And they cried aloud and cut themselves after their custom with swords and lances, until the blood gushed out upon them. 29 And as midday passed, they raved on until the time of the offering of the oblation, but there was no voice. No one answered; no one paid attention.

You can’t get second things by putting them first; you get the second things only by putting first things first. C.S. Lewis, First Things, in God in the Dock

The scriptures teach that idolatry is taken into the heart by the learned (Ezekiel 14:1-5), associated with sexual immorality and covetousness (Ephesians 5:5), associated with sexual immorality , impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness. (Colossians 3:5), and participation with demons (I Corinthians 10:14-33).

In the temptations of Jesus in Matthew 4:1-11, the first temptation is to put trust in the nearby god of physical security, the second temptation is to put trust in a god of a different character than Yahweh and the third temptation is to put trust in the nearby god of personal dominion/domination. All the temptations are to go about attaining the Kingdom without the cross, and giving in to them would be idolatrous. (See my earlier post, Stones To Bread, for more thoughts on Christ's temptations.)

Sacrifice as much as you please, cajole and flatter as you please, beat your disobedient idol with a big stick if you please-the thing still won't give you what you want. In consequence, all idolatrous cultures tend to get nastier and nastier. If a small bribe doesn't succeed, they offer more. The idol will not respond to a dance of virgins with flowers? Very well, let's try a dance of warriors mutilating themselves with knives. You have cut off a lock of your hair and laid it before the idol, yet life is still dark? Try cutting your first-born's throat and offering him. Nor does the idol's continued silence teach you better sense, if you're a natural-born idolater. For if Mumbo-Jumbo is so bard to please, what a very great Mumbo-Jumbo he must be !
Joy Davidman from Smoke on the Mountain.

What kind of idols does our society worship? What sacrifices do these idols demand? What kind of culture does this create?

I'm Happy To

2010-04-19T20:07:00.000-04:00

This was my conversation tonight with Olivia as I was preparing dinner.

Olivia: If I wash my hands, can I help with dinner?
Me: Sure sweetheart. You can tear the ham into pieces for the casserole.

Later, as she's helping.

Me: Thank you for helping.
Olivia: Oh, I'm happy to.

If only I were always so happy to be helpful.

Antony Flew, R.I.P.

2010-04-19T10:30:00.000-04:00

I found out today that Antony Flew died on April 8. Flew created a few waves in 2004 when he publicly announced that after years of atheism, the scientific evidence, particularly in the area of biology, led him to believe in a creator of some kind. This led to overreactions by atheists who claimed that he had become senile, but one can see from these videos of a forum held at Westminster Chapel with Flew, N.T. Wright and Gary Habermas that his mind was still sharp and full of good humor. Rest in peace, Dr. Flew.

Christianity And Culture: Living In The Image Of God Part 1

2010-04-17T01:15:00.008-04:00

This is from a series on Christianity and culture which I developed and taught last summer.

What is culture?

Culture is all around us. It’s the books we read, the type of food we eat and how we produce it, the songs we sing and listen to, the clothes we wear, the entertainment in which we partake, educational institutions, the technology we use, governing systems, the economy, the philosophies we believe, religion and faith, the words we speak, not to mention art and architecture. None of these exist in a vacuum from the other, nor can we exist in a vacuum from culture.

Here are a few definitions of culture:

1. The totality of socially transmitted behaviour patterns, arts, beliefs, institutions, and other products of human work and thought.

2. The act of, or any labor or means employed for, training, disciplining, or refining the moral and intellectual nature of man; as, the culture of the mind.

3. Comes from the word cultivate. (Think of the garden in Genesis 2)

4. James Davison Hunter defines it as; “The power to name reality”. The idea behind this is that when we name something, it defines that something and determines how we think about that something.

Culture is important for it is the nature of our humanity to create and participate in culture because God creates and we are made in His image. It helps shape our thoughts, attractions, morals and behaviours, even as we help to shape it. As Dorothy Day said, A good society is one that makes it easy to be good.

We can evaluate culture by asking if it corresponds to what is true, good and beautiful and whether it is being made or used to the glory of God or as a substitute for God.

Before we look any closer at culture, lets look at what it means to be human, and why it is important? Let's begin at the beginning.

Genesis 1

1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven. And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth, and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good.
11 And God said, “Let the earth sprout vegetation, plants yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind, on the earth.” And it was so. 12 The earth brought forth vegetation, plants yielding seed according to their own kinds, and trees bearing fruit in which is their seed, each according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening and there was morning, the third day.
14 And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, 15 and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” And it was so. 16 And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 17 And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, 18 to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. 19 And there was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.
20 And God said, “Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens.” 21 So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. 22 And God blessed them, saying, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth.” 23 And there was evening and there was morning, the fifth day.
24 And God said, “Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds—livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds.” And it was so. 25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
26 Then God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.”
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them.
28 And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit. You shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth and to every bird of the heavens and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so. 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

In Genesis 1: 1, 21, 27, the Hebrew word bara is used for create. It means to create something totally new, something which does not flow out of what came before and is only attributable to God. Bara is used three times in reference to man, underscoring his uniqueness.

In Genesis 1:26 we have the first hint of the Trinity. The complete Godhead was involved in the creation of man, adam (male and female).

We are made in the image and likeness of God. Imago Dei. This is what it means to be human.

An image is a material representation, as in a statue or on a coin, or a likeness or similarity, pattern, picture, semblance. Humans are commanded to have no graven images because we are the icons/eikons. To worship anything else leads us to become less than what we were made to be.

Note also, in Genesis 1:10,18,21and 25, God describes creation as good. In vs 31, after man has been created, God describes His creation as very good.
As Augustine noted, whatever is, must be good. (God is the ultimate being, The Great I Am.) Thus, whatever loses it’s goodness loses it’s being. Whenever we fail to conform to the image of Christ we fail to become fully human. We lose our I am-ness.

The significance of being made in the image of God is:

1. We are made to be in personal, obedient relationship with God.
2. We are made to be in personal, cooperative relationship with man.
3. We are given moral freedom
4. We have the ability to think, reason, communicate through language
5. We are given dominion over the earth, plants and animals.
6. We are to be fruitful and to recreate.

The consequences of the fall on our humanity are:

1. We are alienated from God, man being inclined toward idolatry.
2. Our relationships with fellow man is strained and inclined toward brokenness.
3. We no longer use our moral freedom rightly being inclined to sin.
4. We lose integrity. Reason, thought, communication are broken.
5. Ineffective dominion, often resorting to domination and misuse.
6. View children as burdens, sometimes less than human.

Adam and Eve turned from God, fearing Him and no longer trusting in His love for them. They then turned their focus and trust on themselves. While still made in the image of God, now we are twisted, distorted and broken. Once created good, we now through the sin of adam, choose death over life, fear over love as explained in the epistle to the Romans.

Romans 1:21-25

21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools, 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, 25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

Here is a passage from, True Heroism in a World of Celebrity Counterfeits, by Dick Keyes. It helps to explain the true extent of not living in the image of God.

Sin is not only violating moral rules. It is described by the apostle Paul as falling “short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Note that he does not say falling short of the “law” of God but of the “glory” of God–that is, short of the excellence of God in every area of his existence. It is certainly moral failure, but God’s moral excellence does not exhaust his nature. The seriousness of our sin is that we use our God-imaging capabilities to think, say and do things that oppose, defy and misrepresent God himself. As we misrepresent God’s image, we also misrepresent the selves we were created to be.

In Christ, however, the image is restored. Christ emptied himself, kenosis, to make us like him.

Philippians 2:5-11

5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

See also, Romans 8:3-4

He is the true image of God.

Colossians 1:15-23

15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

See also, II Corinthians 4:3-6

Christ transforms us into his image and restores creation.

Romans 8:12-30

¹²So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" ¹⁶ The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
¹⁸For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. ¹⁹For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. ²⁰For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope ²¹that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. ²²For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. ²³And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. ²⁴For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? ²⁵But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. ²⁶Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. ²⁷And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. ²⁸And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ²⁹For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

It is in Christ that we become truly human.

Firefly

2010-04-16T10:17:00.002-04:00

I didn't see Firefly when it was first broadcast. I have Netflix to thank for catching it on dvd. What a great television show, (space cowboys, essentially), and at the end a good movie to tie up the loose ends. While I lament it only lasting one season, so much better that than for it to die out with weak writing and characters.

Here's a fun quiz about the show. I didn't do too badly for having seen it only once, but I partly attribute that to the show being so good itself, that the story and characters kept my attention.

Your result for The Firefly / Serenity Test...

Nicely Done!!!

You scored 86%!

Here's a link to the quiz.

She Has Done A Beautiful Thing To Me

2010-04-12T01:20:00.013-04:00

A few weeks ago I taught a Sunday school class while the scheduled teacher was out of town. One of the passages of scripture I covered was Mark 14:3-9.

³ And while he was at Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he was reclining at table, a woman came with an alabaster flask of ointment of pure nard, very costly, and she broke the flask and poured it over his head. ⁴There were some who said to themselves indignantly, "Why was the ointment wasted like that? ⁵For this ointment could have been sold for more than three hundred denarii and given to the poor." And they scolded her. ⁶But Jesus said, "Leave her alone. Why do you trouble her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ⁷For you always have the poor with you, and whenever you want, you can do good for them. But you will not always have me. ⁸ She has done what she could; she has anointed my body beforehand for burial. ⁹And truly, I say to you, wherever the gospel is proclaimed in the whole world, what she has done will be told in memory of her."

While I was preparing for the class, verse six caught my attention. So many times the emphasis is placed on how costly the nard was - a whole year's wages and how extravagant was the act. One can easily begin to sympathize with the disciples for their consternation. Notice though, Jesus says what she has done is beautiful. One of the elements of beauty is proportion, to have harmonious relationships of parts within a whole, to have balance and symmetry. In reality, in the Kingdom of God, what this woman did was not extravagant at all. It was in perfect proportion, both in time and space, for she was preparing the Messiah's body for burial and anointing her king. How carefully she must have listened to her rabbi!

Another aspect of beauty is that it points to the good and what is good points to what is true. The Greek word used in verse six for beautiful is καλὸν, which means beautiful, commendable and good. What the woman has done is not only in proportion, but is commendable, so much so that we continue to praise her act to this day, just as Jesus said we would.

I pray that God gives me a heart to see what is truly beautiful.

The Witness Of Luke

2010-04-01T23:08:00.003-04:00

I've always loved that we have four Gospels, four witnesses who tell of the life of our Lord from their perspectives. I love that the Holy Spirit in guiding them did not take away their personalities or points of view. The witness whom I most appreciate is Luke. The details which he shares seem so tender and compassionate, like Mary's Magnificat, the angels and the shepherds, twelve year old Jesus sitting among the teachers at the temple, Mary choosing the better, Zacchaeus's repentance, and many more. During Holy week, one detail stands out particularly to me. It is in Luke 22, specifically vs. 43.

39 And he came out and went, as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives, and the disciples followed him. 40 And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” 41 And he withdrew from them about a stone's throw, and knelt down and prayed, 42 saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” 43 And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. 44 And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground. 45 And when he rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, 46 and he said to them, “Why are you sleeping? Rise and pray that you may not enter into temptation.”

As Jesus prayed in agony, an angel was sent to strengthen him. We don't hear about this very often in sermons, books, etc. It is such a compassionate scene and is good to know. When Jesus was praying for the cup to be removed, when his friends had failed him, the Father did not abandon him, he gave him the strength to follow through.

There is so much of Christ's death that is a mystery, that theologians will argue about until Christ returns. (Let's hope they end the arguing there!), but there seem to be some things that are clear. That the Father and the Son are one and before the world was created, they knew this day would come. (It's very hard to talk about the actions of God, knowing he is the creator of time and not bound by it!) Mankind did not shock God when it sinned; God did not have to go to plan B with the law of Moses or plan C when the law could not be kept. God worked his plan in time leading to the perfect time when he would reconcile to world to himself. This self sacrificial love is God's nature. As he transforms us into his likeness, it is also becoming ours.

I am so thankful to Luke, for reminding us that the Father loves the Son and did not abandon him in his weakness and grief.

There is a hymn which first clued me in to this part of the story. In fact, until I determined at some point in my childhood to see if the fourth stanza was even scriptural, I had thought it may have simply been made up. I'm very glad I was wrong. Here are the lyrics.

'Tis midnight, and on Olive's brow
The star is dimmed that lately shone;
'Tis midnight in the garden now,
The suff'ring Savior prays alone.

'Tis midnight, and from all removed,
The Savior wrestles lone with fears-
E'en that disciple whom He loved
Heeds not his Master's grief and tears.

'Tis midnight, and for other's guilt
The Man of Sorrows weeps in blood;
Yet He that hath in anguish knelt
Is not forsaken by His God.

'Tis midnight, and from ether-plains
Is borne the song that angels know
Unheard by mortals are the strains
That sweetly soothe the Savior's woe.

More Good Fun

2010-03-30T21:22:00.008-04:00

Here is Scott Weaver and his replication of San Fransisco made out of toothpicks.

But I Wanted Something Different

2010-03-29T12:24:00.006-04:00

Yesterday was Palm Sunday, when we remember Jesus riding into Jerusalem, rightly honoured by the crowds as conquering King. They did receive their King, just not the King they wanted and a few days later in their confusion and dismay, would shout, "Crucify him!".

I've always been grateful to have been born on this side of the resurrection, to have an understanding that God had plans other than defeating our worldly enemies in order to relieve our oppression, that the real oppressor was sin that led to separation from him who gives us life. How many times, when we ask God for something that we think we need, we end up with something totally different than what we thought we should have received. This invariably brings us to a test of faith. Do we really trust our Heavenly Father to give us, his children, good gifts when it appears so differently from what we'd hoped? We meet this challenge differently at different times, sometime weakly and other times with strong resolution, but in the end, it is the same decision the crowds had to make on Good Friday, to accept or reject Jesus as King. To say, "Yes, Lord.", or to say, "I must have been mistaken, you can't be the one I had hoped for.".

How I do sympathize with the crowds. Jesus is different than what we thought we wanted as he goes about breaking our stereotypes, even our archetypes. He is the suffering servant who shows us the Father, who empties himself to give us life - who is life, who says we must take up our cross. He may be different from what we thought we wanted, but he is just what we need. He is the true King.

A Life Redeemed

2010-03-26T10:15:00.001-04:00

I am continually amazed at Christ's work of redemption. He not only redeems us, but our past, our future, our mistakes. This work can be seen so clearly in the life of Anne Rice. I've linked to an interview with her before. Here she is in her own words from the website, I Am Second, simply sharing about her life and the life Christ has brought to her. Really lovely. Please, do watch.

H/T to my cousin Jane who shared the link on FB.

From An Idea To A Law

2010-03-23T19:58:00.001-04:00

The ideal way:

The corrupted way:

Happy Spring

2010-03-20T12:27:00.000-04:00

I wish we still celebrated the new year in March. It seems more appropriate to celebrate a new year when wild fauna and flora spring to life.

Here's Vivaldi's Spring from The Four Seasons.

Paul Ryan on Health Care

2010-03-19T11:55:00.001-04:00

Here's an interview with Congressman Paul Ryan on the current healthcare bill, looming deficits and the obfuscated legislative process.

Also, to bring the numbers into better perspective as to what this will mean for the future of our country, here's the U.S.'s fiscal ranking by the C.I.A., and it is dead last. We carry the most debt and it will only get worse with the passing of the current Senate health care bill and be even worse than that once the House of Representatives add on their amendments.

Here is a short summary of Ryan's proposed, Patient's Choice Act, which is both fiscally sound and better protects citizen's rights.

Saint Patrick

2010-03-17T11:01:00.010-04:00

Along with a strong affinity to all things Irish, is my great admiration for Saint Patrick. Enslaved as a boy by the Irish, he escapes as a young man to return to his family, is called by the Holy Spirit to become a missionary for Christ to the very people who had enslaved him. He returned to Ireland as a bishop and converted a nation without destroying their culture, but allowing Christ to transform it.

Here is The Breastplate of Saint Patrick.

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession
of the Oneness of the Creator of creation.

I arise today through the strength of Christ with His Baptism,
through the strength of His Crucifixion with His Burial
through the strength of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
through the strength of His descent for the Judgment of Doom.

I arise today through the strength of the love of Cherubim
in obedience of Angels, in the service of the Archangels,
in hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
in prayers of Patriarchs, in predictions of Prophets,
in preachings of Apostles, in faiths of Confessors,
in innocence of Holy Virgins, in deeds of righteous men.

I arise today, through the strength of Heaven:
light of Sun, brilliance of Moon, splendour of Fire,
speed of Lightning, swiftness of Wind, depth of Sea,
stability of Earth, firmness of Rock.

I arise today, through God's strength to pilot me:
God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me,
God's host to secure me:
against snares of devils, against temptations of vices,
against inclinations of nature, against everyone who
shall wish me ill, afar and anear, alone and in a crowd.

I summon today all these powers between me (and these evils):
against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose
my body and my soul,
against incantations of false prophets,
against black laws of heathenry,
against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry,
against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
against every knowledge that endangers man's body and soul.
Christ to protect me today
against poison, against burning, against drowning,
against wounding, so that there may come abundance of reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right,
Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length,
Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today through a mighty strength, the invocation of the
Trinity, through belief in the Threeness, through confession of the
Oneness of the Creator of creation.
Salvation is of the Lord. Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of Christ. May Thy Salvation, O Lord, be ever with us.

The Morality Of Music

2010-03-11T16:42:00.000-05:00

I continue to think about music and art, the objectiveness of beauty and how this affects the way we think and live. See here, here and here for my previous thoughts on the matter.

Roger Scruton has written an article titled Soul Music. In this piece, Scruton presents the idea that music itself, not just lyrics, carries with it morality. He begins with referring to Plato's Republic, and then says this:

We know of music that is good-humoured, lascivious, gentle, bold, chaste, self-indulgent, sentimental, reserved, and generous: and all those words describe moral virtues and vices, which we are as little surprised to find in music as in human beings. Our ways of describing music give incontrovertible proof that we find moral significance in music—and it would be surprising if this were so and we did not also believe that people should be encouraged to listen to some things and discouraged from listening to others. For our characters are shaped by the company we keep, and those who rejoice in the company of crooks and creeps are likely to become crooks or creeps themselves. It is difficult, therefore, to disagree with Plato’s view that music has a central role in education, and that musical education can go badly wrong in ways that impact on the moral development and social responses of young people.
And even if we don’t forbid musical idioms by law, we should remember that people with musical tastes make our laws; and Plato may be right, even in relation to a modern democracy, that changes in musical culture go hand in hand with changes in the laws, since changes in the laws so often reflect pressures from culture.

He goes on to contrast music that triggers a response to music which provides a proper object of that response, natural and unnatural rhythms,( the latter which leads automatic and autonomous movements, dancing at rather than with), the melodic and amelodic. There is much more to the article and I highly recommend it.

Perhaps we should be more thoughtful about art and music. Can we really expect to listen to music and not be changed in some way? We have become very timid in our society about making judgments. If music has a moral element, if it is soul and character shaping, we would be negligent in not evaluating it.

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How Thick Is Your Bubble?

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Fourth Sunday In Advent 2011

Top 10 Reasons Why Men Shouldn’t Be Senior Pastors

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Saint Nicholas

Second Sunday In Advent

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Advent In Two Minutes

First Sunday In Advent 2011

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Pressure

All Saints' Day

Lauren Winner

Dissatisfied And Not Loving It

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Dogma

Morning Has Broken

I Will Follow

Lorica Of St. Patrick

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Happy 10th Birthday, Olivia!

Saint Valentine's Day

A Songless Sect

Not Ranting And Raving, But Convicted

The Gospel Of Luke: Introduction and Preface

Looking Back And Looking Forward

Church History

The Gospel of Luke

Come My Light

The Pain And Hope Of Beauty

Have You Been Shocked?

Dear, Dear Joseph

The Candle Of Joy

The Snowman

Christmas Books

Silly Things Grown-ups Say

Do You Know Jack?

The C.S. Lewis Bible

Advent: A Time To Prepare

Thanksgiving and The Great Thanksgiving

High Culture's Answer To The Flash Mob

The One I Love, Whose Name I Do Not Know

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Frustrations With Technology

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Your Christian Hipster Quotient:86 / 120

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Your Christian Hipster Quotient:
86 / 120