Dad

My father-- his name's Jim-- is scheduled for hip replacement surgery in the morning.

Actually, it's his ankle that started all this. He hurt it very badly when he was a young man, and it never healed right. The stress that has put on his gait all these years has caused his hip to deteriorate. And so the good doctor is going to install a few replacement parts.

Dad's looking forward to the surgery; he's been having increasing trouble moving, and hopes this will alleviate the pain and stiffness that currently is an ongoing theme in his life. I hope so, too, though I will admit to a little nervousness about it. He's the one parent I've still got around, and I love him. A lot.

So I'll be saying an extra prayer or two for him in the morning; and, if you'd care to join in, I-- we-- would appreciate your intercessions as well.

[Update: Thanks to all who have held Dad in prayer with me this day. I talked to Pat, his sweet wife, a while ago, and he is in recovery and doing well. The surgeon apparently was surprised when he got started, by the extent of the deterioration. Dad is a stoic soul, and has a pretty high pain threshold, which masked the scope of the damage; they had more work to do than they had planned. Nonetheless, all the work was doable, and the doing went smoothly enough, thanks be to God.]

Ooh, baby

Maybe this explains why weblogs have become so popular.

And just think-- blogging is required in some of my classes...

(Props to Karen for this one.)

Everything old is new again

I've spent most of the weekend sequestered with a group of strange men.

Yep. Just them... and me... for hours on end...

Sorry; it wasn't the adventure it sounds. Not nearly. I have to give a presentation tomorrow for my theology class, "Authority in the Anglican Communion." So I have been reading, and rereading, and outlining, and summarizing, the life and times of Arius and the Council of Nicea. Trust me, some of those old theologians were very strange. Odd notions, and cranky attitudes, and very little sense of humor.

But the reading also gave me an eerie sense of deja vu. See if these short descriptions of the scene sound familiar:

".. a church unexpectedly and unpreparedly having to adjust to a situation in which its unity and doctrinal consistently have...become matters of public and political concern."

"...a bishop whose 'structural' credentials are impeccable offering controversial or offensive readings of the scriptual text which is the field in which he is called to exercise his authoritative charism."

Very familiar, aren't they? So I took a certain comfort in the cranky exchanges, even (or maybe especially) when the players got insufferable; because in spite of all the diatribes, all the exiles and excommunications, all the ugly human inhumanity, the church-- and the Gospel-- survived. Not only survived, but thrived, and spread.

Maybe there's hope for us yet.

Second Installment

Last week, I directed your attention to The Heretic's Corner, and to some serious thinking about recent actions in the ECUSA, and the resulting controversies and (mis)behaviors. That was Part I. If you missed it before, start there.

Today I noticed that Part II is posted. Go check it out. Please. Agree or disagree, as you will; but read, and listen.

Go figure

Ever do an Internet search on your own name? You should try it sometime-- interesting things show up. I did so in a moment of whimsical foolishness this evening; and I am bemused to note that Tripp's linty corner of the blogiverse was second on the list, while my own blog didn't show up until number eleven. Hmmm...

Water, water everywhere...

...except my house. No water here.

None. Zip, Zilch, Nada.

Turned on the shower this morning, and all we got was an odd groaning noise... and air. Checked downstairs, and found no pressure in the pressure tank (yes, out here we're on a well). "A dry and barren land" is pretty much the state of my plumbing system right now.

So, we've called the Well Repair People and are eagerly awaiting their arrival.

Well, to be honest, the level of eagerness varies. The teenage daughter, having spent the morning helping with preseason maintenance at the softball fields, is very eager. The 9-year-old video game addict, happily battling his way toward Mount Doom, not so much. And the checkbook is not looking forward to this at all.

(Update: the bank account is gasping-- a new well pump as well as replacing the pressure tank. However, water has been restored; dishes and laundry and showers are all possible; and life in Hoosierland continues. Insert doxology here.)

Baptist Arians?

In my theology class, we are surveying the development of authority as it is now understood in the Anglican Communion. Our reading will be focusing on four junctures in the history of the church. The first of these is the Arian controversy (the Arians held, among other things, to a hierarchy within God, and saw Jesus as inferior "both in person and dignity"), and the Council of Nicea, which developed the Nicene Creed in response to same.

Trevor talked some in his lecture on Wednesday about the apostolic fathers, and their early church practices. When he got to a short description of "rules of faith" (proto-credal statements developed by individual faith communities, varying from congregation or region to another), I found myself thinking, "Gee, that sounds very Baptist." Tripp agreed; that's apparently where a good deal of Baptist understanding grounds itself.

Then I began reading the assigned reading for this portion of the class, Rowan Williams' Arius: Heresy and Tradition. The first section of the book gives an overview of the historical scholarship in this area. I was struck by his summary of some of 19th century theologian John Henry Newman's writing in this regard. Williams understands Newman to offer the following criticism of Arian thought:

"...a disputatious, rationalist temper, typical of the mind untutored by the heart. Naturally, this is linked, as Newman seeks later to show, with an impatience at the idea of mystery in theology and exegesis, a rejection of allegory, a refusal to read Scripture within tradition and an unintelligent adherence to the letter of the Bible combined with wooden syllogistic analyses of biblical language-- though the Arians can also, inconsistently, use allegory or metaphor when it suits them."

So, if one can consider the earlier apostolic fathers as the forerunner of Baptist practice (at least in this regard), I'm thinking that the Arians, in practice if not theology, sound uncannily like the SBC.

Definitions

We have been asked to provide some definitions for terms we will be using in our Anglican Authority class. I have submitted my more formal thoughts, but Heather, Si and I came up with an alternate set last night, and I'm not sure these aren't also applicable. So, for your consideration:

authority
"Do what I say, dammit."

tradition
"That's the way we've always done it."

innovation
"But we've never done it that way before!"

orthodoxy
"We're right."

heresy
"You're wrong."

persuasion
"Because I said so, that's why."

Any thoughts?

Oh, grow up!

You know, sometimes I can be such an idiot, over little things. Give me a real problem to deal with, and I am there. Natural disaster, bodily injury, property damage... I can be the poster child in the crisis management textbook. And then I'll turn around and let some little frustration get to me, turn me into a weepy, irritable mess, inclined to snap at entirely undeserving people. What is that?

Fortunately, over the years, I've pretty much learned to bite my tongue and walk (run) away before I really make a mess of things; but I'd really prefer to outgrow the whole silly inclination to begin with. Anytime now would be good.

Spring Quarter

So, after a week's hiatus, we are back at it again. I have four classes again this term: Greek II (yes, I'm a glutton for punishment); Liturgical Music II; Advanced Issues in Preaching; and a theology course, entitled Authority in the Anglican Communion. Ought to be fun; good teachers, good subjects, good classmates.

And, for a bit of variety, my family is coming up to see me! The kids are on Spring Break this week, so they are splitting the time with Mom in Evanston. CJ came up with me last night, and will stay until tomorrow evening. Bruce is bringing Kyle up then, and we'll swap progeny; then he'll stay until we both go home Thursday. A real treat, to have the Mom time mid-week.

We're planning a "girl's night out" dinner (not in the refectory!), for which Susie and Heather are joining us; fun stuff, and easy to do before the classes really kick into gear. I don't know where we'll eat; but it'll be somewhere that I sit down and people bring me food. The "you want fries with that?" menu will be the order of the day when the boy is here, at least once; but not tonight.

Your attention, please

Yes, I am up way past my bedtime. And there are good reasons for that. But before I go to sleep, I want to point out a couple places.

First, CJ is irritated at the mistreatment of a childhood icon. So she is using her corner of the blogiverse to vent.

Secondly, you should read Karen's musings on the doings in our church. And I want you to pay attention-- not only to what she's saying, and the comments on her post; but the tone in which they are delivered. Thoughtful, constructive, considered... Whether you agree or disagree with the content of the argument, we need more of this.

Go here. Now.

Harbingers of Spring

Today was glorious-- sunny, and in the 60's. I know that those of you in southern climes think of sunny and mild as a usual thing; but in Chicagoland, in March, it is a rare gem to be prized. So much so that I even relished running errands, driving around with the window open and the radio blaring at ridiculous levels. Got a lot done, too; it's amazing what sunshine will do!

Erin go Bragh

We celebrated St. Patrick’s feast day in fine fashion this evening (yesterday?), by joining a large tribe of good folks turned out to hear the debut of One of the Girls. Among the mass of humanity packing the Handlebar were Susie and Si, who brought Trish down with them. Justin arrived shortly after that; and Anna joined us later, flying solo while Cliff graciously took his turn at home as Parent on Duty.

The band was in fine form, and Gaelic festivity was the order of the evening. I long have loved Irish music; it’s infectious, and I find it impossible to sit still to listen. Fortunately, this wasn’t an especially “sit still” kind of crowd.

Good music, good food, and the best kind of company. You can’t beat it.

St. Patrick's Breastplate

One of my favorite hymns is the Lorica, also known by the above title. A friend sent me this more literal translation, attributed to Kuno Meyer. It's different enough that it captures my attention, and my imagination; so I thought I'd share.

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's birth 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 judgement of Doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of the Cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of the resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In prediction of prophets,
In preaching of apostles,
In faith of confessors,
In innocence of holy virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of sun,
Radiance 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 to me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's way to lie before me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me,

From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From every one who shall wish me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone and in a multitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and those evils,

Against every cruel merciless power that may oppose 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 to shield me today
Against poising, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So there come to me 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 when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye of every one who 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.

Wireless Tires?

This morning, as I write this, I am sitting at the local tire store, waiting while a pleasant man replaces a tire that blew out a few days ago. He pointed me toward the coffee, which didn't interest me much, as I've never learned to drink the stuff. But taped to the wall by the coffeepot was a sign:

"Wireless Internet For Your Laptop."
So I opened my laptop (don't leave home without it; yes, I'm an addict), and here it is! Isn't that cool?!

And the old is made new

Daughter CJ has returned to the realm of active blogs. Please stop by and say hello!

Done

School, I mean. This quarter is over. I finished the last two requirements-- a sermon for my parish, posted below, and my New Testament final, submitted via email last night.

I feel ambivalent about the last 11 weeks. On one hand, I really enjoyed everything I was doing, and learning-- even Greek, as odd as that sounds to some of my classmates. The problem was that I was doing too much: a significant courseload, with rather higher demands on my time than usual; work study and class responsibilities; family and home. And getting sick in the middle of it all didn't help.

Can you say, "overfunctioning?" Yes, I knew you could.

So this week, I'm recharging. I do have a few things on my "to do" list (yes, of course, there's always a list with me), but it is smaller, and not so demanding. And this list also includes a few items that feed the soul, rather than stretch it.

--Dinner with Dad and Pat, at my sister's house. Blessed reconnection.
--A couple of visits with friends I haven't seen in a while. Ditto.
--An evening with One of the Girls, on St. Patrick's Day. Let's see how silly we can get. We need more silly around here.
--Meeting with my spiritual director. Back to the reconnection theme.

Right now, I need to go fetch the daughter, who just missed her bus. And I will grouse at her, but not much; because I'm glad to be home to go pick her up.

A couple more days of sleep, and I might even look forward to classes again. Amazing.

Sunday sermon

Third Sunday in Lent
Exodus 3:1-15
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Psalm 103
Luke 13:1-9

I went with the group from our parish yesterday to see The Passion of the Christ , and then came back to the church to discuss it. I was fascintated at hearing the different responses that we all had to that same event. One of the things that stuck out for me was brought up by a couple different people, who felt that the images of Christ's suffering and crucifixion portrayed on Gibson's movie, while incredibly vivid, did not make clear the saving grace that it offers to our sinful world; not only addressing the violent sin and evil shown in the film, but also in our culture, our minds and hearts today. So I want to address that a little bit-- to talk about that grace, and about our choices.

In today’s New Testament lesson, Paul is speaking to the new Christians in Corinth. He is warning them against the dangers of idolatry: cultic meals, and fertility rites, and other rituals and behavior that were not only part of the religious practice they were leaving behind, but also part of the prevailing culture of that time and place. It was part of their social structure; a bit like belonging to the bowling league, or a bunco club, if you will.

Now, those sorts of idols may be no longer part of our “prevailing culture,” in 21st century America; but we have others. So, think with me for a minute: what idols do you see? What are you tempted by?

Sex perhaps? Not just the doing, but the watching, on TV or in the movies; the listening, on the radio; the reading, in books and magazines.

Money? or maybe the kinds of things money can buy: Clothes, or cars, or fancy technology (this from the woman who lives and dies by her laptop!)

Overindulgence in food, or alcohol?

The illusions of power, or control, or self-reliance?

We all have things that pull at us, that test us, that snag our attention and “lead us into temptation.” As Paul says, they are common to everyone in this world; and though each of us has our own particular favorites, none of them are new. And so today, just as 2000 years ago, we are faced with choices.

Many of you know that I like music. I like lots of different kinds of music: classical, jazz, folk, country, rock... contemprary Christian and traditional hymnody. And I find the more I listen for it, the more often I can hear God’s word in the secular as well as sacred. So when I was thinking about the issues before us this morning, what came to mind for me was one of Mary Chapin Carpenter’s songs, called “In This World.” The chorus goes like this:

In this world, there’s a whole lot of trouble, baby.
In this world there's a whole lot of pain.
In this world, there’s a whole lot of trouble
and a whole lot of ground to gain.
Why take when you could be giving?
Why watch as the world goes by?
It's a hard enough life to be living;
Why walk when you can fly?

There’s the Good News: that God provides the way to fly. In fact, the journey toward Jerusalem that is Lent-- as well as the movie-- remind us to what lengths God will go, and has gone, to do just that. Through betrayal and abandonment; through 39 lashes with razor-tipped whips; through spikes driven through wrists and feet; through torture and death, to hell and back again. All this Jesus endured, to provide the way out. To offer us a choice. To give us, as the gardener suggests to the landowner in the Gospel parable, the opportunity of another year, another chance.

So, given that opportunity, what shall we choose? Shall we “sit down to eat and drink, and rise up to play?” Or shall we strive to bear fruit?

Martial artist at work

Did you know that the University of Chicago Magazine maintains its own weblog? It's a nice little blog, and updated regularly-- three times a week, according to the main page.

And here's a very cool thing: the March 8 post talks about an Aikido seminar held last Saturday, where Bruce's sensei was the invited instructor-- and if you click on the second picture, you'll see a blurry shot of my beloved in action.

Playing with fire

Today's preaching class was round two-- my second sermon in as many days. Our group was working with the Holy Week gospels, and made the choice to preach all our sermons as first person narratives. The four of us spoke from the perspectives of

An angry Pharisee, on Palm Sunday;
Judas, on Maundy Thursday;
Mary, on Good Friday; and
Mary Magdalene at the Vigil.

Four sermons, each preceded with the appointed Gospel, as indicated above. Walking the path through Jerusalem, to the upper room, to Golgotha, to the empty tomb, in the space of an hour. Exhilarating... exhausting... yeah. Wow.

As I said before: barring an unforseen clamor, I think I'll hold off posting mine until the real Good Friday rolls around.

But even then, it may seem inadequate without the others.

The Spirit was alive in this place today; and I am incredibly blessed to be able to pray, and preach, and learn with these gracious, gifted people.

Quiz du jour

This one's from Ryan.


You are Marcie!


Which Peanuts Character are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

Chapel Sermon

Luke 6:27-38

This Gospel, in some ways, sounds simple to understand, doesn’t it? There’s no convoluted logic to struggle through. Jesus is not talking in parables here, needing thought and interpretation. This is straightforward instruction. In fact, the simplicity lends itself to a bit of contextual translation. If I were composing the New Revised Seminary Version, for example, I might say, “Love your discernment group, bless your COM, pray for your Standing Committee...”

Yes, it sounds simple, but of course it’s not. If there’s anything we’ve learned at Seabury, it’s that it’s always More Complicated Than That. That’s true here in part, I think, because the deceptively simple and straightforward is all too easy to misuse. Like the lighthearted changes I made here-- even through the harder parts of the process, I’ve known that the COM is not my enemy, not really. But there’s also the more serious problems that can happen-- like the twisted, misguided misinterpretation that uses this passage to tell a battered woman to stay with an abusive husband, that passive acceptance will somehow eventually turn away ugly, sinful behavior.

Look again at the message here. This is not about passive acceptance-- allowing oneself to be mistreated. There is nothing about tolerance or acquiescence here; our God is not a passive God. These are verbs. This is action. It is simply not the sort of action we expect, or to which our human nature is inclined.

When I’m feeling threatened, I usually tend to have one of two responses: either I want to strike back, to hurt as I’m being hurt; or I try to avoid the conflict, ignore the problem and hope it’ll go away.

But the Gospel offers us another choice. A radically other choice.

Radical, because Jesus also holds out love for the oppressor as well as the oppressed-- not in support of evil, but in love, and compassion, and as an impetus to walk in God’s way, rather than on our own sinful path. He offers a better way, one of justice and salvation and hope for both parties.

To leave an abusive relationship, for example, IS to turn the other cheek. It is to stand up after the first blows, and to accept the secondary impact that comes with letting go of the time, and emotion, and the commitment invested in the relationship. To sever the connection, and to seek justice without looking for vengeance, is living into God’s mercy. To be able to love enough to refuse to allow evil to continue is as radical as it gets.

No, it’s not easy. Not at all. For pity’s sake, even the contrast that Jesus gives as the easier choice-- “Loving those who love you” -- is not something we do well, all the time. Look at our own community here: the struggles we have dealing with the issues of race, and age, and sexual orientation... and just the effort of day-to-day getting along. I have heard many tales of injury and insult given and taken in this place. I have been guilty of offending, as well as taking offense at unintended slights. All this, in a Christian community trying to love one another!

No, it’s not simple at all. This is why we need this plainspoken Gospel-- this summons to the work of the Spirit, and the instructions given to us as community, as “the Body of Christ, and individually members of it.”

So then-- if this is so hard, how do we begin to live into it? Well, part of the answer is given us in scripture, over and over again. If you know me, you know that I am not a Bible literalist. If I were, I probably wouldn’t be standing in this pulpit right now. But when the Gospel says that we are brothers and sisters in Christ, that I take literally. You are my brother, and you are my sister, and I am yours, by ties beyond any human biology. Each time we break the one bread together, and share the common cup, we are reminded of that intimate connection, of that responsibility, of the need to be accountable and to hold one another accountable. In Christ, George Bush and Gene Robinson are both my brothers. Bishop Barbara Harris and Tammy Faye Bakker are both my sisters. And because of that, I am called to love them, even when we do not agree; to pray for them, even (maybe especially!) when I am most appalled by their actions.

By virtue of the baptism we share, we are called to that hardest of challenges, within this place and beyond it.

Yes, we fall short. But oh, when it works, what a wondrous gift... my brothers and sisters, what blessings we give, and receive. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over.

Progress

Okay, I have two sermons framed out. They'll require some more editing, and practice, but at least the basics are there.

I'll post the one for Monday's Eucharist after the service that day; but the one for preaching class is on Tuesday is going to have to wait. The assignment was to preach through the Holy Week propers, with each of us taking a different day. My sermon is intended for Good Friday, so that's when I'll post it, I think.

Cantor rota next; and then an Ethics paper.

Saturday Observations

...The only way to beat sleeping late (almost 7:00 am!) is to eat breakfast in bed, served by a 9-year-old chef. (And yes, it was even edible).

...Daughter is recovering from the recent breakup with her (now former) beau. She's even smiling. That very nearly makes up for the lack of sunshine in the weather.

...I'm preaching from Luke's Gospel in our chapel on Monday, and from the Gospel of John in preaching class on Tuesday. It is hard to work on two sermons at once, especially when they're so different.

...riding your bike around the block with the kids is not as easy as it sounds, when you're out of shape, and the tires need air, and "the block" is better than a mile of up and down slopes. Despite prevailing opinion, not all of Indiana is level terrrain.

Okay, back to homework. Now, where do I start? Eeny, meeny, miney, moe...

Countdown

Caution: Whining seminarian ahead.

One week from tomorrow, our winter quarter ends. Eight more days. And in that time, I have a "To Do" list, well, to do. And it's long enough, with papers and sermons, and final exams, to be daunting.

And of course, in the middle of this I seem to have added to the lung virus issue the same silly bug that laid waste to most of my classmates last week. Now, it's not knocked me flat, as it did some people, which is good. But it seems to be working its inexorable way through my system, one symptom at a time. Fever, followed by congestion, followed by sore throat, followed by headache... none of them individually enough to give me the excuse to go to bed, but sufficient to make the coursework an ongoing battle that I can only fight halfheartedly.

I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. And when I try to pray, all I seem to be able to do is cry, or fall asleep. Which doesn't help.

So, if you have a spare prayer handy, this sinner could use a few, right now.

Please.

Women Preachers

We needed to give a presentation today in preaching class, about some historical preacher. I spoke about Catherine Mumford Booth, who with her husband founded the Salvation Army in England in 1864. Let me introduce you:

Don't let the prim bonnet fool you: Mrs. Booth was both strong-minded and eloquent, and brooked no nonsense from those who would stand between a person and her call to proclaim the Gospel. She responded to one such critic with a 32-page pamphlet-- which is still worth reading, because we are still hearing the same weak arguments. You can find it here.

There are also a couple books of her sermons still around, if you dig a little. Look for small tomes called Aggressive Christianity and Godliness. Some of her homily gems:

"We are epistles, whatever sort of doctrine our lives teach. We cannot help ourselves, for while we profess to be the Lord’s, we are living epistles, known and read of all men."

"Opposition! It is a bad sign for the Christianity of this day that it provokes so little opposition. If there were no other evidence of it being wrong, I should know it from that. When the Church and the world can jog along comfortably together, you may be sure there is something wrong."

"There is no improving the future without disturbing the present, and the difficulty is to get people to be willing to be disturbed!"

Good stuff.

You are dust...

Fr. Bob, a kind and gentle encourager of souls, an early and ongoing icon for me of what a priest could be...

And Geanne, with her easy laugh and enormous heart...

Both now part of the cloud of witnesses gone before.

Poetry

My youngest sent me out the door this morning with this:

I am the son
Up in the sky;
You are the mom
Getting a tan.

You bet, sweetheart.