I'm a Bette

Thanks to Singing Owl for this interesting quiz. Here are my results.

Your result for Are You a Jackie or a Marilyn? Or Someone Else? Mad Men-era Female Icon Quiz...

You Are a Bette!

"I must be strong"

Bettes are direct, self-reliant, self-confident, and protective.

How to Get Along with Me

• * Stand up for yourself... and me.
• * Be confident, strong, and direct.
• * Don't gossip about me or betray my trust.
• * Be vulnerable and share your feelings. See and acknowledge my tender, vulnerable side.
• * Give me space to be alone.
• * Acknowledge the contributions I make, but don't flatter me.
• * I often speak in an assertive way. Don't automatically assume it's a personal attack.
• * When I scream, curse, and stomp around, try to remember that's just the way I am.

What I Like About Being a Bette

• * being independent and self-reliant
• * being able to take charge and meet challenges head on
• * being courageous, straightforward, and honest
• * getting all the enjoyment I can out of life
• * supporting, empowering, and protecting those close to me
• * upholding just causes

What's Hard About Being a Bette

• * overwhelming people with my bluntness; scaring them away when I don't intend to
• * being restless and impatient with others' incompetence
• * sticking my neck out for people and receiving no appreciation for it
• * never forgetting injuries or injustices
• * putting too much pressure on myself
• * getting high blood pressure when people don't obey the rules or when things don't go right

Bettes as Children Often

• * are independent; have an inner strength and a fighting spirit
• * are sometimes loners
• * seize control so they won't be controlled
• * figure out others' weaknesses
• * attack verbally or physically when provoked
• * take charge in the family because they perceive themselves as the strongest, or grow up in difficult or abusive surroundings

Bettes as Parents

• * are often loyal, caring, involved, and devoted
• * are sometimes overprotective

The Long and Bumpy Road

For the last couple of months, this has been what the main road through the seminary looked like. It has been with uncertainty and a bit of trepidation that we would venture out each morning. Where will the trucks be? What part of the road will be inaccessible? What's the best route to take? The route may have been circuitous, and bumpy, but unlike parts of New England where, "You can't get there from here,"we could get there, but it's been a challenge. I have a new appreciation for Isaiah's imagery, especially of making the uneven ground smooth.

Progress has been made since this picture was taken. Yesterday they were putting asphalt on the road. When I went to class in the morning, there was none. Later, on the way to chapel, part of one side was done. By the time lunch was over, the other side was done.

Because of the need to daily take different routes, Amity has not yet completely learned her way around campus. Once the work is completed, however, it won't take long for Ray and Amity to get around as easily as Ray and Abby did. In the meantime, everyone on campus has been very helpful and supportive. Rather than the long and winding road, our long and bumpy road is more easily walked with friends.



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Which Came First?

Not being brought up Lutheran, one of the great joys of being involved in a teaching parish is reading and studying Luther's Large Catechism with my mentor, Rural Pastor. This week we were studying the Lord's Prayer. As I read Luther's comments at home in preparation for Sunday, I experienced one of those "Aha" moments. When I shared my discovery with Rural Pastor, he agreed and said he had not seen the connection before, so let's see what you think.



This is regarding Luther's explanation of the third petition of the Lord's Prayer, “May your will come about on earth as in heaven" (p. 448, "Large Catechism," The Book of Concord).

For where God’s Word is preached, accepted, or believed, and bears fruit, there the holy and precious cross will also not be far behind. And let no one think that we will have peace; rather, we must sacrifice all we have on earth—possessions, honor, house and farm, spouse and children, body and life…Let them all rage and try their worst…Against them a simple Christian or two, armed with this single petition, shall be our bulwark, against which they shall dash themselves to pieces. (pp. 448-449)

The boldened words are those that really struck a chord with me. I could not help but think of the hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Then I wondered which came first, the catechism or the hymn? Do we see the seeds in the catechism that germinated into the hymn? The answer may well be in the affirmative because the catechism was published in early 1528 while the hymn was written in 1529. Here is the hymn and see what you think.

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God

Martin Luther, 1529

Translated by Frederick H. Hedge, 1853

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;

our helper he amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing.

For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;

his craft and pow’r are great; and armed with cruel hate,

on earth is not his equal.



Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;

were not the right man on our side, the man of God’s own choosing.

Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is he,

Lord Sabaoth his name, from age to age the same,

and he must win the battle.



And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed his truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure, for lo! his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.



That Word above all earthly pow’rs, no thanks to them, abideth;

the Spirit and the gifts are ours through him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;

the body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still;

his kingdom is forever.

http://www.hymnscript.com/g-amf01.html

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Canons and Policies of the Independent Catholic Christian Church

I'm baffled as to why anyone who is not a member of the Independent Catholic Christian Church or a scholar of the Independent Sacramental Movement (hi, John!) would be interested, but should anyone be interested in purchasing a printed copy of the Canons and Policies of this jurisdiction (which will at some point be posted at www.inclusivecatholics.com for free), they may do so at http://stores.lulu.com/vilatte. There will be other works at this site, Rene Vilatte Press, available in the near future.

I'm Graceful Compared to...

Law and Gospel has made me feel so much better. In her comment to my recent post about missteps and brain freezes in church she pointed the way to this YouTube. Enjoy.

Brain Cramps and other Missteps

"Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble, we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand" (Psalm 37:23-24). I could take that verse quite literally yesterday at Rural Lutheran as I assisted with the liturgy. It was one of those days of brain cramps and literal missteps.

Part of the misstep issue is due to my height, or should I say lack thereof? I had to have my alb specially made because no one keeps my size (short, but big enough to go around me) on hand. So, the alb has not yet arrived and I am using one I borrowed from the seminary--the shortest one I could find. It still isn't short enough and I have to tuck it and hike it up...well you get the idea. It didn't stay hiked up enough yesterday though. I was carrying the full offering plates (which meant I had two full hands and couldn't grab the the alb to lift it as I ascended the stairs to the altar). I stepped on the bottom of the alb with one foot, then the other, but finally made it to my place. PHEW!! That's over with...but not so fast.

Next, a bit later, when it was my turn to lead in prayer, I stepped up, but there was no step where I stepped and I about landed headlong on the altar. But thankfully, Rural Pastor was watching and prevented a further accident.

Those were the physical missteps, but now come the brain cramps besides! At this church they intinct at communion. I know this. I've assisted in previous weeks and communed there since teaching parish began. When Rural Pastor communed me, I promptly ate the bread, forgetting to keep it for intinction. I was so embarrassed when he gave me the cup to intinct. All I could say was that I forgot and he said it was ok and gave me the cup to drink from.

But it gets worse! I have assisted at several different churches for a number of years. I don't know how many times I've said, "Go in peace. Serve the Lord!" I said "Go in peace..." and then went blank. I was going mentally through a rolladex of possible endings "Share the good news!" "Feed the poor." "Remember the poor." You get the idea. Rural Pastor leaned over and said, "Serve the Lord."

This was a humbling experience. Sometimes we know something so well that we don't think about what we're doing or saying. At times we're forced to slow down, like I was yesterday. I am very blessed to have Rural Pastor as my teaching parish mentor. He is so easy going and patient. He just laughed afterwards and said the same thing has happened to him at times. So, I'm grateful for God's grace and Rural Pastor's as well. And I'm glad I didn't fall literally flat on my face.

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All Creatures...

Last Friday, Abby once more had a chance to go to chapel, as a pet. As a community we celebrated St. Francis' day with a blessing of the animals. Pets included dogs, cats, fish, a gerbil, and a snake. All were quiet for the most part and very well behaved.

The homily reminded us how each animal is doing what it is created to do and thereby glorifies God...as in Genesis where God pronounces "it was good."

Much of life in seminary revolves around discerning how we can faithfully live out our baptismal calling. For some that means preparation for the ministry of Word and sacrament, for others Word and service. But as Christ's followers, all of us, in or out of seminary, must daily keep our eye on the prize, just as Paul did, just as we heard in this past Sunday's epistle reading.

We need to be who God created us to be. By God's grace, may we too, glorify God in our daily lives as easily as our pets do.



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