EXPLOIT IS NOT A DIRTY WORD

EVERY day it seems one hears of people "exploiting" others. We have the Center for Missing and Exploited children. To exploit has come to mean to defile, to rape, to pillage. How dare anyone exploit!! This is what happens when we let people dick with the language for their own purposes (and ironically they are precisely exploiting the language when they do this).

If we did not mine coal and/or drill for oil and gas, we would all freeze in the dark. But these activities are demonized by calling them "exploitation of natural resources"; as if energy producers were rapists of pure virgin Mother Nature. The exploiter is evil, in the modern lexicon. And those who promote this usage do so using among other things the talents of poets and musicians.

But the poet and the musician are themselves exploiters. They exploit their own talents AND the desires of others to be entertained. In fact, everyone is an exploiter of one stripe or another. The workman exploits his employer's need for help quite as much as the employer exploits the worker's need for the wherewithal to have a living.

The leftist agenda to pervert the neutral meaning of the verb "to exploit" is clear. The oilman and the miner are no better than the molestor and rapist, to hear them talk. And those among us who use others are indeed exploiters of a very bad sort and are properly called cheats, con-men, molestors, robbers, swindlers, scoundrels, rogues and that sort. But there is nothing wrong with exploiting natural resources or human talent to a good end.

WHAT NEWS???

Earlier this month the financial muckety-mucks declared that we had been in a recession for some time. Thanks, idiots. We already knew it.
Always some blithering clump of idiots goes on the news to announce statistics about the last two or three months to explain what is happening NOW. "Sales were down in the quarter just ended". Well DUH. And everone gets all out-of-sorts, even though the only "Leading Economic Indicator" that counts - which is how things are right NOW - might show improvement. Listening to these idiot newspeople is like looking out the back window of the car and seeing a city and expecting traffic to get bad. Which it may if you are headed into another city; but just as likely you are going to be getting into open country where you can move. What has been, we already know. And what will be cannot be reliably gauged by what happened two months ago (or more) when, by the way, we knew it was happening in the first place.

Great conversation on Independent Sacramental Christian issues

Although Alexis Tancibok of Grace Catholic Church mentioned several times that his blog had moved, and had even prodded me into updating my link to his blog on this blog, I somehow neglected to update my RSS feed, and yesterday, I was puzzled to see several entries show up from the old blog address about how to be an entrepreneur. I emailed Alexis, and while waiting for Lyngine and Carol to arrive for Christmas Mass, got his reply that his blog had moved, and was delighted to find a very interesting conversation about OC/IC/ISM/EIEIO issues, to which Lyngine had contributed some quite insightful comments. When she arrived 15 minutes later, and I told her all of this, she was very amused.

Anywho, I encourage you to read this thread. I am mulling over the issues to make some comments of my own, either here or there.

Merry Christmas!

Charles celebrates under the Christmas tree:
Allie journeys with the Magi:
The three of us wish you a blessed Christmas!

WELL here it is Christmas. Most all the shops and restaurants and such are closed and it is somewhat difficult to even find gasoline. But here and there is a restaurant or tavern with an established clientele, and they are open to serve those whoare not only customers but friends.

STILL it is probably the one day of the year most like an old-time Sunday when the Blue Laws - "Sunday Closing" or "Sabbbath" laws for you who are too young to remember - were in force. There is a preturnatural peace in the air. Everyone who is still in town is gathered at home with family and friends.

This calm does not extend to the newspapers and radio stations, where dire predictions and strories of tragedy pour forth. A man dressed as Santa Claus, angry over a divorce, shoots up a family gathering, sets the house afire, and kills himself. Care and woe and grief know nor respect any season. Wars large and small rage on uninterrupted, corrupt and barbaric dictators repress their people, and famine and pestilence do not pause to hear the merry carollers; but these exact their toll of misery, suffering and death on those unfortunate enough to come under their sway. Still, as the Poet said:

"I heard the Bells on Christmas Day,

Their old familiar Carols play

And loud and strong, rang out the Song

Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men

And in Despair I bowed my Head,

"There is no Peace on Earth", I said,

"For Hate is strong, and mocks the Song

Of Peace on Earth, Good Will to Men"

THEN PEALED THE BELLS MORE LOUD AND DEEP:

"GOD IS NOT DEAD, NOR DOTH HE SLEEP"

"The Wrong shall fail, the Right prevail,

With Peace on Earth, Good will toward Men

Merry Christmas To All!

EBENEZER SCROOGE WAS A LIBERAL!!

That's right folks. Old Scrooge was a claasic modern Liberal. Sounds unlikely?? Well, consider that:

If Bob Cratchit had tried to join a union to improve his working conditions and pay, Scrooge would have canned his ass so fast it would have made Cratchit's head swim. You say that doesn't sound very Liberal?? Well, friends, let me point you to Nancy Pelosi, our current and Liberal-to-the-very-edge-of-treason "Speaker of the House". Liberal Nancy Pelosi runs a vineyard operation where she refuses to employ Union labor. JUST LIKE EBENEZER SCROOGE!!

Not only that, but when approached by members of a private charity, Scrooge pointed out his belief that taxpayer-funded (and wholly inadequate) government programs were the proper solution to matters of poverty. This is of course a classic Liberal stance. Liberals, like Scrooge (or should I say Liberals like Scrooge) will give the poor the shirt off someone else's back.

And of course Scrooge like the good Liberal he was disapproved of Christmas. Why just last week the pack of morons here in Alexandria who call themselves our "City Council" lit the "Holiday Tree" in Market Square, just outside the historic City Hall where part of the Revolution was plotted. The damn thing is hung with those damn white lights that have become too common; because the symbolism of certain colors may upset this or that group. And I will warrant you that on our City Council there is not a Conservative among them , nor even a moderate but that they are Liberal fools to a man and woman all.

Happily though, Scrooge had an epiphany and became a good God-fearing Conservative; investing in his man Cratchit so as to get a better return and spreading his wealth by buying from people with it. And though the story does not go further, it is likely that Cratchit either founded his own company and produced yet more wealth or at least sent Tiny Tim to a good school where he could learn how to produce and increase wealth.

I only wish those same three Spirits would visit Pelosi, Reid, and Obama. Maybe after I get my wish of World Peace; but I've been waiting for that since I was nine at least, and it hasn't happened.

NONETHELESS it is the Season of Hope, among other things; and so I shall continue to do so; and as Tiny Tim said in the story so let us all say to one another:

GOD BLESS US, EVERY ONE!!!

A very very Merry Christmas to all, even you Liberals.

Always Be Prepared

I have learned a lesson this week. In my hurry to visit family for the holidays, I decided to leave the laptop at home. The semester is done, I really wouldn't need it, right? Wrong!! It happens that in talking with a pastor friend, he asked me to preach this Sunday at his church. I brought no commentaries, laptop, or preaching preparation aids of any kind. Thankfully, the public library is open for a little longer and I've been able to access some fine online helps.

I will be preaching on the gospel text in Luke 2 on Jesus' presentation in the temple. Unlike myself, Anna and Simeon were prepared. They waited faithfully for God to fulfill his promise of a Savior and Messiah with hearts open and ready for whatever God planned.

Several things have struck me in reading the text. The first is the evident work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of Simeon and Anna. Look at this snippet from the text regarding Simeon's watchful attitude, "...looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. Guided by the Spirit, Simeon came into the temple..." Advent is a time of watchful waiting, preparing our hearts for Christ. Even in old age, Simeon still held on to the promises of God.

Anna too was elderly. She too had not given up hope. Regarding her, the scripture says, "...then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. At that moment she came, and began to praise God and to speak about the child to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem." Without that heart preparation, how could she know that who she was seeing was not merely an ordinary baby? What Mary and Joseph were doing, was the very same thing any other pious Jewish couple would do. There was nothing extraordinary in that. But Anna recognized something special that was happening because she was a woman connected by faith, fasting, and prayer to the living God.

The godly examples of Anna and Simeon loom large in my thoughts. They were privileged to participate in God's redemptive history because they were there, because they were in tune with God's program. Though unprepared physically for the task of preaching, perhaps this has helped me to be better prepared spiritually.

I do not know the people of my friend's church, but it is a small, rural congregation--much like my teaching parish at Rural Lutheran. Their pastor tells me he is emphasizing evangelism. Certainly evangelism grows from relationship with the living God...the kind of relationship we see embodied in Anna and Simeon.


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OOPS

In my last post I said excersise of the second amendment was primary to this blog. Sorry I meant the FIRST AMENDMENT; although I am a pretty big supporter of the Second as well. I participate in a few gun forums but really I shouldn't mix up my amendments. Sorry!

Hi Everybody!!!

In American military patois, "Poop" is information coming from whatever source. Of course most people think of poop as being what loads a baby's stinky diapers. Most of us poop daily, and some spoiled leftie brat calls his blog "The Daily Kos" so the title of this blog is a direct mockery of that young treasonous idiot weenie.

I really don't know technologically what I am doing but the appearance of this blog is secondary. The excersise of the Second Amendment is primary. And just as freedom of the press attaches to the owner of the press, freedom of the blog attaches in this case to me. If I don't like what you say I will dump it. But you will have to be either really stupid or downright outrageous before I do that. Or boring.

I on the other hand will say whatever I damn please. Say what you will, and I hope you will. Let's have a nice big knock-down - drag- out arguement; or maybe a love fest. Who knows where this will go??? One thing is certain: EVERYBODY needs a Daily Poop.

Purpose Driven Nonsense

Last night, I posted a rather intemperately-worded Facebook status update expressing my anger at President-elect Obama’s choice of Rick Warren to give the invocation at his inauguration. I was angry. I still am, but want to note, more temperately, several things in light of what people posted.

First, we have freedom of religion and freedom of speech in this country, and these are very precious things which I support with every fiber of my being. People have the right to practice their religion in ways I find abhorrent, and to say things that I find unconscionable. I will defend to the death their right to practice their false religion and to say horrible things.

However.

Freedom of religion and freedom of speech do not grant immunity to criticism, as many seem to think. Rick Warren is free to believe that bigotry against gay people is mandated by God and to spread the lies about gay couples that he does (equating them with child molesters, for example). But people of good will are also free to condemn him for these things, and our freedom of religion and freedom of speech guarantee our right to do so. And in exercise of my free religion and free speech, let me say that I do not believe that Rick Warren has a genuine relationship with God, and I believe that he is an enemy of the authentic gospel of Jesus Christ. My saying that does not infringe on his freedom to practice his religion, and I do not think his church should be shut down, or that he should be muzzled in any way. And his freedom to practice his religion also should not extend to taking away my freedom to practice my religion, as Proposition 8 has, by imposing Roman Catholic, Mormon, and Southern Baptist beliefs on marriage on my church and other religious groups, such as the United Church of Christ, the Unitarian Universalist Association, and Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism, which do not share those beliefs but whose marriages may not be recognized by the state.

But the point of my post was not to criticize Rick Warren, but rather to criticize President-elect Obama for asking him to give the invocation at his inauguration. By asking him to do so, Obama is implicitly endorsing Warren’s agenda of denying gay people civil rights. As someone who claims to support inclusive values and relative equality for gay people (he does not support full equality since he opposes same-sex marriage), this is a very bad move that troubles me and makes me worry that his support will be mostly rhetorical. I hope I’m wrong, and his term of office may be the flowering of civil rights for gay people on the federal level. But Bill Clinton ran a very inclusive campaign, and he did more to eliminate civil rights for gay people on the federal level than any other president in US history, signing the so-called Defense of Marriage Act into law and establishing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, wasting millions of tax dollars to expel gay soldiers from the military. And although George W. Bush was in most respects a horrible president and certainly waged a rhetorical war against gay people with his support of a federal constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage and probably contributed greatly to the passage of many state anti-gay constitutional amendments, he actually signed the most pro-gay law ever passed on the federal level, the Pension Protection Act of 2006, which allows gay couples to inherit tax-deferred annuities without the draconian penalties once assessed. (The law does not specifically mention gay couples, but in fact extends this provision beyond civilly-married spouses to any person – and that is the key to Republican support for gay civil rights – as long as it only benefits gay people as a by-product and not as the primary purpose of the law, they are willing to support it.) So I don’t actually take the words of politicians very seriously, only their actions.

Some think that he is being “inclusive” by including Rick Warren, reaching out to conservative Christians – but I think if we compare it to other historically disadvantaged groups, this analogy falls apart. If a white president were to ask a minister who supported segregation and the denial of civil rights to black people to give an invocation, no one would talk about including racists – they would quite rightly denounce this move. But intolerance of gay people is still tolerated in ways that intolerance of other groups is not. And that is troubling. (And before anyone starts talking about how intolerance of homosexuality is supported by historic religious beliefs while racism is not, let me point out that the denomination to which Rick Warren belongs and in which I was raised, the Southern Baptist Convention, split from the Northern Baptists [now the American Baptists] specifically to teach that the Bible condones race-based slavery. My parents – my father a Southern Baptist minister -- believed and attempted to teach me as a child that inter-racial marriage is wrong and against biblical values.) By inviting this man to pray at his inauguration and implicitly condoning his successful attempt to take away my civil rights and those of other gay Americans, he is sending a message of exclusion and intolerance.

Not a good way to start his presidency, and a serious blot on what ought to be a celebration of a milestone of inclusion, the inauguration of the first African American president.

Light at the End of the Tunnel...

and it's not an oncoming train!

This is the last week of the semester and I have one thing left...study for and take one exam!!!

Then I have two weeks off! We are going to spend one of them in Rochester with my daughter, granddaughter, and friends. So, Christmas we'll be there. Then we'll go to RI for the New Year to be with Ray's family and our friends there.

We absolutely love it here at Gburg, but I am ready for a break from the studies.

When we return, I will not be the only one in school. Ray will be starting the Certificate of Theological Studies program, about which we're very excited.


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Live toTestify!

The message of today's readings is abundantly clear. Phrases from Isaiah such as, "...bring good news to the oppressed," "...proclaim liberty to captives," and "...proclaim the year of the Lord's favor," are but the beginning of the the proclamation. The testimony continues in 1 Thessalonians with "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances..." And in the Gospel of John we hear of "...the man sent from God, whose name was John." He testified and was a witness of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

This morning as Pr. Steve preached, highlighting these themes, I had this song going through my mind like it was on a loop that constantly replayed.


What about us? Are such themes, proclamations, and words only for prophets and apostles to declare? In this world of pain and darkness, we too have good news to share and light to bring. God give us wisdom as to the myriad of ways we can testify to love.

Picture from Garden of Praise.

Advent Letter to Independent Catholic Christian Church

I sent this out to the members of the jurisdiction last Saturday (11/29/08) but only thought to post it here a few minutes ago.

Dear Friends in Christ,

This Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent, we begin a new church year. We remember the First Coming of Christ in the Incarnation, as we prepare to celebrate Christmas; we prepare for the Second Coming of Christ at the end of time; and we encounter Christ’s coming to us daily – in the Eucharist, in Scripture, in prayer, in community, and in the poor.

The first Psalm says of the righteous that “their delight is in the law of the LORD, and they meditate on God’s law day and night.” I would like for us, in this church community, to have as our goal for this new church year to get to know the Scriptures more deeply, so that we may be “like trees planted by streams of water, bearing fruit in due season, with leaves that do not wither”, as the first Psalm goes on to say of the righteous.

I would like to ask each member of this jurisdiction to do three things this year:

· prayerfully read through the New Testament;

· pray the entire Psalter on a regular basis; and

· study the Gospel according to Mark, the gospel being read this year in the modern three-year lectionary (even if you follow a different lectionary).

If we become more rooted in scripture, we will find that our encounters with Christ in the Eucharist, in prayer, in community, and in the poor will become more profound, and our ability to witness to the Light of Christ within us will grow.

Please be assured of my prayers for a meaningful Advent and a joyous Christmas.

+Tim

The Secret Lives of Dogs

Abby (L) Amity (R)

I've done lots of writing about Abby and Amity and posted pictures of other similar looking dogs. Now that I have a digital camera here they are!

Amity & Ray

Amity is doing a fine job as a guide dog and Abby is doing a fine job of holding down the rug in retirement and loving the freedom of
being fussed over by everyone. For her it's open season for petting. And since being here at seminary where there are lots of dogs, they have boyfriends or should I say dogfriends.

The first is Gus, a huge, gentle giant of a Pit Bull. Abby met him first. After Amity joined the family, she liked him also. When the girls see Gus, their whole demeanor changes like teenagers seeing a rock star. Their faces light up, their tales start wagging. It's like they're saying, "He's here!" The problem was, both girls were vying for his attention. But now a classmate brought his dog to campus from home after Thanksgiving. His name is Magoo and he's an English Bull Dog. So, both girls like both boys. Since Abby met Gus first, we figure those two should be together and Amity and Magoo should be together.

Grace and Amity

Family Worship

Because yesterday was part of Thanksgiving weekend, I did not have teaching parish at Rural Lutheran. I love being involved there, but had forgotten how wonderful it is to simply participate in Sunday worship and not be responsible for anything in the service! I enjoyed sitting with Ray and friends.

I have heard how important it is for pastors to intentionally make opportunities for worship and sabbath. Though my responsibilities on Sundays are nothing compared to Rural Pastor's, I'm beginning to have a better understanding of why I keep hearing that.

After worship, we went to lunch with a classmate and her parents. It was so relaxing and enjoyable.--and yummy!

The day was then crowned with LTSG's annual Advent Vespers which is a beautiful, amazing service. We had a wonderful ushering in of the Advent season.



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Keeping Alert

Not only are we to keep alert for the coming of the Lord, but we need to keep alert to hold up and walk with our brothers and sisters in need. I want to thank Proclaiming Softly for her apt reminder. She issued an urgent prayer request for some missionaries in Nigeria.

Having been on the other side of the ocean in Palestine, I learned that just because we don't hear of problems in our news doesn't mean they aren't happening. Please read Mary Beth's blog and pray for this family as well as others that put their lives on the line in service of our God. Lord in your mercy...hear our prayer.

Safe for Me to Pray

I was moved by this prayer on the ELCA prayer website:

Thank you, Lord, for always answering prayer, but not indulging my every petty, private give me. Thank you winnowing and refining, vetoing and delaying, refusing and revising. Thank you for being God and never less, for freeing me for wide horizons, for protecting me from my limited vision and wayward will. Thank you for foiling my every effort to unseat you and make myself king. Thank you for keeping it safe for me to pray.

--Gerhard E. Frost
From Seasons of a Lifetime: A Treasury of Meditations (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 1989, p. 118)

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Thanking God for You

Thanks to Singing Owl for this Friday Five.

Ours was spent on campus with the rest of the "remnant" that didn't go away. We gathered in the seminary refectory for a traditional Thanksgiving pot luck dinner. The fellowship and food were wonderful.

1. How do I limit the number to 5???? Anyway, I am first of all thankful for my husband, Ray, and for his supportive patience as I go to seminary. His love and encouragement have enabled me to make this change in our lives.

2. These are of course not in order as far as the amount of thankfulness I have. But my adult children Sarah and Christian are next. They have both grown into wonderful people whom I love with all my heart. For them I give thanks.

3. My granddaughter, Grace, a precocious nearly 5 year old. I am grateful for her and her unabashed love for Jesus. She is precious.

4. I'm very thankful for Marisa, my son's fiancee, who has turned his world upside down. He's a different man.

5. And finally, I am thankful for friends--so many in my life--too many to name--new and old, and of classmates and others here in PA.

To God be the glory for all those that surround and support us in this journey through life!

Remnant Thanksgiving

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. We have so much to be thankful for. Our Thanksgiving will be spent with others on campus for a "Remnant Thanksgiving."

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Ragdoll

Though on the mend, I feel a bit like my friend here. It is sheer grace that is keeping me going. This song says it all.



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Ordos from Rene Vilatte Press

Don't know what to get as a Christmas present for that liturgy geek in your life?

Rene Vilatte Press now offers two traditional ordos for 2009 -- guides to reciting the office for a given year -- the Monastic Diurnal edition and the Oratory of St. Michael & St. Timothy, which mostly follows the Anglican Breviary.

You can check them out here: http://stores.lulu.com/vilatte. The Independent Catholic Christian Church canons are also there, and more items will be added.

It's Official...I'm a Sicko or

Do you think the seminary choir could use another bass? I am dying to talk to the choir director and see if he needs a new bass. He has a great sense of humor. That's what I sound like. If I see him at chapel or lunch tomorrow, I will definitely make the offer.

Meanwhile, today I was still feeling awful, but now there's a cough in addition to the pain around my sinuses. I saw the doctor tonight (I love that they have night hours). I do have a sinus infection and I was wheezing, which I've never done before. So, I'm on Zpac, Advair, a steroid, and Coriciden. Hopefully this will knock it all out of me. I'm not having fun.











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Creeping Crud

It's that time of year when everyone is sick. Last week Rural Pastor was sick and actually tried to chant part of the service, but that didn't work out too well. My classmates have been sick as well. Now it's my turn. A student who is a parish nurse referred to it as the "creeping crud." Wednesday night I started having a voice change. Let's put it this way, if I was in the choir, I'd be a bass. That is still the case voice-wise, but now I feel like I've been run over by a truck as well.

I talked to Rural Pastor yesterday and assured him that though I could not chant the kyrie, hymn of praise, or do the prayers, I would nonetheless be in attendance today--or so I thought...until I I woke up this morning, feeling every bit as bad as yesterday. So, I'm home and not having fun.
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It's a Small World After All

Rural Pastor had mentioned in an email that we were having a baptism this morning. That's always exciting and I made the assumption that the family was from the area. When I went to put on my alb, I saw a woman changing a baby and then realized they were the baptismal family. I greeted them and mentioned I was away last weekend at my granddaughter's baptism in Rochester, NY. The mother exclaimed, "We're from Rochester!" I was amazed. I then inquired where they live in the Rochester area. She said, "Penfield." I told her I graduated from Penfield High School--as did she. She mentioned she had attended St. Joseph's Church in Penfield. That is where I was confirmed. We even went to the same elementary school, though she's much younger than I.

It gets even more amazing. I mentioned that my daughter lives in Greece, NY. That's where one of the godparents lives! This is in a small, rural, MD church!! They had family here though and that's why the baptism was being done here. I had a few minutes to visit with the rest of the family after the service. We were all amazed. I could not help but think of the song, "It's a Small World After All." It keeps getting smaller. Then too, I see God's handiwork in the small details of our lives and relationships and this is my father's world.

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Here in This Place.

It's just Abby and myself home this wet, rainy Saturday morning. Ray and Amity are at S. O. S., Seminary on Saturday.

This is a program for the community that's held twice a year. The first session on Nov. 1 was "Holy Time-Holy Space-Holy People," taught by a couple of my profs. Ray missed last week's session because of our being in Rochester. Today's is "Luther and the Jews," taught by my adviser and her husband.

One of the tremendous blessings of being at this place is the learning opportunities for both of us and the community. We are grateful to be here in this place, gathered with God's people.

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Rest, Who Me?

Please take a look at Clint's post on sabbath rest, particularly as we approach Advent. It's a challenging read. What do you do to add sabbath to your busy days? For myself, night prayer, or compline, nicely closes the day and helps me to remember why I'm here at seminary.

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Dad's Gone Home

I received a call a short time ago from my daughter that her grandfather has gone home to be with the Lord. The chorus from an old Gaither song kept going through my mind:

It is finished, the battle is over
It is finished, there'll be no more war
It is finished, the end of the conflict
It is finished and Jesus is Lord

It seems very fitting that today, Veterans Day, should be the time of his homecoming as a World War II veteran.

Thank God for the hope we have in Christ. As Paul wrote, "If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied" (1 Cor 15:19). It is good to know that he is in God's loving care and has no more pain or sorrow. Thanks be to God for this amazing gift.

Defining Moments

Birth, baptism, marriage, and many other times of our lives are defining moments. Yesterday, I participated in several of these, culminating in one profound one.

At the left is my granddaughter, Grace, who was baptized yesterday. After Greek class, which ends at 5:45 Friday afternoon, we packed and started the trip to Rochester, NY for Grace's baptism. We rejoiced as we witnessed this momentous event in her life. Hearing, "Grace, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever" (Evangelical Lutheran Worship, p. 231), was an answer to prayer. For Grace, this was a defining moment. This was the capstone of our visit and why we were here, or so we thought. That was only part of the reason as far as God was concerned however.

We found out that Grace's great-grandfather was in a hospice and was not expected to live much longer. His name is Fred and he has been like a father to me from the time I met him. I felt closer to him than my own father. After church and lunch, we went to the hospice to see the rest of the family and him. Dad (as I've always called him) was unconscious and is not expected to regain consciousness.

Though unconscious I talked to him. The rest of the family was in the lounge and just Ray, my daughter Sarah, and I remained. When I ran out of things to say, instinct kicked in and I asked Sarah to get the Gideon Bible out of the nightstand drawer and I read aloud several New Testament passages and Psalms. Repeatedly the verse from Psalms included in evening prayer kept running through my head, "Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit." And I just prayed as I read that God's would surround Dad with his angels and would carry him into God's presence. I had such a sense of God's presence, knowing that I was doing what God wanted me to do. I came to a greater understanding of what a day in a pastor's life can look like: baptism in the morning, sitting with family, and with the dying in the evening. And I suspect I will experience more of the latter in CPE in the summer. This was a defining moment for me--when I realized, "This is what ministry is."

We are brought into God's family by water and the Word, comforted and sustained by that same Word, nourished in the Lord's supper, and ushered into God's very presence.

It was a weekend of mixed emotions. We were thrilled to see Sarah and Grace. We hadn't seen each other since last Christmas. Seeing other family members, friends, and others was good. I would have felt awful if I didn't have the chance to say good-bye to that wonderful, good man, Fred, whom I have called "Dad" for many years. Any day I expect to hear from one of my children that their beloved grandfather has gone home to be with the Lord. After all, he is 100!

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Pall picture.

Baptismal Ruminations...Coming Full Circle

My thoughts on the meaning and importance of baptism as well as the mode and timing of one's baptism have changed significantly over the years. I was baptized as an infant into a family that did not participate in the life of the church.

As a teenager I had a religious experience that some would refer to as being "born again." After some time, I was baptized again, as a believer by immersion. I then, saw no validity in my infant baptism.

I have now been a Lutheran since the late 1980s. Lutherans primarily baptize infants. This is something I have struggled with for a long time. Was it really valid if the recipient was not exercising faith? What if the parents of the child did not believe? What if it was being done simply for "fire insurance," just in case there might be something to this God thing? Or, what if the baby is baptized because the parents have caved into pressure from other family members?

My appreciation of infant baptism, including my own, began with studying church history in undergrad. I was amazed at how far back in the history of the Christian faith this practice goes! In studying Luther's Large Catechism with Rural Pastor, I have come to a better understanding of why we do the things we do as Lutherans. Luther's wrote this concerning baptism:

...We do not put the main emphasis on whether the person baptized believes or not, for in the latter case baptism does not become invalid. Everything depends upon the Word and commandment of God...baptism is simply water and God's Word in and with each other...when the Word accompanies the water, baptism is valid, even though faith is lacking. For my faith does not make baptism; rather, it receives baptism...for it is not bound to our faith but to the Word.

"Misuse does not destroy the substance, but confirms its existence." Gold remains no less gold if a harlot wears it in sin and shame. (pp 463-464, "The Large Catechism," The Book of Concord)

At the time of baptism, God comes and works and does what God wants to do in spite of us. It is all about God, not about us. As Carl Jung wrote, "Bidden or not, God is present."

So, the questions for me really end up being, "How do I walk in my baptism? How do I live this out to the glory of God? How do I in my daily life incarnate God's presence?" May God gives us all the ears to listen for that still small voice of direction and guidance as we seek to live in service to God and neighbor.




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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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Does it Matter Where I Sit?

Teaching Parish is an opportunity to get our feet wet when it comes to public ministry. This is accomplished by "observing and listening to the congregation...by teaching and preaching...[and] by worshipping and praying with the congregation..." (Teaching Parish Reference Book 2008-2009, p. 14).

The first Sunday I attended Rural Lutheran incognito, so to speak. The pastor didn't introduce me or tell anyone I was coming. He wanted me to get a feel for the congregation the way a first time visitor would. and asked me to sit in a particular part of the congregation. Though there were only 30 + people attending, no one talked to me until the peace. Mouths moved, but no one sang around me. My overall response was one of sadness for the people.

This past Sunday I could sit wherever I wanted and I was being introduced. The experience was completely the opposite. Was it because of where I was seated? Was it because more of the committed people were there? Was it because they were expecting me? The answer could be yes to each of these.

The church is small, declining in numbers, and rural. After the first visit, had I been the average outsider, I may not have returned. If my first experience had been like the second visit, I would definitely return. The issue is one of hospitality, of welcoming. I am a Lutheran and not another flavor because the Lutherans were welcoming when I was church shopping.

Radical hospitality makes us feel like we've come home, being embraced by God and God's people. Let us welcome home all we meet today.

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Amity and Communion

Yesterday while I was at teaching parish, Ray, still at Seeing Eye in NJ, took new guide dog Amity to church for the first time. All went really well until...communion distribution.

Amity was seated beside Ray who was kneeling and waiting for the pastor to give him the bread. As soon as the pastor offered Ray the bread, Amity stretched, reaching her head forward like she wanted communion too. Ray, the pastor, and the Seeing Eye trainer lost it. They couldn't help but laugh. That was Amity's first church visit. She's already a good Lutheran dog. As one friend remarked, "Okay - so THAT dog needs to go to First Communion class!"

For Abby it's compline, for Amity it's communion. What can one do with dogs like that? If only all God's people were as interested in the means of grace as these dogs are!










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Untrodden Paths

One of my favorite prayers is:

O God, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting up; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (ELW p. 317).

The first time I prayed this was at an evening prayer service at Emanuel Lutheran Church in RI. It struck a chord with me then and continues to do so. As the time approached for the move to seminary and since our arrival, these words have echoed in my heart, "...not knowing where we go, but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us..." I don't know where we'll go after graduation in 2012. I don't know where my internship will be my third year. I don't know where my CPE will be this coming summer. Until today, I didn't know where my teaching parish would be that starts this Sunday.

Today I found out where I was going for teaching parish because today was matching day! Pastors and mentors came to the seminary and we were introduced to one another to get acquainted with each other and the church that would be the teaching parish. I feel like the pastor of my teaching parish and I really connected and it sounds like a good fit. Though still untrodden, at least this path is now known. It's not always easy, but can we entrust to God's care and faithfulness those unknowns of our lives? Paul did. Shouldn't we?

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Appreciating God's Creation

Thanks to RevGal Leah Sophia for this YouTube of beautiful scenery and one of Rich Mullins' songs, "Calling Out Your Name." It seems a fitting way to begin the week. Peace.

Yellow Leaves All a Twitter

I was first introduced to Frederick Buechner by a pastor who quoted his well-known wisdom on discerning vocation as "That place where your great joy meets the world's great need." Buechner has a new book out and Jim Martin offers a thoughtful reflection on it. Please check it out.

By the way I just joined Twitter, so if any of you are members, let me know. Blessings.

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