STILL CHILLIN HERE IN CHICACO
(Friday) As they say on the weather channel here, it's still "bitterly cold" (current temp is 0). I actually went out to procure supplies at lunch time but I've spent most of the day in the self-contained (and over-priced) mini-village of the Hyatt O'Hare. Meetings. Meetings. And more meetings. Fortunately tomorrow will be spent in meetings. Actually they should be a little less stressful. A lot of the business yesterday and today involved the care and or discipline of ministers who have gotten into trouble. Tomorrow we will be working with candidates for ordination.
Friday, January 30
Wednesday, January 28
Tuesday, January 27
TECHNICAL PROBLEM
(Tuesday) I have been trying to remove the Norton antivirus software from my machine (XP) in order to replace it with something more to my liking. However, every time I run the remove program it messes up the registry and erases the DNS numbers for the computer. So I have to run restore to a previous day. But then I have the Norton defined registry again and can't install the new software. Short of buying a Mac (thought I'd head that one off) what should I do?
(Tuesday) I have been trying to remove the Norton antivirus software from my machine (XP) in order to replace it with something more to my liking. However, every time I run the remove program it messes up the registry and erases the DNS numbers for the computer. So I have to run restore to a previous day. But then I have the Norton defined registry again and can't install the new software. Short of buying a Mac (thought I'd head that one off) what should I do?
Monday, January 26
VIRUS ATTACK
(Monday) My anti-virus software has intercepted at least 15 virus attachments since noon. Apparently I'm not the only one getting hit. Link
(Monday) My anti-virus software has intercepted at least 15 virus attachments since noon. Apparently I'm not the only one getting hit. Link
Saturday, January 24
WE COULD SEE THIS ONE COMING
(Saturday) From the Telegraph: Professor John Harris, a member of the British Medical Association's ethics committee, said that it was not "plausible to think that there is any moral change that occurs during the journey down the birth canal" - suggesting that there was no moral difference between aborting a foetus and killing a baby. Link
Harris was suggesting that there infanticide might be justified in cases of a child carrying a genetic disorder that remained undetected during pregnancy.
(Saturday) From the Telegraph: Professor John Harris, a member of the British Medical Association's ethics committee, said that it was not "plausible to think that there is any moral change that occurs during the journey down the birth canal" - suggesting that there was no moral difference between aborting a foetus and killing a baby. Link
Harris was suggesting that there infanticide might be justified in cases of a child carrying a genetic disorder that remained undetected during pregnancy.
THE DAY
(Saturday) I spent the morning finishing up my sermon for tomorrow. And then I poured my afternoon and evening energy into reading ordination papers in preparation for the Board of the Ordered Ministry meetings next week. And then my reward came -- Cheryl made keylime pie this afternoon and we savored each bite tonight. It was a good day (even if the sun was hesitant to make a real appearance).
(Saturday) I spent the morning finishing up my sermon for tomorrow. And then I poured my afternoon and evening energy into reading ordination papers in preparation for the Board of the Ordered Ministry meetings next week. And then my reward came -- Cheryl made keylime pie this afternoon and we savored each bite tonight. It was a good day (even if the sun was hesitant to make a real appearance).
KBAQ ONLINE
(Saturday) This morning I discovered that my favorite radio station in Phoenix, KBAQ, is now broadcasting online.
For me this is the best thing about having broadband in the office -- so many good choices. We live in an area where the classical radio station isn't received very well. But online I listen to BBC3 (London), ClassicFM (London), KING-FM (Seattle), KUSC (LA), SR P2 (Stockholm), WGCU (Ft. Meyers, Florida), and XLNC (Tijuana, San Diego). And now I can add KBAQ to the list. So many good choices out there.
(Saturday) This morning I discovered that my favorite radio station in Phoenix, KBAQ, is now broadcasting online.
For me this is the best thing about having broadband in the office -- so many good choices. We live in an area where the classical radio station isn't received very well. But online I listen to BBC3 (London), ClassicFM (London), KING-FM (Seattle), KUSC (LA), SR P2 (Stockholm), WGCU (Ft. Meyers, Florida), and XLNC (Tijuana, San Diego). And now I can add KBAQ to the list. So many good choices out there.
Friday, January 23
LANOIES TO GAIN FAME
(Friday) The CBC is getting ready to film a story about Léo and Linea Lanoie. She is a dentist and he is a physician. They are former Covenant missionaries in Zaire/Congo, now living in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. And actually the story is about their mixed race, mixed culture family of nine. Three of their children are white, two are black, and two are mixed race. AND Linea's blog is on my list of frequent reads -- so that makes me almost famous (NOT likely). Link
(Friday) The CBC is getting ready to film a story about Léo and Linea Lanoie. She is a dentist and he is a physician. They are former Covenant missionaries in Zaire/Congo, now living in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. And actually the story is about their mixed race, mixed culture family of nine. Three of their children are white, two are black, and two are mixed race. AND Linea's blog is on my list of frequent reads -- so that makes me almost famous (NOT likely). Link
WONDERFULLY ECCENTRIC CHURCHES
(Friday) For years I've been interested in new church development -- studied it, written about it, participated in it. One aspect of this particular interest are those new churches which are intentionally out of sync with the latest trends. It's not that they are unaware of what everyone else is doing -- they just feel called to be doing something else -- and are usually at odds with the general culture.
Epworth Chapel on the Green in Boise, Idaho, is one such congregation. I'm sure that God delights in the unusualness of this small vibrant church. They describe themselves as:
+ Anglican in worship
+ Wesleyan in theology
+ Orthodox in teaching
+ Evangelical in mission
+ Ecumenical in thought
Pay them a visit and hopefully they'll notice that their hidden site-meter is spinning.
(Friday) For years I've been interested in new church development -- studied it, written about it, participated in it. One aspect of this particular interest are those new churches which are intentionally out of sync with the latest trends. It's not that they are unaware of what everyone else is doing -- they just feel called to be doing something else -- and are usually at odds with the general culture.
Epworth Chapel on the Green in Boise, Idaho, is one such congregation. I'm sure that God delights in the unusualness of this small vibrant church. They describe themselves as:
+ Anglican in worship
+ Wesleyan in theology
+ Orthodox in teaching
+ Evangelical in mission
+ Ecumenical in thought
Pay them a visit and hopefully they'll notice that their hidden site-meter is spinning.
Thursday, January 22
THE AMERICAN HOLOCAUST
(Thursday) Thirty-one years ago today the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the case Roe v. Wade. Abortion became legal. It is estimated at as many as 45 million babies have died in the wake of that ruling. Compare to the population of California -- which is just under 35 million people.
Link to an article that Frederica Mathewes-Green wrote a year ago today.
(Thursday) Thirty-one years ago today the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in the case Roe v. Wade. Abortion became legal. It is estimated at as many as 45 million babies have died in the wake of that ruling. Compare to the population of California -- which is just under 35 million people.
Link to an article that Frederica Mathewes-Green wrote a year ago today.
TIM HORTON'S
(Thursday) Randall, who has a great sense of humor, humors me by responding to my questions about that very Canadian institution, Tim Horton's. Link
(Thursday) Randall, who has a great sense of humor, humors me by responding to my questions about that very Canadian institution, Tim Horton's. Link
Wednesday, January 21
THE STRINGS...
(Wednesday) The billion dollar-plus gift that the Salvation Army accepted yesterday isn't enough to do what is mandated by the giver. But based on the Salvation Army's experience running the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Diego, which Mrs. Kroc paid for with $92 million and opened in 2002, that will cover only 40 percent to 50 percent of the total operating costs of the centers, Commissioner Bassett estimated.
That means the Army may have to raise as much as $70 million annually to cover operations when all the centers are built in 10 to 15 years, Major Hood said. NY Times article (You may have to do the free registration thing)
(Wednesday) The billion dollar-plus gift that the Salvation Army accepted yesterday isn't enough to do what is mandated by the giver. But based on the Salvation Army's experience running the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Diego, which Mrs. Kroc paid for with $92 million and opened in 2002, that will cover only 40 percent to 50 percent of the total operating costs of the centers, Commissioner Bassett estimated.
That means the Army may have to raise as much as $70 million annually to cover operations when all the centers are built in 10 to 15 years, Major Hood said. NY Times article (You may have to do the free registration thing)
THE WATERFALL
(Wednesday) Karl Thienes is having a discussion about freedom and grace on his very Orthodox blog. And he offers this quote to make his point:
Father David's response: You are standing in a waterfall, the water is flowing all over you and keeps coming no matter what - it is free, it is abundant. You want to drink the water and all you have is a cup. Now it seems to reason that if you just hold out the cup, the water will fill it and there's your drink.
But the cup is full of rocks and sand - so full that the water just hits it and rolls right off. If you want that drink you will have to empty all the rocks and sand out of the cup. So one by one you chip out all the old rocks and dump the sand. When the cup is finally empty, it still doesn't fill because it isn't turned right side up. You have to turn it over so that it will fill with water.
The cup is your soul. The waterfall and water is God's free and abundant grace.
It is all around you, ever flowing over you - but you can't "access" it because your soul - the cup - is full of rocks and sand - sins. You have to empty out the rocks and sand by the "works" of ascetic labor, self denial, taking up your cross, etc. Then you have to "turn the cup over" by further labor - that is those works that orient you properly to God; practicing the virtues.
The grace is free and abundant. We have everything we need to get it - we even have directions on how to go about it. We are even provided the tools we need to clean out the cup. But we still have to get rid of the sin and orient ourselves toward God. You don't earn it, you just have to reach out and take it. Its not enough to just say "I want a drink" - you have to cooperate with the grace to get the drink.
(Warning! This metaphor, like all metaphors will break when stretched beyond its original limitations).
Exactly. The problem is with the metaphor. I would modify the story -- "...and the water coming off the waterfall is so powerful that it eventually washes away all the rocks and gravel -- filling the cup more and more each day -- unless, of course, someone guards the cup preventing the water from doing what it naturally does -- erosion."
It's a matter of where you're going to put the emphasis.
(Wednesday) Karl Thienes is having a discussion about freedom and grace on his very Orthodox blog. And he offers this quote to make his point:
Father David's response: You are standing in a waterfall, the water is flowing all over you and keeps coming no matter what - it is free, it is abundant. You want to drink the water and all you have is a cup. Now it seems to reason that if you just hold out the cup, the water will fill it and there's your drink.
But the cup is full of rocks and sand - so full that the water just hits it and rolls right off. If you want that drink you will have to empty all the rocks and sand out of the cup. So one by one you chip out all the old rocks and dump the sand. When the cup is finally empty, it still doesn't fill because it isn't turned right side up. You have to turn it over so that it will fill with water.
The cup is your soul. The waterfall and water is God's free and abundant grace.
It is all around you, ever flowing over you - but you can't "access" it because your soul - the cup - is full of rocks and sand - sins. You have to empty out the rocks and sand by the "works" of ascetic labor, self denial, taking up your cross, etc. Then you have to "turn the cup over" by further labor - that is those works that orient you properly to God; practicing the virtues.
The grace is free and abundant. We have everything we need to get it - we even have directions on how to go about it. We are even provided the tools we need to clean out the cup. But we still have to get rid of the sin and orient ourselves toward God. You don't earn it, you just have to reach out and take it. Its not enough to just say "I want a drink" - you have to cooperate with the grace to get the drink.
(Warning! This metaphor, like all metaphors will break when stretched beyond its original limitations).
Exactly. The problem is with the metaphor. I would modify the story -- "...and the water coming off the waterfall is so powerful that it eventually washes away all the rocks and gravel -- filling the cup more and more each day -- unless, of course, someone guards the cup preventing the water from doing what it naturally does -- erosion."
It's a matter of where you're going to put the emphasis.
KEITH DRURY
(Wednesday) Keith Drury always asks good questions. His most recent column has a lot of the most critical ones that Evangelicals should be asking. Link
(Wednesday) Keith Drury always asks good questions. His most recent column has a lot of the most critical ones that Evangelicals should be asking. Link
Tuesday, January 20
LIME FLAVORED DIET COKE
(Tuesday) My friend who manages a local convenience store, gave me a sample bottle of Lime Flavored Diet Coke, which the Coke people are rolling out this week. Link
Not bad... not bad at all... But then again you know that I'm predisposed to like lime.
(Tuesday) My friend who manages a local convenience store, gave me a sample bottle of Lime Flavored Diet Coke, which the Coke people are rolling out this week. Link
Not bad... not bad at all... But then again you know that I'm predisposed to like lime.
SALVATION ARMY GETS $1.5 BILLION
(Tuesday) ...and I can't think of a better beneficiary of the Kroc estate. That's a lot of Big Macs. Link
(Tuesday) ...and I can't think of a better beneficiary of the Kroc estate. That's a lot of Big Macs. Link
THE EP HONORS CASTRO
(Tuesday)
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the first among equals of the 14 Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, will arrive in Cuba tomorrow. He plans to honor Fidel Castro with "a church order in recognition of Cuba's construction of a new cathedral." Apparently Castro will receive the Order of St. Andrew because his government constructed a cathedral, which will be consecrated next week. Link
It's great that Castro has allowed the Orthodox to build a cathedral. And it's not necessarily a bad thing that the EP honors him. But it seems like a stretch to make him an Archon. This is the knightly order of St. Andrew which is given to "an honoree by His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, for his outstanding service to the Church, and a well-known distinguished, and well-respected leader of the Greek Orthodox Community (at large)."
The order involves "the sworn oath of the Archon to defend and promote the Greek Orthodox faith and tradition. His special concern and interest is to serve as a bulwark to protect and promote the Holy Patriarchate and its mission. He is also concerned with the human race's inalienable rights wherever and whenever they are violated - and the well-being and general welfare of the Church."
I seriously doubt that Castro is swearing an oath or that he is some great champion of human rights.
Related, it appears that the United States has a plan to rush massive quantities of aid to Cuba at the death of Castro (There is speculation that he's not looking too well these days). "Washington wants to quickly deploy aid to the Cuban countryside to avoid a massive migration into urban centers or across the Florida Straits to U.S. soil. ." Link
Everyone wants to get a foot hold on that island.
(Tuesday)
Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, the first among equals of the 14 Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, will arrive in Cuba tomorrow. He plans to honor Fidel Castro with "a church order in recognition of Cuba's construction of a new cathedral." Apparently Castro will receive the Order of St. Andrew because his government constructed a cathedral, which will be consecrated next week. Link
It's great that Castro has allowed the Orthodox to build a cathedral. And it's not necessarily a bad thing that the EP honors him. But it seems like a stretch to make him an Archon. This is the knightly order of St. Andrew which is given to "an honoree by His All Holiness, the Ecumenical Patriarch, for his outstanding service to the Church, and a well-known distinguished, and well-respected leader of the Greek Orthodox Community (at large)."
The order involves "the sworn oath of the Archon to defend and promote the Greek Orthodox faith and tradition. His special concern and interest is to serve as a bulwark to protect and promote the Holy Patriarchate and its mission. He is also concerned with the human race's inalienable rights wherever and whenever they are violated - and the well-being and general welfare of the Church."
I seriously doubt that Castro is swearing an oath or that he is some great champion of human rights.
Related, it appears that the United States has a plan to rush massive quantities of aid to Cuba at the death of Castro (There is speculation that he's not looking too well these days). "Washington wants to quickly deploy aid to the Cuban countryside to avoid a massive migration into urban centers or across the Florida Straits to U.S. soil. ." Link
Everyone wants to get a foot hold on that island.
Monday, January 19
NEW LA TIMES ARTICLE ON FULLER
(Monday) For at least a second time in the past three months the LA Times has an article on Fuller Theological Seminary (the school from which I hold a couple of degrees). I don't know how this has happened but perhaps the Times is just trying to make up for all the years when Fuller wasn't really on their radar screen and religion coverage in general was pretty weak. It's nice to see them making the effort.
The article "Seminary Functions as Spiritual United Nations" highlights the fact that the "small evangelical campus in Pasadena draws a large contingent of scholars from around the world." That's not really new news but it is noteworthy.
The international dimension is one of the things that I really enjoyed about my experience at Fuller. When you're sitting in class next to a bishop from Nigeria or a great evangelist from Indonesia that really adds a level of depth to class discussion -- to say nothing of the fact that all along I'm hoping that at least some of who they are might rub off on me.
(Monday) For at least a second time in the past three months the LA Times has an article on Fuller Theological Seminary (the school from which I hold a couple of degrees). I don't know how this has happened but perhaps the Times is just trying to make up for all the years when Fuller wasn't really on their radar screen and religion coverage in general was pretty weak. It's nice to see them making the effort.
The article "Seminary Functions as Spiritual United Nations" highlights the fact that the "small evangelical campus in Pasadena draws a large contingent of scholars from around the world." That's not really new news but it is noteworthy.
The international dimension is one of the things that I really enjoyed about my experience at Fuller. When you're sitting in class next to a bishop from Nigeria or a great evangelist from Indonesia that really adds a level of depth to class discussion -- to say nothing of the fact that all along I'm hoping that at least some of who they are might rub off on me.
LIVE FROM SWEDEN
(Monday) Britta Walker, from our church, has gone to Sweden to study. She is blogging about it. She just arrived yesterday and hasn't posted anything new yet.
(Monday) Britta Walker, from our church, has gone to Sweden to study. She is blogging about it. She just arrived yesterday and hasn't posted anything new yet.
Sunday, January 18
CHANGING EMAIL
(Sunday) I mentioned a few days ago that we now have DSL in the church offices. Specifically it's sbc-yahoo. It sure runs slick -- even faster than the cable at home -- at a little less the price. Since dial-up comes with this account I'm going to get rid of my EarthLink account next month. I've had that account for 7 plus years and they've provided me with really good service. But I can't see continuing to pay for an account when sbc offers global dial-up coverage. And that's included with the DSL. So I'm busy tracking down all of the important contacts that I established with the EarthLink address and have been changing records. If you happen to have my email in your address book it should probably be brad@boydston.us.
(Sunday) I mentioned a few days ago that we now have DSL in the church offices. Specifically it's sbc-yahoo. It sure runs slick -- even faster than the cable at home -- at a little less the price. Since dial-up comes with this account I'm going to get rid of my EarthLink account next month. I've had that account for 7 plus years and they've provided me with really good service. But I can't see continuing to pay for an account when sbc offers global dial-up coverage. And that's included with the DSL. So I'm busy tracking down all of the important contacts that I established with the EarthLink address and have been changing records. If you happen to have my email in your address book it should probably be brad@boydston.us.
I COULDN'T RESIST...
(Sunday) The sun was threatening an appearance and the temperature was up to 50, so I put on my shorts and rode my bike back to the office this afternoon. It's been weeks since I've been able to ride and my leg muscles are complaining a bit tonight. But it sure felt good to be out there.
(Sunday) The sun was threatening an appearance and the temperature was up to 50, so I put on my shorts and rode my bike back to the office this afternoon. It's been weeks since I've been able to ride and my leg muscles are complaining a bit tonight. But it sure felt good to be out there.
Saturday, January 17
THE CHURCH-STATE HOLIDAY ISSUE
(Saturday) Terry Mattingly has a quick survey of the issue this week.
J. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs in Washington, asks the best question.
"Why not just put Nativity scenes on the front lawns of every single church in town?," he asked. "Why do people think they need to get the government involved, which shoves things into a constitutional zone where you have to start counting the number of reindeer and Santas around your Nativity scene so that everybody knows you're trying to be neutral? Why don't our churches just get together and handle this?"
(Saturday) Terry Mattingly has a quick survey of the issue this week.
J. Brent Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee on Public Affairs in Washington, asks the best question.
"Why not just put Nativity scenes on the front lawns of every single church in town?," he asked. "Why do people think they need to get the government involved, which shoves things into a constitutional zone where you have to start counting the number of reindeer and Santas around your Nativity scene so that everybody knows you're trying to be neutral? Why don't our churches just get together and handle this?"
CONGRATULATIONS
(Saturday) Cheryl's niece, Emily, has graduated from UC Davis (two quarters early!) so we went up to her parent's home in Roseville to celebrate today.
Roseville is slightly higher in elevation so we were hoping that once we got up there we'd see the sun. No such luck. We've been socked in with fog for days. But the overcast didn't affect the party in the least bit.
Emily now has a degree in linguistics (the same thing our son Kirk is studying at UC San Diego) and is starting to work on a teaching credential at Sacramento State.
(Saturday) Cheryl's niece, Emily, has graduated from UC Davis (two quarters early!) so we went up to her parent's home in Roseville to celebrate today.
Roseville is slightly higher in elevation so we were hoping that once we got up there we'd see the sun. No such luck. We've been socked in with fog for days. But the overcast didn't affect the party in the least bit.
Emily now has a degree in linguistics (the same thing our son Kirk is studying at UC San Diego) and is starting to work on a teaching credential at Sacramento State.
Friday, January 16
QUOTE OF THE DAY
(Friday) "If Jesus makes you feel comfortable with your agenda, then he's not Jesus." -- Andrew Greeley
This is from his article -- "There's no solving mystery of Christ." It's worth the brief read.
(Friday) "If Jesus makes you feel comfortable with your agenda, then he's not Jesus." -- Andrew Greeley
This is from his article -- "There's no solving mystery of Christ." It's worth the brief read.
MICHAEL JACKSON
(Friday) I don't have any idea about whether he did the things he was accused of. And I'm glad that I don't have to hear the case. But after the media fiasco he created today -- bringing in bus loads of fans, showing up for court nearly a half-hour late, dancing on top of a SUV outside the courthouse, throwing a big post-plea party for fans out at the ranch... Link
All I can say is that he must be a few more bricks shy of a pallet than I originally thought. The only people with less going on above the shoulders are probably his fans. This is just one more embarrassment for our state -- and when you consider all the fruits and nuts we harbor -- and all that we've been through with recent political shenanigans -- that's saying a lot. What's a little more tarnish on the gold?
What, me opinionated? Am I turning curmudgeonly because I'm getting older or is it that I've just lived here so long again that it's eating at me?
(Friday) I don't have any idea about whether he did the things he was accused of. And I'm glad that I don't have to hear the case. But after the media fiasco he created today -- bringing in bus loads of fans, showing up for court nearly a half-hour late, dancing on top of a SUV outside the courthouse, throwing a big post-plea party for fans out at the ranch... Link
All I can say is that he must be a few more bricks shy of a pallet than I originally thought. The only people with less going on above the shoulders are probably his fans. This is just one more embarrassment for our state -- and when you consider all the fruits and nuts we harbor -- and all that we've been through with recent political shenanigans -- that's saying a lot. What's a little more tarnish on the gold?
What, me opinionated? Am I turning curmudgeonly because I'm getting older or is it that I've just lived here so long again that it's eating at me?
Thursday, January 15
Wednesday, January 14
CHURCH NETWORKS COMING OF AGE?
(Wednesday) Richard Kew has a great post on the conservative network that is emerging in the Anglican world -- bypassing the structures of the Episcopal Church. It's a sign of things to come -- not just among Episcopalians. Link
The thing about networks is that when a node goes bad the sysop can simply bypass it and it becomes irrelevant without a lot of fanfare.
(Wednesday) Richard Kew has a great post on the conservative network that is emerging in the Anglican world -- bypassing the structures of the Episcopal Church. It's a sign of things to come -- not just among Episcopalians. Link
The thing about networks is that when a node goes bad the sysop can simply bypass it and it becomes irrelevant without a lot of fanfare.
Tuesday, January 13
NEW GOOGLE FEATURES
(Tuesday) They're still on a roll with new features. Now you can check the status of U.S. flights by entering a flight number into the query bar. Or you can check the weather at an airport by typing in the airport's three-letter code and the word "airport." Link
(Tuesday) They're still on a roll with new features. Now you can check the status of U.S. flights by entering a flight number into the query bar. Or you can check the weather at an airport by typing in the airport's three-letter code and the word "airport." Link
Monday, January 12
TOM WRIGHT LECTURE
(Monday) I've been listening to a great lecture that Bishop Tom Wright gave at Calvin Seminary -- "New Exodus, New Creation, New Humanity." Listen
Archives of his lectures and sermons
(Monday) I've been listening to a great lecture that Bishop Tom Wright gave at Calvin Seminary -- "New Exodus, New Creation, New Humanity." Listen
Archives of his lectures and sermons
CHRISTIAN INFLUENCE IN AMERICA
(Monday) We should worry less about America's Christian conservatives. They are more American than they are Christian or conservative. -- Alan Wolfe
More from Wolfe: The most extreme form such radical individualism takes is the home church movement. Like those conservative Christian parents who remove their children from public (and private) schools in order to instruct them by themselves, home churchers take Protestant distrust of theologians and clergy to its logical conclusion. "It was so dead for me," writes a believer named Jenny Orr about her experiences in church. "I watched as people were going nuts and dancing and shouting and I felt like I was looking at this through some kind of soundproof and feeling-proof glass... I could feel the flow become a trickle, and then nothing at all." One day, as she was praying, her five-year-old daughter Katy came up to her and handed her a cup filled with dirt, which she took as a sign that the faith she had been practising was impure. "That was it for me," Jenny declared, for she knew at that moment that God had released her to find her own way of worshipping. When Jenny recalls what she calls the "Sunday morning dog and pony shows," she wonders how she ever could have been a regular churchgoer. "Nine o'clock," she realises, "is no holier or more apt to put you in touch with God than any other hour." God does not want his believers to be "weak and co-dependent on a structure or a man to tell us how to think or what to say or to define who we are in Christ."
And more: No other aspect of their faith is as important to conservative Protestants as worship: prayer, visible and frequent, is what attracts them to church. But worship in conservative Protestant America rarely involves introspective efforts to honour a supreme being whose concerns are other-worldly. "Lord, give me a clean X-ray when I go for a mammogram next week" or "God, help the search committee find a new pastor for the church," are some of the forms taken by prayer at one Baptist church in New Jersey. At an evangelical church women's group in the suburbs of New York City, each participant has a chance to ask God to respond to her concerns, and, as she does, others take notes so that they can pray for their friends during the week. Those concerns, moreover, are anything but other-worldly: most involve health, money, and real estate, along with issues facing the church. We should not doubt the meaning that worship has for conservative Christians. But nor should we ignore the fact that, judging by how many believers express themselves in prayer, these are people who believe that God helps those who focus on themselves.
Link to the whole article
(Monday) We should worry less about America's Christian conservatives. They are more American than they are Christian or conservative. -- Alan Wolfe
More from Wolfe: The most extreme form such radical individualism takes is the home church movement. Like those conservative Christian parents who remove their children from public (and private) schools in order to instruct them by themselves, home churchers take Protestant distrust of theologians and clergy to its logical conclusion. "It was so dead for me," writes a believer named Jenny Orr about her experiences in church. "I watched as people were going nuts and dancing and shouting and I felt like I was looking at this through some kind of soundproof and feeling-proof glass... I could feel the flow become a trickle, and then nothing at all." One day, as she was praying, her five-year-old daughter Katy came up to her and handed her a cup filled with dirt, which she took as a sign that the faith she had been practising was impure. "That was it for me," Jenny declared, for she knew at that moment that God had released her to find her own way of worshipping. When Jenny recalls what she calls the "Sunday morning dog and pony shows," she wonders how she ever could have been a regular churchgoer. "Nine o'clock," she realises, "is no holier or more apt to put you in touch with God than any other hour." God does not want his believers to be "weak and co-dependent on a structure or a man to tell us how to think or what to say or to define who we are in Christ."
And more: No other aspect of their faith is as important to conservative Protestants as worship: prayer, visible and frequent, is what attracts them to church. But worship in conservative Protestant America rarely involves introspective efforts to honour a supreme being whose concerns are other-worldly. "Lord, give me a clean X-ray when I go for a mammogram next week" or "God, help the search committee find a new pastor for the church," are some of the forms taken by prayer at one Baptist church in New Jersey. At an evangelical church women's group in the suburbs of New York City, each participant has a chance to ask God to respond to her concerns, and, as she does, others take notes so that they can pray for their friends during the week. Those concerns, moreover, are anything but other-worldly: most involve health, money, and real estate, along with issues facing the church. We should not doubt the meaning that worship has for conservative Christians. But nor should we ignore the fact that, judging by how many believers express themselves in prayer, these are people who believe that God helps those who focus on themselves.
Link to the whole article
VOTE FOR JIM'S SONG
(Monday) My pastoral colleague Jim Black (Hope Community Covenant Church in Boynton Beach, Florida) is trying to get some air time for his new song "I Found Real Love." And he's asking people to vote for it. See and Hear and Vote
Some of you may recognize Jim from the Quigley's Village video/television series that he did with Rick Carlson (now pastor of Roseville Covenant Church, Roseville, Minnesota.)
(Monday) My pastoral colleague Jim Black (Hope Community Covenant Church in Boynton Beach, Florida) is trying to get some air time for his new song "I Found Real Love." And he's asking people to vote for it. See and Hear and Vote
Some of you may recognize Jim from the Quigley's Village video/television series that he did with Rick Carlson (now pastor of Roseville Covenant Church, Roseville, Minnesota.)
SCARY WORD
(Monday) The Word Spy, which highlights new words, is telling us today about "megacryometeors," great balls of ice that fall out of the clear blue sky - possibly due to global warming. ...just when you thought it was safe to go outside again.
(Monday) The Word Spy, which highlights new words, is telling us today about "megacryometeors," great balls of ice that fall out of the clear blue sky - possibly due to global warming. ...just when you thought it was safe to go outside again.
Sunday, January 11
BROADBAND!
(Sunday) It has taken nearly 2 1/2 years of negotiation, hassle, run-around, broken-promises... The cable company kept promising to bring broadband to the building (We even signed a contract which they ignored for months before I finally canceled it). And DSL just became available in our neighborhood two weeks ago. So this afternoon we finally got the DSL hooked up to the church building. Dale Phillips and Alan McCord worked on getting the phone lines straightened out after worship this morning. Then this afternoon Dale and I got the computers networked. IOW, Dan, surprise! You're all hooked up and ready to go.
Because of the way that phone service is metered on a commercial account the DSL will actually save us money over the dial-up connection that the three of us in the office were sharing. And we can now all be on at once. AND I can listen to the XLNC to my heart's content.
(Sunday) It has taken nearly 2 1/2 years of negotiation, hassle, run-around, broken-promises... The cable company kept promising to bring broadband to the building (We even signed a contract which they ignored for months before I finally canceled it). And DSL just became available in our neighborhood two weeks ago. So this afternoon we finally got the DSL hooked up to the church building. Dale Phillips and Alan McCord worked on getting the phone lines straightened out after worship this morning. Then this afternoon Dale and I got the computers networked. IOW, Dan, surprise! You're all hooked up and ready to go.
Because of the way that phone service is metered on a commercial account the DSL will actually save us money over the dial-up connection that the three of us in the office were sharing. And we can now all be on at once. AND I can listen to the XLNC to my heart's content.
Saturday, January 10
GW BASHING
(Saturday) An organization, slightly to the left of the Democrats, has sponsored a contest for the best anti-Bush ads. True or not they are powerful. Link
(Saturday) An organization, slightly to the left of the Democrats, has sponsored a contest for the best anti-Bush ads. True or not they are powerful. Link
Friday, January 9
THE SIMPSONS ARE LOSERS -- AT LEAST IN SCOTISH CHURCH
(Friday) From the Daily Record: Church sermons with a Simpsons theme have failed to increase congregation sizes at the Rev Duncan Eddie's Holburn West Church in Aberdeen. Link
And he was expecting...?
(Friday) From the Daily Record: Church sermons with a Simpsons theme have failed to increase congregation sizes at the Rev Duncan Eddie's Holburn West Church in Aberdeen. Link
And he was expecting...?
13-YEAR-OLD SUSPENDED FOR MESSAGING NETWORK
(Friday) It was the school's network -- the whole network. But he just used an old DOS command to send the word "hey."
And once again a paranoid school system tosses common sense out the window. Link
(Friday) It was the school's network -- the whole network. But he just used an old DOS command to send the word "hey."
And once again a paranoid school system tosses common sense out the window. Link
BOY SCOUTS LEFT FLAPPING IN THE BREEZE
(Friday) For 50 years the Boys Scouts have had a low cost lease for some camping property in the northwest corner of Balboa Park, near the San Diego Zoo. And the city of San Diego, much to their credit, supported the scouts when the ACLU sued them both. The ACLU claimed that an organization which discriminates against atheists and homosexuals shouldn't have access to the property. However, now the city has settled for $950,000 and agreed to evict the Boy Scouts. The world just gets stranger and stranger. Link
(Friday) For 50 years the Boys Scouts have had a low cost lease for some camping property in the northwest corner of Balboa Park, near the San Diego Zoo. And the city of San Diego, much to their credit, supported the scouts when the ACLU sued them both. The ACLU claimed that an organization which discriminates against atheists and homosexuals shouldn't have access to the property. However, now the city has settled for $950,000 and agreed to evict the Boy Scouts. The world just gets stranger and stranger. Link
Thursday, January 8
UP - UP AND AWAY
(Thursday) The president said today that he wants to put some humans back on the moon and spend more money on exploring Mars. I'm all for space exploration. But I wonder how it is that the federal government has enough money to launch into these big ticket projects (even while we're dropping a chunk of change fighting terrorists) but 47 of the 50 states are struggling to keep their heads above the water. Something is out of whack.
(Thursday) The president said today that he wants to put some humans back on the moon and spend more money on exploring Mars. I'm all for space exploration. But I wonder how it is that the federal government has enough money to launch into these big ticket projects (even while we're dropping a chunk of change fighting terrorists) but 47 of the 50 states are struggling to keep their heads above the water. Something is out of whack.
EMAIL ALERT
(Thursday) A new twist on a not so new scam -- from the inbox today:
Dear Earthlink valued customer,
[Shouldn't that be "valued EarthLink customer"?]
We have noticed that an un-authorized access attempt was made to your account at www.earthlink.net. Our security software has blocked access from the intruder to your account, but the un-authorized user's attempt managed to replace the password on your account.
The password has been restored for mail and internet access, however the intruder may still be able to get access to your account and or any personal information that you might have used with your account.
To avoid further problems with your account such as credit-card number, or personal information loss we advise you to replace the password to your account as soon as possible.
*To change your password, click the button below.
Yeah, sure, I'm going to give these guys my password -- even if I could. These scammers are so incompetent that they couldn't even do the html link right -- so it didn't work.
By the way, the return address on the email: earthlink903629@netscape.net -- as if the corporate EarthLink people have to use Netscape (owned by their main competitor AOL) as their ISP.
(Thursday) A new twist on a not so new scam -- from the inbox today:
Dear Earthlink valued customer,
[Shouldn't that be "valued EarthLink customer"?]
We have noticed that an un-authorized access attempt was made to your account at www.earthlink.net. Our security software has blocked access from the intruder to your account, but the un-authorized user's attempt managed to replace the password on your account.
The password has been restored for mail and internet access, however the intruder may still be able to get access to your account and or any personal information that you might have used with your account.
To avoid further problems with your account such as credit-card number, or personal information loss we advise you to replace the password to your account as soon as possible.
*To change your password, click the button below.
Yeah, sure, I'm going to give these guys my password -- even if I could. These scammers are so incompetent that they couldn't even do the html link right -- so it didn't work.
By the way, the return address on the email: earthlink903629@netscape.net -- as if the corporate EarthLink people have to use Netscape (owned by their main competitor AOL) as their ISP.
Wednesday, January 7
IT'S NOT EASY LIVING IN THE BAY AREA IF...
(Wednesday) you're a breeder. Just ask Jennifer Nelson. Link
I spent the first 19 years of my life in the SF Bay Area and then went back for some more in Berkeley after that. And I can tell you that she's got the place and people pegged.
David Mills found her quotable (See the Janaury 6th comments). Link
(Wednesday) you're a breeder. Just ask Jennifer Nelson. Link
I spent the first 19 years of my life in the SF Bay Area and then went back for some more in Berkeley after that. And I can tell you that she's got the place and people pegged.
David Mills found her quotable (See the Janaury 6th comments). Link
SPINNING SITE METER
(Wednesday) The extra exposure on the SermonCentral.com site this week has made the counter on the church's website spin a bit. For example, so far today we've had 72 visitors to the site. On an average day we have 11.
The funny thing is that two weeks ago I put a banner out in front of our church's building with only our web url -- cornerstonecovenant.org. I've been watching the site meter this week to see if the increased road traffic (now that the schools down the street are back in session) would affect traffic to the website. Now I have no way of knowing. Perhaps next week.
(Wednesday) The extra exposure on the SermonCentral.com site this week has made the counter on the church's website spin a bit. For example, so far today we've had 72 visitors to the site. On an average day we have 11.
The funny thing is that two weeks ago I put a banner out in front of our church's building with only our web url -- cornerstonecovenant.org. I've been watching the site meter this week to see if the increased road traffic (now that the schools down the street are back in session) would affect traffic to the website. Now I have no way of knowing. Perhaps next week.
MERRY CHRISTMAS
(Wednesday) Today is December 25th according to the old Julian calendar. And many Eastern Orthodox Christians still follow that calendar. So today is Christmas for them. Pictures
It's very tempting to join them -- not because I think the Julian calendar is anything sacred or special but because it would be an end-run around what Christmas has become in our culture. And you could get a lot of stocking stuffers at half-price. You'd never have to pay for a Christmas tree.
(Wednesday) Today is December 25th according to the old Julian calendar. And many Eastern Orthodox Christians still follow that calendar. So today is Christmas for them. Pictures
It's very tempting to join them -- not because I think the Julian calendar is anything sacred or special but because it would be an end-run around what Christmas has become in our culture. And you could get a lot of stocking stuffers at half-price. You'd never have to pay for a Christmas tree.
Tuesday, January 6
THIS & THAT
(Tuesday) We're back from our San Diego -> Green Valley -> Phoenix trip...
There is an article about the 300-year-old Chinese Orthodox Church in the Telegraph...
A few years ago I started to archive some of my sermon manuscripts on SermonCentral.com. I received email today informing me that I'm the contributor of the week and that they are including my picture on the front page of their website. The irony is that I've only contributed one sermon in the past three months. AND I've already been the "contributor of the week" -- two years ago. I guess they've run through their lists and now they're recycling us. In other words, it is interesting -- but not really a big honor. Link
(Tuesday) We're back from our San Diego -> Green Valley -> Phoenix trip...
There is an article about the 300-year-old Chinese Orthodox Church in the Telegraph...
A few years ago I started to archive some of my sermon manuscripts on SermonCentral.com. I received email today informing me that I'm the contributor of the week and that they are including my picture on the front page of their website. The irony is that I've only contributed one sermon in the past three months. AND I've already been the "contributor of the week" -- two years ago. I guess they've run through their lists and now they're recycling us. In other words, it is interesting -- but not really a big honor. Link
Sunday, January 4
ROAD TRIP
(Sunday) The radio says that things were pretty clogged up around LAX as they put all kinds of new security measures into affect. I guess everyone was sitting in traffic over there because it was smooth sailing through LA on I-5 -- the smoothest I've seen it in ages. As a matter of fact we made it from Turlock to San Diego in less than six hours. And it's a beautiful clear day in Southern California.
We rewarded ourselves with fish tacos at Rubios -- something we just don't have in Turlock.
(Sunday) The radio says that things were pretty clogged up around LAX as they put all kinds of new security measures into affect. I guess everyone was sitting in traffic over there because it was smooth sailing through LA on I-5 -- the smoothest I've seen it in ages. As a matter of fact we made it from Turlock to San Diego in less than six hours. And it's a beautiful clear day in Southern California.
We rewarded ourselves with fish tacos at Rubios -- something we just don't have in Turlock.
Saturday, January 3
EPISCOPAL REFUGEES
(Saturday) About 40 unhappy Episcopalians have formed a new Eastern Orthodox parish in Wichita. More precisely, they will be a "western rite" parish in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Link
(Saturday) About 40 unhappy Episcopalians have formed a new Eastern Orthodox parish in Wichita. More precisely, they will be a "western rite" parish in the Antiochian Orthodox Church. Link
WINTER MUSINGS
(Saturday) David Waters loves the winter cold. His wife, who grew up in the sub-tropics, gets chilled once temps drop below 80 degrees. I'm with her. Link
My brother, who lives in Blanchard, Idaho, sent me pictures of his yard -- covered with over a foot of snow. Beautiful. But he can have it.
It was a little cool in Turlock today -- but clear with the crisp. The white Sierras loomed beautifully. Much of Turlock was up there with their skis and snowboards. With all due respect they can have it.
Tomorrow afternoon Cheryl and I are taking Kirk back down to San Diego and then we're going to loop over to Green Valley, Arizona to drop off her father. That's my favorite place to be in January -- although Florida sounds pretty exciting, too. It's suppose to be 82 degrees in Naples tomorrow.
(Saturday) David Waters loves the winter cold. His wife, who grew up in the sub-tropics, gets chilled once temps drop below 80 degrees. I'm with her. Link
My brother, who lives in Blanchard, Idaho, sent me pictures of his yard -- covered with over a foot of snow. Beautiful. But he can have it.
It was a little cool in Turlock today -- but clear with the crisp. The white Sierras loomed beautifully. Much of Turlock was up there with their skis and snowboards. With all due respect they can have it.
Tomorrow afternoon Cheryl and I are taking Kirk back down to San Diego and then we're going to loop over to Green Valley, Arizona to drop off her father. That's my favorite place to be in January -- although Florida sounds pretty exciting, too. It's suppose to be 82 degrees in Naples tomorrow.
Friday, January 2
Thursday, January 1
THROUGH THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
(Thursday) The English Standard Version (which is a very fine translation) website has a "read the Bible through in a year" feature. Link
(Thursday) The English Standard Version (which is a very fine translation) website has a "read the Bible through in a year" feature. Link
WEDDINGS VS. MARRIAGE
(Thursday) Couples are going through longer engagements so they can have the "perfect wedding." Many engagements last longer than the marriages! Link
How is it that we take weddings more seriously than marriage? It's all about fantasy and a total disconnect from reality.
(Thursday) Couples are going through longer engagements so they can have the "perfect wedding." Many engagements last longer than the marriages! Link
How is it that we take weddings more seriously than marriage? It's all about fantasy and a total disconnect from reality.
KICY
(Thursday) Our radio voice in Alaska has gained permission to raise their signal strength -- potentially reaching into Russia, China, Japan, and Canada. Link
(Thursday) Our radio voice in Alaska has gained permission to raise their signal strength -- potentially reaching into Russia, China, Japan, and Canada. Link
2004 -- MY PREDICTIONS
(Thursday) Here's how I see it unfolding:
The Turlock Journal will be sold again. Karl Naslund will be hired to write a daily column.
President Bush will declare hostilities in both Iraq and Afghanistan to be over. All the troops will be home by November 1.
Howard Dean, in a last ditch effort to garner votes, will reveal that he secretly became a born-again Christian in 1977.
The 11th Appellate Court will rule that all anti-polygamy laws violate the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The 11th Appellate Court will overturn the results of the Super Bowl because a group of fans ran out on the field and recited the Pledge of Allegiance (including the “under God” part).
The bid to recall Arnold Schwarzenegger will fail. But his opponents shouldn’t worry because his supporters will have made good progress in amending Article II of the Constitution so that Arnold can run for President in 2008.
British Columbia will seek to become a protectorate of the United States.
The Episcopal Church, in a move to become more inclusive, will start searching for a transgendered Muslim to ordain as a bishop.
Spam will disappear.
Traffic to this blog will become so heavy that the Blogger servers will crash on at least five occasions.
(Thursday) Here's how I see it unfolding:
The Turlock Journal will be sold again. Karl Naslund will be hired to write a daily column.
President Bush will declare hostilities in both Iraq and Afghanistan to be over. All the troops will be home by November 1.
Howard Dean, in a last ditch effort to garner votes, will reveal that he secretly became a born-again Christian in 1977.
The 11th Appellate Court will rule that all anti-polygamy laws violate the First Amendment of the Constitution.
The 11th Appellate Court will overturn the results of the Super Bowl because a group of fans ran out on the field and recited the Pledge of Allegiance (including the “under God” part).
The bid to recall Arnold Schwarzenegger will fail. But his opponents shouldn’t worry because his supporters will have made good progress in amending Article II of the Constitution so that Arnold can run for President in 2008.
British Columbia will seek to become a protectorate of the United States.
The Episcopal Church, in a move to become more inclusive, will start searching for a transgendered Muslim to ordain as a bishop.
Spam will disappear.
Traffic to this blog will become so heavy that the Blogger servers will crash on at least five occasions.
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