conjectural navel gazing; jesus in lint form

music therapy and stuff

Here is something I have been reading about. It seems like a "no brainer" but the thruth is that if one cannot document one's findings in the medical field, then it does not hold water.

Music is widely used to enhance well-being, reduce stress, and distract patients from unpleasant symptoms. Although there are wide variations in individual preferences, music appears to exert direct physiologic effects through the autonomic nervous system. It also has indirect effects by modifying caregiver behavior. Music effectively reduces anxiety and improves mood for medical and surgical patients, for patients in intensive care units and patients undergoing procedures, and for children as well as adults. Music is a low-cost intervention that often reduces surgical, procedural, acute, and chronic pain. Music also improves the quality of life for patients receiving palliative care, enhancing a sense of comfort and relaxation. Providing music to caregivers may be a cost-effective and enjoyable strategy to improve empathy, compassion, and relationship-centered care while not increasing errors or interfering with technical aspects of care.

I also found an article in pediatric palliative care. I will most likely find this part of my work next term in the OB/Peds unit. Urggle.

she has died

Terri Schiavo, 41, Dies at Fla. Hospice

Psalm 23
A Psalm of David.

1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;*
3 he restores my soul.*
He leads me in right paths*
for his name’s sake.

4 Even though I walk through the darkest valley,*
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff—
they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6 Surely* goodness and mercy* shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
my whole life long.*

responding to the orthodox

Cliff, in one of the Blogodoxy conversations on the Emergent Movement and how it relates (or does not relate) to the EOC, posed some interesting points reflecting on my understanding of ecumenism and allegiance to a specific denomination, namely the ABC-USA. He suggested that I have refused to make a decision. I simply disagree. Here is what I stated in the comments. It is a long thread, so be patient with the seemingly missing pieces. This is what I said that drew out Cliff's response.

If I were to leave the ABC, prefering another community of the faithful, say the RCC, then I would be commiting the sin you suggest. Preference is not the issue. Pretty things are not the issue. What is at issue is truth. I agree with you. But history suggests that there are breaks in the West that need healing. There may be more than one approach to that healing. Maybe I should leave my ordination behind and "become" Catholic. But the trouble is that God found me a Baptist. I found God in a Baptist Church. This is not to say that I have not found God in an RCC parish. I certainly have and in spades. But I will not choose one over another, but instead suggest that reconciliation bvetween communities needs to happen. It is not simply my individual relationship with God and the Church that is at stake.

So, here are my responses to Cliff's excellent points. Cliff said:

It seems to me that it is precisely your refusal to make a decision that locates you as an individual; you're simply refusing full allegiance to any one body, you want to have connections to a few bodies, but no unreserved commitment to any one of them.

This is the mission statement for Reconciler:

A church committed to the visible unity of divided Christians within the church, the Living Body of Christ. We seek the reconciliation of all in the Body of Christ. We seek this unity by living as one reconciled body, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, witnessing to the Good News of Jesus Christ through worship, service, teaching and justice.

I am not sure that your remember what it is to be Protestant, brother. At least in my tradition, the separation in denomination is not a division in the Church as in the creation of another Church to supplant the existing. Some in the SBC may suggest that only they are Christian, but it is different for the ABC. We suggest that the EOC is The Church along side the ABC. I may not take that logic as far as many (ultra-relativism?), but that is still the prevailing logic. On some level, I am aware of a different tension and am responding to the brokeness in the Church. I do not see myself as outside of it. Thus, I am not borrowing anything but making use of what is already there for me.

Does the Church need healing? Yes, we in the Church need healing, a witnessing to the brokeness within the Body. I understand that this is not the EOC perspective, but until you recognise (recall?) that this is the perspective of the EM and this here Baptist, you may always be confused. Also, this colors your understandings of why we may want to convert. What am I converting to? I am already Christian. I may be switching gears, but I would perceive it as moving to another neighborhood in the same city. I like my neighborhood.

I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Frankly, I'm glad of it. But from the outside, it sure doesn't look like you have a substantive allegiance to the ABC. And your allegiance to Reconciler is a case in point. It's not located in any one tradition. Or, rather, it is creating its own new tradition, but one not organically connected to the rest.

Thanks! We are, however, seeking those organic connections.

The Church of Jesus Christ, Reconciler is a congregation seeking affiliation with the Episcopal Church USA, the American Baptist Churches, USA and the Evangelical Covenant Church.

It is a matter of time, I pray, before all three traditions recognize the congregation as one of their own and shared by all three as a response to the work of the World Council of Churches (WCC). We are not starting anything new, but responding to what the Spirit has been doing in the WCC for a century...reconciling the Church to itself and to Christ. As far as I am concerned, there is not greater allegiance possible to the ABC, but to call it to its own work of proclaiming the Gospel. That Gospel states that we who follow Jesus are to be known by our love for one another. This congregation is a reflection of that love.

Furthermore, is it realistic to suppose that the Western churches can be healed before you can join one of them? Isn't this just simply putting off a decision to commit? Don't get me wrong, it's a noble gesture. And even if you don't mean to wait till visible unity in the West is accomplished, what church bodies have to unite? And why predicate your lack of allegiance on schism?

I think I have pretty well addressed this, if I am understanding your point. I have an allegiance. It is to the Church. There is One Body...and it happens to be broken. I understand that this is not the EOC position. Reconciliation for the EOC as I understand it means everyone becomes Orthodox. And, perhaps someday, this may be the institutional reality. For the present, however, there are other steps along the way. Will I see such reconciliation in my lifetime? Doubtful. But that does not diminish the call of the Spirit not the Truth behind the reconciling work of the WCC and, prayerfully, Reconciler.

media, media, jesus and media

Here is another whatsawhosits from Barna:

“Our studies continue to show that people are using the Christian media to provide elements of ministry that are not adequately provided to them by their local church,” Barna explained. “For some people, these media complement their church experience. For others, a combination of these media forms a significant portion of their faith experience. As the Busters and Mosaics become the dominant population groups in the religious marketplace, combined with the continuing growth of ethnic populations as well, we anticipate more changes in which of these media dominate the religious market, how frequently they are utilized and how they are integrated into the person’s spiritual life.”

The California-based researcher and author also noted that the Christian media represent the most consistent means of evangelistic outreach by the Christian community. “With our studies showing that about half of all born again adults do not share their faith with any non-believers during the year, and that those who do share their faith talk about it with few non-Christians, the faith-oriented media have become the primary means through which the gospel message is presented to non-Christians on a regular basis.” (link)

I just thought it was interesting to see hwo the blogiverse may be replacing other media outlets for Christians...including the local congregation. This couples well with the previous post about the continuing "privatization" of Christianity. Why go to church on Sunday when you can go online any time you want?

Yeah, it is like that. This is the reality of the church.

again with the borrowing and the emergent movement

Here is an article that suggests what I have been arguing. Even the Pope suggests that praying the rosary may lead to ecumenical reconciliation. Who knew? Maybe I should be praying the rosary as well as praying before the icons in my apartment.

==================================================
ZENIT News Agency, The World Seen from Rome
==================================================

Rosary May Contribute to Unity, Says Protestant Theologian
If Contemplated as a Christological Prayer, as Suggested by Pope

ROME, DEC. 12, 2002 (Zenit.org).- The rosary has found an unlikely fan in a leading Protestant theologian.

John Paul II's recent apostolic letter "Rosarium Virginis Mariae" states, "To go through the scenes of the rosary with Mary is like going to the 'school" of Mary to read Christ, to penetrate his secrets, to understand his message." The rosary can even promote ecumenism, the Pope affirms.

That is a position shared by professor Stephan Tobler of the University of Tübingen, in Germany, a Reformed evangelical theologian, Vatican Radio reported.

"I must say that I read it in one go," Tobler said of the apostolic letter. "It is a letter of a spiritual and theological depth that I wasn't expecting -- a letter that breathes an evangelical dimension, which has very much surprised me."

"The letter says that it is necessary to relaunch the rosary as a Christological prayer," he added. "In fact, it does so, from the first to the last line."

When the document alludes to "the grace Mary gives us when we pray to her," it speaks of the grace that God gives us almost from Mary's hand, "but with an 'almost' as if to say she 'is and is not,'" the theologian said.

"Therefore, it is introduced in this way in the dynamic of the God-Trinity, which I see as close to the sensibility of the Reformers who appreciate the figure of Mary, but only if it does not detract from looking at Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the Father," he said.

In this context, the Reformation communities can be encouraged by the Pope's words, the theologian said.

"I think that the evangelical churches can rediscover Mary as the image of the person completely open to God with her 'fiat' [let it be done], with her 'Do whatever he tells you," with her standing at the foot of the cross, with her silent presence among the disciples," professor Tobler said.

"In this letter, the Pope emphasizes that the rosary, more than a prayer of words, is a contemplation of the mystery," he continued. "Certainly today's sensibility and quest is primarily to rediscover a place where the heart rests, where the soul contemplates the mysteries of God and also the ways in which this is possible. We, in our traditions, must rediscover the ways that are equivalent, the analogy."

Tobler added a note of optimism about ecumenism: "I am convinced that if Catholics pray the rosary as proposed in this apostolic letter, and if evangelicals recognize and rediscover without prejudices this new way of conceiving the rosary, then it will be a favorable occasion. But we must work on it."

levity

In regards to your durable power of attorney for medical decisions, it is important to choose an agent. So, speak to your wife and your girlfriend before you decide. They may have an opinion or two to share with you.

Really.

This happened today.

emergent?

I have been finding myself in these conversations online. Perhaps I need to start thinking of myself as "emergent." Yay! Look, honey, I discovered another lable for myself today!

Lucky me. Urggle.

Here are a few links worth noting.

Karen linked to these words of critique from evangelical Christians on the emergent movements in the protestant churches in America. It would seem that the emergent are a threat. Odd. Evangelicals and Orthodox alike reject the emergent types and for the same actions.

He also argues that the Emerging Church Movement frequently fails to use Scripture as the normative standard of truth and instead appeals to tradition.

Emergent No spoke about the article briefly. What is interesting is in the comments...a list of folk who are affiliated with the emergent movement. Cool.

And, according to Barna, there is another emerging trend in the American church. This is good for me to read. Mostly I spend my time with people who are choosing Orthodoxy or playing in the Emergent Church movement or what have you. To know that most people are going in the opposite direction is humbling in many ways.

A Perspective On The Unchurched

Having studied church attendance patterns for more than twenty years, researcher George Barna suggested that the consistent resistance to church life in recent years is indicative of a historic shift in the nation’s spiritual vision. “To view the plateaued level of the unchurched population as simply an indication of stagnation in religious behavior is naive. There are, indeed, millions of unchurched people who want nothing to do with organized religion or spiritual development. The more important trend, however, is that a large and growing number of Americans who avoid congregational contact are not rejecting Christianity as much as they are shifting how they interact with God and people in a strategic effort to have a more fulfilling spiritual life. This data, combined with other studies we have recently been conducting, suggests that we are on the precipice of a new era of spiritual experience and expression.”

Barna expects the percentage of adults who are unchurched to grow during the coming decade. “For the past few years the percentage has leveled off,” he explained. “However, the emergence of a national body of spiritual leaders who are assisting unchurched people in their quest for spiritual depth through means and relationships that are outside the usual institutional vehicles is significant. We anticipate substantial growth in the number of people who are not connected to a congregational church but who are committed to growing spiritually. It would not be surprising to witness a larger slice of the born again population shift from the ‘churched’ to ‘unchurched’ column of the ledger over the next ten years. What’s amazing about the coming transition is that it is likely to occur without any real decline in activities such as Bible reading, prayer, tithing, family faith activity or service to the needy. The people involved will be altering the locus of their activity without diminishing the intensity of their commitment to God and to their faith.”(full article)

This might also explain the poll results about evangelicalism and the Schaivo case. We are an individualist society. Right or wrong, Biblical or not, Christian or not, we are. We do not trust the institutions we create. We live as individuals and not collectives or communities. We value our independent action more than anything else. I cannot tell you how often I hear this from Christians of all stripes at the hospital: No one has any right to critique or lead the spiritual journey of another. There is one God. Get there however you get there. I hear this from Protestant, free-church evangelical, Catholic and Orthodox alike. I have no formal survey work to back it up, but it is curious to me.

vigil anaphora

Hey there.

I decided to post the anaphora we used at Reconciler for the Easter Vigil. I have been pondering some of the conversation at Blogodoxy about borrowing from various traditions. There has been some conversation about the wisdom of this and I think that is a good thing to ponder.

Are we from non-liturgical traditions borrowing? Yeah, probably. But that suggests a certain impermanence to the liturgical revivalism of the Emergent church or even the post-Vatican II "borrowing" by the ECUSA and other protestant traditions of the historical anaphoras and such. Is it really borrowing or is it a corrective measure by which we protestants express our allegiance to the greater tradition? I have some questions about it all, but in either case, here is the anaphora we used. It is much more verbose than we usually use. I am Baptist, so I usually employ little more than a prayer and the narrative from I Corinthians ("On the night that he was betrayed..."). At Reconciler we also use the ECC liturgies and the ECUSA liturgies (We bring in an ECUSA priest for these to keep us honest.).

One thing I want to throw into the conversation about borrowing is the Taize community. It is non-denominational. The founder, brother Roger, is a Reformed Christian. I lean on the Taize story quite a bit as I try to understand what we are after at Reconciler.

The majority of the anaphora is from A Celtic Eucharist. I like much of it, but I felt compelled to tweak it a little to suit our purposes (This is a red flag for the anti-borrowing folk, I know.). The length would have been too much for us. As it was, the service was still two hours. And, as I suggested, we do not usually use that much text at the anaphora. As we learn to use more, our prayers will probably reflect our increasing working with three traditions. I think we may become more brave in living into one anothers traditions and seeking the wider traditions of the Church. Baby steps, people. Baby steps.

Thank you, O Lord God Almighty,
Thank you for the earth and the waters,
Thank you for the sky, the air and the sun,
Thank you for all living creatures.

Come, O Lord, in the Bread of Life

Praise be to you, O Lord God Almighty,
For our homes, our families,
Our friends, and loved ones.
Praise be to you for all the people
Around us everywhere in this wounded world.

Come, O Lord, in the Cup of Healing

The Lord be with you,
and also with you.
Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.
It is right to give our thanks and praise.

(The following is from the Stowe Missal)

Father, all powerful and ever-living God,
we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
You, with your only-begotten Son and the Holy
Spirit are God.
You are God, one immortal;
You are God, incorruptible and unmoving;
You are God, invisible and faithful;
You are God, wonderful and worthy of praise;
You are God, strong and worthy of honor;
You are God, most high and magnificent;
You are God, living and true;
You are God, wise and powerful;
You are God, holy and splendid;
You are God, great and good;
You are God, awesome and peace-loving;
You are God, beautiful and righteous;
You are God, pure and kind;
You are God, blessed and just;
You are God, tender and holy;
You are God, not in the singularity of person,
but in the Trinity of substance.

We believe you;
We bless you;
We adore you;
and praise your name for evermore.
We praise you
through Christ who is the salvation of the
universe;
through Christ who is the life of human beings;
through Christ who is the resurrection of the
dead.

Through him the angels praise your majesty;
the dominations adore;
the powers of the heaven of heavens tremble;
the virtues and the blessed seraphim
concelebrate in exultation;
so grant, we pray you.
that our voices may be admitted with that of the chorus,
in humble declaration of your glory,
as we say:

Holy, holy, holy Lord
God of power and might,
heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest.

Be pleased, O God, to bless this offering, to
accept it fully, to make it perfect and worthy to
please you, so that it may become for us the Body
and Blood of your dearly beloved Son, our Lord
Jesus Christ.

Who the day before he suffered took bread into his
holy and venerable hands, and with his eyes lifted
up to heaven, to you, God, his almighty Father,
giving thanks to you, he blessed, broke and gave
it to his disciples saying: Take and eat you all
of this, for this is my body.

In like manner, after he had supped, taking also
this chalice into his holy and venerable hands
again giving thanks to you, he blessed and gave it
to his disciples, saying: Take and drink you all
for this is the chalice of my blood, of the new
and eternal testament: the mystery of faith: which
shall be shed for you and for many for the
remission of sins. As often as you do these
things, you shall do them in memory of me.

His dying we proclaim. Alleluia! Amen!
His rising we declare. Alleluia! Amen!
His coming we await, now as these gifts we take.
Glory to God on high! Alleluia! Amen!

(The following is from the ECC worship book.)

O Lord of all, we offer our sacrifice of praise
and thanksgiving to you, presenting to you, from
your creation, this bread and this wine.

Gracious God, we pray that you will send your Holy
Spirit on these gifts, that they may be the
sacrament of the body of Christ and the blood of
the new covenant. Unite us to your Son in his
death and resurrection that we may be acceptable
through him, being sanctified by the Holy Spirit.
In the fullness of time, put all things in
subjection under your Christ, and bring us to that
heavenly feast where, with all your saints, we
will be gathered in glory everlasting; through
Jesus Christ our Lord, the firstborn of all
creation, the head of the Church, and the author
of our salvation.

By him and with him and in him, in the unity of
the Holy Spirit, all honor and glory are yours,
Almighty God, now and forever. Amen.

As our Savior taught us, we boldly pray:

Our Father who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name
thy Kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom,
the power, and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

(Now we are back to the Celtic Eucharist.)

They recognized the Lord, Alleluia;
In the breaking of the loaf, Alleluia;
For the loaf that we break is the body
of our Lord Jesus, Christ, Alleluia;
The cup which we bless is the blood
of our Lord Jesus Christ, Alleluia;
for the remission of our sins, Alleluia;
O Lord, let your mercy come down upon us,
Alleluia;
In you O Lord have I put my trust,
Alleluia;
They recognized the Lord, Alleluia;
In the breaking of the bread, Alleluia!

Celebrant:
O Lord, we believe that in this breaking of your
body and pouring out of your blood we become your
redeemed people;
We confess that in the taking of the gifts of thine
pledge here, we lay hold in hope of enjoying its
true fruits in the heavenly places.

Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins
of the world. Happy are those who are called to
his supper.
Lord, I am not worthy to receive you,
but only say the word and I shall be healed.

He gives heavenly bread to the hungry,
And to the thirsty water from the living spring.

Christ the Lord himself comes, who is Alpha and
Omega. He shall come again to judge us all.

Come you holy ones, receive the body of Christ,
Drinking the holy blood by which you were
redeemed.

---distribution of the elements---

good friday

On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, The emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best For a world of lost sinners was slain.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

O that old rugged cross, so despised by the world,
Has a wondrous attraction for me;
For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above
To bear it to dark Calvary.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

In that old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine,
A wondrous beauty I see,
For ’twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died,
To pardon and sanctify me.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

To the old rugged cross I will ever be true;
Its shame and reproach gladly bear;
Then He’ll call me some day to my home far away,
Where His glory forever I’ll share.

So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross,
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

maundy thursday sermon

He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"

Jesus answered, "You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand."

Peter said to him, "You will never wash my feet."

Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no share with me."

Simon Peter said to him, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!"

Jesus said to him, "One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, "Not all of you are clean."

After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord--and you are right, for that is what I am. So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.”

When he had gone out, Jesus said, "Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

Drama.

This is our wondering for the week. What is it about drama that is useful for the Christian to understand, to live into Holy Week?

Live into? That is the idea, isn’t it? There is a drama to Holy Week to be certain, but we have not been asked to put on masks and to become actors. No. We have been asked to have the mind of Christ and to love one another. This is no staged reading. This is life.

The problem is for me is that I prefer a staged reading much more than life. I would rather escape into a staged drama with masks and lights and costumes than live the life given to me by a loving God.

Trish and I watched the movie Big Night recently. It is one of my favorite movies. It's about food. I can't help myself. The movie is actually about two brothers from Italy who have moved to New England to open a restaurant. They are named Primo and Segundo. The trouble is that they are making no money at all. They are struggling to make the restaurant work. Across the street, however, is another Italian restaurant that is doing quite well.

As the story progresses, Segundo goes to the restaurant across the street to speak with the owner about borrowing some money. The owner, another Italian immigrant, refuses to loan Segundo money, but does promise to help. He says that he is friends with the great Louis Primo. If Segundo will throw a party, invite everyone they know, he will get Louis Primo to come. Segundo agrees to the bargain and goes to the bank to pull out the last of the savings for this meal.

It is an amazing meal. Secret recipes are employed. There is dancing and music and drinking and drama. Segundo is cought by his girlfriend kissing another woman. It is a romantic series of scenes, colorful and gorgeous. This is the drama that the brothers find themseves in. This is their hope, the promise they feel they have been given.

And it is all based on a lie. The owner of the restaurant across the street never intended to invite Louis Primo. The brothers have spent their last dime on a farce...a beautiful and dramatic meal, a blessing to their friends, but all predicated on a falsehood. There is no greater drama than this in the movie. This is heartbreaking. The brothers fight. They roll around on the beach in the moonlight cursing and swearing, pummeling one another with their fists. Drama.

But then it is morning. There are no words spoken in the last 10 minutes of the film. Segundo walks into the kitchen to find the busboy asleep on the table. He stands and looks around the kitchen, picks up a few eggs and begins to make an omelette. It is a simple recipe. Eggs, salt and pepper. That is all. Without speaking, the busboy gets two plates out, finds two forks and a couple of slices of bread. Segundo portions out the servings, leaving enough for a third in the skillet.

Primo walks in. The whole scene is shot in a single frame. There are no cuts. No one speaks. Segundo sees his brother, gets up and prepares a plate. They sit beside one another. The busboy leaves. And then the brothers put their arms around one another and eat thier simple meal.

This is the movie. You can miss the entirety of the preceeding drama and still get the point of the movie. The simple silent ending, the reconciliation and love between two brothers is deeply moving and speaks of the truth of our gospel reading tonight.

Again, the problem is for me is that I prefer a staged reading much more than life. I would rather escape into a staged drama with masks and lights and costumes than live the life given to me by a loving God. My wife and have spent more time talking about the magnificent dinner and how to recreate those recipes than we have been delving into the beauty of that last scene and the love expressed between two brothers.

It seems that Simon Peter was wrestling with similar demons. He was cought up in the drama. He could see only the costumes, his assumptions of the purposes of Christ's ministry. The redemption of Israel would be challenging and romantic!

This is the challenge of our faith. This is the challenge of the gospel. Tonight we will wash one another's feet. We will celebrate the eucharist. We have companions in prayer with the icons. But all of this, no matter how beautiful and blessed, for it is certainly blessed as Peter was blessed. Peter was given the keys to the church. He is the rock, drama and all. But we are not called to be known for the drama. No. We are called to be known for our love. This is the deeply challenging love of the cross. This is the love that goes to dark Gethsemane, that dies for our sins.

I know that it is a danger to ascribe emotions to Peter. A professor of mine would be quite frustrated with me. But I read this passage and Peter appears to be up to his old tricks. He wants to keep Jesus "in his place," high above all. And, when rebuked, he seems to want to glorify his own lowliness. Peter says, "Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!" If I am to be low, let me be the lowest of the low!

Ah, the drama of it all. Peter was quite the romantic, I think. He loved the drama of it all. He never did anything half way. And God blessed him for his faith. Thankfully Jesus keeps Peter on track. Let us pray that through the drama of Holy Week that we too will be kept on track, that we will be known for our love.

Amen.

rants

I have posted some near inarticulate rants on the Shiavo case at a couple of sites in the last day or two. I whined about the political manouvering that Congress and others have managed over this. I have bemoaned our country's health care system. I have suggested that there is not enough money in this contry to support all those we could keep alive even if some agency wanted to. Dark thoughts.

I have also tried to be clear and suggest that, perhaps, the legal system is already set up to protect you if you take advantage of the advanced directives. No new legislation is necessary. What is necessary is awareness.

Shiavo is giving us the awareness of what happens in this country all the time. This is the reality of our world. We have chosen it. We have allowed for our laws to represent a multiplicity of choices. We have the right to sustain life and to let it go...to say when enough is enough. We have all that. What we forget is how painful that choice is for us. The seeming neutrality of the law in all of this clouds the truth that this is and will always be one of the most painful things you ever do. To let your loved die, even if it is in respect to their wishes, is hellish and awful. There is little to no consolation in it. As a country, I think we are starting to understand that now.

This issue has stepped out of the private lives of families and right onto the main stage of public opinion. This has its pros and cons to be certain. It is good that we are all talking about it. It is a shame that Terri, in spite of some interesting and challenging posting about personhood, might be seen less as a person now and more as an issue. But who knows. Maybe that is not the case.

I am tired of the fervor. The Supreme Court refused to hear the case. Jeb is asking Judge Greer to overturn his own decision (Judge Greer, by the way, may be looking for a new church. His SBC congregation has suggested in no uncertain terms that he is no longer welcome. That's the rumor on the streets.). I assume that Judge Greer is unlikely to admit to any mistake in his own ruling. And, I imagine, that the Judge has well articulated reasons.

I am also tired of the posturing that we bloggists are doing. I love that we can voice opinions about anything we want on the internet. It is a great gift, the freedom of speech. However, I have never seen so much assumed expertise as I have seen in this case. Starbucks baristas are looking at four minutes of video and suggesting that doctors don't know the work that they have spent the better part of their lives doing. Mandolinists are challenging lawyers on their understanding of the law...as if every lawyer would intentionally make a mistake to the harm of another human being and, I, with my many many minutes of reading the constitution online is in a better position to argue the merits of the case than someone who has spent years devoted to the document and its interpretation.

I have opinions, and preferences, but no matter if I like the decision or not, somehow I need to nod to the expertise. It seems impossible, however, and I have been unsuccessful at avoiding this trap. My humility has been dashed. I am clearly proud. I tried to leave my commenting to what I know. I am a hospital chaplain, a musician and church pastor. I have some theological training. I can tell you some things about medical ethics and am somewhat aquainted with the law. I am not educated enough on any of the above to be an expert. I am not the final word. I am able to rant and whine and bemoan, but that may be the end of it.

This does not mean that our opinions do not matter. But it would help if there was a little more trust out there. Are all 19 judges who have heard this case corrupt? Let's be real. That would be unlikely at best. Are all the politicians ignorant of the political climate, or of public perception? Again, they are professional politicians. Have lawyers forgotten the constitution? We may think so some days, but this too is unlikely.

Of course not.

But I seem to have forgotten that and have stopped trusting in those who do the above work. I am not an expert in much of anything. I seem to know just enough to get myself in trouble. I need water wings.

sleepers, wake

Yeah.

So, I am in the library getting things together for Holy Week. I have the Tenebre service tonight, a Maundy Thursday service at Reconciler, a good Friday servcie here at the hospital and one at Reconciler...and, certainly not least, Easter at Reconciler.

The library is good for this kind of work. It is quiet. I can read the hymns and tunes from Taize or from the Worship and Service Hymnal in silence. It is a great way to hear music in my head without fearing for my sanity.

But today there is this guy snoring loudly at one of the other computers. It is huge! Gargantuan!

SNORE!!!!

Oy. Someone help us out, here.

more about medical ethics and random related links

I thought I would toss these links your way.

First, there are three (1,2,3) editorial pieces in the NY Times this morning on end-of-life issues. The first is by Andrew Kohut. Here is the core of his thinking:

It is rare for Washington politicians to buck public opinion. An ABC News poll conducted on Sunday found a 63 percent to 28 percent majority supporting removal of Ms. Schiavo's feeding tube. The poll also found that the public, by a margin of 70 percent to 27 percent, opposes Congressional involvement in the case. Fully 67 percent of the poll's participants thought members of Congress were more focused on using the Schiavo case for political advantage than on the principles involved...One-third of the respondents to the ABC News poll reported that a friend or relative had died after life support was stopped. And more than half of these respondents were involved in the decision. Like Social Security, end-of-life issues hit close to home, where ideology and partisanship play much less of a role than an all-too-human self-interest.

This statistical reality does not change the tragic realities in this case, but it is interesting to get a sense of where the American public may be. Also, I wonder if the same poll will have different results after Terri passes away.

The second editorial is a very personal account of one family's decision to respect their father's wishes. It is quite moving.

All along we'd known the right choices; we had an excellent guide. It was our father himself. He gave us explicit directions that at a certain point we should not allow any extraordinary medical intervention. He had a living will and I was appointed his medical proxy.

Ms. Schiavo's case is more complicated; there is a morass of competing claims of family members and no living will to tell us what she wanted herself. The entire debate exists only because of the absence of a single piece of paper.

The third from the Times is about federalism and how this case may or may not cross some lines. This is the Times. It is partisan.

For years now, Congress has more and more stringently demanded that federal court intervention be limited to cases where the state courts have acted not just technically incorrectly, but with egregious lack of reason. Whatever might be said of the Florida state court proceedings in this case, they certainly have not crossed that line, and indeed probably accord with what state courts all over the country have ordered or permitted for years in these difficult and agonizing cases.

The Washington Times has published these letters to the editor about the case. Even in this very conservative paper, the opinions vary. The Tribune published this article this morning. It is about how the Illinios law functions in cases like Schiavo's. Take it's advice: Fill out the paperwork. Speak with your family. Name an agent or surrogate for health care.

And in what is perhaps the most important development of the year, Colin Powell speaks out about the rampant steroid use in the Oval Office. It is a scandal that should demand your attention.

^THIS IS FROM CLIFF!^
(How's that, Cliff?)

tenebre

Tenebrae Service of Darkness

Sung by the Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle

Music by Victoria, Gesualdo, Nicholson and Thompson

Wednesday, March 23
7:30 p.m.

St. Mary of Perpetual Help Church
1039 West 32nd Street
Chicago, Illinois 60608

For directions to the Church, visit www.stmaryofperpetualhelp.com.

A free-will offering will be collected.

The Schola Cantorum of St. Peter the Apostle will be the principal choir for the Tenebrae, the Service of Darkness. This will be the sixteenth year that the Schola will sing this beautiful and heartrending liturgy, replete with psalmody, readings and responsories, preparing the people of God for deeper observance of the Paschal Triduum of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ. The service of Tenebrae is a form of the two morning hours of the Divine Office—Matins and Lauds—and has a rich history in the life of the Church. In its earliest form, it became a custom for Tenebrae to begin in a church lit by candles, usually 15, clustered on a stand, called the Tenebrae. During the Tenebrae service, one candle is extinguished after each psalm, alternating on either side, moving from the bottom to the top, until only one remains burning, the Easter candle—a vivid foreshadowing of the Easter Vigil Service of Light.

schiavo again

Read this article in the Tribune about how often this kind of occurs. Here is a quote for you: "More than 25,000 children die each year from cancer, heart defects, neurologic disease, complications of prematurity and other conditions, Frader said. And some 60 percent of these deaths occur in pediatric intensive care units as a result of decisions to limit therapy in one way or another." Yeah, at some point I'll rant about it all. But for now, check that article out. It is short and sweet.

Also, there is this article on pain and suffering with the removal of nutrition and hydration.

Remember, all my conservative readers, the Trib supported Bush in the last election. Try to stay on track, please.

And here is a blog worthy of note as well. It simply poses some interesting ethical questions. Some of the comments on the post are pure drek, but that is the freedom of blogging.

If we are competent adults, we have the right to refuse medical treatment at any stage of an illness. That might mean opting out of a second round of chemotherapy after a first round of cancer treatments has failed, preferring to focus on preserving quality of life for the time we have left. It might mean deciding to die of a terminal illness at home, even if hospitalization could add a few extra hours or days. It might mean requesting aggressive pain management, knowing that it might depress respiration and shorten our lives. We have the right to say "enough," and let the natural dying process take its course. We have the right to have the integrity of our bodies unviolated by unwanted medical treatment - just as we have the right to insist on aggressive efforts for life extension. We have the right to choice. And when we are no longer able to exercise that right ourselves, we have the right to designate our closest others to do so on our behalf.

This is the truth of it. I think what has everyone so up in arms about the Schiavo case is that we are all finally coming to terms with the legal reality we have chosen for ourselves at the state and federal level. As the first Trib article says, this happens often. Schiavo is not some flash in the pan. One need not be terminal in the state of Illinois to have the legal right to cease interventions. The issue of a patient being terminal is an issue of law. A patient's prognosis need not be terminal here in Illinois to qualify for hospice care. I don't know about Florida. It would appear not.

Please pray for me today. I have a meeting at two o'clock with the trauma service chief surgeon about sticking around for another year (or two?) as the trauma chaplain. I am hoping that he will be able to help me out some.

In similar news, pray for those who work here at the hospital. It would seem that last night was very rough. Pray for the patients who came in through the ER. Pray for Mark, one of our surgeons who has been called up for active duty. There is much the Spirit needs to do today.

Isn't there always?

tell me...what does it feel like?

I was speaking to Susie last night about Easter. This is Holy Week for some of the western Christian traditions. Reconciler is certainly honoring it. After the Palm Sunday service last night, I was speaking with Susie about ecumenism and what I have "given up" in order to participate in the ecumenical movement in the particular (and peculiar) ways that I have. It was a good conversation. As we were speaking I mentioned how, in some ways, the Vigil is an act of "giving up gospel freedoms" for the sake of the wider Church. Dramatic language aside, and even my enjoyment of the Great Vigil, I admitted to Susie that the Vigil never feels like Easter to me.

So, on my way to work this morning I though that I should post on ecumenism and giving things up for the Chrurch and other such ideas. Blah. Blah. Blah. That will wait for another time. Instead, I thought I would play around with a little navel gazing. I need to ask myself what Easter feels like.

I remember my mother's parents' house in Arlington, Virginia. That is one of my more lucid memories of Easter. My younger brother and I would sit on the floor in the little livingroom in front of these giant Easter baskets full of candy. I am sure that it took mere moments for me to tear the thing apart, but what I recall is carefully exploring all the little delights in my basket. I love cocnut and always have, so I would look for the big coconut egg. There was the chocolate bunny, assorted hard candy and usually a small box. Some years there might be a simple toy like a kite or something like that. We never went to church, so that is not a memory. That basket sure is. And so too is the porch at my grandparents' home.

I have been an early-riser for my entire life. My grandfather would be awake and reading the paper by four some mornings. I would rise at about five-thirty or six and sit with him or try to find something else to do. It was about waiting for that basket of candy. but it was also about the porch and my grandfather. I would eat cereal and drink juice. I can smell the flowers blooming now. Easter is seldom as early as it is this year, so mostly I remember azaleas blooming and the smell of the dogwood trees. There was always something different about the smell of the soil in Arlington. It was always dark and rich and had a particular smell to it. The sun would be warm. My grandmother would fix fried green tomotoes. I loved them. The cornmeal would get a little crunchy. That house in Arlington was nothing but smells and colored glass...and chocolate, of course.

My grandmother kept colored glass bottles in the windowsills.

That is Easter to me. I sometimes miss that house and the smells and the colored glass. We stopped going to my grandparents for Easter when I was about seven or eight. So, I only have a few very intense memories. Easter came to an end for a good long while. There would still be baskets and chocolate and simple toys, but I never stopped hoping for the smells and colored glass.

When I was 24, the same year my grandmother passed away, I managed to go to my first Vigil. I was singing in the choir taht year (I have recounted to some that this was my moment of conversion if there ever was one.) But it has never quite replaced those first Easters. In later years, I would sit and wait for the service to end, chomping at the bit to get outside where it would be warm and the sun would be shining and the smells would rise up and the sun would shine through the leaves like it did through the colored bottles in my grandmother's kitchen and livingroom windows. Even with all the smells and colored glass in the church, I still wish for the others.

So, this is what Easter feels like, looks like, smells like. I don't know if this Easter will ever measure up to the side porch and cocnut eggs in my grandparents' house in Arlington. I am not sure it should.

Note: in retrospect, I am not sure that there were fried green tomatoes at Easter. That would be unusually early for tomatoes. So, that would be a conflation of memories. Ah well. - Ed.

better with peanutbutter

You know, one of the things that I realize is that a lot of the trackback spam I get tries to match itself to the title of the post. So, I have been attempting to get a little creative as I am able. That being said, here atre three or four scoops of peanutbutter for you. Enjoy. The first if fairly crunchy. Another smoothe and the final simply creamy.

Andy's Music: why go anywhere else? This place is cool! I stopped by today and played instruments I cannot even pronounce. Anyone know anything about Turkish music and the tonal structure they employ? Quartertones are a blast!

Here is another way to think about patriotism. I don't often pause to quote Christianity Today, but this was more than worth a read.

Here is something from the Christian Century. Article one is about the Anglican Communion and their current struggles. The second article is about the ELCA and how it is struggling.

Here is a portfolio of images from Iraq taken by the soldiers themselves.

Finally, I did not know that Jessica Alba was ever a "born again" Christian. What her salvation and her jeans had in common, I am still not certain that I fully comprehend. Um, but she is, well, um, yeah...you know. Ahem. I really like peanutbutter.

sunday (very early) morning fun

Hello one and all. Greetings from the ER at the Hospital. Huzzah!

This has been a great week. Five gigs, a few naps and general Irish meyhem was had by all. Thanks to all who came to see us play...especially you insane folk who came more than once. You know who you are. The gigs went well. Sean seems to have some difficulty with his guitar lately and that has meant blowing a string or two a concert. This is, well, disconcerting. They need to file down the bridge or nut or something to keep the strings from breaking. Poor Sean. There is nothing more startling than "thump" in the middle of an Irish balad. "God saaaaave Ireland said the *thump* heeeeeroooooes!" Yeah, that stinks.

So, I am at the hospital running off caffeine and the post-concert buzz. I don't know how much longer I have until that wears off. I brought a book on the outside chance that I get a little more down time. I walked in and was immediately called for one trauma and an expiration in the ER. Urggle. But, hey, they have gone pretty well. So far, so good.

And in other very good news, though the internet is down at home, I have discovered how to check the anglobaptist account here at the hospital. This is a beautiful thing. Again I say, "Huzzah!"

And you should make all haste and go to www.oneofthegirls.net. Yes, we have our own website. This, too, is a beautiful thing. Sigh. Good stuff.

prayers

I though I would share one final St Patrick's Day post. I wanted to offer up some Celtic prayers for your use. It is a Thursday morning rite. Enjoy.

If I take the wings of the morning and settle at the furthest limits of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me and your right hand hold me fast. Ps 139:9-10

Silence
Be still
and aware of God's presence
within and all around

Opening Prayer

O loving Christ
Who died upon the tree
Each day and each night
I remember your love.
In my lying down
And in my rising up
In life and in death
You are my health and my peace.
Each day and each night
I remember your forgiveness
Bestowed on me so gently and generously
Each day and each night
May I be fuller in love to you.

Psalm 54
Save me, O God, by your name;*
in your might, defend my cause.
Hear my prayer, O God;*
give ear to the words of my mouth.
For the arrogant have risen up against me,
and the ruthless have sought my life,*
those who have no regard for God.
Behold, God is my helper;*
it is the Lord who sustains my life.
Render evil to those who spy on me;*
in your faithfulness, destroy them.
I will offer you a freewill sacrifice*
and praise your name, O Lord, for it is good.
For you have rescued me from every trouble,*
and my eye has seen the ruin of my foes.

Exodus 10:1-11
Then the LORD said to Moses, 'Go to Pharaoh; for I have hardened his heart and the heart of his officials, in order that I may show these signs of mine among them, and that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I have made fools of the Egyptians and what signs I have done among them so that you may know that I am the LORD.'

So Moses and Aaron went to Pharaoh, and said to him, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of the Hebrews, "How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, so that they may worship me. For if you refuse to let my people go, tomorrow I will bring locusts into your country. They shall cover the surface of the land, so that no one will be able to see the land. They shall devour the last remnant left you after the hail, and they shall devour every tree of yours that grows in the field. They shall fill your houses, and the houses of all your officials and of all the Egyptians something that neither your parents nor your grandparents have seen, from the day they came on earth to this day." ' Then he turned and went out from Pharaoh.

Pharaoh's officials said to him, 'How long shall this fellow be a snare to us? Let the people go, so that they may worship the LORD their God; do you not yet understand that Egypt is ruined?' So Moses and Aaron were brought back to Pharaoh, and he said to them, 'Go, worship the LORD your God! But which ones are to go?' Moses said, 'We will go with our young and our old; we will go with our sons and daughters and with our flocks and herds, because we have the LORD's festival to celebrate.' He said to them, 'The LORD indeed will be with you, if ever I let your little ones go with you! Plainly you have some evil purpose in mind. No, never! Your men may go and worship the LORD, for that is what you are asking.' And they were driven out from Pharaoh's presence.

Intercessions

Life be in my speech
Truth in what I say.
The love Christ Jesus gave
Be filling every heart for me.
The love Christ Jesus gave
Be filling me for everyone.

silence

Almighty God,
who in your providence chose your servant Patrick
to be the apostle of the Irish people:
keep alive in us the fire of the faith he kindled
and strengthen us in our pilgrimage
towards the light of everlasting life;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
Amen.

Here a hymn may be sung. St Patrick's Breastplate is not a bad idea. Be Thou My Vision is also perfectly appropriate.

Closing Prayer

Bless to me O God
The earth beneath my feet.
Bless to me O God
The path on which I go.
Bless to me O God
The people whom I meet.
O God of all gods
bless to me my life.

This is a combination of the Thursday morning rite from Celtic Prayers from Iona and the daily prayers from www.oremus.org. Both are great resources.

top ten?

AKMA shared this link. Here is the meat of it:

Ten Reasons Why Blogging is Good For Your Career

1. You have to get noticed to get promoted.

2. You have to get noticed to get hired.

3. It really impresses people when you say “Oh, I’ve written about that, just google for XXX and I’m on the top page” or “Oh, just google my name.”

4. No matter how great you are, your career depends on communicating. The way to get better at anything, including communication, is by practicing. Blogging is good practice.

5. Bloggers are better-informed than non-bloggers. Knowing more is a career advantage.

6. Knowing more also means you’re more likely to hear about interesting jobs coming open.

7. Networking is good for your career. Blogging is a good way to meet people.

8. If you’re an engineer, blogging puts you in intimate contact with a worse-is-better 80/20 success story. Understanding this mode of technology adoption can only help you.

9. If you’re in marketing, you’ll need to understand how its rules are changing as a result of the current whirlwind, which nobody does, but bloggers are at least somewhat less baffled.

10. It’s a lot harder to fire someone who has a public voice, because it will be noticed.

This is interesting, really. I know that there have been people who have read my blog and then question me...and my call. I know that there have been people who have been to the Reconciler site and pushed us around, sometimes for the positive sometimes not. Our's is a public faith. This does not mean showy. It simply means that salt has a taste and a light will shine. One way to be salty is to blog.

If you blog, why do you blog?
If you don't, why not?

reconciled

I have been thinking about Reconciler a lot lately. I have been fretting really. Things are taking their own time and it seems that no matter how often I try to get it all to speed up, it just won't. Who knew? Here I thought it was my vision and come to find out it just may belong to God after all. Whenever the wind gets low in my sails, God send his breath to fill them again. Breathe on me breath of God. Fill me with life anew. That I may live as thou dost live, and do what thou wouldst do. Case in point, money is tight...as it often is. Someone who believes in what Recocniler is attempting stepped up and gave a very generous donation to the work at the church. It was unasked. I am more grateful than I can express and more relieved than you can imagine. However, I am not without my dark humor even in this. When Larry showed me the check, I sighed and said, "Well, that's just great. Now we have to do this thing." God's blessings upon our benefactor. Peace and all good things to hearth and home.

st patrick's day

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of the Invocation of the Trinity:
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the Incarnation of Christ with His Baptism,
The virtue of His crucifixion with His burial,
The virtue of His Resurrection with His Ascension,
The virtue of His coming on the Judgement Day.

I bind to myself today
The virtue of the love of seraphim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the hope of resurrection unto reward,
In prayers of Patriarchs,
In predictions of Prophets,
In preaching of Apostles,
In faith of Confessors,
In purity of holy Virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I bind to myself today
The power of Heaven,
The light of the sun,
The brightness of the moon,
The splendour of fire,
The flashing of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of sea,
The stability of earth,
The compactness of rocks.

I bind to myself today
God's Power to guide me,
God's Might to uphold me,
God's Wisdom to teach me,
God's Eye to watch over me,
God's Ear to hear me,
God's Word to give me speech,
God's Hand to guide me,
God's Way to lie before me,
God's Shield to shelter me,
God's Host to secure me,
Against the snares of demons,
Against the seductions of vices,
Against the lusts of nature,
Against everyone who meditates injury to me,
Whether far or near,
Whether few or with many.

I invoke today all these virtues
Against every hostile merciless power
Which may assail my body and my soul,
Against the incantations of false prophets,
Against the black laws of heathenism,
Against the false laws of heresy,
Against the deceits of idolatry,
Against the spells of women, and smiths, and druids,
Against every knowledge that binds the soul of man.

Christ, protect me today
Against every poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against death-wound,
That I may receive abundant reward.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ within me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ at my right, Christ at my left,
Christ in the fort,
Christ in the chariot seat,
Christ in the poop,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind to myself today
The strong virtue of an invocation of the Trinity,
I believe the Trinity in the Unity
The Creator of the Universe.

Yes, as I have said ad nauseum, we have gigs! We have copious giggage. Listen and enjoy. Maybe we'll see you tonight!

Here is another something good from the blessed Saint.

Ethne broke forth into the questions:

"Who is God?"
"And where is God?"
"Where is His dwelling?"
"Has He sons and daughters?"
"Is He rich in silver and gold?"
"Is He everlasting? is He beautiful?"
"Are His daughters dear and lovely to the men of this world?"
"Is He on the heavens or on earth?"
"In the sea, in rivers, in mountains, in valleys?"
"Make Him known to us. How is He to be seen?"
"How is He to be loved? How is He to be found?"
"Is it in youth or is it in old age that He may be found?"

The saint responded.

"God, whom we announce to you, is the Ruler of all things."
"The God of heaven and earth, of the sea and the rivers."
"The God of the sun, and the moon, and all the stars."
"The God of the high mountains and of the lowlying valleys."
"The God who is above heaven, and in heaven, and under heaven."
"His dwelling is in heaven and earth, and the sea, and all therein."
"He gives breath to all."
"He gives life to all."
"He is over all."
"He upholds all."
"He gives light to the sun."
"He imparts splendour to the moon."
"He has made wells in the dry land, and islands in the ocean."
"He has appointed the stars to serve the greater lights."
"His Son is co-eternal and co-equal with Himself."
"The Son is not younger than the Father."
"And the Father is not older than the Son."
"And the Holy Ghost proceeds from them."
"The Father and the Son and the Holy Ghost are undivided."
"But I desire by Faith to unite you to the Heavenly King, as you are daughters of an earthly king."

Go to New Advent for more information. Patrick was not one to tread lightly in Ireland. Oy.

dag and a mandolin

Dag Hammarskjöld:

The "great' commitment is so much easier than the ordinary, everyday one - and can all too easily shut our hearts to the latter. A willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice can be associated with, and even produce, a great hardness of heart. You thought you were indifferent to praise for achievements which you would not yourself have counted to your credit, or that, if you should be tempted to feel flattered, you would always remember that the praise far exceeded what the events justified. You thought yourself indifferent -until you felt your jealousy flare up at his naive attempts to “make himself important,” and your self-conceit stood exposed. Concerning the hardness of the heart - and its littleness - let me read with open eyes the book my days are writing, and learn.

Dag has it right. I must admit that this is my constant struggle in the hospital. I need to keep my eyes on the little day-to-day pastoral interventions and not the grandiose and dramatic that get me fired up. God cam in the still small voice.

Yesterday, however, was indeed the Ides of March. Et tu, ER? It kicked my butt. There were plenty of opportunities to do the dramatic thing. I was plumb tuckered out when it was all said and done. Fortunately, I had a rehearsal with the band which was great fun. We simply sat around and enjoyed ourselves. I must say that The Girls are a great gift to me. I easily become sentimental when I think about them. It is a good ensemble. We complement one another well. Where one leave off, the other picks up. We are learning one another. Amazing.

Tomorrow is St Patrick's Day! Huzzah! I will have only a few hours rounding on the floors. Then we will share the last two evaluations with one another. If all goes well, I will leave the hospital a little early to go the the gigs that evening. I hope you all can make one. It would be great to see you there. Wear something green!

reflect if you will...

Final evaluations are this week. Mine is due tomorrow. Here are the areas of reflection. Oy.

The curriculum for CPE Level II addresses the development and integration of pastoral formation, pastoral competence and pastoral reflection to a level of competence that permits students to attain professional certification and/or admission to Supervisory CPE. The Level II curriculum involves at least two or more program units of CPE. Supervisors must document satisfactory completion of CPE Level II curriculum outcomes in the supervisor’s final evaluation(s). At the conclusion of CPE Level II students are able to:

Pastoral Formation
312.1 articulate an understanding of the pastoral role that is congruent with their personal values, basic assumptions and personhood.

Pastoral Competence
312.2 provide pastoral ministry to diverse people, taking into
consideration multiple elements of cultural and ethnic differences,
social conditions, systems, and justice issues without imposing their
own perspectives.

312.3 demonstrate a range of pastoral skills, including listening/attending, empathic reflection, conflict resolution/confrontation, crisis management, and appropriate use of religious/spiritual resources.

312.4 assess the strengths and needs of those served, grounded in theology and using an understanding of the behavioral sciences.

312.5 manage ministry and administrative function in terms of
accountability, productivity, self-direction, and clear, accurate
professional communication.

ACPE Standards Revised January 2005 Objectives/Outcomes Supervisory CPE 13

312.6 demonstrate competent use of self in ministry and administrative
function which includes: emotional availability, cultural humility,
appropriate self-disclosure, positive use of power and authority, a
non-anxious and non-judgmental presence, and clear and responsible boundaries.

Pastoral Reflection
312.7 establish collaboration and dialogue with peers, authorities and
other professionals.

312. 8 demonstrate self-supervision through realistic self-evaluation of pastoral functioning.

maritain and virginia baptists

Here are a few articles worth reading through.

The first can be found in the forum. It is by Lillian B. Rubin and speaks to how the political left is losing the votes of the working class and why. Let me know what you think!

The second is an interesting little evaluation of Maritain. I would like to say that I had heard of Maritain before seminary or bothered to read him during, but both would be false claims. I enjoyed the article. If you know nothing of Maritain, it may be a good place to start.

Finally, it looks like the Baptist World Alliance will be accepting the Virginia Baptist Convention as a member organization. Texas, whose Baptist convention is as large as the ABC or the ECUSA I believe, is also following suit. This may be an interesting shift of "global" baptist organizations.

This unanimous vote by the Membership Committee was then approved by the Executive Committee. The General Council which meets in Birmingham, England will make the final decision. If both of these groups are admitted, it will add to the membership of the BWA more than 3 million baptized believers and more than 7000 new churches.

Texas Baptists currently record 5,700 churches with 2.3 million baptized believers and last year planted 176 new churches, 85 percent of which are Hispanic. There are 100 local Associations in the Convention. Last year the Texas Baptist Convention gave US$ 129,000 to the BWA.

The Virginia Association has 1,419 churches with a membership total of 407,556 with 42 district associations. On average it plants 30 new congregations each year. Last year it gave the BWA US$ 150,000.

advanced directives

Terry Shiavo hasbeen the tiopic of conversation on several different pages and blogs of late. Tehre are even sites devoted to the current crisis about her health care. I have avoided the fray for several reasons, but now I think I will chime in with a thought or two.

Much of the rukus could have been avoided had Terry and her family sat down and spoken about end of life care and had established a power of attorney for medical care. An "Advanced directive" is simply a formal statement of the patient's desires and wishes should life saving/prolonging treatments be necessary. At the hospital whetre I workm as consistant with the state of Illinois, we have forms available so patients and families can state their wishes before a patient undergoes treatment (emergency surgery, scheduled procedures etc). This is a great thing. Sometimes patients take advantage of this. Most often they don't. There are several reasons for either choice, but my suggesti8on is that if you wish tpo prevent the legal and media circus that Terry's family is suffering through, then fill out one of those forms. Do it now. Talk to your family. Speak with your doctor. Get a lawyer to help you out if that makes you feel better. This way you (the patient) can have your wishes and desires known. You protect yourself from the state if that is your desire. You protect yourself from beeping machines in the hospital if that is your desire. You can in this way preserve your religious, ethical and moral beliefs.

The paperwork is consistant with the separation of church and state, the medical oaths that doctors and nurses take, and preserves the autonomy of the patient. The reminder that the Shiavo case provides is how few people take this step and how devestating it can be if we do not. FILL OUT THE PAPERWORK. It may be that even the conversation is not enough. Choose your agent carefully. It does not even have to be your enxt of kin. You can choose your priest of the neighbor if they are so willing. Just sit down and do it.

s.k.

Soren Kierkegaard:

If you have any knowledge at all of human nature, you know that those who only admire the truth will, when danger appears, become traitors. The admirer is infatuated with the false security of greatness; but if there is any inconvenience or trouble, he pulls back. Admiring the truth, instead of following it, is just as dubious a fire as the fire of erotic love, which at the turn of the hand can be changed into exactly the opposite, to hate, jealousy, and revenge. Christ, however, never asked for admirers, worshippers, or adherents. He consistently spoke of "followers" and "disciples."

Just thought I would share that tidbit. And here is the question for those interested in such things - In Soren's idea, where then is worship? I think it is tucked away in there somewhere, but where do you think it is?

blogging from the hospital

Happy Monday!

Okay, so I am a little punchy. The weekend was very full. The concert on Saturday evening went well. The Wabash Tap is a cool place, perfect for what One of the Girls is doing. We had to rent some sound equipment, but that was not too expensive. We made much more than we spent. It works out for now. We will be there again for a "happy hour" show this Thursday. And there has been talk of a regular monthly gig there. That would be great. The bar is right near the Roosevelt red line stop. Easy access. No need to drive. Come and dance!

Sunday was busy. The memorial service was deeply moving.

Then one day I walked into the church and things were different. The branches on the tree were barren. There was purple and black cloth draped everywhere. The church looked like one big bruise. It looked like I felt. I felt broken, bruised and barren. Finally, after a year of going through the motions, the church felt like home.

This is a paraphrase of something one of the speakers said at the service. She had lost a young son about thirteen years ago. She stood there in the midst of this crowd of folk who have suffered similar loss in the last three months and told them what it looked like from the other side. "We are told that we are a resurrection people. This is true. But we are also a Good Friday people. We are broken and ruined by life. Do not hesitate to share that with God." She preached. The service was wondrous.

O where are our dear children?
O where are our dear children?
They have gone to heaven, shouting
"Day is breaking in our souls!"

I wept as i sang. Fortunately, I had the concert at the Heartland to go to after the service. I needed it. I was so completely consumed by the service. I have never sung like that before. I chanted the psalm. I played guitar. I lamented with "Bright Morning Stars." The psalms are a gift to us from fellow followers of God. Christ himself prayed the psalms of lament. Someone suggested that lament is a lost discipline in the Christian tradition. Maybe that is so, but we rediscovered it yesterday.

The gig went well...except for one or two shrieking sound issues at the begining of the show. Si helped out as he is want to do. He is a good man, that Si. So, we (he) figured that out and went on with most of our set. We started much later than I had anticipated, so I was glad when we cut most of the slower pieces. What people heard were our "perky" Irish tunes. I jumped up and down and generally made an arse of myself. It was just what I needed after the events of the afternoon. I was in bed by 11:30 and slept until almost 7:00 this morning. That is sleeping in for me, folks! It was great. I still awoke before my alarm went off, but it was more sleep than usual.

One of the Girls has three more gigs planned this week. We are at the Wabash Tap at 6:30 and then at the Handlebar at 9:00 St Patrick's Day. We will play Smallbar on Saturday evening. Come and see us if you can.

Briefly, in other news, my internet is down at home. If you usually email me at anglobaptist, I will not get those emails for a while. I don't know how much time it will take to fix the trouble. I am looking into it. In the mean, email me at g v h 3 r d @ m s n (dot) c o m. It'll do.

Peace.

something for friday

Hey everyone, I will probably not blog much over the next week or so. I will be very busy as you know, and blogging seems to take some energy that I just don't have to spare right now. Also, I am finding I am censoring myself in new ways. I get bent out of shape by something I read in the comments or on some site elsewhere and I curb the instinct to be reactive.

This is a good thing. But I find my volume has dropped off quite a bit. Heh. Figures.

So, in the spirit of giving you all something worth visiting for, I posted a few articles in the forum. Please take a gander and let me know what you think. I am trying to allow the forum to be the place for conversation about Stuff. If you have some other ideas about what would be a good way to use the forum, let me know. I would be grateful.

I have dinner plans tonight. My Sweety and I are off to a triple date! Way cool. Italian food, good company and general impropriety abounds! Huzzah.

Have a good weekend.

be careful what you ask for...

Yeah, sometimes it is just like that...I love music. I love it. I pray daily that God will show me how best to use it for ministry to others...and to myself. So far, so good. However, I think God's graces are a downpour right now. Oy.

I have all those wonderful concerts coming up. I am more wexcited than I can share with you. Also, on Sunday I am playing and singing for the L&D memorial service. Three or four times a year the hospital has a service for families who have lost children and babies here at the hospital. I am honored to get the opportunity to participate as a musician and pastor. The next time around, this June, I will preach for the same service.

The music does not end with the last OotG concert on the 19th. Nope. Holy Week will demand a lot as well. There will be chants and hymns and Taize ostinatos as well as a trip to Our Lady of Perpetual Help on the south side of the city fora Tenebre service. I am everywhere. It is great.

But I am already tired. Ha!

Bright morning stars are rising.
Bright morning stars are rising.
Bright morning stars are rising.
Day is breaking in our souls.

a flame of love for my neighbor, for my foe, for my friend, for my kindred all

The Lefkows live just around the corner from me. They live just down the block from my home church. Most of you know this. They are friends with AKMA. Susie has had the opportunity to be their pastor. Their lives, and now the deaths of Michael and his mother-in-law, Donna Humphrey, have changed us all. Justin was more than honest. There are signs around the neighborhood all conveying the same message. "Never again."

This morning the NY Times published this article. It is an interview with The Judge. Give it a read. Here is a brief exerpt.

She is stuck at the second stage of grief, anger - at the cruelty of killing two people hobbled by illness and injury, at the assault on what she calls "the linchpin of democracy," at the insecurity her children now face.

"Meg, she's scared; she's lost her father," she said of the youngest, now 16. "She says, 'Mommy, I'm not going to lose you. They're not going to get you.' I said, 'No, Meg.' Of course, I don't know. I never thought this could happen."

"I know that it happens to people every day," she said later. "Why should I be exempt?"

It is simply unbelievable.

O Christ of the poor and the yearning
Kindle in my heart within
A flame of love for my neighbor,
For my foe, for my friend, for my kindred all.
From the humblest thing that lives
To the Name that is highest of all
Kindle my heart within
A flame of love.
-Celtic Prayers from Iona

Pray for the coming day, for the Lefkows, and for justice and peace.

time to sleep

I have just a few moments of consciousnes left. I am plumb tuckered out. Urf. The ER practically exploded the last couple of hours of the day. I had three traumas and a respiratory arrest on my hands. They all came in the door within the same 30 minutes. Family, family everywhere. It was busy. I also had a meeting with the VP of Mission and Spiritual Care about staying on for a year more. He seemed to like the idea. So, one set of balls rolling. More to come.
Then there was rehearsal. The Girls [site updated] are getting ready for all that concertin' that we have to do the next week or so. It was three hours of rehearsing. Urggle. I am very happy, though. We sound good. And the happy recording USB thingy arrived. This is a thrilling evening. Soon there will be podcasts. I think...heh. Once I figure out how to save mp3's in the database..hmm.

morning prayer

In the beginning, O God,
when the firm earth emerged from the waters of life
you saw that it was good.
The fertile ground was moist
the seed was strong
and earth's profusion of color and scent was born.
Awaken my senses this day
to the goodness that stems from Eden.
Awaken my senses
to the goodness that can still spring forth
in me and in all that has life.

evening prayer

I lie in my bed
As I would lie in the grave,
Thine arm beneath my neck,
Thou Son of Mary victorious.

Angels watch over me
And I lying in slumber,
And angels shall gueard over me
In the sleep of the grave.

Uriel shall be at my feet,
Gabriel shall be at my head,
And Rapheal shall be at my side.
Ariel shall be at my back,
Michael shall be with my soul,
The strong shield of my love!
And the Physician Son of Mary
Shall put the salve to mine eye,
The Physician Son of Mary
Shall put the salve to mine eye!

weekend review: news around the UofBSC

Here at the University of Blogaria we keep pretty busy. It helps if I link every so often to the faculty doing interesting work. But first, let me share with you the weekend. I do this not because I had an interesteing and engrossing conversation with the ambasador from Sri Lanka. No, I share this because I am all kinds of tired, dern near record-breaking kinds of tired.

Weekend Review

Friday evening was fun, actually. Trish and I managed to go out to a friend's birthday party. It was a fondu fest. I was especially excited because I did not have to leave early because of some other engagement. That always seems to happen with these people. So, what did I do instead? I fell asleep on the couch by about 10:00. By 11:00 I was saying my good-byes...as others were just arriving. I am not as fun as I imagine I once was.

Saturday morning included standing up Cliff for a coffee date in order to hang out with my wife. We talked about important stuff. It was a good time. Then it was time for rehearsal with One of the Girls. That evening Trish and I worked with a local caterer. I love that stuff. It is a great break from my usual passtimes. Dave Specter was the house band for the benefit we worked. Wow. We were in bed by 1:00am.

Sunday - Sermon prep and The Forgotten. Decent sermon. Mostly average film. Church was good...actually something amazing happened. I'll post on that some day. I still pray for God to send people to us to help in this work we have been given. I had dinner with Justin, passed out a few fliers advertising Reconciler's Easter Vigil. I was asleep before 11:00pm.

All in all, it was a good weekend. I am still tired. But it can't be but so bad. I have the alarm set for 5:00am and manage to awaken before it goes off now. That has to be good, right? Right?

Around the UofBSC

Hugo, our esteemed chincilla husbandry professor, has an interesting post on being a "filtered professor." Give it a read.

Karl, a regular reader, has some questions about heliocentricity and post-modern biblical interpretation. His toungue in cheek style is entertaining, and he asks some interesting questions to boot.

Cliff has two posts that are worth reading for those interested in ecclesiology. Part I and Part II or "Where is the Church" give good insight into Orthodox thinking. I end up being a well-intentioned denizen of someplace other than the Church, but I won't hold that against Cliff. He makes good coffee and helps keep me company on my morning commute.

Camassia, whose link I must update this week, has an interesting post on crafting a liberal planet. It doesn't look real good right now.

Here at anglobaptist.org/blog there has been a lively conversation about baptist politiy and the issue of homosexuality. I have been hesitant to post about homosexuality in particular. I did so a year or so ago (still searching throught the archives), and found it unpleasant. So, I have been a wee gunshy since. That is not to say that I won't post about it again, but ist strained some relationships I treasure and I don't feel like doing that again. For those who might be interested, however, here is an interesting perspective frem the more "conservative" end of things. I find it helpful as I begin to articulate my own understanding. Also, for the more "liberal" minded, you can find this post. It too is helpful to me.

In the news

Here are two NY Times pieces I found interesting. I will post links in the forum as well so you can hash it out there if you wish. The first is a cool article on religious blogging (props to Damaris!). The second is an OpEd piece on CT's same sex marriage legislation.

Y'all have a good day. I have some coffee waiting for me.

Thus ends the UofBSC Update. Go Puffins!!