From George McGovern comes an op-ed in the Washington Post. McGovern thinks that Bush is far worse that Nixon, and that it's time for impeachment. I agree, but realistically, I know that it won't happen. McGovern lays out his arguments showing that the grounds for impeachment are far more numerous in the case of Bush-Cheney than for Richard Nixon. The op-ed gives a mini-history of the the Bush-Cheney maladministration's misuse of the powers of the offices of the presidency and vice-presidency.
Amongst all of McGovern's good words, these reached out and grabbed me and made me very sad:
Of course, there seems to be little bipartisan support for impeachment. The political scene is marked by narrow and sometimes superficial partisanship, especially among Republicans, and a lack of courage and statesmanship on the part of too many Democratic politicians. So the chances of a bipartisan impeachment and conviction are not promising.
The Congress won't do its job.
I'm proud to say that, a long time ago, when McGovern ran for president against Nixon and carried only one state, Massachusetts, I voted for him.
Monday, January 7, 2008
Christian Churches Targeted In Iraq
From Juan Cole at Informed Comment via MAKT006 Business:
In the northern city of Mosul, guerrillas targeted Christian churches with a series of bombings. Some church-goers were injured and there was damage to buildings. The number of Christians in Iraq has probably been halved, from 800,000, by the war.
The churches targeted by bombs on the feast of the Epiphany were the Chaldean Church of St Paul, which suffered no casualties, the Assyrian church of the Virgin Mary, in which four were killed, a monastery, and the Chaldean church of Maskanta, with no casualties.
It's a terrible thing when anyone is killed or wounded in war, but Bush and Blair, two self-proclaimed Christians, launched a war against a country which had not harmed us and failed to protect the small and ancient Christian communities in Iraq, with the result that they are now halved in number compared to before the war, due to killings, kidnappings, and flight.
Pray for peace in Iraq. Pray for the Christians in Iraq.
In the northern city of Mosul, guerrillas targeted Christian churches with a series of bombings. Some church-goers were injured and there was damage to buildings. The number of Christians in Iraq has probably been halved, from 800,000, by the war.
The churches targeted by bombs on the feast of the Epiphany were the Chaldean Church of St Paul, which suffered no casualties, the Assyrian church of the Virgin Mary, in which four were killed, a monastery, and the Chaldean church of Maskanta, with no casualties.
It's a terrible thing when anyone is killed or wounded in war, but Bush and Blair, two self-proclaimed Christians, launched a war against a country which had not harmed us and failed to protect the small and ancient Christian communities in Iraq, with the result that they are now halved in number compared to before the war, due to killings, kidnappings, and flight.
Pray for peace in Iraq. Pray for the Christians in Iraq.
From Kirstin In New Orleans
Kirstin from Barefoot and Laughing is in New Orleans working on a project. This is not her first visit to the city, so she was somewhat prepared for what she'd see on her second visit. I say somewhat prepared, but, no matter how many times you see the devastation, you cannot truly be prepared. Her account of her travels around the city by street car, and by bicycle is at the link above. It's well worth a read. The following words of hers on the Lower Ninth Ward struck me to the heart:
...but the whole time I was in the Lower 9th, I felt like I was staring at the grave of a community. I could almost see the silence. Driving—or biking—around and gawking felt profoundly disrespectful and wrong.
If you come here, I implore you—take the stories home, and tell them. Use the time that you have spent here. Don’t just look, and go on with your lives.
The Lower Ninth is, in a sense, the grave of a community. Thank you, Kirstin, for bearing witness. Thank you for telling the story.
Please go read Kirstin's post.
...but the whole time I was in the Lower 9th, I felt like I was staring at the grave of a community. I could almost see the silence. Driving—or biking—around and gawking felt profoundly disrespectful and wrong.
If you come here, I implore you—take the stories home, and tell them. Use the time that you have spent here. Don’t just look, and go on with your lives.
The Lower Ninth is, in a sense, the grave of a community. Thank you, Kirstin, for bearing witness. Thank you for telling the story.
Please go read Kirstin's post.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Interview With Bishop Katharine - BBC4
A few days ago, I linked to Lisa's post at My Manner of Life on the interview by BBC4 with Bishop Katharine Jefferts-Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the US, but I want to post the partial transcript of the interview, because, as I said in the comments to another blog, "Mark Bishop Katharine's words. This may be a defining moment....perhaps her words were carefully chosen. It was time. It was way past time."
3. Anonymous Layperson wrote:
[Jefferts-Schori:] The bishop of New Hampshire was duly and canonically elected, and consents received to his election, and duly consecrated. He is a bishop in this church in good standing.
[Interviewer:] It must be a pretty lonely place though to know that no one else quite like you is now going to be elected to be a bishop.
[JS]: Well perhaps not in the immediate future. But he is certainly not alone in being a gay bishop. He is certainly not alone in being a gay partnered bishop. He is alone in being the only gay partnered bishop who’s open about that status.
[I]: In your own church?
[JS]: Within our own church and within the Anglican Communion as a whole.
[I]: And so how do you respond to the fact that in a sense the Episcopal Church, your church, is paying the price for an honesty which other churches, perhaps even the Church of England, aren’t quite prepared to have?
[JS]: Well that’s certainly a significant part of the current conversation. The Episcopal Church lives in a society that values transparency, increasingly values transparency, in all kinds of operations, not just within the church. To have other parts of the Communion express distress at having to have conversations about sexuality, is certainly understandable in terms of different contexts, yet that is where this church has felt led to be and felt led to have conversation, to bring these issues out into the public sphere where we can do public theologizing about them.
[I]: But you seem to be saying there’s a problem if other churches in the Anglican Communion aren’t prepared to be honest about the fact that they too have gay bishops?
[JS]: Well it’s certainly a difficulty in our context. I think there’s a growing understanding in this church of how it can be problematic in other contexts, but there’s certainly a double standard.
[I]: The other issue is in relation to same sex blessings, the notion that the church would have an official service in order bless same sex couples. Again, the Episcopal Church has made this concession, said that there won’t be any authorized rites of blessing for same sex couples, but your opponents say that that’s all very well, but the reality on the ground is that those services are already happening and they continue to happen.
[JS]: Well those services are, yes, are happening in various places including in the Church of England, where my understanding is that there are far more of them happening than there are in the Episcopal Church, at least in the United States.
[I]: But in terms of your own church are you happy to see individual parishes having actual services of blessing for gay couples?
[JS]: That’s a matter for pastoral practice in the congregation and it’s a matter of decision for individual bishops.
[I]: But you’re not saying that those services shouldn’t be happening at all in any Episcopalian parish?
[JS]: That’s not a matter for me to say yea or nay, it’s a matter of pastoral practice in individual congregations, in the same way that I don’t enter into decisions about whether or not it’s appropriate to bless a fleet of battleships going off to war.
[I]: There are those who would just say its not good enough to, on the one hand say that the official position is these must not happen, and then on the other to be so open about the fact that they do happen at the local level.
[JS]: Our church, in the Episcopal Church, functions rather differently than some other parts of the Communion. The complaints that we should withdraw because we’ve done something that’s inappropriate often come from portions of the Communion where decisions are made fairly unilaterally, often by bishops, and I think a part of the controversy that’s often not recognized has to do with this different way of coming to theological conclusions and not looking alone to bishops to make policy and set decisions.
[I]: Is it possible for the Episcopal Church to continue to welcome and celebrate the role of lesbian and gay people and stay in the Anglican Communion in the same capacity?
[JS]: We’re in a challenging place. I certainly hope that we’re able to move through this. My hope is that the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole might remember our roots, our traditional valuing of diversity and our traditional sense that worshiping together despite differing views is what holds us together.
[I]: Of course for the Anglican Communion one of those rare gatherings of all bishops together is coming up in 2008, the Lambeth Conference. Some African churches are saying that if the Episcopal Church is allowed to attend, given what its done in relation to Gene Robinson, given what it perhaps doesn’t quite enforce in relation to gay blessings, that there really shouldn’t be a place at the table, as it were, for the Episcopal Church. How do you respond to those complaints?
[JS]: Well that feels to me much like declining an invitation to a dinner party because somebody I don’t like might be there. My understanding of the planned program for the Lambeth Conference is one that has the possibility of letting people build relationships. I think that’s a remarkable gift. I think it would be very sad to go there and simply spend all our time consumed by legislation and I don’t think that’s what’s planned.
[I]: And you’ll be there so it’s up to those who are opposed to you to decide whether or not they too will attend.
[JS]: I would hope that all invited people, all bishops of the Anglican Communion, might be there in conference and in community with each other.
[I]: And how much of a setback is it that Gene Robinson, who as you said, is an official bishop of the Episcopal Church, doesn’t have that invitation?
[JS]: Well, it’s a long time til July.
[I]: Do you think he might still be invited?
[JS]: I would very much hope so.
[I]:Have you had any indication that that may be the case?
[JS]: We’re still hoping that that might be the case.
January 1, 5:31 pm
The partial transcript was posted in the comments at TitusOne Nine.
MadPriest has the audio of the interview from BBC4 Radio.
3. Anonymous Layperson wrote:
[Jefferts-Schori:] The bishop of New Hampshire was duly and canonically elected, and consents received to his election, and duly consecrated. He is a bishop in this church in good standing.
[Interviewer:] It must be a pretty lonely place though to know that no one else quite like you is now going to be elected to be a bishop.
[JS]: Well perhaps not in the immediate future. But he is certainly not alone in being a gay bishop. He is certainly not alone in being a gay partnered bishop. He is alone in being the only gay partnered bishop who’s open about that status.
[I]: In your own church?
[JS]: Within our own church and within the Anglican Communion as a whole.
[I]: And so how do you respond to the fact that in a sense the Episcopal Church, your church, is paying the price for an honesty which other churches, perhaps even the Church of England, aren’t quite prepared to have?
[JS]: Well that’s certainly a significant part of the current conversation. The Episcopal Church lives in a society that values transparency, increasingly values transparency, in all kinds of operations, not just within the church. To have other parts of the Communion express distress at having to have conversations about sexuality, is certainly understandable in terms of different contexts, yet that is where this church has felt led to be and felt led to have conversation, to bring these issues out into the public sphere where we can do public theologizing about them.
[I]: But you seem to be saying there’s a problem if other churches in the Anglican Communion aren’t prepared to be honest about the fact that they too have gay bishops?
[JS]: Well it’s certainly a difficulty in our context. I think there’s a growing understanding in this church of how it can be problematic in other contexts, but there’s certainly a double standard.
[I]: The other issue is in relation to same sex blessings, the notion that the church would have an official service in order bless same sex couples. Again, the Episcopal Church has made this concession, said that there won’t be any authorized rites of blessing for same sex couples, but your opponents say that that’s all very well, but the reality on the ground is that those services are already happening and they continue to happen.
[JS]: Well those services are, yes, are happening in various places including in the Church of England, where my understanding is that there are far more of them happening than there are in the Episcopal Church, at least in the United States.
[I]: But in terms of your own church are you happy to see individual parishes having actual services of blessing for gay couples?
[JS]: That’s a matter for pastoral practice in the congregation and it’s a matter of decision for individual bishops.
[I]: But you’re not saying that those services shouldn’t be happening at all in any Episcopalian parish?
[JS]: That’s not a matter for me to say yea or nay, it’s a matter of pastoral practice in individual congregations, in the same way that I don’t enter into decisions about whether or not it’s appropriate to bless a fleet of battleships going off to war.
[I]: There are those who would just say its not good enough to, on the one hand say that the official position is these must not happen, and then on the other to be so open about the fact that they do happen at the local level.
[JS]: Our church, in the Episcopal Church, functions rather differently than some other parts of the Communion. The complaints that we should withdraw because we’ve done something that’s inappropriate often come from portions of the Communion where decisions are made fairly unilaterally, often by bishops, and I think a part of the controversy that’s often not recognized has to do with this different way of coming to theological conclusions and not looking alone to bishops to make policy and set decisions.
[I]: Is it possible for the Episcopal Church to continue to welcome and celebrate the role of lesbian and gay people and stay in the Anglican Communion in the same capacity?
[JS]: We’re in a challenging place. I certainly hope that we’re able to move through this. My hope is that the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion as a whole might remember our roots, our traditional valuing of diversity and our traditional sense that worshiping together despite differing views is what holds us together.
[I]: Of course for the Anglican Communion one of those rare gatherings of all bishops together is coming up in 2008, the Lambeth Conference. Some African churches are saying that if the Episcopal Church is allowed to attend, given what its done in relation to Gene Robinson, given what it perhaps doesn’t quite enforce in relation to gay blessings, that there really shouldn’t be a place at the table, as it were, for the Episcopal Church. How do you respond to those complaints?
[JS]: Well that feels to me much like declining an invitation to a dinner party because somebody I don’t like might be there. My understanding of the planned program for the Lambeth Conference is one that has the possibility of letting people build relationships. I think that’s a remarkable gift. I think it would be very sad to go there and simply spend all our time consumed by legislation and I don’t think that’s what’s planned.
[I]: And you’ll be there so it’s up to those who are opposed to you to decide whether or not they too will attend.
[JS]: I would hope that all invited people, all bishops of the Anglican Communion, might be there in conference and in community with each other.
[I]: And how much of a setback is it that Gene Robinson, who as you said, is an official bishop of the Episcopal Church, doesn’t have that invitation?
[JS]: Well, it’s a long time til July.
[I]: Do you think he might still be invited?
[JS]: I would very much hope so.
[I]:Have you had any indication that that may be the case?
[JS]: We’re still hoping that that might be the case.
January 1, 5:31 pm
The partial transcript was posted in the comments at TitusOne Nine.
MadPriest has the audio of the interview from BBC4 Radio.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
From Wenchoster - It's Still Christmas
Images from the Pharisaios Journal (except for the wee tree, which is mine).
From the Canon Precenter:
O Sapentia! O Adonai! O Radix Jesse! O Gamba! How you supple fingers ripple in this glorious musical season! From the processional joys of Advent Sunday through the offices and masses, and, oooh! I could just flick my Early English scores and bathe myself in yellow cream custard! Sorry, what was I saying? Ah! Advent music in Wenchoster Cathedral exposes the very best of our choir, and of course Jeremy (butter wouldn’t melt in his mouth) Gamba at his glorious organ. The trebles excel as ever after rigorous discipline, the tenors and basses never cease to thrill me, and the counter-tenors? Well, don’t start me on the counter-tenors especially that Luke. Only vicar-choral I’ve met who does breath fresheners in the Lesser Litany and dabs eau-de-cologne on his music folder. All a bit obvious as we used to say in school. If I pursed my lips like that they’d make me an American bishop! And I can mince with the rest of them! Sorry, what was I saying? Oh yes. I think the Dean was very pleased with my arrangements of the French carols and cantatas this year. He visibly glowed when I proffered Vierce and Dupre, although at my mention of Alain he just stared out of the window. Well! And Jeremy couldn’t believe it when I told him!
May music delight you this Christmas, and may your ears be soothed by the airs of the season!
Canon Augustus Dewdrop MA
Here's one last Christmas carol from Wenchoster:
Midi link. Reduce to the taskbar to sing along!
A GREAT ALMIGHTY BLUNDER
A great almighty blunder
Seen by a candle’s flame.
The choir torn asunder,
The crucifer’s to blame.
Let’s start the mass again.
And get it right for certain,
Then we can all say ‘Amen.’
When he approached the rood screen,
Rather then walking straight.
He took a sudden right turn,
Which made the choir irate.
Let’s start the mass again.
The tenors sat in protest
The basses roared with ire.
The trebles simply whimpered,
One set his cotta on fire.
Let’s start the mass again.
(German Carol Melody)
Good-bye little tree. Until next year.
Again, there's much more at the diocesan website. Do pay a visit.
"Get Out Of The Car!"
(This is supposedly a true account recorded in the Police Log of Sarasota, Florida.)
An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.
She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"
The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.
The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.
She tried and tried, and then she realized why. It was for the same reason that she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat.
A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces further down.
She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.
The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the end of the counter, where four pale man were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.
No charges were filed.
Moral of the story? If you're going to have a senior moment...make it memorable.
Thanks to Ann at What the Tide Brings In for the story. While you're at Ann's place, read her posts and watch the videos, especially Set Your Watch to A.D.
An elderly Florida lady did her shopping and, upon returning to her car, found four males in the act of leaving with her vehicle.
She dropped her shopping bags and drew her handgun, proceeding to scream at the top of her lungs, "I have a gun, and I know how to use it! Get out of the car!"
The four men didn't wait for a second threat. They got out and ran like mad.
The lady, somewhat shaken, then proceeded to load her shopping bags into the back of the car and got into the driver's seat. She was so shaken that she could not get her key into the ignition.
She tried and tried, and then she realized why. It was for the same reason that she had wondered why there was a football, a Frisbee and two 12-packs of beer in the front seat.
A few minutes later, she found her own car parked four or five spaces further down.
She loaded her bags into the car and drove to the police station to report her mistake.
The sergeant to whom she told the story couldn't stop laughing.
He pointed to the end of the counter, where four pale man were reporting a car jacking by a mad, elderly woman described as white, less than five feet tall, glasses, curly white hair, and carrying a large handgun.
No charges were filed.
Moral of the story? If you're going to have a senior moment...make it memorable.
Thanks to Ann at What the Tide Brings In for the story. While you're at Ann's place, read her posts and watch the videos, especially Set Your Watch to A.D.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Visitors Arriving
Friends from Connecticut will arrive this evening, which means that blogging will be light to non-existent for a few days. I will be checking in, so do continue to visit and leave comments, if you'd like.
City of God In Rio
January 6, 2008, is the last day of the appeal for donations to Christ the King Church in the City of God, located in one of the poorest and most violent slums in Rio de Janiero. Our virtual friend Luiz Coelho, a candidate for the Anglican priesthood, worked for nearly a year with the children of the City of God. As of yesterday the amount of $6613.70 has been collected. Thanks be to God.
As I said in another post on the City of God:
We are taught that God loves each of us infinitely, but I cannot help but believe (probably heretically) that the destitute and the poor amongst us are more precious in the sight of God than those of us who possess more of the world's goods. God is surely present with those who live in the City of God slum.
Note the names of the slum and the church, the City of God, where Christ the King reigns amongst the poorest of the poor. Full details of the campaign for donations and the program at Christ the King are here.
Go here to make a donation by Paypal, or:
In the U.K. cheques (made payable to "St. Francis Church") should be sent to:
CITY OF GOD APPEAL,
St. Francis House
18 Cotswold Gardens
High Heaton
Newcastle Upon Tyne
NE7 7AE
Please write "City Of God Appeal" on the reverse of the cheque.
In the United States, cheques (made payable to "The Episcopal Church of St. Paul") should be sent to:
CITY OF GOD APPEAL
c/o The Reverend Elizabeth Kaeton
The Episcopal Church of St. Paul
200 Main Street
Chatham, NJ 07928
Please write "City Of God Appeal" on the front of the check.
Thanks to Paul at Byzigenous Buddhapalian for the picture.
She Tells Them
Lisa at My Manner of Life has a transcript of an interview with Bishop Katharine Jefforts-Schori by the BBC. I left the comment below at Lisa's site:
Blogger Grandmère Mimi said...
Lisa, I thought she did very well. She's pointing out truths that it seemed the leadership was reluctant to speak aloud, such a[s] the fact that Gene Robinson is not the only partnered gay bishop, just the only honest one.
I liked the, "You do it, too," about the same-sex blessings and her comment about double standards. Good for her. What on earth does she have to repent of?
The online article by the BBC labels Bishop Katharine "unrepentant on gay clergy".
Blogger Grandmère Mimi said...
Lisa, I thought she did very well. She's pointing out truths that it seemed the leadership was reluctant to speak aloud, such a[s] the fact that Gene Robinson is not the only partnered gay bishop, just the only honest one.
I liked the, "You do it, too," about the same-sex blessings and her comment about double standards. Good for her. What on earth does she have to repent of?
The online article by the BBC labels Bishop Katharine "unrepentant on gay clergy".
The Blog Blessing
My two dear virtual blog friends, Fran at FranIAm and Doxy at Wormwood's Doxy have chosen me for the "Blog Blessing". I'm full of gratitude at this honor from these two wonderful writers, both of whom inspire envy in me when I read what they write. I bless them back and thank them for giving me pleasure.
Fran is so absolutely prolific that I can hardly keep up reading her blog. She's passionate in her views, and, like me, she writes about all sorts of subjects, perhaps whatever pops into her mind that seems interesting, notable, or funny. She has pictures, sound, videos, and she is quite adept at the technology available for bloggers.
Doxy doesn't write enough to suit me, but when she writes, she knocks my socks off. She has been unrelenting in support of our LGBT brothers and sisters and in getting out information on AIDS and HIV. Her journal entries and occasional rants (really mini-rants) are wonderful to read.
As most of you may know, I don't do memes, simply because they require way too much thinking, and I'm lazy. I was to pass the blessing on to three other bloggers, and when Fran's blessing came, I tried - I truly did try, but I could not single out three bloggers who have been a blessing to me, because there are many more than three. (The gathering in New York, where I met many of them face to face was pure pleasure.) I was totally blocked in choosing, and that's the truth. The same with Doxy's blessing. No way could I pick three. However, I return the blessings to both Fran and Doxy and thank them and so many other bloggers who have enriched my life.
What I will do is single out two bloggers who have influenced me the most. First and foremost is Rmj at Adventus. He is just past his second anniversary as a blogger, and I've read him from the birth of his blog. He taught me so much about the Christian faith, living the Christian life, and the sham that is much of what we call "values" in this country of ours. I've said this before, but, for a while there, he quoted Kierkegaard so often, that I finally had to read him for myself. He suggested another of his works to read first, but I chose to read Fear and Trembling, and I have never been quite the same since. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Christianity is not for the fainthearted. I can say, with all honesty, that he taught me how to blog. Our styles are quite different, and I don't blame my shortcomings on Rmj, but if you see good here, he gets some of the credit.
The second is MadPriest at Of Course I Could Be Wrong. Pray for me, all of you. I am under the influence of a madman. What am I thinking? Irony is nearly always lurking beneath the surface inside me, ready to burst forth. My rule of thumb is, in the words of Jane Austen, the mistress of irony, "I hope that I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can." Those words were spoken by one of her characters, but they are Jane's thoughts. In addition, I try very hard not use my irony against those weaker than I am.
MadPriest's blog gives me many laughs, which I am in great need of in these troubled times. In his comments, I practiced letting loose with irony and humor, and when I started with my own blog, I had a little experience in that sort of writing. The irony is, perhaps, practiced better here, than in real life, for in real life folks sometimes find my irony intimidating, even when it's not used against them. In other words, I am ironic to a fault. However, no one is forced to read a blog. The use of irony here at Wounded Bird has been a great release for me. I'm thankful for the outlet.
The two men who have influenced me in blogging are quite different, and you may wonder that two such different men and two such different blogs can influence the same person. I don't know the answer. Today, it appears that I will pass 55,000 in number of visitors. That is absolutely amazing to me. It's not much in comparison to the bloggers with large readerships, but I am grateful for each and every reader, and especially those who leave comments. The engagement with those who comment is as pleasurable as the writing for me.
So. Fran, Doxy, do you forgive me for not going along?
As Tiny Tim said, "God bless us, every one!"
UPDATE: I thought of something that the two bloggers have in common. They both make me think about things that cause me discomfort but are, nevertheless, things that I must think about.
Fran is so absolutely prolific that I can hardly keep up reading her blog. She's passionate in her views, and, like me, she writes about all sorts of subjects, perhaps whatever pops into her mind that seems interesting, notable, or funny. She has pictures, sound, videos, and she is quite adept at the technology available for bloggers.
Doxy doesn't write enough to suit me, but when she writes, she knocks my socks off. She has been unrelenting in support of our LGBT brothers and sisters and in getting out information on AIDS and HIV. Her journal entries and occasional rants (really mini-rants) are wonderful to read.
As most of you may know, I don't do memes, simply because they require way too much thinking, and I'm lazy. I was to pass the blessing on to three other bloggers, and when Fran's blessing came, I tried - I truly did try, but I could not single out three bloggers who have been a blessing to me, because there are many more than three. (The gathering in New York, where I met many of them face to face was pure pleasure.) I was totally blocked in choosing, and that's the truth. The same with Doxy's blessing. No way could I pick three. However, I return the blessings to both Fran and Doxy and thank them and so many other bloggers who have enriched my life.
What I will do is single out two bloggers who have influenced me the most. First and foremost is Rmj at Adventus. He is just past his second anniversary as a blogger, and I've read him from the birth of his blog. He taught me so much about the Christian faith, living the Christian life, and the sham that is much of what we call "values" in this country of ours. I've said this before, but, for a while there, he quoted Kierkegaard so often, that I finally had to read him for myself. He suggested another of his works to read first, but I chose to read Fear and Trembling, and I have never been quite the same since. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Christianity is not for the fainthearted. I can say, with all honesty, that he taught me how to blog. Our styles are quite different, and I don't blame my shortcomings on Rmj, but if you see good here, he gets some of the credit.
The second is MadPriest at Of Course I Could Be Wrong. Pray for me, all of you. I am under the influence of a madman. What am I thinking? Irony is nearly always lurking beneath the surface inside me, ready to burst forth. My rule of thumb is, in the words of Jane Austen, the mistress of irony, "I hope that I never ridicule what is wise or good. Follies and nonsense, whims and inconsistencies do divert me, I own, and I laugh at them whenever I can." Those words were spoken by one of her characters, but they are Jane's thoughts. In addition, I try very hard not use my irony against those weaker than I am.
MadPriest's blog gives me many laughs, which I am in great need of in these troubled times. In his comments, I practiced letting loose with irony and humor, and when I started with my own blog, I had a little experience in that sort of writing. The irony is, perhaps, practiced better here, than in real life, for in real life folks sometimes find my irony intimidating, even when it's not used against them. In other words, I am ironic to a fault. However, no one is forced to read a blog. The use of irony here at Wounded Bird has been a great release for me. I'm thankful for the outlet.
The two men who have influenced me in blogging are quite different, and you may wonder that two such different men and two such different blogs can influence the same person. I don't know the answer. Today, it appears that I will pass 55,000 in number of visitors. That is absolutely amazing to me. It's not much in comparison to the bloggers with large readerships, but I am grateful for each and every reader, and especially those who leave comments. The engagement with those who comment is as pleasurable as the writing for me.
So. Fran, Doxy, do you forgive me for not going along?
As Tiny Tim said, "God bless us, every one!"
UPDATE: I thought of something that the two bloggers have in common. They both make me think about things that cause me discomfort but are, nevertheless, things that I must think about.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Church As A Place Of Refuge?
In a quick return to business as usual, we descend from the "Happy New Year" high. From MSNBC:
NAIROBI, Kenya - A mob torched a church sheltering hundreds of Kenyans fleeing election violence on Tuesday, killing as many as 50 people as the convulsion of bloodshed continued after the disputed vote that gave the president a second term. The opposition leader accused the government of "genocide."
....
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said that so far 145 people have been killed, 33,500 Kenyans have been forced to leave their homes and 208 properties have been destroyed.
Please pray for the people of Kenya, a country which has, until now, been one of the more stable in Africa.
Whatever happened to the idea of the church as a place of refuge? I know. There are many recent and ancient examples of of the violation of the concept of the church as a place of refuge. It appears that today, as in other times, the church is not a place of refuge against non-violent oppression, either. Too often the oppressors are the powers within the church.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
NAIROBI, Kenya - A mob torched a church sheltering hundreds of Kenyans fleeing election violence on Tuesday, killing as many as 50 people as the convulsion of bloodshed continued after the disputed vote that gave the president a second term. The opposition leader accused the government of "genocide."
....
Police spokesman Eric Kiraithe said that so far 145 people have been killed, 33,500 Kenyans have been forced to leave their homes and 208 properties have been destroyed.
Please pray for the people of Kenya, a country which has, until now, been one of the more stable in Africa.
Whatever happened to the idea of the church as a place of refuge? I know. There are many recent and ancient examples of of the violation of the concept of the church as a place of refuge. It appears that today, as in other times, the church is not a place of refuge against non-violent oppression, either. Too often the oppressors are the powers within the church.
Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
A Message From Molly
From the comments:
susankay said...
G'mere -- what a lovely present. Another gift has been a year of your blog. And Molly the WonderDog (who is finally doing well) sends love, woofs and thanks.
Thanks be to God! Molly, your being well is a wonderful gift to Susan and to all your doggy and human friends. Happy New Year!
susankay said...
G'mere -- what a lovely present. Another gift has been a year of your blog. And Molly the WonderDog (who is finally doing well) sends love, woofs and thanks.
Thanks be to God! Molly, your being well is a wonderful gift to Susan and to all your doggy and human friends. Happy New Year!
AMAZING GRACE - IRVIN MAYFIELD, JR
My New Year's gift for those of you who are not glued to the TV watching football is this video which shows Irwin Mayfield, Jr. of New Orleans, playing "Amazing Grace" on the Elysian Trumpet, which was hand-built by David Monette.
This stunning instrument has been created to honor the memory of all who perished due to Hurricane Katrina. Its design celebrates the rich musical and cultural heritage of New Orleans and the sounds of our Jazz legends. Jazz has been the heart of this city since the days of marching bands and Louis Armstrong. Today this indigenous music is more important than ever. The cultural strength of Jazz moves us from disaster to a new beginning celebrating our history and giving us the inspiration and blessing of the many that have gone before us. Monette, along with nationally known artist and goldsmith Tami Dean have been collaborating for nearly 25 years
The video was made at Christ Church Cathedral at the Eucharist at which Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefforts-Schori presided and preached during the meeting in New Orleans of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church. The service was beautiful, but this performance by Irvin Mayfield, Jr. was outstanding and quite moving. Here's what I wrote the day after:
The trumpet produced the sweetest sound I have heard come out of a horn - ever. And I have heard many trumpets. Mayfield played the most magnificent "Amazing Grace" that I have been priveliged to hear. Two such superlatives, one after the other, may be hard to believe, but they are true. I was crying during his performance. What heart! What an instrument!
Trust me that you do not get the full effect of the sound in the video. You had to be there.
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