Mark Harris' mother, Anne, who is 90 years old, fell and broke her hip. Please pray for Anne and for her family and friends. Mark says:
Anne is teaching our family about getting really old, and doing a fine job of it.
Anne, may God bless you, and heal you, and surround you with love,
Sunday, December 28, 2008
"Sleeping Giant Wakes Up"
In response to this post by MadPriest, on the bishops in the Church of England speaking out against the Labour Party's economic policies:
So I am delighted that yesterday a whole bunch of my bishops laid into the Labour Party's economic policy big time, in particular its dubious moral basis. In fact, they savaged our political leaders like Jack Russell terriers in a barn full of rats. Of course, the labour politicians are squealing like cornered rodents and are quoting statistics like only called-to-account politicians are capable of doing.
Of course, it would have been better if the bishops had collectively been prophets before things got so bad.
Now I know that many of the bishops in the Episcopal Church have spoken out against economic policies which continue to favor the wealthy amongst us, to the detriment of the "least of these", but a collective effort would be fine thing to see. Here, too, it would have been good to see the collective message some years ago, preached from pulpits, not just in open letters.
What struck me most were the comments to the post on policies in England having to do with the homeless, such as:
If you're a single woman and pregnant your local council has an obligation to house you.
or
Actually, it is very difficult to be homeless in England. You have to chose to live on the streets or somehow slip out of sight of social services and homeless charities (this does happen especially with the mentally ill). I have worked with the homeless and the people using emergency shelters are all either addicts or mentally ill. Once we get people into the shelters we work with them and housing providers to get them off the streets as fast as possible. Unfortunately, this usually means that the alcoholics and junkies will have less money to spend on alcohol and so they go back on the streets. Even then we continue to offer them food, shelter, a bed for the night, medical care, advice and washing facilities in our facilities as often as they want it. We even have wet centres where alcoholics can bring their drink inside (we put in plastic bottles for them to avoid any nasty messes). All this is paid for by a mix of local councils and charities and by getting "sell-by date" food free from supermarkets.
Now I know that many churches, private charities, and civil authorities are giving aid to the homeless, and that some folks choose to be on the streets, many of them because of mental illness or addictions, but the efforts are, in many cases, small scale, ad hoc approaches.
When the Obama administration takes over, would it be too much to ask for those who legislate to pass laws requiring communities to give aid to the down and out so that the private and small-scale operations need not bear the whole brunt of the growing, sometimes overwhelming, problem of homelessness and the wandering mentally ill? The numbers of homeless veterans is growing after declining for 20 years after the Vietnam War. Many of them suffer from PTSD, and are not receiving adequate mental health care through the military health services.
Comments to the post from folks in the US highlight the sorry state of government help for the homeless and for the mentally ill who are poor. There are many more homeless than the small-scale operations can care for. Attitudes like "the homeless choose to be homeless" abound. Is it time to take another look at the policies that mentally ill folks cannot be hospitalized against their will unless they are an immediate danger to themselves or others (with many falling through the cracks) to see if that is truly the best way to go? And how about adequate funding for outpatient mental health care, once the folks are released?
Read a few of the posts at Under the Overpasses, a blog by Under There, who works the homeless who live under the overpasses to see a bit of the reality of homelessness in the US.
Surely, we can do better.
So I am delighted that yesterday a whole bunch of my bishops laid into the Labour Party's economic policy big time, in particular its dubious moral basis. In fact, they savaged our political leaders like Jack Russell terriers in a barn full of rats. Of course, the labour politicians are squealing like cornered rodents and are quoting statistics like only called-to-account politicians are capable of doing.
Of course, it would have been better if the bishops had collectively been prophets before things got so bad.
Now I know that many of the bishops in the Episcopal Church have spoken out against economic policies which continue to favor the wealthy amongst us, to the detriment of the "least of these", but a collective effort would be fine thing to see. Here, too, it would have been good to see the collective message some years ago, preached from pulpits, not just in open letters.
What struck me most were the comments to the post on policies in England having to do with the homeless, such as:
If you're a single woman and pregnant your local council has an obligation to house you.
or
Actually, it is very difficult to be homeless in England. You have to chose to live on the streets or somehow slip out of sight of social services and homeless charities (this does happen especially with the mentally ill). I have worked with the homeless and the people using emergency shelters are all either addicts or mentally ill. Once we get people into the shelters we work with them and housing providers to get them off the streets as fast as possible. Unfortunately, this usually means that the alcoholics and junkies will have less money to spend on alcohol and so they go back on the streets. Even then we continue to offer them food, shelter, a bed for the night, medical care, advice and washing facilities in our facilities as often as they want it. We even have wet centres where alcoholics can bring their drink inside (we put in plastic bottles for them to avoid any nasty messes). All this is paid for by a mix of local councils and charities and by getting "sell-by date" food free from supermarkets.
Now I know that many churches, private charities, and civil authorities are giving aid to the homeless, and that some folks choose to be on the streets, many of them because of mental illness or addictions, but the efforts are, in many cases, small scale, ad hoc approaches.
When the Obama administration takes over, would it be too much to ask for those who legislate to pass laws requiring communities to give aid to the down and out so that the private and small-scale operations need not bear the whole brunt of the growing, sometimes overwhelming, problem of homelessness and the wandering mentally ill? The numbers of homeless veterans is growing after declining for 20 years after the Vietnam War. Many of them suffer from PTSD, and are not receiving adequate mental health care through the military health services.
Comments to the post from folks in the US highlight the sorry state of government help for the homeless and for the mentally ill who are poor. There are many more homeless than the small-scale operations can care for. Attitudes like "the homeless choose to be homeless" abound. Is it time to take another look at the policies that mentally ill folks cannot be hospitalized against their will unless they are an immediate danger to themselves or others (with many falling through the cracks) to see if that is truly the best way to go? And how about adequate funding for outpatient mental health care, once the folks are released?
Read a few of the posts at Under the Overpasses, a blog by Under There, who works the homeless who live under the overpasses to see a bit of the reality of homelessness in the US.
Surely, we can do better.
Our Gal Maxine
1. Jim Baker and Jimmy Swaggert have written an impressive new book.It's called .........'Ministers Do More Than Lay People'
2. Transvestite: A guy who likes to eat, drink And be Mary.
3. The difference between the Pope and your boss, the Pope only expects you to kiss his ring.
5. The only time the world beats a path to your door is if you're in the bathroom.
4. My mind works like lightning, One brilliant flash and it is gone.
6.I hate sex in the movies. Tried it once. The seat folded up, the drink spilled and that ice, well, it really chilled the mood.
7. It used to be only death and taxes. Now, of course, there's shipping and handling.
8. A husband is someone who, after taking the trash out, gives the impression that he just cleaned the whole house.
9 My next house will have no kitchen - just vending machines and a very large trash can.
10. A blonde said, 'I was worried that my Mechanic might try to rip me off. I was relieved when he told me all I needed was turn signal fluid.'
11.Definition of a teenager? God's punishment...for enjoying sex.
12. As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.
Thanks to Ann.
It's Still Christmas - Day 4
The angel of the Lord encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
O taste and see that the Lord is good;
happy are those who take refuge in him.
(Psalm 34:7-8)
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Please Pray For TheMeThatIsMe
TheMe had surgery for gallstones, but suffered complications from an infection and a resurgence of his Crohn's disease. In addition, the powers at the hospital dumped him out and sent him home before he felt ready to go. You can read the details at his blog.
Pray for a speedy healing and no further complications.
Pray for a speedy healing and no further complications.
Celebrity In Our Midst!
(From the Anglican Periodic Table by Clumber)
Father Tobias Haller, who writes at In a Godward Direction, was interviewed by the BBC! You can listen here at the BBC website on the 24 Dec 08 podcast titled "Christmas and Consumerism". Tobias' interview starts near the beginning.
As a US ambassador to the Brits, he represented us quite well. His own review of his performance is at his website at the link above. He's much too modest.
Christmas At Wenchoster
THE BISHOP'S COLUMN:
Hello! Es the popular tune declars, ‘It’s the most popular tame of the yar.’ Indeed it is. Not jest a tame for celebrat-i-on but also a tame of surprises. Peeking ite from under my tree is an anonymous gift of a strange shape. What glorious mysteries lie under the wrepping paper of snowmen and holly? What is it? How will I use it? Cen I shar it? Will it requar betteries? Awl of these quest-i-ons cen be asked of Christmarss es we draw near to the greatest gift of awl. How will we use it indeed? We will, won’t we? End shar it with others, of course.
It is awlso good to recall are blessings as we tuck into the bainty of the Yuletide season. Remember that not awl of Gawd’s people cen sit dine to relish a goose end stuffing. Es ay prepar to sit dine et table I will say a prar for those less fortunate then areselves and ask the Lawd to bless them. Then end only then will I sip may fane claret. Won’t ay.
Gawd bless, us every one!
Message from the Archbishop of Canterbury:
Walking the banks of the River Wye is something I like to do even on the most inhospitable of weather days. N will pack me a small lunch and I will happily spend a morning, even a day, engaging with the natural beauty around me, and pondering the deeper theological strata of stylistic elements within the theonomy of twentieth century thought. And so it was only last week, as I took in the miles between Tintern and Monmouth. Here and there I saw a high flying hawk, and thought that the liturgical symbolism of the Spirit in the western ecclesia could be reinvented....
Read the rest of the message at the link above.
From the Carol Sheet:
Away in the "Nine Bells", no room at the bar,
We sit in the "Snug" with our pipes and a jar.
The logs in the fireplace all crackle and hiss,
As we laze in the warmth and give Compline a miss.
The Choirboys are singing their carols so sweet,
Whilst outside the window, snow falls in the street.
Our ancient cathedral is glowing with light,
And shines like a beacon through the depths of the night.
"Another, dear landlord! Come fill up my cup,
With the nutty brown liquid that I love to sup!"
A Wenchoster Christmas is a time of good cheer,
If I get all my stuffing, and a firkin of beer.
Could it be that a hacker with a streak of wickedness sometimes gets into their website?
Hello! Es the popular tune declars, ‘It’s the most popular tame of the yar.’ Indeed it is. Not jest a tame for celebrat-i-on but also a tame of surprises. Peeking ite from under my tree is an anonymous gift of a strange shape. What glorious mysteries lie under the wrepping paper of snowmen and holly? What is it? How will I use it? Cen I shar it? Will it requar betteries? Awl of these quest-i-ons cen be asked of Christmarss es we draw near to the greatest gift of awl. How will we use it indeed? We will, won’t we? End shar it with others, of course.
It is awlso good to recall are blessings as we tuck into the bainty of the Yuletide season. Remember that not awl of Gawd’s people cen sit dine to relish a goose end stuffing. Es ay prepar to sit dine et table I will say a prar for those less fortunate then areselves and ask the Lawd to bless them. Then end only then will I sip may fane claret. Won’t ay.
Gawd bless, us every one!
Message from the Archbishop of Canterbury:
Walking the banks of the River Wye is something I like to do even on the most inhospitable of weather days. N will pack me a small lunch and I will happily spend a morning, even a day, engaging with the natural beauty around me, and pondering the deeper theological strata of stylistic elements within the theonomy of twentieth century thought. And so it was only last week, as I took in the miles between Tintern and Monmouth. Here and there I saw a high flying hawk, and thought that the liturgical symbolism of the Spirit in the western ecclesia could be reinvented....
Read the rest of the message at the link above.
From the Carol Sheet:
Away in the "Nine Bells", no room at the bar,
We sit in the "Snug" with our pipes and a jar.
The logs in the fireplace all crackle and hiss,
As we laze in the warmth and give Compline a miss.
The Choirboys are singing their carols so sweet,
Whilst outside the window, snow falls in the street.
Our ancient cathedral is glowing with light,
And shines like a beacon through the depths of the night.
"Another, dear landlord! Come fill up my cup,
With the nutty brown liquid that I love to sup!"
A Wenchoster Christmas is a time of good cheer,
If I get all my stuffing, and a firkin of beer.
Could it be that a hacker with a streak of wickedness sometimes gets into their website?
Ready For Cracker Jokes?
Ready or not, here they come:
Q.) How do crazy people go through the forest?
A.) They take the psycho path.
Q.) What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?
A.) A stick.
Q.) What do you call cheese that isn't yours?
A.) Nacho cheese.
Q.) What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
A.) Frostbite.
Q.) What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A.) A nervous wreck.
Q.) How do snowmen get around?
A.) On their icicle!!
Q.) What kind of pump can you eat?
A.) A pumpkin!!
Q.) What is white and crumbly and swings through trees?
A.) A meringue!!
Q.) Who babysits for the kids?
A.) A nanny-goat!!?
Q.) How do crazy people go through the forest?
A.) They take the psycho path.
Q.) What do you call a boomerang that doesn't work?
A.) A stick.
Q.) What do you call cheese that isn't yours?
A.) Nacho cheese.
Q.) What do you get when you cross a snowman with a vampire?
A.) Frostbite.
Q.) What lies at the bottom of the ocean and twitches?
A.) A nervous wreck.
Q.) How do snowmen get around?
A.) On their icicle!!
Q.) What kind of pump can you eat?
A.) A pumpkin!!
Q.) What is white and crumbly and swings through trees?
A.) A meringue!!
Q.) Who babysits for the kids?
A.) A nanny-goat!!?
It's Still Christmas - Day 3
Pictured above is the other of a pair of Christmas stockings in needlepoint, which depict Fra Anglelico's musical angels from the paintings in the Museo San Marco in Florence.
The 16th century biographer [Giorgio] Vasari says of Fra Angelico:
"But it is impossible to bestow too much praise on this holy father, who was so humble and modest in all that he did and said and whose pictures were painted with such facility and piety."
From Wiki.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Please Contunue To Pray
From Renz:
As I write this Mary Ann's mom, Mrs. Eudith Stewart, is undergoing emergency brain surgery to attempt to remove the blood clot from the burst aneurysm. Late yesterday they did a procedure to put a coil in the aneurism and had stopped the bleeding, they put in a shunt to keep her intercranial pressure down, and she was on a ventilator and kept sedated to rest her. However, the pressures were rising today and the decision was made to actually perform brain surgery. Mary Ann is very thankful for the international prayer circle and called me specifically to request further prayers. Thank you to you all.
As I write this Mary Ann's mom, Mrs. Eudith Stewart, is undergoing emergency brain surgery to attempt to remove the blood clot from the burst aneurysm. Late yesterday they did a procedure to put a coil in the aneurism and had stopped the bleeding, they put in a shunt to keep her intercranial pressure down, and she was on a ventilator and kept sedated to rest her. However, the pressures were rising today and the decision was made to actually perform brain surgery. Mary Ann is very thankful for the international prayer circle and called me specifically to request further prayers. Thank you to you all.
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