Sunday, August 16, 2009
Thought For The Day
The saints amongst us may resist the temptations that inevitably follow upon the assumption of positions of power, but they are few and far between.
Really, I Wish Her Well....
A few folks have taken my words in this post as being critical of the appointment of Canon Dr Alyson Barnett-Cowan as Director for Unity, Faith and Order at the Anglican Communion Office. Folks who know her and have worked with her attest to her many gifts and believe that she is an excellent choice for the position. I have no reason to doubt their opinions. I'm sure that Canon Barnett-Cowan is a fine person, and I hope that she will do an excellent job during her term in the office. I support her wholeheartedly, and I shall pray for her.
My reference to Maggie Thatcher in the previous post was a joke, and not meant as a judgment on the Canon as a person or on her ability to do the job. In truth, I'm quite pleased that a Canadian woman was appointed to such a prestigious post.
I repeat that the title of the new office in the AC reminded me of a combination of Rome's Holy Office and The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the office which was in charge of pursuing the policies of the Inquisition in earlier periods in the history of the Christian church. In addition, the acronym for the title is unfortunate and is likely to be the butt of jokes, and not just by Adrian and me. Rowan's determination to concentrate authority in his office and in the Primates causes me to cast a suspicious eye on the restructuring, but not at all because of Canon Barnett-Cowan's appointment.
In my humble opinion, Pluralist's fantasy of an imaginary meeting between the Canon and the archdeacon is hilarious and not at all meant to demean her. Of course, I could be wrong. I hope that Canon Barnett-Cowan has a robust sense of humor, for I believe she will need it in her new position.
My reference to Maggie Thatcher in the previous post was a joke, and not meant as a judgment on the Canon as a person or on her ability to do the job. In truth, I'm quite pleased that a Canadian woman was appointed to such a prestigious post.
I repeat that the title of the new office in the AC reminded me of a combination of Rome's Holy Office and The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, the office which was in charge of pursuing the policies of the Inquisition in earlier periods in the history of the Christian church. In addition, the acronym for the title is unfortunate and is likely to be the butt of jokes, and not just by Adrian and me. Rowan's determination to concentrate authority in his office and in the Primates causes me to cast a suspicious eye on the restructuring, but not at all because of Canon Barnett-Cowan's appointment.
In my humble opinion, Pluralist's fantasy of an imaginary meeting between the Canon and the archdeacon is hilarious and not at all meant to demean her. Of course, I could be wrong. I hope that Canon Barnett-Cowan has a robust sense of humor, for I believe she will need it in her new position.
In "The Very Core Of English British Culture"
From WalesOnline:
AND you thought it was just warm, tasty and calming...
Academics have found that the humble mug of tea actually performs a “culturally-rooted, symbiotic function between mind and body”.
The study by researchers at London’s City University investigated why a cuppa is the most common British response to a crisis. Nearly seven out of 10 people told the researchers that putting a kettle on was their favourite way of taking the heat out of a dilemma.
Two thirds said they brewed up to tackle a stressful day at work, more than half cited office politics, a quarter said they needed a cup of tea after an argument, while 21% said it could soothe a broken heart.
The academics were even able to put a figure on the amount of tea needed to restore calm: 1.6 cups of tea with milk and 1.5 sugars
Psychologist Dr Malcolm Cross concluded: “The ritual of making and drinking tea – particularly during times of stress – is at the very core of British culture.
How in heaven's name did I get situated in "the very core of British culture"? I blame the shockingly long list of English novels that I read in my impressionable teenage years.
I love the taste of tea, and the ritual of making tea is nearly as soothing as drinking tea. Tea with loose tea leaves, that is. The teabags don't do it for me.
I drink two mugs of tea in the morning, each with half a teaspoon of sugar and a little milk, a bit more than the optimal amount that the academics conclude is just right, and the occasional cup later in the day. I confess that the tea works quite well to calm my morning shock at having to wake up and face the day.
The tea in the picture would be weak tea, indeed, for me, so perphaps I'm not so steeped in "the very core of British culture" as I believed.
PS: Thanks to Ann for the link.
Story Of The Day
Living in the Past
I've always liked living in
the past best, she said. It
takes less money than I
make now.
From StoryPeople
I've always liked living in
the past best, she said. It
takes less money than I
make now.
From StoryPeople
Saturday, August 15, 2009
More Prayers, Please
From TheMe:
Beloved
...is laid low at the moment with Bacterial Labyrinthitis so will not be posting at Pen and Paper, for a few days at least.
Poor Petty Witter. The symptoms sound dreadful. I pray she doesn't have the worst of them and that she recovers quickly.
Beloved
...is laid low at the moment with Bacterial Labyrinthitis so will not be posting at Pen and Paper, for a few days at least.
Poor Petty Witter. The symptoms sound dreadful. I pray she doesn't have the worst of them and that she recovers quickly.
Pluralist Launches Missile No. 2 At UFO
This time, I give you pure Pluralist, without commentary, because in our previous post, some of you didn't understand our commentary. If you have questions about Adrian's post, please take them up with him.
This dispatch also goes forth from the Holy Office of the Laity. Just saying.
This dispatch also goes forth from the Holy Office of the Laity. Just saying.
Letter To Conservative Christians
From God's Politics:
An Open Letter On Health Care to Conservative Christians in the U.S. - by Brian McLaren 08-11-2009
...I have been growing more and more deeply troubled by the way so many from my heritage in conservative Christianity – in its evangelical, charismatic, and Roman Catholic streams – have allowed themselves to be spiritually formed by various conservative political and economic ideologies. It’s been disturbing to see how many Christians have begun to follow and trust leaders who live more by political/media/ideological codes than by moral/spiritual/biblical ones.
....
Now, in the debate about health care, I am similarly disheartened to see the relative silence of thoughtful Christian voices as counterpoint to the predictable rhetoric of the more reactive voices. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been getting mass e-mails and Web links from evangelical and charismatic organizations that present frightening and outlandish claims about what President Obama is planning to do regarding health care. I’ve checked into these claims, and in case after case, they are simply false. They’re based on rumors spread by certain dramatic radio and cable-tv personalities, but they are not based in truth.
H/T to Andrew Gerns at The Lead.
----------
From David@Montreal:
dearest Mimi & Paul
I'm forwarding this e-mail from David Axelrod in case the link to the 'reality check' or any of the other details might be of use in your blogs.
the circus & ugliness around this issue really saddens me.
love you both
An Open Letter On Health Care to Conservative Christians in the U.S. - by Brian McLaren 08-11-2009
...I have been growing more and more deeply troubled by the way so many from my heritage in conservative Christianity – in its evangelical, charismatic, and Roman Catholic streams – have allowed themselves to be spiritually formed by various conservative political and economic ideologies. It’s been disturbing to see how many Christians have begun to follow and trust leaders who live more by political/media/ideological codes than by moral/spiritual/biblical ones.
....
Now, in the debate about health care, I am similarly disheartened to see the relative silence of thoughtful Christian voices as counterpoint to the predictable rhetoric of the more reactive voices. Over the last few weeks, I’ve been getting mass e-mails and Web links from evangelical and charismatic organizations that present frightening and outlandish claims about what President Obama is planning to do regarding health care. I’ve checked into these claims, and in case after case, they are simply false. They’re based on rumors spread by certain dramatic radio and cable-tv personalities, but they are not based in truth.
H/T to Andrew Gerns at The Lead.
----------
From David@Montreal:
dearest Mimi & Paul
I'm forwarding this e-mail from David Axelrod in case the link to the 'reality check' or any of the other details might be of use in your blogs.
the circus & ugliness around this issue really saddens me.
love you both
Dear Friend,
This is probably one of the longest emails I’ve ever sent, but it could be the most important.
Across the country we are seeing vigorous debate about health insurance reform. Unfortunately, some of the old tactics we know so well are back — even the viral emails that fly unchecked and under the radar, spreading all sorts of lies and distortions.
As President Obama said at the town hall in New Hampshire, “where we do disagree, let's disagree over things that are real, not these wild misrepresentations that bear no resemblance to anything that's actually been proposed.”
So let’s start a chain email of our own. At the end of my email, you’ll find a lot of information about health insurance reform, distilled into 8 ways reform provides security and stability to those with or without coverage, 8 common myths about reform and 8 reasons we need health insurance reform now.
Right now, someone you know probably has a question about reform that could be answered by what’s below. So what are you waiting for? Forward this email.
Thanks,
David
David Axelrod
Senior Adviser to the President
Learn more and get details.
P.S. We launched Reality Check this week to knock down the rumors and lies that are floating around the internet. You can find the information below, and much more, there. For example, we've just added a video of Nancy-Ann DeParle from our Health Reform Office tackling a viral email head on. Check it out.
Feast of St. Mary The Virgin
"St Thomas receiving the Virgin Mary's girdle"
Mary’s Song of Praise
And Mary said,
‘My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour,
for he has looked with favour on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants for ever.’
(Luke 1:46-55)
Readings:
Isaiah 61:10-11
Psalm 34 or 34:1-9
Galatians 4:4-7
Luke 1:46-55
Little is known of the life of the Virgin Mary except insofar as it intersects with the life of her Son, and there is an appropriateness in this. The Scriptures record her words to the angel Gabriel, to her kinswoman Elizabeth, to her Son on two occasions. But the only recorded saying of hers to what may be called ordinary, run-of-the-mill hearers is her instruction to the servants at the wedding feast, to whom she says simply, indicating her Son, "Whatever he says to you, do it."
This we may take to be the summation of her message to the world. If we listen to her, she will tell us, "Listen to Him. Listen to my Son. Do what He tells you." When we see her, we see her pointing to her Son. If our regard for the Blessed Virgin does not have the immediate effect of turning our attention from her to the One whom she carried in her womb for nine months and suckled at her breast, to the Incarnate God, the Word made flesh, then we may be sure that it is not the kind of regard that she seeks. A right regard for her will always direct us to Him Who found in her His first earthly dwelling-place.
By James Kiefer at the Lectionary.
PRAYER
O God, who have taken to yourself the blessed Virgin Mary,
mother of your incarnate Son: Grant that we, who have been
redeemed by his blood, may share with her the glory of your
eternal kingdom; through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who
lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen.
Roseann Is Back In The Hospital
From Roseann:
You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave. - Quentin Crisp
Posted by Being Peace at 9:57 AM
....
The good news is the vein study went well. It hurt like a bitch but at least everything was okay. The bad news is I have bronchitis and can hardly breathe. Story of my life. One step forward and one step back.
Posted by Being Peace at 8:16 AM
From Sue this morning:
Morning Mimi,
Roseann is back in the hospital with some sort of respiratory problem. She was running a fever and having breathing difficulties.
Prayers are ascending,
Sue
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant N. the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 458)
From Roseann at Facebook:
I'm in the hospital again. Good news is, it is not Swine Flu.
You fall out of your mother's womb, you crawl across open country under fire, and drop into your grave. - Quentin Crisp
Posted by Being Peace at 9:57 AM
....
The good news is the vein study went well. It hurt like a bitch but at least everything was okay. The bad news is I have bronchitis and can hardly breathe. Story of my life. One step forward and one step back.
Posted by Being Peace at 8:16 AM
From Sue this morning:
Morning Mimi,
Roseann is back in the hospital with some sort of respiratory problem. She was running a fever and having breathing difficulties.
Prayers are ascending,
Sue
O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servant N. the help of your power, that his sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(Book of Common Prayer, p. 458)
From Roseann at Facebook:
I'm in the hospital again. Good news is, it is not Swine Flu.
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