STORY OF THE DAY - SLOW PITCH

How're you doing? I said & he said we're
undefeated in our appreciation of the
game. That's against incredible odds, he
added.


The stories are amazingly apropos of late.

From StoryPeople.

"...LOVE MUST, BY ITS ESSENTIAL NATURE, BE ALWAYS UNCONDITIONAL"

The Very Reverend Colin Slee, Dean of Southwark Cathedral in south London, preached the following sermon at Evensong this past Sunday.

Texts: Genesis 13; Mark 4.21-41

Some of you will already be aware, and others will be completely unaware, that we had the Presiding Bishop of the USA here to celebrate the Eucharist and preach this morning. Being an egalitarian culture, in social ranking if not in economic assessment, the Church in the United States does not have an archbishop. So, in English terms, we had the Archbishop of the USA here this morning.

On evangelical and ecclesiastically conservative websites I have been denounced this week for being ‘provocative’ and ‘discourteous to the Archbishop of Canterbury’ for extending this invitation. Well, I haven’t been denounced on these various websites for many months and I was beginning to feel neglected and unwanted so I am glad of the reassurance and attention.

The facts are simple; we have had a steady stream of archbishops here to preach during the time I have been Dean, and I expect well before that. The archbishops of Brazil, South Africa, Canada, and of course York and Canterbury, come to mind. Bishops from Zimbabwe, Norway, a woman bishop from the USA, and many others have held this pulpit. The invitation to the Presiding Bishop is not at all a novelty for us, and the date was fixed in July 2008 after we had failed to find a suitable date around the Lambeth Conference when first I invited her in the spring of 2008. I happened to be at Lambeth Palace on Friday where I collected the Archbishop’s licence for the Presiding Bishop to officiate, I have kept him informed at all times, I would not act without courtesy, nor he towards us.

There are several reasons for the fury. The Presiding Bishop is a woman and some people hate the idea of women as bishops. The General Synod of the Church of England is about to debate the admission of women as bishops within the Church of England. The church in the United States has just consecrated an openly lesbian woman as a suffragan bishop in Los Angeles and so they are accused of breaking an embargo on such consecrations. It is not nearly so simple.

I have to tell you that I had intended to ignore all this kerfuffle this afternoon, until, that is, I read the lessons and the Collect set for the day and used by the Presiding Bishop at this morning's Eucharist.

The Collect says:
‘Lord, you have taught us
that all our doings without love are nothing worth:
Send your Holy Spirit
And pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love,
The true bond of peace and of all virtues,
Without which whoever lives is counted dead before you.’

It seems to me that love must, by its essential nature, be always unconditional. We welcome Katharine Jefferts Schori to this pulpit because we love our sisters and brothers in the Episcopal Church of the United States; not because she is female, or a woman bishop ahead of us, or has permitted a practising lesbian to become a bishop (As it happens she couldn’t have stopped it after all the legal and proper canonical electoral processes resulted in the election and nomination), we welcome her because she is our sister in Christ.

The lesson from the Hebrew Scriptures is enormously topical. Disaffected Anglicans have been threatening to ‘walk separate ways’ for many months. Abram and Lot travel together and their herdsmen bicker and fight, in modern translation there is 'strife' between them. They reach agreement to take separate paths and settle down and so their mutual belonging as members of one family is secured. The lesson is even more pertinent because it describes how Lot ended up near Sodom, which was a very wicked city, and of course it is sodomy that so curiously and constantly preoccupies so many disaffected Anglicans. The story of Sodom is often misrepresented from scriptures, the abuse which leads to its reputation and much social mythology, current even today, in Chapter 19, is a more sophisticated story of torture and coercion than misrepresented as a matter of sex.

It may be that some Anglicans will decide to walk a separate path. I believe the Chapter and congregation of this church will walk the same path as the Episcopal Church of America, the links are deep in our history, especially here. Their actions in recent months have been entirely in accord with the Anglican ways of generosity and breadth. They have tried to ensure everyone is recognised as a child of God. They have behaved entirely in accord with their canon laws and their freedom as an independent Province of the Church, not imposing or interfering with others with whom they disagree but proceeding steadily and openly themselves.

The lesson from St Mark’s gospel was the end of a string of parables, but it ends with a great storm. You will understand if I say that caused me to smile.

Parables are deeply incarnational. They are about the revelation of the presence of God that we can discover and proclaim in the most ordinary experiences of life. This evening’s passage contained short ‘kingdom parables’ about seed and growth, about minute beginnings and prodigious fruit. If the seed is never sown then we cannot discover the results. If Christ had not died there would have been no resurrection. If God had not let go there would have been no incarnation and salvation, no Jesus. If Jesus had not fallen asleep in the stern of the boat the disciples would not have discovered how frightened and alone they could feel without his presence – and these were largely fishermen.

It is my hope and prayer that Anglicans with different perspectives can continue to recognise their common inheritance in the faith even when they live many miles apart and conduct their churches in divergent ways; I also hope they read the scriptures intelligently. It is my hope that this is a way that love can continue such that its realisation is in peace. It is our constant experience that God is discovered when we have the courage to let go, to give freedom to the smallest of things and allow God to work giving the growth, we know not how.

AMEN

After the scoldings, snubs, lack of hospitality, and generally unfriendly behavior of the Archbishop of Canterbury toward members of the Episcopal Church in the US, the sermon by Dean Slee, which demonstrates such generosity of spirit toward us, was lovely to read.

H/T to Ann Fontaine at The Lead:

"FANTASTIC NEWS FROM BP"

From the Borowitz Report:

BP Develops Technology to Convert Lies into Energy

‘Totally Renewable Resource,’ Says CEO

Read all about the new discovery at Borowitz's website.

SOW YOUR MUSTARD SEEDS

From the Daily Comet:

A few dozen people stood on a stretch of Grand Isle beach Sunday afternoon, hoping that what they were about to receive in their cupped hands would end the oil spill that has caused so much suffering and uncertainty.

Six volunteers put mustard seeds in their waiting hands, a visible reminder of the biblical tale recounted moments earlier by Jeff Dorson, executive director of the Humane Society of Louisiana. Each was asked to plant the seeds upon his or her return home.

In a parable found in the New Testament, Jesus told his disciples they could move mountains if they had the faith of a mustard seed. After repeated and failed attempts to cap the BP well responsible for the weeks-long spill that has polluted beaches, coated marshes and felled coastal wildlife, Dorson said he began to view prayer as the only way to save south Louisiana's economy and environment.

“Have this seed be your symbol, your truth, your power of prayer,” he told the crowd. “When this seed starts to grow, a miracle is going to happen.”

We feel helpless down here in south Louisiana. BP's response to cleaning up the mess they've made is slow and disorganized, and the oil gusher still gushes. Nor are we pleased with the response by the federal government, whose main thrust seems to be plead with BP to do more, faster. Richard Nixon's "pitiful helpless giant" metaphor comes to mind - again.

And then, there's this, also from the Daily Comet:

Arthur Eschete, owner of Sea-Go Seafood in Houma, is flying his flag upside down these days. On the open seas, he says, it’s a traditional way to signal to passing vessels that you’re in distress.

Like many others affected by the spill, Eschete can talk at length about his fears and stresses. There are worries grounded in everyday life, like how water closures linked to the Gulf oil spill affect his seafood business, finances and family.

But other things weigh on his mind too. He used to work in the oil-and-gas industry, and he fears what the ban will do to the local economy, and what a crippled economy will do to life on the bayou, where his family has lived for 250 years.

“No one knows where we’re at right now, and that’s the scary thing,” Eschete said. “I’m 65 years old, and this is the first time in our lifetime that me and my wife have no idea what’s going to be down the road in 2 to 3 years.

“I try to look at what could happen to turn it around, but all you have to do is go on the Internet and look at those dead birds and dead dolphins — how can we just bounce back to where it doesn’t devastate us for a decade? ... The future is very grim.”

Arthur's right. The future is very grim.

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

NO MITRE OR CROZIER FOR YOU, KATE!

Although Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams did not stop Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori from presiding and preaching at Southwark Cathedral this past Sunday, he would not permit her to wear her symbol of office, the mitre, and carry her crozier, because the Church of England does not yet allow women bishops.

As Hugh Muir says at the The Guardian:

A bit petty, some say, as Jefferts Schori is indeed a bishop and head of her national church – but in any event, she carried the mitre. And the subject for her sermon: God welcomes everyone, regardless of dress or condition.

Well yes! But what's even more distressing to read is the following:

And, with women clergy in the C of E looking forward to next month's vote in the general synod in York – which is expected finally to agree that women can become bishops here – word comes of a last-minute attempt to scupper the plans. And who is responsible for that? Step forward again, Williams, who with fellow archbishop John Sentamu is framing an amendment to put off yet again making any decision. Synod headed off their attempts to delay progress last year, but the archbishops are trying it on again. The world moves on but somehow time stands still. Welcome to the C of E.

Amazing! Well, not really. The plot to delay women bishops is right in line with the ABC's strategy to freeze frame the Church of England and the Anglican Communion. He'd like to hit the reverse button for the Episcopal Church in the US, but he doesn't have the power. Thank Goodness!

"TOUCHDOWN JESUS" DESTROYED BY LIGHTNING AND FIRE

From the Cincinnati Enquirer:

Lightning struck and ignited a fire late Monday that destroyed a 62-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms stretched toward the skies, according to Monroe police.

The only thing visible this morning is the charged frame of the structure.

“It burned to the ground. The whole statue is gone,” said Kim Peace, a police dispatcher.

The large “King of Kings” statue was a Butler County landmark since it was erected in 2004 outside Solid Rock Church, 904 N. Union Rd., along northbound Interstate 75 in Monroe just north of the Ohio 63 exit.
....

The sculpture stretches 40 feet wide at the base. It was made of plastic form and fiberglass over a steel frame. The frame is the only thing visible this morning.

According to the evangelical church's website, there are about 4,000 members. The church was founded by former horse trader Lawrence and Darlene Bishop of Middletown.

I'm pretty much speechless about this story. Maybe something will come to me later.

Thanks to Ann.

Top image from Wiki.

AS IF WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH TO WORRY ABOUT

From NOLA:

As if the Deepwater Horizon oil-well blowout wasn't enough to threaten Gulf Coast communities with oil, scientists with the Naval Research Laboratory at the Stennis Space Center say waves as tall as 91 feet and strong underwater currents generated by major hurricanes create massive forces that can wreak havoc on the more than 31,000 miles of pipelines connecting oil wells in the Gulf of Mexico to the coast.

"Major oil leaks from damaged pipelines could have irreversible impacts to the ocean environment," conclude the authors of a study of the underwater effects of Hurricane Ivan in 2004 published last week in Geophysical Research Letters, a journal of the American Geophysical Union.

The report is one of several scientific studies using data gathered during Ivan, which traveled across an array of underwater instruments the scientists had moored in several locations along the Gulf of Mexico shelf just south of the Alabama coastline to measure current flows.
....

"It's well known that pipelines are damaged by hurricanes," Teague said. "Statistics published by the Minerals Management Service after Hurricane Ivan stated that there were 168 pipeline damage reports. In Katrina, there were even more.

"The damage reports ranged from dented to kinked pipelines, to pipelines that were pulled apart and ruptured," he said. "The reports refer to pipelines that are buried or damage that is caused by underwater mudslides. Based on our research, they equate to a snow avalanche under water -- imagine a big mound of mud rolling toward you."

The scientists may have been surprised that the underwater currents remained strong for a week after a hurricane, but apparently they were not surprised that pipelines could be damaged during a hurricane. What will we do to protect the coastline and Gulf waters against damaged pipelines during and after a hurricane?

Imagine! 31,000 miles of pipelines in the Gulf of Mexico.

"...WE MOURN THE SUFFERING AND DESTRUCTION...."

Click on the images to enlarge.

LORD, HAVE MERCY
CHRIST, HAVE MERCY
LORD, HAVE MERCY

From i-church.

Thanks to Ann.

UPDATE: Oh my goodness! Go read the post and see the picture at Jesus in Love. Both picture and post are strong stuff.

STORY OF THE DAY - KNEES

 

These knees have stories, she said, but
they'd have to be a mouth to tell you.


Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes!!!!


From StoryPeople.

THE MORITORIUM WILL HURT LOUISIANA - BADLY

From NOLA:

With three shuttered oil rigs preparing to leave the Gulf of Mexico for foreign waters, Gov. Bobby Jindal ratcheted up the rhetoric Thursday against the Obama administration's moratorium on deepwater drilling, saying the White House still doesn't understand the economic pain the forced stoppage is causing Louisiana workers.

Jindal said he had a conference call with President Barack Obama's senior adviser, Valerie Jarrett, and appealed to her to shorten the six-month moratorium, arguing that a half-year pause would force oil companies to move drilling operations overseas for years and that the federal government could easily impose new safety standards and monitoring in a shorter time frame.

"She asked again why the rigs simply wouldn't come back after six months," Jindal said. "What worries me is I fear they think these rigs can just flip a switch on and off."

The economy of south Louisiana will take a bad hit from the six-month moritorium. Due to the oil gusher in the Gulf of Mexico, fishermen, shrimpers, seafood processors, marinas, bait shops, and other small businesses are already suffering. With the drilling moratorium, a good many more folks who work for oil companies, oil service companies, and marine construction companies will likely lose their jobs, perhaps as many as 38,000.

In addition, the state budget has a large hole in it, and with the additional job losses from the moratorium and oil business moving out, tax revenue will decline, and further lay-offs from state jobs are inevitable. Along with the ripple effect on other businesses, such as retail sales, car dealerships, etc, which will lose out because, those who are laid off will not have money to spend, the losses to our economy could be catastrophic.

I doubt that deepwater drilling can be made safe. It can be made safer than BP's operations, surely, because the company culture was to value production over safety, and we've discovered that over the years, BP cut many safety corners in the name of increasing production and profits. Even with the weakened regulations that the US was left with after Cheney and his oil company cronies loosened things up, BP broke several rules on the Horizon rig that, had they been followed, might have prevented the explosion.

That Louisiana has not diversified and is so very dependent on a single industry, the oil and gas companies and the oil service companies is our own doing, and we should have gone in a different direction, but we didn't, and now here we are. Remember that we do not use all the oil and gas produced here in Louisiana. The bulk is shipped out to keep other parts of the country humming. We have not kicked our addiction to oil, so what we don't get from our own wells in the US or US waters, we will need to buy elsewhere. Jobs will go elsewhere.

Since I'm nearly as distrustful of government agencies as I am of large corporations, I wonder whether the agencies will achieve the goal of actually making deepwater drilling safer. If we must suffer here in Louisiana, I want us, at least, to suffer for a good cause, and I'm not sure that the end result will be safer drilling.

As a country, we are not yet serious about conservation of energy. We are not yet serious about weaning ourselves off our dependence on oil and other polluting and declining sources of energy, nor are we serious about finding alternative, clean sources of energy. And Louisiana must get in on the action of developing and producing clean energy, because when the oil and gas run out, we'll be in an even sorrier state than we are now.