Saturday, February 21, 2009
Roseann Is Home!
You can talk to Roseann at her blog now. She is so glad to be home, and she's quite emotional, which is understandable, and I have to say that I am, too. Please continue to pray for her and for her husband who has much to do as he works two jobs and takes care of things at home, too. Roseann can't do much now. I am so happy for her!
In A Desperate Search For Redemption
One dark night in the small town of Garfield , NJ, a fire started inside the local sausage factory. In a blink the building was engulfed in flames. The alarm went out to all the fire departments for miles around.
When the first volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the sausage company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All of our secret sausage recipes are in the vault in the center of the plant. They have to be saved, so I will donate $50,000 to the fire company that brings them out and delivers them to me."
But the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in because the situation became desperate. As the firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer to extricate the secret recipes was now $100,000 to the fire department that could save them.
Suddenly from up the road, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the fire engine of the nearby Lodi , NJ volunteer fire department composed mainly of Italian firefighters over the age of 65.
To everyone 's amazement, the little run-down fire engine, operated by these Italian firefighters, passed the fire engines parked outside the plant and drove straight into the middle of the inferno. Outside, the other firemen watched in amazement as the Italian old timers jumped off and began to fight the fire as if they were fighting to save their own lives.
Within a short time, the Lodi old timers had extinguished the fire and saved the secret recipes.
The grateful sausage company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman accomplishment he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to pe rsonally thank each of the brave elderly Italian firefighters.
A TV news crew rushed in after capturing the event on film. The 'on camera' reporter asked the Italian fire chief, "What are you going to do with all that money?"
"Wella," said Chief Pasquale De Luccine, the 70-year-old fire chief, "de fursta tinga we gonnna do isza fixa de brakes on dat a soma a bich."
Or does Doug just dig himself deeper into a hole with this one?
When the first volunteer fire fighters appeared on the scene, the sausage company president rushed to the fire chief and said, "All of our secret sausage recipes are in the vault in the center of the plant. They have to be saved, so I will donate $50,000 to the fire company that brings them out and delivers them to me."
But the roaring flames held the firefighters off. Soon more fire departments had to be called in because the situation became desperate. As the firemen arrived, the president shouted out that the offer to extricate the secret recipes was now $100,000 to the fire department that could save them.
Suddenly from up the road, a lone siren was heard as another fire truck came into sight. It was the fire engine of the nearby Lodi , NJ volunteer fire department composed mainly of Italian firefighters over the age of 65.
To everyone 's amazement, the little run-down fire engine, operated by these Italian firefighters, passed the fire engines parked outside the plant and drove straight into the middle of the inferno. Outside, the other firemen watched in amazement as the Italian old timers jumped off and began to fight the fire as if they were fighting to save their own lives.
Within a short time, the Lodi old timers had extinguished the fire and saved the secret recipes.
The grateful sausage company president joyfully announced that for such a superhuman accomplishment he was upping the reward to $200,000, and walked over to pe rsonally thank each of the brave elderly Italian firefighters.
A TV news crew rushed in after capturing the event on film. The 'on camera' reporter asked the Italian fire chief, "What are you going to do with all that money?"
"Wella," said Chief Pasquale De Luccine, the 70-year-old fire chief, "de fursta tinga we gonnna do isza fixa de brakes on dat a soma a bich."
Or does Doug just dig himself deeper into a hole with this one?
Notes On A Lovely Book
Glory had often reflected on the fact that Boughtons looked very much like one another. Hope was the acknowledged beauty of the family, which is to say the Boughton nose and the Boughton brow were less pronounced in her case. All the rest of them male and female, were, their mother said, handsome. They all passed from cherubic infancy to unremarkable childhood to gangling youth to that adult state of Boughtonhood their mother soothed or praised with talk of character and distinction, Hope being the one exception. So adolescence was a matter of watching unremarkable features drift off axis very slightly, of watching the nose knuckle just a little and the jaw go just a little bit out of square. So Glory's face had transformed itself in its inevitable turn. She remembered her alarm.
From Home, a novel, by Marilynne Robinson. When I began to read the book, I anticipated a pleasurable experience, because I'd read Gilead, by Robinson, a beautifully written story, with characters so alive that they become people whom you care about in the course of reading the book and even afterward. Characters in Gilead reappear in Home. On Bishop Alan's Blog, he and I discussed Gilead in his comments, and he said, "I thought Gilead was one of the most beautiful novels I've ever read — clear simple and profound..." I agree, and I'd say the same about Home. The girls in the family are named Glory, Hope, Faith, and Grace. If I remember correctly, the Reverend Boughton considered Charity for one of the girls, but his wife drew the line.
Home is the story of two siblings, of eight, who return to the family home in a small town in Iowa, where their father, a retired minister, who is old and ill, still lives. One, Glory, goes to help her father after a period of adversity in her own life, and her brother, Jack, returns out of desperation. It's a story of faith, of father, daughter, and son, with all the accompanying missteps, doubts, and hesitations. Biblical references and quotes abound, but not in a beat-you-over-the-head manner. They appear naturally, in the course of conversations, en passant. Many of the references are permeated with irony as Jack, the black sheep of the family, speaks them.
About Glory:
For her, church was an airy white room with tall windows looking out on God's good world, with God's good sunlight pouring in through those windows and falling across the pulpit where her father stood, straight and strong, parsing the broken heart of humankind and praising the loving heart of Christ. That was church.
The church could be a description of my church, except that the sunlight does not fall across the pulpit.
A conversation between Glory and Jack:
"...You're worried about seeing Ames tonight at dinner."
"Yes, well, it seems I've done as much as one man could do to make the experience embarrassing."
"Nonsense. Really. If he did see you on the street, what of it?"
"Good point, Glory. Perspective. Just what is called for here. Would he have noticed my discomfort with myself from that distance? Well, so what? A law-abiding citizen has a perfect right to feel wretched on a public sidewalk, on a Sabbath morning. Even to pause as he does so. Near a church, too. There's poetry in it, of a sort."
The father is a giant of a man, shrunken by age and illness, but still a force in the lives of his children. Jack, the black sheep of the family, is one of the most endearing and heartbreaking fictional characters that I've come across in quite a while. He lingers with me and, I suspect, he will continue with me for a long time.
There's no way that I can do justice to the book with my words. I was moved to tears more than once by the story but also by the beauty of the prose. I'd go back to read the lovely words again, and I'd weep. I urge you to read it and see for yourself. And then, if you haven't read Gilead, go read it, too. I get no commission from sales.
UPDATE: Listen to or read about the NPR interview with Marilynne Robinson.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Psychiatric Dinner
A noted psychiatrist was a guest speaker at a dinner where George W. Bush, the recent president, was the honorary chairman. In introducing the psychiatrist, Bush took the opportunity to ask him a question with which the psychiatrist would be at ease.
"Would you mind telling us, doctor," he asked, "how you detect a subtle mental problem or deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?"
"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask a simple question that anyone should be able to answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the track."
"But how do you know that the person should even know something about that subject?" asked Bush.
"Let me give you an example. There are questions that everybody can answer. For instance, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'"
Bush thought a moment, and then laughed. "Well, everybody knows from my presidency that I don't know much about history. You wouldn't happen to have another question, would you?"
Has Doug redeemed himself after the Chinese joke?
"Would you mind telling us, doctor," he asked, "how you detect a subtle mental problem or deficiency in somebody who appears completely normal?"
"Nothing is easier," he replied. "You ask a simple question that anyone should be able to answer with no trouble. If the person hesitates, that puts you on the track."
"But how do you know that the person should even know something about that subject?" asked Bush.
"Let me give you an example. There are questions that everybody can answer. For instance, 'Captain Cook made three trips around the world and died during one of them. Which one?'"
Bush thought a moment, and then laughed. "Well, everybody knows from my presidency that I don't know much about history. You wouldn't happen to have another question, would you?"
Has Doug redeemed himself after the Chinese joke?
Can This Be A Good Thing?
From the Episcopal Café:
If this is true, I pray that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't come to try to exercise influence at GC. If he comes to listen, and learn, and observe how the General Convention of the Episcopal Church works, that could be all right. I'm always a bit nervous about the ABC - more than a bit, really. I hope for the best, but I fear the worst.
H/T to Ann.
UPDATE: A reminder to all from Susan Russell at An Inch At A Time:
(Book of Common Prayer, page 10 in the Preface)
We have heard from a pair of well-placed and unrelated sources that Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, may be coming to the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Anaheim in July. These reports are still unconfirmed, but details from the two sources are similar. They suggest the ABC would arrive on the first or second day of the convention, possibly participate in some sort of forum about the world economic situation, offer a meditation at the daily Eucharist on the third day of convention and then depart. A number of other Primates are invited as well. We will keep you posted.
If this is true, I pray that the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn't come to try to exercise influence at GC. If he comes to listen, and learn, and observe how the General Convention of the Episcopal Church works, that could be all right. I'm always a bit nervous about the ABC - more than a bit, really. I hope for the best, but I fear the worst.
H/T to Ann.
UPDATE: A reminder to all from Susan Russell at An Inch At A Time:
(Book of Common Prayer, page 10 in the Preface)
... when in the course of Divine Providence, these American States became independent with respect to civil government, their ecclesiastical independence was necessarily included; and the different religious denominations of Christians in these States were left at full and equal liberty to model and organize their respective Churches, and forms of worship, and discipline, in such manner as they might judge most convenient for their future prosperity; consistently with the constitution and laws of their country.
GOOD NEWS FROM ROSEANN!
Dear Mimi,
There is good news from Arkansas this morning!
Roseann's MRI results are in, and there is NO BREAK! She suffered a very bad bruise, and is being treated with some pain meds and Attavan for the anxiety. She ate some dinner last night and following dialysis this morning she will go home.
There will be a breast biopsy done in March, but that was expected.
She is greatly relieved, and Thanks the entire OCICBW blog Community for the prayers and good wishes sent for her and Gary.
You folks are simply awesome!!
Blessings to you all.
Sue
Disregard the previous message about sending cards to Roseann at the hospital. I don't know what to say, but, "Thanks be to God, and thanks to all who prayed or sent good thoughts flying her way." Otherwise, I'm dumbfounded but very happy for Roseann.
There is good news from Arkansas this morning!
Roseann's MRI results are in, and there is NO BREAK! She suffered a very bad bruise, and is being treated with some pain meds and Attavan for the anxiety. She ate some dinner last night and following dialysis this morning she will go home.
There will be a breast biopsy done in March, but that was expected.
She is greatly relieved, and Thanks the entire OCICBW blog Community for the prayers and good wishes sent for her and Gary.
You folks are simply awesome!!
Blessings to you all.
Sue
Disregard the previous message about sending cards to Roseann at the hospital. I don't know what to say, but, "Thanks be to God, and thanks to all who prayed or sent good thoughts flying her way." Otherwise, I'm dumbfounded but very happy for Roseann.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A Prayer For Rich And Poor
From The Lead at the Episcopal Café:
We also pray that while the so-called ‘perfect storm’ rages on, the spirit of Ubuntu will prevail. You have taught us that true religion is to care for the widows and the orphans and all who are weak, vulnerable and in distress; who eke out a precarious living and barely survive. Through these crises you have focused attention on their plight by, in a strange way, threatening the complacency of those who have lived in comfort and by and large ignored the plight of the man, woman and child “who has fallen by the wayside”. As in the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’, they have passed by on the other side when children slept hungry, fed from rubbish heaps or died of malaria. Occasionally they have thrown a few alms in the form of aid, but without thinking deeply about the consequences of their actions or inactions. Often, they have hardly bothered to know how much of what they have given reaches the intended beneficiaries, which in the donor world, has become “holy ground”.
Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, former Anglican Archbishop of Capetown
South Africa has enriched the Anglican Communion with the gift of two godly men, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Archbishop Ndungane.
Read the entire prayer at the link above.
We also pray that while the so-called ‘perfect storm’ rages on, the spirit of Ubuntu will prevail. You have taught us that true religion is to care for the widows and the orphans and all who are weak, vulnerable and in distress; who eke out a precarious living and barely survive. Through these crises you have focused attention on their plight by, in a strange way, threatening the complacency of those who have lived in comfort and by and large ignored the plight of the man, woman and child “who has fallen by the wayside”. As in the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’, they have passed by on the other side when children slept hungry, fed from rubbish heaps or died of malaria. Occasionally they have thrown a few alms in the form of aid, but without thinking deeply about the consequences of their actions or inactions. Often, they have hardly bothered to know how much of what they have given reaches the intended beneficiaries, which in the donor world, has become “holy ground”.
Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane, former Anglican Archbishop of Capetown
South Africa has enriched the Anglican Communion with the gift of two godly men, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Archbishop Ndungane.
Read the entire prayer at the link above.
The Chinese Dinner
A couple decides to go out to eat at a Chinese restaurant. After looking over the menu, they both decide to order Mandarin Duck, the chef's special.
A short time later, the waiter brings their meal on a covered dish. As the wife reaches for the lid, it rises up a few inches. She can see two little eyes looking out at her before the lid slams down.
Startled, she asks her husband if he had seen the eyes. Just then, the lid rises up again, revealing the same pair of eyes before slamming down again.
Perturbed, the couple calls over the waiter and explains what has happened.
"I solly," says the waiter, "I make mistake . I brought you Peeking Duck."
Don't blame me. Blame Doug.
A short time later, the waiter brings their meal on a covered dish. As the wife reaches for the lid, it rises up a few inches. She can see two little eyes looking out at her before the lid slams down.
Startled, she asks her husband if he had seen the eyes. Just then, the lid rises up again, revealing the same pair of eyes before slamming down again.
Perturbed, the couple calls over the waiter and explains what has happened.
"I solly," says the waiter, "I make mistake . I brought you Peeking Duck."
Don't blame me. Blame Doug.
Roseann - Latest News
Dear Mimi,
I just had a very quick chat with Roseann. She is in a great deal of bone pain, but had an MRI today, and pending the results of the MRI will determine if she has pins put into her hip or not.
She really couldn't talk very long because of the pain and the nurses had just given her a pain medication.
She asked me to pass along the latest news.
Blessings.
Sue
Keep the prayers, emails, and now cards going, folks. Let's try to pray Roseann well and cheer her up.
Sue, thank you for keeping us posted.
I just had a very quick chat with Roseann. She is in a great deal of bone pain, but had an MRI today, and pending the results of the MRI will determine if she has pins put into her hip or not.
She really couldn't talk very long because of the pain and the nurses had just given her a pain medication.
She asked me to pass along the latest news.
Blessings.
Sue
Keep the prayers, emails, and now cards going, folks. Let's try to pray Roseann well and cheer her up.
Sue, thank you for keeping us posted.
Fred And Shirley Phelps Banned From UK
From the Guardian:
Pastor Fred Phelps, of Topeka, Kansas, with placards protesting against homosexuality outside court in Laramie, Wyoming, at the 1999 trial of a man accused of killing a gay student.
A homophobic American cleric who runs a website called God Hates Fags and was allegedly planning to picket a play showing in the UK has been banned from Britain by the home secretary, Jacqui Smith.
Fred Phelps had vowed to come to Britain with his daughter, Shirley, to picket a school play in Basingstoke, Hampshire, that promotes tolerance for gay people. The play, The Laramie Project, depicts the murder of a homosexual teenager, Matthew Shepard, in the Wyoming town in 1998. It will be staged tomorrow evening at Queen Mary's College.
Phelps, who runs the Primitive Baptist Westboro church in Topeka, Kansas – most of whose congregation are members of his family, including his 13 children – has bought a plot of land in Laramie where he plans to build a memorial celebrating the murder, despite local opposition.
....
A posting on Phelps's companion website God Hates the World this week stated: "God hates England. Your Queen is a whore. You're going to hell."
Good for the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. I wish we could expel Fred and Shirley to another country.
H/T to Lapin.
Pastor Fred Phelps, of Topeka, Kansas, with placards protesting against homosexuality outside court in Laramie, Wyoming, at the 1999 trial of a man accused of killing a gay student.
A homophobic American cleric who runs a website called God Hates Fags and was allegedly planning to picket a play showing in the UK has been banned from Britain by the home secretary, Jacqui Smith.
Fred Phelps had vowed to come to Britain with his daughter, Shirley, to picket a school play in Basingstoke, Hampshire, that promotes tolerance for gay people. The play, The Laramie Project, depicts the murder of a homosexual teenager, Matthew Shepard, in the Wyoming town in 1998. It will be staged tomorrow evening at Queen Mary's College.
Phelps, who runs the Primitive Baptist Westboro church in Topeka, Kansas – most of whose congregation are members of his family, including his 13 children – has bought a plot of land in Laramie where he plans to build a memorial celebrating the murder, despite local opposition.
....
A posting on Phelps's companion website God Hates the World this week stated: "God hates England. Your Queen is a whore. You're going to hell."
Good for the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. I wish we could expel Fred and Shirley to another country.
H/T to Lapin.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)