The Thing Is, Joan, God Really Was One Of Us

And we treated him rather roughly, too.  Still, it has enabled grace, so even our base nature cannot remove that love.  Remarkable, isn't it?

This Actually Happened To Me Once

Veteran Claims He Was Locked Inside VA Clinic By Himself For Hours

Although it wasn't at a health care facility, but at an Episcopal high school in suburban D.C.  This was many years ago and I was there for a job interview.  The two chaplains who were interviewing me got into an argument with one another and left me in the office, off to resolve their disagreement elsewhere.  It must have been some resolution, as they never returned and the maintenance staff locked me in the chapel.  I called for a cab from the chaplain's office [cellular phones were not yet affordable, portable, or ubiquitous] and actually climbed out a sacristy window to leave the building so as not to set off the alarm.  [I didn't get the job.  Yeah, that was a real heart-breaker.]

Two days later, some squirrely administrator called me in Massachusetts to apologize.  Apparently, they had finally realized that I had disappeared.

Hilariously, the more bellicose of the two chaplains is now a bishop.  The church is in the very best of hands.

"Presbyterian Church Slams Israel, Ignores Christian Persecution"

Well, that's a provocative headline, isn't it?

From the Israel News:

It should trouble all people of conscience and morality because it’s so disgraceful. You know, you look at what’s happening in the Middle East and I think most Americans understand this, they see this enormous area riveted by religious hatred, by savagery of unimaginable proportions. Then you come to Israel and you see the one democracy that upholds basic human rights, that guards the rights of all minorities, that protects Christians—Christians are persecuted throughout the Middle East. So most Americans understand that Israel is a beacon of civilization and moderation. You know I would suggest to these Presbyterian organizations to fly to the Middle East, come and see Israel for the embattled democracy that it is, and then take a bus tour, go to Libya, go to Syria, go to Iraq, and see the difference. And I would give them two pieces of advice, one is, make sure it’s an armor plated bus, and second, don’t say that you’re Christians.

He's got a point.  This is an interesting issue, as all of the mainstream Protestant churches are currently lead by those whose social agenda was crystallized in the 1980's and who are not making the transition to the very different world of the 21st century with any sort of ease.  The official statements coming from this leadership represent a museum-quality world view and one that continues the disheartening trend of reducing the socio-political appeal of Protestantism to an aging and shrinking minority.

Bonhoeffer #4

Banzai Pipeline, Oahu

A Fond Memory: This Song Was Playing On Someone's Car Radio As They Drove Down Duval Street, Moments After I Proposed To My Wife

I Cannot Tell You How History-Shattering These Events Are

Mosul's Christian martyrs, and the modern world's insularity epidemic

It was a Christian family from Mosul who supported me in the early days of my ordained service and I owe them for all subsequent professional experiences.  They also showed me a form of Christianity far deeper and more open-minded than the WASP-dominated Episcopal Church of the 1980's.  In an age such as ours, infused with ill-nature and willful ignorance of Christianity, this causes me, in quiet, un-guarded moments, more distress than I'm generally willing to admit.

Kierkegaard #4

Government As "Mom"

The MP in question, Sarah Wallaston, “formerly a doctor and teacher,” is “now bringing a love of South Devon to Westminster.” And hoping to dictate your default portion size. The state, says Ms Wallaston, has “a duty to intervene” by telling you what it is you “don’t need” when buying drinks and snacks at the local cinema. Because you simply can’t be trusted near those sweet and shiny objects. At which point, I’m reminded of the Guardian’s Jill Filipovic, who also struggles with the concept of personal liberty and, specifically, with why “every socially conscious person” doesn’t agree with her. Being “socially conscious,” so defined, and therefore better than us, doesn’t seem to entail any reservation about spending, or indeed wasting, other people’s earnings on imposing state-dictated portion sizes. Or any reservation about embracing a condescending relationship with those of whom one is supposedly being conscious. Quite the opposite, in fact.

Young people tell me that they want nothing to do with "organized religion" as they prefer to make their own decisions, both moral and general.  Yet, they insist on electing politicians who desire nothing more than for government to have the same ubiquity and control in common life that they accuse the Church of having in the middle ages.

"Used To Be" = Irish Blues Rock From The '70's

Camus #4

It Appears That Nutrition Science Isn't Settled, Either

Are We Seeing the Cholesterol Myth in a Scientific Free-Fall?

France offers asylum to Mosul's Christians

(Reuters) - France said on Monday it was ready to welcome Christians from northern Iraq who have been told by the al Qaeda offshoot group now ruling the region to either convert to Islam, pay a religious levy or face death.

An Obituary Of Note

Sorry to hear that Captain Fun has died.  Real sorry to hear that he was younger than I.

Renowned surfer and surf cinematographer Sonny Miller died of a heart attack on Tuesday.

Over Forty Years Old; Still A Great Song

The Millennial Generation's Greatest Spiritual Fear? Bearing A Label.

I'm an organic-eating, energy-saving naturalist who composts and tree hugs in her spare time. I have a background in environmental law, lobbying, and field work. I believe in God; however, I do not call myself a Christian or a Jew or a member of any religion. I am merely someone who finds a spiritual connection to all humans and the environment.

Another characteristic?  Editing Christianity [but not calling it by its name, of course] into whatever is regarded as a pressing socio-political concern.

Roughing It Here For A Few Days, Then Three More Interviews And Back To Work

Above is Alexander Hall, a modest structure nestled behind the Presbyterian church.  I've seen many good performances here through the years, but I think my favorite was Iris DeMent's.

Don't know Iris?  Well, let's just say she can be a mighty antidote to some weedy string quartet that's decided to inflict their "interpretation" of the Brandenburg Concerto on the unsuspecting who have just surrendered twenty-five bucks to be so abused.

This Is Exaggerated, As That Is The Author's Style, But I've Had Similar Experiences

My wife refuses to sit with me at a concert when I'm in one of my moods.  Is it too much to ask that people put down their electronic nonsense during Wagner?  I mean, it's Wagner, for heaven's sake.

Over the course of my lifetime I have attended roughly a thousand classical music concerts. More often than I care to admit, trouble was a-brewing. You expect to get into it with drunks at a Stones or a Ramones concert, yet in a surprisingly large number of instances, I have crossed swords with aficionados of Liszt, Charpentier, even Rameau. Last year, the fat guy sitting next to me at the Metropolitan Opera suddenly opened up his iPad to check his email while the valkyries were belting out their signature number. I covered the gleaming device with my hand: “This is the Metropolitan Opera,” I said. “We don’t do that here.” He left at intermission. Several times I have yanked baseball caps off the heads of scruffy music lovers at Carnegie Hall. “This is Carnegie Hall,” I tell them. “We don’t do that here.” The de-cap-inated always look angry but are ultimately cowed by my harsh demeanor and never put their hats back on.

Although, at Tanglewood several years ago, I was seated in the tony section of the shed and managed, during a rather delicate piece of Mahler [I know!], to inhale a passing bug.  This caused me to choke and cough, a condition exacerbated by my attempts to suppress it.  The woman next to me, rather impatiently, thrust a lozenge before me and sniffed somewhat.  It turned out to be the wife of a one-time Massachusetts candidate for president.

Snubs to you, lady.  Because of that, I voted for the other guy.

Aquinas #4

Here's Where I've Been Hanging Out Today

I keep waiting to get thrown out, but no one seems to notice me.

I'd like my living room to look like this.  I wonder where I could get some massive tusks?

They've beaver, muskrat, and candied scorpions on the menu.  Seriously.  Don't get me started on the goat piece they put in the Bloody Marys.  I think I'll stick with the Gin Rickey, if you don't mind.