Thursday, August 31, 2017
Wednesday, August 30, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
News from an Acquaintance
St Thomas Episcopal Church in Houston pic.twitter.com/w9XD5Ckdz2— Hugh Hewitt (@hughhewitt) August 29, 2017
Unpopular Thoughts
When a colleague in the church or academia begins a statement with, "Speaking as a (fill-in-the-blank identity group)..." , I stop listening. Narcissistic neo-Marxist drivel is boring.
I've never seen even a minute of Game of Thrones. I have no interest in it at all.
I have discovered that my biggest peeve is when people speak to one another over the organ prelude before a liturgy begins. The organist has practiced a complicated piece designed to facilitate the moments of meditation before engaging in the holy mysteries, and they're loudly conversing as if he's making noxious noise designed to prevent them from talking about whatever nonsense they find urgent. Often, they're surrounded by people trying to pray.
Politicians, when speaking about peace, please don't refer to Nelson Mandela in the same breath as Gandhi or MLK, Jr. Mandela deliberately rejected non-violence.
I think those kids are on my lawn, again. I have to go yell at them.
I've never seen even a minute of Game of Thrones. I have no interest in it at all.
I have discovered that my biggest peeve is when people speak to one another over the organ prelude before a liturgy begins. The organist has practiced a complicated piece designed to facilitate the moments of meditation before engaging in the holy mysteries, and they're loudly conversing as if he's making noxious noise designed to prevent them from talking about whatever nonsense they find urgent. Often, they're surrounded by people trying to pray.
Politicians, when speaking about peace, please don't refer to Nelson Mandela in the same breath as Gandhi or MLK, Jr. Mandela deliberately rejected non-violence.
I think those kids are on my lawn, again. I have to go yell at them.
Monday, August 28, 2017
"THE CHURCH'S WAY OF SPEAKING"
In dominico eloquio—it is an arresting phrase. For the Christian reader Isaiah is a demanding and difficult book once one strays beyond the familiar passages cited in the New Testament or commonly read in Christian worship (Isaiah 9 at Christmas, Isaiah 53 during Holy Week). To the uninitiated, the first chapter is particularly daunting with its arcane oracles against Judah and Jerusalem: “Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, offspring of evildoers, sons who deal corruptly. They have forsaken the Lord, they have despised the Holy One of Israel.”
For someone like Augustine, formed by the poetry of Virgil and the philosophy of Plotinus, the opening verses must have seemed embarrassingly parochial, taken up as they are with the fortunes of the ancient Israelites centuries earlier. Words such as “sinful nation,” “holy one of Israel,” “daughter of Zion,” “new moon and Sabbath” would have sounded alien, and anthropomorphisms like “I will vent my wrath on my enemies” or “turn my hand against you” would have offended his cultivated spiritual sensibility.
Yet Augustine called Isaiah’s language “the Lord’s style of language,” and he recognized that if he were to enter the Church he would have to learn this new tongue, hear it spoken, grow accustomed to its sounds, read the books that use it, learn its idioms, and finally speak it himself. He had to embark on a journey to acquaint himself with the mores of a new country. Becoming a Christian meant entering a strange and often alien world.
For someone like Augustine, formed by the poetry of Virgil and the philosophy of Plotinus, the opening verses must have seemed embarrassingly parochial, taken up as they are with the fortunes of the ancient Israelites centuries earlier. Words such as “sinful nation,” “holy one of Israel,” “daughter of Zion,” “new moon and Sabbath” would have sounded alien, and anthropomorphisms like “I will vent my wrath on my enemies” or “turn my hand against you” would have offended his cultivated spiritual sensibility.
Yet Augustine called Isaiah’s language “the Lord’s style of language,” and he recognized that if he were to enter the Church he would have to learn this new tongue, hear it spoken, grow accustomed to its sounds, read the books that use it, learn its idioms, and finally speak it himself. He had to embark on a journey to acquaint himself with the mores of a new country. Becoming a Christian meant entering a strange and often alien world.
Welcome to the Machine, Kid
You will be made to care about things that are important to your masters.
California first-grader sent to principal’s office for misgendering classmate
When, exactly, did schools become child abuse factories? Were I this child's father, I would drink the principal's hot blood.
California first-grader sent to principal’s office for misgendering classmate
When, exactly, did schools become child abuse factories? Were I this child's father, I would drink the principal's hot blood.
"The decline in religious faith means that many people, both skeptics and vacillators, begin to repudiate their cultural inheritance"— Roger Scruton Quotes (@Scruton_Quotes) August 23, 2017
Sunday, August 27, 2017
A Study in Contrasts
Right now on the live news feed from two portions of the United States there are young people in action.
In Houston, young people are defying authorities to risk their lives to rescue their neighbors and their neighbors' pets from the flooding.
In Berkeley, young people are burning somebody's business to battle "fascism". Oh, and beating a guy with clubs.
In Houston, young people are defying authorities to risk their lives to rescue their neighbors and their neighbors' pets from the flooding.
In Berkeley, young people are burning somebody's business to battle "fascism". Oh, and beating a guy with clubs.
Alliances Unholy and Holy
Chicago murder on the steps of a church tests the faithful
Gangs and Politicians in Chicago: An Unholy Alliance
Chicago is a war zone on the South and West sides, and Mayor Rahm Emanuel has no answers for the gangs that spread terror. The politicians would rather Chicago focus on some easy outrage, like a ginned up controversy over a monument to a dead Italian fascist.In case you're wondering how this can be, read this:
And with so much other news, there's a danger that what happened on those 10 gray church steps in the Austin neighborhood are passed over. But it shouldn't be passed over. Not the blood, and not the church coming together in defiance of evil.
Gangs and Politicians in Chicago: An Unholy Alliance
Saturday, August 26, 2017
We Have a Jesus Sighting!
It's been awhile.
Couple Says They See ‘Jesus’ In Sonogram Looking At Baby
Honestly, if I had a nickel for every parent who thought their kid was Jesus....
Couple Says They See ‘Jesus’ In Sonogram Looking At Baby
Honestly, if I had a nickel for every parent who thought their kid was Jesus....
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