Sarum Primer, 1527:
God be in my head and in my understanding.
God be in mine eyes and in my looking.
God be in my mouth and in my speaking.
God be in my heart and in my thinking.
God be at mine end and my departing.
The observations (and ramblings) of a Real Person searching for the Real God in the Real World.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Book Review
Saving God's Green Earth, by Tri Robinson.
Robinson is a pastor of a Vineyard church in Idaho, and is at the forefront of the “creation care” movement in evangelical circles. This book has some how-to information on being a good steward to the earth, but mostly focuses on Robinson’s own journey towards becoming seeing care for nature as not only the province of the extreme left.
There is a generational shift on this issue happening in the evangelical world, and younger leadership emerges in the movement. There is interesting stuff behind this shift in theology, from sociology to life experiences to politics, some of which Robinson touches on.
Robinson is a pastor of a Vineyard church in Idaho, and is at the forefront of the “creation care” movement in evangelical circles. This book has some how-to information on being a good steward to the earth, but mostly focuses on Robinson’s own journey towards becoming seeing care for nature as not only the province of the extreme left.
There is a generational shift on this issue happening in the evangelical world, and younger leadership emerges in the movement. There is interesting stuff behind this shift in theology, from sociology to life experiences to politics, some of which Robinson touches on.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Just God
From the diary of Vincent Pallotti, a 19th Century theologian and pastor, a praryer I'd like to make my own:
Not the intellect, but God.
Not the will, but God.
Not the soul, but God.
Not the goods of the world, but God.
Not riches, but God.
Not honors, but God.
Not distinction, but God.
Not dignities, but God.
Not advancement, but God.
God always and in everything.
Not the intellect, but God.
Not the will, but God.
Not the soul, but God.
Not the goods of the world, but God.
Not riches, but God.
Not honors, but God.
Not distinction, but God.
Not dignities, but God.
Not advancement, but God.
God always and in everything.
Sunday, January 27, 2008
Why I Read the Church Fathers
Scott Cairns wrote the following in an introduction to Athanasius' Life of Antony. He says more effectively than I could ever do how I have come to feel about the leaders of the early church and the writings they've left behind:
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... C.S. Lewis makes the claim that our continued attention to the "old books" is absolutely necessary if we are to avoid the hubris of thinking that our contemporary views are without error. It is not so much that the old authors didn't also make mistakes, Lewis notes, as it is that their mistakes are not our mistakes; without having recourse to "the old books," we become blind to our own disabling premises.
-----------------------------
... C.S. Lewis makes the claim that our continued attention to the "old books" is absolutely necessary if we are to avoid the hubris of thinking that our contemporary views are without error. It is not so much that the old authors didn't also make mistakes, Lewis notes, as it is that their mistakes are not our mistakes; without having recourse to "the old books," we become blind to our own disabling premises.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
To the Father of Monks
Today is the feast day of St. Anthony of Egypt, one of the "Desert Fathers" of the church. In 271, at the age of 20, Anthony took seriously Jesus' words regarding the selling of possessions. Anthony gave all his wealth to the poor and moved to the desert to live the ascetic life of a monk, but was continually sought out by pilgrims for spiritual direction and advice.
In the early 300s, Anthony created a loosely-organized group of cells, which can be considered the world's first monastery. The story of Anthony's life (compiled by St. Athanasius in about 370) greatly influenced St. Augustine, who was only 2 when Anthony died. Augustine went on to serve the church greatly and leave many of his own writings behind, including his "Rule" for monastic life, written in 400, which led to great growth and vitality of the monastic vocation within the church over the next thousand years.
In 311, in a renewed time of persecution, Anthony moved about ALexandria preaching and teaching, willing to accept the grace of martyrdom should it come his way. His life was spared, and he continued as a church leader, active in the fight against the Arian heresy, which denied the deity of Christ and thus the Trinity. At this point, Anthony was nearly 90. He died at 105.
In the early 300s, Anthony created a loosely-organized group of cells, which can be considered the world's first monastery. The story of Anthony's life (compiled by St. Athanasius in about 370) greatly influenced St. Augustine, who was only 2 when Anthony died. Augustine went on to serve the church greatly and leave many of his own writings behind, including his "Rule" for monastic life, written in 400, which led to great growth and vitality of the monastic vocation within the church over the next thousand years.
In 311, in a renewed time of persecution, Anthony moved about ALexandria preaching and teaching, willing to accept the grace of martyrdom should it come his way. His life was spared, and he continued as a church leader, active in the fight against the Arian heresy, which denied the deity of Christ and thus the Trinity. At this point, Anthony was nearly 90. He died at 105.
Monday, January 07, 2008
from the venerable Bede
A hymn of glory let us sing,
new hymns throughout the world shall ring;
by a new way none ever trod
Christ takes his place: the throne of God!
You are a present joy, O Lord;
you will be ever our reward;
and great the light in you we see
to guide us to eternity.
O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
all praise to you let earth accord,
who are, while endless ages run,
with Father and with Spirit, One.
new hymns throughout the world shall ring;
by a new way none ever trod
Christ takes his place: the throne of God!
You are a present joy, O Lord;
you will be ever our reward;
and great the light in you we see
to guide us to eternity.
O risen Christ, ascended Lord,
all praise to you let earth accord,
who are, while endless ages run,
with Father and with Spirit, One.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
For the Holy Innocents
This is from a sermon by Quodvultdeus, Bishop of Cathage, on those slaughtered by Herod, who in some ways were the very first little martyrs to the faith.
"They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their little limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the palm of victory."
"They cannot speak, yet they bear witness to Christ. They cannot use their little limbs to engage in battle, yet already they bear off the palm of victory."
Sunday, December 23, 2007
Mary the Dawn
I love Mary, and my feelings for her lie somewhere between the extremes expressed by some of my Catholic friends and by too many of my Protestant friends. This devotion (from the Dominican Sisters of Summit) I think rightly navigates the extremes, presenting Mary's right position as the great herald of her Son.
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Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God’s adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son
By all things blessed while endless ages run.
-----------------------------------------------------
Mary the dawn, Christ the Perfect Day;
Mary the gate, Christ the Heavenly Way!
Mary the root, Christ the Mystic Vine;
Mary the grape, Christ the Sacred Wine!
Mary the wheat, Christ the Living Bread;
Mary the stem, Christ the Rose blood-red!
Mary the font, Christ the Cleansing Flood;
Mary the cup, Christ the Saving Blood!
Mary the temple, Christ the temple’s Lord;
Mary the shrine, Christ the God’s adored!
Mary the beacon, Christ the Haven’s Rest;
Mary the mirror, Christ the Vision Blest!
Mary the mother, Christ the mother’s Son
By all things blessed while endless ages run.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Movie Review
Bella (2007), PG-13. Producers include Stephen McEveety, a producer on The Passion of the Christ.
Tag line from the poster: "True love goes beyond romance"
A tragedy ends the career of an up-and-coming soccer star Jose' (Eduardo Verástegui) on the way to sign his million-dollar contract. Years later, working in his brother’s restaurant, Jose' and waitress Nina (Tammy Blanchard) discovers something that Nina is unprepared for. An impetuous act by Jose brings them together during an extraordinary day. Nina is facing a tough decision and when Jose' shares a tragedy that changed his life and how his family helped him cope, Nina also transforms.
Bella is strongly pro-family and pro-life, but both in such subtle and organic ways that there is never a hint of the film being pushy.
And I dare you to not weep at the ending.
Tag line from the poster: "True love goes beyond romance"
A tragedy ends the career of an up-and-coming soccer star Jose' (Eduardo Verástegui) on the way to sign his million-dollar contract. Years later, working in his brother’s restaurant, Jose' and waitress Nina (Tammy Blanchard) discovers something that Nina is unprepared for. An impetuous act by Jose brings them together during an extraordinary day. Nina is facing a tough decision and when Jose' shares a tragedy that changed his life and how his family helped him cope, Nina also transforms.
Bella is strongly pro-family and pro-life, but both in such subtle and organic ways that there is never a hint of the film being pushy.
And I dare you to not weep at the ending.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
A hymn for the season
By Josiah Holland
----------------------------
There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer and a baby's slow cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
There's a tumult of joy over the wonderful birth,
For the Virgin's sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! The star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing,
And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!
----------------------------
There's a song in the air! There's a star in the sky!
There's a mother's deep prayer and a baby's slow cry!
And the star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
There's a tumult of joy over the wonderful birth,
For the Virgin's sweet boy is the Lord of the earth.
Ay! The star rains its fire while the beautiful sing,
For the manger of Bethlehem cradles a King!
In the light of that star lie the ages impearled;
And that song from afar has swept over the world.
Every hearth is aflame, and the beautiful sing,
And we greet in His cradle our Savior and King!
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