felix hominum

I'm quitting this gig and going to work for a tree farm

gonna be the new branch manager.

Ignatius the Ultimate Youth Pastor

via Donald

; sometimes satire is just too funny...

I emerged as the champion

of Sunday evening's speed air hockey tournament with the youth group, individual challenge final round.

I'm just sayin'...

But apart from air hockey, we did an interesting exercise in which we looked at the prayers we use during communion and asked two basic questions:  what do these prayers say about God, and what do these prayers say about us?  The way we pray often has much to tell us (and others) about who we think God is, and who we think we (individually and collectively) are. 

my annual Passover favourite: who let the Jews out?

For sale: Professional Goaltending Equipment

Barely used...

Call the Colorado Avalanche for details.

I'm writing to the embassy...

To:  The Anglican Church of Canada
Re:  Your "blog" Vision 2019

Sir:

I have received word that one of the comments under my care has been held "in moderation" for over 1 week.  In this time I have had no assurance that my comment "in moderation" has been properly cared for, nor has this comment been allowed (under the terms of the Silicone Valley Convention) to communicate with other comments in your Vision 2019 "blog".

This comment was sent in good faith on March 12, 2009.  The comment itself was unarmed, and was a member in good standing of the Anglican Church of Canada.  It was baptized and confirmed in the Diocese of Edmonton, and had served faithfully on two local internet parish councils.  While I understand that some care needs to be taken in assigning server space, I anticipate that the comment under consideration has felt excluded from the conversation, and will most likely need extensive pastoral counseling when and if it is ever released back into cyberspace.

I am therefore writing what is known in the business as a "Strongly Worded Letter" to the Queen, and expect that you will take the appropriate action.  If by chance you have permanently deleted my comment, or have somehow found it offensive, let me offer the following by way of replacement:

“I have been called both “fundamentalist” and “pietist” by unsympathetic readers, since they put me in an already-closed slot in their minds, to which they had relegated the use of the Bible. They did not read me carefully enough to be aware that my reading of the scriptural texts was post- and not pre- critical.”
The Politics of Jesus Revisited (1997) John Howard Yoder

I suspect that there are a number of people for whom the appearance of any opposition to SSB on biblical or theological grounds needs to be reduced to a charge of "fundamentalism/literalism", but that is simply not the case.  There is simply a failure to admit that one can hold such a view in a post-critical age.

Indeed, I have found that this episode has caused me such personal anguish that I must break my Lenten fast, and seek solace with a 1998 Pinot Noir.

Yours truly, etc

The democratic response to the atheist bus campaign

The agnostibus campaign has accomplished its purpose.  You can make your own bus sign here

This seems to be generating a burst of creativity all over the religious blogosphere.  I'll keep an eye on the top slogans out there, and maybe work on a few of my own.  I'll try to keep you posted.

Canadian Blog Awards round 2: the finalists

The initial round of voting has taken place in the 2008 Canadian Blog Awards, and in the second round you will have an opportunity to pick among the 5 finalists in each category. The final round of voting will take place over the next 7 days.

Here are the 5 finalists in the religious/philosophy category:

Bene Diction Blogs On
Dennis Gruending: Pulpit and Politics
Felix Hominum
Holy Experience
Whatever He Says

I keep up with Bene's blog on a fairly regular basis;  I find it pretty informative and there are a lot of good series of posts on a variety of topics related to faith/religion.  I'm not that familiar with the other ones.  Have a look at the selection of blogs out there and see what you think.
 

"Look, Your Holiness, one of the finalists is an Anglican!!"

"I'm telling you, Rowan, any blog with a Latin name is automatically Catholic"



The finalists in each category are announced by Centaurs:

photo: Joe Walker; Roman relief near Hieropolis

my blog's myers briggs personality type

According to the Typealyzer, my blog reveals the personality of its author as:

INFP

The meaning-seeking and unconventional type. They are especially attuned to making sure their beliefs and actions are congruent. They often develop a passion for the arts or unusual forms of self-expression.

They enjoy work that are aligned to their deeply felt values and tend to strongly dislike the more practical and mundane forms of tasks. They can enjoy working alone for long periods of time and are happiest when they can immerse themselves in personally meaningful projects.

h/t to Scott and Ian

I'd post the picture they have of my brain when I'm writing, but that's too practical and mundane...

Failed Stewardship idea #17: "Ananias & Sapphira Sunday"

Acts 5:  But a man named Ananias, with the consent of his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property;  with his wife’s knowledge, he kept back some of the proceeds, and brought only a part and laid it at the apostles’ feet.  ‘Ananias,’ Peter asked, ‘why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back part of the proceeds of the land?  While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, were not the proceeds at your disposal? How is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You did not lie to us but to God!’  Now when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and died. And great fear seized all who heard of it.  The young men came and wrapped up his body, then carried him out and buried him.

After an interval of about three hours his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. Peter said to her, ‘Tell me whether you and your husband sold the land for such and such a price.’ And she said, ‘Yes, that was the price.’  Then Peter said to her, ‘How is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.’ Immediately she fell down at his feet and died. When the young men came in they found her dead, so they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. And great fear seized the whole church and all who heard of these things.

Ideally, the service should be held in the graveyard adjacent to the church building, during a cold, misty drizzle.  The Presider processes out of the church; servers follow behind with garden spades.  The congregation shuffles, hands in pockets. 

Presider:  The Lord gave  10 plagues.

All:  The Lord gave 10 commandments.

Presider:  The Lord gave 10 lepers health.

All:  The Lord is a perfect 10.

Presider:  What shall we give the Lord in return for His kindness?

All:  We shall give our 10 percent.

All hold out wallets/chequebooks etc., as Acts 5 is read.  During the reading the servers shall clang the garden spades together after the phrases "and he fell down dead" and "she fell down at his feet and died".

After the reading the Presider says "The Word of the Lord", to which all respond "Thank God it wasn't us", to which the Presider responds "But it might be next time".

A collection is then taken.

(Here ends the shortened form of the service.  A children's story might include having the Sunday School dig small holes in the ground, one for each child.  Divide the group by gender into "Jr. Ananiases" and "Jr. Sapphiras".  Use popsicle sticks for "grave markers".)

My inner grammar cortex

wants to say that there is something wrong with this headline, but I can't quite put my finger on it.  I know what it means, but I'm not entirely sure that's what it says:

Half of Church of England clergy 'will be women' by 2018


from the Anglican Journal

Anglican Church of Canada joins Facebook

[Toronto: Church House]

A press release on the ACoC website indicates that the church has decided to form its own Facebook group.  This comes at a time when the national church is seeing a decline in membership and it is hoped that this new initiative will allow the church to reach out in new and creative ways.  Director of Communications Initiative, Rev. Canon William Smythern-Jones, sees great potential in this new initiative. "We've got to bring the church into the 21st century", he said in a hand written letter in reply to our email.  "I've already trained most of our staff, including the Primate, in all the things the kids are doing these days.  We are regular hep-cats!"

Upon its launch, several members of the Anglican Church of Canada's national staff were busy figuring out how to "poke" Archbishop Akinola of Nigeria, and others were disappointed that Rowan Williams had not yet responded to their request to "add as friend".

Affirming Laudianism - your best Anglican resource

Since today we are commemorating the Saints of the Reformation, I thought it only fitting to share this invaluable resource with my readers. (Via Tim and Dave Keen)

You have found the website of Affirming Laudianism:

Affirming Laudianism, much like another organisation in the Anglican Church, does not expect its members to have any firm beliefs or doctrinal commitments but is solely concerned with:

• The externals of religion

Our primary aims are to encourage:

• The wearing of copes at the Holy Communion;

• The application of Laudian frontals to Altars;

• The use of silver candle sticks and incense at divine worship, in accordance with the principles of The Parson’s Handbook;

• Bowing at the Holy name and during the Gloria Patri;

Our secondary aims are:

• The discouragement of male puritans (Baptists, Evangelicals, et al) from wearing hats during divine worship;

• The cult of His Late Majesty King Charles I, King and Martyr.

‘Old Wine Skins’ is a new movement in the Church of England which seeks to renew the Church as she used to be for our own age. They believe:

1.  That it is better to patch the old than embrace the new;
2.  That where decline is inevitable it is better to die valiantly than to lose what has been cherished;
3.  That vitality in Church life can co-exist with decadence and hypocrisy.

‘Old Wine Skins’ is affiliated to ‘Regress’, a grouping of Church people who seek to enthusiastically embrace the ways of the past, applying them to new situations.

The Vibrant Cathedral Church of Affirming Laudianism:
 

photo felix hominum 2008 (Central Turkey)

World's cheapest Hallowe'en pirate costume

Only in Canada.

Just get two $1 coins (loonies).  Tape one to each ear.  And voila:

You're a "buck an ear".

a joke only a serious guitarist could appreciate

What's the difference between a blues guitarist and a jazz guitarist?

A blues guitarist plays 3 chords in front of a thousand people...

as heard at this Tim's house, in the midst of a musicians' circle, sometime after I played a little progression involving a lot of C minor 7 flat 5's...

finishing up the new church nursery

The sign is ready to go up:

"We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed." 1 Corinthians 15

more signs via the rocketeer

Quote of the day: a pagan view of bishops...

Bishops bustle about to one council after another, each trying to impose on the rest his own interpretation of the faith.  And the only noticeable result is the imposition of an intolerable burden on the means of public transport.

pagan Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus, writing in the 4th century, in the aftermath of the Council of Nicea

jobs which are better than yours...

my aunt, single malt taste tester

Ten things you never hear in church

From Ian's Messy Desk, in his humour files:

1. Hey! It’s MY turn to sit in the front pew!

2. I was so enthralled, I never noticed your sermon went 25 minutes over time.

3. Personally, I find witnessing much more enjoyable than golf.

4. I’ve decided to give our church the $500.00 a month I used to send to TV evangelists.

5. I volunteer to be the permanent teacher for the Junior High Sunday School class.

6. Forget the denominational minimum salary: let’s pay our pastor so he can live like we do.

7. I love it when we sing hymns I’ve never heard before!

8. Since we’re all here, let’s start the worship service early!

9. Pastor, we’d like to send you to this Bible seminar in the Bahamas.

10. Nothing inspires me and strengthens my commitment like our annual stewardship campaign!

Bishop Burton/ Kallistos Ware caption contest

over at the Diocese of Saskatchewan blog.  If you are Anglican (and even if you're not) take a break from the serious stuff  check out the photo and offer your, errr, suggestion.

it was always a food I did not trust

Tofu 'may raise risk of dementia'

If you thought getting the kids into church was hard...

"Tough to Attract Youth to Dairy Farming"

a headline in the Edmonton Journal

The unoffical GAFCON site...

Some of you may know that there is an unofficial Lambeth blog on the go, run for the most part by the inscrutable Mike Daley.  Just to round things off, I thought I would also let you know of the unoffical GAFCON blog, hosted by The Rev. DR. Christian Troll, Doctrinal Warrior.

I'm just sayin'...

I have decided to become a progressive...

It was a slow change, almost imperceptible, but it was sure enough.  I first began to notice a difference in the way I would look at things.  Perhaps I noticed it first in the reading I would do, how it seemed to me, well, different.  I stopped looking at things the way I used to when I was younger.  Some will say it is a function of age.  We all change as we get a bit older, and so perhaps it was bound to happen sooner or later.

I have decided to become a progressive...lens wearer.

Maundy Thursday: "Unless I wash you..

you can have no part with me"

Front runner for Edmonton Bishop announced

[Edmonton]

Ed Stelmach, whose Progressive Conservative party won a record 11th straight majority government in Alberta, announced today that the party would be fielding a candidate in the upcoming Diocese of Edmonton Episcopal election.

"We win every election in Alberta", Premier Stelmach said in a prepared statement, "and we heard that there was another election which we had not yet won.  It's only natural that we should have a candidate in this election as well."

Signs that the End Times are nigh

An announcement I read while in Toronto last week:

Contemplative Compline time is 9:00-9:30 p.m. It is a quiet time to pray together silently and practice a spiritual discipline. Also, on Wednesday nights we will be doing an Anglican Rosary service 9:00-9:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome.

This is happening at which theological college:

Trinity - the high church place
Wycliffe - the evangelical place

Anglican Church of Canada roundup by the Clash

Priests inhibited, parishes vote, Bishops react:

Archbishop of Canterbury responds:

 

Dioceses, parishes prepare for litigation:

Finally, the true prophets speak, Johnny Cash & Joe Strummer (caution to the delicate):

A Valentine Special: the circle of the lustful in Dante's Inferno!!

Yes, I know that there are a thousand mushy blog posts out there to celebrate the day of romance.  And Mrs Felix woke up to the fragrance of roses gently wafting through the room.

But you know, for those sitting home alone on such a holiday, thinking to themselves "no sugar tonight", I thought I would offer a bit of consolation.  I thought I would take a slight break from our usual progression and celebrate Valentine's day with a brief overview of Circle II - the circle of the lustful in Dante's Inferno.

Into this torment carnal sinners thrust,
so I was told - the sinners who make their reason
Bond thrall under the yoke of their lust.

Like as the starlings whell in the wintry season
In wide and clustering flocks wing borne, wind borne
Even so they go, the souls who did this treason

Hither and thither, and up and down, outworn,
Hopeless of any rest - rest did I say?
Of the least minishing of their pangs forlorn.

So if you find yourself dateless on this date, imagine only these verses of the poet on the cards accompanying the over priced roses - the flowers of romance and the thorns of lust!  Scoff at them!!  Or at least watch TV...

What Dante encounters in this circle of Hell are the souls of the lovers whose "love" was not governed and guided by "reason".  Don't get him wrong: love expressed in sexual form is part of the good of creation.  But like every good thing, it can be misused.  in this circle of Hell he encounters those who "make there reason bond thrall under the yoke of their lust".  What is the nature of lust in Dante?  It is to have our sexual appetites run wild and uncontrolled.  And so they are driven hither and thither by a hot howling wind.  It is the image of being subject to forces which seem to drive us arbitrarily.  It is an image of the soul losing control over itself.

It is worth noting that the "lustful" are pretty far up in Hell, not really far down.  Just so, their repentant counterparts are very high up on Mount Purgatory.  That is because lust is a flawed attempt at love.  It is not a sheer descent into hatred.  And at least in this sin, there is a desire for community and mutuality - it is not here a particularly "selfish" sin.  It seeks what is good - mutual love, but seeks it in the wrong way.  And to succumb to lust is to be blown about forever, at the whim of that hot wind.

Happy Valentine's Day.

post series: Dante's Divine Comedy

Sound advice for teenagers