felix hominum

I know that my redeemer lives

For local folks who have seen the daily paper and watched the evening news, they will be aware that a local family lost their 5 year old daughter yesterday in a tragic accident at their countryside home.  Often these folks are strangers; today they are not.

(I know that my redeemer lives)

My wife has known Dave & Cathy for quite a while (longer than I) – they are colleagues and have taught together for about 10 years.  Dave teaches in the classroom next to AKW’s English room.  A few years ago they moved out of the city limits and into the countryside.  Dave had told AKW that one of the big factors in their move was their desire to build a small retreat house for local pastors & families who needed a place for some refreshment.  Today we offer our prayers and presence for them in their need.

(I know that my redeemer lives)

This evening their “story” will be on the local news, with a personal interview not 36 hours after the event.  Dave asked our prayers that what would come through in the media would not be his own grief, but the love that Jesus has for his daughter and for all of us, and how God’s gift of childlike faith in Jesus enabled her to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, here in this life and in the next.

(I know that my redeemer lives)

no sex please, we're British

I generally don't comment too much on specific denominational issues, but I was sent the following piece of information.   Apparently the Church of England is considering allowing gay clergy to marry, as long as they promise to remain celibate.   I'm not sure if I read that correctly, and you may not be sure if you are reading that correctly, but that, as far as I can tell, is the gist of the policy.  There are a few details and discussions over at titusonenine, [scroll up for article, down for comments],  a blog by Rev Dr K. Harmon.

can't be all bad

Anyone who spends time thinking about what appears to be book X of the Confessions can't be all bad, so I have added a link for Chuck Elves in the sidebar....

use up those gift certificates...

Okay, I'll actually check it out for myself and get a copy of "Generous Orthodoxy." Will let you all know how it goes....

gonna shrink my world

After having spent a record 2 days in a row having coffees with great friends, AKW & I found ourselves musing a bit about what it might be like to just hang it all up, & go full time into ministry at say, L'arche, & spend the rest of our days giving up the tantalizing world of academia & theological musings & administration for the trade-off of working full time with the mentally & physically handicapped. Just a thought...

re: chuck and mercy

Another contexted thought: After doing a bit more reflecting on Chuck's comment on Beatitudes V, one of the things that comes to mind is taking our example from God first, and then moving to human examples. What Chuck's comment made me think of is that we need to look at how God displays mercy first, and then we can learn to imitate that, rather than looking at human examples of mercy, and then try to extrapolate or elevate that to the level of God...

Holy land pics

Inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. 
Crusader era column. 

You can walk along the ramparts of the old city walls in Jerusalem - costs about 10 shekelim.   The walk itself takes you around 3/4 of the Old City, with great views of the various quarters of the Old City - Jewish, Muslim, Christian, Armenian.

Glimpses of the not so recent past - bullet holes still adorn a residence next to the wall.

Beatitudes V

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."

I wrap my head around this statement in so many ways.  I find myself concerned with the question of whether or not my receiving mercy is dependent on my giving mercy - as Jesus seems to have made similar statements elsewhere.  But of course when I do that I miss the whole point.  That kind of thinking is still very "me" focused.  There is also the battle against my innate sense of "justice" or "fairness".   Which as well is usually flawed. 

I can only pray that in every situation in which I find myself, my first thought would be "how can I bring mercy in this?"   Yet it is rarely my first thought.   I am a product of a culture of rights.  I delight when I get my rights, what I think is my due.

To be the kind of person who rejoices in being merciful.

What exactly is mercy? It is not the same as pity, it is akin, but not identical to compassion.   What are the conditions which make mercy possible?

First – there is power over the welfare of another.  You do not cry out for mercy from one who has no power over you – either to help or to harm.  Mercy is the Christian way of living in a relationship of power and authority.  I can have pity for one more powerful than I, over whose life I can have no influence. I cannot be merciful to such a person, for mercy implies that I have have the power to do or to act in a way that affects their life.

The good Samaritan showed mercy – he had power to act in the life of another, and he did.   The priest and the Levite who passed by the man on the road may have had pity, may even have had compassion, but they did not have mercy.  Mercy involves choice to act.

In another sense, Mercy does not necessarily have to do with what is right or just; rather, it often flies in the face of what is just and right.  In fact, it is really only to the guilty that mercy in this sense can be shown.

had to be there...for TB

And if you weren't, I'm sure you'll catch on in a minute.   When folks say things like "the purpose of sex is procreation", what do they mean?  A variety of things, but for now...  Let's take the classic example of the oft (mis) quoted Augustine on the topic.   He is credited with taking all the fun out of sex because he said the purpose of sex was to make people.   Let me tell you straight up, as a married man with 3 kids - I've been reading Augustine for 22 years, and he hasn't taken any fun out of my life...

Now, TB et al, in ways can something have a purpose?   Let's look at food.   What is the purpose of food?  Is it the sheer enjoyment of eating?  Is it creation of culnary delights?  Is it nourishment of the body?   In the most simple sense, it is nourishment of the body - that is the purpose of food.   But does having that purpose eliminate the possibility that we can enjoy food? 

What is the purpose of a car?  Evidently the fundamental purpose is transportation - to get from point A to point B.   Does that mean that we are not allowed to enjoy the ride?  Of course not.  But if your sole purpose of getting a car is to show it off to the neighbours, to use it as a status symbol, to annoy other drivers on the road, or simply to use it so that you can burn up non renewable resources, then you are probably not using it properly.

So our question becomes - do things have a primary purpose ordained by God, and if so, how do we discover what that is?   Does something having a purpose preclude of enjoyment of it?   More later...  and yes there is a whole bunch unsaid.

sunny days

It's a beautiful Saturday afternoon; my desk is slowly being cleared of the debris it has accumulated over the past month. Thanks to all the folks who came to the Chaplain's dinner at the faculty club - wonderful time had by all. After I get a few more things cleared up and off my list of things to do, I will again find a few moments for blogging. I plan to add a few more thoughts on the Beatitudes, upload a few more pics from the Middle East, give another lesson to the Passive Anglessive on the topic of Augustine's Confessions, see what is happening at the Sol Cafe over the summer, show why it is unhelpful to use the phrase "the bible says", avoid all commentary on politics, and add a few more pence into the general conversation about following Jesus these days...

on listening to sculpture

One of the great things about being home again is the chance to catch up with people.  One of our favourites is Rob Willms , a local artist.   

Mt Sinai

Just a brief glance at the final approach to Mt Sinai - the camp you can see at the center bottom is a Bedouin stopping place which is about half way up the ascent.  At the very top of the peak is an ancient monastery.  It is a "bit of a climb" to get to the top, but great training for our Mt Robson  trip later this summer.

There is an alternate route down to the lower monastery of St Catherine - a descent which has the nickname "Stairs of Repentance".  Alas, I was the only one of the group to take this route (insert small pat on back here).  Do not attempt this descent route unless you feel like you need to do penance.  The desent itself boasts fabulous views, although you may need a bit of experience in boulder hopping and route finding along the way. 

Psalm 122

"pray for the peace of Jerusalem"

scene outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Holy Week, Jerusalem...