Walter Anderson's Horn Island Triptych
Letting God outa' the Box
St. Philip's Jackson MS
Episcopal Diocese in Mississippi
All Saint's Los Angeles, my Plunge parish
Church of the Atonement, my Chicago Parish
Fun & Free Dog ecards
Spread the Love around
The Episcopal Church
The Anglican Communion
The Hunger Site...a click a day gives food
The Stations of the Cross Online
A couple of fun Irish Clergy comedies from the BBC
Father Ted
Ballykissangel
A Prayer For Peace:
O God, you made us all in your own image
and redeemed us throught Jesus your Son:
Look with compassion on the whole human family;
take away the arrogance and hatred
which infect our hearts;
break down the walls that separate us;
unite us all in the bonds of love and peace;
and work though our stuggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth;
that, in your good time, all nations
and races may serve you
in harmony around your heavenly thone;
we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Wyatt Waters' Turning Angel
Walter Anderson's Sinbad and the Roc
Wyatt Waters' Halo Goodbye
The Crucifix in All Saint's Church L.A.
Sebastian, Professor of Unconditional Love
Friday, July 18, 2003
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"This God gives and takes beyond human reasoning or justification. Because his motives are not interpretable and his thoughts and actions are not foreseeable, anything -- and everything -- is possible" (93).
Thomas Cahill make this wonderful statement as he discusses God's dealings with Abraham to contrast God from the Sumerian gods that Abraham would have been familiar with in his upbringing. I really like it! It is a reminder of the transcendant nature of God. Mark McIntosh discusses the loving 'conversation' of the trinity and points out the otherness of God as needed inorder for us to have a relationship with God. If God were not distinctively 'other', we would not need to move 'outside ourselves' to be in relationship. Cahill points out the scriptural references that support God as other...other that we cannot consume...other we cannot really know.
This is very important stuff! As I move toward my Sept 6 wedding date, I find how necessary comprehending the other of my bride is. The oneness of our relationship is a slippery slope that can lead to a mental dissolution of my sense of my self and Susan's self. Yet honoring those differences is important to the relationship. Understanding that her thoughts are not my thoughts leads me to better communication rather than assumption. My relationship with God is very similar; communication (prayer and meditative listening) are a key. I must be careful not to slip down the slope and assume my thoughts are always God's thoughts. Understanding that God is other and a greater other is a key component of spiritual growth...just as a child must begin to see herself as separate from her parents is necessary for her growth.
Cahill's statement also leads me to wonder about the sexuality issue the Episcopal Church will be forced to address at Convention...it is a hot topic for seminarians to attempt to second guess...which is probably not a wise move. There seems to be two views, the view homosexuality is basically wrong and the view that all are children of God regardless of sexuality. The last convention the issue lead to a decision of further prayer and listening...I think that was a wise decision. I worry that we may too quickly assume we know God's position on the issue (via scripture) and slide down the slope I associated with Cahill's statement. The scriptures show movement in the relationship with God and humans...not a static one time covenant but reoccuring re-establishment of the covenant. Sexuality is a HOT issue...prayer and listening seem to be the best approach...even as the issue seems to be moving toward a statement of position...prayer and listening must not cease...it needs to increase. While these two human views seem to be the only choices...they may also be too limited by human reasoning...what else is possible?
"This God gives and takes beyond human reasoning or justification. Because his motives are not interpretable and his thoughts and actions are not foreseeable, anything -- and everything -- is possible" (93).
Fr. Bill 7:54 AM
Monday, July 14, 2003
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Mysteries of Faith and Jesus at 2000 are an interest 'couple' to read in tandum.
McIntosh does a wonderful job discussing God in the realm of what we feel rather than what we rationalize...where has Borg is more about the rationalizing of his group The Jesus Seminar. Borg reminds me a little of Bishop Spong. In a Spong work (maybe This Hebrew Lord, he just touches on his philosophical questioning of the mysteries and supernatural stories surrounding Jesus. Spong asks if we really need miracles to believe...does Jesus have to have come from a virgin birth in order for our faith to be strong. Such questioning was quickly viewed as heresy...which I think answers Spongs question...YEP, we do need the mysteries and the miracles...um...maybe that is why they are there? However, I do agree with such challenging questions in our faith journey. As I grow and move through may relationship with God, I think I hit a point where such thinks just did not matter...my faith did not hinge on stories of Christ's miracles. I think the point of movement was went I began to see God's work in everyday life...the miracles that happen everyday in my life and the world around me. Much like a child loves to travel to places they have never been in stories, the miracle stories allow us to travel to a world were miracles are possible and God interacts with humans. Could it be the experience in these stories that prepared me to see the miracles that occur daily in the world? Can the Scriptural stories help us develop the eyes and vision to see more in our world?
I quite enjoy McIntosh's definition of theology - "Theology is about seeing the meanings of things in the context of life with God" (3). Do we spend to much energy focusing on 'anti-theology' - seeing the meaning of things OUTSIDE the context of life with God? Rather than focusing energy on items that may separate us from God, we may be better to focus our energy on items that connect us with God. Sounds like the cliche' of seeing the glass half-full or half-empty. The possible falsehood of such focus is the belief of earthly rewards...as illuded to in some posting months ago...seeing affluency as a gift from God seems to wrongly assume that poverty (of any sort) is punishment from God. Could not affluency be just a punishing... is true affluency not a responsibility...a challenge of stewardship?
Sometimes the idea of the CHURCH really bugs me. We seem to forget that Christ came for all! We can not earn or tally favor...it is given freely...if we choose to accept it , it does not make us better than someone who doesn't. Sure...if we accept God's love we gain some 'fruits of the spirit' which, hopefully, we wish to share with others out of love. I am still bugged by the use of scare tatics to try to manipulate people into a relationship with God. But, as I said earlier, each journey is unique and such may be a necessary part of a journey into relationship...I guess I hope it does not become (or is assumed as) the standard operating procedure...or necessary for everyone.
enough rambling & ranting
Fr. Bill 8:12 AM