tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51797292011-04-21T22:43:22.483-05:00Letting God outa' the BoxAn Episcopal Seminarian's point of view:
Westling with Anglo-Catholicism, the Bible Belt, and seminary life.
Plus some windows to Mississippi art and music.Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comBlogger561100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1082561434224588252004-04-21T10:30:00.000-05:002004-04-21T11:16:39.076-05:00Brief Sermon for my Practicum course (aka 'Play Church')
From Lent 5 Year A: Ezekiel 37:1-3,11-14, Psalm 130, John 11:17-44
People get ready
There's a train a comin'
You don't need no baggage
you just get on board
All you need is faith
To hear the diesel comin'
Don't need no ticket
you just thank the Lord
These lyrics by Curtis Mayfield kept playing in my mind as I read today’s lessons.
The Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1082260080425489952004-04-17T22:48:00.000-05:002004-04-17T23:02:47.200-05:00Sermon for Easter 2 year C
John 20:19-31
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
For a moment, I want to be Thomas in today’s Gospel. I want to retell the events through his eyes and ears.
For now, think of me as Thomas:
As Thomas, I refuse to Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1081861630876320642004-04-13T08:07:00.000-05:002004-04-13T08:25:17.576-05:00
Lord God,
to those who have never had a pet,
this prayer will sound strange,
but to You, Lord of All Life and Creator of All Creatures.
it will be understandable.
My heart is heavy
as I face the loss in death of my beloved Heather
who was so much a part of my life.
This pet made my life more enjoyable
and gave me cause to laugh
and to find joy in her company.
I remember her fidelity and Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1081434563537985732004-04-08T09:29:00.000-05:002004-04-08T10:07:45.670-05:00The Foolishness of Anglicanism?
Why would anyone choose to juggle authority in theology? Who would try to keep three 'plates', call them scripture, tradition and reason, in balance when they could just pick one and make it the foundation for their faith? Is a triune theology just to logically attractive in describing the mystery of a triune God?
Scripture...the Word of God
Tradition...the Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1081210758269362892004-04-05T19:19:00.000-05:002004-04-06T09:08:52.013-05:00Looking forward to Easter...
Reading The Mystery of Christ & why we don't get it...
Listening to "Without a Net" by the Grateful Dead....
"God thought he'd have a big ole party, and call it planet Earth"
From One More Saturday Night
Easter Vigil...wow, what a party it could be...the realization that our sins are forgiven
God came down to Earth, in the human from of Jesus. We ignored him, Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1080315982121764712004-03-26T09:46:00.000-06:002004-03-26T09:51:17.936-06:00Sermon for Lent 5 year C at the Church of Saint Philip in Jackson MS
Isaiah 43:16-21 * Psalm 126 * Philippians 3:8-14 * Luke 20:9-19
“Forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus”
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1079227145064519272004-03-13T19:16:00.000-06:002004-03-13T19:25:33.466-06:00Sermon for Lent 3 year C at the Church of the Atonement
Exodus 3:1-15 * Psalm 103 * 1 Corinthians 10:1-13 * Luke 13:1-9
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Last Sunday, Father Bill instructed us to embrace Jesus as the Savior. This week’s Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1078808237567116192004-03-08T22:57:00.000-06:002004-03-09T08:43:49.046-06:00Some thoughts on the sacrifice of the mass
'Sacrifice' has a double function in Cranmer's euchristic liturgies, referring primarily to the self-offering of Christ on Calvary, and, in an altogether derivative way, to the self-offering of the people of God in praise and thanksgiving for the benefits received. Crucially, however, Cranmer scrupulously separated this self-offering of the church from Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1078413180367134812004-03-04T09:13:00.000-06:002004-03-04T10:28:33.000-06:00This morning I heard a Crosby, Stills and Nash song on the radio that I had not heard before, Cathedral
Here is a portion of the lyrics:
I'm flying in Winchester Cathedral
Sunlight pouring through the break of day
Stumbled through the door
And into the chamber
There's a lady setting flowers on a table covered lace
And a cleaner in the distance
Finds a cobweb on her face
And a feeling Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1078241847629663712004-03-02T09:37:00.000-06:002004-03-02T10:13:50.920-06:00Just one more mornin'
I had to wake up with the blues
Pulled myself outta bed, yeah
Put on my walkin' shoes,
Went up on the mountain,
To see what I could see,
The whole world was fallin',
right down in front of me.
'Cause I'm hung up on dreams I'll never see, yeah Baby.
Ahh, Lord, help me baby, or this will surely be the end of me, yeah.
Pull myself together, put on a new face,
Climb down off Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1077890497060912732004-02-27T08:01:00.000-06:002004-02-27T08:09:27.280-06:00Stations of the Cross
Here is an online Stations of the Cross based on the classic, Everyone's Way of the Cross by Clarence Enzler. If you liked The Passion movie, give this a try. The Stations of the Cross Online
Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1076804175786167172004-02-14T18:16:00.000-06:002004-02-17T08:16:27.546-06:00Sermon for Epiphany 6 year C
Jeremiah 17:5-10 * Psalm 1 * Corinthians 15:12-2 * Luke 6:17-26
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
“Jesus came down with the twelve apostles, and stood on a level place, with a great crowd”
Today’s Gospel is Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1075745688770997932004-02-02T12:14:00.000-06:002004-02-02T12:17:04.216-06:00Coming out of the Sexual Myopia
After reading the purposed resolutions for my up coming diocesan convention, I realized that I've been wrestling with this 'post-General Convention-sexual myopia'.
I was stuck by an article by Louis Weil in The Study of Anglicanism that suggested the liturgy was the central and uniting doctrine of Anglicanism. I like that! There are so many things...such as Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1074867580921785762004-01-23T08:19:00.000-06:002004-01-23T08:21:42.936-06:00Fun Friday Daily Lectionary question of the week:
Did Christ baptize people or not?
John 3:22 "After this, Jesus and his disciples went out into the Judean countryside, where he spent some time with them, and baptized."
John 4:1-2 "The Pharisees heard that Jesus was gaining and baptizing more disciples than John, although in fact it was not Jesus who baptized, but his disciples.Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1074267686865475492004-01-16T09:41:00.000-06:002004-01-16T14:27:55.436-06:00First, "Thank you" to everyone for your comments...even the condescending ones.
A friend related to me a story of having to explain 'catholic' (note, little c as in the Nicene Creed) to some kids. First pointing to its meaning, "universal", suggesting that the Christian church is open to all. I think that is the greatest thing. No one explained that to me as a kid. I was lead to believe Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1073116845496413252004-01-03T02:00:00.000-06:002004-01-03T02:11:47.513-06:00IS SEXUALITY A CHOICE?
I received an article ("The Episcopalian Preference" by Philip Turner published in Nov. '03 First Things) via snail mail that set about to condemn PECUSA...stating that the church had lost its way and was no longer being lead by God but by preference. The argument infers that sexuality is a choice...and this is where the argument lost me. In my personal experience, Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1072104281881730692003-12-22T08:44:00.000-06:002003-12-22T09:25:38.496-06:00The Twelve Days of Christmas
On the 1st day of Christmas my true love gave to me...
A Partridge in a Pear Tree
The partridge in a pear tree is Jesus the Christ, the Son of God, whose birthday we celebrate on December 25, the first day of Christmas. In the song, Christ is symbolically presented as a mother partridge that feigns injury to decoy predators from her helpless nestlings, recalling Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1070305434876673832003-12-01T13:03:00.000-06:002003-12-01T13:05:43.466-06:00Advent 1 Year C
The Collect
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1068239081706832092003-11-07T15:04:00.000-06:002003-11-07T15:05:01.966-06:00“ Whatsoever it be, the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ dependeth not upon councils nor, as St. Paul saith, upon mortal creatures’ judgments”(125). “For God is able (not only without councils, but also, will the council, nill the councils) to maintain and advance his own kingdom” (126). The Apology of the Church of England John Jewel, 1564Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1067611563009990572003-10-31T08:46:00.000-06:002003-11-01T10:21:46.890-06:00
Lots of hulla-balloo continues to reverberate around the consecration of Canon Robinson in the Episcopal Church. However, through the light of study of the English Reformation and the beginnings of the Anglican Church, our current situation looses some of its sting.
It seems like Anglicans have been arguing for over 500 years (not to mention the close to 2000 years of debate in greater Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-106653161864405192003-10-18T21:46:00.000-05:002003-10-18T21:46:58.206-05:00My sermon at Church of the Atonement, October 19, 2003
Isaiah 53:4-12
Hebrews 4:12-16
Mark 10:35-45
Psalm 91 (9-16)
In today’s Gospel Mark’s Jesus shows a special concern for the way we as his followers are called to live together.
We see this in the way He explains to his disciples that they are to be servants when James and John ask him for places of honor. When James and John asked to be Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1064495859105063792003-09-25T08:17:00.000-05:002003-09-26T07:48:05.710-05:00Interesting question about living the 'middle way', especially opposing the middle way to the 'truth'.
In Anam Cara, O'Donohue feels that the entrusion or development of Dualism in Christian thought was (and still is) a great tragedy. As he states, dualistic thought lead to our separation of body and soul...at least in our minds. We label the soul as good and the body as bad. This simple Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1063027738336781852003-09-08T08:28:00.000-05:002003-09-08T08:41:52.650-05:00First, most hearty and gracious thanks to all who gave there support, through physical presence or spiritual presence, to our wedding on Saturday!
Love is a wonderful, strange and uncapturable thing. Love is so much like God for me...it is not something I can completely posess...it is not something I can put into a box or a simple gold band. Love is something that posesses me.
Am I worthy of Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1061479676497767502003-08-21T10:27:00.000-05:002003-08-21T10:27:56.496-05:00Just back from visit to Mississippi. There is definitely some ruffled feathers around the ECUSA's "approval" of a openly gay Bishop. Yet, the majority of people still glow with one wonderful aspect of the Bible Belt, hospitality.
I talked to people who are hurt and embarassed. Part of this seems to be associated with what others are saying about the Church they love. Another reason seems to Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1060697478366308042003-08-12T09:11:00.000-05:002003-08-21T10:31:00.663-05:00So why is all this 'stuff' important to me?
When I percieved a call to the ministry, I felt God telling me to 'feed my sheep'. As a restarauntuer, my call seemed couched in language I could understand. God seemed to tell me to show His love to all. God did not specify which 'food' or which 'sheep'. I felt called on my experience as a sheep who left the fold to look for the other lost sheep Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1060609287368551212003-08-11T08:41:00.000-05:002003-08-11T08:41:27.370-05:00I realize my last posting was loose, yet I do wander, if persecution of others who do not conform is, in some way, reflective of the persecution of Jesus. All too often in my seminary journey, I, along with several other seminarians, have seemed to be searching to THE ANSWER. Often our questions seeking definite answer have been followed by a "it is more complicated than that" response.
ThereFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1060350085999677622003-08-08T08:41:00.000-05:002003-08-08T08:56:16.910-05:00Following the title of this blog, Letting God outa the Box, I have allowed my imagination to explore. I assume that God is alive. As God lives, God continues to interact with humans, just as God interacted with humans in the scriptures. I wonder if some times we restrict God...sort of hold God's foot to the fire on 'exactly' what was said and scribed in scriptural interactions. The world Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1060185381540368942003-08-06T10:56:00.000-05:002003-08-06T11:12:33.003-05:00A recent comment pointed to the apparent 'PCism' in seminary. Well, yep, there is PCism in seminary...there is inclusivity...there are opportunities to learn how to spread the Gospel to all. However, my own liberal leanings have grown out of my past...growing up in the Bible Belt...the fundamental and literal culture of Mississippi. An area where one person was inferior to another based solelyFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1058532895931404672003-07-18T07:54:00.000-05:002003-07-18T08:33:23.780-05:00"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 upbringingFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1058188330740788192003-07-14T08:12:00.000-05:002003-07-21T10:42:24.276-05:00Mysteries 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 Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-1056647853943495112003-06-26T12:17:00.000-05:002003-06-26T18:16:17.416-05:00'His [the evil one] gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust'. From Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, page 223.
Interesting theme Rowlings is developing, especially in my thoughts of the divisions and factions not only in the Epsicopal Church, but the Christian Church. Paul seemed to be a big Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-957904772003-06-18T09:01:00.000-05:002003-06-18T10:46:58.000-05:00Sex Obsession?
Dangerous territory to venture into, but it rose out of a discussion I was having yesterday concerning the upcoming Convention in the Episcopal Church. The discussion was about the possibility of the ordination of homosexual clergy becoming the dark cloud which may over-shadow this gathering. My mind flashed with the thought that we humans are obsessed with sex...ours and others.Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-955482932003-06-11T08:51:00.000-05:002003-06-11T08:53:37.000-05:00Continued:
Some of the frustration that seems to be in the previous posting may have arisen from my recent reading of All Hallows Eve by Charles Williams. Williams' 'evil' character is a preacher, who has found a way to gain control over people via their wants and needs through magic and mysticism. The heroine of the story finds the understanding of universal love while she is trapped in Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-955051272003-06-10T08:51:00.000-05:002003-06-11T08:11:57.000-05:00Liturgy
In seminary, we do a lot with liturgy, defined as the work of the people...as in our work or worship of and to God. We seem to strive to find a liturgical form that meets the needs of all people. In our American culture, that seems an almost impossible task...marketers seem to be searching our wants and needs, then attempt to design a product or service to meet our needs. Is that whatFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-953253102003-06-05T08:17:00.000-05:002003-06-05T08:18:48.000-05:00Thoughts emanating from All Hallows Eve
I am moved to seeing good deeds as acts of love. Following the ideology that life is a gift, good deeds are a way of share our gift of life with each other. Actions that seem to suck the life from others seem not loving and not in line with God's will. An image from the Disney movie, "Hocus Pocus", where the witches try to suck the life force from Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-952329852003-06-03T07:06:00.000-05:002003-06-03T07:06:50.146-05:00Long time not blogging.
It has been a long school year and we are fast approaching the end. Lots of little loose ends to tie up and that has kept me busy. Yet, refraining from surfing around reading other's blogs I have found time to do some reading. I blitzed through Devil in the White City by Eric Larson. It was a wonderfully written history of the 1893 Columbian Exposition/Chicago World's Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-942077082003-05-12T10:34:00.000-05:002003-05-12T10:51:35.000-05:00Reading Week
[opps...I should be reading]
I haven't felt moved to post much lately...getting near the end of the quarter and final papers and projects loom. I picked up on a suggestion from my Liturgical Music/Use of Voice professor, and found copies of Bach's St. Matthew's and St. John's passions. Both are wonderful but take some concentration to listen to while following the German and Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-934693902003-04-29T10:15:00.000-05:002003-04-29T15:54:39.000-05:00Fear...the antithesis of Love?
Ok Tripp, you asked for it...Pandora's box is opening...
When I stopped and looked back on my childhood, I realized I was raised under a cloud of fear. 'If you do not behave, God will punish you.' ' Just wait until your Father gets home and finds out what you have done...boy, will you get a whipping.' 'If you don't do your homework, not only will the teacher punishFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-933000602003-04-26T11:08:00.000-05:002003-04-29T01:06:01.000-05:00Univeralist? Heretic? or "Correct"?
I have been reading some interesting debates of my co-bloggers listed on the left side of this page: a debat over the initial stance of protestant and orthodox Christians and its affects on each's view point to of theological matters (Clifton's Blog) as well as a discussion over the openess of church (Tripp's Blog).
After reading these debates, I began Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-931951752003-04-24T14:42:00.000-05:002003-04-24T15:48:27.000-05:00Ever get the BLUES?
While listening to a little "Widespread", I began to contemplate the Post-Holiday Blues. Easter left me with a little case of the blues. Sebastian Moore hints that our blues come from our separation from God. It would make sense that Christmas and Easter, the two biggest Christian Holidays may leave some of us a little wanting. With both it seems we rush around either Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-928863852003-04-19T08:32:00.000-05:002003-04-19T09:15:36.000-05:00Holy Saturday The Conclusion to Enzler's everyone's way of the cross
Christ speaks:I told you at the start, my other self,my life was not completeuntil I crowned it by my death.Your "way" is not completeunless you crown it by your life.
Accept each moment as it comes to you,with faith and trustthat all that happens has my mark on it.A simple fiat, this is all it take;a breathing in your heart,"IFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-924279602003-04-11T09:13:00.000-05:002003-04-25T09:34:42.000-05:00I am struck by a discussion going on Tripp's Anglo-Baptist Navel Gazers Blog on Christ in the "ordinary."
I am reminded of the 5th Station in Clarence Enzler's everyone's way of the cross:
5.Simon Helps Jesus
Christ speaks:
My strength is gone;
I can no longer bear the cross alone.
And so the legionaires
make Simon give me aid.
This Simon is like you, my other self.
Give me your strength.
EachFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-921063112003-04-06T16:13:00.000-05:002003-04-06T16:19:59.000-05:00Another retreat at Mundelein Seminary: thought I would share an exerpt from my weekend journal:
I am deeply concerned with uses of ‘shame, blame and fear’ in our culture and within religion. I feel I have experienced pervasive uses of shame, blame and fear in the Christian community. I found it difficult to see an image of God as love in an environment of shame, blame and fear. I remember Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-919867772003-04-04T09:39:00.000-06:002003-04-04T09:40:40.000-06:00From The Magnificat
He has shown the strength of his arm,
he has scattered the proud in their conceit.
This verse rattled around in my head this morning. Reading the story of Babel is Genesis 11:1-9, left me still mystified.
The story seems to carry a wisdom than I am not grasping. Watching last night's episode of Frontline on PBS, "Blair's War" added to my bewilderment. As the narrator Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-919150402003-04-03T08:33:00.000-06:002003-04-03T09:38:09.000-06:00Responce to some paper comments:
When Balmer says that groups like Promise Keepers reasserts patriarchalism within their ideology, he points more of the movement of the ideology as being "backward" to 19th century-style as a model. He applies the name "cult of domesticity" to the idea of traditional family roles. Whether intentioned or not, such a movement is an attempt to reestablish control Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-918448382003-04-02T08:41:00.000-06:002003-04-02T09:23:51.000-06:00Thinking about Frank's comment on 'legalism', I have decided to post my Ethics paper. For me Christ perfects the law, writing the law on our hearts. Obeying the law becomes an act of love, not simply following the rules. I do not treat my fiancee with respect because I have to, I do it because I want to do so. Sure it can work both ways, grace and love can be found in following the rules and Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-916486002003-03-30T08:30:00.000-06:002003-03-30T13:52:20.000-06:00The Sabbath as Rest
I just returned from an overnight retreat-style class called the NCTI Seminar, Prayer and the Life of the Spirit. The class is open to students from seminaries throughout Chicagoland. Two of our four sessions take place at Mundelein Seminary, where we arrive Friday evening for one lecture, staying overnight, and having two more on Saturday. The theme changes each time the Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-915475802003-03-28T08:41:00.000-06:002003-03-30T08:20:59.000-06:00I love the comment opportunities of a blog! In a recent comment, someone asked how I plan to deal with the real world. He was right on the nose. Seminary life becomes insular. A headline from home stated that American Flag sales are up, while 'No War' buttons festoon the clothes of many seminarians. Priestly formation seems to move us away from the cultural world we live in. We spend time Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-912824202003-03-24T09:16:00.000-06:002003-03-24T09:29:25.000-06:00A recent blog comment says "God sucks".
Well, yes...God does suck if our image of God is one, say, of simply judgment. When I limited the Bible to merely a code of rules, I found it easily used to beat me up. Most of us do not live out the Deuteronomic codes to the letter, anyway. Yet, looking at the Bible as a story of human's relationship with God, a different view can emerge. The New Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-912371952003-03-23T14:20:00.000-06:002003-03-24T08:14:20.000-06:00A reflection on a Tripp comment:
Crystal words, that hang so fineBut none will stop us fallingPulling faster all the timePowerless to warningsIf you feel the hand of GodCan you guide it holy man?But you are only flesh and bloodWaiting too for judgement.Still saying!Daddy don't weep, Momma don't cryEverybody gets their timeDon't be sad, don't be blue - Pray for me, I'll do the same for youSplit Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-912254092003-03-23T09:13:00.000-06:002003-03-23T14:14:45.000-06:00Caught up in the dualism?
  Yesterday, Susan and I were on the L (Chicago's subway) coming home from a premarital counseling session. On the train were people from the two groups who protested at the Federal Building as well as many who were just going about their lives. Tension and dis-ease seemed to fill the train. There was energy coming from people in the two group whose adrenalineFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-911252032003-03-21T08:46:00.000-06:002003-03-21T09:11:05.000-06:00   I share my brother Jeff's befuddlement over last night's protest march in Chicago. It seemed to lose its meaning some where. Stopping traffic on Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue did get the attention they wanted, but a concise message did not seem to resonate. I, too, wonder if it did not become a "party" to blow of steam and energy associated with the nervousness and uncertaintyFr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-910718942003-03-20T12:19:00.000-06:002003-03-24T19:07:29.000-06:00 War On War by Wilcoit's a war on warit's a war on warit's a war on warit's a war on warit's a war on warit's a war on warthere's a war onyou're gonna loseyou have to loseyou have to learn how to dielet's watch the miles fly bylet's watch the miles fly byyou are not my typewriterbut you could be my demonmoving forward through flaming doorsyou have to loseyou have to loseyou have to learn how to Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-910232482003-03-19T18:09:00.000-06:002003-03-19T18:09:16.233-06:00Comments section hopefully on the way!Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-909900182003-03-19T07:53:00.000-06:002003-03-20T14:33:54.000-06:00Blessed Assurance?
I wonder if Randall Balmer chose the title of his book Blessed Assurance with the hymn, “Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine” in mind. By his title, is he insinuating a sense of ownership Americans seem to claim on Christianity? Balmer begins his work by establishing that America has been “shaped” by religion (1). He points to John Winthrop and the Puritan ideology of the “Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5179729.post-909569852003-03-18T18:33:00.000-06:002003-03-19T17:47:35.000-06:00My initial title, Letting God outa the Box, reflects the need I see to open up our images of God. A challenge to expand God from Simpsonish images of an old man in the clouds. Does God remain trapped in the box of our childhood imaginations? Can we let God out of our boxes and be amazed how much more God can be?Fr. Billnoreply@blogger.com