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Weblog Archives: February 2003
Friday, February 28, 2003
Russ Mayes is led by a stranger. A case of an "angel unawares"?
Posted by Richard @ 11:49 PM BST [Link]
Caught in the Web is an interesting article which challenges the notion of "community" on the internet:
The most obvious distinctive of life in cyberspace is an ominous one: communication is generally restricted to the written word. This skews interpersonal relationships among the Netizens in disturbing ways. Since you only exist in cyberspace by virtue of your words, it is necessary to keep those words flowing. Glibness is substantial, while conciseness is ephemeral. Writing thoughtfully works against you, since it tends to slow down both writer and reader. Self-centered bombast can establish you as a Net personality—caricature, really—while considerate and irenic writing tends to blur your image because it makes you difficult to categorize.It's very hard to argue with this. The "conversation" that's possible on the internet is limited in the way that the author implies.
But this does not mean that community of a sort is not possible. Genuine conversation may be hard to find, but it does exist. I hadn't thought of the internet as a haven for gnostics before, and it's a thought-provoking idea, but it doesn't seem to me inevitable that those in "internet communities" are seeking an escape from physical community. Nor do I think that most internet users regard cyberspace as "superior" to the real world. The author claims thatThere is nothing to do in cyberspace but talk and listen. When we encounter a brother in need, it profits him little for us to express our sympathy (James 2:15-17). But when the only tools available to us are words, we can respond to his need with little more than an anemic “I’ll pray for you,” leaving us unable—conveniently so—to fulfill the law of Christ by bearing his burden (Galatians 6:2).
but I know from my own experience and that of others that it is possible to offer more than words via the internet: practical help, support, finance, even (after a fashion) hospitality can all be made available to those in need. Of course, this is different from the kind of help and support that we can offer to our neighbours in the real world, and it is no substitute for it. But Jesus' command to "love one another" applies to cyberspace as in the streets of our towns and cities, and it can be fruitfully obeyed here.
(Thanks to blogs4God for turning up the link)
Posted by Richard @ 10:50 PM BST [Link]
It's Friday, so it must be time for another of Wesley's hymns. This one is based on Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12
TWO are better far than one
For counsel or for fight;
How can one be warm alone,
Or serve his God aright?
Join we then our hearts and hands,
Each to love provoke his friend;
Run the way of his commands,
And keep it to the end.Woe to him whose spirits droop,
To him who falls alone!
He has none to lift him up,
To help his weakness on:
Happier we each other keep,
We each other's burdens bear;
Never need our footsteps slip,
Upheld by mutual prayer.Who of twain hath made us one,
Maintains our unity,
Jesus is the corner-stone,
In whom we all agree;
Servants of one common Lord,
Sweetly of one heart and mind,
Who can break a threefold cord,
Or part whom God hath joined?O that all with us might prove
The fellowship of saints!
Find supplied, in Jesu's love,
What every member wants:
Grasp we our high calling's prize,
Feel our sins on earth forgiven,
Rise, in his whole image rise,
And meet our Head in heaven!
Posted by Richard @ 10:17 AM BST [Link]
Today's WikiWord is: Protestant.
Posted by Richard @ 09:52 AM BST [Link]
Thursday, February 27, 2003
Martin Roth has written of his experience of the pleasures and perils of mind-altering drugs. It's unusual in my experience to find a Christian writing so honestly about both. His closing paragraph gets right to the "nub":
It’s not always easy. No quick hallucinogenic fixes are available. It’s a minute-by-minute commitment, continuing for a lifetime. But it is a journey that promises powerful new insights into our world and a spiritual enlightenment that, I suggest, no drug could ever deliver.
Posted by Richard @ 04:27 PM BST [Link]
In the LivingRoom, Darren raises an interesting and important question:
I'm yet to hear of a church where the leadership confronted an individual member on the way they spend their money. I'm yet to hear a tale where someone was asked to leave a church because in their job they made decisions which exploited or oppressed the poor. I've never heard of a church sitting down a member out of a concern for their workaholic tendencies.I'd say, because instead of being a community of the redeemed being guided by the principle's of the Kingdom of God, the Church shares the same obsessions and interests as the rest of society. Greed is theoretically accepted as a sin, but in practice it is built in to the fabric of everything we do. Society is obsessed by sex; so is the church. I heard a church leader on the radio this morning describe homosexuality as a "fundamental issue of the Christian faith." But how would he work that out from the New Testament? The teaching of Jesus poses a constant challenge to the "conventional wisdom of the world" - but Darren's right. Most of the time, the Church does not pose that challenge, and may not even recognise it.Why do some parts of our life seem to be impacted by faith while others are kept separate? Why are some 'compartments' of ones life open to the church's scrutiny and comment while others are largely ignored?
Posted by Richard @ 01:41 PM BST [Link]
The WikiWord of the Day is: Fundamentalist.
Posted by Richard @ 01:21 PM BST [Link]
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
The Gutless Pacificist takes a dim view of how Christianity Today treats U2's Bono, and says (with some justice):
Seems to me regardless of what you think about Bono's ecclesiology... he at least acts like a Christian. Which is more than I can say for myself most days.I'm bound to agree. A weakness in ecclesiology is something to accuse a textbook or theology tutor of, not a rock star. But I do get irritated when the opinions of the famous on, say, ecclesiology are treated as being especially important. We live in a culture that increasingly values celebrity, and the church faces as great a danger from that particular cult as any other section of society.
Who Will go for us? has a reminder that the 24th was St Matthias' Day. As if we needed reminding ;o)
I have often wondered about Matthias and how we are similar to him. Like Matthias, we are called to fill the ranks of the apostles, not only where another has failed or stumbled, but also to increase the ranks of the faithful. Matthias had long been a follower of Jesus, but after the Lord's death and resurrection, he was called to go further, to commit himself more deeply, and to become one of the leading examples of Christ on Earth. I think there is something for all of us in the story of Matthias: we can all commit ourselves more deeply to Jesus.You get no argument from me.
Finally, did you know that "one in ten computers in America now hosts some type of evil spirit"? Nor did I. So I'm hugely grateful to Jan for pointing out this entertaining bit of lunacy. I can go to bed with a smile.
Posted by Richard @ 11:34 PM BST [Link]
Today's WikiWord is Confession.
Posted by Richard @ 09:37 AM BST [Link]
Tuesday, February 25, 2003
I've just looked in on a pretty ugly "debate" between Christians on another blog. I was tempted to weigh in myself, but it was evident that there was a lot more heat than light being generated. It was getting very personal, very nasty - and was clearly about more than the surface issue. Not very edifying for anyone. It happens so easily on the internet; words get typed, the 'submit' button pressed - and it's out there. I've sometimes done a children's talk with a large black piece of paper and a tube of toothpaste. The children write a message with the toothpaste, then they're invited to put the toothpaste back. It can't be done, any more than the damage our words do can be taken back. I've lost track of the number of times I've regretted my use of the keyboard. St James was right in his epistle.
Here's what John Wesley said in part of his sermon "On the Cure of Evil-Speaking":
And how extremely common is this sin, among all orders and degrees of men! How do high and low, rich and poor, wise and foolish, learned and unlearned, run into it continually! Persons who differ from each other in all things else, nevertheless agree in this. How few are there that can testify before God, "I am clear in this matter; I have always set a watch before my mouth, and kept the door of my lips!" What conversation do you hear, of any considerable length, whereof evil-speaking is not one ingredient? And that even among persons who, in the general, have the fear of God before their eyes, and do really desire to have a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man.I'm going to nail those last few sentences to my forehead! Wesley meant them about what I would call "gossip", but I'm sure they apply to the way we conduct all our conversations, both real and virtual.And the very commonness of this sin makes it difficult to be avoided. As we are encompassed with it on every side, so, if we are not deeply sensible of the danger, and continually guarding against it, we are liable to be carried away by the torrent. In this instance, almost the whole of mankind is, as it were, in a conspiracy against us. And their example steals upon us, we know not how; so that we insensibly slide into the imitation of it. Besides, it is recommended from within as well as from without. There is scarce any wrong temper in the mind of man, which may not be occasionally gratified by it, and consequently incline us to it. It gratifies our pride, to relate those faults of others whereof we think ourselves not to be guilty. Anger, resentment, and all unkind tempers, are indulged by speaking against those with whom we are displeased; and, in many cases, by reciting the sins of their neighbors, men indulge their own foolish and hurtful desires.
Evil-speaking is the more difficult to be avoided, because it frequently attacks us in disguise. We speak thus out of a noble, generous (it is well if we do not say,) holy indignation, against these vile creatures! We commit sin from mere hatred of sin! We serve the devil out of pure zeal for God! It is merely in order to punish the wicked that we run into this wickedness. "So do the passions" (as one speaks) "all justify themselves," and palm sin upon us under the veil of holiness!
Posted by Richard @ 11:47 PM BST [Link]
The Bible Geek has called it a day.
Which is a pity, imho.
Posted by Richard @ 06:06 PM BST [Link]
The WikiWord for today is: Gospel.
Posted by Richard @ 09:36 AM BST [Link]
Monday, February 24, 2003
I've just had a strange bit of spam promising to tell "How to Get 17,169 Visitors a Day to Any WebSite!"
Do you think I'd get my money back if I only got 17,168?
Posted by Richard @ 11:13 PM BST [Link]
This is the text of a letter written by the President and Vice President of the Methodist Church in Britain about the current crisis over Iraq. This letter is being sent to all British Methodist ministers to be read out in all Methodist churches across Britain.
Dear Friends[more]
We greet you in the name of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace.
At the request of the Methodist Council, we write to all members and friends of the Methodist Church in Britain at this critical juncture in international affairs. We shall also copy this letter to the Prime Minister.
We are aware of deep feelings of anxiety in all sections of British society at the prospect of the possible use of military force against Iraq. Many Methodists have asked us where our Church stands on such momentous issues and this is our current position:
Posted by Richard @ 11:31 AM BST [Link]
I'm back, and so is WikiWord of the Day. Today's is Atonement
Why not add your understanding?
Posted by Richard @ 11:17 AM BST [Link]
I'm back home again, and it really is true. There's no place like home, Toto.
I've been away celebrating my mother's bithday. She's 70 years young today, so on Saturday we had a surprise party for her. My sister did most of the organising, and a grand job she made of it. Mum had a great time. My only regret is that since my part in the plot was supposed to be taking her out for a quiet meal, I was standing behind her when she walked into the room - I didn't see the expression on her face, which I gather was something of a picture. The party was a great success, lots of old friends and members of the family that I hadn't seen for some years.
I wish I could say it was an unalloyed pleasure, but you know how it is with families. Why is that? Person x has an issue with person y, but instead of talking to them about it, involves person z. Person z then feels obliged to talk to person y, making y irritated and resentful. Person x gets moody, causing great perplexity in persons a - g. Are you keeping up with all this? It would all have been prevented by one simple conversation between x and y.
Talking. We spend so much time doing it, it's a pity we aren't better at it.
Posted by Richard @ 10:56 AM BST [Link]
Saturday, February 22, 2003
On Thursday I conducted a funeral, along with two other pastors, of a 15 year old boy who died in a tragic bicycle accident on Friday, February 14. Shane and his mother and sister had been my neighbors when I lived in our old parsonage. Being the "mean" neighborhood dad who reminded kids to wear their bike helmets when riding or skateboarding, Shane and the 3 boys he was riding with that night had had to hear my bicycle helmet speech more than once. I had even bought a helmet for one of the boys, but none were wearing them that evening. For some reason, when you're 15 you feel indestructible and anything that adults want you to do is not what you're likely to do. I still have vague remembrances of being a teenager.
That night the boys decided to jump their bicycles off a three foot wall down to a loading ramp in front of the Red Barn Furniture store. The other three were successful, but Shane's bike wheel must have caught on the edge of the wall. Propelled by the weight of the bike, Shane's head took the brunt of the impact with the concrete. He died almost instantly and three other young people lost much of what's left of childhood innocence as they scrambled to try to help their friend and find help. The medical examiner said that had Shane been wearing a helmet he would have survived with only a very bad headache or, at worst, a concussion.
Adding to this tragedy is the fact that only four or five months earlier a twelve year old, Ryan, who had been in my daughter's kindergarten class and had at one time been a part of our church died when he turned his bike into the path of a car coming up behind him. He was wearing dark clothing riding a bike with no lights and he was wearing no helmet (in this case, a helmet probably would not have helped).
Both boys were full of life. They had played little league baseball, had numerous friends and were active in their churches. In two tragic instances of misjudgement, there are now two gaping holes in our community where these youngsters should have been growing into adulthood.
Shane was also an Explorer Scout with our local volunteer fire department. It was his job to open the firehouse doors and get the trucks started while the other volunteers arrived. Shane was one of the first to respond the night Ryan died. Last Friday, when the call went out, the first clue anyone had that it was for Shane was when they arrived at the station and found the doors still closed and no trucks ready to roll.
At Thursday's service there were almost 400 people representing various fired departments, police agencies and rescue squads. Neighbors, friends, classmates and family filled the pews. A wonderful service was held for this young man and, in many ways, for the rest of us. Facing war, economic problems and other world-altering events, this was an all too close to home reminder of how fragile life really is. As chaplain for the fire department, I responded to both these calls. I had to witness the bloodstained sheets covering the bodies of two young people I had known and my children had known and played with and gone to school with. I had to try to bring comfort to grieving families asking the question "why" and having no real answers. To try to make something positive out of these tragedies, I asked permission of Shane's mother to show my bicycle helmet to the congregation and challenge children and parents alike to make sure that they wear this simple, inexpensive item so that we wouldn't have to meet like this again anytime soon. On my helmet now are two names: Ryan 1990-2002 and Shane 1987-2003. I've had several kids tell me they're going to do the same thing and they will wear their helmets. I've already had adults tell me they're not going to ignore children riding or skateboarding without helmets. It really does take a village to raise a child and it looks like our village is starting to take this seriously.
I couldn't help but note a couple ironies in the midst of this tragedy. Shane was given a full honors firefighter funeral procession and burial. His casket was carried to the cemetery in an old fashioned firetruck. All the firefighters, police, chaplains, family etc. marched behind the casket. After the committal portion of the service, the Chief gave Shane's mother a folded US flag and then presented her with his firefighter's helmet with his name on it. Shane would never have thought to respond to a fire without this protective gear. If only our young people and adults alike felt the same way about taking on daily, routine activies. The other irony is that the next day I buried a 95 year old member of the church who had lived just behind Shane's house. Both of them lived behind the firehouse and were known in the community. If only Shane had lived till 95 like Ruth, then the story would have had a happy ending.
I hope that this rambling, train of thought expose, has not been too morbid. I'm just tired of burying our youngsters. There's enough challenge out there without having to deal with these kind of events that can easily be avoided. I hope we all become involved villagers as we try to raise and protect our children to become productive, well adjusted adults who want to make our world a better place to raise their own children and grandchildren.
Peace.
Ivan The Crank
Posted by Ivanthecrank @ 08:07 PM BST [Link]
Friday, February 21, 2003
The WikiWord of the day is: Eschatology
Posted by Richard @ 12:31 AM BST [Link]
Wednesday, February 19, 2003
WikiWord of the day is: Canon
Posted by Richard @ 09:08 AM BST [Link]
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
Posting is likely to be erratic to non-existent over the next few days - lots of "stuff to do", not much access to a computer. Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.
Posted by Richard @ 04:49 PM BST [Link]
WikiWord of the Day
Today's WikiWord is Baptism
Posted by Richard @ 01:13 AM BST [Link]
Monday, February 17, 2003
Despatches from Outland thinks that Tony Blair is showing a resemblance to Margaret Thatcher. He quotes TB's speech to the Labour party's spring conference:
There will be no march for the victims of Saddam, no protests about the thousands of children that die needlessly every year under his rule, no righteous anger over the torture chambers which if he is left in power, will be left in being.Great rhetoric. But no one should pretend that any war against Saddam will be fought because of his human rights record. But I agree with Outland's sentiment that "In some ways, the guy reminds me of Margaret Thatcher." But whereas Mr Jacobsen regards this as a compliment, I do not. And nor, I suspect, would Tony Blair.
Posted by Richard @ 06:06 PM BST [Link]
Martin Roth consistently writes good thoughtful commentary on what is going on in the world. Here's an extract from today:
My friends, not to mention myself and – I suspect – many, many others around the world would be encouraged were we to see America humbly repent: for its past arming of Saddam Hussein; for its profligate use of oil; for paying billions of dollars to Israel as that country expanded its settlements; for unyielding support of despots in the Middle East and elsewhere.Exactly. My view is that it is this lack of repentance that in part undermines the case for war. (I wrote as much only the other day) Iraq is part of a much bigger picture, and I don't see that a war in Iraq will do anything to achieve greater freedom, peace and stability for the region or the world.
Darren at LivingRoom also picks up Martin's piece. Rachel Cunliffe has a fine entry which lists the estimated number of protestors against the war in cities worldwide and wonders if Christians really believe that Jesus meant what he said.
Christ's followers are called to be micro-examples of the practice and values of the kingdom he spoke so much about, a peculiar people who demonstrate that the stuff he commanded is doable. Anything less makes the idea that we are following him, well, I guess a lie to ourselves at best and serious hypocrisy at worst.
This response really speaks to only those who don't think Christ was a loony. If you do, fair enough, ... but I think he was on to something. I think "Love your enemies" (basically, grace, loving those who don't deserve it) was fundmental to what God through Christ was and is communicating to humankind.
Posted by Richard @ 08:20 AM BST [Link]
New feature! - WikiWord of the Day
Everyday there'll be a link to a page on compass, this site's wiki. If you don't like the definition you read, or think you can improve it - change it!
Today's WikiWord is apocalyptic.
Posted by Richard @ 12:12 AM BST [Link]
Sunday, February 16, 2003
(A few thoughts on Mark 1: 40-45)
Jesus is met by a leper who kneels down and says, "If you want to, you can make me clean." Most Bibles have that Jesus "was moved with pity", but in some manuscripts there is an interesting alternative reading. They read, "Jesus was moved with anger", which seems like a very strange choice. Pity makes sense. Here is a man with a terrible illness; of course Jesus feels pity for him. But anger? How could that fit?
One answer is that Jesus was angry at being made to be "up close and personal" with an unclean leper. I mention this possibility only to discount it - there is no evidence anywhere else that Jesus was angered by inconvenience, so let's set that one aside.
Another possibility is that Jesus was stirred to anger by the question, "If you want to..."
"If I want to! Of course I want to!"
If this is the case what we're seeing is a very human reaction from Jesus. He is irritated because he has been misunderstood. Whilst this seems unlikely, it does prompt the thought that it is always true that Jesus is more ready to offer his gift of salvation than we are to receive it. The leper at least had the excuse that the ministry of Jesus was only just beginning. We who have known him longer have no such excuses. Whatever the history may be, when the unclean kneel before Jesus they always find restoration and peace.
More likely is that Jesus was angry at the exclusion of the man. As a leper, the law demanded that he be kept at a distance. He has no place in his society. For the pollution of his body, he is reviled and rejected. If this is so, Jesus' anger is not directed at the leper, but at those who have cast him aside. The leper's broken, disfigured body still bears the image of his Creator, an image which requires a respose from those who share it. Whenever we put respectability and purity before compassion and mercy we risk the anger of Christ.
But though his first rection might have been anger, his action is compassionate. Jesus reaches out and touches the man. Even in his uncleanness, Jesus is prepared to touch him. With that touch, the man is moved from exclusion to inclusion, even before the curing of his disease he is healed in every respect that really matters. Jesus could, of course, have healed with a word. But the man needed a touch, real physical contact. He needed to know that he was accepted and acceptable.
Millions like that leper still live among us. The task of Jesus' followers is now and always to take his healing touch into the world:
In the streets of every city
Where the bruised and lonely dwell,
Let us show the Saviour's pity,
Let us of his mercy tell.
In all lands and with all races
Let us serve and seek to bring
All the world to render praises,
Christ to thee, Redeemer, King.
Hugh Sherlock
Posted by Richard @ 08:33 AM BST [Link]
Saturday, February 15, 2003
Pray with me...
May the Lord grant us a quiet night and a perfect end.
Amen
Stay with us, O God, this night,
so that by your strength
we may rise with the new day
to rejoice in the resurrection of your Son,
Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Amen
In peace we will lie down and sleep;
You alone, Lord, make us dwell in safety
Abide with us, Lord Jesus,
The night is at hand; the day is now past
As the night watch looks for the morning,
So we look for you, Lord Jesus Christ
The Lord bless us and watch over us;
the Lord make his face shine upon us and be gracious to us;
the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.
Amen
Posted by Richard @ 11:48 PM BST [Link]
Of course, weight of numbers does not prove anything. But the 750 000 or more demonstrators in London today are a clear sign that the British people are not convinced by Tony Blair's "moral case for war". This was not "rent-a-crowd", or a gang of wishy-washy liberal pinkos. People from every walk of life, every point of the political spectrum, every age group (including many WWII veterans) went from all over the UK to say, "Not in my name." Nor in mine.
Posted by Richard @ 10:18 PM BST [Link]
My friend Wood is a "freelance creative", not to mention as fine a fellow as you're likely to meet anywhere. And he's for hire. Have a look at his portfolio page - he might be able to help you.
Posted by Richard @ 06:40 PM BST [Link]
I've written a short article for blogs4God about wiki in general and compass in particular. If you're interested, you know where to go.
Posted by Richard @ 04:40 PM BST [Link]
Richard suggested I pop in for a 'tea and toast' type post. I guess that's what friends do, even if they are thousands of kilometres apart. I suspect we are still friends, even with that typo!
Update: Richard adds --Let's forget the toast and have fruit cake. I like a little fruit cake in the afternoon. If anyone's passing you're welcome to pull up an armchair. It's a very big teapot, and there is plenty of cake in the kitchen.
The 'friends' link was a kind thought. Major pop-ups though! My poor little Mac has only just got its breath back!
Now then - milk and sugar in that tea?
Posted by Bene Diction @ 01:12 PM BST [Link]
Friday, February 14, 2003
Swan has been busy kickstarting things over at compass, this site's implementation of a wiki web.
A big "thank you and well done" to Swan. And a reminder that it's the nature of a wiki that all are welcome to contribute. You could too.
Really.
Posted by Richard @ 10:39 PM BST [Link]
It's Friday, so it must be time for another meeting with the Revd Charles Wesley. Again, this is a hymn we don't often sing (not over here at any rate) but it speaks of the all-sufficiency of God's love, which seemed like a useful foil to most of the frivolity of today's "love talk". I thought that the third verse was particularly apt given the situation in the world.
THOU hidden source of calm repose,
Thou all-sufficient Love Divine,
My help and refuge from my foes,
Secure I am, if thou art mine;
And lo! from sin, and grief; and shame,
I hide me, Jesus, in thy name.Thy mighty name salvation is,
And keeps my happy soul above;
Comfort it brings, and power, and peace,
And joy, and everlasting love;
To me, with thy dear name, are given
Pardon, and holiness, and heaven.Jesu, my all in all thou art;
My rest in toil, my ease in pain,
The medicine of my broken heart,
In war my peace, in loss my gain,
My smile beneath the tyrant's frown,
In shame my glory and my crown:In want my plentiful supply,
In weakness my almighty power,
In bonds my perfect liberty,
My light in Satan's darkest hour,
In grief my joy unspeakable,
My life in death, my heaven in hell
Posted by Richard @ 10:22 PM BST [Link]
Thursday, February 13, 2003
Rachel has found a link to this Iraqi blogger which should probably declared compulsory reading under the circumstances. Be warned though - it isn't easy reading.
In Rachel's comments, Jeff Riley responds by pointing out that the failure of the last 30 years policy towards Saddam is an argument for changing that policy. I agree. But war is not the only option here. If our concern is the Iraqi people what about a massive and overwhelming act of generosity towards those people. Has such a thing ever been tried? The West has considerable intelligence expertise. What about using that expertise to undermine the regime whilst building up the people's ability to make the change to democracy? And above all else, what about some clear statements of regret from the governments of the west about the tyrants they have supported in the recent past - and a commitment to never again gain political advantage by siding with those who abuse their power? War with Iraq would be more palatable if there were some acknowledgement that those governments which are most keen to go to war also bear some responsibility for the power of the tyrant they now despise.
UPDATE: Darren adds some very helpful thoughs to the debate, focussing on the children of Iraq.
Posted by Richard @ 06:35 PM BST [Link]
Mark Byron finds the need to point out that this piece by MeanDean was a spoof (and, I thought, rather a good one). I'm a bit worried about those who'd need it pointing out, though. Urgent sense of humour transplants required!
Posted by Richard @ 05:11 PM BST [Link]
I rather think that Bene Diction might be feeling a tad cheesed off. Drop by and say something encouraging. And if you're the one with the cork, give it back.
Posted by Richard @ 04:47 PM BST [Link]
Wednesday, February 12, 2003
I thought, since we are on the brink of war in the 300th anniversary year of the birth of John Wesley that we might hear what he has to say on the subject of war. Charles Yrigoyen, Jr. in his book "John Wesley:Holiness of Heart and Life" quotes Wesley's sermon "The Doctrine of Original Sin (1756)".
"[People] in general can never be [considered] to be reasonable creatures, till they know not war any more. So long as this monster stalks uncontrolled, where is reason, virtue, humanity? they are utterly excluded; they have no place; they are a name, and nothing more."
"Sometimes our neighbours want the things which we have, or have the things we want: So both fight, until they take ours, or we take theirs. It is a reason for invading a country, if the people have been wasted by famine, destroyed by pestilence, or embroiled by faction; or to attack our nearest ally, if part of [their] land would make our dominions more round and compact...."
"Another cause for making war is this: A crew are driven by storm they know not where: at length they make the land and go ashore; they are entertained with kindness. they give the country a new name; set up a stone or rotten plank for a memorial; murder a dozen of the natives, and bring away a couple by force. here commences a new right of dominion: Ships are sent, and the natives driven out or destroyed. And this [it is claimed] is done to civilize and convert a barbarous and idolatrous people."
Finally, Wesley believed that Christians are called to do everything to avert war and promote peace: When war looked eminent with the colonies, Wesley told Thomas Rankin, his main aide in America, and his American preachers: "It is your part to be peace-makers, to be loving and tender to all, but to addict yourselves to no party. In spite of all solicitations, of rough or smooth words, say not one word against one side or the other side. Keep yourselves pure, do all you can to help and soften all." (Letter, March 1, 1775)
Yrigoyen maintains that Wesley was not a pacifist in the pure sense, but believed in what we now call the "just war theory." I'm not convinced, nor would Mr. Wesley be, that our probable war with Iraq would fit the just war theory. I'm not conviced that our attack to prevent Sadaam from using his probable weapons of mass destruction is justifiable unless there is an actual attack on his part or threat of attack. I know his history, his ruthlessness and cruelty and his evil actions in the past. But, our last war with Iraq was in response to his actions, not to prevent possible actions.
I suggested in a sermon based on Jonah's visit to Ninevah and the subsequent repentance of an entire "evil empire" from the king on down that instead of massing hundreds of thousands of troops to invade Iraq, maybe we need to mass hundreds of thousands of prayer warriors and evangelists in the pure sense of the word to invade in love. Is Sadaam any more powerful than the early king of Ninevah, nor any more imune to the influence of the Holy Spirit and God's (finally) obedient servant(s)?
I still think, though, that Jesus said it best: "Bessed are the peacemakers...".
Ivan
Posted by Ivanthecrank @ 04:34 AM BST [Link]
Tuesday, February 11, 2003
The Gutless Pacificist adds to the Peace/War conversation in the form of a quotation from Stanley Hauerwas. Here's an extract:
We have to step back and ask what we Christians have done that we find ourselves so implicated in the world that we cannot differentiate our response as God’s people from the American people’s response
Posted by Richard @ 04:24 PM BST [Link]
Monday, February 10, 2003
Why I Oppose the War
Regular readers (thanks to you both!) may have guessed from some of my posts here that I'm not exactly a fan of the Bush/Blair plan for war with Iraq. You might have guessed, but I haven't said much about my reasoning. Today's the day.
I need to begin by saying that I'm not a pacificist. I wish I could be, but I'm sure that there are circumstances in which war is necessary. But I'd never go so far as to say that war is "right" - the best that can be said is that it is sometimes the least bad of a set of bad options. The question, though, is not about war in general. It is whether a war with Iraq can be justified. I don't think it can.
The reasons most often publically given for the necessity of this war are that Saddam is a violent tyrant who oppresses his people, he possesses weapons of mass-destruction and that he is a supporter of international terrorism. What everyone knows, however, is that this war is being proposed as a direct result of 9-11. The link between the two is ingrained in public opinion in a way that cannot be accidental. Does anyone honestly believe that if there had been no 9-11 that there would now be 120 000 US troops in the Middle East? But if 9-11 is the real reason for the war, it is a pretty dodgy one. No one seriously thinks there was any connection between those hijackers and Saddam. But Osama escaped public humiliation and Afghanistan was insufficient to expiate the crime: someone has to pay. If Saddam is the wrong religion, he has at least got approximately the right skin tone and, let's face it, he's a pretty ghastly bloke. He'll do.
Let's not pretend that the US and British governments have any problem with Saddam's regime. I'm not suggesting that they approve of it or like it, but the fact is that both the United States and the British have been happy to deal with him when it has suited them to do so. Saddam hasn't changed. His regime has always been odious and repressive. But in the real world of modern politics, governments can and do reach accommodations with such people. I don't like it any more than you do. I wish we didn't deal with Saddam and his like. But we do.
As to those weapons of mass destruction: surely we have to wait for the inspectors to do their work. The French/German plan recently announced seems to me to have much to commend it. But I hope that the international community will be similarly stringent with other dodgy states. North Korea springs to mind. Israel has to be another candidate. While we ponder the danger of Saddam and his ilk possessing WMD, perhaps we should also ponder the fact that it isn't so long ago that our governments were approving weapons sales to him. When this present crisis is resolved one way or another, it is time to turn our attention to the evil of the international arms trade. The late Cardinal Basil Hume once likened the arms trade to the traffic in heroin, with more than a little justice.
I have no answer to the third of the reasons for this war, except that many governments have worked through terrorist groups to promote their interests abroad. The Soviets used to do it. The US has done it. Britain has done it. But it has never been used before, as far as I know, as a reason for war. The British experience in Northern Ireland is that it is simply not possible to defeat terrorism by military means. It may be unpleasant, even repellant, but terrorists have to be talked to eventually. Saddam may be a supporter of terrorism but rolling tanks into Baghdad won't make those terrorists go away.
I have no doubt that there will be a war with Iraq. I'm equally certain it will end with Saddam's crushing defeat. But I fear it will do nothing to make that region more stable or the world more peaceful.
Posted by Richard @ 04:21 PM BST [Link]
Sunday, February 9, 2003
I always enjoy reading Rachel's Journal. Today she has this under the heading "Treasonous Prayer":
As long as we do not pray for our enemies, we continue to see only our own point of view – our own righteousness – and to ignore their perspective. Prayer breaks down the distinctions between us and them. To do violence to others, you must make them enemies. Prayer, on the other hand, makes enemies into friends.Praying for enemies is one of the hardest things we're called to do - but we are called to it. Thanks, Rachel, for the reminder.
When we have brought our enemies into our hearts in prayer, it becomes difficult to maintain the hostility necessary for violence. In bringing them close to us, prayer even serves to protect our enemies. Thus prayer undermines the propaganda and policies designed to make us hate and fear our enemies. By softening our hearts towards our adversaries, prayer can even become treasonous. Fervent prayer for our enemies is a great obstacle to war and the feelings that lead to war. -- Jim Wallis
Posted by Richard @ 07:55 AM BST [Link]
Saturday, February 8, 2003
Brasilianista Aspirante has an interesting article on psychological disorders among US college students, which are rising and becoming more complex. The following quote caught my eye:
'People just don't seem to have the resources to draw upon emotionally to the degree that they used to,' said Dr. Robert Portnoy, the director of counseling and psychological services at the University of Nebraska. 'What would once have been a difficult patch for someone in the past is now a full-blown crisis.'I don't know about the situation in the USA, but here in Britain I'd say that Dr Portnoy has hit the nail square on the head. With the bonds of community loosened, the Church as a hobby for the intellectually feeble and spirituality an exercise in pick 'n' mix at the salad bar of the world's religions it is little wonder that students are finding their own resources insufficient to see them through times of crisis.
Bene Diction has a strange lexicon of words you never knew you needed. I particularly liked
Mustgo - n. Any item of food that has been sitting in the refrigerator so long it has become a science project.reminding me as it did of the grated mozzarella I put on my pasta last night only to discover (too late) that it was doing a passable impression of Danish Blue.
The 3D Blog reports that the Microsoft Home of the Future has no bathroom, which is probably just as well. I mean, who wants a toilet that crashes every other time you use it?
I have to go...
Posted by Richard @ 05:26 PM BST [Link]
Friday, February 7, 2003
From the United Methodist News Service
The president of the international United Methodist Council of Bishops has written to U.S. President George W. Bush, asking him to seek peace, especially in regard to Iraq.
Bishop Sharon A. Brown Christopher released two letters Feb. 6, one addressed to Bush, who is also a United Methodist, and the other to 9.8 million United Methodists around the world, encouraging them to join in prayer.
"The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a gospel of peace," Christopher wrote to President Bush. "It calls us to transcend political ideology and national interests to act on behalf of the welfare of the whole human family."
She commended him for his "careful work within the processes of the United Nations" and urged him "to stay the course, seeking every opportunity to disarm Iraq without resorting to war and looking for every peaceful way of protecting the world and our nation against the tyranny manifest around the globe." [more]
Posted by Richard @ 07:07 PM BST [Link]
I can't make up my mind what this means. Either over a year's worth of media saturation has failed to give the American public any useful information, or else opinion has been skilfully and cynically manipulated. A poll on behalf of the Knight Ridder company asked 1204 American citizens the following questions and got the answers shown
"Please try to answer my next questions about Iraq to the best of your knowledge. But if you're not sure of an answer, that's okay -- just tell me and I'll go to the next question. Do you think Iraq and Al Queda -- Osama bin Laden's organization -- are allied and working together to plan new acts of terrorism, or not?"Whereas, of course, there is no apparent link between Al Queda and Iraq, and none of the 9-11 hijackers were Iraqi. What's going on here?Are allied 65%
Are not 16%
Don't know 19%"As far as you know, how many of the September 11th terrorist hijackers were Iraqi citizens: most of them, some of them, just one, or none?"
Most of them 21%
Some of them 23%
Just one 6%
None 17%
Don't know 33%
(Thanks to Bene Diction for pointing this out, BoingBoing for a bit more detail and David Lawrence for the direct link to the results.)
Posted by Richard @ 04:50 PM BST [Link]
It's Friday, so we're due a few more verses from the pen of Charles Wesley:
O THOU, whom once they flock'd to hear,
Thy words to hear, thy power to feel;
Suffer the sinners to draw near,
And graciously receive us still.They that be whole, thyself hast said,
No need of a physician have;
But I am sick, and want thine aid,
And want thine utmost power to save.Thy power, and truth, and love divine,
The same from age to age endure;
A word, a gracious word of thine,
The most inveterate plague can cure.Helpless howe'er my spirit lies,
And long hath languished at the pool,
A word of thine shall make me rise,
And speak me in a moment whole.Eighteen, or eight and thirty, years,
Or thousands, are alike to thee:
Soon as thy saving grace appears,
My plague is gone, my heart is free.Make this the acceptable hour!
Come, O my soul's Physician, thou!
Display thy sanctifying power,
And show me thy salvation now.
Posted by Richard @ 10:47 AM BST [Link]
Thursday, February 6, 2003
Quote of the Day
"He uses statistics as a drunken man uses a lamp post... for support, rather than illumination." -- (Andrew Lang)
Posted by Richard @ 11:22 PM BST [Link]
Posted by Richard @ 04:48 PM BST [Link]
I've just been told that a survey has voted Swansea the most uncool place to live in the UK. Does anyone know what that's about? There is nothing yet on the BBC site, but I'll be keeping my eyes open. How can Swansea be uncool?? I live here! (This from a man who, in the words of the great Zaphod Beeblebrox [PBUH], is so unhip it's a wonder his bum doesn't fall off.)
Anyway, it set me thinking: where would my gentle readers (yes, both of you!) nominate as the least cool place they know? And, of course, why?
Posted by Richard @ 04:15 PM BST [Link]
Tuesday, February 4, 2003
I've just realised that this blog will be a year old in just a few hours time. One of my entries that first day seems just as relevant to me today as it was back then. My colleague Kim Fabricius had preached in the college chapel from Matthew 5: "Blessed are the meek". A couple of quotable quotes stuck in my mind, and I have used both since in more than one sermon:
"Humility isn't thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less - and so thinking of other people more"I've had a fun year with the blog, though I never expected it to become the main part of theConnexion - that accolade, I imagined, would belong to my wiki. I was wrong about that - as my wife is fond of saying, "You're not often right, but you're wrong again." Be that as it may, I hope that someon out there has found reading this blog as useful as it has been to me writing it."C S Lewis put it like this in his brilliant Screwtape Letters: 'God wants to bring us to a state of mind in which we could design the most magnificent cathedral in the world, and know it to be the most magnificent cathedral in the world, and rejoice in the fact, without being any more (or less) glad at having done it than we would be if it had been done by someone else. God's whole effort is to get our minds off the subject of our own value altogether.' "
All together now: "Happy Birthday to you..."
Posted by Richard @ 07:23 PM BST [Link]
From the United Methodist News Service:
Mary just moved into town and is seeking a new church home. Instead of driving around, she logs on.
Tocarra needs to know when her church youth group is leaving for its mission trip to Mexico. She clicks on her church's Web site instead of picking up a phone.
Joel is on a business trip to Korea, but he doesn't want to miss the Sunday morning service at his home church in Montgomery, Ala. He goes online and participates in worship.
The Internet is changing how people communicate, and churches that want to stay connected are finding that they need cyberspace. [more]
Posted by Richard @ 05:03 PM BST [Link]
Today the official memorial takes place in Huston even as hundreds of people still scour the Texas and Louisana landscape for fragments of Columbia and her crew. All the speculation as to "why" gives way, for a short time, to "goodbye" as family, friends and strangers around the world mourn the loss of seven lives that were not bent on war or terrorism or any of the other things we continue to propagate here on earth. No, their quest was to find unified answers to human conditions and understand the infinite just a tiny bit more.
What happened to Columbia is not a result of God's judgement, but will, in all likelyhood, be a result of broken tiles that doomed the craft and its inhabitants from the time of lift off. It reminds us of how fragile our lives and our efforts are and how vast and great our universe and Creator are Who, at this very moment, seeks to comfort those who have experienced loss anywhere in our world, Who seeks His children to be peacemakers and to pray for their enemies.
What a legacy that, in the wake of this most recent tragedy, we could find a way to reconciliation instead of retribution, peace instead of war, for these who have died and so many other true heros?
Ivan
Posted by Ivanthecrank @ 02:42 PM BST [Link]
Bene Diction considers the Meremadness Christian Blog Awards and then asks Who is Bene Diction? Read the post, then ask yourself, "What are your stickers?"
Posted by Richard @ 09:47 AM BST [Link]
Monday, February 3, 2003
When disaster strikes, most of us are quick to ask, "Why?" The question is not so much about physics or sequences of events, but is tied into our deeply held need to find order and purpose in the events around us. Why now? Why here? What have we done to deserve this? Even as scientists and engineers begin the monumental task of determining the cause of Columbia's tragic loss, this bigger question hangs over us all.
Some have a clear answer already. In Bagdhad, those who speak for Saddam have been quick to see this event as a clear sign of God's displeasure with the USA:
"God wants to show that his might is greater than the Americans. They have encroached on our country. God is avenging us,"I suppose in the context of what appears to be an inevitable war such remarks are understandable. People of faith are often quick to point to the will of God when it suits them. Tragedy and misfortune are, and always have been, taken as signs of God's displeasure. Christians and Muslims throughout history have not hesitated to point to events and exclaim, "The hand of God!"
Posted by Richard @ 04:49 PM BST [Link]
Sunday, February 2, 2003
Soundbite of the day
"Sometimes it is easier to ask forgiveness than to seek permission"
Posted by Richard @ 11:44 PM BST [Link]
Heinlein's Prayer for Travellers
Almighty Ruler of the all,
Whose Power extends to great and small,
Who guides the stars with steadfast law,
Whose least creation fills with awe,
O grant thy mercy and thy grace,
To those who venture into space.
Spirit, whom the Father sent
To spread abroad the firmament;
O Wind of heaven, by thy might,
Save all who dare the eagle's flight.
And keep them by the watchful care
From every peril in the air.
Posted by Richard @ 07:56 AM BST [Link]
Saturday, February 1, 2003
In life and in death they were not divided;
they were swifter than eagles,
they were stronger than lions.
Posted by Richard @ 05:02 PM BST [Link]
