tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67141580459580499852024-03-05T01:57:34.479-08:00Power, Love, and Self-DisciplineWalking the path of St. TimothyUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-60264042657156984762009-08-25T04:58:00.001-07:002009-08-25T05:04:39.406-07:00First Day of School BoostI found today's readings from the Liturgy of the Hours to be very appropriate given that today is the first day of school in Carroll County. Let's begin with a reading from Tobit:<br /><br /><div class="v">Blessed be God who lives for ever,</div> <div class="vi"> whose kingdom is eternal:</div> <div class="vi"> for he both punishes and takes pity,</div> <div class="v">he leads down to the underworld,</div> <div class="vi"> and rescues from perdition;</div> <div class="vi"> no one can escape him.</div> <div class="v gb">Give thanks to him before all nations, children of Israel:</div> <div class="vi"> he scattered you among them,</div> <div class="vi"> and there he has made known his greatness.</div> <div class="v">Give glory to him before all who live:</div> <div class="vi"> he is our Lord, our father,</div> <div class="vi"> and our God for ever.</div> <div class="v gb">He will punish you for your transgressions;</div> <div class="vi"> but he will take pity on all your sufferings, </div> <div class="v">and gather you together from all the nations</div> <div class="vi"> among whom he scattered you.</div> <div class="v">If you turn back to him</div> <div class="vi"> with all your heart and soul</div> <div class="v"> – if you keep faithful to him – </div> <div class="v">he will turn back to you</div> <div class="vi"> and hide his face no longer.</div> <div class="v gb">So now look at what he has done with you,</div> <div class="vi"> and praise him with all your might.</div> <div class="v">Bless the Lord of justice,</div> <div class="vi"> and glorify the eternal King.</div> <div class="v gb">In the land of my captivity I trust in him;</div> <div class="vi"> I show his power and majesty to the sinful people.</div> <div class="v">Turn back, sinners,</div> <div class="vi"> and be upright in his presence</div> <div class="v"> – perhaps he will forgive you and show you his favour.</div> <div class="v gb">I will rejoice in the Lord with all my soul,</div> <div class="vi"> my soul will rejoice as long as it lives.</div> <div class="v">Bless the Lord, all his chosen ones:</div> <div class="vi"> all people, praise his greatness.</div> <div class="v">Fill your days with joy</div> <div class="vi"> and proclaim his glory.<br /><br />Antiphon: Exalt the King of Eternity in everything you do. <div class="v"><i><br /></i></div></div>The lesson here (at least for me): Wherever we go, we are in exile, in a sense, even when we go to school. Yet this reading reminds us that even though the Church is scattered in the world and in our communities, God "has shown us his greatness even there." So "in the land of our captivity," wherever that may be, let us rejoice in the Lord and proclaim him - at work, in the classroom, at home, everywhere.<br /><br />And finally, the reading for today:<br /><br />You must wake up now: the night is almost over, it will be daylight soon. Let us give up all the things we prefer to do under cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light. Let us live decently as people do in the daytime. - Romans 13<br /><br />Blessings to every student, teacher, and parent as we begin another year of school.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;" class="bigcap">T</span><span style="font-weight: bold;">he Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. Amen.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-72810390315780851252009-08-22T06:52:00.001-07:002009-08-23T02:37:30.923-07:00Both Sides of Your MouthWell, the ELCA did it, voting in a fairly close vote to recognize the ordained ministry of non-celibate homosexuals. This was not terribly surprising - mainline Protestantism marches on. What has been surprising has been the reaction and discourse following the vote. Of course there were those who were very excited, and those who were very hurt, and time will tell what the fallout will be (something I've written about prior). But the only thing I've seen written from any Lutheran has been "unity." Bishop Mark Hanson, the presiding bishop of the ELCA, had this to say, "We meet one another finally, not in our agreements or our disagreements, but at the foot of the cross - where God is faithful, where Christ is present with us, and where, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we are one in Christ." Furthermore, if you read Facebook posts and blogs and all that, everyone is frantically and earnestly praying for unity.<br /><br />I find this a strange reaction to this course-altering decision. If unity is really the primary concern here, why should a vote have been taken at all? The prior policy was fully open to homosexuals, allowing them to serve in ordained capacity if celibate. It recognized the value of homosexuals and their gifts. This new policy is really no more "open" than the previous one, a policy that was generally accepted and practiced for many years in the ELCA. In other words, it maintained a loving stance towards gays while embracing unity inside and outside the denomination. And the ELCA was no more unified on this issue than yesterday morning, prior to the vote. While there certainly was underlying disagreement as to whether this was the fullest policy or not, the ELCA was able to peacefully exist. This vote forces the disagreement to the surface, and the results insure that disunity will happen. So if the concern really was for unity, the more appropriate step would been to have held off on this altogether.<br /><br />Obviously, I'm a bit skeptical that unity is really what they're after.<br /><br />The seeds for all this were sown in the Human Sexuality statement. In that statement, Lutherans codified disunity. It acknowledged that there are differing theological positions, that those positions are "conscience-bound," and that they are to be respected. It affirmed that all have positions that are honest and well-meaning. Interestingly enough, the Human Sexuality statement is a document of disunity that produced a certain unity, reflected in a super-majority vote.<br /><br />The problem, you see, is that this most recent vote reversed course and blessed a particular "coscience-bound" position. The ELCA may have affirmed all believers, but this policy affirms one position more than another. Those who are "conscience-bound" that homosexuality is a sin have been affirmed in their views via the Human Sexuality statement, only to be told in this vote that regardless of how passionately they believe, the Church is moving away from them. This vote is a vote of unity that produced disunity, reflected in a close, simple majority vote.<br /><br />The question then becomes, "Which unity are is the denomination after?" Is it after the Human Sexuality unity, which agreed to disagree? It couldn't be that, because the ELCA's actions in the homosexual vote said otherwise. That only leaves one option - the call for unity is the call to unify behind this homosexual affirmation. In other words, I fear it is really a passive evangelization. It sure seems like the strategy at this point is that with the soothing words of "unity, "respect," even "Christ" (and who would be against these things?), eventually the emotions will wear off and most everyone will slowly come to accept the ELCA's new theology by attrition. If this is the case, it is the worst kind of pandering. Its dishonest. And it's a slap in the face to those who are genuinely seeking God's will and who vehemently disagree with the actions of the ELCA, the ones they patted on the back two days ago.<br /><br />Of course, it won't work. With such a seismic shift in understanding, it is impossible to gather "at the foot of the cross" and sing "Kum Ba Yah." Its not just that the church adopted a different way of doing things; the very substance of the church has changed. Both sides have fundamentally different views of the nature of God, the person and work of Christ, and the mission of the Church. This is about the Gospel - and both sides cannot proclaim a meaningful Gospel together given their views. Those conscience-bound individuals now must ask themselves, "Can we stay here? Can we remain in a denomination that moved away from us, and has perpetuated the insult by telling us two different things, one that is trying to sway our beliefs not with reason and discourse, but with passivity?" And the answer, as I've predicted, will be "no" for many individuals and congregations.<br /><br />I hope I'm wrong. I hope that the ELCA really does hope to find unity in the midst of this trying time. And of course, I only assume the best motives for the ELCA and her leadership. But it seems highly unlikely given her actions over the last couple of days. I fear that her well-meaning words are little more than self-deception. With the actions of this week, real unity is impossible. One only hopes that the ELCA takes seriously the pain and hurt of those affected by this week's decisions, and lives up to the standards she is so fervently trying to attain.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-66960283449991625152009-08-19T08:15:00.000-07:002009-08-19T09:17:59.255-07:00Big Changes for LutheransIf my ELCA colleagues are to be believed, today (or this weekend) is the day that the ELCA will decide on whether to allow homosexual individuals in non-celibate relationships to serve as rostered clergy in the denomination. Regardless of where you are on the issue, today's decision will set a course for the denomination that will not quickly, if ever, be reversed. We in the United Church of Christ has a little experience in this area, having elected to recognize same-sex marriages in the 2005 marriage equality resolution.<br /> I do not wish to engage one side or the other, only what this is going to do to the denomination as a whole. To this end, I read an article in the June 2009 issue of <span style="font-style: italic;">The Lutheran</span> by Paul Schreck, who has served in the ecumenical and interreligions office of the ELCA. With this background, he is sensitive to the ecumenical ramifications of this decision. He correctly identifies that "Some steps in recent decades have restored a high degree of trust and affection between Christians of various traditions." As a UCC minister, I am jealous of the meaningful ecumenical relationships that the ELCA has been able to forge. They continue to be a moderate ecumenical voice, one that needs to be heard with greater clarity.<br /> But these relationships come with a price. When these relationships have the strength that they do, significant, course-altering decisions affect those relationships. Schreck writes, "Astonishingly absent from the discussion [concerning same-sex marriage] is the point that the ELCA doesn't make this decision in a vacuum. We live in interdependent relationships with Lutherans and Christians around the world. Assembly decisions affect those."<br /> Far too often denominations think in a vacuum. The UCC's roots are in this kind of robust ecumenism; who among us would deny Christ's words and our motto, "That they may all be one"? The UCC, more than any other denomination, has been a model of visible Church unity, bringing many Christian bodies under one roof. For a young denomination, their influence was significant and promising for the future.<br /> But it all went awry with the same-sex marriage debates. Rather than think about their relationships with other Christians, a select few made a denomination-altering decision in a vacuum. What has this done to ecumenical dialog? To be honest, few people really take the UCC seriously now, and our robust ecumenical dialog (not just communion agreements) are really only with the far-left Episcopal Church (who is in the process of destroying their own communion). The perception of the UCC, right or wrong, is simply "the church that accepts gays." While you may or may not think that's a good thing, its a tragedy that that's the only thing.<br /> Schreck continues, "There may be appropriate times to break communion with other Christians. But we must be fully aware we are doing it. Dividing the church comes at a price. We must never pretend its not painful." The pain will be significant, and it will last for many decades. Not only will healthy dialog with Catholics, Orthodox, etc. be irreparably damaged, but they can expect a significant exodus from their own denomination. Since the 2005 decision, the UCC has lost over 250 churches, with the number still growing. Is the ELCA prepared for that? On a pragmatic level, can the ELCA survive that kind of exodus in these economic times? And are they prepared to lose the significant ground they've gained in their ecumenical witness? Perhaps they are. Perhaps they've counted the cost. And if they feel that this is indeed following Christ, then it is worth it. But has the Church really advanced if it must make one stand at the cost of another?<br /><br />At the end of the day it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">possible</span> that, from God's perspective, something good will be gained from an affirmation of these sexual issues. But it is <span style="font-weight: bold;">certain</span> that something will be lost. From where I'm sitting, that's simply not a risk I'm willing to take. I pray for the ELCA, and ask that the Lord's will be done. Hopefully it is a decision they can live with.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-48238052285950747552009-08-15T04:47:00.000-07:002009-08-15T05:04:35.224-07:00Chastity? Yes. Marriage? No.I promise to try to be better about posting on this thing.<br /><br />I've had marriage on the mind lately, as I'm preparing to wed four couples (and possibly a fifth) next year. With that in mind, I stumbled across <a href="http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/article_print.html?id=84286">an article in Christianity Today</a> about modern trends in the church concerning chastity and marriage. The author, Mark Regnerus, a professor at UT-Austin, says that the American evangelical church has done a very good job of holding to a biblical sexual ethic. However, it has succumbed to a wordly understanding of marriage - one that fulfills self, rather than points to God - and as such, we are watching our ideas of chastity and marriage battle one another rather than complement each other. This constitutes a crisis for the average American Christian family, and is a challenge to the Church to consider what she teaches about marriage, and how she practices it in her communities. Regnerus writes:<br /><br />"Most young Americans no longer think of marriage as a formative institution, but rather as the institution they enter once they think they are fully formed. Increasing numbers of young evangelicals think likewise, and, by integrating these ideas with the timeless imperative to abstain from sex before marriage, we've created a new optimal life formula for our children: Marriage is glorious, and a big deal. But it must wait. And with it, sex. Which is seldom as patient."<br /><br />Its a long article, but well worth the read.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-89528931567095366202009-03-26T11:19:00.000-07:002009-03-26T11:26:50.642-07:00Punctuation<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIbDqG1mIfm3OV3U6tIw0b7Vcsn8EUBz3cN370nEhlInWKRmja-fB9c1Ewo90CudY1brTSP8rnmlTCBTlMoz1otnMem5MLGPNAf6GeZZv4JmAq18rxi9CKGB_4ZuTeuA_SVjJ_eNLl74x/s1600-h/images.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 94px; height: 118px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLIbDqG1mIfm3OV3U6tIw0b7Vcsn8EUBz3cN370nEhlInWKRmja-fB9c1Ewo90CudY1brTSP8rnmlTCBTlMoz1otnMem5MLGPNAf6GeZZv4JmAq18rxi9CKGB_4ZuTeuA_SVjJ_eNLl74x/s320/images.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5317563413626430322" /></a><br />If you've been in or around the United Church of Christ the last couple of years, you've seen our now-famous comma logo (see picture) and its tag line "Never put a period where God has put a comma." Over time, the comma has become an interesting point of conversation as we discuss precisely what this means.<br /> Well, someone has finally identified what's going on here. In the most recent issue of "United Church News," a Bruce Farrell from Myerstown (Pa.) UCC had this to say:<br /><br />"Jesus often teaches that you can have the right theology but the wrong actions. What Jesus is not teaching is that theology is unimportant. Jesus was harshly critical of the theology of the Samaritans...when he spoke to the Samaritan woman at the well.<br /> "Healthy theology, like good grammar, has a wide range of punctuations: commas, periods, question marks, exclamation points. We in the UCC seem to have one: the comma."<br /><br /> The is an issue not just for the UCC, but for all mainline denominations. Like a run-on sentence, the theology that is happening in the UCC just seems to go on and on and on. At what point does it stop? When do we say, "Here I stand, I can go no farther"? Jesus does use periods. We had better learn how to do likewise.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-78540426907901819032009-03-18T11:39:00.001-07:002009-03-18T11:39:16.218-07:00<a href="http://www.wordle.net/gallery/wrdl/663877/2_Timothy_1%3A7" <br /> title="Wordle: 2 Timothy 1:7"><img<br /> src="http://www.wordle.net/thumb/wrdl/663877/2_Timothy_1%3A7"<br /> alt="Wordle: 2 Timothy 1:7"<br /> style="padding:4px;border:1px solid #ddd"></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-10071242621057932092009-03-06T03:19:00.000-08:002009-03-06T03:21:54.443-08:00A Low-Tech LentI just ran across an excellent article on the Town Hall website about a different way of approaching Lent, perhaps the most relevant piece concerning modern Lenten practices that I've read in a long time. Check it <a href="http://townhall.com/Common/PrintPage.aspx?g=d642c179-453d-4a18-96e6-3860cb997caa&t=c">out.</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-76247211011667277402009-03-03T03:26:00.001-08:002009-03-03T03:26:37.768-08:00The "Passions"
In worship this past week, we talked about where temptations come from - not an external source per se, but, as James tells us, "...each person is tempted when he is lurned and enticed by his own desire" (1:14). &nbsp;The idea of disordered passions is not something I had really given much thought to, yet it makes a great deal of sense in our Lenten context.<br />Apparently, the Orthodox tradition is well out ahead of me. &nbsp;For Lent this year, I'm reading, "First Fruits of Prayer - A Forty-Day Journey Through the Canon of St. Andrew," which is a Orthodox litany of confession by St. Andrew. &nbsp;In it, he writes this, some food for thought:<br /><br />I have fallen beneath the painful burden of the passions and the corruption of material things; and I am hard pressed by the enemy. &nbsp;Instead of freedom from possessions, O Savior, I have pursued a life in love with material things; and now I wear a heavy yoke....I hav cared only for the outward adornment, and neglected that which is within - the tabernacle fashioned by God. &nbsp;With my lustful desires I have formed within myself the deformity of the passions and disfigured the beauty of my mind. &nbsp;I have discolored with the passions the first beauty of the image, O Savior. &nbsp;But seek me, as once Thou hast sought the lost coin, and find me.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-39016557048610397062009-02-19T10:00:00.000-08:002009-02-19T10:01:44.108-08:00Did You See That?Hopefully, you saw my post of the Marian Hossa goal vs. the Atlanta Thrashers earlier in the season. I think Alex Ovechkin's goal last night against the Canadiens top it. What a play!<br /><br /><object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/3xT2fnoUJs8&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/3xT2fnoUJs8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-47003463060959143332009-02-19T09:10:00.001-08:002009-02-19T09:10:14.223-08:00On Perfection
While studying for this week's sermon, here's a little snippet I ran across from St. Gregory of Nyssa out of the Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (well worth your time and money)...<br /><br />"I do not think it is a fearful thing (I mean that our nature is changeable). The Logos shows that it would be a disadvantage for us not to be able to make a change for the better, as a kind of wing of flight to greater things. Therefore, let no one be grieved if he sees in his nature a penchant for change. Changing in everything for the better, let him exchange "glory for glory," becoming greater through daily increase, ever perfecting himself and never arriving too quickly at the limit of perfection. For this is truly perfection: never to stop growing towards what is better and never placing any limit on perfection."Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-7804333284568195822009-01-18T20:02:00.001-08:002009-01-18T20:02:37.004-08:00Not To Be
The Ravens losing, especially in the AFC Championship, is bad enough. To lose to the Steelers makes it even worse. I'll be in a bad mood tomorrow.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-34666915907338651532009-01-08T12:03:00.001-08:002009-01-08T12:03:00.702-08:00Unmediated Grace
Hello all,<br /><br />Working on my sermon, I was perusing my school notes, and came across this little gem:<br /><br />"There is no such thing as unmediated grace."<br /><br />Discuss.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-1414612675614563742009-01-06T14:26:00.001-08:002009-01-06T14:28:26.628-08:00A Worthy Role ModelIn the sports world of me-first-ism and unrepentant thuggery, its helpful to have someone to look up to from time to time. One such player is Tim Tebow, quarterback for the Florida Gators. Check out this article on him at ESPN.com:<br /><br /><a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3812762&sprtCat=ncf">http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3812762&sportCat=ncf</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-38150597786451222282008-12-02T07:47:00.001-08:002008-12-02T07:47:52.455-08:00Just trying out a new widget...good times.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-13578747712501395872008-11-11T14:45:00.001-08:002008-11-11T14:48:26.275-08:00Which Church Father Are You?This won't surprise a single soul at seminary....<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia, Times New Roman, Times, serif;"><br /><table width="200" border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td><br /><div align="center"><br /><p><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">You’re Tertullian!</span></strong></p><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;">You possess many gifts, but patience isn’t one of them. You’re tough on yourself — and on others. You’re independent, too, and you don’t like to be told what to do. You wish the Church would be a little tighter in discipline. As for the pagans, you’ve pretty much written them off. Sometimes you think the Church would be a better place if you were in charge.</span></p><br /><p align="left"><span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.fathersofthechurch.com/quiz/">Find out which Church Father you are at <em>The Way of the Fathers</em>!</a></span></p><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><br /><p><br /></p></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-25590567489387342242008-11-04T03:29:00.000-08:002008-11-04T03:32:13.607-08:00The things that REALLY matter in the election...Because it's election day, we need to know where the candidates stand on the issues. So a reporter from the Ottawa Citizen has done just that, putting the candidates' direct quotes concerning the major issues of our time in one helpful voting guide. Hope you enjoy it.<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://www.tsn.ca/columnists/james_duthie/?id=254641">What you must know for this election...</a></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-77524108842122446972008-10-25T17:45:00.000-07:002008-10-25T17:48:14.559-07:00A Little HockeyI'm a little embarrassed that the hockey season has started and I haven't posted any hockey content. Last night, Marian Hossa gave me ample reason to do so. Check out this goal against his former team, the Atlanta Thrashers.<div><br /></div><div>To quote John Wayne in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">True Grit,</span> "He reminds me of me."</div><div><br /></div><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jQ3tJRzatG4&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jQ3tJRzatG4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-37847688646986635122008-10-20T04:54:00.000-07:002008-10-20T05:03:41.504-07:00First Autumn FrostThis morning was the first hard frost of the fall season, and it was so beautiful (and cold!) that I thought I'd take a couple pictures of it and post them. Isn't it amazing the beauty that is always around us that we frequently fail to see? Well, at least I didn't miss it this morning....<div><br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9HZ3RwSwcAMFyu4cuzpLsXxuy0dnG4JOhOdAba6xizBzbvZdoQHfIaVlJsqny-hSz3zLag8njqi2OH65-VFzuqrnyvSii2JrRsoC6nFFj2SN82LUFGjGm9F9kYfL1HNHFNmJWj1_TZfQ/s1600-h/100_0358.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9HZ3RwSwcAMFyu4cuzpLsXxuy0dnG4JOhOdAba6xizBzbvZdoQHfIaVlJsqny-hSz3zLag8njqi2OH65-VFzuqrnyvSii2JrRsoC6nFFj2SN82LUFGjGm9F9kYfL1HNHFNmJWj1_TZfQ/s320/100_0358.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259205262920575186" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbzpLJrFFzKP2DWUzcE74V428RHDeMl2rlq6bhMI1dTSr6GvxeijXQbOJdAJlVx0vVVLyd7RhjqJLEHOFmVxWWFUh0_B4wWuew3PF6nu5CNLa0QHI18FNbH765_g3VWg8TtKMP0gEZ5gW/s1600-h/100_0359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEbzpLJrFFzKP2DWUzcE74V428RHDeMl2rlq6bhMI1dTSr6GvxeijXQbOJdAJlVx0vVVLyd7RhjqJLEHOFmVxWWFUh0_B4wWuew3PF6nu5CNLa0QHI18FNbH765_g3VWg8TtKMP0gEZ5gW/s320/100_0359.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259205272913001122" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHTK_QB1hys5QhBmNThJx6Nt1wXhYZslvGM69-8lphQjddObhHSkr1YR89eA14SrTT_zYsMJ4r9-JKFylt8V7M3eJDohlAS4q3xVO7S43JUaMZ6cowByFBICILMg_zIRW6zHbzKLJa8dZ/s1600-h/100_0352.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXHTK_QB1hys5QhBmNThJx6Nt1wXhYZslvGM69-8lphQjddObhHSkr1YR89eA14SrTT_zYsMJ4r9-JKFylt8V7M3eJDohlAS4q3xVO7S43JUaMZ6cowByFBICILMg_zIRW6zHbzKLJa8dZ/s320/100_0352.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259204284604027714" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7mZkM8plI76Es_CVGCq63Q_l1qn9HU4wXEv8Xf5gYl31bkOyIcooMOK2imyDH6J7hbYX1DVNAUK6RdiZB-iMis3SW7hI2R7OGoNTJo_UfNgnpZzV7Eo93MUCtHMXgHK_eUwifs0s__6l/s1600-h/100_0353.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7mZkM8plI76Es_CVGCq63Q_l1qn9HU4wXEv8Xf5gYl31bkOyIcooMOK2imyDH6J7hbYX1DVNAUK6RdiZB-iMis3SW7hI2R7OGoNTJo_UfNgnpZzV7Eo93MUCtHMXgHK_eUwifs0s__6l/s320/100_0353.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259204287205516818" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrU9jIAxLtdxF86mlx-a0lrQlXocDXoi9DUGQZM8rn_xaZFZ8gbMmxqzho4UN4Bl6vwdCIyW7C4uazvO-q6ErbTpqOGYZDAk0FNIKOjhi9cxL8EaXSc6f8OtbO73buNz73e9k-gHL4hCG/s1600-h/100_0354.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxrU9jIAxLtdxF86mlx-a0lrQlXocDXoi9DUGQZM8rn_xaZFZ8gbMmxqzho4UN4Bl6vwdCIyW7C4uazvO-q6ErbTpqOGYZDAk0FNIKOjhi9cxL8EaXSc6f8OtbO73buNz73e9k-gHL4hCG/s320/100_0354.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259204297364405362" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAj7b5Q9jZEd5TEXvpWTGPJaZCME4PB2dU_qCL44CO_A8t4PMeUq8BzmYEotvFbu-zafqavn4maazqXWXwxGeNeVT39EttyPq4_pZeiY9oyM9bRPYx2yElkv8YW4XSSZo1olgdy7NDHbAJ/s1600-h/100_0355.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAj7b5Q9jZEd5TEXvpWTGPJaZCME4PB2dU_qCL44CO_A8t4PMeUq8BzmYEotvFbu-zafqavn4maazqXWXwxGeNeVT39EttyPq4_pZeiY9oyM9bRPYx2yElkv8YW4XSSZo1olgdy7NDHbAJ/s320/100_0355.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259204309500542850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSU2ZLyNoUOaHy6iwKY42BxPFdOTvNw-Wx6nuORDkiemcP3cM0wpMoKClQdhRrt3XxoI9bJ6TB-pk0473UqMkeBDjfwgilPCywEO-sW4ewtw9bpcGqlBBgue7AysuoFAC1OJtBrBkj3Re/s1600-h/100_0356.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhSU2ZLyNoUOaHy6iwKY42BxPFdOTvNw-Wx6nuORDkiemcP3cM0wpMoKClQdhRrt3XxoI9bJ6TB-pk0473UqMkeBDjfwgilPCywEO-sW4ewtw9bpcGqlBBgue7AysuoFAC1OJtBrBkj3Re/s320/100_0356.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5259204319992581410" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-9287501400004784732008-10-02T04:56:00.000-07:002008-10-02T04:59:20.074-07:00Necessity of BaptismIn my "Early Church and Its Creeds" class yesterday, our topic of discussion centered upon baptism; and after looking at all the major biblical passages concerning baptism, my professor, Dr. Christianson (whom most of you would love) made a comment that bears further thought. He said:<div><br /></div><div>"Whether or not baptism is necessary for salvation, it is necessary for the assurance of salvation."</div><div><br /></div><div>Thoughts?</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-53864373155460377252008-09-26T04:40:00.000-07:002008-09-26T05:16:23.687-07:00Communion Rails and Pastor/CongregationGreetings everyone - sorry I haven't updated in quite some time, but with the start of seminary I needed some time to figure out how my schedule was going to work out. Your prayers and encouragement are so appreciated!<div><br /><div><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT5TDkinc7SSYu4jfWuEqntdj42QanfBL_09g5JosRUgpIfYhjPNXxgU5mL-N34b3bTNgx1R9PcSdO_XVG2fOB3hXPNSxBgzEXs5tGsgmbguUjb1MwIR04nZtF4ohnVef4eLKRxZXxmfrP/s320/2401185731_05d91ba4ab.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5250301038080921906" /></div><div>I was on the blog yesterday of <a href="http://wdtprs.com/blog/2008/09/quaeritur-communion-rails-fr-z-rants/">Father John Zuhlsdorf</a>, a Catholic priest and prolific writer on all things Catholic and liturgical. If you follow the link, you'll find an entry concerning altar rails. Apparently, there are churches (even Catholic churches) that are tearing them out, seeking to reduce the distance between a priest and a parish that this physical dividing line inevitably causes. But is this a good thing? Father Z finds this to be a disturbing trend, and he argues for the usefulness of the altar rail. But I want to draw your attention to one of his arguments in particular:<br /></div><div><br /></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Lay people and the ordained have different roles in the liturgy. They have their own particular places. When you blur those places by making them less distinct, you undermine something important in the hearts and minds of the clergy and congregation. When you constantly tell people that they are being empowered by being given things to do and places to sit or stand that cannot be distinguished from what the clergy do, you are really telling them that on their own they aren’t good enough. They are really not good enough unless they do things priests do, or sit where they sit. </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><div>This blew me away because it perfectly describes me. Part of the reason I wanted to be a minister is because it seemed like I couldn't be the best Christian I could be unless I was a minister. All the best Christians I knew were pastors (I now see how wrong that was), which suggested to me that clergy were on another spiritual plane that couldn't be accessed unless on was clergy. Furthermore, if it was acceptable for me to preach as a 15-year-old, then I wasn't doing enough, and was therefore less of a Christian, when I wasn't preaching. The thought never entered my mind that I may have a vital role to play in worship as a member of the congregation. </div><div><br /></div><div>I wonder if I would have felt this way if there were a greater distinction between clergy and congregation growing up, if the creep of egalitarianism wasn't so strong. What if there were places I wasn't allowed to go on the altar? What if someone had explained to me that there are things the pastor does that the congregation can't do, and things the congregation does that the pastor can't do? What if I knew that both are essential for worship (and, by extension, we do great harm to the worship of the church when we don't show up)? I wonder if I would have valued the sacraments and the preaching of the Word more if I had a better understanding of the differences between ordained and lay.</div><div><br /></div><div>I'm not necessarily arguing one way or the other; I'm just surprised at how personal this was for me. How do you see it? Are there differences between clergy and lay, and should we maintain those differences, even by physical barriers? This gets at the very heart of what worship is all about, and so I'd be most appreciative of your thoughts.</div><div><br /></div><div>(By the way, this further goes to illustrate that the buildings in which we worship shape how we worship and what we believe about God; as Winston Churchill said, "We shape our buildings, and then our buildings shape us." Our buildings matter.)</div><div><br /></div><div>May the Lord bless you and keep you! </div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-65789948464931625482008-08-15T18:13:00.001-07:002008-08-15T18:17:43.815-07:00Caleb's BeansCaleb had an interesting rendezvous with a green bean tonight. Here's the comical evidence.<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEbM8eGQN7KQCzaK46wa9l-9v-_SzbV0NhexTSyR1mU3x4El-rYKmysbU9vXCZBgMTkJnVriCFaQGBzzQ-19eSHkDv97hWmF03vakiTza15QbSkRSrBwuLSl_Kqr1t61Z2rA9W_GE9Ofm/s1600-h/000_0007.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEbM8eGQN7KQCzaK46wa9l-9v-_SzbV0NhexTSyR1mU3x4El-rYKmysbU9vXCZBgMTkJnVriCFaQGBzzQ-19eSHkDv97hWmF03vakiTza15QbSkRSrBwuLSl_Kqr1t61Z2rA9W_GE9Ofm/s320/000_0007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234918365229206850" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5RW5tT-DAi1_wCuyEZKAwHWPEEI5hTNyEDgODG80jX6kmMsb_NA_c6XqytPxo5DVgZnIRFd2MbUhM8hCGGobxs2MhHdIepAJEM1cwPAvuP99eN9v_Vj0Y_KPbdGR5F3IuWjbySXLtD-x/s1600-h/000_0008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf5RW5tT-DAi1_wCuyEZKAwHWPEEI5hTNyEDgODG80jX6kmMsb_NA_c6XqytPxo5DVgZnIRFd2MbUhM8hCGGobxs2MhHdIepAJEM1cwPAvuP99eN9v_Vj0Y_KPbdGR5F3IuWjbySXLtD-x/s320/000_0008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234918367634204258" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmRP6ijgTFCLdamTeANErOC_xEHNHEc3QC7DKMx-AsdbohFOsskHz_GRaU6Ac33OaoAocIy-uTY4C1Z302l_5daRpJxjOeYwH3Y_JYQXZ8OHZ9sGAeQPm7NQv-MCKHMNbdnwEsImoxAz1/s1600-h/000_0009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmRP6ijgTFCLdamTeANErOC_xEHNHEc3QC7DKMx-AsdbohFOsskHz_GRaU6Ac33OaoAocIy-uTY4C1Z302l_5daRpJxjOeYwH3Y_JYQXZ8OHZ9sGAeQPm7NQv-MCKHMNbdnwEsImoxAz1/s320/000_0009.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234918372334438674" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb5tV32gDqkv_UV-jLLh_xiXxYOxY7d87BIgBFvkXuokNvSuun1bg-C2CXotBCDZE9QREXTh008whAYogSV5XVKuP7wZfF0jmy7JKS9HUuxdlj7Ff-o4g8Rkoc_NZqk-Q_0SjAfCuGfog/s1600-h/000_0011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCb5tV32gDqkv_UV-jLLh_xiXxYOxY7d87BIgBFvkXuokNvSuun1bg-C2CXotBCDZE9QREXTh008whAYogSV5XVKuP7wZfF0jmy7JKS9HUuxdlj7Ff-o4g8Rkoc_NZqk-Q_0SjAfCuGfog/s320/000_0011.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234918378348311586" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-9475666453201242692008-08-15T05:43:00.000-07:002008-08-15T05:59:49.079-07:00Anticipating Sunday School: John EdwardsFor those who may not know, each week our adult Sunday School class takes one of the significant news stories of the week and discusses it in the context of a Christian faith and worldview (the curriculum we use is from <a href="http://www.thewiredword.com/">The Wired Word</a>). It often generates stimulating conversation while causing each of us to consider more deeply the events of the world and our daily lives in the context of Christ and his Kingdom.<div><br /></div><div>I'm anticipating that this week's topic will center around John Edwards. To that end, an <a href="http://article.nationalreview.com/?q=Y2ExNTFlMGRhYWExNjU2OGI2NThkZmQ0OGU4MTNjNjU=">article</a> (ALERT: adult themes) I read this morning was stimulating because it begs the question: Why are we so upset about all this? The author asks us to look critically at our culture and its mores and taboos, and she sees in them the seeds of infidelity not just for John Edwards, but for all of us. Yet the condemnation we so freely lavish on Edwards is so seldom directed towards the culture that encourages such behavior, or the normal people that behave in the exact same way. If your time is short, read the final paragraph. Powerful stuff, and scary.</div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-76374943768556637072008-08-13T13:33:00.000-07:002008-08-15T06:01:17.453-07:00Eunuchs and Birth ControlWhen studying the week's readings in preparation for my sermon on Sunday, I generally pull up the commentary from <a href="http://www.scborromeo.org/index2.htm">St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church</a> in Picayune, MS. On their site they provide very good commentary for the week's readings when the Catholic and Revised Common Lectionaries match up. I also recommend them for the layperson who wants to prepare for Sunday by reading the lessons before worship.<br /><br /><div>The Old Testament reading for this week is from Isaiah 56, and it focuses on the care of God for those who are excluded from Israel because of the law, which meshes well with the Gospel reading about the Caananite woman. Among those who were excluded were eunuchs, and the writer of the commentary explains: </div><div><br /></div><div>"Eunuchs were refused admission into the assembly of the Lord (Leviticus 22:24; Deuteronomy 23:1) because it seemed improper for a person, deprived of the power of transmitting life to associate with the God of life."</div><div><br /></div><div>This is very interesting commentary explaining why God would be exclude someone from His presence for a simple bodily deficiency (somehow, that word seems too benign!); restrictions on eunuchs had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with reflecting God's nature and character in one's body. <br /><br /></div><div>Recently we passed the 40th anniversary of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><a href="http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html">Humanae Vitae</a>,</span> the much-maligned Catholic encyclical published by Pope Paul VI in 1968, which is most famous for its strong condemnation of birth control. For a full treatment on the subject, <a href="http://www.firstthings.com/article.php3?id_article=6262">Mary Eberstadt's article in First Things</a> is a must-read. In the opening statement of the encyclical, Paul VI writes,</div><div><br />"The transmission of human life is a most serious role in which married people collaborate freely and responsibly with God the Creator."</div><div><br /></div><div>The operating principle in the encyclical is that sex necessarily entails a responsibility to create; since God creates, and we are made in the image of the Creator, we are called to c0-create with the Creator. Furthermore, the Bible is unmistakable that God created out of love - Psalm 136 explains that everything exists because "His love endures for ever." Love and creation cannot be separated because to do so cuts right across the grain of who God is. Therefore, the act of intercourse cannot be limited to an expression of love; to make it a non-creative act is to do violence to the design of God.</div><div><br /></div><div>It seems that the same principle that excluded eunuchs from the sacred assembly is in play when discussing birth control. Consider: if God would exclude a eunuch from the sacred assembly for a bodily deficiency that deprives someone the ability to create life, why would God permit someone into His assembly who willingly deprived themselves of the possibility of procreation? Is there a difference here?<div><br /></div><div>Catholics have been rankling over this logic for 40 years, but Protestants are relative newcomers to the game. Protestants have taken their positions on abortion on both sides, but we've remained largely silent on the next logical step of birth control. And if there is any truth to Ms. Eberstadt's article, then it is imperative that we start speaking out on this issue, because contrary to popular opinion, birth control is not a private issue for couples, but a moral issue affecting all of us. In the 40 years since <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Humanae Vitae,</span> have we seen a significant drop in abortions, in children born or raised out of wedlock, in sexual irresponsibility? Of course not; and as Ms. Eberstadt points out with remarkable clarity, much of that can be traced to the increase use of birth control, and, I would add, the stunning silence of churches. "Free love" has been shown to be a filthy lie from Satan himself; the only answer is the responsible, creative love of God expressed in marriage.</div><div><br /></div><div>Of course, the good news of the reading from Isaiah is that God has mercy on those who "keep justice and do righteousness." For those who may have fallen, who have put themselves outside of the people of God, there is good news - we can choose God's way again. Isaiah writes,</div><div><br /></div><div>"To the eunuchs who keep my sabbaths, who choose the things that please me and hold fast my covenant, I will give in my house and within my walls a monument and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which shall not be cut off."</div><div><br /></div><div>Thanks be to God.</div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-10873772802058083462008-08-08T06:55:00.000-07:002008-08-08T07:02:35.741-07:00A Moving VideoI'm attempting to piece together a thoughtful blog entry for the near future, but in the meantime I found a video today that has got me in an even more somber, and thoughtful, mood. If you don't know who Steven Curtis Chapman is, he's a leader in the contemporary Christian music movement, a talented guitar player with a voice to match. But a few weeks ago, tragedy struck his family, as his son accidentally struck his adopted 5 year old daughter with the family car. The family was interviewed on Larry King recently, and I'd encourage you to spend some time with the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2008/08/06/lkl.chapman.home.video.cnn">video</a>. Click on the link, and then scroll down in the videos section to find the interview.<br /><br />This squares rather well with a string of tragedy in our own church family: breast cancer seems to be running rampant, we just heard about a young child who has what appears to be terminal cancer, not to mention the various bumps and bruises of everyday life.<br /><br />How do we, as the people of God, deal with tragedy? Is God responsible? Can God be trusted in these moments? We often pay lip service to the idea that God is good, but do we really believe it when reality hits us with all its cruel force? Some food for thought.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6714158045958049985.post-10911447464216477042008-07-24T06:01:00.001-07:002008-07-24T06:07:08.864-07:00WeirdI don't know about you, but this is freaky...the first is St. Benedict of Nursia, the second is Father Benedict Groeschel.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLJFJuzd4lmmNx2XhQfmcoL3ZhBlblQt7acfvwR14hljXd_lZyLtanCZ3NsSz5pDJSz1FNiz5KLRNztDu7h_9-5kDYuku7utAuwZj6K6YzJF5L4S2yJSr2e_jrKn8LgmQ0NX7pBbwAclx/s1600-h/St+Benedict.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLJFJuzd4lmmNx2XhQfmcoL3ZhBlblQt7acfvwR14hljXd_lZyLtanCZ3NsSz5pDJSz1FNiz5KLRNztDu7h_9-5kDYuku7utAuwZj6K6YzJF5L4S2yJSr2e_jrKn8LgmQ0NX7pBbwAclx/s320/St+Benedict.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226566141514129218" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-grL56fGc8-Jixw2evpJvbMfxRP9ibZ1urxduqPn56SWY660dbCvMpGzQufoUxrA7H8f-HnPYjbCkTFUS0Eyg-GZ1-ildkO_clGgv5-MTWfNf6CSVq2g4fcWeMRg90dsWNwBfozgGg8j/s1600-h/fr_benedict.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB-grL56fGc8-Jixw2evpJvbMfxRP9ibZ1urxduqPn56SWY660dbCvMpGzQufoUxrA7H8f-HnPYjbCkTFUS0Eyg-GZ1-ildkO_clGgv5-MTWfNf6CSVq2g4fcWeMRg90dsWNwBfozgGg8j/s320/fr_benedict.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226566232280306146" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0