fishbowl

New Blog...

2006-02-13T15:34:00.000-06:00

I've started a new blog: kairos.

I moved some of my recent posts there. I'm not sure how much posting I'll do here: maybe much, maybe not. We'll see.

Elizabeth on Bono and Mcconaughey

2006-02-13T09:00:00.000-06:00

Nice reflection on Bono and McConaughey's apparence on Oprah (though I don't know enough about him to say that he's an amazing person)...

When seminarians rebel...

2006-02-13T08:56:00.000-06:00

Those naughty PTS students. What happens when God opens up the snow-gates and Princeton still wants students to show up for 8am classes? They take action into their own hands....

Be sure to check out the pictures. Great photography, Adam...

Authentic blogging...

2006-02-11T20:49:00.000-06:00

So I ran across apostle john's blog today.

He is a ~~newish~~ longtime presbyterian pastor down in florida. One of the things I'm thinking through as a new pastor is how to blog authentically my thoughts/musings/feelings while being pastoral to the church at the same time. I'm not sure, but I don't think that apostle john identifies which church he pastors in his blog: it is psuedo-anonymous by my quick glance. I wonder if his church knows about it.

That frees him, in a way, to talk about things like what he doesn't like about the process of being church where he works. Does that mean I should maintain an pseudo-anonymous blog so I could do the same too? I just wonder about how far to take the whole transparency thing...

Extreme what?

2006-02-11T13:49:00.000-06:00

I remember in high school when the X games were being played in the downtown where I lived. I never thought that some folks would take the impulse to push the envelope to the heights now seen: extreme ironing!

Unbelievable.

(Hat-tip: Katie Harris)

Bono speaks. We should listen...

2006-02-07T14:42:00.000-06:00

Yes, at a national prayer breakfast

Zehnder

2006-02-06T18:29:00.000-06:00

Their webpage is up: http://www.ztheband.com

Not a great site: works poorly on firefox, and some limitations within IE as well; relies heavily on javascript. Still, I'm grateful that it is up so I can order a cd...

Cool music.

(The lyrics on the screen say "Gay and Lesbian We Love You, Ashe Ashe")

2006 APCE conference and Zehnder

2006-02-04T21:48:00.000-06:00

Just got back from the 2006 Association of Presbyterian Christian Educators. I know that 1200 Christian Educators might sound daunting to many folk, but I had a good time and took some great workshops.

Best part was the musical leadership of Zehnder. Too bad their webpage is down, or I'd link there. Maybe soon....

2006-01-30T19:51:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to test what putting a picture on here was like:

Meet Frankie:

2006-01-30T19:25:00.000-06:00

A filabuster goes down in flames.

Gawd, I just hope Stevens (or the others) can last until after the next President is inaugurated....

The Institution question

2006-01-27T21:26:00.000-06:00

It strikes me that these are precisely the questions that the church needs to begin thinking about: why does it matter?

It is a good post. Has me thinking about it....

The right kind of bad Christian....

2006-01-27T21:10:00.000-06:00

I've been called a bad Christian too.

Worth Reading Aloud is right....

2006-01-27T14:44:00.000-06:00

Stolen, word for word, from a plax over at fear and trembling:

Worth Reading Aloud

...are the following words in the form of a prayer by Saint Augustine.

Most high, utterly good, utterly powerful, most omnipotent, most merciful and most just, deeply hidden yet most intimately present, perfection of both beauty and strength, stable and incomprehensible, immutable and yet changing all things, never new, never old, making everything new and leading the proud to be old without their knowledge; always active, always in repose, gathering to yourself but not in need, supporting and filling and protecting, creating and nurturing and bringing to maturity, searching even though to you nothing is lacking: you love without burning, you are jealous in a way that is free of anxiety, you repent without the pain of regret, you are wrathful and remain tranquil. You will a change without any change in your design. You recover what you find, yet have never lost. Never in any need, you rejoice in your gains; you are never avaricious, yet you require interest. We pay you more than you require so as to make you our debtor, yet who has anything which does not belong to you? You pay off debts, though owing nothing to anyone; you cancel debts and incur no loss. (Confessions I.iv)

Go ahead. Make them yours....

On the progressive nature of the emergent movement

2006-01-27T09:20:00.000-06:00

Ann Pittman blogs here. I can't say I've been reading her blog, but I found her on this recent exploration of the emergent movement.

Back last April she applied for a teaching job at an emergent church, and confronted sexism there.

The discussion of that application is on her blog, and I was struck by her comment:

So you can imagine how I feel now. Emergent is the moderate/progressive interdenominational church movement that has swept across the US, Britain, Australia and beyond. It is a response to fundamentalism, and an attempt to reclaim the beautiful traditions and truth of Christianity in an artistic, thoughtful, culturally relevant dialogue. For Westwinds Community Church to call themselves “culturally relevant” is a joke. Anyone or any church who wouldn’t hire a woman because she lacks the proper anatomy (i.e. is not a man) is not living in 2005. One of my friends wrote about how sad it is that Jesus could have been so progressive towards women 2000 years ago, but we insist on living minus that mission and truth. Christians should be the most progressive, truth embodying, gift embracing people on earth - why can we not step up to that challenge?

That is spot on...

Emergent scene and my possible transition

2006-01-27T09:09:00.000-06:00

Six months into my current position. They've been great, and I gather that means (in some weird way) that I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing...

Things on this blog are likely in transition. Blogger's interface doesn't seem to grab me, and I'm not here much. Plus, I'm working on two blog projects at the church I'm serving: one a collaborative project, one a personal pastor's blog. That latter one might supercede this blog, which wouldn't amount to much I guess.

One of the interesting things this all has led me towards is back into the emergent culture, and the exploration of what this way of looking at church might mean for 21st Century Christianity.

A primer in emergent culture is available at emergent village, with some organizing principles (but note the debate over whether they are creeds, boundary markers, or such).

There are a myriad of webpages online devoted to emergent church, and indeed the internet is one of its more important tools. I'm beginning to explore how this movement happens among progressive/moderate mainline folks like myself...

One blog I've recently found that has me intrigued is by seminarian Adam Cleaveland at PTS.

So more soon...

New Scene

2005-09-24T01:30:00.000-05:00

Well, I upped and moved. A few months ago, that is. Took that long to get settled enough to think about blogging, of all things.

My better half and I were looking at our opportunities in Chicago and I was thinking hard about my PhD work (which I'm continuing) and my feelings of vocation in ministry, and we decided that I should look for pastoral positions outside of the region. Turns out there was a good "call" in the Kansas City area, where I have lots of family and close to where my wife grew up. We explored it, and the fit was strong for me and for her. I had offers in the Chicago area--good ones--but when we considered all the pieces this seemed quite right for us.

So we moved. We put our condo on the market and accepted offers here. And fast forward past the headaches of getting all of our crap here, saying good bye to good friends and trying to meet new ones, and here we are: blue people in a dark red state. Maybe we'll turn them a bit less crimson.

Wish us well...

Ousted because he officiated at his daughter's wedding.

2005-02-12T07:28:00.000-06:00

Well, it didn't help that she married a woman. Still, I think it shows a lot of courage on his part.

Every Child a Wanted Child

2005-02-11T16:15:00.000-06:00

I long for the day that this kind of story doesn't happen any more:

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. Feb 11, 2005 — The woman who claimed to have seen a baby being tossed from a moving car fabricated the story as a cover to abandon her newborn and hide an unwanted pregnancy from her family, authorities said Friday.

"It's not as horrible as we first thought," Broward County Sheriff Ken Jenne said. "The baby was never thrown out of a moving car. This is the case of a disturbed woman who gave birth and did not want to keep her child."

So what happened?

2005-02-11T14:39:00.000-06:00

You could say that things were quiet around here in January. That'd be because I've been working so damn hard at my job, and trying to find a full time call (that's how we Presbyterians talk about full-time job offers in ministry). But I'm still here. I'll use this chance to record two blogs that I stumbled across today that my friends run:

One of my condo neigbors is moving to a new single-family home they bought and are renovating. They're using their own blog to journal their progress.

An old acquantance/friend from my days surfing over at rec.pets.dogs.behavior (a place full of loving people, on the one hand, and a lot of senility or apprehension, on the other, occasionally overlapping) apparently has a blog of her own.

Very cool.

A Mournful Christmas

2004-12-26T20:38:00.000-06:00

Word from south-east Asia tonight that tsunamis caused by a 9.0 magnitude earthquate have killed more than 10,000 people, and predictions are for the toll to go up.

Its hard to know what to say. How horrible.

A Buck O'Neil Christmas

2004-12-26T20:30:00.000-06:00

My father-in-law surprised me this Christmas with a KC Monarchs baseball cap and bobblehead doll signed by legendary coach and first baseman Buck O'Neil. (More on him here) My FIL has done some work on education and outreach development for the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and asked Buck to sign these for me. I'm honored to have them.

A White Christmas...

2004-12-26T20:25:00.000-06:00

Reggie White, the incredible defensive force in the NFL for Green Bay and Philadelphia, died today of a heart attack. He said some rather hateful things about gays and lesbians once, but I hope that he rests in peace and that he is remembered more for the best ideals he expoused than for his glaring faults as a pastor.

Transitional Transitions...

2004-12-22T14:02:00.000-06:00

Well, I just ended my three-month run as a Chaplain Intern at the Department of Religion, Health, and Human Values of Rush University Medical Center. I'm going to miss the work. Chaplains are a unique sort, and do very hard work for not enough compensation or recognition.

Since I still haven't found a call yet, I'm going to pick up a part-time fill-in roll at my local church. They're going to be searching for an associate pastor and I'll cover until he/she gets here. I'm still looking for a call, but if I don't get one by September maybe I'll go back to Chaplaincy.

BTW, the other associate preached a wonderful sermon the other day, making full use of the UCC's ad hype. Bravo.

Not being bigoted is too controversial for NBC, CBS

2004-12-04T08:15:00.000-06:00

Unbelievable:

The CBS and NBC television networks are refusing to run a 30-second television ad from the United Church of Christ because its all-inclusive welcome has been deemed "too controversial."

The ad, part of the denomination's new, broad identity campaign set to begin airing nationwide on Dec. 1, states that -- like Jesus -- the United Church of Christ seeks to welcome all people, regardless of ability, age, race, economic circumstance or sexual orientation.

See the ad for yourself here: http://www.stillspeaking.com/default.htm

Because they ain't Americans...

2004-12-03T10:10:00.000-06:00

Nice exhibition of American values (please note sarcasm here):

Attorneys for the prisoners argued that some were held solely on evidence gained by torture, which they said violated fundamental fairness and U.S. due process standards. But Boyle argued in a similar hearing Wednesday that the detainees “have no constitutional rights enforceable in this court.”

U.S. District Judge Richard J. Leon asked if a detention would be illegal if it were based solely on evidence gathered by torture, because “torture is illegal. We all know that.”

Boyle replied that if the military’s combatant status review tribunals (or CSRTs) “determine that evidence of questionable provenance were reliable, nothing in the due process clause (of the Constitution) prohibits them from relying on it.”

Leon asked if there were any restrictions on using evidence produced by torture.

Boyle replied the United States would never adopt a policy that would have barred it from acting on evidence that could have prevented the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks even if the data came from questionable practices like torture by a foreign power.

A move towards reconciliation?

2004-11-22T15:29:00.000-06:00

Fourth Presbyterian Church, one of the largest in Chicago and a major political force both locally and denominationally, has taken what I think is a positive step to help melt some of the discord between us and various Jewish groups angry at our decision to consider selective divestment in companies that enable various unjust activities by Israel in Palestinian territories. They've not stood against that decision, but have taken the further step of purposively investing in Israeli infranstructure. This is a gesture to say that while we stand opposed to certain social injustices committed by Israel upon innocent Palestinians, we also strongly support the right of Israel to exist, and indeed to flourish.

This is the gist of Fourth's intention, reports their pastor John Buchanan:

"Everybody thought we wanted to say something along the lines that divestment is not aimed at Israel's existence or Israel's economy but Israel's policies regarding the conduct of actions with Palestinian people," Buchanan said. Funds would be used to support companies that build infrastructure, such as schools, homes and roads.

So I think Bob Reynolds, executive presbyter for Chicago Presbytery, is right when he says:

"It's Fourth acting faithfully and forcefully as a peacemaker," said Rev. Bob Reynolds, head of the Chicago Presbytery. "They're doing that by investing in the products of peace at the same time the church is also divesting from the weapons of war."

I hope the rest of the church can emulate this approach.

The Borrow-and-Spend Republicans...

2004-11-18T22:36:00.000-06:00

What's worse? Tax-and-spend or borrow-and-spend? I dunno, but so much for fiscal discipline outta those that control both chambers of congress (hint: that aint the democrats).

Cynical either-or: Either they're trying to break the bank and make it impossible for the federal government to provide any kind of program for its citizens, or they're greedy enough not to care about the debt they're leaving for the future, wanting their tax breaks now to line their pockets. They'll tell you their plan is to stimulate the economy or some such thing. Sure's worked so far (that's sarcasm folks), and the bonus: the rich get even richer.

Followup on the House rule change to help DeLay

2004-11-18T19:46:00.000-06:00

Over at archpundit they're looking into area republican votes against this rule change. The discussion there is worth following.

Changing the Rules of the Game, Chicago Style

2004-11-18T19:40:00.000-06:00

I've had my arguments with some (particularly folk who spend way too much time on the usenet group rec.autos.driving) who believe that all speed limits and subsequent enforcement is about revenue collection rather than safety or good o' fashion law and order. I think people who get pulled over or ticketed for breaking traffic law have little reason to complain about it: pay the fine and get on with your life.

Today Chicago announced that they have this plan to retrofit red-light cameras at intersections to now trap speeders. I have little problem with the cameras catching red-light runners (provided, of course, that the intersection was fairly labeled as such and that the engineering of the lights were fair too, with enough of a yellow to allow drivers to stop in time and safely). Switching them now that they are there to catch speeders too seems like they were fraudulently sold to us. I still think speed limits and similar traffic laws are absolutely necessary for driving safety (and I'm mildly open to looking at 85th percentile changes to limits, on some interstates). But its hard not to see these changes in Chicago as linked to its current budget crisis.

The CTA is a mess...

2004-11-18T19:29:00.000-06:00

Does anyone have a clue over at the CTA? What gives with them waiting until the veto session to beg for money? And either way, the system was subsidizing rider costs; either fares would have to go up or more money brought in if they were going to maintain service. As it is, it will likely be drastically cut. Guess who that will hit the hardest? The poor.

Nice.

I ought to do this...

2004-11-18T11:18:00.000-06:00

This really seems like a good idea:

www.drinkingliberally.org

Maybe I'll drag my busy self to one of these some day.

GOP Changing the Rules of the Game II

2004-11-17T08:04:00.000-06:00

While I'm referring to Kevin Drum's comments over at Washington Monthly, a word might be said about what Republicans in the other chamber are up to, particularly with regard to confirmation of judicial nominees.

They've been complaining lately about how Democrats have been obstructing senate votes on nominees or threatening filibusters, and have been exploring what they call the nuclear option of amending senate rules to make such filibusters harder.

But check out Kevin's research on Republican history with regards to judicial nominees. Drum concludes:

Bottom line: Yes, Democrats are filibustering some of George Bush's judges, but they're doing it only because Republicans have relentlessly dismantled all the avenues of dissent they themselves took advantage of back when Democrats controlled the Senate. There's no principle involved in this, just a raw exercise of power.

That actually sounds about right to me.

GOP Changing the Rules of the Game I

2004-11-17T07:47:00.000-06:00

I gather I shouldn't be shocked by those in power to manipulate the system to promote their agenda. Doesn't mean I have to like it.

Here's one good example: Tom DeLay, House Majority Leader, is about to be indicted in Texas for fundrasing violations. The House, many of whose members owe DeLay and his PAC big time for their own election bids, are about to try to save his butt as long as they are able.

From today's Washington Post:
House Republicans proposed changing their rules last night to allow members indicted by state grand juries to remain in a leadership post, a move that would benefit Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.) in case he is charged by a Texas grand jury that has indicted three of his political associates, according to GOP leaders.
The proposed rule change, which several leaders predicted would win approval at a closed meeting today, comes as House Republicans return to Washington feeling indebted to DeLay for the slightly enhanced majority they won in this month's elections. DeLay led an aggressive redistricting effort in Texas last year that resulted in five Democratic House members retiring or losing reelection. It also triggered a grand jury inquiry into fundraising efforts related to the state legislature's redistricting actions.

They've got cajones, no doubt.

Nota bene Kevin Drum's comments about what this should signal to congressional democrats.

More on troubled waters

2004-11-15T13:29:00.000-06:00

Just to highlight something from the post below, I'd particularly encourage those interested to read this precis of Presbyterian policy and rationale towards the Israel-Palestine conflict. In particular, these exerpts are germane:

Although the decision to “initiate a process of phased, selective divestment in multinational corporations operating in Israel” may be presumed by some to invite comparison of Israeli policies with those of apartheid South Africa, the Assembly has not asserted any moral equivalency between the two. The two situations are distinct. The focus of this action is to explore use of a proven tool of economic pressure to motivate real change in Israeli policies and movement toward peace.

Again, the Assembly’s action calls for a selective divestment, and not a blanket economic boycott, keeping before us our interest in Israel’s economic and social well-being where these do not inflict suffering on Palestinian or Israeli people.

This is particularly important in light of Dershowitz's comments assuming that the church is likening Israel to South Africa.

And importantly, read the summary here:

5. These actions are rooted in a longstanding commitment to the secure existence of Israel and the Israeli people, in a similar commitment to the security and existence of Palestinians in their own state, and in a passionate vision of negotiated peace as the only viable way forward. The Presbyterian Church (USA) has consistently supported the existence of Israel within legitimate and secure borders, and prayed for its security and well-being. It is, however, the conviction of the Presbyterian Church (USA) that “the security of Israel and the Israeli people is inexorably dependent on making peace with their Palestinian neighbors, by negotiating and reaching a just and equitable solution to the conflict that respects international law, human rights, the sanctity of life, and dignity of persons, land, property, safety of home, freedom of movement, the rights of refugees to return to their homeland, the right of a people to determine their political future, and to live in peace and prosperity.”

The whole thing is helpful, but that's the gist of it.

Into Troubled Waters

2004-11-14T17:26:00.000-06:00

So I heard today that my denomination, of which I am a candidate for ordained ministry (something that ought happen one of these days), received an arson threat Wednesday. The threat claims to be in response to several actions of our denomination at its summer meetings, many of which have been poorly understood and grossly misrepresented. Admittingly, some of those actions were just plain stupid, particularly our decision to keep funding so-called "messianic" churches. But I'm supportive of our action to consider selective divestment as an ethical response against what we perceive to be injustice in the effects of the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories, particularly the entrenchment of settlements and the incursions' effects on innocent Palestianian civilians.

The church has a rather long history of active support for the state of Israel, on the one hand, and seeking peace and justice for the people of Palestine, on the other. The stance against Israel's actions in its occupation isn't new, just the consideration of backing it with our money as well as our words. But it is that consideration which has several Jewish organizations claiming that my denomination is being motivated by anti-semetic concerns, even as we've been clear about our history and our motives, including our positions against terrorism and in favor of the security of the state of Israel. One example is this missive by Alan M. Dershowitz, which really misconstrues many of the actual actions of the church, seems to imply that Israel can do no wrong in its just defense, and that those that wish to criticise Israel for anything they might do wrong border on anti-semitism in doing so. He's not representative of all the backlash, but he's a particularly important component of it.

This week our church worked to set the criteria for any divestment, and there've been several attempts to open dialogue with Jewish groups to see where our differences lie, where we're talking past each other, and where we can act to heal any wounds that we've opened or have caused to get worse. I hope those efforts bear fruit; personally, I think our statements against evangelism to Jews and in favor of support for Jews all over the world, and in Israel, are right on. Their misperception of our motives hurts me. But I am convinced that the church is not motivated by anything other than justice for the innocent in our actions against Israeli incursions and occupations of Palestine. We're aware that these are complex matters, that Israel has every right to defend herself, and that any terrorism against its citizens are horrendous evils. At the same time, that doesn't justify everything Israel does in her self-defense, just like America isn't justified in its evil actions (cf. Abu Garaib) in response to 9/11. And as the church walks into troubled waters, attempting to be a faithful witness, it must do so with humility and love for both sides. That, I think, is what it is trying to do, even if not everyone understands it. And I hope we don't get firebombed in the process.

About Me One: My Addiction to Losing Sports Teams is a Tragedy

2004-11-14T16:39:00.000-06:00

I've never lived there myself, but my entire family (mainly boys/men, plus my poor mother) follows Kansas City sports teams religiously. And this year we suck. The Chiefs just lost again to a team they shoulda beat, and the Royals lost 104 games this season. Not much to hope for, not for a rather long time. And the St. Louis Blues (no hockey team in KC), reasonably a good bet for a regular contender, ain't lacing up the skates these days either. *Sigh*.

I'm not sure why that's the first thing I post about. Probably because we lost today, and that's the pain for the day.

First Post

2004-11-11T19:02:00.000-06:00

So this is my first blog post. I'm probably considered a fairly mild blog-reader, more active than some, way less active than others. This first post, a placeholder of sorts, will get things going. In short, I'm a left-leaning graduate student working on a Ph.D. in Theological Ethics and a candidate for ordination in the Presbyterian Church (USA). Longer bio, I'm sure, to follow.

dctoo.