Aardvark Alley
31 December 2005
The Eve of Jesus' Name
31 December, New Testament
On this day, we prepare to celebrate the name chosen by God for His dear Son, who came in the flesh to save His people from their sins. God sent the angelic message to both Mary and Joseph, telling them that the Child would bear the name of Savior.
Lection
Psalm 8
Isaiah 51:1-6
Romans 8:31-39
Matthew 1:18-21
Collect
Lord God, heavenly Father, becaue You sent us Your only-begotten Son for our salvation and gave Him the name of Jesus, grant that we may begin the New Year trusting in His saving name and live all our days in His service and praise to the glory of His holy name; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 01:12 | 0 comments | links to this post
On this day, we prepare to celebrate the name chosen by God for His dear Son, who came in the flesh to save His people from their sins. God sent the angelic message to both Mary and Joseph, telling them that the Child would bear the name of Savior.
Lection
Psalm 8
Isaiah 51:1-6
Romans 8:31-39
Matthew 1:18-21
Collect
Lord God, heavenly Father, becaue You sent us Your only-begotten Son for our salvation and gave Him the name of Jesus, grant that we may begin the New Year trusting in His saving name and live all our days in His service and praise to the glory of His holy name; who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 01:12 | 0 comments | links to this post
29 December 2005
+ King David +
29 December, Old Testament
David, the greatest of Israel's kings, ruled from about 1010 to 970 B.C. The events of his life are found from 1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 2 and in 1 Chronicles 10-29. Through the prophet Samuel, God called him from tending his father Jesse's flocks to shepherding the people of Israel. David was also gifted musically. He was skilled in playing the lyre and the author of no less than 73 psalms, including the beloved Psalm 23. His public and private character displayed a mixture of good, for example, his defeat of the giant Goliath, (1 Samuel 17) and evil, as in his adultery with Uriah's wife, followed by his murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11).
David's greatness lay in his fierce loyalty to God as Israel's military and political leader, coupled with his willingness to acknowledge his sins and ask for God's forgiveness (2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51; Psalm 32 may also have its origins in these sins and his repentance).
Under David's leadership, the people of Israel were united into a single nation with Jerusalem as its capital city. The Lord made a special promise to David through the prophet Nathan: "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:16)" Isaiah repeated the Lord's promise, focusing on the coming Messiah: "I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. (22:22)"
This was central to God's plan of salvation, as evidenced by Matthew 1:1. The evangelist begins the story of Jesus' life, suffering, and death by placing the promise made to David on the same level as a similar, much earlier promise made to Abraham: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Luke 1 shows this twice. Gabriel told Mary, "The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. (1:32)" Zechariah prophesied concerning this at the naming of his son John, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. (1:68-70)"
As Paul preached the Gospel, he also carefully maintained the connection between Jesus and David. He told the Roman Christians that he was writing them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who "was descended from David according to the flesh (Romans 1:3).
Paralleling the delight the Father had in His Son, Paul beautifully summarized God's delight in David. Preaching in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia, he told his hearers how the Lord said, "'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' (Acts 13:22)"
Dear God, for Jesus' sake grant that each of Your saints likewise be made worthy of this epitaph!
Commemoration taken and expanded from the sanctorial calendar of the upcoming Lutheran Service Book.
Scripture quoted from the ESV®. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
David, the greatest of Israel's kings, ruled from about 1010 to 970 B.C. The events of his life are found from 1 Samuel 16 through 1 Kings 2 and in 1 Chronicles 10-29. Through the prophet Samuel, God called him from tending his father Jesse's flocks to shepherding the people of Israel. David was also gifted musically. He was skilled in playing the lyre and the author of no less than 73 psalms, including the beloved Psalm 23. His public and private character displayed a mixture of good, for example, his defeat of the giant Goliath, (1 Samuel 17) and evil, as in his adultery with Uriah's wife, followed by his murder of Uriah (2 Samuel 11).David's greatness lay in his fierce loyalty to God as Israel's military and political leader, coupled with his willingness to acknowledge his sins and ask for God's forgiveness (2 Samuel 12 and Psalm 51; Psalm 32 may also have its origins in these sins and his repentance).
Under David's leadership, the people of Israel were united into a single nation with Jerusalem as its capital city. The Lord made a special promise to David through the prophet Nathan: "Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever. (2 Samuel 7:16)" Isaiah repeated the Lord's promise, focusing on the coming Messiah: "I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. (22:22)"This was central to God's plan of salvation, as evidenced by Matthew 1:1. The evangelist begins the story of Jesus' life, suffering, and death by placing the promise made to David on the same level as a similar, much earlier promise made to Abraham: "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham." Luke 1 shows this twice. Gabriel told Mary, "The Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David. (1:32)" Zechariah prophesied concerning this at the naming of his son John, "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has visited and redeemed his people and has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke by the mouth of his holy prophets from of old. (1:68-70)"
As Paul preached the Gospel, he also carefully maintained the connection between Jesus and David. He told the Roman Christians that he was writing them with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, who "was descended from David according to the flesh (Romans 1:3).Paralleling the delight the Father had in His Son, Paul beautifully summarized God's delight in David. Preaching in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia, he told his hearers how the Lord said, "'I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.' (Acts 13:22)"
Dear God, for Jesus' sake grant that each of Your saints likewise be made worthy of this epitaph!
Commemoration taken and expanded from the sanctorial calendar of the upcoming Lutheran Service Book.
Scripture quoted from the ESV®. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
28 December 2005
+ The Holy Innocents +
28 December, New Testament
This day commemorates the slaughter of Bethlehem's children by Herod the Great, as he attempted to destroy the Usurper to his throne. Herod, his jealosy inflamed by the account given by the Wise Men, sent his soldiers to kill all the town's boys two years old and younger in order to protect his throne and lineage. This was one of the last major decision made in a life filled with vainglory and increasing insanity.
The commemorations of Stephen, John, and the Innocents remind us that not all receive the Gift of Christmas with joy. However, God's plan of salvation spreads in spite of hatred. Even today, much of the world actively rejects the Gospel and persecutes those who preach and live it. But the Christian Church continues to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness in Christ because any people or places acting this way proves the need of the message we bear.
Lection
Psalm 124
Jeremiah 31:15-17
Revelation 21:1-7
Matthew 2:13-18
Collect
Almighty God, whose praise was proclaimed on this day by the wicked death of innocent children, giving us thereby a picture of the death of Your beloved Son, mortify and destroy all in us that is in conflict with You that we who have been called in faith to be Your children may in life and death bear witness to Your salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 01:58 | 0 comments | links to this post
This day commemorates the slaughter of Bethlehem's children by Herod the Great, as he attempted to destroy the Usurper to his throne. Herod, his jealosy inflamed by the account given by the Wise Men, sent his soldiers to kill all the town's boys two years old and younger in order to protect his throne and lineage. This was one of the last major decision made in a life filled with vainglory and increasing insanity.The commemorations of Stephen, John, and the Innocents remind us that not all receive the Gift of Christmas with joy. However, God's plan of salvation spreads in spite of hatred. Even today, much of the world actively rejects the Gospel and persecutes those who preach and live it. But the Christian Church continues to proclaim the Good News of forgiveness in Christ because any people or places acting this way proves the need of the message we bear.
Lection
Psalm 124
Jeremiah 31:15-17
Revelation 21:1-7
Matthew 2:13-18
Collect
Almighty God, whose praise was proclaimed on this day by the wicked death of innocent children, giving us thereby a picture of the death of Your beloved Son, mortify and destroy all in us that is in conflict with You that we who have been called in faith to be Your children may in life and death bear witness to Your salvation; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 01:58 | 0 comments | links to this post
27 December 2005
+ John, Apostle and Evangelist +
27 December, New Testament
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve apostles. With Simon Peter and his brother James, he formed an inner circle among the Twelve: Those three beheld the Great Catch of Fish (Luke 5:10), the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31), the raising of Jairus' daughter(Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28), and Gethsemane's agony (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).
He expressed willingness to undergo martyrdom (Matthew 20:22; Mark 10:39) — as did the other apostles (Matthew 26:35; Mark 14:31). However, ancient testimony says that while, imprisoned and exiled, he was eventually released and died a natural death in Ephesus.
John is credited with the writing three epistles and one Gospel, as well as probable authorship of Revelation, although this identification is less certain.
His symbol in ecclesiastical art is usually the eagle.
Lection
Psalm 116:12-19
Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 21:20-25
Collect
Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that, being instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist Saint John, we may come to the light of everlasting life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:01 | 1 comments | links to this post
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist, son of Zebedee, was one of the twelve apostles. With Simon Peter and his brother James, he formed an inner circle among the Twelve: Those three beheld the Great Catch of Fish (Luke 5:10), the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31), the raising of Jairus' daughter(Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28), and Gethsemane's agony (Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:33).He expressed willingness to undergo martyrdom (Matthew 20:22; Mark 10:39) — as did the other apostles (Matthew 26:35; Mark 14:31). However, ancient testimony says that while, imprisoned and exiled, he was eventually released and died a natural death in Ephesus.
John is credited with the writing three epistles and one Gospel, as well as probable authorship of Revelation, although this identification is less certain.
His symbol in ecclesiastical art is usually the eagle.
Lection
Psalm 116:12-19
Genesis 1:1-5, 26-31
1 John 1:1-2:2
John 21:20-25
Collect
Merciful Lord, cast the bright beams of Your light upon Your Church that, being instructed in the doctrine of Your blessed apostle and evangelist Saint John, we may come to the light of everlasting life; for You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:01 | 1 comments | links to this post
26 December 2005
+ Stephen, Martyr +
26 December, New Testament
The days following Christmas are sometimes called the "Witness Days." The Greek word for "witness" is "martyr," and these days remind us that this sinful world hates the Gospel message of forgiveness in Christ Jesus.
Saint Stephen's Day remembers the first recorded martyr of the Church. Stephen knew the gift of Christmas: His Lord came in human flesh to bring forgiveness and as Jesus forgave His killers, so Stephen forgave those whose stones smashed away his life. The account of his calling, witness, and death is in Acts 6:1-8:2.
In art, he is often represented by the stones which took his life and by the palm branch, an ancient symbol of triumph.
Lection
Psalm 31
Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15
Acts 6:1-8:2
Matthew 23:34-39
Collect
Heavenly Father, grant us grace that in our sufferings for the sake of Christ we may follow the example of Saint Stephen, that we may look to Him who suffered and was crucified on our behalf and pray for those who do us wrong; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
The days following Christmas are sometimes called the "Witness Days." The Greek word for "witness" is "martyr," and these days remind us that this sinful world hates the Gospel message of forgiveness in Christ Jesus.Saint Stephen's Day remembers the first recorded martyr of the Church. Stephen knew the gift of Christmas: His Lord came in human flesh to bring forgiveness and as Jesus forgave His killers, so Stephen forgave those whose stones smashed away his life. The account of his calling, witness, and death is in Acts 6:1-8:2.
In art, he is often represented by the stones which took his life and by the palm branch, an ancient symbol of triumph.
Lection
Psalm 31
Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15
Acts 6:1-8:2
Matthew 23:34-39
Collect
Heavenly Father, grant us grace that in our sufferings for the sake of Christ we may follow the example of Saint Stephen, that we may look to Him who suffered and was crucified on our behalf and pray for those who do us wrong; through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
25 December 2005
From Little Emma to the Big Apple
Pastor Snyder's Ask the Pastor Christmas column is summarized in today's New York Daily News. See Dawn Eden's Blog On: Holiday Messages Cast a Wide Net. ¶ 11:19 | 0 comments | links to this post
Pastor Snyder's Ask the Pastor Christmas column is summarized in today's New York Daily News. See Dawn Eden's Blog On: Holiday Messages Cast a Wide Net. ¶ 11:19 | 0 comments | links to this post
Working Ahead
Post-dated Hagiographies
The Ol' Aardvark plans to rest for a few days beginning with the Christmas Day recessional. Thus, I'm going to post ahead for St. Stephen's Day and St. John's Day.
Have a blessed Christmas. ¶ 00:59 | 0 comments | links to this post
The Ol' Aardvark plans to rest for a few days beginning with the Christmas Day recessional. Thus, I'm going to post ahead for St. Stephen's Day and St. John's Day.
Have a blessed Christmas. ¶ 00:59 | 0 comments | links to this post
The Feast of the Nativity
Lection
Psalm 98
Isaiah 62:10-12
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-20
Collect
Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:48 | 0 comments | links to this post
Lection
Psalm 98
Isaiah 62:10-12
Titus 3:4-7
Luke 2:1-20
Collect
Almighty God, grant that the birth of Your only-begotten Son in the flesh may set us free from the bondage of sin; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:48 | 0 comments | links to this post
24 December 2005
Blogroll Add-ons
As long as I was up, I thought I'd go ahead and share a few blogs I've started reading.
I hope you find one or more to your personal liking. ¶ 00:59 | 0 comments | links to this post
As long as I was up, I thought I'd go ahead and share a few blogs I've started reading.
Confessional Lutheran Bloggers:
» Living Stones
» The Spirit Is Willing; the Flesh Is Weak
» Writ in Water
Religious Blog:
» Bulverist Online Chronicle
I hope you find one or more to your personal liking. ¶ 00:59 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Tannenbaum
With Thanks to H. C. Schwan
The Rev. Kevin Vogts wrote an article for the December 1998 Lutheran Witness wherein he detailed the Christmas tree's moving into American churches. Want to know more? Please see Henry Schwan's Christmas Tree for the story.
While you're at it, you should also read Bernard Raabe's Why Two Trees in the Chancel? — not that sounds like a custom to revive!
Of course, as we reflect on the beauty of our Christmas trees and enjoy giving and receiving gifts under them, we rejoice in the One who came to earth to hang on a tree to save us from our sins.
Merry Christmas! ¶ 00:44 | 0 comments | links to this post
The Rev. Kevin Vogts wrote an article for the December 1998 Lutheran Witness wherein he detailed the Christmas tree's moving into American churches. Want to know more? Please see Henry Schwan's Christmas Tree for the story.While you're at it, you should also read Bernard Raabe's Why Two Trees in the Chancel? — not that sounds like a custom to revive!
Of course, as we reflect on the beauty of our Christmas trees and enjoy giving and receiving gifts under them, we rejoice in the One who came to earth to hang on a tree to save us from our sins.
Merry Christmas! ¶ 00:44 | 0 comments | links to this post
23 December 2005
O Emmanuel
O God with Us
O Emmanuel, Rex et legisfer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator erum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.
O Emmanuel, God with us, Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Saviour: Come to save us, O Lord our God. Amen.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14). See also Isaiah 8:6-8; Matthew 1:23; Haggai 2:7 (KJV).
Veni Veni, Emmanuel Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exsilio, Privatus Dei Filio.
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Previous posts in the series:
† Introduction to the O Antiphons
† O Sapientia — O Wisdom
† O Adonai — O Lord and Ruler
† O Radix Jesse — O Root of Jesse
† O Clavis David — O Key of David
† O Oriens — O Dayspring
† O Rex Gentium — O King of the Nations
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:19 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Emmanuel, Rex et legisfer noster, expectatio gentium, et Salvator erum: veni ad salvandum nos, Domine Deus noster.O Emmanuel, God with us, Our King and Lawgiver, the expected of the nations and their Saviour: Come to save us, O Lord our God. Amen.
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14). See also Isaiah 8:6-8; Matthew 1:23; Haggai 2:7 (KJV).
Veni Veni, Emmanuel Captivum solve Israel,
Qui gemit in exsilio, Privatus Dei Filio.
Oh, come, oh, come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Previous posts in the series:
† Introduction to the O Antiphons
† O Sapientia — O Wisdom
† O Adonai — O Lord and Ruler
† O Radix Jesse — O Root of Jesse
† O Clavis David — O Key of David
† O Oriens — O Dayspring
† O Rex Gentium — O King of the Nations
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:19 | 0 comments | links to this post
22 December 2005
O Rex Gentium
O King of the Nations (or Gentiles)
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unem: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.
O King of the Nations and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth. Amen.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5)" Also, "He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4)." See also Revelation 15:3; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Peter 2:6.
Veni, Veni, Rex Gentium, Veni, Redemptor omnium,
Ut salvas tuos famulos Peccati sibi conscios.
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, And be Yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 1 comments | links to this post
O Rex gentium, et desideratus earum, lapisque angularis, qui facis utraque unem: veni, et salva hominem, quem de limo formasti.O King of the Nations and their desired One, the Cornerstone that makes both one: Come, and deliver man, whom you formed out of the dust of the earth. Amen.
"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:5)" Also, "He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore. (Isaiah 2:4)." See also Revelation 15:3; Psalm 118:22; Isaiah 28:16; Matthew 21:42; Mark 12:10; Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; Ephesians 2:19-21; 1 Peter 2:6.
Veni, Veni, Rex Gentium, Veni, Redemptor omnium,
Ut salvas tuos famulos Peccati sibi conscios.
Oh, come, Desire of nations, bind In one the hearts of all mankind;
Oh, bid our sad divisions cease, And be Yourself our King of Peace.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 1 comments | links to this post
21 December 2005
No Secret, Victoria
Mrs. Osteen Displays Less Than Model Behavior on Runway
The Houston Chronicle reported yesterday evening that Victoria Osteen, wife of Joel Osteen*, "was asked to leave a plane after she failed to comply with a flight attendant's instructions." The FBI refused to elaborate on the specifics of Mrs. Osteen's disagreement which led to her expulsion from the Continental Airlines flight to Vail, Colorado. Continental had no statement at all.
Meanwhile, Don Iloff, a spokesman for Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church**, tried to put a positive spin on things with this rather tortuous quote: "In semantics, they might have been asked to be removed. Really, it was more of a mutual thing." What does this mean?
The Monday "incident" seems not to have caused any lasting trauma for Victoria or the Osteen's two children. They found another flight and, by Tuesday, were skiing the Colorado slopes.
Joel Osteen may be currently America's most "successful" preacher and player in the "God game." I disagree with almost every part of his theology and regularly take him and his ilk to task in Bible classes. Normally, I won't assail the spouse of a public figure with whom I disagree. However, Victoria isn't just a bystander. She regularly participates on stage (and what's a stage doing in church?) with her husband and serves (against clear the clear word of Scripture) as a pastor of Lakewood. Therefore, she is first of all a public figure and secondly — not to mention much more importantly — abuses the Office of the Holy Ministry in general by her false teaching and specifically by attempting to inhabit a vocation God gave only to men.
*That's Osteen, not Ostein, Ostien, Olsteen, Olstein, Olstien, or any other permutation of the name that may have brought you to the Alley via a search engine. Like him or not, agree or disagree with his doctrine — it's just good manners to spell his name correctly. As someone once said, "I don't care what the papers say about me as long as they spell my name right."
**Not Lakeside, etc.
NB: Post updated on 23 December 2007 ¶ 10:24 | 7 comments | links to this post
The Houston Chronicle reported yesterday evening that Victoria Osteen, wife of Joel Osteen*, "was asked to leave a plane after she failed to comply with a flight attendant's instructions." The FBI refused to elaborate on the specifics of Mrs. Osteen's disagreement which led to her expulsion from the Continental Airlines flight to Vail, Colorado. Continental had no statement at all.Meanwhile, Don Iloff, a spokesman for Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church**, tried to put a positive spin on things with this rather tortuous quote: "In semantics, they might have been asked to be removed. Really, it was more of a mutual thing." What does this mean?
The Monday "incident" seems not to have caused any lasting trauma for Victoria or the Osteen's two children. They found another flight and, by Tuesday, were skiing the Colorado slopes.
Joel Osteen may be currently America's most "successful" preacher and player in the "God game." I disagree with almost every part of his theology and regularly take him and his ilk to task in Bible classes. Normally, I won't assail the spouse of a public figure with whom I disagree. However, Victoria isn't just a bystander. She regularly participates on stage (and what's a stage doing in church?) with her husband and serves (against clear the clear word of Scripture) as a pastor of Lakewood. Therefore, she is first of all a public figure and secondly — not to mention much more importantly — abuses the Office of the Holy Ministry in general by her false teaching and specifically by attempting to inhabit a vocation God gave only to men.
*That's Osteen, not Ostein, Ostien, Olsteen, Olstein, Olstien, or any other permutation of the name that may have brought you to the Alley via a search engine. Like him or not, agree or disagree with his doctrine — it's just good manners to spell his name correctly. As someone once said, "I don't care what the papers say about me as long as they spell my name right."
**Not Lakeside, etc.
NB: Post updated on 23 December 2007 ¶ 10:24 | 7 comments | links to this post
+ Thomas, Apostle and Martyr +
21 December, New Testament
The Apostle Thomas (Hebrew or Aramaic for "twin") was also called Didymus (Greek for "twin"); either his parents gave him a most peculiar name or else he consistently went by his nickname.
Absent when the Risen Lord appeared to the other apostles on the evening of Easter Day, He refused to believe that Christ had indeed risen until he had seen him for himself. When he saw Him the following week, he said to Jesus, "My Lord and My God." Because of this, he has been known ever since as "Doubting Thomas," although "Disbelieving Thomas" is probably more accurate. See John 20:19-29 for the full account.
We also remember his earlier words, when Jesus announced His intention of going to Jerusalem, even though His life was in danger there: Thomas said to the others, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:7-16) Thus, we see that Thomas was sturdily loyal. At the Last Supper, Jesus said: "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas was the one who responded, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" To this Jesus answered: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (see John 14:1-6)"
John 21 records Thomas as one of the seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee when the Lord appeared to them. Aside from these Biblical accounts, he appears only as a name on lists of the Apostles.
A few centuries later, a story circulated in the Mediterranean world that he went to preach in India; a community in the Kerala district claims descent from Christians converted by the preaching of Thomas. Among Indian Christians, tradition claims that Thomas was speared to death near Madras, and accordingly is often pictured holding a spear. Since he was credited with the building up of the Church through his missionary journeys, a carpenter's square also is a regular symbol of the apostle.
Lection
Psalm 126
Habakkuk 2:1-4
Hebrews 10:35-11:1
John 14:1-7 or 20:24-29
Collect
Almighty and everliving God, who upheld and strengthened Your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in Your Son's resurrection, grant us perfect and unwavering belief in Jesus Christ, our resurrected Lord and God, that our faith may never be found wanting in Your sight; through this same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:02 | 0 comments | links to this post
The Apostle Thomas (Hebrew or Aramaic for "twin") was also called Didymus (Greek for "twin"); either his parents gave him a most peculiar name or else he consistently went by his nickname.Absent when the Risen Lord appeared to the other apostles on the evening of Easter Day, He refused to believe that Christ had indeed risen until he had seen him for himself. When he saw Him the following week, he said to Jesus, "My Lord and My God." Because of this, he has been known ever since as "Doubting Thomas," although "Disbelieving Thomas" is probably more accurate. See John 20:19-29 for the full account.
We also remember his earlier words, when Jesus announced His intention of going to Jerusalem, even though His life was in danger there: Thomas said to the others, "Let us also go, that we may die with him." (John 11:7-16) Thus, we see that Thomas was sturdily loyal. At the Last Supper, Jesus said: "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." Thomas was the one who responded, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" To this Jesus answered: "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (see John 14:1-6)"
John 21 records Thomas as one of the seven disciples fishing on the Sea of Galilee when the Lord appeared to them. Aside from these Biblical accounts, he appears only as a name on lists of the Apostles.
A few centuries later, a story circulated in the Mediterranean world that he went to preach in India; a community in the Kerala district claims descent from Christians converted by the preaching of Thomas. Among Indian Christians, tradition claims that Thomas was speared to death near Madras, and accordingly is often pictured holding a spear. Since he was credited with the building up of the Church through his missionary journeys, a carpenter's square also is a regular symbol of the apostle.
Lection
Psalm 126
Habakkuk 2:1-4
Hebrews 10:35-11:1
John 14:1-7 or 20:24-29
Collect
Almighty and everliving God, who upheld and strengthened Your apostle Thomas with sure and certain faith in Your Son's resurrection, grant us perfect and unwavering belief in Jesus Christ, our resurrected Lord and God, that our faith may never be found wanting in Your sight; through this same Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:02 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Oriens
O Dayspring (alternately, Dawn of the East, Rising Dawn, etc.)
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentis in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Dawn of the East, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2). See also Luke 1:78-79; Malachi 4:2.
Veni, Veni O Oriens, Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas, Dirasque mortis tenebras.
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Oriens, splendor lucis aeternae, et sol justitiae: veni, et illumina sedentis in tenebris, et umbra mortis.O Dawn of the East, brightness of light eternal, and Sun of Justice: Come, and enlighten those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." (Isaiah 9:2). See also Luke 1:78-79; Malachi 4:2.
Veni, Veni O Oriens, Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas, Dirasque mortis tenebras.
Oh, come, our Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by your drawing nigh,
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
20 December 2005
+ Katharina von Bora Luther +
20 December AD 1555
Katharina von Bora (b.1499) was placed in a convent when still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April 1523 she and eight other nuns were rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. There Martin Luther helped return some to their former homes and placed the rest in good families.
"Katy" and Martin were married on June 13, 1525. Their marriage was a happy one and blessed with six children. Katy skillfully managed the Luther household, which always seemed to grow because of his generous hospitality.
After Martin's death in 1546, Katharina remained in Wittenberg but lived much of the time in poverty. She died in an accident while traveling with her children to Torgau in order to escape the plague
For more on the woman whom Luther called "my rib" and also "My lord Katie," please see the online exhibit at Concordia Historical Institute. ¶ 21:03 | 1 comments | links to this post
Katharina von Bora (b.1499) was placed in a convent when still a child and became a nun in 1515. In April 1523 she and eight other nuns were rescued from the convent and brought to Wittenberg. There Martin Luther helped return some to their former homes and placed the rest in good families."Katy" and Martin were married on June 13, 1525. Their marriage was a happy one and blessed with six children. Katy skillfully managed the Luther household, which always seemed to grow because of his generous hospitality.
After Martin's death in 1546, Katharina remained in Wittenberg but lived much of the time in poverty. She died in an accident while traveling with her children to Torgau in order to escape the plague
For more on the woman whom Luther called "my rib" and also "My lord Katie," please see the online exhibit at Concordia Historical Institute. ¶ 21:03 | 1 comments | links to this post
Having Issues with Pastor Snyder
KFUO Allows the "Askable Pastor" on the Air
Pastor Snyder of Ask the Pastor has been asked to set aside the keyboard for a time and go on the air. He's been asked to talk with the Rev. Todd Wilken, host of Issues, Etc, which airs on KFUO radio and streams over an internet near you.
They've asked him to go on for a half hour discussion of the O Antiphons (which this blog's readers have been seeing for the past few days). While Issues airs through much of the afternoon, Pastor Snyder will join the broadcast at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time (23:00 Zulu). If you miss the live show, check the Issues, Etc site later for archive and podcast info.
¶ 13:38 | 0 comments |
links to this post
Pastor Snyder of Ask the Pastor has been asked to set aside the keyboard for a time and go on the air. He's been asked to talk with the Rev. Todd Wilken, host of Issues, Etc, which airs on KFUO radio and streams over an internet near you.
They've asked him to go on for a half hour discussion of the O Antiphons (which this blog's readers have been seeing for the past few days). While Issues airs through much of the afternoon, Pastor Snyder will join the broadcast at 5:00 pm Central Standard Time (23:00 Zulu). If you miss the live show, check the Issues, Etc site later for archive and podcast info.
¶ 13:38 | 0 comments |
links to this post
HT Christmas Presents
If you haven't found them yet, it's not too late to take advantage of these offerings from the folks at Higher Things. See Veni Emmanuel! for Advent and Christmas resources. ¶ 11:36 | 0 comments | links to this post
If you haven't found them yet, it's not too late to take advantage of these offerings from the folks at Higher Things. See Veni Emmanuel! for Advent and Christmas resources. ¶ 11:36 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Clavis David
O Key of David
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.
O Key of David, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
"I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isaiah 22:22), and "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:7). See also Revelation 3:7.
Veni, Clavis Davidica, regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum, et claude vias inferum.
Oh, come, O Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Clavis David, et sceptrum domus Israel: qui aperis, et nemo claudit; claudis, et nemo aperit: veni et educ vinctum de domo carceris, sedentem in tenebris, et umbra mortis.O Key of David, and Sceptre of the House of Israel, who opens and no man shuts, who shuts and no man opens: Come, and bring forth the captive from his prison, he who sits in darkness and in the shadow of death. Amen.
"I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open." (Isaiah 22:22), and "Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this." (Isaiah 9:7). See also Revelation 3:7.
Veni, Clavis Davidica, regna reclude caelica,
fac iter tutum superum, et claude vias inferum.
Oh, come, O Key of David, come, And open wide our heav'nly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high, And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
19 December 2005
Meditati-Os
Pondering the O Antiphons
Pr. Bill Cwirla is posting brief meditations on the O Antiphons at his Blogosphere. As they become available, I'll edit my postings to include references. The previous three have already been so marked with a link to the corresponding devotional material:
O Sapientia — O Adonai — O Radix Jesse
¶ 23:15 | 0 comments |
links to this post
Pr. Bill Cwirla is posting brief meditations on the O Antiphons at his Blogosphere. As they become available, I'll edit my postings to include references. The previous three have already been so marked with a link to the corresponding devotional material:
O Radix Jesse
O Root of Jesse
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur; veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardere.
O Root of Jesse, which stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen.
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." (Isaiah 11:1). "In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples — of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse was the father of King David; Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David's city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). See also Romans 15:12; Revelation 5:5.
Veni, O Jesse Virgula, Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De spectu tuos tartari Educ et antro barathri.
Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem, From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust Your mighty pow'r to save; Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 01:35 | 1 comments | links to this post
O Radix Jesse, qui stas in signum populorum, super quem continebunt reges os suum, quem gentes deprecabuntur; veni ad liberandum nos, iam noli tardere.O Root of Jesse, which stands for an ensign of the people, before whom the kings keep silence and unto whom the Gentiles shall make supplication: Come, to deliver us, and tarry not. Amen.
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit." (Isaiah 11:1). "In that day the root of Jesse, who shall stand as a signal for the peoples — of him shall the nations inquire, and his resting place shall be glorious." (Isaiah 11:10). Jesse was the father of King David; Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be of the house and lineage of David and be born in David's city, Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). See also Romans 15:12; Revelation 5:5.
Veni, O Jesse Virgula, Ex hostis tuos ungula,
De spectu tuos tartari Educ et antro barathri.
Oh, come O Rod of Jesse's stem, From ev'ry foe deliver them
That trust Your mighty pow'r to save; Bring them in vict'ry through the grave.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 01:35 | 1 comments | links to this post
18 December 2005
Merry Carnival and Happy Blogidays:
Lutheran Carnival of Blogs #13
Introduction
Yep, folks. The Ol' Aardvark gets to host the (lucky?) thirteenth installment of the Lutheran Carnival. The last time I hosted, I neglected to introduce a famous (or not-so-famous) Lutheran personage. I'll not make that mistake again.
The Famous Lutheran Du Jour
The folks in the picture are Bessie Lee (Efner) Rehwinkel and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Alfred M. Rehwinkel, noted LCMS theologian, pastor, and professor, with their daughters Dorothy and Helen.
Yours truly spent part of his time at St. John's College, Winfield, Kansas in a dorm named for this former school president. Alfred also wrote The Flood, a book still on the shelves of many Lutheran pastors and lay people.
However, our featured Lutheran isn't the (theological) doctor, nor either of the children, but Mrs. Doctor Rehwinkel, who was a doctor (medical) herself. Back in the days when hardly anyone had heard of a woman in medicine, Dr. Bessie practiced on the prairies of the U. S. and Canada. She was the real-life Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.
In their later years, after they'd moved into the the world of urban academia, the two joined to put together a thin book with a lengthy title: Dr. Bessie: The Life Story and Romance of a Pioneer Lady Doctor on Our Western and the Canadian Frontier. I'll not spoil it by giving any of the story away. However, it's a great read as history, biography, or romance.
And Now, On with the Carnival!
There are a number of entries this time around. I've grouped some of them around themes they share with other submissions, including Narnia, Lutheran-Calvinist differences including iconoclasm, church polity and politics, and the Advent – Christmas season. However, the "great unwashed" group with which we begin our excursion into confessional Lutheran blogging excellence is outstanding in its own right. Put things together, and you have a recipe for some great pre-Christmas reading and pondering.
A Little of This, a Little of That
§ Ask the Pastor generated a number of comments about alcohol being part of the Sacrament in his post on Communion Wine. He also answers a reader's question, Am I a Pelagian?
§ Dare to be a Sinner! says Be Strong in the Grace. The author shows how she was able to see herself, and the whole of earth, in a permanent sin condition. Once God worked this, He also showed her clearly from whence comes her help.
§ At A Beggar At The Table, Pastor Klages makes A Couple Observations involving politics and religion, all in one post! Includes his initial musings about producing the "Slapper Santa" doll in honor of the treatment Saint Nicholas gave the heretic Arius.
§ Yeah, we normally cap it with two submissions per blog, but Chaplain Dave's Newsletter has a three-part series answering the question What Do Chaplains Do Anyway? He writes that Chaplains Lead Worship, Chaplains Counsel People, and they practice regular Visitation.
§ At Cranach, Dr. Veith notes how one of his daughter's teachers shows what it means to believe in the Bible and the Lutheran confessions in Being Confessional When It Hurts.
§ In Lutheran Teachers Rock, GHP of Territorial Bloggings takes off on the above post by Dr. Veith to give his own props to those who faithfully fulfilled their vocations.
§ Here's one where the title removes any need for further commentary by the host: Theophilus' Inferno posts on "In Cold Blood," Capote, and the Human Capacity for Evil.
§ Cross Theology says that Pastors are Made, Priests are Born, which nicely distinguished between the priesthood of the baptized and the Office of the Holy Ministry.
§ Dan at Necessary Roughness, writing Cross Theology: Pastors are Made, Priests are Born, provides a series of follow-up comments to the previous entry. Then Dan looks into the circles of ecumenical "mission" work, where the Gospel sometimes doesn't make it to the ears of those targeted. In A Halftime Message, Dan offers a sample of a talk that could be given at, for example, a church basketball game.
§ Thanks to Pastor David Petersen Cyberstones for God's "Yes" to Rebellious Sons, a sermon wherein our poor stewardship of God's manifold gifts isn't met by an imperative for more and better stewardship. Rather, he uses the parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate God's prodigious grace in Christ.
§ I Think That Freezing Rain Is a Beautiful Thing, says David. Has he been playing with his little interlocking plastic blocks for too long? Find out at David Creates with Legos; God with Logos
§ Full Throttle & and Empty Gas Tank talks about a private "worship war" but he's really talking about the conscience, hopelessness, and fear in How I Feel.
§ And speaking of feelings, What You Do, Do Quickly complains in his finest Jack Webb/Joe Friday/"Just the facts" voice about bloggers letting us know their moods, meme and quiz posts, and otherwise not simply telling the reader what they are thinking in Current Mood | Annoyed.
§ Mollie Ziegler of Get Religion uses the Tookie Williams clemency case to examine how the kingdom of the left hand often finds itself using the language and coopting some of the divine order of the kingdom of the right in Talk about Mingling Church and State. The blog isn't strictly confessional Lutheran, but Mollie Z sure is.
§ Horn+Swoggled provides its normal heaping helping of parody in Satan to Workers: Do My Bidding on Halloween, reporting that megachurch volunteers aren't the only ones who need a little holiday family time. He then tells us how a Church Jettisons "Traditional" Schedule, showing how to some, even the "tradition" of regularly scheduled services is too traditional.
§ Elle the Intolerant notes the results of China's sexual revolution in China's Sexual Devolution.
§ Mrs. T. Swede of Journalistic Jargon tells us plainly — Private Confession in the LCMS: A Very Good Thing.
§ Here's another blogger where the two-post limit doesn't make sense. Kelly's Blog has been providing a series called Lord of the Vocations, wherein she examines how various characters in the film version of Lord of the Rings fulfill or fail their respective callings. Part I deals with a few of the women we meet. Dialogue between Eowyn and the hobbits contrasts their differing understandings and acceptance of their vocations in Part II. The vocations of Frodo are in Part III while Master Samwise is observed in Part IV and Part IVb. Part V is devoted to the Grey Pilgrim, Gandalf. Kelly promises more to come in the series.
§ Let's Look at Scripture for a Change! exclaims Caspar Heydenreich at Lutherans & Contraception as he examines Natural Family Planning in light of a grammatico-historical exegesis of 1 Corinthians 7:5.
§ Pastor Thomas Chryst of Preachrblog expands on an idea proposed by Dr. Veith and decries the removal of the line "If I should die before I wake" from the well-known bedtime prayer in Sheltering Children.
§ At Quicunque vult, Ste. Emily Carder the diaconatrix takes us back inside her classroom and shows how Joseph Reveals a Witch.
§ What's blogging without a rant or two? Especially Jason Peterson's Rants from a Disgruntled Lutheran in Middle-America, which involves yet another series, this one (so far) in two posts. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Deliverance from Enemies by Grace: Evidence of Divine Monergism in the Pattern of the Kings of Judah.
§ Don't Have an Organ? Organists are hard to come by, and while we appreciate them when we have them, what do you do when they are not available? While the ideal solution is to train your own organists, the Revvin' Rev says that here is something you can do in the interim.
§ The Rev. David Juhl, aka the Uneasy Priest muses on Learning to Be Still, providing some thoughtful material and receiving comments in kind.
Sprinkle in Some Wittenberg vs. Geneva Spice
§ At Cyberbrethren, the Rev. McCain posits Where's Jesus? An Expression of Concern to my Calvinist Friends. However, Pastor McCain finds out that ecumenical dialogue isn't totally out of kilter when he discovers A Sane Voice in What Seemed a Pretty Wacky Calvinist Reformed World.
§ Are You Justified Because Christ Is in You, or Is Christ in You Because You Are Justified? asks Dawning Realm. The distinction provides some of the difference between many of the heirs of Calvin and Luther.
Shake in a Few Nibbles of Narnia
§ Na(r)nia Vortext Has Me Sucked In, Sort Of discusses getting sucked into the great pop culuture phenomenon of the movie Chronicles of Narnia. It also deals with some of the trepidation the disgruntled world citizen of Full Throttle experienced as he started reading the books.
§ Pastor Alms of incarnatus est laments that There Was no Blood when the Witch sacrificed Aslan and notes what a powerful theolgical statement was missed.
§ From Jottings and Such, Julie Stiegemeyer's Thoughts on Narnia also examine the books and Lewis, while comparing the Chronicles to Lord of the Rings and current trends in children's literature
§ The author of Katie's Beer provides A Peek into Narnia. The brewmistress first read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1978 and could only interpret the storyline through her teenage mind. In 1998, she read the book with her then 9 year old daughter and saw things through her eyes, also as a mother with strong evangelical interpretations of any book, song or movie. In 2005, she watched the movie as the mother of older children and as a confessional Lutheran Christian. She notices things this time that she never before realized. In particular, she sees the importance of well-catechized and well-educated children who are prepared to face life's battles.
Add a Dash of Doctrine and Practice
§ Several people express concerns with some of what passes for Lutheran preaching these days. Josh S, one of Here We Stand's contributors asks, Do You Ever Get the Feeling? and posits that too many sermons focus only on the basics of Law and Gospel, sin and grace and never proclaim the full council of God.
§ Meanwhile, Sean wants for real law and not some watered-down substitute as he asks (and answers), Too Much Gospel or Too Much Law? at Hot Lutheran on Lutheran Action.
§ Bob watersblogged! Waters targets what he thinks is an overall poor Lutheran understanding and application of Sanctification, saying, Surely This, Too, Is a Crisis!. He opines that not only could faulty preaching and teaching be culprits but also wonders if a later confirmation with transitional teaching moving from concrete to abstract thought wouldn't help.
§ The science-minded Dan gets into the numbers game with two posts from Random Thoughts of a Confessional Lutheran. First he parallels Five Point Calvinism with his own Five Point Lutheranism as he lists five gripes he has with the LCMS. He also tallies Three Things I Hate about Ablaze!™, making his case as to why Ablaze!™ isn't worth the trouble of starting up a fire.
§ Also questioning prevailing attitudes about outreach is Ryan Fouts of Little Loci as he asks, Missiology or Missiolatry?
Top with Warm Helpings of Advent and Christmas
§ How about keeping Advent going until Christmas Eve? Jeremy Abel of Living Among the Mysteries keeps the preparatory season alive with a look at John the Baptizer, The Unlikely Comforter.
§ From the Revvin' Rev, Pastor David Ruddat, comes Sermon — Advent 3. He refuses to point to or at stores which greet us with either "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." Instead, he reminds us of the Christian way to "point": "When folks who are darkened with their sins or the sins they see around them say 'Look what this world is coming too!' We point to our Savior in humility and enthusiasm saying 'Look who has come to the World!'"
§ The mistletoe's not up yet here in the Alley. However, we're crunching the holiday numbers with Seasonal Math: Christ + Mass = Christmas. Here I argue that along with keeping the "Christ" in Christmas, we should remember to keep the "Mass."
§ In Putting the X Back in Xmas, Pastor Steven Billings reminds us that the "X" in Xmas stands for Christ as he discusses the greetings of the season.
§ I'm not all about theology (just mostly). Secular and sacred meet in The Unsinkable Charlie Brown, an essay occasioned by the 40th anniversary showing of the Peanuts classic.
§ Fa-la-la or folderol? The Rev. Walter Snyder's Ask the Pastor answers a question about Unbiblical Christmas Carols, showing how many of our Christmas "facts" are actually hymn writers' fictions. He also touches on The Meaning of Christmas as both word and holy day.
§ The myth of Santa Claus may no longer be a harmless part of the holiday. Many children know more about Santa than about Jesus. So says The Burr in the Burgh in I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus. Pastor Stiegemeyer also gives us It's Festivus for the Rest-of-Us, showing how the world celebrates "Christmas" but has neither Christ nor the Mass. He argues that they should call their holiday something else.
§ David at Cross+Wise writes that a Gospel Santa could teach us (and our kids) some valuable lessons about Christmas in Remaking Santa in the Shape of the Cross.
§ What sort of greeting were you expecting, anyway? The Old School Confessional could only say, Wow after reading the Christless "Christmas" card from his church's district office.
§ In a similar vein, Scott comments on the "Christmas Wars" at The Spirit Is Willing; the Flesh Is Weak. He correctly notes that whatever goofiness there is about greetings and public practice, what Christians face is annoyance, not true persecution as he reflects on the sermon preached Last Sunday, at Our Lutheran Church. Then, with Church Takes Purpose Driven Theology Too Far, he uses A Christmas Carol to point out yet another "ghost" providing no lasting comfort.
§ Want more on Christmas greetings? What You Do, Do Quickly provides just that in All I Want for Christmas, wherein he shows what diffences he expects between Church and state and between sacred and secular vocations.
§ Pastor Petersen of Cyberstones is similarly monomaniacal. However, the singular gift on his list isn't what you might expect. He lists All I Want for Christmas: Ambrosian Hymns.
§ So, This is Christmas, exclaims the disgruntled world citizen of Full Throttle & and Empty Gas Tank. He takes a moment or two to reflect on our proper reaction to the miracle of the Incarnation.
§ Here's a treat: A brand new blog (Pablo's Mind) offers its maiden post (Joy To The World), a brief musing about his new-found happiness surrounding Christmas.
§ Finally, at Wretched of the Earth, we find Thai New Year and Christian Thoughtlessness. Ryan uses, as a point of departure, the celebration in Thailand of a "new year" that doesn't correspond to the nation's calendar to discuss "holiday" trees, Christian cultural engagement, and the surrender of the mind.
Note: As you've seen, we received a lot of entries. If we accidentally omitted yours (or you believe it got lost in the earlier email shuffle) please notify me: aardvarkalley AT gmail DOT com ¶ 18:18 | 7 comments | links to this post
Introduction
Yep, folks. The Ol' Aardvark gets to host the (lucky?) thirteenth installment of the Lutheran Carnival. The last time I hosted, I neglected to introduce a famous (or not-so-famous) Lutheran personage. I'll not make that mistake again.
The Famous Lutheran Du Jour
The folks in the picture are Bessie Lee (Efner) Rehwinkel and her husband, the Rev. Dr. Alfred M. Rehwinkel, noted LCMS theologian, pastor, and professor, with their daughters Dorothy and Helen.
Yours truly spent part of his time at St. John's College, Winfield, Kansas in a dorm named for this former school president. Alfred also wrote The Flood, a book still on the shelves of many Lutheran pastors and lay people.
However, our featured Lutheran isn't the (theological) doctor, nor either of the children, but Mrs. Doctor Rehwinkel, who was a doctor (medical) herself. Back in the days when hardly anyone had heard of a woman in medicine, Dr. Bessie practiced on the prairies of the U. S. and Canada. She was the real-life Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman.In their later years, after they'd moved into the the world of urban academia, the two joined to put together a thin book with a lengthy title: Dr. Bessie: The Life Story and Romance of a Pioneer Lady Doctor on Our Western and the Canadian Frontier. I'll not spoil it by giving any of the story away. However, it's a great read as history, biography, or romance.
And Now, On with the Carnival!
There are a number of entries this time around. I've grouped some of them around themes they share with other submissions, including Narnia, Lutheran-Calvinist differences including iconoclasm, church polity and politics, and the Advent – Christmas season. However, the "great unwashed" group with which we begin our excursion into confessional Lutheran blogging excellence is outstanding in its own right. Put things together, and you have a recipe for some great pre-Christmas reading and pondering.
A Little of This, a Little of That
§ Ask the Pastor generated a number of comments about alcohol being part of the Sacrament in his post on Communion Wine. He also answers a reader's question, Am I a Pelagian?§ Dare to be a Sinner! says Be Strong in the Grace. The author shows how she was able to see herself, and the whole of earth, in a permanent sin condition. Once God worked this, He also showed her clearly from whence comes her help.
§ At A Beggar At The Table, Pastor Klages makes A Couple Observations involving politics and religion, all in one post! Includes his initial musings about producing the "Slapper Santa" doll in honor of the treatment Saint Nicholas gave the heretic Arius.
§ Yeah, we normally cap it with two submissions per blog, but Chaplain Dave's Newsletter has a three-part series answering the question What Do Chaplains Do Anyway? He writes that Chaplains Lead Worship, Chaplains Counsel People, and they practice regular Visitation.
§ At Cranach, Dr. Veith notes how one of his daughter's teachers shows what it means to believe in the Bible and the Lutheran confessions in Being Confessional When It Hurts.
§ In Lutheran Teachers Rock, GHP of Territorial Bloggings takes off on the above post by Dr. Veith to give his own props to those who faithfully fulfilled their vocations.
§ Here's one where the title removes any need for further commentary by the host: Theophilus' Inferno posts on "In Cold Blood," Capote, and the Human Capacity for Evil.
§ Cross Theology says that Pastors are Made, Priests are Born, which nicely distinguished between the priesthood of the baptized and the Office of the Holy Ministry.
§ Dan at Necessary Roughness, writing Cross Theology: Pastors are Made, Priests are Born, provides a series of follow-up comments to the previous entry. Then Dan looks into the circles of ecumenical "mission" work, where the Gospel sometimes doesn't make it to the ears of those targeted. In A Halftime Message, Dan offers a sample of a talk that could be given at, for example, a church basketball game.
§ Thanks to Pastor David Petersen Cyberstones for God's "Yes" to Rebellious Sons, a sermon wherein our poor stewardship of God's manifold gifts isn't met by an imperative for more and better stewardship. Rather, he uses the parable of the Prodigal Son to illustrate God's prodigious grace in Christ.
§ I Think That Freezing Rain Is a Beautiful Thing, says David. Has he been playing with his little interlocking plastic blocks for too long? Find out at David Creates with Legos; God with Logos§ Full Throttle & and Empty Gas Tank talks about a private "worship war" but he's really talking about the conscience, hopelessness, and fear in How I Feel.
§ And speaking of feelings, What You Do, Do Quickly complains in his finest Jack Webb/Joe Friday/"Just the facts" voice about bloggers letting us know their moods, meme and quiz posts, and otherwise not simply telling the reader what they are thinking in Current Mood | Annoyed.
§ Mollie Ziegler of Get Religion uses the Tookie Williams clemency case to examine how the kingdom of the left hand often finds itself using the language and coopting some of the divine order of the kingdom of the right in Talk about Mingling Church and State. The blog isn't strictly confessional Lutheran, but Mollie Z sure is.
§ Horn+Swoggled provides its normal heaping helping of parody in Satan to Workers: Do My Bidding on Halloween, reporting that megachurch volunteers aren't the only ones who need a little holiday family time. He then tells us how a Church Jettisons "Traditional" Schedule, showing how to some, even the "tradition" of regularly scheduled services is too traditional.
§ Elle the Intolerant notes the results of China's sexual revolution in China's Sexual Devolution.
§ Mrs. T. Swede of Journalistic Jargon tells us plainly — Private Confession in the LCMS: A Very Good Thing.§ Here's another blogger where the two-post limit doesn't make sense. Kelly's Blog has been providing a series called Lord of the Vocations, wherein she examines how various characters in the film version of Lord of the Rings fulfill or fail their respective callings. Part I deals with a few of the women we meet. Dialogue between Eowyn and the hobbits contrasts their differing understandings and acceptance of their vocations in Part II. The vocations of Frodo are in Part III while Master Samwise is observed in Part IV and Part IVb. Part V is devoted to the Grey Pilgrim, Gandalf. Kelly promises more to come in the series.
§ Let's Look at Scripture for a Change! exclaims Caspar Heydenreich at Lutherans & Contraception as he examines Natural Family Planning in light of a grammatico-historical exegesis of 1 Corinthians 7:5.
§ Pastor Thomas Chryst of Preachrblog expands on an idea proposed by Dr. Veith and decries the removal of the line "If I should die before I wake" from the well-known bedtime prayer in Sheltering Children.
§ At Quicunque vult, Ste. Emily Carder the diaconatrix takes us back inside her classroom and shows how Joseph Reveals a Witch.§ What's blogging without a rant or two? Especially Jason Peterson's Rants from a Disgruntled Lutheran in Middle-America, which involves yet another series, this one (so far) in two posts. Check out Part 1 and Part 2 of Deliverance from Enemies by Grace: Evidence of Divine Monergism in the Pattern of the Kings of Judah.
§ Don't Have an Organ? Organists are hard to come by, and while we appreciate them when we have them, what do you do when they are not available? While the ideal solution is to train your own organists, the Revvin' Rev says that here is something you can do in the interim.
§ The Rev. David Juhl, aka the Uneasy Priest muses on Learning to Be Still, providing some thoughtful material and receiving comments in kind.
Sprinkle in Some Wittenberg vs. Geneva Spice
§ At Cyberbrethren, the Rev. McCain posits Where's Jesus? An Expression of Concern to my Calvinist Friends. However, Pastor McCain finds out that ecumenical dialogue isn't totally out of kilter when he discovers A Sane Voice in What Seemed a Pretty Wacky Calvinist Reformed World.§ Are You Justified Because Christ Is in You, or Is Christ in You Because You Are Justified? asks Dawning Realm. The distinction provides some of the difference between many of the heirs of Calvin and Luther.
Shake in a Few Nibbles of Narnia
§ Na(r)nia Vortext Has Me Sucked In, Sort Of discusses getting sucked into the great pop culuture phenomenon of the movie Chronicles of Narnia. It also deals with some of the trepidation the disgruntled world citizen of Full Throttle experienced as he started reading the books.
§ Pastor Alms of incarnatus est laments that There Was no Blood when the Witch sacrificed Aslan and notes what a powerful theolgical statement was missed.§ From Jottings and Such, Julie Stiegemeyer's Thoughts on Narnia also examine the books and Lewis, while comparing the Chronicles to Lord of the Rings and current trends in children's literature
§ The author of Katie's Beer provides A Peek into Narnia. The brewmistress first read The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe in 1978 and could only interpret the storyline through her teenage mind. In 1998, she read the book with her then 9 year old daughter and saw things through her eyes, also as a mother with strong evangelical interpretations of any book, song or movie. In 2005, she watched the movie as the mother of older children and as a confessional Lutheran Christian. She notices things this time that she never before realized. In particular, she sees the importance of well-catechized and well-educated children who are prepared to face life's battles.
Add a Dash of Doctrine and Practice
§ Several people express concerns with some of what passes for Lutheran preaching these days. Josh S, one of Here We Stand's contributors asks, Do You Ever Get the Feeling? and posits that too many sermons focus only on the basics of Law and Gospel, sin and grace and never proclaim the full council of God.
§ Meanwhile, Sean wants for real law and not some watered-down substitute as he asks (and answers), Too Much Gospel or Too Much Law? at Hot Lutheran on Lutheran Action.§ Bob watersblogged! Waters targets what he thinks is an overall poor Lutheran understanding and application of Sanctification, saying, Surely This, Too, Is a Crisis!. He opines that not only could faulty preaching and teaching be culprits but also wonders if a later confirmation with transitional teaching moving from concrete to abstract thought wouldn't help.
§ The science-minded Dan gets into the numbers game with two posts from Random Thoughts of a Confessional Lutheran. First he parallels Five Point Calvinism with his own Five Point Lutheranism as he lists five gripes he has with the LCMS. He also tallies Three Things I Hate about Ablaze!™, making his case as to why Ablaze!™ isn't worth the trouble of starting up a fire.
§ Also questioning prevailing attitudes about outreach is Ryan Fouts of Little Loci as he asks, Missiology or Missiolatry?
Top with Warm Helpings of Advent and Christmas
§ How about keeping Advent going until Christmas Eve? Jeremy Abel of Living Among the Mysteries keeps the preparatory season alive with a look at John the Baptizer, The Unlikely Comforter.
§ From the Revvin' Rev, Pastor David Ruddat, comes Sermon — Advent 3. He refuses to point to or at stores which greet us with either "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Holidays." Instead, he reminds us of the Christian way to "point": "When folks who are darkened with their sins or the sins they see around them say 'Look what this world is coming too!' We point to our Savior in humility and enthusiasm saying 'Look who has come to the World!'"
§ The mistletoe's not up yet here in the Alley. However, we're crunching the holiday numbers with Seasonal Math: Christ + Mass = Christmas. Here I argue that along with keeping the "Christ" in Christmas, we should remember to keep the "Mass."§ In Putting the X Back in Xmas, Pastor Steven Billings reminds us that the "X" in Xmas stands for Christ as he discusses the greetings of the season.
§ I'm not all about theology (just mostly). Secular and sacred meet in The Unsinkable Charlie Brown, an essay occasioned by the 40th anniversary showing of the Peanuts classic.
§ Fa-la-la or folderol? The Rev. Walter Snyder's Ask the Pastor answers a question about Unbiblical Christmas Carols, showing how many of our Christmas "facts" are actually hymn writers' fictions. He also touches on The Meaning of Christmas as both word and holy day.
§ The myth of Santa Claus may no longer be a harmless part of the holiday. Many children know more about Santa than about Jesus. So says The Burr in the Burgh in I Saw Mommy Killing Santa Claus. Pastor Stiegemeyer also gives us It's Festivus for the Rest-of-Us, showing how the world celebrates "Christmas" but has neither Christ nor the Mass. He argues that they should call their holiday something else.
§ David at Cross+Wise writes that a Gospel Santa could teach us (and our kids) some valuable lessons about Christmas in Remaking Santa in the Shape of the Cross.
§ What sort of greeting were you expecting, anyway? The Old School Confessional could only say, Wow after reading the Christless "Christmas" card from his church's district office.
§ In a similar vein, Scott comments on the "Christmas Wars" at The Spirit Is Willing; the Flesh Is Weak. He correctly notes that whatever goofiness there is about greetings and public practice, what Christians face is annoyance, not true persecution as he reflects on the sermon preached Last Sunday, at Our Lutheran Church. Then, with Church Takes Purpose Driven Theology Too Far, he uses A Christmas Carol to point out yet another "ghost" providing no lasting comfort.§ Want more on Christmas greetings? What You Do, Do Quickly provides just that in All I Want for Christmas, wherein he shows what diffences he expects between Church and state and between sacred and secular vocations.
§ Pastor Petersen of Cyberstones is similarly monomaniacal. However, the singular gift on his list isn't what you might expect. He lists All I Want for Christmas: Ambrosian Hymns.
§ So, This is Christmas, exclaims the disgruntled world citizen of Full Throttle & and Empty Gas Tank. He takes a moment or two to reflect on our proper reaction to the miracle of the Incarnation.
§ Here's a treat: A brand new blog (Pablo's Mind) offers its maiden post (Joy To The World), a brief musing about his new-found happiness surrounding Christmas.
§ Finally, at Wretched of the Earth, we find Thai New Year and Christian Thoughtlessness. Ryan uses, as a point of departure, the celebration in Thailand of a "new year" that doesn't correspond to the nation's calendar to discuss "holiday" trees, Christian cultural engagement, and the surrender of the mind.
Note: As you've seen, we received a lot of entries. If we accidentally omitted yours (or you believe it got lost in the earlier email shuffle) please notify me: aardvarkalley AT gmail DOT com ¶ 18:18 | 7 comments | links to this post
O Adonai
O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel
O Adonai, et dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.
O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen.
"With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins." (Isaiah 11:4-5 ESV); and "For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us." (Isaiah 33:22 ESV). See also Exodus 3; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6.
Veni, Veni, Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice In maiestate gloriae.
Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might, Who to Your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law, In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Adonai, et dux domus Israel, qui Moysi in igne flammae rubi apparuisti, et ei in Sina legem dedisti: veni ad redimendum nos in brachio extento.O Lord and Ruler of the House of Israel, who appeared to Moses in the flame of the burning bush and gave him the law on Sinai: come, and redeem us with outstretched arms. Amen.
"With righteousness he shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of his waist, and faithfulness the belt of his loins." (Isaiah 11:4-5 ESV); and "For the Lord is our judge; the Lord is our lawgiver; the Lord is our king; he will save us." (Isaiah 33:22 ESV). See also Exodus 3; Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:6.
Veni, Veni, Adonai, Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice In maiestate gloriae.
Oh, come, oh, come, our Lord of might, Who to Your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times gave holy law, In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
17 December 2005
On Washing One's Hands
Pay special attention, pastors and other visitors of the sick.
Samantha Burns commented on a Canadian MP who favo(u)rs paper towels over electric dryers. So do I, and I left the following comment as to why I support Monte Solberg in this:
Samantha Burns commented on a Canadian MP who favo(u)rs paper towels over electric dryers. So do I, and I left the following comment as to why I support Monte Solberg in this:¶ 23:43 | 1 comments | links to this post
Mrs. Vark is a Registered Nurse and has been one for well over half her remarkably young and vibrant (in case she's reading this) life. On top of her general training, she was Infectious Disease Control Nurse in a Texas state penal institution for several years.
I'm a pastor and have been one long enough to have been in many more hospitals than has the Mrs., albeit not for as long a time in most as she normally spends. I don't want anyone's germs for myself and certainly don't want to pass them on to people too old, too weak, or already too ill to properly fight them.
As the Dear Wife explains, if one has "poop hands," turns on the water, washes with plenty of soap, and then turns off the water, one has an excellent chance of picking back up the germs he just washed away. Blowing the hands dry will merely warm the little buggers without doing them any great harm. Pressing the button on the electric dryer or grasping the door handle will allow you to drop off a few of the bugs you're already carrying and pick up some deposited by others.
Hence, if you go into many hospital restrooms, you'll find a trash can beside the door. This allows you to do the following: Use the toilet; turn on water and wet hands; soap and scrub for at least 20 seconds (a slow singing of "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" is a good timer); rinse hands; grasp paper towel(s) and dry hands; shut off water with a towel; open door with a towel; and drop towel in trash.
If the towel dispenser has one of those push bars or other items requiring contact, it's recommended that you run out a couple feet of toweling before beginning to wash your hands.
It seems silly, but considering some of the hospital-acquired, antibiotic resistant bacteria, rampaging rhinovirii, and various strains of influenza, a little silly sure beats a lot of sick.
O Sapientia
O Wisdom from on High
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.
O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence. Amen.
"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord." (Isaiah 11:2-3), and "This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." (Isaiah 28:29). See also Proverbs 1:20; Proverbs 8-9 and 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Veni, O Sapientia, Quae hic disponis omnia,
Veni, viam prudentiae Ut doceas et gloriae.
Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high, Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 22:02 | 0 comments | links to this post
O Sapientia, quae ex ore Altissimi prodiisti, attingens a fine usque ad finem fortiter, suaviterque disponens omnia: veni ad docendum nos viam prudentiae.O Wisdom, who came from the mouth of the Most High, reaching from end to end and ordering all things mightily and sweetly: come, and teach us the way of prudence. Amen.
"And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And his delight shall be in the fear of the Lord." (Isaiah 11:2-3), and "This also comes from the Lord of hosts; he is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom." (Isaiah 28:29). See also Proverbs 1:20; Proverbs 8-9 and 1 Corinthians 1:30.
Veni, O Sapientia, Quae hic disponis omnia,
Veni, viam prudentiae Ut doceas et gloriae.
Oh, come, our Wisdom from on high, Who ordered all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show, And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to you, O Israel!
Read the meditation by Pr. Bill Cwirla.
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 22:02 | 0 comments | links to this post
The First (Stanza) Shall Be Last
We count down the final days of Advent using the traditional monastic antiphons to the Magnificat. Most of Western Christendom knows these antiphons through their versification, Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel. Beginning in eternity, the antiphons move roughly chronologically through history until the coming of Emmanuel, "God with Us." Thus, the normal first stanza of the hymn is the last of the antiphons, sung on 23 December. By Vespers on the 24th, it's time to remove the final vestiges of Advent and enter into Christmas.
The order itself, whether by design or coincidence, forms a Latin reverse acrostic. The intial address for the coming Savior in each antiphon is as follows: Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel. Taking each title's first letter and writing the result backwards yields "ero cras"; normally this is rendered, "I shall be [with you] tomorrow." Thus our Lord promises to return for us and so He leads us to pledge to join together in His worship while still on earth.
Through the next seven days, I'll post the appropriate antiphon, its translation, the Latin versification, and the corresponding hymn stanza from Lutheran Worship.
Posts in the Series:
† O Sapientia — O Wisdom
† O Adonai — O Lord and Ruler
† O Radix Jesse — O Root of Jesse
† O Clavis David — O Key of David
† O Oriens — O Dayspring
† O Rex Gentium — O King of the Nations
† O Emmanuel — O God with Us ¶ 21:38 | 0 comments | links to this post
We count down the final days of Advent using the traditional monastic antiphons to the Magnificat. Most of Western Christendom knows these antiphons through their versification, Oh, Come, Oh, Come, Emmanuel. Beginning in eternity, the antiphons move roughly chronologically through history until the coming of Emmanuel, "God with Us." Thus, the normal first stanza of the hymn is the last of the antiphons, sung on 23 December. By Vespers on the 24th, it's time to remove the final vestiges of Advent and enter into Christmas.The order itself, whether by design or coincidence, forms a Latin reverse acrostic. The intial address for the coming Savior in each antiphon is as follows: Sapientia, Adonai, Radix, Clavis, Oriens, Rex, and Emmanuel. Taking each title's first letter and writing the result backwards yields "ero cras"; normally this is rendered, "I shall be [with you] tomorrow." Thus our Lord promises to return for us and so He leads us to pledge to join together in His worship while still on earth.
Through the next seven days, I'll post the appropriate antiphon, its translation, the Latin versification, and the corresponding hymn stanza from Lutheran Worship.
Posts in the Series:
† O Sapientia — O Wisdom
† O Adonai — O Lord and Ruler
† O Radix Jesse — O Root of Jesse
† O Clavis David — O Key of David
† O Oriens — O Dayspring
† O Rex Gentium — O King of the Nations
† O Emmanuel — O God with Us ¶ 21:38 | 0 comments | links to this post
16 December 2005
Final Call for Carnival Submissions
I really mean it ... sort of ... please?
The next Lutheran Carnival of Blogs appears on these very pages! Aren't we excited?
That the presentation might exceed the anticipation, we need submissions. That's where you come in: If you're unfamiliar with the process, please check the guidelines at the mother blog. I will accept third-part submissions; choose carefully and try to cap your suggestions at two. You may submit two of your own blog posts, as well. The edress for submissions is lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com.
While any quality posts by confessional Lutheran bloggers are welcome, I certainly would celebrate entries on Christmas topics, especially since this is the final carnival before the Feast of the Nativity.
Please get a move on. The deadline is 7:00 pm (21:00 hours) Central Standard Time today, 16 December. For international comparison, it works out to 0100 UTC (aka GMT or Zulu) Saturday 17 December.
Don't quote me, but I believe that's 15 hectares metric. ¶ 15:14 | 0 comments | links to this post
The next Lutheran Carnival of Blogs appears on these very pages! Aren't we excited?
That the presentation might exceed the anticipation, we need submissions. That's where you come in: If you're unfamiliar with the process, please check the guidelines at the mother blog. I will accept third-part submissions; choose carefully and try to cap your suggestions at two. You may submit two of your own blog posts, as well. The edress for submissions is lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com.
While any quality posts by confessional Lutheran bloggers are welcome, I certainly would celebrate entries on Christmas topics, especially since this is the final carnival before the Feast of the Nativity.
Please get a move on. The deadline is 7:00 pm (21:00 hours) Central Standard Time today, 16 December. For international comparison, it works out to 0100 UTC (aka GMT or Zulu) Saturday 17 December.
Don't quote me, but I believe that's 15 hectares metric. ¶ 15:14 | 0 comments | links to this post
Troll th'Inaccurate Yule Tide Carol
Hark! What Babe in Yonder Manger Cries? or How Loud, Proud Cow?
Ask the Pastor compares the texts of favorite Christmas carols to the text of Holy Scripture and finds some of them wanting as he ponders Unbiblical Christmas Carols.
Fa-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-la! ¶ 11:47 | 0 comments | links to this post
Ask the Pastor compares the texts of favorite Christmas carols to the text of Holy Scripture and finds some of them wanting as he ponders Unbiblical Christmas Carols.
Fa-la-la-la-la, La-la-la-la! ¶ 11:47 | 0 comments | links to this post
Seasonal Math: Christ + Mass = Christmas
Happy Holy Days!
Many Christians have problems with the world's celebration of Christmas. Baby dolls overwhelm the Baby Jesus in TV advertising. Violent video games replace "peace on earth" on too many wish lists. "Save Twenty Percent or More," drowns out mention of the Savior of the nations.
The characters in A Charlie Brown Christmas illustrate many of the wrong attitudes and actions: Crabby Lucy is in it for the presents. Snoopy glorifies himself by competing in (and winning) the home decorating contest. Schroeder looks at the pageant as an opportunity to show off his musical abilities. Linus sees the season through a lens of fear at standing on stage in the Christmas program. And Good Ol' Charlie Brown knows that something's wrong — something's missing — only he can't figure out just what.
Christians enjoy seeing Linus figure things out and recite the Christmas story from Luke 2. We smile as the arguing and misunderstanding disappear and the kids decorate the ratty little tree and sing "Hark! The Herald Angels." Finally someone "gets" Christmas!
We hear others (or ourselves) say, "Let's put the 'Christ' back in Christmas." Some even spell the word "CHRISTmas," with the capital letters pointing out the Savior. Nothing is wrong with increased emphasis on Jesus. Indeed, any proper focus on Him over worldly things deserves our attention. Yet when we get to the common name for the holiday ("holy" + "day" = "holiday"), we dare not forget also to keep the "Mass" in Christmas.
What does this mean? Only that the Christian holy day celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord deserves more than a tree and some colored lights. "Mass" is the ancient word for the Christian worship service, specifically, the Communion service. We cannot go to Bethlehem to find Christ, nor to Calvary or the empty tomb. We find Him where He says He will be, "in the midst" of the gathering, in His Word and His Supper.
"The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14a)"
"He was incarnate [made flesh] by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary (Apostles' Creed, Second Article)."
"She gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger. (Luke 2:7a)"
That Word, the eternal Son of God, gives us His forgiveness through the preaching of His Word, the Gospel. He who became flesh and was lain in the bin where the animals ate has become our food as we come to His altar. While we might stay home thinking nice thoughts about Jesus — we may even take time for Bible reading, devotions, songs, and prayers — it's only in His house, in His divine service, where we begin to see "his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14b)"
The carol urges, "Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, our newborn King." If you would do this, then come to His house. Come not merely to give gifts and honor, for He already has all things under His divine control. You can give Him nothing that isn't already His — including yourself, your life, and your love. Come instead to receive. Receive the Christ. Receive forgiveness. Receive peace and reconciliation with God and carry this peace into a strife-torn world. Receive the fullness of His grace and truth and receive eternal life. Ask God to help you keep the "Mass" and the "Christ" in CHRIST-MASS.
God isn't calling you to a cold, dark stable. Most likely, He's inviting you, your family, and your friends to a nice, warm church. You probably won't have to spend time with dusty hay or smelly animals; you can sit in nice, clean clothes among well-bathed people. Yet He still calls you to see and receive the same Savior those shepherds met during a Bethlehem night over two thousand years ago. Will you make excuses to stay away, or will you go "with haste" to meet Him and then make known what you are told "concerning this Child (Luke 2:16-17)"?
This Christmas Day, come see the Gift God gives you — not one under a tree, but One who was nailed to a tree, shedding His blood to set you free. Not a Gift you'll bury in a closet, but One who was buried in a tomb only to rise on the third day. Not a Gift you'll hasten to exchange for something better, but One who worked a great exchange, taking your sins and giving you His righteousness. How could Christmas be merrier than in knowing that God loves you so much?
Merry CHRISTmas. Merry ChristMASS. Merry CHRISTMAS!
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:27 | 2 comments | links to this post
Many Christians have problems with the world's celebration of Christmas. Baby dolls overwhelm the Baby Jesus in TV advertising. Violent video games replace "peace on earth" on too many wish lists. "Save Twenty Percent or More," drowns out mention of the Savior of the nations.The characters in A Charlie Brown Christmas illustrate many of the wrong attitudes and actions: Crabby Lucy is in it for the presents. Snoopy glorifies himself by competing in (and winning) the home decorating contest. Schroeder looks at the pageant as an opportunity to show off his musical abilities. Linus sees the season through a lens of fear at standing on stage in the Christmas program. And Good Ol' Charlie Brown knows that something's wrong — something's missing — only he can't figure out just what.
Christians enjoy seeing Linus figure things out and recite the Christmas story from Luke 2. We smile as the arguing and misunderstanding disappear and the kids decorate the ratty little tree and sing "Hark! The Herald Angels." Finally someone "gets" Christmas!
We hear others (or ourselves) say, "Let's put the 'Christ' back in Christmas." Some even spell the word "CHRISTmas," with the capital letters pointing out the Savior. Nothing is wrong with increased emphasis on Jesus. Indeed, any proper focus on Him over worldly things deserves our attention. Yet when we get to the common name for the holiday ("holy" + "day" = "holiday"), we dare not forget also to keep the "Mass" in Christmas.
What does this mean? Only that the Christian holy day celebrating the Nativity of Our Lord deserves more than a tree and some colored lights. "Mass" is the ancient word for the Christian worship service, specifically, the Communion service. We cannot go to Bethlehem to find Christ, nor to Calvary or the empty tomb. We find Him where He says He will be, "in the midst" of the gathering, in His Word and His Supper."The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. (John 1:14a)"
"He was incarnate [made flesh] by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary (Apostles' Creed, Second Article)."
"She gave birth to her firstborn Son and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths and laid Him in a manger. (Luke 2:7a)"
That Word, the eternal Son of God, gives us His forgiveness through the preaching of His Word, the Gospel. He who became flesh and was lain in the bin where the animals ate has become our food as we come to His altar. While we might stay home thinking nice thoughts about Jesus — we may even take time for Bible reading, devotions, songs, and prayers — it's only in His house, in His divine service, where we begin to see "his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14b)"
The carol urges, "Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels sing. Come adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, our newborn King." If you would do this, then come to His house. Come not merely to give gifts and honor, for He already has all things under His divine control. You can give Him nothing that isn't already His — including yourself, your life, and your love. Come instead to receive. Receive the Christ. Receive forgiveness. Receive peace and reconciliation with God and carry this peace into a strife-torn world. Receive the fullness of His grace and truth and receive eternal life. Ask God to help you keep the "Mass" and the "Christ" in CHRIST-MASS.God isn't calling you to a cold, dark stable. Most likely, He's inviting you, your family, and your friends to a nice, warm church. You probably won't have to spend time with dusty hay or smelly animals; you can sit in nice, clean clothes among well-bathed people. Yet He still calls you to see and receive the same Savior those shepherds met during a Bethlehem night over two thousand years ago. Will you make excuses to stay away, or will you go "with haste" to meet Him and then make known what you are told "concerning this Child (Luke 2:16-17)"?
This Christmas Day, come see the Gift God gives you — not one under a tree, but One who was nailed to a tree, shedding His blood to set you free. Not a Gift you'll bury in a closet, but One who was buried in a tomb only to rise on the third day. Not a Gift you'll hasten to exchange for something better, but One who worked a great exchange, taking your sins and giving you His righteousness. How could Christmas be merrier than in knowing that God loves you so much?
Merry CHRISTmas. Merry ChristMASS. Merry CHRISTMAS!
Scripture quoted from the ESV® ¶ 00:27 | 2 comments | links to this post
15 December 2005
Search Me
Wherein we examine the origins of the Alley's visitors.
If you have a site counter that lists search terms, it can be fun finding out what brings folks to your site. Here's a partial list. I didn't bother specifiying which search engine they came from, except in the case of Google images. I've omitted duplicates, boring or obvious references (e.g., "Aardvark"), and patently offensive items that somehow led people to this completely inoffensive site.
Thanks to Sam Burns, from whom I borrowed the idea.
¤ if we measure our grief according to his worth
¤ Johann Sebastian Bach
¤ hidden alley sex
¤ wardrobe malfunction clips
¤ Domenico di Michelino
¤ reformer and the virgin Mary
¤ assisted suicide essay
¤ the individual eleven
¤ Nation of Birds
¤ what does pujols means
¤ sparrow falls
¤ Augustinian haircut
¤ bride of christ
¤ Vocation - Reformation
¤ Strong Bodies
¤ united states coast guard
¤ aardvark info for young children
¤ Nicholas Pieper Pistols
¤ Kaffe Kantate
¤ lyrics for i am a c-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n
¤ saint Bernard of Montjoux prayer
¤ words to Linus' Christmas speech
¤ black coaches association Ron Prince
¤ what happens to Catholics who become Lutheran
¤ animal rights activists speak about chronicles of narnia
¤ general hospital luke and laura unity candle
¤ violists orchestra
¤ Lutheran bloggers
¤ supper sex
¤ christ+bride (Google image search)
¤ johann sebastian bach (Google image search) ¶ 12:46 | 3 comments | links to this post
If you have a site counter that lists search terms, it can be fun finding out what brings folks to your site. Here's a partial list. I didn't bother specifiying which search engine they came from, except in the case of Google images. I've omitted duplicates, boring or obvious references (e.g., "Aardvark"), and patently offensive items that somehow led people to this completely inoffensive site.
Thanks to Sam Burns, from whom I borrowed the idea.
¤ if we measure our grief according to his worth
¤ Johann Sebastian Bach
¤ hidden alley sex
¤ wardrobe malfunction clips
¤ Domenico di Michelino
¤ reformer and the virgin Mary
¤ assisted suicide essay¤ the individual eleven
¤ Nation of Birds
¤ what does pujols means
¤ sparrow falls
¤ Augustinian haircut
¤ bride of christ
¤ Vocation - Reformation
¤ Strong Bodies
¤ united states coast guard
¤ aardvark info for young children
¤ Nicholas Pieper Pistols
¤ Kaffe Kantate
¤ lyrics for i am a c-h-r-i-s-t-i-a-n
¤ saint Bernard of Montjoux prayer
¤ words to Linus' Christmas speech
¤ black coaches association Ron Prince
¤ what happens to Catholics who become Lutheran
¤ animal rights activists speak about chronicles of narnia
¤ general hospital luke and laura unity candle
¤ violists orchestra
¤ Lutheran bloggers
¤ supper sex
¤ christ+bride (Google image search)
¤ johann sebastian bach (Google image search) ¶ 12:46 | 3 comments | links to this post
14 December 2005
Carnival Deadline Looms
Yours truly hosts the next Lutheran Carnival of Blogs. This is the final carnival before the Feast of the Nativity, so Christmas-themed posts certainly wouldn't be out of order. Nor, of course, would any other posts by confessional Lutheran bloggers.
If you're unfamiliar with the submission process, please check the general criteria at the mother blog. I will accept third-part submissions; choose carefully and try to cap your suggestions at two. You may submit two of your own blog posts, as well. The edress for submissions is lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com. ¶ 10:11 | 1 comments | links to this post
Yours truly hosts the next Lutheran Carnival of Blogs. This is the final carnival before the Feast of the Nativity, so Christmas-themed posts certainly wouldn't be out of order. Nor, of course, would any other posts by confessional Lutheran bloggers.
If you're unfamiliar with the submission process, please check the general criteria at the mother blog. I will accept third-part submissions; choose carefully and try to cap your suggestions at two. You may submit two of your own blog posts, as well. The edress for submissions is lutherancarnival AT gmail DOT com. ¶ 10:11 | 1 comments | links to this post
13 December 2005
New Look at an Old Heresy
We've not seen much of good ol' Pelagius for several centuries, but Ask the Pastor responds to a reader who got labeled as one of his ilk. Check out the answer to, Am I a Pelagian? ¶ 23:17 | 1 comments | links to this post
We've not seen much of good ol' Pelagius for several centuries, but Ask the Pastor responds to a reader who got labeled as one of his ilk. Check out the answer to, Am I a Pelagian? ¶ 23:17 | 1 comments | links to this post
Christ-Like?
Bunnie Diehl and some of her commenters are discussing, debating, and arguing "Christ-like" attitudes and behavior following Bunnie's comments of megachurches closing for Christmas. See WWJD? Be Passive-Agressive, I guess and Ah, the megachurchers are so Christ-like, including the (so-far) almost 60 comments.
With this in mind, Pastor Peperkorn weighed in with a pithy Luther citation. For further reading, I suggest Ask the Pastor's slightly more verbose On Being Christ-Like. ¶ 20:06 | 0 comments | links to this post
Bunnie Diehl and some of her commenters are discussing, debating, and arguing "Christ-like" attitudes and behavior following Bunnie's comments of megachurches closing for Christmas. See WWJD? Be Passive-Agressive, I guess and Ah, the megachurchers are so Christ-like, including the (so-far) almost 60 comments.
With this in mind, Pastor Peperkorn weighed in with a pithy Luther citation. For further reading, I suggest Ask the Pastor's slightly more verbose On Being Christ-Like. ¶ 20:06 | 0 comments | links to this post
+ Lucia, Martyr +
13 December AD 304
Lucia (or Lucy) was one of the victims of the great persecution under the Roman emperor Diocletian. She met her death at Syracuse on the island of Sicily because of her Christian faith.
Different stories are told about her. Some say that she refused to marry and was killed; others say that her husband-to-be was so enraged because she gave the wedding money to a church that he had her killed. Still another version is that her fiance was enraged at her rejection and turned her in to the authorities as a Christian while another account tells us that her eyes were put out in pagan torture and God restored her sight.
Known for her charity, "Santa Lucia" (as she is called in Italy) gave away her dowry and remained a virgin until her execution by the sword. The name Lucia means "light," and, because of that, festivals of light commemorating her became popular throughout Europe, especially in the Scandinavian countries. There her feast day corresponds with the time of year when there is the least amount of daylight.
In artistic expression she is often portrayed in a white baptismal gown, wearing a wreath of candles on her head. In many Nordic homes, one of the women, often the eldest daughter, wakes early on Lucy's feast day, prepares a special breakfast, dons a headpiece of candles, and moves through the home with the special meal in honor of the saint.
Agatha, 5 February AD 290
With Lucy, the Church often also honors the virgin martyr Agatha. She came from Catania in Sicily, and was most likely martyred in the late 200s. Aside from her name on the lists of early martyrs, nothing else is known of her.
Lection
Psalm 65:1-8
Deuteronomy 33:1-3
Revelation 7:2-17
Matthew 5:1-12
Collect
O Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyrs Lucy and Agatha triumphed over suffering and were faithful even unto death, grant us, who now remember them with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with them the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
Lucia (or Lucy) was one of the victims of the great persecution under the Roman emperor Diocletian. She met her death at Syracuse on the island of Sicily because of her Christian faith.Different stories are told about her. Some say that she refused to marry and was killed; others say that her husband-to-be was so enraged because she gave the wedding money to a church that he had her killed. Still another version is that her fiance was enraged at her rejection and turned her in to the authorities as a Christian while another account tells us that her eyes were put out in pagan torture and God restored her sight.
Known for her charity, "Santa Lucia" (as she is called in Italy) gave away her dowry and remained a virgin until her execution by the sword. The name Lucia means "light," and, because of that, festivals of light commemorating her became popular throughout Europe, especially in the Scandinavian countries. There her feast day corresponds with the time of year when there is the least amount of daylight.
In artistic expression she is often portrayed in a white baptismal gown, wearing a wreath of candles on her head. In many Nordic homes, one of the women, often the eldest daughter, wakes early on Lucy's feast day, prepares a special breakfast, dons a headpiece of candles, and moves through the home with the special meal in honor of the saint.Agatha, 5 February AD 290
With Lucy, the Church often also honors the virgin martyr Agatha. She came from Catania in Sicily, and was most likely martyred in the late 200s. Aside from her name on the lists of early martyrs, nothing else is known of her.
Lection
Psalm 65:1-8
Deuteronomy 33:1-3
Revelation 7:2-17
Matthew 5:1-12
Collect
O Almighty God, by whose grace and power your holy martyrs Lucy and Agatha triumphed over suffering and were faithful even unto death, grant us, who now remember them with thanksgiving, to be so faithful in our witness to you in this world, that we may receive with them the crown of life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
12 December 2005
Face Time for Lutheran Bloggers
Confessional Lutheran Bloggers Conference at the CTS Symposia
God willing, the Ol' Aardvark will be at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne on 16 January 2006 (and days following) as a participant in the initial bloggers conference and part of the 21st annual symposium on Exegetical Theology and the 29th annual symposium on The Lutheran Confessions.
If you're planning to come to Symposia, why not spend Monday evening with some of the people for whom you've been writing or whose posting you've gotten to know? For more information, visit or join the CLBC's Google Group.
¶ 12:38 | 1 comments | links to this post
God willing, the Ol' Aardvark will be at Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne on 16 January 2006 (and days following) as a participant in the initial bloggers conference and part of the 21st annual symposium on Exegetical Theology and the 29th annual symposium on The Lutheran Confessions.
If you're planning to come to Symposia, why not spend Monday evening with some of the people for whom you've been writing or whose posting you've gotten to know? For more information, visit or join the CLBC's Google Group.
 | Subscribe to Confessional Lutheran Bloggers Conference | |
| Browse Archives at groups.google.com | ||
¶ 12:38 | 1 comments | links to this post
11 December 2005
Dead Wood and a New Link
I did a bit of pruning of the blogroll, dropping some long-standing non-posters. I also set a new link for Poor Michael's Almanac. If you have him linked, make sure you have the current URL, the old one is 404. ¶ 16:10 | 0 comments | links to this post
I did a bit of pruning of the blogroll, dropping some long-standing non-posters. I also set a new link for Poor Michael's Almanac. If you have him linked, make sure you have the current URL, the old one is 404. ¶ 16:10 | 0 comments | links to this post
09 December 2005
5 Facts
The Cubicle Reverend tagged me:
Write 5 random facts about yourself, and then list the names of 5 people whom you in turn infect.
I don't do this often, but I tag Terrible Swede and the not-so-terrible Mrs. Swede, Rob, Devona and Olivia, Indiana Jane, and Polly. ¶ 10:48 | 2 comments | links to this post
The Cubicle Reverend tagged me:
Write 5 random facts about yourself, and then list the names of 5 people whom you in turn infect.
- I received appointments to the United States Military Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy. I chose West Point but ended up completing my education elsewhere.
- I am considerably balder than most aardvarks.
- I preach ex corde; i.e., without manuscript or notes.
- I tend toward A ... I know I bought the cordless phone in here ... D ... darn, my coffee's getting cold ... D.
- I am a "dog person."
I don't do this often, but I tag Terrible Swede and the not-so-terrible Mrs. Swede, Rob, Devona and Olivia, Indiana Jane, and Polly. ¶ 10:48 | 2 comments | links to this post
08 December 2005
Quote of the Day
HT: Chaz
| Orycteropus's Random Movie Quote: "The next time I have to come in here I'm crackin' skulls." - Principal Richard Vernon, The Breakfast Club Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com |
There's Gold in Them There Aardvarks
I've made my list and checked it twice. Then, just as I was preparing to set flaming bags of Aardies on the front porches of select bloggers, ring their doorbells, and run away, one of the honorees crashed his blog, so I waited until he had something up and running again. Now, without further ado (or adieu), I present the current incarnation of the Aardvark Award for Raillery, Doctrine, or Intellect in Exposition. Winners are invited to copy either the laarge or the smaall Aardie to their own blogs or servers, link back to the Alley, and display them with true humility.
‡ Paul McCain of Cyberbrethren (he of the crashed blog) receives first acknowledgment. His post, Is Christian Art Idolatry? Thoughts on the Error of Calvinism's Iconoclasm triggered comments, complementary and competing blog posts, and an ongoing discussion of Christology and Biblical understanding. If you haven't yet read the original, start with it and move up the old blog. Then visit his new site and continue with Where's Jesus? The Question That Comes to My Mind When Reflecting on Calvinism and any subsequent posts on the subject.
‡ Chaz Lehman of Drowning Myself Whenever I Can was one of the earliest Lutheran bloggers to join the McCain vs. the Calvinists fracas. While others likewise produced commendable posts, we'll honor him for a balanced presentation of personal thought combined with the wisdom of Luther, John of Damascus, and Pastor Bill Weedon in this post.
‡ Because Sherrah Wrote About Giving, the disgruntled world citizen went "Full Throttle" into a thoughtful stewardship post. No, he didn't get the Aardie because he whined. He got it because I appreciate what he wrote. Of course, the heartfelt request penned upon the reverse of a C-note didn't hurt.
‡ I'm always on the lookout for thoughtful writing on life issues. Diana (Ruach) didn't disappoint me. If "all politics is local," then perhaps even more so, "all life debate is personal." She certainly opened a window into her own heart with Reproductive Choice: The Big Lie. Already a favorite blogger, my respect for Diana as a person grew immensely as I completed this recollection.
‡ "England truly has fallen," laments the CaribPundit. Read No Christians, Please to discover why she says so. You'll also discover someone with such a gift of pithiness that she makes Ernest Hemingway look windy by comparison.
‡ Religion, culture, A. A. Milne, and a bit of humor are part of Why the Jews Don't Try to Ban Piglet. CPA of Three Hierarchies examines Judaism and Mohammedanism under the light of the Noahide Laws.
‡ At Little Loci, Ryan Fouts examines LCMS polity, especially problems arising from not having some form of bishop orsuperintendentt clergy, in Lutheranism and Ecclesiastical Supervision.
‡ Closing out festivities, we have one of the Ol' Aardvark's favorite bloggers, Othniel of Cross Theology. Don't think that the first sentence of File and Rank didn't grab my attention: "We ordained a woman in an LCMS congregation today."
Again, winners are invited to grab a cyberstatuette and link back to the Alley. ¶ 21:11 | 2 comments | links to this post
I've made my list and checked it twice. Then, just as I was preparing to set flaming bags of Aardies on the front porches of select bloggers, ring their doorbells, and run away, one of the honorees crashed his blog, so I waited until he had something up and running again. Now, without further ado (or adieu), I present the current incarnation of the Aardvark Award for Raillery, Doctrine, or Intellect in Exposition. Winners are invited to copy either the laarge or the smaall Aardie to their own blogs or servers, link back to the Alley, and display them with true humility.‡ Paul McCain of Cyberbrethren (he of the crashed blog) receives first acknowledgment. His post, Is Christian Art Idolatry? Thoughts on the Error of Calvinism's Iconoclasm triggered comments, complementary and competing blog posts, and an ongoing discussion of Christology and Biblical understanding. If you haven't yet read the original, start with it and move up the old blog. Then visit his new site and continue with Where's Jesus? The Question That Comes to My Mind When Reflecting on Calvinism and any subsequent posts on the subject.
‡ Chaz Lehman of Drowning Myself Whenever I Can was one of the earliest Lutheran bloggers to join the McCain vs. the Calvinists fracas. While others likewise produced commendable posts, we'll honor him for a balanced presentation of personal thought combined with the wisdom of Luther, John of Damascus, and Pastor Bill Weedon in this post.
‡ Because Sherrah Wrote About Giving, the disgruntled world citizen went "Full Throttle" into a thoughtful stewardship post. No, he didn't get the Aardie because he whined. He got it because I appreciate what he wrote. Of course, the heartfelt request penned upon the reverse of a C-note didn't hurt.
‡ I'm always on the lookout for thoughtful writing on life issues. Diana (Ruach) didn't disappoint me. If "all politics is local," then perhaps even more so, "all life debate is personal." She certainly opened a window into her own heart with Reproductive Choice: The Big Lie. Already a favorite blogger, my respect for Diana as a person grew immensely as I completed this recollection.‡ "England truly has fallen," laments the CaribPundit. Read No Christians, Please to discover why she says so. You'll also discover someone with such a gift of pithiness that she makes Ernest Hemingway look windy by comparison.
‡ Religion, culture, A. A. Milne, and a bit of humor are part of Why the Jews Don't Try to Ban Piglet. CPA of Three Hierarchies examines Judaism and Mohammedanism under the light of the Noahide Laws.
‡ At Little Loci, Ryan Fouts examines LCMS polity, especially problems arising from not having some form of bishop orsuperintendentt clergy, in Lutheranism and Ecclesiastical Supervision.
‡ Closing out festivities, we have one of the Ol' Aardvark's favorite bloggers, Othniel of Cross Theology. Don't think that the first sentence of File and Rank didn't grab my attention: "We ordained a woman in an LCMS congregation today."
Again, winners are invited to grab a cyberstatuette and link back to the Alley. ¶ 21:11 | 2 comments | links to this post
07 December 2005
Blogroll: Two Added, One Changed
First the change. Some sort of bug froze Paul McCain's Cyberbrethren blog at World Magazine, so he's moved operations (at least for a time) to a new location.
The first new entry is Pastor Disaster & the Backsliders. The other is Weekend Fisher's Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength. ¶ 23:47 | 0 comments | links to this post
First the change. Some sort of bug froze Paul McCain's Cyberbrethren blog at World Magazine, so he's moved operations (at least for a time) to a new location.
The first new entry is Pastor Disaster & the Backsliders. The other is Weekend Fisher's Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength. ¶ 23:47 | 0 comments | links to this post
Christian Art Carnival
Weekend Fisher, known by some as the author of Heart, Mind, Soul, and Strength announces a new Christian Art Carnival. Details are at the inaugural post.
¶ 23:46 | 0 comments |
links to this post
+ Ambrose of Milan +
7 December
Saint Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Hymn Writer, was born in Trier in AD 340. He was one of the four Latins among the eight Doctors of the undivided Church (Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great are the West's other representatives; Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus represent the East).
Ambrose was also an author of hymns, the best known of which is probably Intende, qui regis Israel (usually known by its second stanza as Veni, Redemptor gentium). Martin Luther translated it into German (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland); its English translations (from Luther or the original Latin) usually appear as Savior of the Nations, Come, Savior of the Heathen, Known, or Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth). His name is also associated with Ambrosian Chant, the style of chanting the ancient liturgy that took hold in the province of Milan.
While serving as a civil governor, Ambrose sought to bring peace among Christians in Milan who were divided into quarreling factions. When a new bishop was to be elected in 374, Ambrose addressed the crowd, and someone cried out, "Ambrose, bishop!" The entire gathering gave their support. At this time, Ambrose was still a catechumen, an unbaptized person still under instruction before joining the church. This acclaim hastened the catechetical process and the 34-year-old was baptized on December 7, after which he was consecrated bishop of Milan.
A strong defender of the faith, Ambrose convinced the Roman emperor Gratian in 379 to forbid the Arian heresy in the West. At Ambrose's urging, Gratian's successor, Theodosius, also publicly opposed Arianism. Because Ambrose died on Good Friday, 4 April 397, the Church was unwilling to honor such a known and popular person on the day remember the death of Christ. Thus, his feast day was translated from his "heavenly birthday" (or death date) to his "spiritual birthday" (his baptism).
Ambrose was also instrumental in the conversion of Augustine of Hippo. Some early traditions hold that the hymn Te Deum Laudamus ("We Praise You, O God") was a spontaneous composition by Ambrose, perhaps with Augustine's help, upon the baptism of the latter. While later research holds this to be less likely, some scholars are convinced that he was largely responsible for authorship of the Athanasian Creed (14k PDF).
As a courageous doctor and musician he upheld the truth of God's Word. Once again this Advent-tide, thousands upon thousands of believers will use his hymn to pray for the Second Coming of our Lord:
Lection
Psalm 27:5-11 or 33:1-5,20-21
Ecclesiasticus 2:7-11,16-18
Luke 12:35-37, 42-44
Collect
O God, who graciously gave Your servant Ambrose eloquence to proclaim Your righteousness in the great congregation and fearlessness to bear reproach for the honor of Your Name, mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering Your Word that Your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
Saint Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Hymn Writer, was born in Trier in AD 340. He was one of the four Latins among the eight Doctors of the undivided Church (Augustine, Jerome, and Gregory the Great are the West's other representatives; Athanasius, John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, and Gregory of Nazianzus represent the East).Ambrose was also an author of hymns, the best known of which is probably Intende, qui regis Israel (usually known by its second stanza as Veni, Redemptor gentium). Martin Luther translated it into German (Nun komm, der Heiden Heiland); its English translations (from Luther or the original Latin) usually appear as Savior of the Nations, Come, Savior of the Heathen, Known, or Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth). His name is also associated with Ambrosian Chant, the style of chanting the ancient liturgy that took hold in the province of Milan.
While serving as a civil governor, Ambrose sought to bring peace among Christians in Milan who were divided into quarreling factions. When a new bishop was to be elected in 374, Ambrose addressed the crowd, and someone cried out, "Ambrose, bishop!" The entire gathering gave their support. At this time, Ambrose was still a catechumen, an unbaptized person still under instruction before joining the church. This acclaim hastened the catechetical process and the 34-year-old was baptized on December 7, after which he was consecrated bishop of Milan.
A strong defender of the faith, Ambrose convinced the Roman emperor Gratian in 379 to forbid the Arian heresy in the West. At Ambrose's urging, Gratian's successor, Theodosius, also publicly opposed Arianism. Because Ambrose died on Good Friday, 4 April 397, the Church was unwilling to honor such a known and popular person on the day remember the death of Christ. Thus, his feast day was translated from his "heavenly birthday" (or death date) to his "spiritual birthday" (his baptism).
Ambrose was also instrumental in the conversion of Augustine of Hippo. Some early traditions hold that the hymn Te Deum Laudamus ("We Praise You, O God") was a spontaneous composition by Ambrose, perhaps with Augustine's help, upon the baptism of the latter. While later research holds this to be less likely, some scholars are convinced that he was largely responsible for authorship of the Athanasian Creed (14k PDF).
As a courageous doctor and musician he upheld the truth of God's Word. Once again this Advent-tide, thousands upon thousands of believers will use his hymn to pray for the Second Coming of our Lord:
Savior of the nations, come;
Virgin’s Son, here make Thy home!
Marvel now, O heaven and earth,
That the Lord chose such a birth.
Not by human flesh and blood;
By the Spirit of our God
Was the Word of God made flesh,
Woman’s offspring, pure and fresh.Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
Still to be in heaven enthroned.
From the Father forth He came
And returneth to the same,
Captive leading death and hell
High the song of triumph swell!
Thou, the Father’s only Son,
Hast over sin the victory won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
When shall we its glories see?
Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
Glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o’ercloud this light;
Ever be our faith thus bright.
Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.
Lection
Psalm 27:5-11 or 33:1-5,20-21
Ecclesiasticus 2:7-11,16-18
Luke 12:35-37, 42-44
Collect
O God, who graciously gave Your servant Ambrose eloquence to proclaim Your righteousness in the great congregation and fearlessness to bear reproach for the honor of Your Name, mercifully grant to all bishops and pastors such excellence in preaching and faithfulness in ministering Your Word that Your people may be partakers with them of the glory that shall be revealed; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:01 | 0 comments | links to this post
06 December 2005
The Unsinkable Charlie Brown
Happy 40th Birthday to Sparky Schulz's Holiday Legacy
Tonight at 7 o'clock, the Aardvarks will gather in front of the tube for a full hour with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and Lucy, Sally, Pigpen, Schroeder, and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they present the fortieth annual televised presentation of A Charlie Brown Christmas. I was only eight years old (or "almost nine," as I certainly would have told you) and we'd only had TV in the house for a couple years when this truly special special first aired. I don't know that I've missed it more than a time or two since then.
I noticed in the TV listings at My Yahoo that it will show again on 16 December, for those who want to double-dip. I don't know about the repeat broadcast, but tonight stretches into a full sixty minutes (commercials included). After fade to black, ABC follows up with Charlie Brown Christmas Tales, featuring a vignette of each Peanuts character.
There may be more sophisticated animation, faster pacing, or deeper drama in other Christmas shows and films, but I can't think of one seasonal offering I welcome more. If you can't wait, check out the above-linked entry at Wikipedia or visit the show's listing with IMDB. I'm happy I did: After all these years, I just learned something new. According to the trivia link, "During his famed speech, Linus, who is well known to be dependent on his 'Security Blanket', actually lets go of it when he recites these words: 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,' which is from Luke 8:10 [sic; should be 1:10]."
"Fear not!" The Church is not a "family special," but a special family. All who, by grace, are part of it are blanketed with the security of forgiveness, life, and salvation which are our nativity gifts from the One Incarnate God, our "Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 1:11 ESV)" In your Father's house, you can come to Him, letting go of your worthless human "security blankets," and cast "all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)" ¶ 10:34 | 0 comments | links to this post
Tonight at 7 o'clock, the Aardvarks will gather in front of the tube for a full hour with Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus and Lucy, Sally, Pigpen, Schroeder, and the rest of the Peanuts gang as they present the fortieth annual televised presentation of A Charlie Brown Christmas. I was only eight years old (or "almost nine," as I certainly would have told you) and we'd only had TV in the house for a couple years when this truly special special first aired. I don't know that I've missed it more than a time or two since then.I noticed in the TV listings at My Yahoo that it will show again on 16 December, for those who want to double-dip. I don't know about the repeat broadcast, but tonight stretches into a full sixty minutes (commercials included). After fade to black, ABC follows up with Charlie Brown Christmas Tales, featuring a vignette of each Peanuts character.
There may be more sophisticated animation, faster pacing, or deeper drama in other Christmas shows and films, but I can't think of one seasonal offering I welcome more. If you can't wait, check out the above-linked entry at Wikipedia or visit the show's listing with IMDB. I'm happy I did: After all these years, I just learned something new. According to the trivia link, "During his famed speech, Linus, who is well known to be dependent on his 'Security Blanket', actually lets go of it when he recites these words: 'Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy,' which is from Luke 8:10 [sic; should be 1:10]."
"Fear not!" The Church is not a "family special," but a special family. All who, by grace, are part of it are blanketed with the security of forgiveness, life, and salvation which are our nativity gifts from the One Incarnate God, our "Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Luke 1:11 ESV)" In your Father's house, you can come to Him, letting go of your worthless human "security blankets," and cast "all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7 ESV)" ¶ 10:34 | 0 comments | links to this post
+ Nicholas of Myra +
6 December AD 326
Saint Nicholas of Myra, Pastor and Bishop — Of the many saints recognized by the Christian Church, Nicholas is one of the most widely commemorated. However, very little is known historically of him, although there was a church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century. Research affirms that there was a bishop by the name of Nicholas in the city of Myra in Lycia (part of Turkey today) in the fourth century.
From that coastal location, legends about Nicholas have traveled across time and distance. He is associated with charitable giving in many countries around the world and is portrayed as the rescuer of sailors, the protector of children, and the friend of people in distress or need. In commemoration of "Sinterklaas" (Dutch for "Klaus of the Cinders," or, in English, Santa Claus), 6 December is a day for giving and receiving gifts in many parts of Europe.
See the article at Ask the Pastor for details about the most famous apocryphal story told about him and related information on his patronage and "transformation" into the American Santa Claus. There you'll learn about his connection with money lending and his patron saint status for pawnbrokers.
Lection
Psalm 78:3-7 or 145:8-13
1 John 4:7-14
Mark 10:13-16
Collect
O Lord, let your continual mercy enkindle in your church the unfailing gift of charity, that, following the example of your servant Nicholas of Myra, we may have grace to deal in generosity and love with children and with all who are poor and distressed, and to uphold the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of Him who gave His life for us, Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:05 | 2 comments | links to this post
Saint Nicholas of Myra, Pastor and Bishop — Of the many saints recognized by the Christian Church, Nicholas is one of the most widely commemorated. However, very little is known historically of him, although there was a church of Saint Nicholas in Constantinople as early as the sixth century. Research affirms that there was a bishop by the name of Nicholas in the city of Myra in Lycia (part of Turkey today) in the fourth century.From that coastal location, legends about Nicholas have traveled across time and distance. He is associated with charitable giving in many countries around the world and is portrayed as the rescuer of sailors, the protector of children, and the friend of people in distress or need. In commemoration of "Sinterklaas" (Dutch for "Klaus of the Cinders," or, in English, Santa Claus), 6 December is a day for giving and receiving gifts in many parts of Europe.
See the article at Ask the Pastor for details about the most famous apocryphal story told about him and related information on his patronage and "transformation" into the American Santa Claus. There you'll learn about his connection with money lending and his patron saint status for pawnbrokers.
Lection
Psalm 78:3-7 or 145:8-13
1 John 4:7-14
Mark 10:13-16
Collect
O Lord, let your continual mercy enkindle in your church the unfailing gift of charity, that, following the example of your servant Nicholas of Myra, we may have grace to deal in generosity and love with children and with all who are poor and distressed, and to uphold the cause of those who have no helper; for the sake of Him who gave His life for us, Your Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. ¶ 00:05 | 2 comments | links to this post
04 December 2005
Confessional Collectibles Again Available
See Lutheran Carnival XII at this week's home, Full Throttle & an Empty Gas Tank to complete your collection to date. ¶ 16:25 | 1 comments | links to this post
See Lutheran Carnival XII at this week's home, Full Throttle & an Empty Gas Tank to complete your collection to date. ¶ 16:25 | 1 comments | links to this post
03 December 2005
The Color Purple
No, this ain't no Dave and Oprah review.
The big news from my little corner of Big 12 Conference country is that Kansas State University is on the verge of announcing the hiring of a new football coach. He'll replace Bill Snyder, who rebuilt the Wildcat program from its abysmal state of 17 years ago into a perennial title contender. Snyder took a team so bad that even "Mildcat" seemed a compliment and slowly, steadily sharpened the Cats' teeth and claws.
So, okay, still ... what's the big deal. Don't coaches retire (as did Snyder), get fired, or move on to other jobs? Don't others get interviewed, rejected, or chosen? Well, yeah. But all of a sudden, here's the traditional "Ag" school interviewing a young (35) black coach from an Eastern school. And even as many sharp observers were speculating as to the line-up for the parade of "real" candidates after the token minority interview, K-State appears poised to announce Mr. Ron Prince, offensive coordinator at the University of Virginia, as its next head football coach.
For the non-Americans and non-sports-minded Americans who haven't quit reading out of sheer boredom, this is truly significant: As of now, I probably have enough fingers on one hand to tally up all the current black head football coaches in top tier of college football; in fact, I'd have a finger or two left over. And funny of funnies, it wasn't some "progressive" school in the Northeast or on the Left Coast eschewing tokenism, nor was it a place surrounded by hundreds of thousands of blacks or with a large, rich minority alumni association — it was the farm school out on the stereotypically flat Kansas prairie.
Is K-State colorblind? Probably not entirely. It helps that Prince grew up in Junction City, a short flip of a buffalo chip away from the "Little Apple," Manhattan, Kansas. He knows the area, the values and ideals of the state's citizens, and all that. But most of all, he seems to be intellectually bright (a history major), "football smart," and a hard worker. No one's going to forget that it ain't Snow White sitting in the living room, trying to get little Johnnie to come to Manhattan and rip heads off of rival quarterbacks. However, Snow White probably couldn't coach her way into the Toilet Bowl, so this Ron Prince hire sounds like a good thing, people.
In some way, I think that K-State Athletic Director Tim Weiser, President Jon Wefald, and the school's administration really understand vocation. Whatever colorblindness they may have stops at PURPLE: They want what's best — and who's best — for Kansas State University.
Here's to hoping that the somewhat obscure Ron Prince will continue a tradition begun by a somewhat obscure Bill Snyder seventeen seasons ago. May he leave the shadows of the unknown through dedication, integrity, hard work, and success as coach, recruiter, and molder of young men's lives. ¶ 11:28 | 1 comments | links to this post
The big news from my little corner of Big 12 Conference country is that Kansas State University is on the verge of announcing the hiring of a new football coach. He'll replace Bill Snyder, who rebuilt the Wildcat program from its abysmal state of 17 years ago into a perennial title contender. Snyder took a team so bad that even "Mildcat" seemed a compliment and slowly, steadily sharpened the Cats' teeth and claws.
So, okay, still ... what's the big deal. Don't coaches retire (as did Snyder), get fired, or move on to other jobs? Don't others get interviewed, rejected, or chosen? Well, yeah. But all of a sudden, here's the traditional "Ag" school interviewing a young (35) black coach from an Eastern school. And even as many sharp observers were speculating as to the line-up for the parade of "real" candidates after the token minority interview, K-State appears poised to announce Mr. Ron Prince, offensive coordinator at the University of Virginia, as its next head football coach.For the non-Americans and non-sports-minded Americans who haven't quit reading out of sheer boredom, this is truly significant: As of now, I probably have enough fingers on one hand to tally up all the current black head football coaches in top tier of college football; in fact, I'd have a finger or two left over. And funny of funnies, it wasn't some "progressive" school in the Northeast or on the Left Coast eschewing tokenism, nor was it a place surrounded by hundreds of thousands of blacks or with a large, rich minority alumni association — it was the farm school out on the stereotypically flat Kansas prairie.
Is K-State colorblind? Probably not entirely. It helps that Prince grew up in Junction City, a short flip of a buffalo chip away from the "Little Apple," Manhattan, Kansas. He knows the area, the values and ideals of the state's citizens, and all that. But most of all, he seems to be intellectually bright (a history major), "football smart," and a hard worker. No one's going to forget that it ain't Snow White sitting in the living room, trying to get little Johnnie to come to Manhattan and rip heads off of rival quarterbacks. However, Snow White probably couldn't coach her way into the Toilet Bowl, so this Ron Prince hire sounds like a good thing, people.
In some way, I think that K-State Athletic Director Tim Weiser, President Jon Wefald, and the school's administration really understand vocation. Whatever colorblindness they may have stops at PURPLE: They want what's best — and who's best — for Kansas State University.
Here's to hoping that the somewhat obscure Ron Prince will continue a tradition begun by a somewhat obscure Bill Snyder seventeen seasons ago. May he leave the shadows of the unknown through dedication, integrity, hard work, and success as coach, recruiter, and molder of young men's lives. ¶ 11:28 | 1 comments | links to this post
It's Totally Random
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want — good or bad — BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.
HT: Polly ¶ 01:20 | 3 comments | links to this post
If you read this, if your eyes are passing over this right now, even if we don't speak often, please post a comment with a COMPLETELY MADE UP AND FICTIONAL memory of you and me. It can be anything you want — good or bad — BUT IT HAS TO BE FAKE. When you're finished, post this little paragraph on your blog and be surprised (or mortified) about what people DON'T ACTUALLY remember about you.
HT: Polly ¶ 01:20 | 3 comments | links to this post
The Blogroll of the Aardvark Grew
Please welcome by visiting the newest members of the blogroll. As always, those listed are invited to link back to the Alley.
Confessional Lutherans
♠ All the Fulness
♠ The Confessional Cowboy
♠ The Moose Report
♠ The Rebellious Pastor's Wife
♠ Revvin' Rev
♠ Sethanized Propaganda
♠ Seward Snow Dog
♠ Theophilus' Inferno
Other Blogs
♠ The Cubicle Reverend
♠ Get Religion includes Ortho Gal Mollie Ziegler
♠ Personal Diatribes ¶ 00:22 | 0 comments | links to this post
Please welcome by visiting the newest members of the blogroll. As always, those listed are invited to link back to the Alley.
Confessional Lutherans
♠ All the Fulness
♠ The Confessional Cowboy
♠ The Moose Report
♠ The Rebellious Pastor's Wife
♠ Revvin' Rev
♠ Sethanized Propaganda
♠ Seward Snow Dog
♠ Theophilus' Inferno
Other Blogs
♠ The Cubicle Reverend
♠ Get Religion includes Ortho Gal Mollie Ziegler
♠ Personal Diatribes ¶ 00:22 | 0 comments | links to this post
02 December 2005
Sign of Intelligent Life
100% scored higher (more stupid),
0% scored the same, and
0% scored lower (less stupid).
What does this mean? You are 0% stupid. This means...
You are our next Einstein. Wow! Keep up the great thinking.
HT: Sam ¶ 12:53 | 0 comments | links to this post
100% scored higher (more stupid),
0% scored the same, and
0% scored lower (less stupid).
What does this mean? You are 0% stupid. This means...
You are our next Einstein. Wow! Keep up the great thinking.
HT: Sam ¶ 12:53 | 0 comments | links to this post
01 December 2005
DAmNed FORTHright?
Not Hardly, Missouri!
Thanks to Diana at ruah for the initial tip — the TV ads are now running on Missouri stations. Senator Father John Claggett "Jack" Danforth looks into the camera with his big, Episcopalian eyes and says, "I've always been pro-life; that's why I'm for stem cell research." Begging the Reverend Senator's pardon, but he's practicing a masterful version of the Big Lie: What he's really saying is, "I'm pro-post-partum-life."
This Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative sounds good at first, saying that it opposes cloning of human beings. Then it "dumbs down" the definition of cloning by saying, "'Clone or attempt to clone a human being' means to implant in a uterus or attempt to implant in a uterus anything other than the product of fertilization of an egg of a human female by a sperm of a human male for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy that could result in the creation of a human fetus, or the birth of a human being."
This, as Diana so nicely spells out in her post, is all poppycock: According to the supporters of the initiative, it's not cloning if you don't move a growing, dividing embryo into a woman's womb. So you can start human life in the lab but it's not really a clone if you don't ever intend to give the "biomass" a chance to be born. Technically, if they could develop an artificial womb and placenta, it wouldn't be a clone even if it reached voting age. As long as no one tries to put it in a mommy, it ain't a clone.
Of course, until such medical technology exists, the only end for these growing creatures is death. If you can't implant them, you must either destroy them or allow them to die on their own, which they'll likely do after only a few ex-utero divisions.
To borrow from Pink Floyd, "Hey, Danforth, leave them kids alone!" Keep your mellifluous speeches, your melodious words, your malodorous theology, and your malevolent philosophy off the airwaves. Either that, or tell the straight truth: You favor growing and killing babies to treat the illnesses and injuries of those old enough to vote and rich enough to support liars like you and the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. ¶ 22:27 | 3 comments | links to this post
Thanks to Diana at ruah for the initial tip — the TV ads are now running on Missouri stations. Senator Father John Claggett "Jack" Danforth looks into the camera with his big, Episcopalian eyes and says, "I've always been pro-life; that's why I'm for stem cell research." Begging the Reverend Senator's pardon, but he's practicing a masterful version of the Big Lie: What he's really saying is, "I'm pro-post-partum-life."This Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative sounds good at first, saying that it opposes cloning of human beings. Then it "dumbs down" the definition of cloning by saying, "'Clone or attempt to clone a human being' means to implant in a uterus or attempt to implant in a uterus anything other than the product of fertilization of an egg of a human female by a sperm of a human male for the purpose of initiating a pregnancy that could result in the creation of a human fetus, or the birth of a human being."
This, as Diana so nicely spells out in her post, is all poppycock: According to the supporters of the initiative, it's not cloning if you don't move a growing, dividing embryo into a woman's womb. So you can start human life in the lab but it's not really a clone if you don't ever intend to give the "biomass" a chance to be born. Technically, if they could develop an artificial womb and placenta, it wouldn't be a clone even if it reached voting age. As long as no one tries to put it in a mommy, it ain't a clone.Of course, until such medical technology exists, the only end for these growing creatures is death. If you can't implant them, you must either destroy them or allow them to die on their own, which they'll likely do after only a few ex-utero divisions.
To borrow from Pink Floyd, "Hey, Danforth, leave them kids alone!" Keep your mellifluous speeches, your melodious words, your malodorous theology, and your malevolent philosophy off the airwaves. Either that, or tell the straight truth: You favor growing and killing babies to treat the illnesses and injuries of those old enough to vote and rich enough to support liars like you and the Missouri Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative. ¶ 22:27 | 3 comments | links to this post
