Surfing Spots

Surfing is what we do when we ride the wave of the internet clicking from link to link to link. Yesterday I spent a good amount of time surfing blogs from my original click on Textweek.com.

Check some of these out (not particularly chosen for great theological consistency just interesting places which offer some more great surfing):

http://lectcomm.blogspot.com/

http://biblical-studies.blogspot.com/

http://www.bookreviews.org/

http://www.bsreview.org/

http://www.bibleinterp.com/

http://www.bib-arch.org/

http://www.telusplanet.net/public/spaw/downloads.htm

Warden Woes

Vestry is the annual business meeting of a congregation. Reports from the wardens, treasurer, various groups and the rector are submitted; a financial statement is presented, new officers are elected or appointed, a budget is given for approval and old and new business is discussed, where motions are voted on. So as I said… it’s a business meeting.

The funny thing is that ordinarily one would think it an honour to be asked to be a warden, responsible for the business life of the church, but lately, here on the Coast, it is becoming difficult to get someone to stand for this office.

I really can’t quite put my finger on it for the job, in these smaller communities, is not that intensive. This past week one point of the parish had their vestry meeting and no one would let their name stand for the “People’s Warden” (an elected position). This is happening in all my points. It’s mainly a decision making role where coming out to church every other week to help count the collection is the main “job;” it also involves calling people for some odd jobs like snow clearing and putting on the heat the night before service. It doesn’t seem too arduous. Yet, over the years it seems as if one asked for years of servitude.

Well what can I say, it kind of is like servitude, but in a good way, the way of serving Christ and his Church… the people we love and care for… our “neighbors.” Loving service is the job of a warden.

Yet… the warden ends up being the only person called upon to do certain things and so burn out is a factor. My way of fighting that is by limiting a warden to two years of service. I don’t know if I’ll request to continue this in my next parish, but it always seems to be a positive thing when more people get a chance to serve and lead. In my view two things can happen, the great power… hahahahaha… of warden can get to a person’s head and they end up thinking they own the church (40 years wardens have this tendency, and the congregation affirms this). The other thing that happens is this later point, that congregations can end up too reliant upon one person. That’s the polite way of saying the congregation gets lazy.

What to do, what to do?

Fishing for Blogs?

Blogging is something that is gaining in popularity especially among the young. So I’ve joined the trend, yet know full well that I may be the only reader. It’s a journal, my diary, a way to gain comment on the day and pettiness’ I have experienced and felt important to write about. It’s a stream of consciousness, some may even say therapy.

I spent some time looking for other Christian blogs... I got borred.

An important comment was made in an article written last year on “anglicansonline”. They asked who wants to spend the time reading so much drivel? Time is not something many of us have to spare. Check out the full article on Christian blogging here: http://morgue.anglicansonline.org/040215/

So I guess making the most of our time is essential in our daily walk (flight :-). I mentioned today in my sermon that fishing for people takes time and effort and that the responsibility rests with our repentance and then our action. Fishing takes effort and more than just one person (Andrew & Simon, James & John). In some ways the reading of blogs is a two person activity, if not a community, as interaction bears witness and response. It causes us to think. It’s interactive. It can also be a waste of time.

We should measure how we spend our time. Listening to others is important online, but even more so with others in “real” relationships. How much time are we spending with God in order to enable us to fish for his people?

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A Theological Tooth

I awoke this morning reminded of my dentist apointment. How could I forget. My teeth had been bothering me for a few weeks and in fact I had been on antibiotics for the required 10 days. But I had a feeling that this day was not going to be a good one. First off the road was closed; unfortunatly it opened, and I had to head off to the clinic... 65km away. Once I arrived the Doctor placed me in the chair and 45 mins later, 8 needles and some drills, he exclaimed, "you need more time." "Time?" Yes indeed it seems my body didn't think much of the meds and wanted a stronger dose. So now I wait 10 more days with an open tooth; O yes, "it needs to drain," says the doctor. Needless to say painkillers were a must. Now I write in pain and with a slight uncomfortable buzz.

You need more time seems to be a very theological statement doesn't it? I wanted a quick relief and got a few painful pokes and prods and even an open sore. It will get better, but it reminds me that it really was caused by my own neglect. I had all the warnings but remained "lazy." Now I paid for it... in more ways than one $$$. I guess I need more time to think and reflect on my deeds - or lack thereof. How often do we make moral and spiritual mistakes of neglect and then pay for it later in ways similar to my tooth problem this day? Makes ya think.

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Handheld Biblical Tools

I spent a good part of today searching the web for new bible study tools for my Palm Tungsten T3.

I purchased this tool specifically for the benefits of taking my office with me in my pocket. When I bought it a year and a half ago I immediately purchased the “BibleReader+” with the “Gramcord” Greek, “NRSV” bible and the “Eerdmans Biblical Dictionary” (see the link on my webpage). They have really been helpful and I recommend them wholeheartedly.

Along with these I found “iSilo” a great program that has the “BCP1979e” (ECUSA) and a copy of “Celebrating Common Prayer;” search google for these add-ons.

Today I went back to the BibleReader+ site and downloaded some FREE files; French, German and the Vulgate (Latin) Bibles, and Matthew Henry’s Commentary. I bought a copy of the “TDNT,” which is know as the “Little Kittel”, Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. I have owned this book for well over 20 years. It’s a great reference book and with the Greek NT this is very useful for bible studies in homes and churches.

I searched and searched for some church history and liturgical tools but to no avail. Finally after quite some time on google, I can across “Mobipocket” a reader for the PC and for the PDA. I downloaded the free reader and then purchased exactly what I had been searching for, “The Oxford Dictionary of the Christian Church.” It was $16 when my hard copy was $200!

The upshot is... on my Palm T3 (less than a half pound) I now have a complete academic word study biblical library with a sufficient commentary, two standing liturgical books, and a unrivaled history of the Church from the Fathers to the end of the 20^th century. I say a great half day work!

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A Reflection on Pat

My mom informed me last night that my most remembered Sunday School teacher past away last week.

Though I didn’t take the news “hard,” and I hardly ever do since I’m sure of our entering into God’s promise of salvation, I did find myself thinking much of her and what she offered me in ministry.

As a child one of my most vivid memories was with her in class drawing church symbols. She was always kind and I always remember her with a smile. Her husband sang with me in the choir and really made me feel at home when I made the last transition into the bass line. They hosted a very fun choir party… odd the things we recall of our youth.

Just recently, after about 20 years, we spoke again after the ordination of Bishop Barry Clarke. She told me of her illness and was quite moved. I recall my hug and told her my prayers were with her; I could see how difficult this time had been for her and the family. She was very comforted by my prayers, and that moved me very deeply. It’s funny but I still remember her countenance as smiling, joyful, blessed.

She’s fondly remembered as a very influential model of saintly ministry. My prayers go out to the family and all who love her.

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New Beginnings

Well after a year of thinking about it I finally said, "I'm going to do this. I'm going to update my site" Well I updated my website just a few days ago, and was so pleased with myself (I still keep looking at it, not believing that it's mine) that adding a blog was a logical 21st C. thing to do.

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