The Arrow's Path

This is a scan of a photo I had on my wall for a long time. Its a famous picture of "Shoeless" Joe Jackson, the famous ballplayer for the Chicago Whitesox. He was ultimately banned by Major League Baseball commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis, despite having been aquitted by a jury for having accepted money to throw the 1919 World Series. Since the White Sox won the World Series, maybe poor Joe can finally rest in some peace. While its true he was part of the famous Black Sox scandal, he batted over .400 for the World Series that year and committed no errors. He even tried to return the bribe money after the game. Despite all this, he is remembered for the retort from a young fan as he left the courthouse, "Say it ain't so, Joe!" While he probably knew he was accepting tainted money, you have to remember that ball players at this time usually went back to working in the coal mines during the off season because the pay was virtually nothing. Gambling on Baseball...

Well, I am off to Pittsburgh for about a week and a half. I take this course called Church, Ministry, and Culture. The class breaks into small groups and go about the country to observe ministry at assigned churches. We are looking for organizational structure, clergy/lay relations, family systems theory, disfunction, overfunction, and various assorted pez dispensers. Needless to say, my blogging may be sporatic (or non-existent) over the next few weeks. Fear not, the Archer shall return.

Some years ago, before I started this blog, I was fascinated with the Razorblade arms race. I am thinking back to the time when the Gillette Mach 3 came out. As I recall it was sometime around 2000 or so, maybe a little before that. It mystified my mind as to why anyone would need 3 razors on the same shaving utensil. It would seem that more that 2 blades is just overkill. Then there was the Mach 3. Soon, in drugstores everywhere, all brands of shaving razors were clamoring to get their 3 Blade Overkill products onto shelves. It got to the point where unless you bought the cheapo bag o' plastic razors, you could not even find a razor with only one blade. I joked at the time: where will the madness end? 4 blades? 5 blades? Enough blades to take off the hair, the stubble, and several layers of epidermis. And for your convenience, all in the same product! Oh, the horror! I was in the drugstore today to get some last minute items for my trip to Pittsburgh next week, and behold! The arm...

I was completely baffled by why the Disastros played with the roof open. They are not a cold weather team. I think that played perfectly into the hands of Ozzie Guillen's South Side boys. I listened to most of it on the radio. That was a good game though, despite the ridiculous numbers of players left on base. White Sox are about to win the World Series for the first time since 1917. Up 2 games to none, the Sox won last night in 14. The End is Near!

There is a joke that has surfaced from time to time at seminary. It goes something like, "If you want to prove God has a sense of humor, make plans." This joke/maxim has various incarnations, but you get the gist. I ran smack into that this week in a most unusual way. I had been, for about a year now, considering going into the Air Force Chaplain Candidate program. This program is essentially an ROTC type thing for seminarians. You do a summer of officer and military chaplain training, and then an actual 3 month tour the next summer at a base. I had even filled out the paperwork to apply to the program. You wouldn't believe the amount of military and church bureaucracy you have to cut through to get into the program. And then, lo and behold, I began to discover (again) that God has a sense of humor. I came back to my room sometime last week. There was a voice mail on my cell phone from a number and area code I did not recognize at all. The message was from a representativ...

In my Halloween Cherokee folktale series, here is this week's installment: 85, The Haunted Whirlpool At the mouth of Suck creek, on the Tennessee, about 8 miles below Chattanooga, is a series of dangerous whirlpools, known as "The Suck," and noted among the Cherokee as the place where Ûñtsaiyï', the gambler, lived long ago (see the story). They call it Ûñ'tiguhï', "Pot-in-the-water," on account of the appearance of the surging, tumbling water, suggesting a boiling pot. They assert that in the old times the whirlpools were intermittent in character, and the canoemen attempting to pass the spot used to hug the bank, keeping constantly on the alert for signs of a coming eruption, and when they saw the water begin to revolve more rapidly would stop and wait until it became quiet again before attempting to proceed. It happened once that two men, going down the river in a canoe, as they came near this place saw the water circling rapidly ahead of them. The...

I enjoy a good video game, but this is just truly bizarre to me. For what possible reason would someone do this?

The South Side Sox are now up 2 games to none on the (dis)Astros. Clemens left early in game one, due to OPCPITC (old people can't play in the cold) syndrome. The Sox did better last night hitting both a grand slam and a homer in the bottom of the 9th to win it. Houston's much lauded bull pen can't seem to get it together either. The Sox might have a legit chance at the 4 game sweep, since they seem to want it much more that the (dis)Astros do. I have been noticing a curious phenomenon on the North Side the last week. I have actually seen Sox caps here and there. Usually, Sox paraphenalia anywhere on the Northside is akin to Sasquatch hunting. (You see black and white, fuzzy footage of alledged sightings, but nothing conclusive.) Not any more. I even got one Cubbie fan on the L train to say, "(after much harrumphing and finding his feet suddenly of interest) Yeah...Go Chicago." They just cannot bring themselves to utter "Go Sox." I guess that's what ...

Washington Times: Episcopal liberals prepare for split Yummm...Anglican. Tastes like Chicken

If you like a good pun, this comic strip is truly hilarious...

Being the Halloween season, in my ongoing Cherokee folktale series, we get The Water Cannibals. 87. The Water Cannibals (From James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee) Besides the friendly Nûñnë'hï of the streams and mountains there is a race of cannibal spirits, who stay at the bottom of the deep rivers and live upon human flesh, especially that of little children. They come out just after daybreak and go about unseen from house to house until they find some one still asleep, when they shoot him with their invisible arrows and carry the dead body down under the water to feast upon it. That no one may know what has happened they leave in place of the body a shade or image of the dead man or little child, that wakes up and talks and goes about just as he did, but there is no life in it, and in seven days it withers and dies, and the people bury it and think they are burying their dead friend. It was a long time before the people found out about this, but now they always try to be aw...

The following is an excerpt from the Church of England newspaper: "Playdough, barbed wire, ropes and chains are all possible objects you might like to have in your possession while exploring the concept of the Sabbath in the 21st century, a new book by the Church of England says. Life Balance, outlines a five session course on work, rest and play for Lent and attempts to re-examine the Bible’s teaching on the Sabbath. Session five looks at Sabbath principles of liberation and lists a range of objects that provide visual focus for this theme. Skateboarders are listed among other apparent images of freedom such as barbed wire and chains. A recipe for making playdough is described, and intended for those ‘who respond through craft and learn in different ways.’ Traditionally the Sabbath has been a day of rest — a misconception, the book states, that the started in Victorian times. Instead it proposes Sunday should be an active day where people should draw up a list of ‘favourite thing...

So, let me get this right. The Astros were up 3 games to 1, a win and they are in the World Series. 2 on, 2 out in the ninth inning, and they pitch to Albert Pujols, possibly the NL MVP this year. With a base open, you walk him. But no, flush the momentum and the game as Pujols hits a 3 run homer. Good job, boys! I'd rather see St. Louis in the Series anyway...

"Narnia: racist and misogynistic" The time is 1984. Current temperature: 451 degrees.

Final: White Sox 6, North American Anaheim Angels of Los Angeles, Calfornia (or whatever their name is): 3 Reinstate Shoeless Joe Jackson! The World Series is coming to Chicago!

Newsweek posted a truly interesting if theologically disturbing look at the MegaChurch. The slide show is worth the time. I have been to the Willow Creek one...it has parking lots with buses running like Six Flags. Its truly bizarre...

I have no freaking idea what this means, but its funny because I went out for some Sushi last night... You Are Japanese Food Strange yet delicious.Contrary to popular belief, you're not always eaten raw. What Kind of Food Are You?

There has been some debate, and I think with some good reason, whether USC should be number 1 in the football polls despite the fact they are the defending national champions. After their lackluster performances thus far, I was inclined to listen to the argument. After watching the Notre Dame game today, though USC won by the skin of their teeth at literally the last second, I still have to give them the edge on number 1. I have two general rules of thumb about football (and sports in general): 1. The defending champ stays the champ until they prove they aren't 2. Never bet against a team with lady luck on its side USC seems to have both these characteristics, so they have my undivided vote as such until they lose. However, despite the loss, I think Notre Dame played like a top ten team. A loss, no matter how valiant, is still a loss. I know, I'm old school. And it gripes me to have to do this; but in all fairness I am moving the Irish up despite the loss, even though were no...

In my ongoing study of truly bizarre ebay auctions, this week's winner is: Send something to be burned in Hell (Michigan) Runner Up: Cabbage Patch Pimp Doll Congrats to this week's winners...

Anglican General's Warning: The following contains gross amounts of satire and inside jokes. Viewer discretion advised... I have been pondering the liturgical and ecumenical fallout from Nick's wedding. Upon further review from the booth...I believe the lineup shakes up this way: Groom: Foursquare Gospel Bride: Proto-Nazarene Bride's Maid: Interdenominational Best Man: Anglican Stand-in groomschicken: AngloMethterian-Orthodox-Reformed Preacher: Southern Baptist My, this is quite the ecumenical entourage. I'll be sure to wear my seminarian clerical collar, cassock, and cincture to the wedding and dance around the altar with incense. That should freak everyone out, including myself. There can be a groom's cake, a bride's cake, and a heretic's cake. You guess the heretic...Its like the old song: Which of these is not like the others? In all seriousness, we can run a fake option sweep around the right side, some razzle dazzle fake handoff to the Anglican with th...

I got this quiz over at YodaBeth's blog. I guess I should transfer back to law school because this test and my horoscope...I mean family systems theory...told me so. You Should Get a JD (Juris Doctor) You're logical, driven, and ruthless. You'd make a mighty fine lawyer. What Advanced Degree Should You Get?

I would like to take the opportunity to congratulate my former college roomie, Nick , on his engagement. He asked me to be his best man, of which I can only say I would be honored. To the happy couple, I offer this prayer used in the Marriage ceremony in the Book of Common Prayer (pg. 429) for the celebration and blessing of a wedding: "Make their life together a sign of Christ's live to this sinful and broken world, that unity may overcome estrangement, forgiveness heal guilt, and joy conquer despair."

You are the Celtic Cross: This cross was first made out of stone and is often found atop hills, in front of castles and in graveyards throughout Ireland and Scotland. The stone was carved with various symbols including a circle or halo (representing eternal life) and variations of the celtic knot. What Kind of Cross are You? brought to you by

In my ongoing (if sporatic) Cherokee myth of the week series, I thought it would be interesting to include some phantasmic stories since it is the Halloween season. This is one of my favorites, entitled "The Tsundige'wï" taken from James Mooney's Myths of the Cherokee . This was one of my favorites as a child: Once some young men of the Cherokee set out to see what was in the world and traveled south until they came to a tribe of little people called Tsundige'wï, with very queer shaped bodies, hardly tall enough to reach up to a man's knee, who had no houses, but lived in nests scooped in the sand and covered over with dried grass. The little fellows were so weak and puny that they could not fight at all, and were in constant terror from the wild geese and other birds that used to come in great flocks from the south to make war upon them. Just at the time that the travelers got there they found the little men in great fear, because there was a strong wind blow...

Well, with my beloved Bravos blowing a 5 run lead in 2 innings and falling to the Astros in 18 innings (no, that's not a typo), the American and National League Championship series are set in Major League Baseball. I got to listen to parts of the Braves game on the radio sporatically throughout the afternoon. I listened to some, took a nap, listened some more, went to an intramural football game, came back and listened to another 5 innings. That was truly a marathon. So, it shakes down that in the AL, I think the Yankees will probably play the South Side Sox from here in Chi-town. Since the Braves packed it up early (again) the Sox have become the AL team I root for (see previous blog entries concerning my trip to the dark side). But whether the "Bronx Bomber" Yanks or the "We can't figure out where we live" Angels (California? Anahiem? Los Angeles?) win, they will be coming off a long 5 game series and will be tired against a very rested Chisox. And the Ast...

I've decided my blog needed some color changes and various other HTML updates. I am still fiddling with this, so if you don't like what I am doing, feel free to leave a comment. You may also notice my sidebar is straightened now. I have had people complain that the cascading sidebar was irritating, so I finally got around to fixing it. I actually liked it that way, so as to irritate the flaming J's, I do have to admit it was getting cumbersome with all the links I have added over the year.

As a frequent surfer of Ebay, I am always mystified at some of the truly weird things people own and then try to auction. This week's winner... ducttape tuxedo . Honorable mention: Ejector seat from a Russian Mig 29 and a Cheetoh that does not look like anything Er...congrats to this week's winners

Sorry, I could not resist .

My mother was cleaning apparently and found an old roll of undeveloped film. Apparently, they were some pictures I took when I went to the Chobe in Botswana during the summer of 2000. They turned out nice, considering how old the film was. As you can tell, this is when I was still in what I can only call my Indiana Jones phase. The picture of the wildebeests above was shortly before one charged me. Their horns are quite sharp as I recall...Its a wonder I still have all my limbs.

Technically speaking, Lincoln, NE, is still my home. The church that is sponsoring my me in seminary is there. Apparently I will have my work cut out for me if I become a priest there...

I try to keep this blog centered on religion, but I do sometimes comment on sports. I have an ongoing fascination with the media frenzy over professional sports players and steroids. Congress even had that spectacle earlier in the year where several major league baseball players came and testified. Of course, you have probably heard all this. Mark McGuire pleaded the 5th. While I think it is obvious that McGuire took steroids (look at pictures of him in his first major league season and then pictures about 2 to 3 years later-it ain't na'tral), McGuire got a lot of bad press for pleading the 5th. Personally, my opinion of McGuire actually went up after that because McGuire at least had the decency to plead the 5th, which is his right, and not look those senators in the eye and lie to their faces [cough] Raphael Palmeiro[cough] . Not that I am defending steroid use...I certainly am not. As a former coach of various sports, I think if professional sports are serious about getting ...

Just a reminder to the folks on the inside, Seabury's monthly student government meeting is today (Monday) and 9:30 AM. Hope to see you there...

Sunday's lectionary snippet (NRSV translation): Phillipians 3:19 Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. 21 He will transform the body of our humiliation that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. My adult Sunday school class does a bible study using the African bible study that was developed at the last Lambeth Conference. Basically, its a lectio divina kind of thing where the same passage is read in 3 different translations. I was struck by one of the translations that I think was the New English Translation. Granted, that version is more of a paraphrase, but I loved the way it translated verse 19 as "their appetite is their god." This passage reminded me of the story The Picture of Dorian Gray ...