The Arrow's Path

Check this out. It's Patristic fathers theology, so a bit of heavy lifting. However, if you want something more than a lot of the fluff out there, I recommend this. Hat tip: Kyle

I have been informed that another friend of mine has died in Iraq . Please pray for the repose of his soul and his family. May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed by the mercy of God rest in peace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBvbzQfMNik Because you love the Muppets...

There is a very interesting, if somewhat bizarre, article in this month's Archaeology Magazine about the possibility of cloning Neanderthals. The article takes a look at the ethics of doing something like that, and looks at the ethical questions from from several angles. I, personally, do not think they will ever be able to clone a human, or higher level hominids for that matter, at least without years of severe genetic mutations. I think one good set of photos of some poor, deformed half-human monster in a cage, and just about every country in the world would ban such research. Ah well, something to consider. Best I can do at 5AM with a baby screaming.

About 4 minutes. Good stuff.

"I really need to take the dog for a long walk...he's getting squirrely." "When? This afternoon?" "Eh, probably later this morning when I hit a good break point in my sermonating." "Sermonating...is that like marinading?" [chortle] "Don't be silly...it's....well..." [awkward pause] "Actually, that's surprisingly accurate."

The following is an article I wrote for today's edition of the local paper. The members of the local Ministerial Association submit articles for Thursday's religion section. -The Archer  -------------------------------- "The Real Meaning of Lent." This is the time of year when many Christian churches start pulling out curious vocabulary that people not all that familiar with the Church or church traditions often find baffling. We have "Shrove" or "Fat" Tuesday, "Ash" Wednesday, and the season of "Lent." For those curious and those who have forgotten, Ash Wednesday is perhaps the most obvious to figure out of the three terms. Ash Wednesday happened yesterday, and marks the beginning of the 40 days (not counting Sundays) until Easter. Since at least the Middle Ages, the day was marked by a period of fasting and worship. In many Christian traditions, ashes, usually from the burnt Palm leaves of the previous year's ...

Father Alexander, over at Videtur Quod , has come up with an interesting liturgical compromise for how to deal with the rather bizarre hodge podge list of Saints for the Liturgical Calendar that the Episcopal Church floated and passed on trial at the last General Convention. I've said for years that the way the Episcopal Church chooses saints for commemoration on our Church calendar was muddled at best. The way it used to work was someone at General Convention would get a resolution passed through the liturgical committee to make a motion on the floor of General Convention to get a saint added to the calendar. In essence, it was "Make your own saint by majority vote" model. I was never really comfortable with the theological inquiry and legwork in such a system, but at least such a method was open to debate and had to pass 2 consecutive General Conventions to become permanent. That would seem to partially undercut "fad" editions to the Calendar of minor saints...

8:15 AM -Holy Eucharist (said) with Imposition of Ashes 1:30 PM -United Retirement Center-Ash Wednesday Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes 7:30 PM- Holy Eucharist (sung) with Sermon and Imposition of Ashes "Remember you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

My friend Andrew posted this link from the University of North Carolina which is a database documenting the American South. The sheer number of full books, titles, and monographs on anything having to do with Southern history is truly staggering. I wish I'd had access to some of this when I was working on my Master's thesis.

Try this . The Orthodox don't mess around.

For the President of the United States and all in Civil Authority O Lord our Governor, whose glory is in all the world: We commend this nation to thy merciful care, that, being guided by thy Providence, we may dwell secure in thy peace. Grant to the President of the United States, the Governor of this State (or Commonwealth), and to all in authority, wisdom and strength to know and to do thy will. Fill them with the love of truth and righteousness, and make them ever mindful of their calling to serve this people in thy fear; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen. -Book of Common Prayer, pg. 820

------------------------------------------------------------------ On January 20, the Episcopal Dioceses of North and South Dakota were affected by a devastating ice storm and subsequent blizzard that left more than 14,000 people without power or access to clean water.  In the wake of this disaster, Episcopal Relief & Development has responded to requests for emergency aid from the Dioceses of North and South Dakota. The already shaky infrastructure of indigenous communities living on the Cheyenne River and Standing Rock Reservations was further crippled by the storm.  The severe weather downed over 3,000 power poles.  Resulting power outages led to the loss of perishable food items and to equipment malfunctions at the local water treatment facilities, contaminating the region's supply of drinking water. Freezing temperatures caused significant damage to most families' furnaces and the pipes in many residences froze and burst.  It is ...

Last week, I had intended to take a vacation, my first in a year. Two hours into it, I got a call saying a prominent parishioner was about to pass on, which happened the next day. I got to spend my vacation planning a funeral. Then, to top that off, I came down with a head cold on the day of the funeral, and spent the two days I had left of my vacation sick in bed. This is why my blogging has been sporadic the last week and a half. I am back on the job, and will try to post more regularly. I am also feeling much better today. I am convinced the trick to dealing with colds and sickness is to actually let yourself be sick. A lot of people try to work, and it makes the whole thing worse in the end. Such is life.

"Life is the creation by God, and if you would know God, be not a solver of riddles. Look about you and you shall see Him playing with your children. Look into the air and you shall see Him walking in the clouds, outstretching His arms in the lightning, and descending in rain. You shall see Him smiling in flowers, then rising and waving His hands in trees." -Walter Breuning, currently the oldest man in the world according the Guinness Book of World records, in a speech on his 113th birthday

I was really rooting for Peyton Manning, but I congratulate the New Orleans Saints. It was hard not to feel good about them winning, given all New Orleans has been through in the last few years. I imagine for the first time ever, Bourbon Street is out of Bourbon.

The following is an article a friend of mine forwarded me. He wrote it for a Masonic publication, but it involves an Episcopal priest in South Dakota who was a mason. It was really quite interesting. (Posted with permission.)  -The Archer -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- "The Rev. Edward Ashley by Dr. Douglas C. McFarland, Grand Historian The early history of Dakota Territory and our state of South Dakota includes the names of many prominent Freemasons who made significant contributions. One such brother, Edward Ashley, was an extraordinary individual who untiringly served the Church, the Native Americans of the territory, and the Masonic fraternity. Edward Ashley was born in England on December 12, 1854. A carpenter by trade, he traveled to America at the age of 21, hoping to serve as a missionary. After arriving in Michigan and meeting with the Episcopal Bishop there, he was recommended to Bishop Hare of Dakota Territo...

Please pray for the repose of the soul of Ruth, a daughter of this parish, who reposed to the Lord late this morning and for her family and friends at this time of grief. Acknowledge, we humbly beseech thee, O Lord, a sheep of thy own fold, a lamb of thy own flock, a sinner of thine own redeeming. Receive her into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. May her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in Peace.+

Overheard at church yesterday: "It's amazing how many electronic devices there are out there that make you stupid...and it's also amazing how quickly students gravitate towards them in large numbers."

There is a very good edition of the BBC's Act of Worship radio show here led by an Anglican priest who worked for many years in Haiti. His thoughts are worth listening too. And as usual, the music is terrific. (Clip is about 15 minutes)