Experiencing the Stations of the Cross

I had the opportunity to participate in the Stations of the Cross for the first time this past Wednesday at our church. For those who are unfamiliar, the Stations of the Cross provide you an opportunity to rehearse the events related to Jesus’ crucifixion. There are 14 stations, each one representing a scene from the passion drama Christ endured, beginning as Jesus is condemned to die and concluding as Jesus is laid in the tomb. At each station you are able to meditate on the particular scene represented by that station and lift your heart in penitential prayer, such prayer being motivated by the great compassion expressed by our Savior on His way to the cross. In short, you walk the road to the cross alongside the One who bore the cross.

It is a somber ceremony. As I walked the path that Christ walked and considered His pain and agony at each step, I could not help but mourn my own wretchedness that made such a journey necessary. At the close of each station’s meditation and prayer we recited the Trisagian, “Holy God, holy and mighty, holy and immortal, have mercy upon us,” humbling ourselves before Almighty God to petition Him for His pardon and provision of mercy.

A stark feature of this ceremonial journey is that it does not end with the magnificent resurrection but with the mournful internment of our precious Savior’s body in the tomb. Such an ending entices you to wait eagerly for His resurrection. We know the end of the story, that death could not contain our Lord, but pausing this passionate narrative at the tomb during this penitential season of Lent compels you to contemplate the agony of Christ’s act of redemption, and it urges you to consider the depravity of your own sinful state. The resurrection is glorious, powerful, and necessary, but the Stations of the Cross force you to recall the tragic necessity of death that preceded Christ’s glorious victory over the grave.

When the final station was over and I walked away in silence, having left Christ in the tomb, I couldn’t help but feel an eagerness of anticipation for the celebration of His resurrection. I left craving Easter Sunday and left craving my own future resurrection to a new life free from the constant pull of this sin cursed flesh.

ALMIGHTY and everlasting God, who hatest nothing that thou hast made, and dost forgive the sins of all those who are penitent; Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of thee, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~ The Collect for the First Day of Lent

Reflections on Becoming a Father: Hear the Voice of My Cry

I am a father. A daddy. A parent. I have a child. A daughter. A baby. This experience has changed my perspective on all aspects of life, relationships, spirituality, and responsibility; and I expect it will continue to do so for many years to come. Such a change brings with it both new insights and new questions. One of these insights happened within days of being home from the hospital with our newborn daughter and continues each time I hear the voice of her cry.

In the earnest cries of my newborn daughter I hear the cries of the psalmists unto God. “Hear my prayer,” she cries. “Hear my cry,” she wails. “Do not be far from me in my time of trouble, listen to the voice of my cry,” she implores, not with words but with the only voice she can muster at her young age. Here is our daughter, a sojourner in an unknown land, surrounded by dangers and fears which are greater than any she has faced before, entering a life which forces her to wait, even if for a brief moment, to be rescued from the calamities she encounters, wholly dependent upon her parents to deliver her from her distress. These are the cries of the Psalms.

I hear the cry of Psalm 39. David is in distress and has become keenly aware of the fleeting length and exceeding turmoil of life. Knowing he is powerless in the face of such obstacles, he declares, “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” (v. 7) How like my daughter’s cries! Her only hope for relief is in the arms of those who gave her life. It is precisely because she is helpless to help herself that she cries to us for relief, and it is because David knows how powerless he is before the circumstances of life and before the power of God that he pleads, “Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear to my cry. Hold not Your peace at my tears!” (v. 12a)

I hear the pleading of Psalm 130. The psalmist begins, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!” (v. 1-2) After proclaiming God to be the one that can forgive iniquity he looks to Him as the one for whom he must wait and in whom he must place his hope. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning . . . For with Yahweh there is steadfast love . . . “ (v. 5-7) How like my daughter’s cries! In the midnight hours, when she is startled awake by a sudden noise or a fearful dream and finds herself alone, she cries out for help. She cries out hoping that we, her parents, will intervene, and she watches in hope of our return when we will envelop her in our steadfast love.

I hear the mournful distress of Psalm 51. “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin!” (v. 1-2) Drowning in sin, David turns to the only One that can deliver him. He knows that such a deliverance will bring relief and such a cleansing will be pure and complete. “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” (v.7) In seeking such a cleansing, he pleads to be restored to the joy he once knew. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” (v. 12) How like my daughter’s cries! When hunger, like David’s guilt, bores deeply and  gnaws unceasingly, she cries for the ones she knows can provide relief. When she is mired in the filth of the flesh from which she cannot escape, she begs for us to intervene, to cleanse her, and to restore her to the joy and comfort she previously knew.

Before God, we are but newborn babies in need of the strength, wisdom, love, and redemption of the One who is our Creator. Sometimes His response is swift and powerful as He plucks us from the imminent dangers that threaten to destroy us. Sometimes He delays responding to our cries to give us time to learn to wait upon Him. Sometimes He lets us confront our fears so we can persevere and become more mature. Always He is our hope for deliverance from the stain of sin, a stain of our own making, in which we too often dwell and from which only He can cleanse, redeem, and restore.

“And they were bringing children to Him that He might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, He was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to Me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.’ And He took them in His arms and blessed them, laying His hands on them.”

~ Mark 10:13-16

Will Resume Soon

For those that may be randomly following my blog, I really do intend to begin writing again. Let me get you caught up on where things are in life:

Daughter Born: Ziona Katriel Reimer was born at 11:32am on February 16, 2012. She weighed 7lb 15oz and was about 19 inches long. She and my wife are both doing wonderfully.

Ecclesiastical Events: Lent has begun, Ziona went to Ash Wednesday service with us, the church did the "Thanksgiving for Women After Child-bearing" service for my wife, and my daughter will be baptized on March 18, 2012 (which means family is coming to town and much celebration will be had).

Teaching: I'm in the midst of teaching a class called "Old Testament Ethics in a Post Modern World: Re-calibrating Your Moral Compass" as part of my internship. The class is halfway over and it has been quite enjoyable.

That's the main highlights. I look forward to sharing some of the thoughts and insights I've had and shifts in perspective I have experienced through all of these.

Evermore & Evermore

The day of the arrival of our daughter is coming ever closer, although we aren't quite sure what day we will actually get to meet her. It is reassuring to know that we can trust God as the one who always has been and always will be.

That God is the One who is evermore and evermore is the theme of a very ancient hymn called Corde Natus Ex Parentis. It was written in Latin sometime between 348-410. Recording labels and copyright filing wasn't too common back then, so the exact date is a bit sketchy. These wonderful lyrics were translated into English by John Mason Neale and Sir Henry Williams Baker in the 1850s. Father Chris shared these lyrics in a Sunday School lesson a few weeks ago and I have been drawn to them repeatedly, with the result being the composition of a new song. The hymn "Of the Father's Love Begotten" has been around for many years using several of these verses; this is my take on these precious words.

This is a rather quick recording, so my apologies in advance for some of the flubs.



Lyrics:

Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framed; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam's children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessed, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world's Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father's throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
SInners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

Of the Father's love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Evermore and evermore!

Contemplations on a New Year

A new year is upon us and with it comes a mixture of emotions. There is the joy and relief of passing a fresh landmark mingled with the anxiety of uncertain days on the horizon. There is the hope of future times that have been untainted by folly joined with the guilt of realizing past goals have not been met and mistakes have been made. In addition to the cacophony created by this emotional milieu, this year we have the added variable of a looming political season that is exceptionally polarized and will surely threaten to divide many communities, families, churches, and social groups, as differences in viewpoints on justice, morality, society, and culture are exposed. In the face of a landscape such as this, I would challenge us all to realize that this new year is splayed before us untouched and untainted by past habits, biases, misunderstandings, and failures.

Let us consider the example of the apostles. Here was a group of men from disparate backgrounds. Some cooperated with big government (Matthew, as a tax collector) while others owned small businesses (Peter, James, and John, as fishermen). Some faced the temptation of guilt for past failures, whether they had denied Christ (Peter) or persecuted His church with deadly zeal (Paul). Others had to confront other apostles with differing opinions on ecclesiastical standards (Peter and Paul). While these characteristics are not hidden from the pages of Holy Scripture they do not define these individuals. Rather, this diverse group worked amidst ridicule, threat of violence, and social scandal to promote the unifying gospel of Christ and perpetuate His church.

Matthew, whom some may have seen as a government lackey, promoted a system of social justice in his recollection of Christ's preaching of the Sermon on the Mount that challenged readers to consider themselves part of a kingdom not of man but of God and to behave accordingly. John, a partner in a family-owned business, considered love for others to be the standard by which he should be known rather than his ability to expand the financial enterprises of his family. Paul did not wallow in guilt for past atrocities but instead used the memory of the past to propel him to diligently pursue Christ in the present. He also, although having confronted Peter, urged people in the church to not hold a grudge when offended but to instead confront the offense and then move forward in unity to the Table of the Lord.

These saints of old are examples of Christians who lived life with a motivation that surpassed this transient and mortal life. As we face a new year, with the opportunity for resolution that goes with it, may we resolve to have a solitary motivation in life that sees God as our Almighty King and we as His faithful subjects. May we develop a resolute dedication to God and His church that overshadows all other aspects of our lives. As we face a polarizing political process, may we recognize that the body of Christ was forged from one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in all. Let us not question the eternal state of those with differing economic, political, and social viewpoints from our own. Rather, let us realize that the body of Christ is diverse; there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, Democrat nor Republican, socialist nor capitalist.

This is the perfect opportunity to push forward with a new drive to live life in pursuit of the One who should be our unique priority. As we look ahead, may we all put aside past guilt, reliance on financial security, political allegiance, and unresolved offense as the motivations for our decisions. May we all instead live life in complete service of Almighty God, boldly pursuing Him on the basis of our Lord Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit.

What's In a Name?

We are excited that we now have a winner in the baby name contest we've been running. Congratulations to MrFribbles for your guesses. You were victorious and Shanna has already begun work on the victory lap quilt that we'll be sending your direction.

So, without further delay, allow me to announce our excitement at the ever-nearing arrival of our daughter Ziona Katriel Reimer.

Ziona is a derivative of the Hebrew proper noun "Zion". This is a term with a rich meaning in the Old Testament text, especially in the Psalms and in the prophecy of Isaiah. It is primarily used in relation to the future hope of God's covenant people. Psalm 50 proclaims that it is from mount Zion, described as the perfection of beauty, that God will shine forth. It is the daughters of Zion that were to look forward to their King riding on a donkey. In John's apocalypse the Lamb, Jesus Christ, is envisioned standing upon mount Zion surrounded by those emblazoned with the name of the Father. For Shanna and I this name reminds us of the future hope of glory that we have and that she will enjoy as a child of God.

The name Katriel is from the Hebrew root ktr or qtr with the suffix "-el", for God. The first root, ktr, means "to surround" or "to encircle", or more metaphorically, "to crown". The second root, qtr, means "to make sacrifices smoke" or "to burn or offer a sacrifice". The name, using the first root, means something akin to being "surrounded by God", or more metaphorically, to be the "crown of God". The second root means "offering of God" or "sacrifice of God". This name has a profound meaning for Shanna and I as we think of her in light of our relationship with Almighty God. We consider her a gift from God but we also offer her back to Him as an offering and pray that she is encircled by God's presence and grace.

We already love our child dearly and are eager to meet her face to face. It will be one of the greatest joys of life to see her christened with this name and grow into a thriving participant in God's covenant.

Allow me to share the prayer for children one more time, for this is our prayer for her:

ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Baby Name Contest, Round 4

Round 3: Complete - No winners yet
Round 4: Complete - Winner (and name) announced in What's In a Name?

The coming of Advent is a time in the church calendar that allows one to reflect upon and prepare for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a time not only to reflect upon His incarnation as an infant, but also to prepare His coming glorious return. The anticipation of the birth of our daughter brings a deeper and fuller meaning to this time for us. Although there are myriad challenges and dangers in this world of which we must be wary, Christ's incarnation and the future hope of His return is a source of comfort as we look forward to raising our daughter to be a child of our Almighty King.

For the rules, go to the "Round 1" and "Round 2" posts earlier in my blog; the clues for the previous rounds can be found in their respective posts.

Clues for round 4:

Clue 4-1
The Psalm readings and 1st and 2nd lesson readings for the first Sunday in Advent, according to the lectionary in the 1928 Book of Common Prayer, contain clues to the root or meaning of both names.

Clue 4-2

The middle name was guessed in the last round (but we will not tell you whether or not it was actually guessed as a middle name).

Prayer for the Children (from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer):

ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Reflecting on Advent

Christmas is coming and the world bustles about in eager anticipation of the festivities and jovialitaies of the holiday. Even in this increasingly secularized society there is a palpable feeling of jubilance. This is the season of giving for some, the season of family for many, the season of hope for others. Many churches are decorating with lights and greenery and planning myriad parties, potlucks, concerts, and other galas. Bishop Sutton, in his sermon this morning, reminded us that as the liturgical calendar presents for us today as the first Sunday in advent, we are encouraged to step away from the mirth and prepare ourselves for the coming of the King.

Juxtaposed against the laughter and chipper cheerfulness we see around us, the season of Advent has been interjected into the calendar of the church as a penitential season. The liturgical calendar, the calendar whereby the church has measured time for these many centuries, begins with a time of reflection and preparation. Where just this last Wednesday, during the eucharist service for Thanksgiving, and the services that have preceded since Easter, the Gloria in Excelsis has been sung as a joyful and exuberant proclamation of praise, during this penitential season it is silenced. This season calls us to wait eagerly for the coming of our King, but to do so with reflection and preparation of ourselves for that coming.

Imagine if you will that you knew that in one month you would be visited by an earthly king. Would you not spend a large portion of that month in preparation? You would clean your house from top to bottom, and then go through it once or twice more. You would have your clothes picked out long in advance and schedule an appointment with the hairdresser shortly before his arrival. In this season of Advent we are doing just that. We are anticipating the coming of the King of Glory, the Incarnate Son, the Word made flesh. Not only are we remembering His incarnation, which would be cause for celebration enough, but we are also looking forward to His return. He came in the incarnation as a feeble child but will return as the conquering victor.

In the midst of the bustle of the world around us, the church has the gift of the Advent season to help us prepare ourselves for this anticipated coming. This is a time to repent and to humble ourselves before God Almighty. It is a time to recommit ourselves to His service.

Allow me to share the words to one of my favorite hymns, which I find to encapsulate the whole of the Advent season. In silence and wonder we are penitent in preparation for His coming, reverently reflecting upon His worth for our worship. Just as our joyous praise fully resumes in response to the presence of our King, we join the angels as they ceaselessly cry Alleluia. These ancient words are from the 4th century Liturgy of St. James:

Let all mortal flesh keep silence,
And with fear and trembling stand;
Ponder nothing earthly minded,
For with blessing in His hand,
Christ our God to earth descendeth,
Our full homage to demand.

King of kings, yet born of Mary,
As of old on earth He stood,
Lord of lords, in human vesture,
In the body and the blood;
He will give to all the faithful
His own self for heavenly food.

Rank on rank the host of heaven
Spreads its vanguard on the way,
As the Light of light descendeth
From the realms of endless day,
That the powers of hell may vanish
As the darkness clears away.

At His feet the six winged seraph,
Cherubim with sleepless eye,
Veil their faces to the presence,
As with ceaseless voice they cry:
Alleluia, Alleluia
Alleluia, Lord Most High!

Baby Name Contest, Round 3

** Round 3 Over **

** Comments Closed **

** New Clues in Round 4 **

We are less than three months away from meeting our daughter, and are very eager to do so. As some of you know, the due date is the end of February but the doctor has told us that we would be wise to have the nursery ready closer to the beginning of the month. Apparently he anticipates her being eager to meet us too.

One need only begin to read and study the Old Testament to realize that naming is not a casual activity. So here's a free clue: meaning matters. There are some names we considered that both looked and sounded beautiful, but upon delving into their meaning or considering historically those associated with the name the choice to not choose that name was simple.

For the rules and to peruse the previous clues, go to the "Round 1" and "Round 2" posts earlier in my blog.

Clues for round 3:

Clue 3-1
Both names have the same ethnic origin.

Clue 3-2

The other initial is "Z".

Prayer for the Children (from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer):

ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Let's Get Ready to Rumble: The Fight for Thankfulness

Thanksgiving is upon us again and the competition between celebrating gluttony and expressing true thankfulness is in full swing. In the red corner is Hedonism, with a left jab from the food industry and a right uppercut from the consumer industry, both honed with the guidance of the entertainment industry. The promotion team for this powerhouse fills the nodes and circuits of computers and HD TVs with reminders of all the food that must be consumed in honor of this day and all the sales that must be discovered for the latest fad gadget, designer outfit, or pop-star emblazoned knick-knack.

In the blue corner, seeming to struggle from old age and neglect, is Thankfulness. This southpaw from a bygone era seems to be a poor matchup for this bout; one may wonder why he hasn't been entered in the featherweight category when you look at him next to Hedonism. His jab of remembrance is tenacious though and his left hook of gratitude will set your head spinning if it connects.

These two competitors have met in this ring for many a match, and although Hedonism has been winning more decisively in recent years he has yet to get in a knock-out blow. Unfortunately for Thankfulness, his training during the year is less intense than it used to be and is becoming increasingly sporadic altogether. Thankfulness needs constant exercise, otherwise, when it is brought out for its annual title bout, it will quickly succumb to Hedonism, who is on a persistent and constant training program all through the year.

May I suggest that our attempts at being thankful at this time of year are futile when we don't live a lifestyle of thankfulness throughout the rest of the year. The problem is that even our attempts at being thankful quickly become expressions of our hedonism, materialism, and selfish interests. I have found myself, when praying at times, to settle into a mantra of thankfulness that lists the material possessions I have gained, the human accolades I have garnered, or the personal triumphs I have secured. "Thank you for this job, whereby I can provide for my family" may seem like a great prayer, but it is focused on self. "Thank you for the spouse you've given me" may seem selfless and sincere, but how often are you able to pray that prayer after a disagreement or while you're licking your wounded pride.

Thankfulness that is focused solely on self will soon cease to be thankfulness. I urge you this Thanksgiving season to focus your thankfulness on God and what He has done and continues to do not just in your life, but in the life of the community of faith and in the historical development of His world.

Let me suggest the prayer of thankfulness which is prayed as part of the daily morning and evening prayer liturgy in the prayer book:

ALMIGHTY God, Father of all mercies, we, thine unworthy servants, do give thee most humble and hearty thanks for all thy goodness and loving-kindness to us, and to all men. We bless thee for our creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life; but above all, for thine inestimable love in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory. And, we beseech thee, give us that due sense of all thy mercies, that our hearts may he unfeignedly thankful: and that we show forth thy praise, not only with our lips, but in our lives, by giving up our selves to thy service, and by walking before thee in holiness and righteousness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be all honour and glory, world without end. Amen.

Finding the Anglican Way - Part 5, Creed

"No creed but the Bible" is an all too common battle cry for many churches. On the surface the slogan may appear appropriate, for it uplifts the supremacy and sufficiency of the Bible, which is right and good given that it is God's revelation to humanity. A nagging problem creeps into the discussion when you ask someone what interpretation of the Bible is the one that is to be lifted up as supreme and sufficient. Is it the Arminians or the Calvinists? The covenantal theologians or dispensationalists? The Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses derive at least some of their theology from the Bible, perhaps they have the correct interpretation. The battlefield of history is strewn with the corpses of biblical interpretation that have been struck down with the sword of heresy.

The solution to this for many in our modern day is to conclude that since I have the Bible in my hand and the Holy Spirit in my soul I have all I need to understand God and His Word appropriately. This is a very idealistic claim that is tragically false. A careful study of the heresies that have laid siege to the church over the centuries will reveal that most of them are the offspring of well-intentioned biblical scholars who attempted to answer theological questions apart from the developing orthodoxy of the church. Arianism held to the belief that the Son is lesser than the Father and not eternally pre-existent based upon a view of 1 Corinthians 8:5-6. Marcion's view of the Old Testament God being a different God than the New Testament God has its basis in biblical interpretation that struggled to reconcile the justice of God demonstrated in the Old Testament and the love of God presented in the New Testament. Philippians 2:7, and its explanation of Jesus being made in human likeness, provides helpful support for Docetism, which tries to argue that Jesus' human body was merely an illusion.

If I can just close myself in the closet with my Bible and the Holy Spirit I'll be okay, really! The problem is that you've brought yourself into that closet. Saint Peter had to have his theology corrected by Saint Paul due to his struggle to rightly understand the role of circumcision in New Covenant community and to accept table fellowship with Gentiles. If someone who had his feet washed by the eternal Son had to have his theology corrected by the developing orthodoxy of the blossoming church, why do we think we are any better equipped.

We need the boundaries laid out by orthodoxy to keep us from straying into heresy, and it is for that reason that the creeds are so vital to the life of the individual Christian and the corporate life of the church. The three catholic creeds confessed by the Anglican Way are the Apostles Creed, the Nicene Creed, and the Athanasian Creed, and they are confessed on a regular basis. We communally confess the Nicene Creed every eucharist service and the Apostles' Creed every morning and evening prayer. The recitation of a creed directly before the homily in the liturgical order is a potent reminder to the preacher that what they say must be consistent with the orthodox teaching of the church.

This consistent confession of the creeds and the expectation of staying within the boundaries they set forth for orthodoxy has been yet another reason for my wife and I to appreciate the Anglican Way. If your own church doesn't consider the creeds on regular basis I would challenge you to begin reading them and committing them to memory on your own and to ask the leadership of your church why they aren't a part of the life and worship of your community of faith. From the very creation of humanity we have needed boundaries to prevent us from straying off the path marked for us by Almighty God; consider the creeds as such a boundary for our interpretation of Holy Scripture and doctrinal development.


Apostles' Creed

I BELIEVE in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heavenand earth:And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord: Who wasconceived by the Holy Ghost, Born of the Virgin Mary:Suffered under Pontius Pilate, Was crucified, dead, andburied: He descended into hell; The third day he rose againfrom the dead: He ascended into heaven, And sitteth on theright hand of God the Father Almighty: From thence heshall come to judge the quick and the dead.I believe in the Holy Ghost: The holy Catholic Church;The Communion of Saints: The Forgiveness of sins: The Resurrection of the body: And the Life everlasting. Amen

Baby Name Contest, Round 2

** Round 2 Over **

** Comments Closed **

** New Clues in Round 3 **

I hope those of you who participated in Round 1 of the Baby Name Contest enjoyed the first round. As the rounds continue you will be given more clues.

For those of you new to the game, allow me to replay the key rules (see the "Round 1" post for more details):

1) Each round will last about 2 weeks, at which time I will put up a new Baby Contest post with a new set of clues.
2) Each guess must include an attempt at both the first and middle name.
3) All guesses must be as a comment to the most recent Baby Contest post here in my blog.
4) Only 5 guesses per contestant per round.
5) To win, you must guess both the first and middle name and spell them correctly. 
6) Each guess must be made in such a way that we know who you are and how to contact you. Blogger will give you the option of affiliating your comment with your google account or simply a name and email address. You can use whichever method you want so long as we know how to contact you should you win.

Clues for round 2 (go to the round 1 post to be reminded of the previous set):

Clue 2-1
Neither of the names is, to our knowledge, the name of a character from a Jane Austen novel.

Clue 2-2

One of the initials is "K".

Prayer for the Children (from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer):

ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Finding the Anglican Way - Part 4, The Centrality of Holy Scripture

The Bible. The Revelation of God. God’s Word. Holy Scripture. It is referenced by myriad titles and descriptions, is the central source of truth and doctrine for the church globally and historically, and is the catalyst for academic argument, political upheaval, church schisms and reformations, familial disputes, and holy wars. It is printed in countless languages with diverse versions. It is worshipped by some, cursed by others, and disregarded by many. It’s words are prayed, sung, read, studied, and dissected; they are memorized and meditated upon, misunderstood and misrepresented.

If the Bible is accurate in its claim to be the very word of God, it would seem logical that the Bible would hold an obvious and central role in the life and worship of the church. Contrary to such logic I suggest that many modern churches have moved away from the Bible as an authority and have largely taken it out of corporate worship. The irony is that in a not insignificant number of churches that are emblazoned with the title of “Bible” church there is something of a drought of Scripture. A chapter of Scripture may be read early in the service, likely the same passage that will be the focal point of the sermon, and possibly a verse or two of a Psalm or benediction to dismiss the congregation. Much responsibility is then placed upon the individual congregant to read the Bible with suggestions made for devotional books and diverse Bible reading plans.

In contrast, one of the striking characteristics of the Anglican church is the role Holy Scripture plays in the very fabric of the life and worship of the church. Holy Scripture is woven into the very ethos of the church. We sing it, we pray it, we chant it, we read it out loud as a chorus of voices, and listen as the words are read to us. I have heard it said that at least 85% of the book of common prayer, the Anglican liturgical book, is either directly quoting Holy Scripture or is directly eluding to it. In a typical eucharist service we read an extended passage from an epistle and a passage from the gospels. In a typical morning prayer service we corporately recite a Psalm, hear a reading from the Old Testament, and hear a reading from an Epistle. In a typical evening prayer service we corporately recite a Psalm, hear a passage from the Old Testament, a reading from an epistle, and read or sing the Magnificat (Luke 1:46ff). If you follow the liturgical readings for morning and evening prayer every day of the week, over the course of a year you will have read the New Testament twice, the Old Testament once, and the Psalms monthly.

If the church in our modern day and in this American culture is going to have an eternal impact upon society there needs to be a return to Holy Scripture. What should we sing as a church? Sing the Psalms. What should we pray as a church? Pray the Psalms. What should we recite and mediate upon as a church? The words of Christ, His apostles, and His prophets. Instead of fumbling around for the next great method we should learn to digest the riches of God’s Word and seek out new ways of applying our lives to His unchanging message.

Lex ordani, les credeni. How you pray is how you believe. Lex orandi statuat lex credeni. The rule of prayer establishes the rule of belief. For the Anglican Way, our rule of prayer is Holy Scripture. Beneath the vestments, rituals, formularies and structure there is a foundation steeped in God’s Holy Word.

From the Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent (1928 BCP):

BLESSED Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace, and ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Baby Contest, Round 1

** Round 1 Over **

** Comments Closed **

** New Clues in Round 2 **

I was blessed with the opportunity to see my daughter again today. Cast in varied shades of grey we watched as she balled her tiny fist to rub her eyes and tucked her lower lip into her mouth to suck on it. So young at 22 weeks yet already developing mannerisms, habits, and a personality. The joy and anticipation of awaiting the birth of a child is a phase of life marked by extremes. The hope of new life is coupled with the temptation of anxiety at the fragility of that life; the excitement of sharing experiences with a new member of the family dances with the realization of responsibility. One thing is becoming increasingly clear as we look towards the future, and that is the necessity of God and the community of His church for the upbringing of a child. Shanna and I must depend upon God and upon those He has placed around us to make up for our individual weaknesses.

It is with the realization of the role of community in our lives both now and in the life we are bringing into this world that we invite the myriad members of the various communities that intersect our lives to have some fun with us as we eagerly await being introduced to our daughter. To that end, we are going to have a contest here on my blog to see if anybody can guess the name we have chosen for our daughter.

Here’s how it works. In the comments to this blog posting you can place your guess for the first and middle name. As time progresses I will post updated blog entries with new clues to help you hone your guesses. Allow me to enumerate the key rules:

1) Each round will last about 2 weeks, at which time I will put up a new Baby Contest post with a new set of clues.
2) Each guess must include an attempt at both the first and middle name.
3) All guesses must be as a comment to the most recent Baby Contest post here in my blog.
4) Only 5 guesses per contestant per round.
5) Each guess must be made in such a way that we know who you are and how to contact you. Blogger will give you the option of affiliating your comment with your google account or simply a name and email address. You can use whichever method you want so long as we know how to contact you should you win.
6) To win, you must guess both the first and middle name and spell them correctly.

Wait! You mentioned a prize, right?!? Yes, yes, I did indeed. My wife will be making a quilted item (a lap quilt or a wall hanging... she is still combing through quilting magazines for ideas) as the prize for the winner. You can check her blog ssparrowinflight.blogspot.com where she will occasionally post about the prize quilt as she makes it.

So, without further introduction, here is the first set of clues:

Clue 1-1:

Both the first and middle name are girls' names (meaning they are distinguishable as feminine names).

Clue 1-2:

Not a name we’ve named before, 

    but part of life both old and new.

Someday soon or someday far, 

    our daughter’s name will still ring true. 

Prayer for the Children (from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer):

ALMIGHTY God, heavenly Father, who hast blessed us with the joy and care of children; Give us light and strength so to train them, that they may love whatsoever things are true and pure and lovely and of good report, following the example of their Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Finding the Anglican Way - Part 3, The Folly of Relevance

If the church becomes like the world, then the world won’t see the church as a beacon of hope amidst the gloom of a sinful life. This was the basis of what Bishop Sutton shared with the class this evening in providing his introduction to the topic of liturgy and worship. If I was more of an outspoken and vocal individual I would have jumped up with a hearty amen and a rousing round of applause. This has been a soap-box issue for me for the last few years and it is one of the major draws of the Anglican church for Shanna and me.

What about being relevant, you might ask. Relevancy is currently a common banner cry for many churches. Just look at the billboards proclaiming the merits of a local church with the word “relevant” placed centermost on the placard. I find it interesting that the more churches buy into the lure of the relevant-centric ecclesiology of our modern culture the less interest people in our culture have in the church. We often blame such a decline on the media, the political system, or some other influence outside of the church, but I think the blame can be placed squarely on a general movement in modern churches to pursue cultural relevance above all else. 

There is a two-fold problem with thinking that the church needs to reflect the culture to become relevant to that culture. The first is the faulty thinking that somehow the truth of the Bible isn’t relevant enough on its own but needs to be aided by the schemes and mechanizations of depraved humanity. A professor of mine asked a poignant question once when he asked, “are we supposed to apply the Bible to our lives or our lives to the Bible?” This is a key question. It is us who need to change and adapt to the unchanging truth of God. Unfortunately, we often think of the Bible as a book that needs to be approached so as to draw out meaning for modern humanity from the cultural depths in which it is mired. Rather than this, we need to approach Holy Scripture with the realization that it is I who needs to be pulled from the cultural bog that festers in every corner of this sin-soaked world.

The second is that we forget that we belong to another Kingdom, a Divine Kingdom, a Kingdom not of this world. As a result, we are merely sojourners in this world as we journey through life. We are called to be counter-cultural as we live our lives in a way that demonstrates that being aligned to this Kingdom provides an enviable alternative to being aligned to the kingdom of the world. When the church pursues cultural relevance as one of its highest callings it quickly loses one of the major components of its identity. It was Christ himself who prayed for His church as it was in this world but not to be of this world just prior to praying that they would be sanctified by the steadfast truth of Almighty God (John 17:16-17).

Realize that I’m addressing this in general terms. Much can and should be written to nuance this issue with the necessity of presenting the truth of God and the worship of Christ’s Church in a language and cultural idiom that is recognizable (hence the translation of Holy Scripture into the indigenous tongues of so many people worldwide). But there is a stark difference between adapting the truth of Scripture and the worship of the church so that is understood by the culture and changing it so it is acceptable to that culture. A great gulf exists between adapting for the purpose of understanding and changing for the purpose of acceptance. When it is changed with the motivation of being accepted then the focal point becomes the fickle culture rather than the Unchanging God; we risk falling victim to the snare of which St. Paul warned of worshipping the creature rather than the Creator (Rom 1:25).

This whole concept is one of the primary elements that drew my wife and I to the Anglican Way. When you enter into traditional liturgical worship you are forced to submit yourself to the covenant community of which Christ is head and, in so far as the liturgy is rooted in Holy Scripture, to the Word of God. The result of this process is that my wife and I feel like we worshipped God for the first time once we began attending a liturgical church (more on this in future posts). I challenge you to shed the call of being relevant to the culture and embrace a life that is submissive to Christ even though it is contrary to the cultural perspective.

“General Prayer for the Church” from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer (page 37):

O GRACIOUS Father, we humbly beseech thee for thy holy Catholic Church; that thou wouldst be pleased to fill it with all truth, in all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in anything it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, establish it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of him who died and rose again, and ever liveth to make intercession for us, Jesus Christ, thy Son, our Lord. Amen.

The Bonding Power of the Senses

Our physical senses are amazing, especially when they experience something for the first time. They bind memories and emotions into our minds. The sense of touch is especially profound in building connections between people. Whether it's a the first time holding your significant other's hand, the first kiss with your spouse, or the first time holding your child in your arms, there is a bond formed with that first touch. I've had the joy of experiencing the first two listed above and am eager to experience the third in the coming months. A recent touch was nearly as special, though, and that was feeling my little girl kick for the first time. I knew I loved my daughter before I knew we were expecting a daughter, but there is a new bond that has formed on the basis of that first touch sensation.

I think the ritual and ceremony of the liturgy allows the strengthening of that bond in our relationship with God. All of the senses are brought to bear on the beauty of worship. The sound of the music and the chorus voices of the congregation, the smell of the burning candles and (if it is a solemn ceremony) of the incense, the taste of the wine, the sight of the sun shining through the stained glass, and the feeling of the wafer in your hands and the eucharist cup as it is pressed to your lips. When we allow our physical senses to become part of our expression of thanksgiving, reverence, and communion with God the bond between creature and Creator is strengthened.

Savor your senses as a means for being drawn to our Savior; allow them to solidify your bond with Him. Just as the feeling of a loved ones hand in yours carries with it the totality of the emotions and the weight of the commitment you have towards that other, allow the physical expression of your relationship to God carry the same emotion and sense of commitment. We are physical beings and in need of physical worship. So as you worship Him in spirit and truth, don't forget to worship Him in sight, sound, scent, taste, and touch.

The Christian Collective: Shedding the Individual

How important is individuality to you? For many within western society it’s one of the highest callings. You can see this in the pursuit of fame by many in the upcoming generation, it is highlighted in the fervor of political debate when some individual freedom or right is perceived to have been reduced, and it is perpetuated by the gears of capitalism that prod people to purchase items that simultaneously accentuate their individuality while binding them to the acceptable public image.

The challenge for the believer is that we were created for community. The Genesis account makes it clear that we were not created to be alone (Gen 2:18), the narrative account of the Old Testament describes the formation of a covenant community in the people of Israel, the church in Acts is described in terms of fellowship and gathering (Acts 1:14; 2:46), John’s apocalypse describes the throne room of God as being filled with worshipping saints all in white robes (Rev 7:9), and if you need any other motivation, the pivotal doctrine of the Trinity demands the existence of community within the godhead from eternity past through all time (see the Apostles, Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds). We are a people of community.

One of the difficulties of being a people of community is that we are at war with individualism within society. I was recently confronted by how pervasive this battle is by way of an episode of Star Trek: Voyager. Within this science fiction series, one of the prominent enemies of the intrepid crew of the USS Voyager is the Borg. The Borg are the ultimate collective community. All individuality has been suppressed and all action is in service of the good of the collective. When new alien species are encountered the Borg respond by callously assimilating them into the collective consciousness of the community. If a species tries to resist, their response is simply, “resistance is futile” as they overwhelm the weaker race. Set in contrast to this collective force is the crew of Voyager. Their philosophy of individuality is what allows them to overcome the collective mind of the Borg. Constantly, the heroic value of individuality is pit against the cold conformity of the villainous hive. Time and time again individuality proves to be what gives the crew the strength to overcome this foe.

In many ways I think the creators of Star Trek are providing a commentary on their worldview; a humanistic worldview that sees the church as a danger to the right of the individual to develop and thrive. When the Borg speak, they speak as an eerie chorus of myriad unison voices that sounds remarkably similar to a church congregation reciting a creed or some other corporate reading. I don’t think this is a coincidence. The church is the enemy of the humanistic ideal of individual freedom. If one places individuality too high on his or her priority list then the church becomes a villainous entity that seeks to override individual identity and replace it with a collective identity. For many in western society (including many within the church) this perspective is probably familiar, and the censure of the church for destroying individuality is applauded.

If we are to follow Jesus’ teaching, though, then we are called to give up our individuality for the sake of entering the covenant community of Christ. Is not one of the two greatest commandments to love your neighbor? Does not Paul in Romans 12:10 exhort us to, “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another”? Does not Jesus teach that love is being willing to give up your life for a friend? (John 15:13) Does not Jesus, on the night before He is sentenced to die, pray that the unity of those who believe in Him through the preaching of His disciples would be “one” in the same way that Jesus and the Father are one? (John 17:20-23) We are called to enter into a collective community that stands in stark contrast to the predominant perspective of our world.

I would encourage you to examine the role that individuality plays in your own worldview. If community is not high on the list than I would challenge you to find out why. We are called to collective community, and for the believer that collective is the church. While this collective is not heartless and villainous like the Borg, in so far as the gates of hell cannot prevail against it (Matt 16:18), in the end we can boldly say, “resistance is futile.”

No Hope? Really?!?

Perhaps you've seen this picture floating around the interwebs bewailing our nation's condition on the basis of our president and our economic situation. I apologize in advance if what I'm about to write comes across as harsh to some of my friends who may have posted such a picture, but I think this needs to be addressed.

There are several things that truly bother me about this clever retort, especially given that most of the people I see posting it are confessing Christians.

1) Extreme Censure of Our President

I don't care what side of the aisle you're on, we who call ourselves subjects of the Divine King need to keep things in perspective. Our ultimate allegiance is to no earthly government but is to the Kingdom of God Almighty. Just as Abraham was a sojourner and alien looking forward to the land promised him by God, so too are we sojourners and aliens on this earth as we await the full consummation of God's kingdom in the new heavens and earth. If we have this outlook then we should be less distraught over the political mechanizations of our present dwelling.

In addition, let us not forget that we are to submit to our earthly leaders. Hebrews clearly states:

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you. (13:17)

Holy Scripture does not give Christians much leeway in having respect and honor for those who are in positions of leadership over us. This doesn't mean we have to push aside all political opinion, but it does mean that care must be taken when expressing harsh and flippant criticism.

2) No Cash

I promise you that I fully recognize the financial hardship that has come upon many of us in this economy. I could give you a laundry list of challenges my wife and I have faced and continue to face due to difficulty securing gainful employment, bills accumulating from school and medical expenses, and the struggles that come with rising fuel and commodity prices. Without even mentioning the financial security we in America have when compared to the majority of the world's population, there is an even greater reason to not fret. In Matthew 8:20, when presented with a man who wanted to follow Him, Jesus warned the man that, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." If the one to whom we swear allegiance did not consider financial security to be the upward calling of life, what right do we have to gauge our own sense of worth and safety in it?

3) No Hope

The hope we have as Christians is not found in political systems, financial gains, familial protection, or any other finite thing. Our hope is based solely and completely on our Almighty God and the work done by Christ on the cross. It is hope in the Divine Person that brings the psalmist to compose:

In you, LORD, I have taken refuge;
   let me never be put to shame.
In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;
   turn your ear to me and save me.
Be my rock of refuge,
   to which I can always go;
give the command to save me,
   for you are my rock and my fortress.
Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,
   from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.
For you have been my hope, Sovereign LORD,
   my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
   you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
   I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
   you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
   declaring your splendor all day long.
                                                 (Psalm 71:1-8)

No matter the perceived difficulties we face we should be able to declare the splendor of our King all day long. We are not a people without hope, and if we are to be a light to a darkened world we need to be a light that shines the hope that can be found through Christ and that supersedes all other circumstances.

Liturgy: Every Church Has One

One of the reasons my wife and I were drawn to the Anglican church was the liturgy. I will be writing more about this in an upcoming post, but before I write about what drew us to the Anglican liturgy I want to write briefly about liturgy in general. The reason I feel this is important is that there is a general bias against the concept of ritual for many within the modern American church.

In short, liturgy is a set of agreed-upon and prescribed rites or rituals. Every church has a liturgy. I know some of you are already starting to compose an email to me proudly arguing that your church is liturgy-free. Most arguments against liturgy are fueled by a general bias that liturgy is a stodgy, antiquated monstrosity that either destroys any opportunity for a truly dynamic relationship with God or disrupts the promulgation of a relevant church that will welcome the present culture. Despite your objection, I will reiterate that every church has a liturgy. Not convinced? Here’s how you can test it:

(1) Convince the leadership of you church to completely change the order of service for the upcoming Sunday without telling anybody in the congregation ahead of time.
(2) Convince the music team/leader/organist/pianist/drummer/chanter to use songs that your congregation has never heard before.
(3) Convince the preacher to use a version of the Bible from the opposite end of the spectrum from your church’s usual version (instead of NIV, use KJV; instead of NASB, use the Message).
(4) Make a large sign with the words “Tell Us What You Think of Today’s Service” and include your own cell phone number. Hang this sign from the front of the pulpit or project it onto the plasma screens hanging on either side of the stage.
(5) Turn your cell phone on five minutes after the service starts.
(6) Record the number of angry or frustrated calls you receive before the battery in your phone goes dead.

Yes, I admit I’m exaggerating... a little. If you’re honest with yourself and those with whom you worship you will likely conclude that it may not be as much of an exaggeration as you may want it to be.

What’s the point? The point is that when we enter into community worship we settle into a set of prescribed and expected rites and rituals no matter how informally they are presented or casually the are held. My point is not to argue for one style or type over another, but rather it is to highlight the fact that to function successfully in community a set of community values and practices must develop over time. In relation to this general concept, there are only two basic differences between liturgical and non-liturgical churches:

(1) Liturgical churches have a formally established and prescribed set of rites to which they intentionally adhere, while non-liturgical churches have informal expectations that are casually followed.
(2) Liturgical churches share their prescribed set of rites among a large group of local churches, while non-liturgical churches aren’t typically concerned with the specific rituals of other local bodies.

Before you respond with “we’re not under law, we’re under grace” as a way of arguing for the dangers of ritual in the church, let me leave you with this thought. Jesus, in His earthly ministry, and the apostles, during the early years after Jesus’ death did not deny themselves participation in Jewish ritualistic worship in the temple.

Jesus, The Good Samaritan

The Gospel reading for today, the Thirteenth Sunday After Trinity, was from Luke 10, the story of The Good Samaritan. Bishop Sutton preached a tremendous sermon on our Lord Jesus as that Good Samaritan. Jesus did what the religious leaders could not or would not: He descended into the ditch and brought the wounded man to safety, paying for that man to be nursed back to health. What the Good Samaritan did in the parable Christ did on the cross. Christ descended into the ditch of humanity so that we could be restored.

I was convicted. This parable is told in response to the question of what it means to love our neighbors. If my love for my neighbor can only be limited by Christ’s love for humanity, then is there really any boundary to the love I am to have? Christ went to the cross with full knowledge of the rejection He had already endured and would endure through the centuries. In fact, He promised His disciples that they would be persecuted for His sake. Despite that knowledge He entered the ditch for us. To truly follow Christ I also must be willing to endure rejection and persecution for the sake of loving my neighbor.

I’m struck with how often we out-source our love, though. What is our typical response when confronted with a person on the street who is hungry and in need of help? Our typical response is to point them in the direction of the nearest shelter while we wipe our hands of the encounter and go about our day. We justify it by convincing ourselves that the individual would have just used any monetary support we provide for booze or that it’s too dangerous to invite him or her into our car or home to help get them where they’re going or feed them ourselves. Granted, it is a dangerous world full of dishonest people, but that does not remove our responsibility. 

Remember what Hebrews 13:1-6 teaches:

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them, and those who are mistreated, since you also are in the body. 

Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous. 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” So we can confidently say,

"The Lord is my helper; 
I will not fear; 
what can man do to me?”  

If we remove the love of money and the fear of what man will do to us from our default outlook of life, how much more will we be able to love our neighbors as Christ loves us?