Words To Be Banished

I don’t know about you, but I’m aware that there are quite a few “buzzwords” out there – words that suddenly become ubiquitous, trendy, overused. I was surprised to read that Lake Superior State University publishes a list each year of “Words to be Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse, and General Uselessness”, tabulated from readers’ submissions. “Green” has come in first this year. (When businesses start advertising that they’re into being green I can’t help but think they don’t mean “green” as in environmentalism but “green” as in “cashing in” on the most recent trend).

The link to the list is here. FYI, here are the words on their list – are there any you would add?

• Green - one commenter said “I’m all for being environmentally responsible, but this ‘green’ needs to be nipped in the bud.” Ha! My own feelings were expressed in another comment: “If I see one more corporation declare itself ‘green,’ I’m going to start burning tires in my backyard.”
• Carbon Footprint
• Maverick
• First Dude
• Bailout
• Wall Street/Main Street
• Monkey - this one’s new to me…
• Icon or iconic
• Game Changer
• Staycation
• Desperate Search - as in news reports
• Not so much
• Winner of five nominations
• It’s that time of year again

Two words that come to my mind that should be banished for overuse is “disturbing”, as in TV news reports, used when they want you to pay attention to some horror they’re about to show you; and, for misuse, “adult”, as in “adult entertainment”, usually meaning juvenile, immature or undeveloped.

Your suggestions?

Back From MD

Joh and I had a very nice vacation in McHenry Maryland – I’d never been to the far western panhandle of Maryland before, and found it’s very much like West Virginia in terms of landscape. I’ve posted here just a couple of pix to give you an idea.

I need to catch up on some items this week – Parenting Series, Confirmation, worship planning, etc. – but just a brief heads up here on Recon, which will start the second Thursday in September with a four week study of The Shack, followed by a 3 week study on baptism. So mark your calendars, get The Shack, and stay tuned!

The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality

Here’s an interesting posting from John Piper about the ELCA convention in Minneapolis (where they’re considering ordination of actively gay folks) and a tornado that finds its way to the convention site:

(Author: John Piper)

I saw the fast-moving, misshapen, unusually-wide funnel over downtown Minneapolis from Seven Corners. I said to Kevin Dau, "That looks serious."

It was. Serious in more ways than one. A friend who drove down to see the damage wrote,

On a day when no severe weather was predicted or expected…a tornado forms, baffling the weather experts—most saying they’ve never seen anything like it. It happens right in the city. The city: Minneapolis.
The tornado happens on a Wednesday…during the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America’s national convention in the Minneapolis Convention Center. The convention is using Central Lutheran across the street as it’s church. The church has set up tents around it’s building for this purpose.

According to the ELCA’s printed convention schedule, at 2 PM on Wednesday, August 19, the 5th session of the convention was to begin. The main item of the session: "Consideration: Proposed Social Statement on Human Sexuality." The issue is whether practicing homosexuality is a behavior that should disqualify a person from the pastoral ministry.
The eyewitness of the damage continues:

This curious tornado touches down just south of downtown and follows 35W straight towards the city center. It crosses I94. It is now downtown.
The time: 2PM.
The first buildings on the downtown side of I94 are the Minneapolis Convention Center and Central Lutheran. The tornado severely damages the convention center roof, shreds the tents, breaks off the steeple of Central Lutheran, splits what’s left of the steeple in two…and then lifts.

Let me venture an interpretation of this Providence with some biblical warrant.

1. The unrepentant practice of homosexual behavior (like other sins) will exclude a person from the kingdom of God.

The unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Corinthians 6:9-10)

2. The church has always embraced those who forsake sexual sin but who still struggle with homosexual desires, rejoicing with them that all our fallen, sinful, disordered lives (all of us, no exceptions) are forgiven if we turn to Christ in faith.

Such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Corinthians 6:11)

3. Therefore, official church pronouncements that condone the very sins that keep people out of the kingdom of God, are evil. They dishonor God, contradict Scripture, and implicitly promote damnation where salvation is freely offered.

4. Jesus Christ controls the wind, including all tornados.

Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him? (Mark 4:41)

5. When asked about a seemingly random calamity near Jerusalem where 18 people were killed, Jesus answered in general terms—an answer that would cover calamities in Minneapolis, Taiwan, or Baghdad. God’s message is repent, because none of us will otherwise escape God’s judgment.

Jesus: "Those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them: do you think that they were worse offenders than all the others who lived in Jerusalem? No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish." (Luke 13:4-5)

6. Conclusion: The tornado in Minneapolis was a gentle but firm warning to the ELCA and all of us: Turn from the approval of sin. Turn from the promotion of behaviors that lead to destruction. Reaffirm the great Lutheran heritage of allegiance to the truth and authority of Scripture. Turn back from distorting the grace of God into sensuality. Rejoice in the pardon of the cross of Christ and its power to transform left and right wing sinners.

The Tornado, the Lutherans, and Homosexuality
Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:12:48 GMT

Go To The Wall

The Vietnam Memorial Moving Wall has come to Freeburg, and I participated in the opening services. It was quite moving for me to see this wall, and the 58,000+ names on it. It all brought back a lot of memories, as I was in college during those wonderful years 1969-1973. While I have no relatives whose names are on the wall (that I know if), I have friends whose relatives died in that war.

I’m stunned to think of how much has changed since 1969 – the year of Woodstock, the year of the lottery draft. I asked one of my parishioners there at the ceremony what they were doing in 1969. She said she didn’t remember, she was in second grade! Knock me over!

In complete disclosure: I was a hippie wannabe in those days. I had long hair, participated in The Moratorium (lo0k it up if you don’t remember), marched in protests – no demonstrations though, I was too weenie for that. Times have changed; I’m older and wiser and far more conservative. Though I still have my questions about that war, I have NO questions about the men and women who didn’t get to go to Woodstock, didn’t get to go to college on daddy’s dime, who went half the world away to risk their lives in a crazy war, 58,000+ of whom never came back.

If we don’t remember, we’ll have learned nothing.

If we don’t remember, we’ll have nothing of lasting value to give to our children.

Go to the wall.

For Your Listening Edification

I’m off for vacation in Maryland for a while, visiting with my wife’s family. This means hours in the car, hours by the lake, hours in bed after-hours. While I like reading I’ve also come to enjoy listening to mp3 files on my trusty mp3 player (1 Gigabyte, $10 (!) from Office Max). It’s one thing to read John Piper, it’s something else to listen to him preach. And I’ve found that there are so many resources out there, from so many speakers: sermons, articles, conference talks, interviews, radio programs, Q&A sessions, etc. etc.

So I’m recommending three websites that offer free mp3 downloads:

Monergism.com – offers resources from speakers and preachers all over the world; can be searched by topic, speaker, scripture, etc.

Faithbyhearing - similar to monergism but includes blogs for discussion; you can subscribe to posts made here.

Desiringgod - John Piper’s site, offering everthing Piper; you can subscribe to posts made here.

In all three cases above, not every link works every time, technology being what it is. But all three offer wonderful resources for first-quality preaching and speaking. It’s gratifying for me to see that occasionally our high-tech toys can be fruitful and edifying!

See ya’ll when I get back…

State of Illinois Owes Hoyleton $900,000

What does it mean when our representative government is a deadbeat?

One of the agencies St. Paul supports is Hoyleton Homes (www.hoyleton.org), which has for over 114 years served orphans, youth, and folks who slip thru governmental bureaucratic cracks. They are faith based and faith woven. They serve the vulnerable and those that other agencies will not or cannot help. And the state of Illinois owes them over $900,000 for services rendered over the past several months.

I don’t know where that #!*&$@#! $900,000 went – maybe Governor Rod could do a talking tour and raise that; or wait, what about a reality show?  Actually my suggestion would be to STOP all salaries and benefits for ALL state officers until the budget gets balanced; sure a lot of them would quit, but would that be so much worse than where these brilliant minds have put us now? But I know those kids at Hoyleton are living a reality show no one wants to be in. I know that Chris Cox and the Hoyleton staff are giving themselves (and I mean heart and soul).

I know there are lots of agencies hurting because of our deadbeat state. But Hoyleton is close to our hearts at St. Paul’s. So what are you going to do? Yes, you can make financial contributions. And you can send a letter to these freaking so-called representatives of our state. A polite letter can be found at Hoyleton’s site (www.hoyleton.org) along with contact info for state reps and officials.

Or you might send a more honest one from the heart (or as the biblical Greek would have it I think more fittingly, from the bowels).

Photo licenses may drive Hutterites out of Alberta (Reuters)

I’m not sure exactly what to make of this. There are strict Hutterites (I thought they went out with the Jebusites…) in Canada who will not have their picture taken – it’s literally against their religion. But the province of Alberta requires photos on all drivers’ licenses (so, it’s ok to drive a car but not have your picture taken I guess). The Hutterites say they’ll leave Alberta rather than comply with what they see as an unjust or immoral law. Click on the link below for the whole story.

I dunno. I can’t get real fired up about the sin of having my picture taken. Reminds me of some primitive pagan taboos I ran into in Haiti. OTOH, I admire these folks’ adherence to their faith to the point of resisting secular authorities.  I also admire the fact that instead of bitching, whining, and going to court, they’re getting ready to move out of the province.

Reuters – Up to 10 colonies of the strict Christian Hutterite sect say they face religious persecution from the Canadian province of Alberta’s plan to force them to have their photos on driver’s licenses and may leave Alberta rather than comply.

Photo licenses may drive Hutterites out of Alberta (Reuters)
Mon, 27 Jul 2009 21:26:37 GMT

Think You Have Trouble Getting Your Kids To Church?

 

AP – Police in Utah say a 7-year-old boy led officers on a car chase in an effort to avoid going to church.

Holy car! Utah boy goes for spin to avoid church (AP)
Wed, 29 Jul 2009 23:43:07 GMT

Deal’s Gap Pix

I just love this place. It’s rural, quiet, very 1950’s (motel room is $50 per night; no phone but you get TV!) It’s got to be the curviest road in America, and the scenery is outstanding. Here’s my pix from my 2009 trip:

I’m Baaaaaaccckk!

Excellent time at the Gap – tho man, the traffic on weekdays is so much lighter! Felt like I had the whole road to myself! Pic below is one of my faves – the car, the road, what more could ya ask?

What You Do NOT Want To See At The Gap!

Every once in a while a tractor-trailer comes thru Deal’s Gap on US 129, and it’s bad…here’s a 10 minute vid; it gets interesting at around 3:50.

Benny Hinn “Let The Bodies Hit The Floor”

OK, so these videos have been on youtube for a year – they’re new to me! I first heard Drowning Pool’s “Let The Bodies Hit The Floor” last week, then saw it paired with a “faith healing” service of Bennie Hinn. Now I don’t know what you think of punk music (not my cup of tea but I find this tune compelling in a hard grungy kinda way) or what you think of faith healers. But I find the pairing of the two oddly congruent….see what you think:

Going To The Gap

Well I’m off this weekend to Deal’s Gap NC for my annual ride on US Hwy 129. With my nephew’s wedding this Saturday, I’ll be at the Gap after the Miata weekend, but those 318 curves in 11 miles will still be as sweet to drive!

Below is an interesting Youtube about the drive – it starts with a local news story about cops and accidents on the Gap, then morphs into a biker “freedom” screed (funny how some think liberty means the ability to do what we want – something Adams and Jefferson never meant). Anyway, turn down the sound and enjoy the scenery! (zoom-zoom!)

His Peace Upon Us—A Muslim/Christian Blog

We don’t have many (are there any?) Muslims in Freeburg. So this may not be very relevant to many of my people here. But if you’ve wondered about Islam, and how or whether Muslims and Christians can interact in peace – here’s a blog that will interest you. It’s called His Peace Upon Us – the author of the blog says this about himself:

I am a Christian follower of Jesus who loves the people of the Middle East. The basic premise of this blog is that we cannot love those we do not know. So I am hopeful that this blog is one way Muslims and Christians get to know each other.

I thank God for my wonderful wife and three beautiful children. I enjoy people of other cultures, telling Arabic jokes, eating shawarma and falafel, and studying US presidential history.

I have not been reading this blog myself, but it comes recommended from people I trust. Let me know what you think of it.

Will Federal Hate Crimes Bill Coerce Churches?

Last April the House of Representatives passed HR 1913, which expands the definition of “hate crimes” to include those against individuals based on sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or disability. The Senate has not voted on this yet.

There are voices out there decrying this expansion of the definition of “hate crimes”, saying it can be used against churches and pastors who teach the orthodox Christian doctrine regarding homosexuality and marriage. The Baptist Press raises such concerns (click here). But it’s not just those crazy Baptists who are concerned. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod’s President also has concerns (click here).

I admit I’m a little concerned about this. A couple of decades ago I would never have imagined the state prosecuting the church in court for its orthodox teachings. But much has happened in the past few years that I would never have imagined. The gay-rights movement is a strong political force these days. And if I’ve learned anything in the last 2 years, it’s that our actions have unintended, even unimagined, consequences. As I understand it, the LCMS is calling for some time and careful thought about this bill – something we should have given to recent bailout bills.

I wonder – if pedophilia is a sexual orientation, would restrictions we place on pedophiles (like registering with local authorities) be a “hate crime”? If a dad lost his temper and beat up a pedophile who molested his daughter – would that be a “hate crime”? If masochism is a sexual orientation, could a masochist sue a sadistic partner for “hate crimes”?

I wonder what the definition of “sexual orientation” is. And what it includes. Would PETA get involved in cases of bestiality (another sexual orientation)?

I’m not joking about this. I’m wondering.

But another concern I have is about the whole “hate crimes” thing. I wonder about laws against thoughts and attitudes. I wonder about singling out particular groups of people for special protection. I wonder, is it any worse for me to kill you because I’m a bigot, than it is to kill you because I’m stupid? If we had a “Stupid Crimes” bill, maybe I’d be more supportive…

Tom Wright on US Episcopalians & Gay Marrige

Tom (N.T.) Wright is an English Episcopalian bishop and scholar who’s recent writings on justification have stirred up controversy in evangelical circles. He’s hardly a fundamentalist and certainly not unsophisticated. So I was interested in what he has to say about the recent US Episcopal Bishops’ decision to lift their ban on the ordination of actively gay folks. The article is here and is worth the few minutes it takes to read.

Two Of The Lovelies Of My Life

I just received this from Dallas – how graced has my life been?!

Johanna and Andrew Crecelius

We’re Back!

Just 5 days in Dallas to see our new grandson and our fine son and daughter in law…but we took a bajillion pix, of which two are here:

Johanna and Andrew

Three Generations: Earl Samuel Jr., Earl Samuel III, Andrew Samuel

Calvinism: Best Drunk Shaken

Today is John Calvin’s 500th Birthday! There are plenty of resources and articles in cyberspace on Calvin and Reformed theology, but the blog below caught my attention.

For many folks, doctrine is just empty teaching, good for the head maybe but useless for the heart. For that we need spectacle, emotional voyeurism via TV “news”, emails that ‘touch your heart”, etc. But when it hits the fan, just what good does that emotional stuff do us really?

The gist of the blog below is that Calvin never saw his theology as just “head stuff”, but as “head and heart stuff”; that right thinking (just using that phrase could get you in trouble these days) leads to strength to deal with the sorrow and trouble the heart will inevitably face in this life. Without good doctrine, the heart will crumble when the world caves in.

So I commend this article to you, and can vouch for it’s truth from my own experience and that of others I know.

I’ll be back after my trip to TX to see my new grandson!

Earl

There are few things as refreshing as a large glass of pure orange juice. However if you forget to obey the advice on the carton – best drunk shaken – the experience is rather less than it could be. Without a vigorous shake, one pours only a disappointing glass of orange-tinted water.
The theology of John Calvin is similar. Consumed without the requisite shaking, it can be a watery, dilute, shadow of its full reality- an image of that which should be fresh and vital. The full flavor of Calvin’s theology is only tasted when it is shaken and squeezed out through the experiences of life.
I have been reading the writings of John Calvin now for eleven years. Recent experiences in my life have reminded me that one of the most satisfying aspects of Calvin’s views is that they taste best when shaken by life’s sadnesses.
My wife and I had been looking forward to the birth of our first baby. Before either of us had met we independently had the desire to call a baby ‘Calvin’. Though not a common name in the U.K., it was our favorite. Tragically, late in the pregnancy Calvin died for unknown reasons. Anybody who has endured such a sadness will be aware that a few days are required in hospital, as the baby needs to be born. It is a difficult thing to be in a baby delivery ward, awaiting the birth of a baby who has already gone to heaven.
During those days, I had my copy of Calvin’s Institutes with me in hospital. However, in breach of my normal routine, I could not bring myself to read the book. I knew the text was in my bag, but I did not feel inclined to pick it up and read.
Not being able to read in times of suffering is entirely natural. However the reading done in the better days is essential preparation for darker ones. Suffering and sadness is a large part of our lot in this fleeting life. It is how the theology of Calvin is shaken, so that it can be truly refreshing to those who drink it. I would like to suggest that Calvin was cognizant of this need for theology to be shaken by life’s sadnesses.
Calvin never intended his teaching to be merely a framework or intellectual system. He rejected Aquinas’ view that theology is ’speculative rather than practical.’ (Summa 1.Q1.Art.4) Instead Calvin insisted that that his teaching should inculcate ‘piety.’ From the first edition of the Institutes, Calvin stated on the title page that his book embraced ‘almost the whole sum of piety.’ The original 1536 edition concluded with a paragraph in which Calvin encouraged readers to ’suffer anything rather than turn aside from piety.’
What Calvin meant by piety, one of his favorite words, was made more clear in the 1559 edition of the Institutes. Sadly the most popular translation, by Battles, obscures many of the references to piety, by often rendering the word ‘godliness.’ (See footnote 1 in Battles’ translation, p.39-40) This policy means that the reader may easily miss the significance of the word. In both his preface to the reader, and dedication to King Francis, Calvin states that his book intends to inculcate piety – in both places rendered ‘godliness’ by Battles.
The title and purpose statements highlighting piety, prepare the reader for Calvin’s insistence that God, ‘is not known where there is no religion or piety.’ Inst.1.2.1. Virgil is criticized because his speculations do not inculcate piety. Inst.1.5.5. Calvin proceeds to define piety: ‘For this sense of God’s virtue is a suitable teacher of piety, out of which religion is born. I call piety reverence joined with the love of God, which a knowledge of his kindnesses brings about.’ Inst.1.2.1.
Calvin is teaching that a personal, existential appreciation of God’s kindnesses is essential to real Christianity. Indeed, bringing about such an experience is a key goal of his theological endeavors. There must be a sense of God’s kindness which goes far beyond the speculation so highly prized by Aquinas. Piety necessitates a ‘heart certainty’ (certitudinem cordibus) Inst.1.7.4.
A heart certainty which is to be sensed and experienced, must be forged in the travails of life. By definition that which is sensed cannot be attained by mere speculation. Calvin placed great emphasis upon the fact that knowledge of God must ‘not merely flit in the brain, but take root in the heart.’ There it must be ‘felt, sensed and adored.’ It must ‘affect’ and induce ‘wonder.’ Inst.1.5.9. With these and other terms Calvin urges readers to appropriate his theology.
The sufferings of life shake Christians; the result is that they experience, by faith in the Spirit’s power, God’s goodness in the midst of sadness. Such piety is not, as many Christians imagine, merely an extra, optional comfort to some who suffer. Rather, it is essential for all real Christians. Calvin’s theology must be shaken by life’s trials before it can be tasted for the revitalising drink that it is.
It impossible to read Calvin’s work and not see that he spoke from experience. Calvin himself had a sense of God’s goodness to him, even in trials and struggles. Exiled, bereaved, persecuted, reviled and unhealthy – Calvin’s life was one in which he still felt God goodness toward him, personally.
It is often said that Calvin did not retract a theological view: what he wrote when young was what he maintained in old age. Compared to Augustine this is true – Calvin never needed to write a retraction of an earlier view. However Calvin did mature and grow in his personal sense of the goodness and knowledge of God. Read the opening sections of his 1536 Institutes. The famous first sentence is present in a recognisable form: ‘Nearly the whole of sacred doctrine consists in these two parts, knowledge of God and ourselves.’ There may be some significance in his later highlighting of sapientiae (wisdom/knowledge) alongside the earlier cognitione (knowledge). Calvin knew his opening sentence was programmatic – every word would have been carefully selected. However, both words were used in other places, seemingly interchangeably. In any case, Calvin’s development is seen not in the details of individual words, but his argument. For there is a theoretical certitude in his original Institutes which is striking when set alongside the mature 1559 edition.
So in the 1536 edition, Calvin, after his opening sentence proceeds to assert ‘Surely we ought to learn the following things about God…’ He then lists four lessons all should learn. In the next section, about the knowledge of man, he follows a similar approach of listing the main lessons. All he says is true and important – but the tone is in stark contrast to later editions of his work. After Calvin and Farel were forced out of Geneva in April 1538, Calvin wrote another edition of his Institutes. This version, published in 1539, added the words: ‘Which one precedes and brings forth the other is not easy to discern.’ A note of uncertainty, humility and awe begins to permeate what had previously been merely a clear explanation.
The humility Calvin seemed to feel before the awesome reality of God, climaxed in his 1559 edition, which may be seen to be markedly different in tone to the edition published in 1536. Calvin probes and explores the obscure and intangible links between knowledge of God and humanity. Gone are the three or four points that must be learnt; added is the section on piety quoted above. The final 1559 edition carried readers into an experience of the knowledge of God, precisely because Calvin had himself matured and entered more fully into a personal sense of God’s goodness in suffering. Doubtless there were people that Calvin ministered to in his time of exile from Geneva; they and us benefit from the embarrassment caused to Calvin by his experience of suffering. Calvin’s sufferings were a shaking which caused his knowledge to be more personally appropriated. His struggles inculcated piety.
And so I think John Calvin would understand why I did not feel like reading his book while in hospital. Times of suffering are there for experiencing and appropriating that which can be known no other way. Calvin had himself gone through the process of acquiring knowledge about God, only to have it deepened and ‘rooted in his heart’ Inst.1.5.9., by times of suffering. Such is the nature of that knowledge which is not speculation, but piety. I would urge you to read John Calvin’s writings carefully and frequently. The traces of Calvin’s piety are there to see. However as you read in the good times, perhaps remember- Calvinism is best drunk shaken.
Peter Sanlon is a trainee minister in the Church of England and a PhD student at Cambridge University.

Peter Sanlon, "Calvinism: Best Drunk Shaken", Reformation 21 (July 2009)
This article was published in Reformation 21, the online magazine of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals.  The Alliance calls the twenty-first century church to a modern reformation by broadcasting, events, and publishing.  This article and additional biblical resources can be found at AllianceNet.org
© Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals Inc, 1716 Spruce St. Philadelphia, PA 19103

Calvinism: Best Drunk Shaken
Thu, 09 Jul 2009 18:07:20 GMT

Passing Fancy

I mentioned in a post below an email that came to me, contrasting Ed McMahon, Farrah Fawcett, and MJ. I also asked in that post for any confirmations people could provide. Well, Snopes has done just that. In short, the email is accurate except that MJ did a lot of philanthropic work. Click here for the article.