Undermining the Episcopal Church Series

The Episcopal Majority blog is putting together a series on the undermining of the Episcopal Church, and I've found it to be quite informative.

Here's the links to Part 1 and Part 2:

Undermining the Episcopal Church, Part 1

Undermining The Episcopal Church, Part 2

Happy reading.

Makes Me Happy

Thought I'd share something that made me smile and jump up and down on the inside...

August 28, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Integrity Responds to List of Candidates for Bishop of Chicago

"The big news today is that discernment has trumped discrimination in the Diocese of Chicago," said Integrity President Susan Russell. "The inclusion of the Very Rev. Tracey Lind on the list of five extraordinarily qualified candidates for Bishop of Chicago is a bold step forward and a sign of hope and encouragement not only to LGBT Episcopalians but to the whole church. Her experience and leadership make her an excellent candidate and Integrity applauds the Diocese of Chicago for not allowing the forces advocating bigotry over ability to dominate their nomination process.

It is long past time for the Episcopal Church to acknowledge that B033 -- the 2006 resolution designed to prevent the election of a gay or lesbian bishop -- has failed in its attempt to balance the unity of the Anglican Communion on the backs of the LGBT faithful. There is no turning back on the full inclusion of the baptized into the Body of Christ -- only moving forward into God's future as an Episcopal Church committed to mission and ministry, to unity in diversity.

Integrity extends congratulations to all the candidates, any one of whom will make a fine bishop for the Episcopal Church. The Diocese of Chicago's diverse list of qualified candidates is a sign of the end the 'season of fasting' at the expense of the vocations of gays and lesbians in the Episcopal Church and the whole church should rejoice and be glad in that!

(The Reverend) Susan Russell, President
president@integrityusa.org

Random

Disappointed, that's how I should have replied to my wife this morning when she asked if I was doing ok. I am profoundly disappointed. She is deeply disgusted; Trying really hard to not have me take ownership of blame that is not mine to take...but, well, it does take two to tango...

A friend sent me a wonderful story about a bear and community...and there's the rub, that thing that hasn't worked itself out yet, that disappointment.

So Who Can Name When Logic Saved the Day

I would be curious to know when logic saved the day, "the day" being equality issues (e.g., racism, bigotry, women's rights).

Does anyone know of such a "day"? Would we call Martin Luther King Jr. a logician, or Gandhi or Lucy Stone?

Just curious.

Oh you gail force wind
You emotional beast you
You are just too emotional

No, no I am the fire of passion
It is your heart I hope to ignite
As your head is an ice fortress

Haircut Decision

Well, I almost went completely for it, I did get a faux-hawk, but it's subtle on the sides. I think I may need to buy some industrial strength hair gel, because my hair isn't quite staying the way I want it to. But, still I'm glad I did it.

And we're off

So life is about to hit the fast lane again...and I'm disappointed about that. I just got asked to fill a position for which I've little experience - I do believe there's a dilbert moment in there.

EFM starts first week of September, kids go back to school Monday, my wife's work schedule changes. So, grand jugger supreme mama bring it on (ok well no really don't bring it on, but you get the picture).

I get my haircut tonight, pretty excited about that...maybe I'll get that "foe-hawk" after all. Maybe I'll dye my hair some crazy color. Maybe I'll say @#$% it all and get both a "foe-hawk" and some crazy colored hair. Or maybe not.

Poem

When words become meaningless...
When words become daggers...

Twisted and gnarled but so prettily woven
on the outside

I see you, but my ears tire
Maybe if I turn my head and walk away
I can pretend you didn't happen

You've worn me down with the miles of your spinning
You've taken advantage of my good nature

Cleanse me, oh but I don't want to deal with you
Convince you, love you, you wear me down

We read the same words, yet, your translation is garbled
I hear love, you hear damnation

He loves me, my Lord Jesus Christ, He loves me
Why can't you, oh Anglican South

Computers

Up until 2 years ago I was running on what is considered an ancient box, a Windows 95 Packard Bell that had to follow a specific sequence of "power up" events else forgetaboutit.

Now "I" have a glintzy new computer running XP (not ready to venture into Vista land) with a cable modem. My friend who helped me spec the box out, was like man, you have this superfast machine and your strangling it with dial-up. And I most admit we didn't use the computer much because dial-up took most websites forever to load. So I ask my wife if we had it in the budget to get a broadband internet provider. And well she said yes, so now we use our computer all the time.

Then somewhere between installing an MS OS update and the power going out - death, or well near death. The machine was breathing but couldn't respond. So I called my computer guru friend and he told me to bring it over...3 days later he was able to retrieve all my files off the C:\ and finally get the OS to reinstall.

I missed my computer, I missed visiting the blogs I read, and the news, email, looking up random question asked by the kiddos, I missed being able to research stuff. I felt oddly disconnected.

But, now the computer is well again...and appears to be functioning normally.Hats off to my friend who saved me and la famalia a small chunk of change.

Just for Fun

So yeah, like, I'm bored man...if you are too - go have five minutes of fun.

You’re St. Justin Martyr! You have a positive and hopeful attitude toward the world. You think that nature, history, and even the pagan philosophers were often guided by God in preparation for the Advent of the Christ. You find “seeds of the Word” in unexpected places. You’re patient and willing to explain the faith to unbelievers. Find out which Church Father you are at The Way of the Fathers!

You’re Constantine The Great!

Though he did not accept baptism until the very end of his days, Constantine was the first Christian Roman Emperor. His Edict of Milan put an end to institutionalized persecution of Christians in the Empire. He convened the first ecumenical council, the Council of Nicea, to settle major doctrinal and disciplinary disputes. Though it has become fashionable to portray Constantine as a ruthless suppressor of paganism, that is a caricature, based on almost no evidence. He is better represented by one of his famous pleas for tolerance: “Let those who delight in error alike with those who believe partake of the advantages of peace … Let no one disturb another, let each man hold fast to that which his soul wishes … What each man has adopted as his persuasion, let him do no harm with this to another.” Constantine condemned “violent opposition to wicked error.” The Orthodox venerate him as a saint.

Find out which Byzantine ruler you are at The Way of the Fathers!

Fuzzy Friends

I snapped off some quick pics of the my animals and the neighbor's dog with a friend's digital camera.

This is our cat Darth Vadar - he was thus named for how he sounded when he was taken in as a stray with a cold.

This is Diego - the cat out weighs him by 1 lb. Still super sweet but starting to get a little crochety.

This is Sparky a stray who was insistent that we adopt him, so we did. He's a very sweet 7 monthish goof ball.


This is Bear the neighbor's going to one day be a huge bundle of 90lbs love you, love you, love you lap dog.

We took all the animals (except Darth Vadar, sometimes he follows along too but not last night), and all the kids, and then the adults - we were quite the motley crew. And an enjoyable time was had by all.

Poem

Springtime and all is in bloom
Summer and all stays as it bloomed
Fall and all begins to shed
Winter and all is emptied again

Can I hold each these seasons within my soul?
I am all these seasons there is no doubt
A kaleidoscope, a door that always opens
Two visions, two visions how quiet they are

Sunset field grass swaying softly is me
Dusk snow covered mountain grove of pines is me
Different spaces yet intimately entwined
Vast spaces never empty so full of God-space

Playing Tag With Seven Things

1. Name a book that you want to share so much that you keep giving away copies:
If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path by Charlotte Kasl “shows you what it would be like to have the ancient wisdom of the Buddha to guide you through the dating process” – great book whether you’re dating or not.

2. Name a piece of music that changed the way you listen to music:
More like genres; New Wave music from the ‘80s: and I’m not talking the poppy new wave, more what would nowadays be called Goth; and Trance. New Wave opened me up to poetry; Trance to the beauty of beat and rhythm. For a sample of what Trance is check out: State of Trance 2006 Armin van Buuren.

3. Name a film you can watch again and again without fatigue:
Bound – Gina Gershon, Jennifer Tilly - directed by Larry and Andy Wachowski - need I say more. Fire directed by Deepa Mehta is also awesome.

4. Name a performer for whom you suspend all disbelief
Hmmm…I don’t really have a favorite performer. But how about a cast; I regularly suspend all disbelief while watching episodes of the L Word :)

5. Name a work of art you’d like to live with:
Uh, don’t I already live with a work of art called the planet Earth? Although currently it’s in need of some major restoration.

6. Name a work of fiction which has penetrated your real life:
When I was a kid it was the writing of Piers Anthony and Stephen Donaldson and Lawrence Sanders. The Little Prince, James and the Giant Peach, Stargirl, and A Priest Forever: One Woman’s Controversial Ordination in the Episcopal Church.

7. Name a punch line that always makes you laugh
“yeahsss, yeahsss” but without the background this makes no sense, and really it just makes my wife laugh which makes me laugh. This comes from listening to an audio book and one of the characters says "yeahsss, yeahsss" in a very distinctive way which when I immatate makes my wife laugh.

New Zealand Prayer Book

I've just begun to sit with the New Zealand Prayer book...there's a richness within these pages, no, more a warmth, a spark to the tinder of the personal God, a language of inclusion deliberately written into their corporate worship.

My meditation, this promise, to dwell within comes from this book:
"NN, we praise God for your commitment to serve Christ in the order of priests. Serve patiently and cheerfully, remembering that the work you are called to do is God's work; it is in God's hand, and it is done in God's name to God's glory. Follow Christ whose servant you are. Share the burden of those whose cross is heavy. You are marked as a person who proclaims that among the truly blessed are the poor, the troubled, the powerless, the persecuted. You must be prepared to be what you proclaim. Serve Christ simply and willingly, and let your joy in Christ overcome all discouragement. Have no fear; be humble and full of hope."

I thought I needed to avoid the muck and the mire. I thought I would become lost within in it, and I had because I forgot that the journey is to be shared. I mustn't avoid the muck and the mire, but I must walk through it, in it, and out of it with Christ and because of Christ. I let my feet walk with arrogance that this I do alone; I let my feet walk with pride that this I can do alone.

How long until my heart melts
How long until my heart trusts
Within You and through You
You are my Light and my Way

Musings

Randomness brought about with sitting with Ignatius of Loyola for just a wee bit.

If I say and believe that God is in every created thing,
then I must include myself.

Who are you and what is your name, how do I name you?
Are you my sun and moon, the beating of my heart?
Are you my daughter and my son and my wife?
Are you my neighbor and my friend?
If I name you all your names this then would be my life task to you.
So what is your one name that I may live with for now?



Beloved.

Letting Go

I've been struggling with God and my's relationship lately, and well I've been petulant with him. I haven't wanted to talk to him, but at the same time I haven't wanted him to go anywhere else either but be right beside me.


And I'm struggling because I don't know what to do with my frustration, I don't know where to channel it - I'm an action-oriented kinda gal who's feeling pretty stuck in muck that is not mine, like if I'm not careful it will mire me in.


And so I again remind myself to let go, let God carry some of this for me for awhile. That doors shut so that other opportunities may open. That God is still forging the path one chiseled step up the mountain at a time.


And though I haven't been able to sit and pray, the hours have become my prayers, he's here and I know it. And though I haven't been able to pray, reading Psalm 23 for Sunday school pries open my doubting heart. And though I haven't been able to pray, Benedict's Rule of Life brings me my daily zen.


And my heart aches for others who struggle with living their homosexual identities and their ordained identities, because the two are not separate - but many times they are asked or told to lead their lives that way.

And I'm struggling with the "Why do you want to do this?" question from a lesbian priest. And my internal answer is, well because that's what I think God is calling me to. And if I don't fight for this and it is a fight - a fight for my right to be in this world as I am and not compromise myself in order to fill a role but instead to be the role...then I tell myself I will, here I am Lord. Because if we don't keep trying, keeping living our lives out in the open, the world will consume us.