tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.comments2017-06-23T07:41:27.183-04:00The AreopagiteThe Areopagitehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16942391085014677576noreply@blogger.comBlogger20125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-37244426235902337492009-03-23T12:25:00.000-04:002009-03-23T12:25:00.000-04:00Who said the ref wasn't a seminarian? The bubble h...Who said the ref wasn't a seminarian? The bubble here is worse than the one at Bluebell - I'm pretty sure that he is a seminarian, in fact. <BR/><BR/>Still, you've hit the nail on the head - recognized. I certainly recognized his rightness in taking charge. In some ways, as larval pastors, we recognize our own authority, but also that of everyone else at the same level, and so we end up frozen. This happened at a choir concert as well. A girl fainted - and none of us knew who was supposed to act. We all wanted to, but nobody felt right stepping up to do so. TBTG, the chaplain of the seminary was there, and did step up. <BR/><BR/>You see my point? We're so close...but we have such a long way to go, even so.The Areopagitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16942391085014677576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-9135511966296830022009-03-23T11:05:00.000-04:002009-03-23T11:05:00.000-04:00I think ordination is both a ritual and an "acknow...I think ordination is both a ritual and an "acknowledgment." Actually, I'd call it a sacrament; we Catholics believe such things. But anyone should be able to have the authority, regardless of denomination, to issue a call to prayer and "lead" that time. The call to prayer isn't exclusive to a collar. I find it amusing that a non-seminarian was the one who actually stepped in to do it. A cynic might use it as an illustration of the wishy-washiness of the mainline churches. That's not me, but sometimes the cynics can be instructive without being right. In some ways, the ref might make the most sense to lead prayer, as he was already the recognized authority on the playing field. Which brings us back to the idea of the pastor's authority: when everyone is looking at you up at the altar or lectern, they're imparting authority onto you. But it's also the larger church body which has educated you and signed off on you as a pastor. And it's ultimately God who has called you and placed you as part of His plan for your life and the lives of others. But I imagine the first year of being a pastor has a lot in common with the first year of a high school teacher, regardless :)SteveBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07705432575212522145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-23794736838668613012009-03-05T20:33:00.000-05:002009-03-05T20:33:00.000-05:00Today I sat with OOOO who is watching his wife die...Today I sat with OOOO who is watching his wife die by inches. I think this makes God so much more real. What will those, say when irrational things happen and they can do nothing about them. "I will lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? My help comes from God who made heaven and earth!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-23177842267437957402009-02-13T10:47:00.000-05:002009-02-13T10:47:00.000-05:00Yay! I am a church nerd! I knew Tertullian!Ok, her...Yay! I am a church nerd! I knew Tertullian!<BR/><BR/>Ok, here's a good one. What is the Christian/Biblical view of art? Is there one? Does the Bible think that beauty and art are worthwhile on their own merits, or as they affect peoples? What about those wacky Church Fathers?Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671680822410720029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-13214402030159839762009-02-05T10:45:00.000-05:002009-02-05T10:45:00.000-05:00I really enjoy writing. Sometimes I don't have muc...I really enjoy writing. Sometimes I don't have much to write about, or feel like I don't, but it's fun to write and have written.<BR/><BR/>So here's a writing prompt for you:<BR/>Why is a children's lit class part of your seminary education? How does it help you become a minister of the word and sacrament?Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671680822410720029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-25460525056988617842009-01-25T23:10:00.000-05:002009-01-25T23:10:00.000-05:00Hello!My name is Tyson and I am applying to PTS th...Hello!<BR/><BR/>My name is Tyson and I am applying to PTS this next Fall. I stumbled across your blog while searching for things about PTS.<BR/><BR/>This may sound odd, but I am coming to Princeton in February to visit the campus, do an interview, etc. One of my goals is to talk with students while there about their thoughts about the seminary. Reading a few posts on your blog, it seems like we may have some similar views on Christianity. I would love to talk with you more about seminary while I am there.<BR/><BR/>I know this sounds rather strange but since I am making the trip out from California, I want to make sure I get my money's worth. If this is a possibility, please email me at tbbabayco@gmail.com. Thanks!Tysonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12413487307598670079noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-53240062896564121962009-01-12T22:21:00.000-05:002009-01-12T22:21:00.000-05:00A whole rating system, just for me! Hazzah! (Sor...A whole rating system, just for me! Hazzah! (Sorry about your DVD).Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12813733296704544294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-85599115744332903422009-01-12T22:20:00.000-05:002009-01-12T22:20:00.000-05:00This one is rated K. I have seen it. The contras...This one is rated K. I have seen it. The contrast of the ladies teaching Babette to make the mush stuff, with the ending feast. Perhaps we are all like that. Eating the mush when Matthew omelettes are available!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12813733296704544294noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-38930654885784919612009-01-05T20:49:00.000-05:002009-01-05T20:49:00.000-05:00I liked Babette's Feast a lot. I was not so ok wi...I liked Babette's Feast a lot. I was not so ok with the Heidegger discussion that followed. It broke my brain.<BR/><BR/>Yay movies!Lizziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17168277642704656945noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-51445593719462759972008-10-10T17:06:00.000-04:002008-10-10T17:06:00.000-04:00Angela Lansbury.You were so cute, singing the "Oh ...Angela Lansbury.<BR/><BR/>You were so cute, singing the "Oh False One" duet before you could pronounce your "Fs" properly. And Pirates was way better than Herbie, your other 3 year old obsession.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-73643420569051782352008-10-03T03:18:00.000-04:002008-10-03T03:18:00.000-04:00Yes...this made it to Jonathan (and Janet) Cameron...Yes...this made it to Jonathan (and Janet) Cameron! Say Hi to Elsie for us. We saw her in August in Montreat. Glad to hear you are doing well.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-61304136464514420422008-10-02T18:50:00.000-04:002008-10-02T18:50:00.000-04:00I have to say that at the moment, my head is chock...I have to say that at the moment, my head is chockablock full of theologians' names and their various positions. To a large extent, Origen predated the Trinitarian debate - his viewpoints were later used by both Arius and Athanasius. His major misstep was one that would later be magnified - he subordinated the Son to the Father in a sharper way than later ecumenical councils liked, and his subsequent followers took those and ran with them (thus his anathematization in 553). Orthodox teaching (I just resisted the quotation marks, but you may insert them if you like) is that, while the Father eternally generates the Son, they are both co-equal, and, in fact, the same being, and so immune to the sorts of hierarchy that Origen included. <BR/><BR/>All that said, I'm less inclined to stomp on someone for coming down on any side of a debate that hadn't taken place yet. Not much point asking Aristotle whether light is composed of particles or waves. Origen had some other really neat thinking going on, and his influence on especially the Eastern church can't be overlooked. <BR/><BR/>Hey, what's a blog for, if not for brain-ness? If you're interested, you might look at <A HREF="http://www.baen.com/chapters/W200404/0743488156.htm?blurb" REL="nofollow">this book</A>, which is my source for the Most Serene Republic.The Areopagitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16942391085014677576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-77276628805800157452008-10-02T18:22:00.000-04:002008-10-02T18:22:00.000-04:00I'm assuming you know something of the works of Or...I'm assuming you know something of the works of Origen, being both a Classics major and at Seminary? (I know only a little, but enough to ask this question). How do you react to his interpretation of the Trinity, if you have yet encountered it?<BR/><BR/>PS: I like that your blog makes me think.<BR/>PPS: I said hello to the Most Serene Republic for you, and appreciated the things you sent me.Emmonshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15280155527459404925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-68130167033420969602008-10-02T17:29:00.000-04:002008-10-02T17:29:00.000-04:00I definitely do not make them memorize. We read al...I definitely do not make them memorize. We read aloud, we discuss, we talk about what it means. There's definitely vocabulary there -- I find that it's important for them to have the words to express these feelings and concepts.<BR/><BR/>Then again, I probably have the worst record out there as a confirmation teacher. I'm at like 50%. (But hey, it was a thoughtful, prayerful 50%, on both sides.)<BR/><BR/>I have a candle we call the Trinity candle. It's a big square candle with three wicks. How many candles are there? If you say three, I point out there's only one block o' wax. If you say one, I point out that I can light the three wicks at different times, and each gives a different light, etc. The truth is that it really is three candles and it really is only one candle. Neither is true to the exclusion of the others.<BR/><BR/>I'm particularly fond of the candle.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-39137402588954738672008-09-30T10:17:00.000-04:002008-09-30T10:17:00.000-04:00It's also worth remembering that the devil cited s...It's also worth remembering that the devil cited scripture when he argued with Jesus.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-79116370762964945352008-09-29T19:36:00.000-04:002008-09-29T19:36:00.000-04:00The whole book? I want to keep John 1, if I can. O...The whole book? I want to keep John 1, if I can. One of my favorite passages. <BR/><BR/>Yes, absolutely. Scripture has a place of huge authority - the highest authority, when you want to get right down to it (sorry, Barkeep). That's not just a John 1 thing - that's a continuous thread throughout the whole bible (Deut. 10:18-21, Eph. 6:17, and many more - I can't believe I'm turning into one of those people). But there is a distinction to be made between the immanent Word of God who is Jesus Christ and the word of God which is the testimony of the saints concerning the Word. The Bible is the record of people who encountered God, frequently face to face. Having not shaken Jesus' hand, I am inclined to trust the witness of those who have.<BR/><BR/>Still - this does not permit us to raise the Scriptures to the detriment of Christ. I can argue some pretty terrible things from the Bible. It is worth asking, then, having gathered my evidence, how the Jesus I encounter in the Scriptures would respond to those evils.The Areopagitehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16942391085014677576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-15206683355515589302008-09-29T13:39:00.000-04:002008-09-29T13:39:00.000-04:00Do you think that there is a special place in Chri...Do you think that there is a special place in Christianity for scripture because of the beginning of the Gospel of John? (Which, to admit my biases, is probably #1 for being voted off the Island in my personal version of Survivor: Scripture.)Brendahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02671680822410720029noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-17264829370029877942008-04-18T22:03:00.000-04:002008-04-18T22:03:00.000-04:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-57187330395480679602007-12-30T14:18:00.000-05:002007-12-30T14:18:00.000-05:00Do you want to say that you've never read Luther? ...Do you want to say that you've never read Luther? I'm sure it's fine that you haven't, but do you want to point that out to people who want you to be well versed in religious scholarship so that they will let you into their school? I'm not sure - just a thought.<BR/><BR/>"See what I can do"... what? your final sentence seems like it needs something after that final "do" - I think I know what you're saying, but it might help to say what it will help you do within the church.<BR/><BR/>One of your initial sentences, "I found his style confrontational, his points aggressive, and his position unshakeable.", came across as angry/mad/negative to me. Based on the rest of the paragraph, I don't think you mean to speak negatively about Luther, but that first initial sentence kind of gave that idea to me. Is it possible to say that he seemed confrontational and agressive to those he was writing to, not to you? I definitly get this feeling later in the paragraph, but it seems like a coarse beginning.<BR/><BR/>If that makes any sense... I imagine we'll talk moure about it in person, but I hope the comments are somewhat helpful! They are just my thoughts, so feel free to not use any of them. :)Alisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07507038137105245252noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4092735600316591052.post-59332658614550797492007-08-07T07:42:00.000-04:002007-08-07T07:42:00.000-04:00French Revolution! Yes!It's really fun to gaze at...French Revolution! Yes!<BR/><BR/>It's really fun to gaze at the clouds, and just let your eyes and mind wander from cloud to cloud, seeings hosts of different things. Next time I'm doing so, I'll have more to think about.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and Penelope is glad to be here. :DAlisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07507038137105245252noreply@blogger.com