Wednesday, January 03, 2007
woof
ok. so i'm back at work, but I'm not teaching. it's confusing, I know. I am off-track so I don't teach until March. I have picked up extra work. I scan documents and compile resources, lesson plans, work sheets that other English teachers can use.
Yeah, snooze. I know. It's super flex though. Reminds me of the Hollywood Athletic Club days.
I'm going to watch Rocky Balboa at Highland Theater and drink wine and eat Italian food at Fallerio's tonight for those interested.
I'm applying to another seminary, Concordia St. Louis. There is much to do and it makes me nervous.
Ugh, coming back to work after vacation gets me grumpy.
Posted by dmh at 10:47 AM
Monday, December 28, 2009
Flashback New Year 06/07
Flashback New Year 05/06
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Happy 2006. For you! I will now make resolutions:
-Fart.
-eat steak.
-cut someone.
-do not eat Punjabi.
-avoid permanant markers.
-practice dice throwing.
-research California Raisins/campaign for induction into Rock n Roll HOF
-meet Twista
-invent new language
Posted by dmh at 7:26 PM
Flash back 04/05
Friday, December 31, 2004
It was almost 60 degrees today. As you may remember, I went skiing less than a week ago and was going to go ice fishing. Two days ago there was a half a foot of snow on the ground (yesterday I hit my mom with a snowball and she yelled at me), but today I went for a long walk and played catch with my dad.
...Such weird weather. It's like gnomes are controlling it or something....
This whole thing reminds me of my last trip to Darkest Asia with Buddy Dynamo. We had just left "87 Eddie's Rum Emporium Inc." Buddy was supremely inebriated on virgin Tibetian goat's blood and I had just snorted about 2 gallons of licorce-flavored turpentine when Buddy says, "Hey, Dupre--"
That's what they called me in those days "Dupre Infinity."
So Buddy says, "Hey, Dupre, what the hell did that Baroquian son of llama's nephew say to us?!"
Well, Buddy had called Eddie a So-and-so of the nth degree. The pot needed no further stirring, so I tried to divert his anger.
"Nothing, he said nothing, my fine feathered friend," I said.
"You lying sack of Mamet! I know beyond a shadow of a hammock that I had my intelligence, my purity, and my...something else insulted," Dynamo raved.
I motioned for Buddy to have a lean against a cockroach vendor's cart. It was no use. I must tell him.
"Mr. Dynamo, you are missing the point. The point is not that you were insulted, but that the moment of insulation occured during the emotional climax of the Aerosmith opus 'Dream on,'"I said.
Dynamo hugged me.
"There has never been a truer statement proclaimed in audible sound waves, O Sage of Sages," uttered The Dynamo.
"I know," said me.
"Then what ever shall we do to rectify this blasphamous tragedy which has never equalled even by The Bard himself?!" stated Dynamo.
To make a long story short, we ended up aquiring a battalion's weight in marshiano cherries dipped in 12-year old asbestos. I woke up the next day alone in an abandoned KFC knee deep in Minnie Mouse stationary. I haven't seen Dynamo since.
Posted by dmh at 6:17 PM
--
Monday, January 03, 2005
dmh realizations upon the new year (as gleaned from recent emails)
Target areas for the next 5 years, in order of priority: screenwriter, film director, comedic guitar player, author, sketch comedy performer, TV writer (late night, sitcom), actor.
I will do practical things to achieve each.
In order to succeed, everything I do must direct me toward these goals.
-
I really want to retain my optimism. At times I can be...cynical...When you buy into that, it all goes downhill.
I gave up when I became a sportswriter and moved to the desert. I didn't really want to be a sportswriter. I want to be an entertainer. I need to at least try. Geez, talk about lame. I'm 50 years old sitting on my porch "Yeah, I didn't try. I didn't think I'd succeed."
Yeah, no crap. I'm destined to fail if I think I'm going to. But screw that, God is the only one that's going to stop me.
Posted by dmh at 1:40 AM
Flashback 03/04
I thought it would be amusing(?) to post some of my new years reflections from years past to wrap up the 00's properly.
First up 2003/4
First up 2003/4
Tuesday, December 09, 2003
I'm going to Baja soon. Awesome! Billy, Dan, Keith and I are going down the 19th-24th. That's the plan for now. Merry Baja Christmas. Fish tacos, here we come! I love it down there. Time for relaxation.
Posted by dmh at 3:40 PM
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
WHERE HAVE YOU GONE...?
...I recently finished a screenplay with my good friend Jesse Gloyd. It's 93 pages, not a small feat, my friend...
...The script is called "Of Mascots and Men," Though that will probably be changed. I'll elaborate more on the script once we get it registered with the Screenwriters' Guild. Word...
...Things are lining up for this next year. Next writing project will be for an independant piece that Trevor will direct up in Seattle. We want to make our way ourselves. None of us feel up for grad school. Anyway, the consensus seems to be that if you take your money and invest it in a indie film rather than grad school, it goes to better use....
...Met with the i.tv people again. Trevor had an interview. They seem to like me, I'm just waiting to see what comes of it. They way they talk. it's hard not to have delusions of grandeur.
I must say that this has been one of the best end of the year that I've ever had. Got a car, a job, an apartment. Trevor came down from Seattle and we hung out. Drew got married. I went to 4 parties at the end/begining of the year. Halfway House Affirmation Night (Tradition among my group of friends where we hike up Tarantula Hill with some Bud and affirm one another), New Year's Eve, Drew's last night in the Bayou (House in Whittier) Party, and Drew's wedding reception. All these parties were stellar, top-notch.
Posted by dmh at 6:51 PM
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Song/Quote:Christmas
I like this song and I like this quote. The song is from Cowboy Copas, a guy killed in a plane crash with Patsy Cline. The quote is from CFW Walther an old Lutheran guy from the 1800's. They both put Christmas in the right perspective.
What happened in Bethlehem was the fulfillment of that eternal decree of the heavenly Father. As soon as His Son become man, the unbearable burden of all humanity's sin was laid upon Him. And so, as Christ, God's sacrificial lamb for the sins of the whole world, lay in a hard crib in a dark stable, the eyes of God looked into the future to see His Son already dying on the cross. Therefore, this atonement for sins, by which God's offended holiness and righteousness were satisfied and men were reconciled to Him, was already as good as accomplished.
Friday, December 18, 2009
VIDEO: The Prodigal
This is from the dusty old files, but here is a song I made and the sweet music video I made for it.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Doomsday: SongFreeWrite
"Doomsday" - Elvis Perkins in Dearland
Oh, it’s like Herb Albert and the Tijuana brass band! Horns. If horns were a currency, this intro would be one rich fool.
Where is my sombrero? I need a fiesta and a siesta. Simultaneously. RIGHT NOW!
YIP! more yips please. me gusta mucho.
Drums! Hello!
Bass, hello!
Hi again, Trumpet. Nice to hear you again.
I am tapping my foot in glee and joyous joy.
Oh, bummer, a whiney white dude voice.
Its ok. I’m white too I think.
This song is like a friendly giant hopping. Like if the giant from Jack and the beanstalk was friendly and not a murdering fellow. If he was nice, he would be this song. Also if he liked to hop.
No, dude, I do not let doomsay bother me!
Tambourines are fun. I would like to put a tambourine around the neck of a chicken and let it run around. Then, I would give a fox a drum and set it loose in the chicken coop. Then I would draw a picture of a monster and bring it to life though magic and hope it wouldn't eat me. Then I would give it a guitar of course. Then I would go on Conan with my band. And would rule.
This song would be good with a Dos Equis and lime.
Then a Pacifico then salsa and chips
Then the beach and a hammock.
Then a piñata.
Then carne asada
Then carnitas.
Then more fiestas.
Hooray, another yip!
Oh, cool. More people are in the song. And they are FIESTA-ING!
I want to be in this song now. They sound like they are having a la la la happy time with their cervezas!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Where the Wild Things Are: Musings
Where the Wild Things Are was finally released in the UK Friday. I guess it evens out because we got to see The Fantastic Mr. Fox earlier than America.
[[[Spoiler alert.]]] I guess, if you haven't read the book.
Going into the film, I thought that it would be difficult for it to live up to the joyous Arcade Fire-driven trailer. And it happens that the song "Wake up" was not in the film. Sad.
The film was a wild rumpus. I could relate to Max. I built a snow fort from a big pile of snow left by a plow. I didn't have it crash on my head. But the snow-on-face crying happened once or twice at the end of a nasty sled run before.
Also, like Max, I liked to built forts in my room out of blankets. In college, I slept in a tent in my bedroom. I also like to run around and scream and shout and make animal noises and hit things. So, all in all, Max and I are kindred spirits.
The monsters, by Jim Henson's workshop, looked cool (see fact at end). They were depressing though. I guess because they seemed quite like normal people. Their interactions with each other were not fairy tale-esque. That's what I liked and disliked at the same time. They were at times depressing monsters. But we are at times depressing people I suppose.
I would like to wear a crown and a fox costume. That would be fun. I think that will be a big Halloween costume next year.
I think it would be fun to live on that monster island for a day. I was genuine sad when max left and Carol and the other monsters were howling. I hope they worked things out amongst themselves. I think they could use a counselor. Or, dare I say, a pastor? Maybe I will go there in a couple of years and live in their big fort and listen to their individual private confessions and absolve them.
By the way, maybe its because I'm a divinity student and look at much Christologically, but I think this had the makings of a(n) (anti-)Messiah film.
A being (Max), wearing skin similar to theirs (but is not quite like them) comes into the world of the Wild Things. They crown him their king. They believe that he can solve all their problems. But later they reject him and the cloud of death hangs over him because they have killed all the others that came to them whom they also rejected.
(Then the anti part) Max can't bring true happiness. He admits that he is not really a king, he is really a fraud. Just a kid in a costume. He says that The Wild Things don't need a king, they need a mom. Max leaves, the Wild Things howl in despair. Why? Who knows. Do they resolve things? Who knows? Max goes home to his mom.
Whether intentional of not, where there's smoke, there's a meta-narrative.
Fun Fact:
[[[Spoiler alert.]]] I guess, if you haven't read the book.
Going into the film, I thought that it would be difficult for it to live up to the joyous Arcade Fire-driven trailer. And it happens that the song "Wake up" was not in the film. Sad.
The film was a wild rumpus. I could relate to Max. I built a snow fort from a big pile of snow left by a plow. I didn't have it crash on my head. But the snow-on-face crying happened once or twice at the end of a nasty sled run before.
Also, like Max, I liked to built forts in my room out of blankets. In college, I slept in a tent in my bedroom. I also like to run around and scream and shout and make animal noises and hit things. So, all in all, Max and I are kindred spirits.
The monsters, by Jim Henson's workshop, looked cool (see fact at end). They were depressing though. I guess because they seemed quite like normal people. Their interactions with each other were not fairy tale-esque. That's what I liked and disliked at the same time. They were at times depressing monsters. But we are at times depressing people I suppose.
I would like to wear a crown and a fox costume. That would be fun. I think that will be a big Halloween costume next year.
I think it would be fun to live on that monster island for a day. I was genuine sad when max left and Carol and the other monsters were howling. I hope they worked things out amongst themselves. I think they could use a counselor. Or, dare I say, a pastor? Maybe I will go there in a couple of years and live in their big fort and listen to their individual private confessions and absolve them.
By the way, maybe its because I'm a divinity student and look at much Christologically, but I think this had the makings of a(n) (anti-)Messiah film.
A being (Max), wearing skin similar to theirs (but is not quite like them) comes into the world of the Wild Things. They crown him their king. They believe that he can solve all their problems. But later they reject him and the cloud of death hangs over him because they have killed all the others that came to them whom they also rejected.
(Then the anti part) Max can't bring true happiness. He admits that he is not really a king, he is really a fraud. Just a kid in a costume. He says that The Wild Things don't need a king, they need a mom. Max leaves, the Wild Things howl in despair. Why? Who knows. Do they resolve things? Who knows? Max goes home to his mom.
Whether intentional of not, where there's smoke, there's a meta-narrative.
Fun Fact:
In July 2006, less than six weeks before the start of shooting, the Henson-built monster suits arrived at the Melbourne soundstage where Spike Jonze and his crew had set up their offices. The actors climbed inside and began moving around. Right away, Jonze could see that the heads were absurdly heavy. Only one of the actors appeared able to walk in a straight line. A few of them called out from within their costumes that they felt like they were going to tip over. Jonze and the production crew had no choice but to tell the Henson people to tear apart the 50-pound heads and remove the remote-controlled mechanical eyeballs. This meant that all the facial expressions would have to be generated in post-production, using computers.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Song Free Write
Welcome to a new feature on dmhblog called SongFreeWrite where I listen to a song and write my thoughts, observations, and whatnot in real time. First up on this maiden voyage is Be Calm by fun.
-
That song caused me to rejoice. It had lots of neat noises. The dude’s voice was a bit polished, but it added a bit of glam to it all. I felt like I was in a parade. I wish that there were animals to bark and meow as I was listening to that song.
Violin and accordion. Where is the dancing monkey? Am I in Italy? Who is singing? Then chacha cha guitar. Then lala and some strings and another voice and a harmony.
He sounds sad like a baby.
“Why?” You say? Like a bird? It is singing and it is nice. It’s like a carnival. And a whistling bird. What a nice whistle.
Slow guitar. To emotional and smoothing. I can see musical notes in the air.
Tambourine! But now it its snappy and cranky! Like a nut cracker or one of those big wretches that a plumber has. Then there is a girl. Then two guys singing like they mean it. Lots of people!
Oh! He said Baptized. Neat.
Now it is like a carnival and a parade and a circus and there is a trumpet and dancing bears and an anthem and a triumph! LOTS OF NOISES AND STOMP STOMP! BELLS! CRASH CRASH!
It is a jam, like faux metal rock and roll, head banging, and channeling Queen or something. la la la jam jam! A Tour de force, sing/yelling and fist pumping. I want to jump in the air and float there for a few seconds.
I think he really wants me to be calm. I will consider it. Whoa! That sounds like a beepy space ship. I want to fly to krypton in it.
Oh, it’s back to a buzzing, slow-downy thing. Is it ending? I think so. It is winding down. Sllooowwwwww. It stopped.
-
That song caused me to rejoice. It had lots of neat noises. The dude’s voice was a bit polished, but it added a bit of glam to it all. I felt like I was in a parade. I wish that there were animals to bark and meow as I was listening to that song.
Life Reimagined
I walked down to the store and picked up a loaf of bread, 6 six eggs, a liter of OJ, a liter of apple juice (for wassail) and a half liter of Newcastle (out of Old Peculiar). but this is how it when down in my mind.
-
Day 139 of Arctic Sea Otter Expedition 1500 hours
The days are growing shorter. My igloo base camp is holding up. The whale blubber and seal skins have proved solid insulation. Today I plan to brave the elements and attempt to observe the creatures in their native habitat to learn their secret beer making techniques.
-
Day 139 cont. 1603 hours
Though a short survey, I met will great success. Shielded from the fierce winds and swirling snow flakes by my electronic parka, I strained against the gale drudging toward my observation point. On the way, suddenly, what appeared to be a spaceship similar to that owned by George Jetson in the 1960 American Prime time cartoon program, buzzed down and opened its bubble like operating hatch.
I stepped in, the hatch closed and whisked me up to a height of approximately 15 metres. Below the craft a marching band appeared. I strained to see it between the breaks in the whiteout conditions.
I spied a button on the console labeled "White Out Away." I pushed it and the sun came out. The bubble hatch opened and I Could hear the band playing "Louie, Louie" transitioning into "Twist and Shout."
Though I was unable to document the habits of the sea otter, this afternoon has spurred me on toward anticipating success in future queries.
Hot chocolate for everyone! Pass the cookies!
Thoughts On a Friday in December
I enjoyed teaching bible study the past few Sunday mornings. The focus was on Piety (religious devotion) in the form of prayer, personal/family devotional time, fasting. I also tossed in a little Advent theme in the last session.
On aspect I emphasized was the practice of speaking out loud during your reading and prayer time. I have found it to be helpful. It was a bit awkward at first I guess because I was so used to reading and praying silently. I’ve found it a helpful practice. I tend to get more out of the prayers and readings when I speak them. When I read to myself, I have the tendency to zoom through the material. Speaking the words causes me to slow down. Hearing the words in my ear also adds another sense (i.e. hearing) for me to absorb the words.
Scripture is filled with out loudness. “Oh, Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise. Until recently, speaking prayers and scripture was nothing I had considered before, but it seems to have been the practice of the church from early on.
It’s not like there is anything magical about it. I have enjoyed it though. It’s like I’m actually taking to somebody (God, perhaps?). It kind of opens the doors of your personal worship. Instead of talking to yourself, pretend somebody might be listening.
I sometimes take it an extra step and sing the words. That’s what I love about the liturgy is that much of it is sung. I am able to sing the psalms with a simple chant tone. Also any of the collects (a specific type of prayer, usually ancient) and the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve been learning a few different Advent Hymns. They are great. “Lo, he comes with clouds descending,” “Savior of the nations, Come” Singing in your devotions is fun. It adds a bit of variety. It is cool to be singing words written and sung by Christians throughout the ages from around the world. Our hymnal is remarkable catholic (little c) as in universal in scope. Sure, it may be a bit German and Lutheran heavy. Obviously. But there is a wealth of treasures from the entire church. Hymns from the early centuries of the church, from the past century. From America, Africa, Asia, Europe. Translated from Latin, Greek, French, Spanish. It is cool to look down at the bottom of the page and see that I am singing a hymn written by St Patrick, or St Benedict. Along with that info, there are always references to the scriptures quoted or alluded to in the hymn. Some of the tunes can be a bit hairy to learn, but it seriously beats 3 chord, one verse choruses that I feasted on in the past. As one of my profs put it. Those songs are not terrible, just as potato chips are not terrible, in moderation. If you want to eat chips, do it every once in a while. Don’t make it your primary sustenance for every meal.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ve been using “The Treasury of Daily Prayer” for devotions and it has been amazing. If you are looking for a devotional aid, it would be difficult to find a better tool. It has a psalm, O and NT reading for each day, along with a verse of a hymn, a collect, and a reading from one of the church fathers or someone cool like Luther. It also has simple orders of service for personal and family use for morning, noon, evening and night. It also has cool sung orders like matins, vespers, morning and evening prayer and Compline. It is the bizzlebomb.
Becca and I are enjoying Advent. We have a little advent wreath we light. I found info for making a Jesse Tree. You have a picture with scripture for everyday of advent leading you though the OT on the way to Christmas. (Creation, the fall, the flood, Abe and Issac, moses, etc). And it makes a tree. It’s pretty cool. I think I may adjust it in the future so the readings point more specifically to Christ, because he is everywhere in the OT:
Gen 1: God speaking THE WORD and “Let US make man in our own image”
Gen 3: crushing the heel of the serpent.
More Gen: Issac being sacrificed, Joseph in the pit
Ex: burning bush
Josh: angel of the lord before Jericho
Isaiah’s suffering servant
Daniel: fourth man in the furnace.
Etc etc.
We also have a little advent calendar with verses behind the windows from the Christmas story from Luke and Matt.
It is cool.
Word.
On aspect I emphasized was the practice of speaking out loud during your reading and prayer time. I have found it to be helpful. It was a bit awkward at first I guess because I was so used to reading and praying silently. I’ve found it a helpful practice. I tend to get more out of the prayers and readings when I speak them. When I read to myself, I have the tendency to zoom through the material. Speaking the words causes me to slow down. Hearing the words in my ear also adds another sense (i.e. hearing) for me to absorb the words.
Scripture is filled with out loudness. “Oh, Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall declare your praise. Until recently, speaking prayers and scripture was nothing I had considered before, but it seems to have been the practice of the church from early on.
It’s not like there is anything magical about it. I have enjoyed it though. It’s like I’m actually taking to somebody (God, perhaps?). It kind of opens the doors of your personal worship. Instead of talking to yourself, pretend somebody might be listening.
I sometimes take it an extra step and sing the words. That’s what I love about the liturgy is that much of it is sung. I am able to sing the psalms with a simple chant tone. Also any of the collects (a specific type of prayer, usually ancient) and the Lord’s Prayer. I’ve been learning a few different Advent Hymns. They are great. “Lo, he comes with clouds descending,” “Savior of the nations, Come” Singing in your devotions is fun. It adds a bit of variety. It is cool to be singing words written and sung by Christians throughout the ages from around the world. Our hymnal is remarkable catholic (little c) as in universal in scope. Sure, it may be a bit German and Lutheran heavy. Obviously. But there is a wealth of treasures from the entire church. Hymns from the early centuries of the church, from the past century. From America, Africa, Asia, Europe. Translated from Latin, Greek, French, Spanish. It is cool to look down at the bottom of the page and see that I am singing a hymn written by St Patrick, or St Benedict. Along with that info, there are always references to the scriptures quoted or alluded to in the hymn. Some of the tunes can be a bit hairy to learn, but it seriously beats 3 chord, one verse choruses that I feasted on in the past. As one of my profs put it. Those songs are not terrible, just as potato chips are not terrible, in moderation. If you want to eat chips, do it every once in a while. Don’t make it your primary sustenance for every meal.
I’ve mentioned it before, but I’ve been using “The Treasury of Daily Prayer” for devotions and it has been amazing. If you are looking for a devotional aid, it would be difficult to find a better tool. It has a psalm, O and NT reading for each day, along with a verse of a hymn, a collect, and a reading from one of the church fathers or someone cool like Luther. It also has simple orders of service for personal and family use for morning, noon, evening and night. It also has cool sung orders like matins, vespers, morning and evening prayer and Compline. It is the bizzlebomb.
Becca and I are enjoying Advent. We have a little advent wreath we light. I found info for making a Jesse Tree. You have a picture with scripture for everyday of advent leading you though the OT on the way to Christmas. (Creation, the fall, the flood, Abe and Issac, moses, etc). And it makes a tree. It’s pretty cool. I think I may adjust it in the future so the readings point more specifically to Christ, because he is everywhere in the OT:
Gen 1: God speaking THE WORD and “Let US make man in our own image”
Gen 3: crushing the heel of the serpent.
More Gen: Issac being sacrificed, Joseph in the pit
Ex: burning bush
Josh: angel of the lord before Jericho
Isaiah’s suffering servant
Daniel: fourth man in the furnace.
Etc etc.
We also have a little advent calendar with verses behind the windows from the Christmas story from Luke and Matt.
It is cool.
Word.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
stuff i do; Life Update
Recently.
Reading:
mlbtraderumors.com
Luther's Large Catechism
Isaiah
1 John
Sasse, Hermann. We Confess
Bradshaw, Paul. Early Christian Worship.
Jeremias Joachim. Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries
Jeremias, Joachim. The Origins of Infant Baptism
Aland, Kurt. Did the Early Church Baptize Infants?
Scaer, David. Baptism.
Listening: BBC3 (classical), Islands, Port O'Brien, The Very Best, Julian Casablancas, Dan Deacon.
Watching:
Pingu!, the Flinstones, Bogart films: Dark Passage, The Maltese Falcon. BBC news
eating: pastrami, toad in a hole, tacos, digestives
drinking: South African wine, PG Tips (tea), Christmas porter.
Reading:
mlbtraderumors.com
Luther's Large Catechism
Isaiah
1 John
Sasse, Hermann. We Confess
Bradshaw, Paul. Early Christian Worship.
Jeremias Joachim. Infant Baptism in the First Four Centuries
Jeremias, Joachim. The Origins of Infant Baptism
Aland, Kurt. Did the Early Church Baptize Infants?
Scaer, David. Baptism.
Listening: BBC3 (classical), Islands, Port O'Brien, The Very Best, Julian Casablancas, Dan Deacon.
Watching:
Pingu!, the Flinstones, Bogart films: Dark Passage, The Maltese Falcon. BBC news
eating: pastrami, toad in a hole, tacos, digestives
drinking: South African wine, PG Tips (tea), Christmas porter.
Halfway House: Thoughts
I am now about halfway through my seminary studies. 2 1/2 years down. 2 1/2 years to go.
Time has gone sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly. I want to learn more and I want to be in the parish at the same time.
In purely academic terms the amount of time I am studying is pretty foolish. People can get a master's degree in 1 year rather than 5. It was explained to me thusly and I like it; medical doctors get a lot of training and patients are greatful for it. Likewise, it is good for a Soul Doctor (Seelsorge - German word for pastor) to be well trained.
There are still many things up in the air - where I will go for Vicarage, Where I will go for my call to the parish - but whatever, its all good. I've learned a lot. Becca and I have had good times.
There is much apparent stupidness about what I am doing though (1 cor 1:18-31). That is all too apparent here in the UK. We are indeed a post-Christian culture in America. Clergy tend not so much to be respected as pitied or loathed. Also being a Lutheran is apparently pretty stupid. Sectarian, divisive, etc. Love it or loathe it, I will be walking the lonely road between Protestantism and Catholicism until Rome repents or the good Lord decides to take me home. What a beautiful place to be. Nowhere else I'd rather find myself.
Before too long, I'll be walking around with a collar around my neck as the soul doctor on call, with some book learning under my belt and clearly much more to learn in the school of experience about life and death, the great cycle that is played out in the church year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) and in the church body (Birth, Baptism, Catechesis, Communion, Death and Burial) and daily in the life of the believer (take up the cross, die, rise again, remembering your baptism).
I think I'll always be halfway (saint and sinner) as long as I'm on this earth. Halfway between Christ's coming and Christ's coming.
Time has gone sometimes quickly and sometimes slowly. I want to learn more and I want to be in the parish at the same time.
In purely academic terms the amount of time I am studying is pretty foolish. People can get a master's degree in 1 year rather than 5. It was explained to me thusly and I like it; medical doctors get a lot of training and patients are greatful for it. Likewise, it is good for a Soul Doctor (Seelsorge - German word for pastor) to be well trained.
There are still many things up in the air - where I will go for Vicarage, Where I will go for my call to the parish - but whatever, its all good. I've learned a lot. Becca and I have had good times.
There is much apparent stupidness about what I am doing though (1 cor 1:18-31). That is all too apparent here in the UK. We are indeed a post-Christian culture in America. Clergy tend not so much to be respected as pitied or loathed. Also being a Lutheran is apparently pretty stupid. Sectarian, divisive, etc. Love it or loathe it, I will be walking the lonely road between Protestantism and Catholicism until Rome repents or the good Lord decides to take me home. What a beautiful place to be. Nowhere else I'd rather find myself.
Before too long, I'll be walking around with a collar around my neck as the soul doctor on call, with some book learning under my belt and clearly much more to learn in the school of experience about life and death, the great cycle that is played out in the church year (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost) and in the church body (Birth, Baptism, Catechesis, Communion, Death and Burial) and daily in the life of the believer (take up the cross, die, rise again, remembering your baptism).
I think I'll always be halfway (saint and sinner) as long as I'm on this earth. Halfway between Christ's coming and Christ's coming.
Winston's hiccup: Quote - wiki
Funny.
Winston's Hiccup or Churchill's Hiccup is the huge zigzag in Jordan's eastern border with Saudi Arabia, supposedly because Winston Churchill drew the boundary of Transjordan after a generous and lengthy lunch.
Churchill, then British Colonial Secretary, boasted that he had "created Transjordan with the stroke of a pen on a Sunday afternoon in Cairo."[1] A story subsequently arose that, after enjoying an overly liquid lunch that day, he had hiccuped while attempting to draw the border and had refused to allow it to be corrected. Thus the zigzag, with the Saudi town of Kaf near its apex[2] has been written into history as "Winston's hiccup".
Baptism:Quote
I came across this today. I thought it was quite good and interesting as I am currently studying the practice of infant baptism in the Early Church.
Why I Baptized Our Babies
Monday, December 7th, 2009
I have been involved in a number of conversations recently concerning infant Baptism. This kind of thing is a never ending cycle on the internet and instead of rehashing everything on several different forums, I thought it might be helpful to put down in writing a defense of infant Baptism addressing several points that proponents of adult believer’s baptism bring up.
The two things that I hear most often are:
1. Baptism is an outward sign of an inward work or action. Its main purpose is as a testimony.
2. Infants can’t have faith and/or repent, therefore they cannot be baptized.
Many refutations of these two points often fail, not because they are not true, but because they resort to a kind of theological shorthand that leaves out several important distinctions and foundational assumptions and results in the two sides talking past each other.
Proponents of believers-only baptism usually argue from the Book of Acts and the Gospels, taking their cues from how they see baptism being used in the Scriptures.
This is correct insofar as it goes. However, in the view of those who champion infant baptism, it does not go far enough.
The Lutherans and other paedobaptists (those who baptize their infants) go further. They look to see what the scriptures say baptism is and does. This is a huge difference. Think about it for a moment.
Our believers-only baptism friends rightly point out that the majority of people people baptized in the Bible have believed and repented before they were baptized. (We would say that the believing centurion and the Philippian jailer probably had children that were baptized with the household.) This is then set in stone as it were, and considered to be the final word on the subject.
The Lutheran way is to ask “What is baptism and what does it do?” and consequently “Given what the scriptures say, how is it properly used and on whom is it used?”
Let’s take a quick tour of the pertinent passages and what they say.
Romans 6:3-5 Baptism into Christ’s death and burial with Him. Unites us to His death and resurrection.
Colossians 2:11-12 Putting off of the sinful nature by the circumcision done by Christ through baptism.
Ephesian 5:26 What else is a “washing with water through word” but baptism?
1 Peter 3:21 Baptism now saves us… Cut it any way you like, but baptism somehow saves.
Because this is what the scriptures say baptism is, then how then is it properly used?
Matthew 28:18-29 Make disciples by baptizing and teaching. (We baptize our infants into teaching and teach adults into baptism.)
See the various instances in the Book of Acts. Note especially the Philippian Jailer (Acts 16:33) whose whole household was baptized.
This is what baptism is and what it does. The crux of the paedobaptist arguments lie primarily in the substance of baptism as scripture defines it, and only secondarily in the examples of its application we see in the Book of Acts. That is why we so often are talking past each other.
So then if baptism joins us to Christ, what about our children, how do we bring them to Jesus? Is it proper to do so?
Mark 10:13-16 Jesus rebukes the disciples who were preventing parents from bringing their infants to Him.
Baptism is the way we bring our children to Him. The New Testament says nothing about infant dedication. Neither does the early Church.
The Scriptures never speak of baptism as a testimony to others. The Ethiopian eunuch and the Philippian jailer and his household were in situations in which there weren’t many witnesses to testify. The scriptures also never speak of baptism as an outward sign of an inward work.
It seems a bit ironic to us that groups that assign to baptism a symbolic or signatory value often become hyper-literal concerning the mode of baptism. So baptism is for them an outward sign of an inward work, and a testimony to others about your relationship with the Lord, but unless you are entirely immersed in the water the baptism is not valid. If the water does nothing, then why is it important to immerse rather than sprinkle?
The second objection we often hear is “Infants can’t have faith and/or repent, therefore they cannot be baptized.”
This second objection makes ‘understanding’ as we define it the one necessary work on our part to be saved. If they are unable to comprehend then the Lord is incapable of granting that infant (or mentally handicapped adult for that matter) the gift of faith.
Ephesians 2:8-9 tells us that faith is a gift given by the Lord. We are loathe to say that the Lord cannot do something; especially when it comes to granting someone saving faith. You end up with a situation in which God is unable to communicate with some part of His creation.
In the book of Jonah, God commands a fish and a vine to do his bidding. In Genesis 9:5 there is that strange passage where the Lord says he will demand an accounting for our lifeblood from every animal that kills a human. So God will hold animals morally accountable for killing humans. There seem to be a lot of things going on behind the scenes between God and His creation that we are not privy to. If He can communicate with fish and vines and hold animals accountable for killing us, I think He is capable of granting the gift of faith to my children through the appointed means of baptism. It is His action towards us.
When someone is baptized, it is not the Pastor that buries someone into the death of Christ and raises them to new life in Christ, but God Himself makes the baptism efficacious. I brought my children to the baptismal font so that they could be buried in Christ’s death and raised to new life in Him. I am confident that God is faithful to His word.
So here, briefly, I have summed up a couple of quick points that I hope will shed some light on why those of us who baptize our children believe that it is scriptural and right.
Honestly...
If the Tigers are indeed going to trade both Granderson and Jackson they had better make it worth my while.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
quote
39] There would also be overthrown and taken from us the foundation that the Holy Ghost wishes certainly to be present with the Word preached, heard, considered, and to be efficacious and operate through it. Therefore the meaning is not at all the one referred to above, namely, that the elect are to be such [among the elect are to be numbered such] as even despise the Word of God, thrust it from them, blaspheme and persecute it, Matt. 22:6; Acts 13:46; or, when they hear it, harden their hearts, Heb. 4:2. 7; resist the Holy Ghost, Acts 7:51; without repentance persevere in sins, Luke 14:18; do not truly believe in Christ, Mark 16:16; only make [godliness] an outward show, Matt. 7:22; 22:12; or seek other ways to righteousness and salvation outside of Christ, Rom. 9:31. 40] Moreover, even as God has ordained in His [eternal] counsel that the Holy Ghost should call, enlighten, and convert the elect through the Word, and that He will justify and save all those who by true faith receive Christ, so He also determined in His counsel that He will harden, reprobate, and condemn those who are called through the Word, if they reject the Word and resist the Holy Ghost, who wishes to be efficacious and to work in them through the Word and persevere therein. And in this manner many are called, but few are chosen.
41] For few receive the Word and follow it; the greatest number despise the Word, and will not come to the wedding, Matt. 22:3ff The cause for this contempt for the Word is not God's foreknowledge [or predestination], but the perverse will of man, which rejects or perverts the means and instrument of the Holy Ghost, which God offers him through the call, and resists the Holy Ghost, who wishes to be efficacious, and works through the Word, as Christ says: How often would I have gathered you together, and ye would not! Matt. 23:37.
42] Thus many receive the Word with joy, but afterwards fall away again, Luke 8:13. But the cause is not as though God were unwilling to grant grace for perseverance to those in whom He has begun the good work, for that is contrary to St. Paul, Phil. 1:6; but the cause is that they wilfully turn away again from the holy commandment [of God], grieve and embitter the Holy Ghost, implicate themselves again in the filth of the world, and garnish again the habitation of the heart for the devil. With them the last state is worse than the first, 2 Pet. 2:10. 20; Eph. 4:30; Heb. 10:26; Luke 11:25.
SD XI 39-42
good words
12. Thus far a Christian should occupy himself [in meditation] with the article concerning the eternal election of God, as it has been revealed in God's Word, which presents to us Christ as the Book of Life, which He opens and reveals to us by the preaching of the holy Gospel, as it is written Rom. 8:30: Whom He did predestinate, them He also called. In Him we are to seek the eternal election of the Father, who has determined in His eternal divine counsel that He would save no one except those who know His Son Christ and truly believe on Him. Other thoughts are to be [entirely] banished [from the minds of the godly], as they proceed not from God, but from the suggestion of the Evil Foe, whereby he attempts to weaken or entirely to remove from us the glorious consolation which we have in this salutary doctrine, namely, that we know [assuredly] that out of pure grace, without any merit of our own, we have been elected in Christ to eternal life, and that no one can pluck us out of His hand; as He has not only promised this gracious election with mere words, but has also certified it with an oath and sealed it with the holy Sacraments, which we can [ought to] call to mind in our most severe temptations, and take comfort in them, and therewith quench the fiery darts of the devil.Epitome of the Formula of Concord XI
13. Besides, we should use the greatest diligence to live according to the will of God, and, as St. Peter admonishes, 2 Pet. 1:10, make our calling sure, and especially adhere to [not recede a finger's breadth from] the revealed Word: that can and will not fail us.
Friday, December 4, 2009
Life Update
Went to an accordian concert. Went to the Fitzwilliam Museum and looked at pictures of Jesus.
I came across this artist the other day, Nikolaj Nikolajewitsch. I like the pictures he made about Jesus. Here are some:
Gethsemane
Judas
I came across this artist the other day, Nikolaj Nikolajewitsch. I like the pictures he made about Jesus. Here are some:
Gethsemane
Judas
My jams
My jams at the moment ere "Perfect Fit" by Clues.
"Caterpillar Playground" by Nurses.
and "Doomsday" by Elvis Perkins in Dearland.
"Caterpillar Playground" by Nurses.
and "Doomsday" by Elvis Perkins in Dearland.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Sermon: Advent 1
Advent 1 - Romans 13:11-14
Seminarian Darren Harbaugh
Today we had 8 hours and 2 minutes and 25 seconds of daylight, tomorrow we will have 5 seconds less and the day after that 5 fewer seconds. As we creep closer and closer to the official beginning of winter on the 21st of this month, we know that it is waiting eagerly on the doorstep. We are reminded of its presence by the sight of our breath, the chill of the piercing wind and those frigid temperatures but we especially know that winter is upon us by the ever-shortening day.
The sun set at 3:50 PM today. It gets dark so early that sometimes I want to go to bed at 5pm because it feels more like 11 to me. This part of the year makes it much more difficult to know what time it is just by looking around you. I don’t wear a watch and I don’t carry a cell phone so I am always searching for a clock or having to ask somebody, “What time is it?”
-
“What time is it.” This is an important question for the apostle Paul in our reading tonight. St. Paul proposes a new way of ordering time, a new way for Christians that is. Time is ordered by salvation. And Paul encourages the Roman Christians and us with the words, “ Salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.” This is still true for us, 2000 years down the pike from Paul’s day. It is even more true for us. Yes, Paul was closer to that main event in human history, Christ’s first advent and his death and resurrection. But we are closer to Christ Second Advent, where he will return for both the living and the dead. What time is it? We are in the “In-between” time. Between salvation and salvation. Between Advent and Advent.
We know what time it is. Not by looking at a watch or the fading sun in the sky, but by the light shone on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We have been given supernatural time-sensing abilities. We have been given new eyes of faith to see what appears to be foolishness to the world. When the world sees darkness, we see light. We perceive day, when the world sees night.
What time is it? “The night is almost gone and the day is near.” That sounds like an “in-between” time to me. It’s daybreak. The sun has pierced darkness. But for us it is both night and day, at the same time. It is both darkness and light at the same time. And we are both sinner and saint at the same time.
-
Even though we know the time, we like to stay asleep in the deeds of darkness. The Son has shone in our hearts indeed, but we often feel quite comfortable and cozy in the warm bed we have made for ourselves and are content to keep hitting the snooze button, thank you very much.
When you are asleep, you are not aware of anything. You have no idea what time it is. You are unconcerned about what’s going on around you, about your duties and responsibilities. Your eyes are closed; you can’t even see what is right in front of you. When Christians fall asleep, we become unconcerned about eternal matters. Oh, we’re very active about earthly matters. Our lives are filled with all kinds of concerns and pressing matters that consume our thoughts as we snore away in spiritual sleep.
This is always the struggle though. You remember in the Garden, Jesus asked the disciples to watch and pray. Jesus always knew what time it was. He said ‘The Hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” But the disciples couldn’t even stay awake. They grew weary. They gave into temptation and fell asleep when they should have been watching, praying and aware of what time it was. Sound familiar?
What time is it? It is the hour for us to awaken from our sleep. This can go one of two ways. Imagine your alarm goes off and you are late for an important meeting. Terror. Dread. Adrenaline. Now imagine your alarm goes off and it is the first day of your holiday and you are headed out to some exotic locale. Or the feeling you got as a child when you woke up and it was finally your birthday or Christmas. Excitement. Anticipation. Exhilaration.
That is our hope. We do not awake to dread, we have died to judgement through Christ. We awake to life and salvation. We are THE morning people. To know God’s hour is to be awake. We walk in the light as he is in the light. Our salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Let us cast off from ourselves those ugly deeds of darkness – drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealously, and their other nefarious friends who cater to the flesh and its lusts.
-
We know what time it is and we know who we are. We are the ones who are clothed in the armor of the light, that is, clothed in Christ himself at our baptism. Though we remain both sinner and saint, we have our Jesus Coat on. When the father sees us, He sees us completely covered by the shining brilliance of His Son, who died and rose again for our sins. In baptism, we participated with Christ in His death and resurrection. It is our daily dress, our daily attire. This grace that washed over us at our baptism continues to keep us in the Lord Jesus Christ as we await his Second coming. It is continual, daily. Yet we see that the Christian life doesn’t come without a battle.
What time is it? It is time for a fight, between sinner and saint. Between darkness and light, between day and night. We have put on this mysterious battle gear, the armor of light (Eph 6) – which is righteousness, salvation, faith, the Spirit – as we daily clash with the forces of darkness. We also have fellow soldiers and the church. Our only hope, our only lifeline, is provided through the church.
Look around. Outside it is dark, but in here, the church, the light is shining. We, who are in the church, have been enlightened and armored by Christ. Our faith appears to be foolishness to the world, but it is the very gift of God given to us by the Spirit. In Christ, we live and move and have our being. We know that the battle has been won.
But appearances can be deceiving. We know that on that first Easter morning, the Son broke into the horizon, to vanquish the darkness, but from our perspective, there is still darkness around us. That is why this community of new creations, right here, is the most important place for you to be in the world.
We know that without a doubt, Christ is really present. Right here. Christ said, “Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of you.” Christ comes to you through his Word. Know that right now, at this very time and at this very hour, Christ is present for you. Know that your sins are forgiven. And know that Christ is present through His Spirit in that forgiveness.
As soldiers of the light, we march through the valley of the shadow of death but we fear no evil. We know that despite appearances, we are in the light and we battle the darkness as we wait for the full revelation of God’s glory on the last day.
-
So we keep pressing on to that day. Luther says “to advance is always a matter of beginning anew.” We new creations are always beginning anew. Don’t sweat the struggle. That will always be there. We live in that struggle. When you need to worry is when there is no struggle. That is a sure sign of someone who is asleep. We, however walk wide-awake in the light. Christ dwells in us and daily conforms us to his will. We let the power of the Gospel have its way.
-
You know what time it is. Daylight seems to be in short supply, but really now is the day of victory. And you know who you are. You may at times look like a snoring sinner, but know that you are Christ’s own, clothed in the gift of his armor of light. And you know your hope. It is nothing that this world provides, but is seen only though holy eyes. Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. A day is coming better than any holiday or birthday. Every day brings us closer to the return of Christ when our struggle against the works darkness will be no more.
-
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
Seminarian Darren Harbaugh
Today we had 8 hours and 2 minutes and 25 seconds of daylight, tomorrow we will have 5 seconds less and the day after that 5 fewer seconds. As we creep closer and closer to the official beginning of winter on the 21st of this month, we know that it is waiting eagerly on the doorstep. We are reminded of its presence by the sight of our breath, the chill of the piercing wind and those frigid temperatures but we especially know that winter is upon us by the ever-shortening day.
The sun set at 3:50 PM today. It gets dark so early that sometimes I want to go to bed at 5pm because it feels more like 11 to me. This part of the year makes it much more difficult to know what time it is just by looking around you. I don’t wear a watch and I don’t carry a cell phone so I am always searching for a clock or having to ask somebody, “What time is it?”
-
“What time is it.” This is an important question for the apostle Paul in our reading tonight. St. Paul proposes a new way of ordering time, a new way for Christians that is. Time is ordered by salvation. And Paul encourages the Roman Christians and us with the words, “ Salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed.” This is still true for us, 2000 years down the pike from Paul’s day. It is even more true for us. Yes, Paul was closer to that main event in human history, Christ’s first advent and his death and resurrection. But we are closer to Christ Second Advent, where he will return for both the living and the dead. What time is it? We are in the “In-between” time. Between salvation and salvation. Between Advent and Advent.
We know what time it is. Not by looking at a watch or the fading sun in the sky, but by the light shone on our hearts by the Holy Spirit. We have been given supernatural time-sensing abilities. We have been given new eyes of faith to see what appears to be foolishness to the world. When the world sees darkness, we see light. We perceive day, when the world sees night.
What time is it? “The night is almost gone and the day is near.” That sounds like an “in-between” time to me. It’s daybreak. The sun has pierced darkness. But for us it is both night and day, at the same time. It is both darkness and light at the same time. And we are both sinner and saint at the same time.
-
Even though we know the time, we like to stay asleep in the deeds of darkness. The Son has shone in our hearts indeed, but we often feel quite comfortable and cozy in the warm bed we have made for ourselves and are content to keep hitting the snooze button, thank you very much.
When you are asleep, you are not aware of anything. You have no idea what time it is. You are unconcerned about what’s going on around you, about your duties and responsibilities. Your eyes are closed; you can’t even see what is right in front of you. When Christians fall asleep, we become unconcerned about eternal matters. Oh, we’re very active about earthly matters. Our lives are filled with all kinds of concerns and pressing matters that consume our thoughts as we snore away in spiritual sleep.
This is always the struggle though. You remember in the Garden, Jesus asked the disciples to watch and pray. Jesus always knew what time it was. He said ‘The Hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.” But the disciples couldn’t even stay awake. They grew weary. They gave into temptation and fell asleep when they should have been watching, praying and aware of what time it was. Sound familiar?
What time is it? It is the hour for us to awaken from our sleep. This can go one of two ways. Imagine your alarm goes off and you are late for an important meeting. Terror. Dread. Adrenaline. Now imagine your alarm goes off and it is the first day of your holiday and you are headed out to some exotic locale. Or the feeling you got as a child when you woke up and it was finally your birthday or Christmas. Excitement. Anticipation. Exhilaration.
That is our hope. We do not awake to dread, we have died to judgement through Christ. We awake to life and salvation. We are THE morning people. To know God’s hour is to be awake. We walk in the light as he is in the light. Our salvation is nearer to us than when we first believed. The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Let us cast off from ourselves those ugly deeds of darkness – drunkenness, sexual immorality, jealously, and their other nefarious friends who cater to the flesh and its lusts.
-
We know what time it is and we know who we are. We are the ones who are clothed in the armor of the light, that is, clothed in Christ himself at our baptism. Though we remain both sinner and saint, we have our Jesus Coat on. When the father sees us, He sees us completely covered by the shining brilliance of His Son, who died and rose again for our sins. In baptism, we participated with Christ in His death and resurrection. It is our daily dress, our daily attire. This grace that washed over us at our baptism continues to keep us in the Lord Jesus Christ as we await his Second coming. It is continual, daily. Yet we see that the Christian life doesn’t come without a battle.
What time is it? It is time for a fight, between sinner and saint. Between darkness and light, between day and night. We have put on this mysterious battle gear, the armor of light (Eph 6) – which is righteousness, salvation, faith, the Spirit – as we daily clash with the forces of darkness. We also have fellow soldiers and the church. Our only hope, our only lifeline, is provided through the church.
Look around. Outside it is dark, but in here, the church, the light is shining. We, who are in the church, have been enlightened and armored by Christ. Our faith appears to be foolishness to the world, but it is the very gift of God given to us by the Spirit. In Christ, we live and move and have our being. We know that the battle has been won.
But appearances can be deceiving. We know that on that first Easter morning, the Son broke into the horizon, to vanquish the darkness, but from our perspective, there is still darkness around us. That is why this community of new creations, right here, is the most important place for you to be in the world.
We know that without a doubt, Christ is really present. Right here. Christ said, “Where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am in the midst of you.” Christ comes to you through his Word. Know that right now, at this very time and at this very hour, Christ is present for you. Know that your sins are forgiven. And know that Christ is present through His Spirit in that forgiveness.
As soldiers of the light, we march through the valley of the shadow of death but we fear no evil. We know that despite appearances, we are in the light and we battle the darkness as we wait for the full revelation of God’s glory on the last day.
-
So we keep pressing on to that day. Luther says “to advance is always a matter of beginning anew.” We new creations are always beginning anew. Don’t sweat the struggle. That will always be there. We live in that struggle. When you need to worry is when there is no struggle. That is a sure sign of someone who is asleep. We, however walk wide-awake in the light. Christ dwells in us and daily conforms us to his will. We let the power of the Gospel have its way.
-
You know what time it is. Daylight seems to be in short supply, but really now is the day of victory. And you know who you are. You may at times look like a snoring sinner, but know that you are Christ’s own, clothed in the gift of his armor of light. And you know your hope. It is nothing that this world provides, but is seen only though holy eyes. Salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. A day is coming better than any holiday or birthday. Every day brings us closer to the return of Christ when our struggle against the works darkness will be no more.
-
Come quickly, Lord Jesus. Amen.
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