Book blogging fun
I was recently tagged in a book post–a sort of friendly blogging pyramid scheme. Since I was going to post on Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” soon anyways, and since it’s my day off, I’ll humor Adam and play his little game.
1. One book that changed your life
St. Olaf’s Professor Ann Groton, when announcing any upcoming event in my great books course always said at the end of each announcement, “And it will change your life.” Some books bring about unremarkable negative changes. Others, like McCarthy’s “The Road” stay with you for years after you finish, noticeably changing one’s life for the better.
This is not to say “The Road” is uplifting. It’s a haunting horrid tale of humanity in its primal state, but the writing is brilliant, the story-telling unmatched, the pure experience of reading is a sick joy.
2. One book you’ve read more than once
I rarely do so, but exceptions would be books read for class like Paul Tillich’s “Dynamics of Faith.” After the third time, I still didn’t understand the book, but still highly recommend it.
3. One book you’d want on a desert island
Adam says the cliche answers are the Bible and The Complete Works of Shakespeare. I agree. I’d definitely want something long. Say: “The Brother’s Karamozov” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Blogging in a Flat World
Flat world.
I don’t have online access to the Oxford English Dictionary anymore so I can’t look up when the term first came into use, but NY Times columnist Thomas Friedman has certainly made it popular. Flat world.
The basic idea: recent changes in our economic structure, many brought on by technology, have made the world playing field flat. Friedman uses the term in economics, primarily, but it has come to describe how technology makes us all feel closer and affect each other more easily and clearly.
Here are three blog-related stories about my experience of the world’s flatness.
First, a post that’s received my second highest traffic, Coping with the (Clergy) Collar was found by the person whose letter I quoted in the post.
A few weeks after I quoted the Scottish minister, Michael S. Goss, I received an email from Rev. Goss himself. He had found himself through a search engine and was complimentary of my approach, but it was a little strange “speaking” personally to someone who before was only a name in a magazine. It served as a good reminder that everything we post online can be read by anyone, even and especially those about whom we write.
Second, a few months ago I was lazily reading through a random blog I’d found of a Presbyterian pastor from ____ . The post included criticism of what the pastor perceived to be lacking standards of PC(USA) (yes, I read those blogs too). Specifically, the pastor opined at the faith statements of candidates seeking ordination in her Presbytery, calling them not sufficiently orthodox, and going so far so to name what specific questions this pastor planned to ask the candidates at the Presbytery meeting.
A fan of the flat world, it took me a minute to find the Presbytery docket online and read the faith statements. It turned out that I had the contact info for one of the candidates who I promptly alerted as to the pastor’s planned antagonistic questions. Suffice it to say: the heads-up was greatly appreciated.
Third, I’ve happened upon several blogs of other American assistant ministers in Scotland, or other newish Scottish pastors.
- A Postcard from Troon Old, by a Princeton Seminary Assistant in Troon (20 mins away).
- Radical Seminarian, by another PTS Assistant in Cumnock (45 mins away).
- Rumors of Angels, by a Church of Scotland student in a similar situation nearby.
In the big picture of flat world experiences these are probably not particularly significant. After blogging for three months, however, I do see them as noteworthy; good reminders of the power for ministry that the web can provide. Flat world, indeed.
What would John say? "Happy Advent!"
Growing up in America with a Scottish mother can be difficult at times. The other kids at school ask questions like, “Why does your mom talk funny?” Your mother signs notes or presents, “Mum” rather than “Mom” as all the other mothers spell it. You use strange words like “wee” and “shoogly” that cause eyebrows to raise: “What did you say, son?” And pertinent to this time of year, you find yourself saying, “Happy Christmas” rather than the American standard “Merry Christmas.” Life is just so tough.
But what one hears rarely in either Scotland or America is “Happy Advent” (or “Merry Advent,” take your pick.) In these days when Christmas is not celebrated as a holiday, a holy day, but a season of consumption from late October through early January, it’s easy to be crushed under the Christmas rush without stopping to consider the season of Advent.
The evangelist writes that John the Baptized announced this time of waiting, of looking-forward, of pointing towards Jesus.
There was a man sent from God,
whose name was John.
He came as a witness to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He himself was not the light,
but he came to testify to the light. (John 1:6-8)
John wasn’t the sort of soul who would celebrate Christmas from Thanksgiving forward, he pointed, he witnessed, he testified to the light still to come. John may have cried, “repent,” or “prepare,” and today might even exclaim “Happy Advent” if he were in a good mood, but John the Baptist would never wish a pre-mature Merry Christmas.
So for us, practically speaking, what would saying “Happy Advent” accomplish besides drawing strange looks and awkward smiles? It’s difficult to say, of course, but when I say, “Happy Advent” I am in part:
- reminding myself and others that God’s work is not yet complete: Jesus is coming to guide our feet in the way of peace, to give light to those who sit in darkness and food to the hungry, to save us that we might praise him forever (Luke 1:70-79).
- participating in a tiny anti-idolatry campaign, reminding myself and others that the season is about waiting in hope for Jesus, not buying the perfect gifts
- reminding myself and others to reflect on the past year, to give thanks to God but also to consider how to live more faithfully
- testifying that I am waiting with eager longing for God to reveal God’s ultimate glory (Rom. 8:19-20)
Now I don’t expect everyone to send out Advent cards this year, or to make Advent pie, or hold Advent parties (though they are fun). Even so, as we participate in the cultural rituals of the season, we would also do well to recall the wisdom of the church and not skip over Advent. After all, my mother always says, “A good Advent brings a better Christmastide” (well, she doesn’t exactly say that but she might, and I thought it ended the article perfectly).
This post is part of a series. Those also participating may be found here:
Blogging Advent with the (online) community of faith
I’m participating in an Advent series with other bloggers organized by Brother Maynard, another CCBlogger. About twenty of us will be posting reflections throughout Advent using texts from John and the Old Testament chosen by Brother Maynard who just wrote a book on the same topic.
Last year, one of my seminary friends unwittingly became the center of the most ancient of theological debates. As he came before the committee that was to approve his next move towards ordination, a heated discussion broke out among the committee members as to whether Jesus existed before he become incarnate.
To be fair, I think the discussion centered more around what form Jesus took before incarnation, rather than whether or not he existed at all, but it all took my friend a bit off guard as these meetings generally get bogged down in where one stands on homosexuality, the authority of the Bible, or questions of the lordship of Christ and the like.
Regardless of what Jesus looked like before the incarnation, or how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, the Bible tells us of God who from the very beginning created.
So we come to the first few verses of John: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”
And to Proverbs 8:22 on wisdom “The Lord created me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of long ago.”
The opening verses of John clearly enough describe Jesus (or the Word at least, “logos” in Greek) as existing “from the beginning.” Way over-simplification of hundreds of years of church history: this is one reason why we have Nicene Creed which makes it clear Jesus is co-eternal with the Father and begotten not made from God.
One could go any number of ways from here, but as this is the first week of Advent and the theme of hope, perhaps I’ll borrow from Shirely Guthrie. In his book, Christian Doctrine, Guthrie writes, “The Bible says not only that God was but that God is and will be Creator.” The Triune God’s act of creating is not confined to distant lands of the past, but God still creates anew.
Still today, God is making all things new (Rev 21). Still today, God is making us to be new creatures in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). Still today, we hope for God’s new creation, and the time when the wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and all manner of things shall be well (Is 6).
So, this Advent, we can look for ways God is continuing God’s creative acts. We can remember that God creates within and without the Church. With the Spirit’s guidance, we can seek to encourage, uphold, even help begin God’s acts of new creation.
Here are the other Johannine Advent bloggers:
People these days
A friend who shall remain nameless describes his aversion to blogs in this way: “Why would I want to spend my time reading about someone else’s issues that should probably be kept to oneself to begin with.” I certainly know where she’s coming from. That said, I’m going to take the risk of blogging about blogging, or more specifically, about web kindness.
I spent a few hours tonight trying to setup my RSS Feed. After becoming quite frustrated, I posted a message on the wordpress message help board and within an hour, two users had walked my feeble web-based mind through the process step by step. (I’m helpless at this stuff because I know no html.)
I have never and shall never meet these kind help boarders. There was no good reason for them to help for they gained nothing for their troubles save my thanks. And yet, they offered their kind assistance nonetheless.
The web facilitates many horrible deeds, as Oles feel all too strongly at the moment. But when used for good, it can bring out the best in people as they show kindness to people with whom, without the web, they would never interact.
Ok, if, like me, you didn’t know a lick about RSS feeds. Check out this brilliant wee flick below.
Ministry of (web) presence
Today marks six weeks at St. Columba Church in Ayr, so I have developed a little feel of what daily ministry is in this particular context.
My mornings consists of reading or writing at the manse and arriving at the church around 10:30 for more social reading or writing, coffee or tea, and some discussions with Fraser as to plans for the day or week. After lunch at home, I usually do visits in the afternoon. I’ll having meetings or gatherings at night every other evening or so.
Such is my life. In all, it certainly resembles John Pritchard’s portrayal in The Life and Work of a Priest. Though I’m only halfway through Pritchard’s book, his general understanding of ministry seems to jive with that of St. Columba. Pritchard emphasizes prayer and contemplation–rather difficult to do while in the crowded office–but it’s safe to say his understanding of ministry is more traditional. I’m going out on a limb here because I haven’t finished the book, but though it was published in 2007 I don’t anticipate much if any material on ministry and technology.
Contrast this with my friend Bruce, a PC(USA) pastor in San Fransisco. Check out his blog here: http://breyeschow.typepad.com/faithblog/ and the specific post to which I’m refering here: http://www.reyes-chow.com/2007/10/church-in-my-wo.html
Bruce writes that even before the end of a busy week he has had 5 coffee talks, met several new visitors via their blogs, spent 12 hours in a cafe, and read church members’ blogs and blogged 4 times himself.
He writes:
The purpose of this post is not to defend pastoral leadership in my context, but to give voice to a growing way mainline church has and can be done. While some can find the same energy and nourishment in more historical/traditional church contexts, I know I would not be a good pastor in that setting because it would be a bad fit or “call” if you will. We would be fools to think that in today’s world there is ONLY one legitimate or even ULTIMATE way to experience Christian community and thus only one true way of being a pastor. That is just crazy talk.
Reading Bruce’s blog while at St. Columba reading Pritchard’s book presents me with two ministry extremes and I’m left to consider my own call and how I might hope to use technology in it. As in all church decisions, context matters immensely. That said, I think I would thrive more in a church where emails, blogs, IMs, and coffee talks are integral to ministry.
Connect Online
Today my blog received its 10,000th hit. Sure, for bloggers like Real Live Preacher and Pomomusings, that’s unremarkable. But for a previously skeptical new blogger like me, 10,000 hits in four months ain’t half bad.
As has been pointed out many times, blogging is a narcissistic activity. This is true, but not solely so. For me, blogging connects me to friends, colleagues, strangers, and annoyers from all over the world. I could go on about the online community, the Holy Spirit working in new ways, or any of my new blogging buddies, but instead, in the narcissistic spirit, here’s a little about my blog.
Total posts: 75
Total hits: 10,000 and counting
Total comments: 221 (plus 270 caught by spam guard); I’d like to increase these
Top few posts: Burns Supper, Christmas Eve Sermon workshop, Vote Obama for Eschatology
Random search engine hits: 1600 sin washing machines, what is bicarbonate soda good for, cumnock – what does this word mean, where to buy obama hope bracelets, fresh & easy
Even though I’ve hit a milestone, I’ve been having trouble increasing my daily hits recently. The Bible series has been great, but it hasn’t brought as many new hits as I had hoped. So spread the word, put me in your blog roll, please let me know of any hits helps, and visit often.