Leaving on a jet plane

Just spent a week at the beach with the g-kids (ages 2 and 5 months) and their parents - our younger son and our daughter in law. Tomorrow our daughter and I leave for England and Scotland. We will visit friends in the south of England, then go to Alyth, the birthplace of my grandmother who emigrated to the US when she was 14. Following that we go to Iona for a few days and on to Chester where we stay in a library! St. Deiniols. Then back to London where we hope to catch up with a cousin who lives there and another friend. It is a leisurely trip - mostly staying several nights in one place with no real agenda. Just will see whatever crosses our path. We have train passes and will not be driving. More when I return - hope to get some photos to post.

When I get back - we will have our DC kids visiting with their 3 year old and 5 month old (only she will be 6 months old by then).

XIII Pentecost

Readings are here.

At our Church Camp we had a sign by the swimming hole that said NO WALKING ON THE WATER. Thinking back on it now, maybe was there to remind us of the dangers of a natural swimming hole, the importance of checking on our "buddy," not to dive off the cliffs around the water, as there might be an unseen rock, and that we should use the mind and body God gave us to swim safely and watch out for one another. Now the camp just has a No Diving sign. Not quite as inspirational as the old sign.

Whenever I read this Gospel, I get the earworm, "Here Comes Jesus" by Sonny Salsbury, found in Songs.

Here comes Jesus, see him walking on the water,
He’ll lift you up, and he’ll help you to stand.
Here comes Jesus, he’s the
master of the waves that roll.
Here comes Jesus, he’ll make you whole.
Here comes Jesus, he’ll save your soul.

With that little tune running through my mind, each lesson has a bit that stands out for me.
In 1 Kings, the story of Elijah:

Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.

In Romans:

But the righteousness that comes from faith says, "Do not say in your heart, "Who will ascend into heaven?'" (that is, to bring Christ down) "or "Who will descend into the abyss?'" (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? "The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart."

And of course the Gospel of Matthew with the story of Jesus, who goes off to be by himself and sends the disciples off in a boat. When he walks across the water to join them, seeing that they are "battered by the waves" and "the wind is against them," they are terrified. The blog OCICBW reflects on this passage as telling us about our life after Christ's death, resurrection and ascension.

In our reading today Jesus sends his disciples away because he needs to be away from them and they need to be away from him. This action alludes to the time when Jesus will leave them to be with his Father in heaven - when it will be up to the disciples, and those who will come after them, to continue the work of the Son.

This will be difficult and dangerous work. Their boat will be rocked by wind and storm. Many of them will die because of their commitment to the gospel. But, although Jesus is physically no longer with them in the tangible way he had been during his ministry on earth, in order to have the power to continue that ministry, the disciples have to know, that Jesus, in a very real way, is still with them. That when they are in their metaphorical boat being bashed by the waves that would destroy them, Jesus is walking beside them and will be there to pull them out of the metaphorical sea should they fall in. This story is about faith and love. Christ’s faith in us and love for us and the necessity of our faith in and love for God.

Putting this together with the other lessons, I think it also reminds us that our conception of God and how God will act are very limited. Elijah looks for a big production number and gets the still small voice. Paul has discovered that God is not out there, somewhere, delivered to us from on high or from the authorities (whoever they might be).

Jesus is not chiding us for our inability to walk on water, but our need for the spectacular, the miracle, to prove the existence of God. Stepping out in faith, waiting out the storms of life, rejoicing in life and love wherever we find it - these are the very near, on our lips and in our hearts, signs of faithful living.

Another hymn comes to mind:

Jesus calls us over the tumult
Of our life’s wild, restless, sea;
Day by day His sweet voice soundeth,
Saying, “Christian, follow Me!”

As of old Saint Andrew heard it
By the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred,
Leaving all for Jesus’ sake.

Jesus calls us from the worship
Of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us,
Saying, “Christian, love Me more!”

In our joys and in our sorrows,
Days of toil and hours of ease,
Still He calls, in cares and pleasures,
“Christian, love Me more than these!”

Jesus calls us! By Thy mercies,
Savior may we hear Thy call,
Give our hearts to Thine obedience,
Serve and love Thee best of all.

Summertime

I should be sermon-ating but instead I am procrastinating by playing the Friday Five from RevGalBlogPals.

1. What is your sweetest summer memory from childhood? Did it involve watermelon or hand cranked ice cream? Or perhaps a teen summer romance. Which stands out for you?

Lying on the grass with my brothers at night in front of our house in the Irvington neighborhood of Portland. (think Beverly Cleary books) In those days, before light and other pollution, we could see the stars of summer. I felt like I could fall off the earth into the universe.

2. Describe your all time favorite piece of summer clothing. The one thing you could put on in the summer that would seem to insure a cooler, more excellent day.

Shorts and a white T shirt are my favorite summer wear. I would wear them under my alb if I did not have to take it off for coffee hour!!


3. What summer food fills your mouth with delight and whose flavor stays happily with you long after eaten?

Raspberries

4. Tell us about the summer vacation or holiday that holds your dearest memory.

Taking our kids to the Oregon coast every summer with no TV, days on the beach making sand castles, and jumping the waves.

5. Have you had any experience(s) this summer that has drawn you closer to God or perhaps shown you His wonder in a new way?

Writing essays for Episcopal Cafe, especially ones that are more reflective about life in Wyoming or hanging out with our grandchildren. I have one today (Friday) about a recent week with our nine year old grandson. Shameless self promotion!!

Bonus question: When it is really hot, humid and uncomfortable, what do you do to refresh and renew body and spirit?

It is so rarely humid in Wyoming unless a rainstorm blows in for a few moments, but if I were in Oregon - I would go to the coast where when it gets hot and humid inland, it gets foggy and cool at the beach - and I am headed there in a week!!

Shooting the Messenger

The Times has a blaring headline: US female bishop Catherine Roskam: male prelates 'beat up wives'. As reported in Lambeth Witness #7, Bishop Roskam said:

We have 700 men here. Do you think any of them beat their wives? Chances are they do. The most devout Christians beat their wives..., many of our bishops come from places where it is culturally accepted to beat your wife. In that regard, it makes the conversation quite difficult.

What she is saying is that statistically if you have a large group of men, some may beat their wives. As one reads the story in The Times it is clear that Roskam did not say what was written in the headline.

Bishops were quick to deny that they beat their wives, although no one accused them. In the United States, it is known that 1 in 4 women suffer abuse, so it is statistically likely that some of those who in inflict violence are bishops. In fact I know of two myself.

This is the classic "shoot the messenger" strategy. Figure it out, 650+ men, wives requesting separate seating during a session on gender violence, almost universal acceptance of wife beating around the world (check any women's shelter in the US), could it be possible?

For a report on domestic violence from Human Rights Watch, click here.

In a bit of synchronicity, here, today's news from All Africa:

Antananarivo-Brazzaville-Bujumbura-Geneva-Khartoum-Kinshasa-London-Lusaka-Nairobi-N’jamena, 31 July 2008. African Women’s Day gives us the opportunity to remember that gender-based violence is one of the most serious and widespread violations of the basic rights of women, particularly on the African continent. Gender discrimination is both one of the causes and an aggravating factor of the consequences of violence against women, thus contributing to the perpetuation of impunity of such cases.

The signatory organisations call on African States to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on women’s rights (the “Maputo Protocol”), harmonise national laws with international standards and take all necessary measures to fight against violence against women by tackling the general context of discrimination which encourages such violations and which perpetuates the marginalisation of women, particularly as regards their access to justice.

Recent reports by OMCT and its African counterparts on the status of women and violence against women in Africa:

Benin

Burundi

Executive Summary

Kenya

Madagascar

Democratic Republic of Congo

Togo

Tunisia


UPDATE: Bishop Nick Baines of Croydon commented in his blog:

I felt a bit sorry for the media people. They have built today up into the day the explosion would happen and the Anglican Communion would collapse in on itself under a weight of sexual tension. But it didn't and we didn't. Mind you, this might have been an appropriate and just reward to the Daily Telegraph for its scandalous, misrepresentative and deliberately sensationalist article about wife-beating by bishops. The American bishop who had been interviewed was horrified to see what the press had done and explained herself to the assembled bishops in the afternoon session. Welcome to the British media! She should sue the journalist concerned. And the journalist should ask whether this sort of story really satisfies any sense of professional integrity.

Mama brags

Our son on youtube - he is the one in the suit:



To see all the videos click here. Check out all of them but the Coffee one and the outtakes are especially funny. Our other son contributed ideas to them.

USA according to me

Poor blog has been neglected lately - I have not been preaching the last couple of weeks and the news from the Lambeth Conference is busy on Episcopal Cafe has been non-stop, especially since half our team is on vacation. So I saw this on our daughter's livejournal and thought I would post my version - I see I have four states left to visit.


visited 46 states (92%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Friday Five - blogosphere

I have been busy with our visiting 9 year old grandson (better than a workout at the gym). Non-stop activity since last Sunday eve - he leaves tomorrow :-(
Also busy with all Lambeth all the time at Episcopal Cafe.

RevGalBlogPals has a Friday Five - play along if you wish:

So how did you come up with your blogging name? And/or the name of your blog?
"seashellseller" comes from the tongue twister - she sells seashells down by the seashore, and "what the tide brings in"comes from walking the beaches of Oregon picking up bits that drift in on the tides.

Are there any code names or secret identities in your blog?
Not really except that our family does not post the grandchildren's names or photos.

Any stories there?
some in sermons or things I find.

What are some blog titles that you just love? For their cleverness, drama, or sheer, crazy fun?
Of Course I Could Be Wrong, Padre Mickey's Dance Party, Santos Woodcarving Popsicles


What three blogs are you devoted to? Other than the RevGalBlogPals blog of course!
OCICBW, Wounded Bird, Episcopal Cafe

Who introduced you to the world of blogging and why?
Our daughter and her friends.

Bonus question: Have you ever met any of your blogging friends? Where are some of the places you've met these fun folks?
Yes.

Pentecost VIII

On the base of the Statue of Liberty are inscribed the words from the poem of Emma Lazarus written in 1883:

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
"Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she
With silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"

Random thoughts towards a sermon. Readings are here.

This week I am thinking about Rebecca. I spent some time looking for information on women in her day. I found this item.

It was probably in this period that women enjoyed greatest freedom and prestige. The stories in Genesis and Exodus showed them as independent and strong, smart and tough. They displayed leadership and initiative. They almost always got their way when they wanted something. Rebecca, for example, is clearly in charge of her own destiny, both in deciding on her own future, and in shaping the future of her clan.

This was probably because women were necessary for the survival of the tribe, and they knew it. They did a wide range of tasks, without which the clan or family simply could not have managed. They moved freely in society, and were not confined within the home. The Bible stories show that they spoke and acted confidently.
Their contribution to the culture of the time was significant. The stories as we have them in the Bible were edited much later by male priests, but there are hints that women had a thriving cultural tradition of their own. Many of their stories dealt with families, children, food supplies, security/safety and home-places. All were matters that related to women’s spheres of influence, and some scholars suggest that many of the stories of Genesis were originally women’s stories, preserved by women in the clan.

As well, women played an active role in religious matters. The concept of monotheism was just beginning to develop, but many women probably worshipped a fertility goddess, the Great Mother, source of plant, animal and human life. Ancient Near Eastern religions certainly had fertility of the soil and animal life as one of their main focuses, with priestesses who served the forces of Nature (the power of river and rain water, abundance of crops and animals, etc.)

The laws of Hammurabi, a famous law-maker and king of Babylonia, provide insights into the lives of women in this period. There were laws to

protect the rights of women in marriage
protect women against rape
define the punishment for adultery
define the just treatment of women who were slaves
regulate the behaviour of sacred women who served in the temples
lay down conditions for divorce, etc.
Another source of information about women and their lives was provided by love poems and lullabies of this period.

Rebecca is clearly a woman who takes her destiny into her own hands. She chooses Isaac and from the text she is is only wife, unusual in those days. She decides that Jacob will be the better leader than Esau, although Esau is the elder brother. She tricks her dying husband to make it possible for Jacob to become first in line. We might think, wow, how can the Bible hold her up as someone to be remembered and honored with her own story? Was God behind all this or is it happy accident or is there a message about making things come into being by nefarious means? Things I think about when reading the stories of the heroes of the Bible. They all seem to be flawed.

This it the weekend we celebrate the founding of the U.S. - certainly we have had some flawed leaders in our history - yet we celebrate the freedom and system of government that has developed. We pledge to defend and protect and extend those freedoms to others. There are always those who say we have to keep it for ourselves - don't let any more in or give any more freedom to others. But as Martin Luther King, Jr. said - the arc of heaven bends towards justice - so the tide of freedom rolls on.

Jesus in the Gospel for today finds the religious leaders trying to protect God by many burdensome laws. People chide him for eating with all sorts of people. They compare him to John who was strict in his religious duties. Of course they did not like John either - too strict.

Andrew Greeley, a Roman Catholic priest and author, tells this joke:

There was some discussion in the Vatican about ordaining a woman priest—in Ireland, b/c they've been running things for 3000 years anyway. They sent her to the edge of County Mayo—so far out that the next parish was in Long Island. She bonded with all the womenfolk, but for the men, it was a bit of a strain. So one comes out and says, would ya like to come out in the fishin' boat tomorrow. It was a glorious day—they have them occasionally in Ireland. She got into the boat and the lads, in they forgot the boat, so she walks on water to get it and says, now get on with your fishin'. And he turns to his friend and says, they send a woman priest out to a fishing parish and she can't even swim.

That seems to be the dilemma that Jesus has. He breaks through it in his usual way of turning the world upside down. He quotes from Wisdom, that it is deeds that show the ways of God's world. There is an easier way - walk with Jesus, follow him, open the doors wide, feast with all who wish to feast. Let God be the host - we are the servers at the table - waiters and waitresses - who pass out the bread of life and wine of the Spirit. The yoke of this service is light and easy.

Bishop Tutu says - who knows what can happen when we sit down at table with one another. There is no limit to the possibilities.

Wendell Berry writes:
We Who Prayed and Wept

We who prayed and wept
for liberty from kings
and the yoke of liberty
accept the tyranny of things
we do not need.
In plenitude too free,
we have become adept
beneath the yoke of greed.

Those who will not learn
in plenty to keep their place
must learn it by their need
when they have had their way
and the fields spurn their seed.
We have failed Thy grace.
Lord, I flinch and pray,
send Thy necessity.

P. 211 in Collected Poems: 1957-1982

It's all about me!

HT to Doug and Grandmere Mimi.

Books - Friday Five

RevGalBlogPals has a reading meme this week:

1) Do you think of summer as a particularly good season for reading? Why or why not?

Not so much - long summer days full of light and outside activities don't leave much time for reading. Winter with its short days and a nice fire are better for reading. Mostly I "read" while driving to church on Sunday - books on CD or tape -- 2 hours there and 2 hours back give lots of time for a book. Harry Potter was great on CD as was the Philip Pullman series.

2) Have you ever fallen asleep reading on the beach?

Not since I got a terrible sunburn doing that!

3) Can you recall a favorite childhood book read in the summertime?

I loved reading as a child - Anne of Green Gables, all sorts of book series, mostly I hated it that our library had books divided into "boys books" and "girls books" - it was always a challenge to me to take a book off the boys shelf and check it out.

4) Do you have a favorite genre for light or relaxing reading?

Mysteries, mysteries, mysteries! Reading a new Marcia Muller now (on tape!)

5) What is the next book on your reading list?

Whatever I can find for my flight to Nashville - probably a mystery. I have a bunch of "serious" reading to do but they sit in piles around the house. I do want to read the Manga Bible though - it is in my bag to take along..

Holy ground in cyberspace

Many of you already know much of what is in my latest essay on Episcopal Cafe from your own online experiences. I write today on how EfM Online has been working and building community around the world. Students from South Africa, Korea and other places tell of how it has made them feel more connected to one another while taking their journeys in faith.

Read it here

Safe at home: RIP George Carlin