Living in the States

I lived in the States for a year - just over the border but far enough that I came home at Christmas with a Pennsylvania accent. Here is a new blog by a friend of mine - she makes me laugh: Canadian in Carolina.

Progressive Christianity

This will come as no surprise to some of my friends but I'm in favour of Unprogressive Christianity. I'm in favour of all that old time religion stuff like feeding the hungry and clothing the naked and visiting the lonely and imprisoned. And I'm in favour of doing it because I believe in God, the Father almighty, and in his Son, Jesus Christ, and in the Holy Spirit and all the stuff in the creeds that come in between. And while it doesn't come easily to me I believe in turning the cheek and forgiving those who have sinned against me. And I believe in standing with the oppressed and the persecuted even when I'm terrified. And I believe all these things are possible because Jesus lives.

And here are a couple of defenses of old time religion I quite enjoyed...

First Colbert takes on Bart Ehrman here.

And then Jane Barter Moulaison takes on Gretta Vosper here.

Carl Granzow

This weekend a member of the faculty at the University of Lethbridge and a close friend of my close friends died. I didn't know him well but I liked him and I knew how important he and his family were and are to my friends which made him part of my extended fictive family. Jim has posted a very moving tribute to his friend here.

This was a jolting reminder to me that Easter isn't really about chocolates or crocuses coming up but some deeper hope in the face of sorrow.

May Carl rest in peace and rise in glory.

30th Anniversary

Thirty years ago on Palm Sunday I was baptized. I realized it was today in the afternoon so missed giving thanks at the Eucharist this morning. But I am thankful.

More words to afflict the comfortable

More words to afflict the comfortable...

From Joe