A minor

Once Upon A Time

I received an email from an old high school friend today and it brought back so many memories. It's hard to believe I graduated a little over 8 years ago. I still remember rushing to my locker to grab my books, rushing out to snag a picnic table for lunch, rushing to the bus to get the best seats (in the back, as far away from the bus driver as possible). Choir was just an excuse to cut up and talk about boys. Weight lifting was a great time to flirt with said boys. My chemistry teacher wore purple socks nearly every day. Pizza day was every Wednesday and was, by far, the best lunch of the week. Corn dogs were the worst. The Xerox machine smelled like Pizza Hut personal pan pizzas. Our uniform skirts had to be knee length, but on the last day of school, we all rolled the waist up to make them shorter. Through teenaged eyes everything was so dramatic. It was like a mini soap opera with new plot twists every week. Now I'm more worried about getting the crayon out of Ethan's mouth while simultaneously paying the bills and stirring the pasta. I guess that's part of growing up.

The Generosity of Blogdom

Yesterday I received a copy of Finke & Stark's The Churching of America, 1776-1990: Winners and Losers in Our Religious Economy, courtesy of Scott Cunningham. Thanks, man!

Now I'm about to run to the post office to mail a copy of Cantus Christi to Valerie of Kyriosity (finally!). Soon after I started blogging, Valerie was kind enough to tweak my blog template, add CSS, etc. Thanks again, Valerie!

New Blogger

I really like Dano so far.

Punch-Drunk Love

Last night we watched Punch-Drunk Love, and I watched the first part of it again this afternoon. Not what I expected, but a wonderful, well-crafted film nonetheless. The closest thing to it that I can think of is Buffalo '66.

Here's one question I have: What is the significance of the car accident in the opening scene?

Spy Flicks

Jon and I watched The Bourne Identity and The Sum of All Fears this week. There were a few commonalities between the films. Both were based on novels and had secret agent type themes. Neither was on the top of my list as "must see" movies. It turns out that The Bourne Identity was not so bad after all. Even after pausing it several times to get Ethan in bed (and keep him there), the film was still able to keep our attention. As for The Sum of All Fears, I couldn't wait for it to end. Sheesh, that was boring. Maybe I was in the wrong mood at the time. Maybe Ben Affleck and Morgan Freeman weren't the dryest characters on the screen. Maybe, but I doubt it.

Sabbath and Sunday in Church History, Pt I

Sparked by a couple recent posts on Sabbath and Sunday issues - Shannon Trisler's June 22 and Jeff Meyers' June 20 entries - I decided to write a brief, occasional series on the history of these days and doctrines. I will particularly try to trace sources from the early church, the medieval period, and the Protestant tradition that are used by contemporary Sabbatarians. My posts will pull greatly from Richard J Bauckham's chapters in DA Carson, ed, From Sabbath to Lord's Day (Zondervan, 1982; Wipf & Stock, 1999), a book I highly recommend to anyone interested in the subject.

The most consistent Sunday Sabbatarians argue that the Sabbath was changed to Sunday, not by the New Testament, but by the authority of the Christian Church. Around AD 380, the Synod or Council of Laodicea wrote in Canon 29 that "Christians must not judaize, and rest on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, and honor rather the Lord's Day, and, if they can, rest then as Christians." Interestingly, it is Laodicea that Peter Geiermann cites in his Convert's Catechism of Catholic Doctrine:

Q: Which is the Sabbath day?
A: Saturday is the Sabbath.
Q: Why do we observe Sunday instead of Saturday?
A: We observe Sunday instead of Saturday because the Catholic Church in the Council of Laodicea (AD 336) transferred the solemnity from Saturday to Sunday.

But Laodicea makes no transference per se, as is seen in Canons 49 and 51, which speak of the Sabbath and the Lord's Day as separate days and, in fact, the two days of the week on which certain ordinances can be perfomed during Lent. Regardless, many Christians, from the early church and medieval periods to the Reformation and the present day, have believed that the Saturday Sabbath was changed to the Sunday Lord's Day or Christian Sabbath in a one-to-one way. Where did such notions originate?

Around AD 330, fifty years before Laodicea, Eusebius of Caesarea wrote his commentary on Psalm 91 (92 in English versions), which Richard Bauckham (in "Sabbath and Sunday in the Post-Apostolic Church," in Carson, pp 282 ff) describes as "the first extant Christian work that claims that the Sabbath had been transferred to Sunday." It is worth quoting Bauckhams' analysis of Eusebius at length:

"The care with which Eusebius avoid the idea of inactivity on the Sabbath is notable. The Sabbath was devoted to the service of God and works pleasing to God. The activity of Christians on the Lord's Day is analogous to the activity of the priests on the Mosaic Sabbath; it is the service of God in worship. It is this priestly activity of worship that has been transferred from the Sabbath to Sunday.

"Eusebius' arguments are largely traditional; the following essential elements have already appeared in earlier writers, especially the Alexandrians: (1) True Sabbath rest is contemplation of divine things. (2) Men will share this rest of God in the world to come. (3) Devotion of the whole of life to the contemplation of divine things is an image of the eschatological rest. (4) The Mosaic Sabbath was a shadow of the eschatological rest. (5) The Christian Sunday is an image of the eschatological rest.

"The original element in Eusebius is the synthesis of these elements to present Sunday as the Christian Sabbath. There is an unnoticed falacy [however] in the synthesis, which explains why it had not already been reached by the Alexandrians. Eusebius maintains that the Mosaic Sabbath was not for the priests, whose whole life was devoted to God, but rather for the people, who devoted only the Sabbath to God. Christians, however, are said to correspond to the patriarchs, who had no Sabbath but devoted their whole lives to the contemplation of God. The Christian Sabbath therefore, on these analogies, is not the Lord's Day but all days. This is how the traditional argument had run."

I have put Bauckham's next two paragraphs in the comments, for those who are interested.

Zumé

Today we went to Zumé, which opened this week. Zumé is the bakery and cafe that Toby and Erika work at, and that Richard blogged about (scroll down to his June 13 entry). By the way, for all you "grammar whores," sorry about breaking the "no preposition at the end of a clause" rule, but there are times when that is a rule, as Winston Churchill said, "up with which I cannot put."

Anyway, Zumé is very, very nice. Seriously, its presence makes Moscow a nicer place. The atmosphere and tasty morsels are a pleasing medley of the delicate and the hearty. Jon & Hollie give it two thumbs up.

Tidbits

After Christin and Micah's posts on things you might not know about them, I decided to list a few trivialities of my own.
1. Ethan Hawke is one of my favorite actors. (Remember Explorers? Gosh, he was cute.) However, and I can't stress this enough, I did not name my son after him.
2. I have a weakness for shoes, but particularly flip-flops. When the warm weather hits, it's all I can do not to rush out and buy a few pairs. One plus is that flip-flops are relatively cheap. I get my fix and we don't end up begging for alms on the side of the road.
3. In my mind, there is not much that can beat a coconut snowball except maybe an amaretto one.
4. In typical white trash style, I own both Louisiana Lottery and Diamond Dallas Page T-shirts.

Why Are Episcopalians Rich?

At one point during my recent visit to Monroe, Aaron Booth and I were having a conversation about the Christian schools in Texarkana. One of the schools he mentioned was an Episcopal day school, and in the course of the conversation, he asked me if I knew why Episcopalians are generally some of the richest Christians. I knew I had read a couple things on this, but I didn't have a ready answer at my fingertips. So, this morning I decided to email Scott Cunningham and to refresh my memory of James Jordan's section, "What Might We Learn from Episcopalianism?" in The Sociology of the Church (Wipf and Stock, [1986] 1999), pages 15-23. What follows are some quotes from Jordan:

"The catholic party (Roman and Anglican) is frankly elitist. It strives to convert and control the elite in society, and it arms its best men for that task, giving them time for reflection and writing.

[...]

"Americans like to believe in the myth that society is transformed from the "bottom up" and not from the "top down." This flies squarely in the face of both history and Scripture. The history of Israel, as recorded in Scripture, is not a history of revivals from the bottom up, but of kings and their actions. Good kings produced a good nation; bad kings a bad nation. The order is always from the top down, though of course with real feedback from the bottom up.

[...]

"Christ is the head of the church, the New Testament repeatedly tells us. The church, however, is also a body politic, with eyes, hands, and feet (1 Cor. 12). Each part is necessary, but each part does not have the same function. There are rulers and governors - a hierarchy - in the church. There is no virtue in trying to evade this obvious fact, by objecting to the term "hierarchy," or by ignoring the issue.

[...]

"Of course, we must say by way of a comprehensive philosophy of history that the Triune God always moves all at once, reforming from the top down at the same time as He reforms from the bottom up. The point, however, is that there is a small group of elite leaders and controllers - a hierarchy - in every society. There always will be. Whoever ministers to that elite group will control society. Paul knew that. That is why he wanted so badly to get to Rome. The Episcopalians also know it. The Presbyterians and Baptists have tried to pretend that this is not so, and have thus left the elite to others, as much by default as by anything else.

[...]

"A society that is openly hierarchical, as is the Episcopalian church, does not have near the problem with envy as does a society that pretends to democracy. A society that recognizes that there are a diversity of gifts, and that actively promotes its best men, has gone a long way toward stripping the envious of their power.

[...]

"We may question whether Baptist or Presbyterian bodies really even want to minister to the elite. It is easy to say "there are not many called." So what? What about those who are? And what about influencing those who are not? Men who are big frogs in small ponds have a vested interest in keeping the pond small. They don't want an invasion of elite people, who have more money, more education, and more power than they do. Thus, they really don't want to minister to the elite. They don't want to take over the elite. They don't prize excellence, and they don't reward it. They move to cripple the capabilities of their best men, as I have described above. They cling to the myth that literature oriented toward the masses will do more than scholarly material oriented toward the elite. That this is baloney does not bother them, because they really do not want dominion [emphasis original].

[...]

"This is not to despise the poor and the simple. One of the ministries of Episcopalian churches in town after town is the Episcopal Thrift House, where the used clothing of the wealthy is made available to the poor at extremely low cost. I got through college wearing coats from the Episcopal Thrift House. These stores are staffed by volunteer ladies from the Episcopal church, ladies whose husbands make so much money that they can afford to donate lots of time free to this ministry. This kind of ministry is simply impossible among churches that do not have any wealthy members."

My Son, The Rock Star

From the beginning, Ethan has been a big fan of pulsating music. So far, his preference leans toward techno and rap. I love watching his little head as it bobs back and forth in perfect time to the beat. He is so serious when it comes to dancing. The smile instantly disappears and is replaced by a most serious countenance. He can be in the middle of a crying spell, but turn up the radio and he can't help but dance. Head banging is obviously not a game; it's life.

So, yesterday morning, we were listening to Weird Al's parody of an Eminem song. Ethan began intently nodding his head and then raised his hand and slowly moved it in the air in perfect Eminem style. It was straight from MTV. Where did he learn this stuff? We had hoped our son would be musically inclined. This just isn't exactly what we had in mind. But hey, if he prefers to rock, I say "Rock on!"

Anniversary Gifts

For our third anniversary today, Hollie gave me a nice Towle barware set with a cocktail shaker, strainer, and double jigger. Mrs Sale Shopper also cheated and bought a new bedspread for her present "from me." In a little while, though, we're leaving for Spokane to do some shopping, so hopefully I'll find her something else that's really from me.

The Anglican Mission in America

For those of you not familiar with AMiA, here's their story.

"Working & Supporting One Another"

A few weeks ago we visited Emmanuel Lutheran Church (ELCA). Emmanuel is the historic Christian church closest to our home in Moscow. (I say "historic" because the Seventh-day Adventist church right beside Emmanuel is technically closer to us.) Geography is key in my view of the church - I believe in parishes and city churches reckoned by geography before ideology. See "The Dominion Church" by Jim Jordan for some related reading.

Anyway, I like to visit other local churches from time to time - especially ones in my neighborhood. So we finally visited Emmanuel Lutheran after driving past it on the way to our church for months. I loved the sung liturgy, as well as the kindness and warmth of the people. However, like many ELCA churches, Emmanuel has one man and one woman pastor. For this and other reasons, I would not join the local chapter of the Evangelical Lutheran Club in America, but our brief visit with them was sweet nonetheless.

Ted & Jane Leidenfrost greeted us at the door. Quite the global missionary family, Ted is from Hungary and Jane is from Idaho. They met many years ago during missionary training in Connecticut, and then served in Nigeria for some thirty years. Most of their children grew up to become missionaries too, including Csaba - one of our elders at Christ Church - who is a Wycliffe Bible translator heading up a team in the Ivory Coast, West Africa.

Following is a letter we received from Ted & Jane, on ELC stationary:

5-31-03
Dear Jon & Hollie:
Thank you for your visit to ELC with your lovely son.
We hope you have been strengthened in your faith commitment by worshiping with fellow members of the Body of Christ. The unbelieving world needs to see the Body of Christ working & supporting one another, so they may also experience the presence of God's Holy Spirit that was in Christ & is available to all who receive Him.
We just returned with Csaba & Heba & his family from Sacramento, CA for the graduation of our second son Gabor by God's grace.
Continue to receive daily the Holy Spirit & continue to let God use you both as Christ's Body for the blessing and healing of the world around you.
God's peace be with you all
Ted & Jane Leidenfrost

Radiohead, Hail to the Thief

On June 11, Dr G and Uncle Josh blogged about it. Today, we bought it. Now, I look forward to listening to it.

Seems Like Only Yesterday

Tuesday will be our third wedding anniversary and Ethan's eleven month birthday. Whoever said that time flies wasn't lying.

Sensus Plenior Down?

Hmmm...I can't get Barlow's blog or any of the blogs he hosts (e.g. Wyclif and Kyriosity) to load either. I'm curious to know what's up; send me an email if you know.

Update 1: Barb says it looks like Barlow got hacked.

Update 2: Ah, here's the answer.

By the way, we're back in Moscow.

Adorans et Sapiens

Today I had lunch with Duane and Robbie. At one point in our conversation, we were talking about the intellectually active lives (across laity and clergy) that exist in our quarters of the Reformed world, which interestingly led to a discussion of the importance of liturgy. Duane mentioned his own background in sentimentalistic, fundamentalist churches where the "real men" had nothing to do with church, and he said he wondered if liturgy does something to keep real men active in thinking about the church.

Then we came to the proverbial chicken & egg dilemma: which comes (or should come) first - the intellectual life or the liturgical life? This ties in with something I was considering over the last few days while reading the book quoted below. Ernest Dimnet wrote a book devoted to The Art of Thinking - but he did so as a churchman who presumably spent much of his life in liturgical services. This ties in with something else that has influenced my own thinking, namely Alexander Schmemman's point in For the Life of the World that a human being is not primarily homo sapiens, "thinking man" - but homo adorans, "worshipping man."

It seems to me that liturgy has the power to cultivate and shape the intellect in ways that nothing else can. Which comes first - liturgical or intellectual development - will vary, as liturgy can produce the best of thinkers, and the best of thinkers can find their way into liturgy. I agree with Schmemman that we are ultimately homo adorans, but I think God made us to be homo sapiens too - and I think "the good life" is a fruitful marriage of the two.

From Abbe Ernest Dimnet's The Art of Thinking (1928):

"What is it that characterises the thinker? First of all, and obviously, vision: the word underlies every line of the descriptions above. The thinker is preeminently a man who sees where others do not. The novelty of what he says, its character as a sort of revelation, the charm that attaches to it, all come from the fact that he sees. He seems to be head and shoulders above the crowd, or to be walking on the ridge-way while others trudge at the bottom. Independence is the word which describes the moral aspect of this capacity for vision. Nothing is more striking than the absence of intellectual independence in most human beings: they conform in opinion, as they do in manners, and are perfectly content with repeating formulas. While they do so, the thinker calmly looks around, giving full play to his mental freedom. He may agree with the consensus known as public opinion, but it will not be because it is universal opinion.

[...]

"People who think for themselves often appear haughty and self-satisfied, because they can hardly be dissatisfied with themselves, or irreverent, because they knock down idols and cannot but enjoy the sport. Men of the intellectual type of Mr Bernard Shaw would evidently be sorry if all silly people suddenly became as wise as themselves. Hating folly and playing with it rather cruelly is a healthy exercise of the faculties: the Bible abounds with instances. Thinkers are also apt to appear dictatorial, to compel people to follow in their wake. The reason is because seeing the truth - whose other name is salvation - and realising that other people will not see it, they treat them as grown-ups must treat children.

[...]

"But, in their innermost nature, thinkers are preeminently teachers, and it is to the credit of most of them that they devote their lives to preaching the truth they see. Some of them do so in admirable speeches or books, others in the picturesque language of the artist, but, whatever the vehicle, the devotion to truth remains visible. Some literary men appear original because of the bizarre character of their expression; but the least effort to boil down their most arresting page to its salt of pure thought will show that they have little to say: not being able to pose as teachers, they must be content with imitating the acrobat who makes a speech standing on his head while gesticulating with his legs. Such men will find imitators but no followers, whereas the thinker, whether he wishes it or not, is a leader."

Life Lessons

My family and I spent three days shopping in Dallas this past week. I scored a nice stash of loot and also learned a few things along the way. First, 90% of the billboards in Dallas advertise strip clubs. Second, no one who actually lives in Dallas speaks English. Third, no matter how close your dad tells you to follow him in the car, crazy 5:00 traffic and the laws of physics dictate otherwise. Fourth, and most importantly, if three of your family members enter a gas station restroom, leave gagging, and warn you not to enter...listen to them!

A Peck of Gold

Welcome Shannon! A couple weeks ago I mentioned my friend Patrick's online art gallery, and today I got an email from his wife Shannon that she has an actual blog (which is different from the "Not an Actual Blog" that the Booth links).

Visiting Priorities

As much as I love visiting family and friends, there's one part that's always tough: knowing how to divide time between everyone. For instance, this morning I called some relatives to tell them when we were coming over, and they actually tried to give me a guilt-trip for not staying a whole day or two with them.

So here, for all to see, are some of my highest visiting priorities:

You help pay for my plane ticket
You communicate with me regularly
We need to spend time together (e.g. if I missed you last time, if we need to talk, or if you're getting married)
I enjoy hanging out with you
You ~~bribe~~ invite me to do something

Bruce Almighty

Matt Wilkins and I went to see Bruce Almighty today. I wasn't interested in seeing it until I read this interview with director, Tom Shadyac. The movie wasn't great, but I didn't expect greatness. I expected entertainment toying with theology, and that's what I got. Surprisingly enough, I also came away somehow encouraged to pray more and better, which is never a bad thing.

Chinese, Anyone?

My Chinese dining experiences in Moscow have been disappointing. The food has been consistently bland and/or downright disgusting. I still shake my fist in the air when passing a certain establishment that served me "Chinese Fried Chicken." What they should have called it was "Chinese Fried Chicken Bones" since my plate consisted of bones smothered in onions. Seriously, I had maybe 6 small nibblets of meat on the entire plate. I left ravenously hungry and resorted to grabbing a hefty handful of mints from the counter on my way out the door. So, tonight I'm hitting the all-you-can-eat Peking buffet. They never let me down. Mmm, it's good to be home.

AAPC Softball

Last night we got to watch the two best teams in the Monroe church softball league battle it out: AAPC and House of Prayer. Turns out, the game was tied, the one hour and fifteen minute time limit was about to expire, and AAPC scored a run to win the game. Wow. Everyone said we saw the best game of the season, and I believe them.

Moments that come to mind:

Roger Carter's (one of my groomsmen in our wedding) running catch in the outfield
Bart's risky but successful slide into home
Jonathan Branson's (my future brother-in-law, if I may speak that way) diving catch in midfield between first and second

I'm sure there were other great moments, but through most of the game I was talking to friends in the bleachers instead of paying close attention to the game, so I'm probably leaving out a highlight or two. But that's what comments are for.