HOB: Reactions to the Weekend, Monday, Looking Ahead

Well, the Episcopal HOB certainly looks like it is going to discard any possibility of complying with the Primates' requests. The eventual statement looks like it will fall somewhere in between "we've already complied" and "there's nothing we can do, because only General Convention can speak for the church."

Read up on the details at Stand Firm or TitusOneNine (Site links only, too many individual articles to read!)

The only real interesting item that came out of yesterday's HOB presser is that Jon Bruno, Bishop of Los Angeles, seems to have claimed that rites for same-sex blessings don't happen in his diocese, at least not without his permission. Funny, since Stand Firm has documented here, here, here, and here the public acknowledgement of such services. Furthermore, Baby Blue has documented that not only did one of these happen in his diocese, Bishop Bruno presided at it!

Bishop Bruno probably was taken aback by the source of the question, since it came from The New York Times. Memo to liberals: the liberal press is only your friend so long as you are as liberal as they are.

From the left (view at your own risk):

Elizabeth Kaeton on why it's ok for liberals not to follow any rules in advance of their agenda since we know it's right and the rest of the world hasn't caught up yet.


Looking forward though, today begins the Common Cause Partnership meeting of Bishops here in Pittsburgh! The Rt. Rev. Robert Duncan, Bishop of Pittsburgh, will be addresing the conference as part of the opening Eucharistic celebration tonight. Wish I could attend in person, but Kevin Kallsen at Anglican TV says he'll be streaming the event live.

Addition: Make sure and watch the Anglican TV interview with +Duncan.

TFH 9/21: Pvt. Reginald Roy Inwood, 10th Battalion/Royal South Australian Regiment

Today's installment of "Their Finest Hour" comes from the ranks of Victoria Cross holders, the British Empire's and now British Commonwealth's equivalent of our Medal of Honor. Reginald Roy Inwood received his VC for gallantry in battle on September 21, 1917 during the First World War. The text of Private Inwood's Victoria Cross citation follows:

For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty during the advance to the third objective. He moved forward through our barrage alone to an enemy strong post and captured it, together with nine prisoners, killing several of the enemy. During the evening he volunteered for a special all-night patrol, which went out 600 yards in front of our line, and there, by his coolness and sound judgment obtained and sent back very valuable information as to the enemy movements. In the morning of the 21st September, Private Inwood located a machine-gun which was causing several casualties. He went out alone and bombed the gun and team, killing all but one whom he brought in as a prisoner with the gun.

Thank you for your bravery, sacrifices, and service! September 21, 1917 was your finest hour!

An Amazing Address!

The Most Rev. Mouneer Anis, Archbishop of the Episcopal Church of Jerusalem and the Middle East and member of the Anglican Primates' Standing Committee, has delivered an incredible, faithful, Godly address to TEC's House of Bishops.

Read it all at Stand Firm in Faith.

Some excerpts:

My friends, like you, we want to be relevant to the culture in which we live. More importantly, we want to be salt and light to our societies. That is not an easy calling but it means we must remain distinct and humble at the same time. Without being distinct we cannot be salt and light; without humility we will not represent the one who said, “I am meek and lowly in heart.” We are also continuously challenged whether we should allow the culture to transform the Apostolic Faith we once received, or if we should allow the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform our culture as it has in the past. As we struggle to answer this question we must never divorce ourselves from the faith that countless men, women and children died to protect. I believer that if we faithfully serve the Church of Christ, He will continue to fulfill his promise that the gates of Hades will not prevail against her...

And:

Anglicans are aware with humility that we are not “the” church but we are one member of the body of Christ, the one Holy Catholic Church. We proclaim this every week in our churches. This places upon us the responsibility to listen to and respect our ecumenical partners.

My friends, you may believe you have discovered a very different truth from that of the majority in the Anglican Communion. It is not just about sexuality, but about your views of Christ, the Gospel, and the authority of the Bible. Please forgive me when I relay that some say you are a different church, others even think that you are a different religion...

And:

With respect, I have to say that those who would prefer to speak of laws and procedures, constitutions and canons, committees and process: you are missing the point! It is our mutual loyalty and fellowship, submitting to one another in the common cause of Jesus Christ that makes us of one Church one faith and one Lord.

And:

I know that you value personal freedom and independence. The whole world learns this from you. You need to demonstrate this by securing freedom for the American orthodox Anglicans who do not share your theological direction. Show your spirit of inclusiveness when you deal with them...

Amen, Amen, AMEN!

Thanks be to God for witnesses such as ++Anis! Thanks and prayers also for Matt Kennedy+ and the others at Stand Firm and TitusOneNine who are our eyes and ears in New Orleans.

HOB Meeting Updates

Stand Firm reports today about resolution proposals from +Jenkins (Bp. Louisiana) and a group of other "Camp Allen/Windsor" Bishops using language that is more in line with the Windsor Report and both the Dromatine and Dar es Saalam Primates' communiques.

I have mixed reactions to these proposals:

1) I am hopeful - and prayerful - that there is enough of an orthodox belief within the HOB that these proposals will see the light of day.

2) The association of two ACN Bishops - +Stanton (Dallas) and +Schofield (San Joaquin) - with +Jenkins' proposal is somewhat encouraging. On the part of +Schofield, I am somewhat surprised he's associated with it given San Joaquin's in-progress actions to disassociate with TEC.

3) I do not think that these proposals go far enough; I am still very uneasy to have any presence under the structure of TEC, barring true repentance on the part of the HOB.

4) The fact that there has been no statements yet from +Duncan (Pittsburgh, and ACN Moderator), +Iker (Ft. Worth), or +Ackerman (Quincy) gives me pause.

While I believe that the HOB and TEC are inexorably fixed on their revisionist course and that neither of the conciliatory (to the AC Primates) proposals have any hope of passing a vote in the HOB, I do know that with God all things are possible. I'm concerned that if such a resolution would pass it pulls the rug out from those of us standing firm for traditional Christianity and against the theological innovations of TEC.

Please continue to pray for Christ's Church, often and loud!

Jesus, please continue to pour out your Holy Spirit onto the House of Bishops. Show them the path. Strengthen them all with your grace, that their words and actions may not be just theirs, but yours. Amen.

Outwit, Outplay, Outlast!

Survivor: China

The new season of Survivor starts tonight! Not going to be live blogging, but will give my takes as the season goes on...

UPDATE: (so much for the not live blog) I'm surprised that CBS didn't have it shot in HD this year...bummer!

The Rt. Rev. Bill Love writes his diocese

+Love is the Bishop of Albany, an Anglican Communion Network diocese. His words from a pre-HOB meeting letter to his flock:

I invite you to join me in praying that the Holy Spirit will come mightily upon this House, touching and transforming the hearts and souls and minds of every Bishop here, helping us to discern and carry out the will of God. May His will and only His will be done. Just as Paul encountered the risen Lord on the road to Damascus, may we too have a Damascus road experience in which we, the House of Bishops, are convicted of that which is not of God, repenting and asking His forgiveness of our sins, and then be given the grace to be faithful and obedient in exercising our ministry as bishops in God’s holy Church, keeping Jesus Christ at the center of all that we do.

Amen, amen! His will be done. Lord, come have Your way with us!

Hat Tip: TitusOneNine

TFH 9/19-20: Captain Everett Parker Pope, USMC

From Medal of Honor Citations:

POPE, EVERETT PARKER

Rank and organization: Captain, U.S. Marine Corps, Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Peleliu Island, Palau group, 19-20 September 1944. Entered service at: Massachusetts. Born: 16 July 1919, Milton, Mass. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as commanding officer of Company C, 1st Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces on Peleliu Island, Palau group, on 19-20 September 1944. Subjected to pointblank cannon fire which caused heavy casualties and badly disorganized his company while assaulting a steep coral hill, Capt. Pope rallied his men and gallantly led them to the summit in the face of machinegun, mortar, and sniper fire. Forced by widespread hostile attack to deploy the remnants of his company thinly in order to hold the ground won, and with his machineguns out of order and insufficient water and ammunition, he remained on the exposed hill with 12 men and 1 wounded officer determined to hold through the night. Attacked continuously with grenades, machineguns, and rifles from 3 sides, he and his valiant men fiercely beat back or destroyed the enemy, resorting to hand-to-hand combat as the supply of ammunition dwindled, and still maintaining his lines with his 8 remaining riflemen when daylight brought more deadly fire and he was ordered to withdraw. His valiant leadership against devastating odds while protecting the units below from heavy Japanese attack reflects the highest credit upon Capt. Pope and the U.S. Naval Service.

Captain Pope, thank you for your gallantry, service, and sacrifices for the cause of Freedom. September 19 & 20, 1944 was your finest hour!

Congratulations Andy Pettite; Yanks still on the move!

Andy Pettite racked up his 200th career win last night against Baltimore. Toronto obliged by beating Boston again. The Yankees are now just 1.5 games back of the Red Sox with a game at hand.

If I was the Red Sox, I'd be hoping that Detroit doesn't turn it around. Here's to hoping the Red Sox collapse is complete - they go 2-7 over their last nine, the Tigers post a 7-2 or better, and either they have to have a playoff or the Tigers chuck them out of the post-season outright!

House of Bishops Meeting - Pray for the Church!

The Episcopal Church's House of Bishops meeting begins today in New Orleans. Let us all pray, that even at this late hour, repentance will be chosen over innovation.

Let us all pray today for the whole of Christ's Church!

Father, we pray today for the bishops assembled in New Orleans. May they all be filled with your Holy Spirit and truly "defend the faith" as they are called to do. We pray especially for Rowan, the Archbishop of Canterbury, as he struggles with the leadership and unity of the Anglican Communion. I also want to lift up to you Robert and Henry, my diocesan bishops; may you continue to strengthen and encourage them in their stand for traditional and orthodox Christian faith. I pray these things in Jesus' name, amen.

Finally, the best sources of news and commentary coming out of New Orleans will likely be:

Stand Firm in Faith
TitusOneNine
Anglican TV

Check them out regularly!

Here Come the Yankees!

After drubbing the Orioles last night 12-0 - and Boston losing to Toronto - the Yankees are just 2.5 games back!

BOS: 90-62, 10 games remaining
NYY: 87-64, 11 games remaining

2.5 back with a game at hand? Forget the wild card baby, Yanks will take the division! Echoes of 1978 all around...

Avast, ye scurvy knaves!

Shiver me timbers, it's International Talk Like a Pirate Day! Arrr!

TFH 9/18: PFC Dewayne T. Williams, USMC

From Medal of Honor Citations:

*WILLIAMS, DEWAYNE T.

Rank and organization: Private First Class, U.S. Marine Corps, Company H, 2d Battalion, 1st Marines, 1st Marine Division. Place and date: Quang Nam Province, Republic of Vietnam, 18 September 1968. Entered service at: Saint Clair, Mich. Born: 18 September 1949, Brown City, Mich. Citation: For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a rifleman with the 1st Platoon, Company H, in action against communist insurgent forces. Pfc. Williams was a member of a combat patrol sent out from the platoon with the mission of establishing positions in the company's area of operations, from which it could intercept and destroy enemy sniper teams operating in the area. In the night as the patrol was preparing to move from its daylight position to a preselected night position, it was attacked from ambush by a squad of enemy using small arms and hand grenades. Although severely wounded in the back by the close intense fire, Pfc. Williams, recognizing the danger to the patrol, immediately began to crawl forward toward a good firing position. While he was moving under the continuing intense fire, he heard one of the members of the patrol sound the alert that an enemy grenade had landed in their position. Reacting instantly to the alert, he saw that the grenade had landed close to where he was Lying and without hesitation, in a valiant act of heroism, rolled on top of the grenade as it exploded, absorbing the full and tremendous impact of the explosion with his body. Through his extraordinary initiative and inspiring valor in the face of certain death, he saved the other members of his patrol from serious injury and possible loss of life, and enabled them to successfully defeat the attackers and hold their position until assistance arrived. His personal heroism and devotion to duty upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

Dewayne, I honor your sacrifice for the cause of Freedom. September 18, 1968 was your finest hour!

Every day is a gift

One week ago today, I was driving on the Ohio Turnpike south of Cleveland when I was clipped in the left rear by an 18-wheeler, proceeded to spin across three traffic lanes without being hit by anything, and crashed into the center concrete barrier. As providence would have it, the only damage was to my car - I walked away completely unhurt, but with very frazzled nerves.

Today, I made the same trip along the same stretch of road feeling very nervous. The skid marks I left on the pavement are gone, but I did see the black marks on the concrete where my car hit. On passing, I said a brief prayer of thanksgiving for the protection that He assuredly extended to me last week.

Every morning when I wake, I thank Jesus Christ for being given another day. All the more so now, I also ask Him every morning what his plan for me on this day is.

Everything comes from Him above; no life is possible without our Lord and Savior. If you don't give Him thanks daily, I encourage you to do so! As I now pray daily to ask the Lord what is His mind for me, I know not where he will lead me, but I know that I will trust in Him.

Thanks be to God!

9/11 - Six Years On

Today is September 11. We are still at war. God bless the United States of America.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov'd homes and the war's desolation,
Blest with vic'try and peace may the Heav'n-rescued land
Praise the Pow'r that hath made and preserv'd us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our Trust."
And the Star-Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!
-- Francis Scott Key, "The Defense of Fort McHenry"

The following text is from a speech by Winston Churchill, obtained via The Churchill Centre.

You do your worst - and we will do our best.

I must, however, admit that when the storm broke in September, I was for several weeks very anxious about the result. Sometimes the gas failed; sometimes the electricity. There were grievous complaints about the shelters and about conditions in them. Water was cut off, railways were cut or broken, large districts were destroyed, thousands were killed, and many more thousands were wounded. But there was one thing about which there was never any doubt. The courage, the unconquerable grit and stamina of our people, showed itself from the very outset. Without that all would have failed. Upon that rock, all stood unshakable. All the public services were carried on, and all the intricate arrangements, far-reaching details, involving the daily lives of so many millions, were carried out, improvised, elaborated, and perfected in the very teeth of the cruel and devastating storm.
We have to ask ourselves this question: Will the bombing attacks come back again? We have proceeded on the assumption that they will. Many new arrangements are being contrived as a result of the hard experience through which we have passed and the many mistakes which no doubt we have made - for success is the result of making many mistakes and learning from experience. If the lull is to end, if the storm is to renew itself, we will be ready, will will not flinch, we can take it again.

We ask no favours of the enemy. We seek from them no compunction. On the contrary, if tonight our people were asked to cast their vote whether a convention should be entered into to stop the bombing of cities, the overwhelming majority would cry, "No, we will mete out to them the measure, and more than the measure, that they have meted out to us." The people with one voice would say: "You have committed every crime under the sun. Where you have been the least resisted there you have been the most brutal. It was you who began the indiscriminate bombing. We will have no truce or parley with you, or the grisly gang who work your wicked will. You do your worst - and we will do our best." Perhaps it may be our turn soon; perhaps it may be our turn now.

We live in a terrible epoch of the human story, but we believe there is a broad and sure justice running through its theme. It is time that the enemy should be made to suffer in their own homelands something of the torment they have let loose upon their neighbours and upon the world. We believe it to be in our power to keep this process going, on a steadily rising tide, month after month, year after year, until they are either extirpated by us or, better still, torn to pieces by their own people.

It is for this reason that I must ask you to be prepared for vehement counter-action by the enemy. Our methods of dealing with them have steadily improved. They no longer relish their trips to our shores. I do not know why they do not come, but it is certainly not because they have begun to love us more. It may be because they are saving up, but even if that be so, the very fact that they have to save up should give us confidence by revealing the truth of our steady advance from an almost unarmed position to superiority. But all engaged in our defence forces must prepare themselves for further heavy assaults. Your organization, your vigilance, your devotion to duty, your zeal for the cause must be raised to the highest intensity.

We do not expect to hit without being hit back, and we intend with every week that passes to hit harder. Prepare yourselves, then, my friends and comrades, for this renewal of your exertions. We shall never turn from our purpose, however sombre the road, however grievous the cost, because we know that out of this time of trial and tribulation will be born a new freedom and glory for all mankind.

Sir Winston's words are just as true today, as they were six years ago this day, as they were in 1941.

Pray for these children

Just saw this article on CNN's website about horribly deformed and handicapped children whose condition is a legacy of Soviet-era nuclear testing and contamination.

Please keep them and their caregivers (sadly, the story is mainly about an orphanage), as well as the other untold victims of Communist "peverted science" [ed. note: see masthead quote!] in your prayers.

Gee, and here I was thinking the United States was the center of environmental evil; well, at least that's the impression you'd get from the MSM...

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Say it ain't so, Joe!

ESPN is reporting that Joe Gibbs Racing is going to announce a switch to Toyota for next year's season.  If it's true, then I think they're traitors to the sport and I'm done liking Tony Stewart, even though I've been following him since his sprint car days and we also share the exact same birth date.

In my mind, there's Chevrolets and everything else, but Toyota in NASCAR is an abomination.

Charles Krauthammer: Brilliant as Usual!

Charles Krauthammer has written a great column entitled "In Defense of Certainty" that is posted on Time Magazine's website. He hits several nails on the head.

What nonsense. The campaign against certainty is merely the philosophical veneer for an attempt to politically marginalize and intellectually disenfranchise believers. Instead of arguing the merits of any issue, secularists are trying to win the argument by default on the grounds that the other side displays unhealthy certainty or, even worse, unseemly religiosity.

And:

Nothing has more aroused and infuriated the sophisticates than the foreign policy of a religiously inclined President, based on the notion of a universal aspiration to freedom and of America's need and duty to advance it around the world. Such liberationism, confident and unapologetic, is portrayed as arrogant crusading, a deep violation of the tradition of American pluralism, ecumenism, modesty and skeptical restraint.

That widespread portrayal is invention masquerading as history. You want certainty? You want religiosity? How about a people who overthrow the political order of the ages, go to war and occasion thousands of deaths in the name of self-evident truths and unalienable rights endowed by the Creator? That was 1776. The universality, the sacredness and the divine origin of freedom are enshrined in our founding document. The Founders, believers all, signed it. Thomas Jefferson wrote it. And not even Jefferson, the most skeptical of the lot, had the slightest doubt about it.

Rock on, brother! (Hat Tip: Matt Kennedy+ @ Stand Firm, original post with comment thread)

"Duh!" of the Day

Stayed in a hotel last night, so of course hanging on my door this morning was my complimentary copy of USA Today. Right on the front page is an article with the following headline:

"PUBLIC vs. PRIVATE - Two years after Katrina"

There are two pictures: one of a firefighter standing in front of scaffolding, and one of a woman standing in a beautifully decorated and equipped kitchen. Before I even opened the fold of the paper to read the article, I knew exactly what it was going to say - that folks who have been waiting on the government to fix or foot the bill for rebuilding after Hurricane Katrina are still living and working in FEMA trailers while those who prepared, had insurance, reserves, or just good old plain American know-how and resolve are back in their homes and businesses.

And you know what, I was right! Read it all here. Here's a clue dear readers, if you're going to wait on the government to bail you out, get used to waiting.

The headline on the web version is "2 years after Katrina, pace of rebuilding depends on who pays". Wait a second, for those who are waiting on Uncle Sam, aren't we all paying?

Two new categories launched by this post: "Duh Moment" and "Public vs. Private"

Only 9 of 10? Shame on us!

According to this article from Reuters, the United States is the most armed country with enough guns for 90% of the population to have one. That isn't good enough! The Constitution says "keep and bear" folks - let's get on with it!

For my part, I'll arm myself further to pick up some of the slack when I'm able. My Glock 23 is lonely...

Hat Tip: Drudge

Here's the Presidential Endorsement I'd Want!

According to CNN, Fidel Castro has called a Clinton/Obama '08 Presidential Ticket "invincible".

Communists...takes one to know two?