jealousy

I was taking some birthday pictures of Ellie, when someone else decided she wanted to be center stage

Heavenly Reward Points

Watching CNN this morning (no Fox News in CRW), they were talking about the new Credit Card from Washington Mutual. 1% of every purchase spent is donated to the Roman Catholic Church's Mission Fund.

Initially, I thought that was a very interesting strategy by the RCC. However, when we peal back the issue a few theological problems arise.

1) It confirms a consumeristic approach to Church. Suddenly, buying a new Plasma TV becomes an act of generosity. It suggests that a me-centered approach to money, materialism and giving is adequate. Much like the RED campaign.
2) There is no act of giving. I have always struggled with why we pass the plate in the pew each week, especially with automatic bill pay. However, I believe there is something about taking money physically out of one's wallet or putting the pen to piece of paper to write that check in order to place them into the offering plate that is quasi-sacramental. It is a visible sign of our understanding that all things belong to God and we should rightfully return them to Him. It takes concious thought, not mindless spending.
3) It legitimizes the credit crisis many people in America are facing. Suddenly, the plastic charge card will carry a sense of holiness as families go further into debt. I strongly believe that consumer debt cripples and enslaves many families as they struggle to live outside of their means because "one day I'll be able to pay it off." Therefore, putting the Holy Seal onto a credit card gives a false sense of godliness to an industry that is not interested in helping the Roman Catholic Church's Mission Fund, but their own bottomline.

While I give credit (ba-dum-cha) to the RCC for trying to creatively address it's financial struggles, I do not think that a 1% reward will do anything other than create further problems as many other faith groups are a-critically considering similar moves.

Graduation

Yep, that is me in the middle. It is official, I have completed my degree and I am now a Master of Divinity.
It was a fun weekend, but went by so fast.
I was forced to do my first exercise post-surgery (against the doctor's orders) because I was late and had to run from my car to the processional. I did, however, end up with the best seat in the house. Third row, center aisle. Got to see all the action.
Plus, I received an unexpected award, that I am honored, humbled and appreciative of; the Kenyon J. Wildrick award for Homiletics, at first I thought they said "Home Ec" but then I pulled out my Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms.

For some of the photos from this weekend: Graduation

emBODYing

As I left Providence Presbyterain for Seminary I received some sage advice:
"Wes, the friends you make in seminary will be the people who you will contact when things go awry in your church. They will be your support no matter where God leads you. So invest in your friendship there, because those will help sustain you in ministry."

As we celebrate graduation and people begin to see receive and accept calls, I whole heartedly agree with her assessement. Last night we had a slideshow for family and friends to reflect upon our 3 years here. I was laughing to myself that there were only two pictures with folks reading books (Rick and Don for those keeping score). While whatever occurred in Stuart Hall these three years is valuable, I realized--once again--that the true value has occurred in community.

When I was looking for seminary, I was wrestling with going to Gordon-Conwell for its strong Christian community or for Princeton for its ability to stretch me spiritually and academically. Little did I expect to receive both here, and for that Lindsay and I feel blessed.

As was said well last night, the community that is here reflects well what Paul meant by the Body of Christ. We have been able to laugh, celebrate, mourn, support, encourage and pray for each. While this gives me great hope for the how folks will be leaving Princeton to impact particular communities, it does make it hard to leave such a community.

But our missional calling is that we have been called, gathered and equipped here in order that we may be sent for others.

Indecent Biblical Exposure

For those who don't frequent the Relevant Magazine site, I found this article rather interesting:

Residents in Hong Kong have formally complained to officials about content in the Bible and called for it to reclassified as "indecent." The complaints came after a column in a university student journal discussed some the Bible's sexual and violent content. If the government does deem the Bible indecent, only people over the age of 18 could purchase it, and it would be sealed with a wrapper and a warning.

Though, I agree that the "indecent" stories the Bible tells, about rape, murder, violence, etc. do not condone these behaviors but rather reveal the reality of our human condition.
But, what if people were to start looking at the stories of the Bible less like a happy fairy tale that tells us how to live good, happy and prosperous lives, and start seeing the raw human emotion and experience it expresses. There is something about the Bible that is replusive, in the sense that it awakens us to our human condition and shows us to be the indecent ones--kinda of like Neo in The Matrix taking the red pill (or was it the blue one-I forget).
Not to mention shelving the Bible next to beer, cigarettes, porn and handguns may make teenagers feel more "rebellious" when they pick up the "Good Book."

Scars and Stories

One of the best scenes of any movie was in Jaws when the men sat around telling how they got their scars. I was thinking (here we go again) the other day about how this surgery is going to leave a nasty scar on my back. That got me to scour my body thinking about the other stories behind my other scars...here are a few...

My head: I was 6 years old jumping on my parents brass bed. Naturally, I slipped and smacked my head on it. Leaving a nice scar right at my receding hairline. Of course, my hallmates at Davidson believed that I had a metal plate put in my head...not sure if that says something about me or them.

Above my upper lip: got into a fight in 4th grade over who could sit by this girl (forgot her name). Michael H. (remember his name) cut me with a compass; the one's used for making circles.

The back of my hand: First game of my senior year in high school. My buddy Drew was pumped up for the game, and smacked the door I was holding up. I played the entire game--grunt, grunt. Went to the ER were they reopened the wound, and you could see the bone it was so deep; got 5 stitches--grunt, grunt.

Under my chin: Tried to drive the paint on my same buddy Drew (6'6, 280lbs). Flagrant foul! having me hit my temple, cheek and then chin on the court. Got up and tried to finish the game as the blood cogaluated in my gottee--grunt, grunt.

And now, a 6 inch cut from...hmm...I guess laying out by the pool too much as a kid--whimper, whimper.
If you want to see the cut click here (not for children)

Recovering

So on Thursday morning i had a quick surgical procedure. I was in the hospital at 6am, out by 10:30am. They removed an area on my back--about the size of a golfball--and things went fairly smoothly. All this to say, I figured I would be back to 100% by today.
But it is amazing how the body recovers.

I remember working on the rehab floor last summer meeting people who had double knee replacements. They were always frustrated at how slow the recovery was. However, when they would stop and reflect about how within a short couple of days they were moving around, able to walk up stairs, and other "amazing" feats, they could see the bigger picture.

It was the little things that always surprised them that would take the longest to recover. Getting in and out of a car, getting off of the toliet--these were the small things that were frustrating because they would not be able to do them for a while.

In a very very minor way I can now relate.
I have been relegated to the sofa for the past two days and told I cannot exercise for 4 weeks. I cannot put on a t-shirt without help, I cannot lift Ellie for two weeks, and I cannot but my arms above my head to sleep. I tried to walk to the mall yesterday, but that just compounded the pain. And I discovered I do not like percocet.

While I am impressed that glue and stitches (they really did use glue! to close up the incision) are able to hold me together. I get frustrated about what seems like a slow recovery. But like I tried to tell my patients, it was only two days ago.

Now imagine being my poor wife having to deal with me (the hypochondriac), Ellie (our two month old) and Savannah (a hyper-pug). Lord have mercy on her.

~PS-you should have seen my first percocet-induced posts I tried yesterday.

Back Blogging

I know this is not kosher,
but this week--actually the past month--has been a rollercoaster.
I needed to get through some obsticales and hurdles along the way,
I had been journeling, just not publishing some reflections, they are up now, however.

I appreciate those who have been in prayer.
And to those who are finding out via a blog, my apologies for the poor communication.

But this place is still cranking, so come back--and don't forget to see how cute our daughter is:
Ellie

"I am so smart...

...S-M-R-T. I mean S-M-A-R-T"

That's it folks. I am done, no more papers. My father-in-law asked me how many pages total I think I have written over the 3 years. Unfortunately, my computer crashed last spring so my calculations are all in my head.
4 classes per semester, 20-25 pages per class. Two semesters per year=600pages. Maybe one day I will sit down and count it out...probably not.

But my final paper was the most fun, Barth the Evangelist, I will post a link here

Cruising

I am certified...so begins the discernment process...Me, a new doo, and the PT Cruiser are heading below the gnat line.

Old School

Last night I had my final assessment. This was the last stage before I was approved to receive a call in the PC(USA). I went in nervous figuring they would be grilling me...and I was right.
There was concern and conversation raised about my statement of faith. Some of the people felt as though I was not clear enough in my statements to suggsets that I had strong convictions and belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. While I agree with their concerns that those be apparent, I found myself in a quandry. My sense of call is to reach out to those who are un/de/over-churched, and so I try to tailor my language in such a manner as to invite them into a conversation about faith and who Jesus Christ.
Therefore my goal with the statement was to claim mysteries of faith, but then follow those up with statements of absolutes (the stuff to the right of the colon).

In the end my mission was accomplished because after approval the committee sat around for another 20 minutes to discuss my work--now as a collegue.

An interesting question posed to me is how my statement of faith would be (and should it be) rewritten depending upon my audience...I think so.