Earth's Core Spinning Faster Than Crust
WASHINGTON (AP) - The giant iron ball at the center of the Earth appears to be spinning a bit faster than the rest of the planet.
I wonder how long it will take the extremist environmentalists to blame this on Pres. Bush.
Friday, August 26, 2005
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Daily Office readings for 08/16/2005
Mark 11:27-12:12
27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?'
This the question of our day. ECUSA, by what authority are you doing these things?
Some possible answers:
1. By the authority of my feelings.
2. By the authority of society.
3. By the authority of my world view.
4. By the authority of the Holy Spirit. NOT
5. By the authority of my left wing extreme, elitest sub-culture.
6. By the authority of the spirit of this age.
7. My mommy told me to always play nicely with my friends.
Feel free to add your own answers.
27 Again they came to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders came to him 28and said, 'By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority to do them?'
This the question of our day. ECUSA, by what authority are you doing these things?
Some possible answers:
1. By the authority of my feelings.
2. By the authority of society.
3. By the authority of my world view.
4. By the authority of the Holy Spirit. NOT
5. By the authority of my left wing extreme, elitest sub-culture.
6. By the authority of the spirit of this age.
7. My mommy told me to always play nicely with my friends.
Feel free to add your own answers.
Saturday, August 13, 2005
Thumb in the dike
Lutheran Assembly Stays the Course on Human Sexuality
According to the Living Church report, it looks like the Lutherans have held back the tide, at least for now.
Delegates to the 9th biennial Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Orlando rejected proposals to allow a local option for the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of gay clergy,
However, the tide is still pounding on the walls.
The status quo was affirmed when an amendment that would explicitly ban same-sex blessings failed to pass on a vote of 418-541, as did an amendment that stated that pastoral care for same-sex couples did not include the blessing of unions, 415-580.
In comparison, the following is a copy of a statement published in 2003 from the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).
How refreshing!
SCOBA STATEMENT ON MORAL CRISIS IN OUR NATION
August 27, 2003
As members of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), representing more than 5 million Orthodox Christians in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we are deeply concerned about recent developments regarding “same sex unions.”
The Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, 2000 years of church tradition, and canon law, holds that marriage consists in the conjugal union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage is blessed by God as a sacrament of the Church. Neither Scripture nor Holy Tradition blesses or sanctions such a union between persons of the same sex.
Holy Scripture attests that God creates man and woman in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27-31), that those called to do so might enjoy a conjugal union that ideally leads to procreation. While not every marriage is blessed with the birth of children, every such union exists to create of a man and a woman a new reality of “one flesh.” This can only involve a relationship based on gender complementarity. “God made them male and female… So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8).
The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage reflects the union between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). As such, marriage is necessarily monogamous and heterosexual. Within this union, sexual relations between a husband and wife are to be cherished and protected as a sacred expression of their love that has been blessed by God. Such was God’s plan for His human creatures from the very beginning. Today, however, this divine purpose is increasingly questioned, challenged or denied, even within some faith communities, as social and political pressures work to normalize, legalize and even sanctify same-sex unions.
The Orthodox Church cannot and will not bless same-sex unions. Whereas marriage be-tween a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness.
As heads of the Orthodox Churches in America and members of SCOBA, we speak with one voice in expressing our deep concern over recent developments. And we pray fervently that the traditional form of marriage, as an enduring and committed union only between a man and a woman, will be honored.
AMEN, AMEN!!
According to the Living Church report, it looks like the Lutherans have held back the tide, at least for now.
Delegates to the 9th biennial Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in Orlando rejected proposals to allow a local option for the blessing of same-sex unions or the ordination of gay clergy,
However, the tide is still pounding on the walls.
The status quo was affirmed when an amendment that would explicitly ban same-sex blessings failed to pass on a vote of 418-541, as did an amendment that stated that pastoral care for same-sex couples did not include the blessing of unions, 415-580.
In comparison, the following is a copy of a statement published in 2003 from the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA).
How refreshing!
SCOBA STATEMENT ON MORAL CRISIS IN OUR NATION
August 27, 2003
As members of the Standing Conference of the Canonical Orthodox Bishops in the Americas (SCOBA), representing more than 5 million Orthodox Christians in the United States, Canada and Mexico, we are deeply concerned about recent developments regarding “same sex unions.”
The Orthodox Christian teaching on marriage and sexuality, firmly grounded in Holy Scripture, 2000 years of church tradition, and canon law, holds that marriage consists in the conjugal union of a man and a woman, and that authentic marriage is blessed by God as a sacrament of the Church. Neither Scripture nor Holy Tradition blesses or sanctions such a union between persons of the same sex.
Holy Scripture attests that God creates man and woman in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:27-31), that those called to do so might enjoy a conjugal union that ideally leads to procreation. While not every marriage is blessed with the birth of children, every such union exists to create of a man and a woman a new reality of “one flesh.” This can only involve a relationship based on gender complementarity. “God made them male and female… So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Mark 10:6-8).
The union between a man and a woman in the Sacrament of Marriage reflects the union between Christ and His Church (Ephesians 5:21-33). As such, marriage is necessarily monogamous and heterosexual. Within this union, sexual relations between a husband and wife are to be cherished and protected as a sacred expression of their love that has been blessed by God. Such was God’s plan for His human creatures from the very beginning. Today, however, this divine purpose is increasingly questioned, challenged or denied, even within some faith communities, as social and political pressures work to normalize, legalize and even sanctify same-sex unions.
The Orthodox Church cannot and will not bless same-sex unions. Whereas marriage be-tween a man and a woman is a sacred institution ordained by God, homosexual union is not. Like adultery and fornication, homosexual acts are condemned by Scripture (Rom 1:24-27; 1 Cor 6:10; 1 Tim 1:10). This being said, however, we must stress that persons with a homosexual orientation are to be cared for with the same mercy and love that is bestowed by our Lord Jesus Christ upon all of humanity. All persons are called by God to grow spiritually and morally toward holiness.
As heads of the Orthodox Churches in America and members of SCOBA, we speak with one voice in expressing our deep concern over recent developments. And we pray fervently that the traditional form of marriage, as an enduring and committed union only between a man and a woman, will be honored.
AMEN, AMEN!!
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Daily Office readings for 08/09/05
Mark 10:1-16 (NRSV)
6But from the beginning of creation, "God made them male and female." 7"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh." So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'
That about says it all, don't you think. This passage creates a problem for many on the extreme left. First of all it mentions creation by God, not very PC. Then it mentions male and female, not very PC either.
What God has joined together, let no one separate. What God has not joined together, let no one else do so.
6But from the beginning of creation, "God made them male and female." 7"For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, 8and the two shall become one flesh." So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.'
That about says it all, don't you think. This passage creates a problem for many on the extreme left. First of all it mentions creation by God, not very PC. Then it mentions male and female, not very PC either.
What God has joined together, let no one separate. What God has not joined together, let no one else do so.
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