Posted on 02/20/2007 12:26:43 PM PST by sionnsar
"did it" ping
Sionnsar,
You have done us all a great service and we are, indeed, thankful. Enjoy your rest.
And a Lenten discipline of eyes averted from this mess might be a good one for many of the rest of us to follow as well.
Godspeed.
Thank you for all your hard work and dedication. I've really appreciated your insight.
Dear sionnsar,
All the best to you, and some prayers, too.
Enjoy your Lent. We hope to see you on these threads afterwards, if not posting the threads themselves.
Thank you for all you've done.
sitetest
One of my favorite Collects, from the close of Lutheran Daily Prayer when Sermon is appended:
Lord God,
you call your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
through paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
I completely understand, and empathize with your reasons for departing. You have stood as a faithful witness, and your witness did not go wasted! I leave you with this, to encourage you in your decision:
It is precisely when every earthy hope has been explored and found wanting, when every possibility of help from earthy sources has been sought and is not forthcoming, when every recourse this world offers, moral as well as material, has been drawn on and expended with no effect, when in the shivering cold every faggot has been thrown on the fire, and in the gathering darkness every glimmer of light has finally flickered out it is then that Christs hand reaches out, sure and firm, that Christs words bring their inexhaustible comfort, that His light shines brightest, abolishing the darkness for ever
- Malcolm Muggeridge, from Christ And The MediaHow easy for me to live with You, O Lord!
How easy for me to believe in You!
When my mind parts in bewilderment
or falters,
when the most intelligent people see no further
than this day's end
and do not know what must be done tomorrow,
You grant me the serene certitude
that You exist and that You will take care
that not all the paths of good be closed.
Atop the ridge of earthly fame,
I look back in wonder at the path
which I alone could have never found,
a wondrous path through despair to this point
from which I, too, could transmit to mankind
a reflection of Your rays.
And as much as I must still reflect
You will give me.
But as much as I cannot take up
You will have already assigned to others.
- Aleksander Solzhenitsyn, "Prayer"
from his Pictorial Autobiography
God bless. I have been praying for orthodox Anglicans for quite sometime. There are so many faithful witnesses to the Gospel among you. What is happening in ECUSA grieves me greatly. I don't know if September 2007 will yield anything but Schism. I think the liberals are determined to march the ECUSA into the valley of death.
Two great blogs where orthodox Anglicans can catch up on news and comment are Stand Firm and Titusonenine
Here are the links.
http://www.standfirminfaith.com/
http://titusonenine.classicalanglican.net/
God bless
Think you may like this
We are the very model of today's Episcopalian,
We're broad and high and low and wide and somewhat Bacchanalian;
We're mystic and political, and secular and clerical;
We may be charismatic, but we seldom get hysterical.
We're traditional and radical and socialist-monarchical;
We're protestant and catholic, but please, not too hierarchical.
About a woman Bishop we are split with lots of different views,
As well as on the Prayer Book that our rectors say we gotta use!
Chorus (3 times)
As well as on the Prayer Book that our rectors say we gotta use!
We're prosperous by daily work; our affluence is merited,
Abetted by the little bit that some of us inherited.
The portion that we give the Church is best described as comical;
But please don't call us stingy, we are simply economical
Chorus
The portion that we give the Church is best described as comical;
But please don't call us stingy, we are simply economical.
We are the very model of today's Episcopalian!
We do our work while modestly proclaiming our own praises in Committee and Convention.
We're a competent and cheerful band
We always have a fifth around when three or four are near at hand. We're known for our diversity and heterogeneity.
(Please don't confuse that funny word with sex and spontaneity!)
On subjects controversial you won't find many who agree,
Since each Episcopalian's sure he's got God's own authority
Chorus (3 times)
Since each Episcopalian's sure he's got God's own authority.
We're educated, talented, creative and professional;
So sure of our salvation that we don't need the Confessional.
Polite and open minded towards believers strange and alien,
We save up our intolerance for other 'Piscopalians!
Chorus
Polite and open minded towards believers strange and alien,
We save up our intolerance for other 'Piscopalians.
We're sophisticated talkers now on matters ecumenical,
In spite of being vague about our vows catechumenical.
The Anglican tradition is to most of us a mystery
How can we glitter socially and still find time for history?
Don't ask us what we signify with chants doxicological.
They sound so grand it must be something deeply theological!
We try to carry on with just the Parables and Golden Rule,
While hoping in the future we'll find time to teach in Sunday School.
Chorus (3 times)
While hoping in the future we'll find time to teach in Sunday School.
Our clergy do our ministries and actions apostolical,
While we argue over liturgy and colors all aesthetical,
Yet, every day, everywhere, dapper or tatterdemalion
You'll see us modeling the best today's Episcopalian.
Chorus
Yet, every day, everywhere, dapper or tatterdemalion
You'll see us modeling the best today's Episcopalian.
"Voice Of Truth"
Oh what I would do to have The kind of faith it takes to climb out of this boat I'm in Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone To the realm of the unknown where Jesus is And He's holding out his hand
But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The waves they keep on telling me Time and time again. 'Boy, you'll never win!' "You'll never win"
But the voice of truth tells me a different story And the voice of truth says "Do not be afraid!" And the voice of truth says "This is for My glory" Out of all the voices calling out to me I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
Oh what I would do to have The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant With just a Sling and a stone Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors Shaking in their armor Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand
But the giant's calling out my name and he laughs at me Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed The giant keeps on telling me Time and time again "boy, you'll never win! "You'll never win"
But the stone was just the right size To put the giant on the ground And the waves they don't seem so high From on top of them looking down I will soar with the wings of eagles When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus Singing over me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth
I fully understand. I'm doing the same for Lent with my daily newspaper and FR. Following politics as I do keeps me steeped in negativism.
Be well.
Best wishes! Just don't abandon the Undead Thread, where we're always perky :-).
are you going to concentrate on the Bagpipe ping list full-time then?
LOL. There's not enough bagpipe-related news for it to be "fulltime", but I might remember to check up more often. But there will be no discussion of this album.
I believe Arlin would be quite proud of the work you have done over the past few years. Have a blessed Lent.
Thanks for the many postings. I hope you enjoy your "vacation" (or more accurately a retreat), for I don't doubt many of the stories were painful.
Best of luck to you. I'm sorry that things are going so wrong in your Church that you feel the need for a break. May your time off be a cool drink of water for your soul.
Thank you sionnsar and God bless.
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