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Vol. VI, No. 16 Contents: 2.
And God Created Dog and Cat 3.
Ten Commandments for
Stress Reduction 4.
Have you read "My Memory Book"? -------------------------------------------------- This issue's Quote: "Of all tyrannies a tyranny sincerely exercised for
the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live
under robber-barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies" C.S. Lewis ***** Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Connection, the
electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press. Thank you for passing this Chi Rho
Connection on to others. To join our list, send an e-mail message to
ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. To remove yourself from this list send an e-mail to
ChiRhoPress-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com. Direct all other e-mail to
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. -------------------------------------------------- We are in the process of the final edit of the
2005-2006 Liturgical Calendar. We hope to be announcing that it is available
soon! Watch for the announcement in an up-coming edition of the Chi Rho
Connection!
Return to table of contents 2.
And God Created Dog and Cat A newly discovered chapter in the Book of Genesis has
provided the answer to "Where do pets come from?" Adam said, "God, when I was in the garden, you walked
with me every day. Now I do not see you any more. I am lonesome here and it is
difficult for me to remember how much you love me." And God said "No problem.
I will create a companion for you that will be with you forever and who will be
a reflection of my love for you so that you will love me even when you cannot
see me. Regardless of how selfish or childish or unlovable you may be, this new
companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do, in spite of
yourself." And God created a new animal to be a companion for
Adam. And it was a good animal. And God was pleased. And the new animal was
pleased to be with Adam and it wagged its tail. And Adam said, "Holy one, I have already named all the
animals in the world and I cannot think of a name for this new animal." And God said, "No problem. Because I have created
this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you his name will be a
reflection of my own name, and you will call him Dog." And Dog lived with Adam and was a companion to him and
loved him. And Adam was comforted. And God was pleased. And Dog was content
and wagged his tail. After a while, it came to pass that Adam's guardian
angel came to God and said, "God, Adam has become filled with pride. He struts
and preens like a peacock and he believes he is worthy of adoration. Dog has
indeed taught him that he is loved, but perhaps too well." And God said, "No problem. I will create for him a
companion who will be with him forever and who will see him as he is. The
companion will remind him of his limitations, so he will know that he is not
always worthy of adoration." And God created Cat to be a companion to Adam. And
Cat would not obey Adam. And when Adam gazed into Cat's eyes, he was reminded
that he was not the Supreme Being. And Adam learned humility. And God was pleased. And Adam was greatly improved.
And Dog was happy. And Cat didn't care one way or the other.
Return to table of contents
3.
Ten Commandments for Stress Reduction I. Thou shalt not be perfect, or even try to be. II. Thou shalt not try to be all things to all
people. III. Thou shalt sometimes leave things undone. IV. Thou shalt not spread thyself too thin. V. Thou shalt learn to say "no". VI. Thou shalt schedule time for thyself and for thy
support network. VII. Thou shalt switch thyself off, and do nothing
regularly. VIII. Thou shalt not even feel guilty for doing
nothing, or saying no. IX. Thou shalt be boring, untidy, inelegant, and
unattractive at times. X. Especially, thou shalt not be thine own worst
enemy. Rather, be thine own best friend.
Return to table of contents 4.
Have you read "My Memory Book"? We are very pleased to feature for the young and the
young-at-heart the "My Memory Book: A Journal for Grieving Children, Second
Edition" by Gretchen Gaines-Lane, LCSW-C. Please view and order it on our Web
site at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevMyMemoryBook.html.
Though created for children by a children's grief and
bereavement specialist, many adults are using "My Memory Book" to create
memorials for loved ones who have died. Like a panel in the AIDS quilt, a copy
of "My Memory Book" can become an important part of the grief process after
losing a beloved friend or relative. “I love this workbook for children of all ages,” says
Patricia Kelly, co-author of “Final Gifts” and a consultant in the Washington,
D.C. area. “This is a book to treasure.” Space is available throughout the book for the
grieving person to write or draw. Directions for over 20 exercises are given on
the left hand side page, and the right hand side page is devoted to the grieving
person’s creative use. The reader uses "My Memory Book" to create a book of
memories about the loved one who died that is uniquely his or her own. "My
Memory Book" encourages written exercises, collage, journaling, and drawings in
any medium the user cares to employ. Dr. Phyllis Silverman, one of the most renowned
experts in the bereavement field, writes, “This is one of the best workbooks I
have seen to help . . .understand the nature of grief. It legitimates . . .
ties to the deceased and helps find ways to talk about these connections.” The unique genius of this book is that it is wonderful
for anyone to use, regardless of age. “My Memory Book” provides enough
exercises for readers of any age to return to it again and again to celebrate
the life of one recently lost and of their life together. The book also
includes a special section in the back for readers to design their own
exercises. Though many buy this book for family members, many
counselors in the professional community have also recognized the therapeutic
benefits of “My Memory Book” and use the book with their clients. “This
workbook is a wonderful tool to assist therapists and counselors in their work
with bereaved children,” says Nancy Boyd Webb, DSW, BCD, Professor, Fordham
University Graduate School of Social Service. An Illinois hospice and hospital just ordered another
100 copies of “My Memory Book” for their on-going use. We are proud of their
recommendation of this important book as a bereavement tool for people of all
ages. “My Memory Book” is available from Chi Rho Press for
$10.95 each, $8.95 each for six or more copies, plus shipping and handling. See and order this exciting new book on our Web site
at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevMyMemoryBook.html
Return to table of contents Here is a selection from our second major book of
reflections, "Christian with a Twist: Reflections on Scripture that are a bit
more inclusive, a bit more relevant, and with a bit of a bite," by the late
William Gaston. "Christian with a Twist" is available for $19.95 each,
$14.95 each for six or more copies, plus shipping and handling. You can read
more about it and order it at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
As the subtitle suggests, Bill's writing has a bit of
a bite, and we believe you will enjoy his sharp, but loving take on Scripture,
life, and faith. Here is a selection entitled "Where Sinners Gather"
from the Ordinary Time section of "Christian with a Twist." Please read Matthew 9:10-13 and Romans 3:23 I do not like being called a sinner, and I do not
refer to myself that way. Maybe Jesus thinks of me as a sinner in need of
saving, but somehow I think that he thinks of me as another of God's children
who just needs to be reminded of God's love. Maybe I am fooling myself. The
Apostle Paul said we all have sinned and fallen short. How can I complain about
being included in "we all?" Somehow when sin is mentioned by religious folk that
"we all" part seems to be de-emphasized. The Pharisees did not say, "Why is he
eating with sinners like us?" No, it was sinners like those tax collectors. Of course, I must admit that I have trouble with
name-calling in general, even when it goes the other direction. I had a lot of
baggage around the term "Christ-centered" when we were using it so much on our
church banner and even tee-shirts. Christ-centered is certainly a good thing. I think it
would be the highest of compliments if a visitor to our church would later tell
people that we were a Christ-centered people. It just did not seem to be
something "we" should be calling ourselves though. Sort of like calling
ourselves good, and generous, and kind; we should strive to be those things, but
maybe humility requires waiting for others to deliver the compliments. Of course, there is always a Pharisee around to call
someone a sinner. Jesus turned the tables on them. I have never heard of a
church that referred to itself as sinner-centered, but I think that would be a
church where Jesus might be found. Clearly, this all has to do with the baggage that
words accumulate or that we pile on them. I can be a Christ-centered sinner,
and I guess I am. I do not know that Jesus would have much patience with my
whining. I do not know that he would come here and say he was ministering to
the GLBT community. If the Pharisees called us the queers, he might just say,
"Yes, and wonderful queer children of God they are, too!" Politically correct language can get pretty muddled.
When I go to the hospital or doctor's office I am a patient, a sick person. I
notice more and more these places are referred to as wellness centers or some
such thing. I wonder what the Great Physician would say to that?
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
Return to table of contents As a regular feature in the Chi Rho Connection, we are
offering up traditional saints listed in the 2005 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary from today until our next scheduled electronic newsletter. ***** Fri., Sep. 30, St. Jerome (Patron saint: librarians).
Bible reading: When we pray, we talk to God. When we read the Bible, God talks
to us. "To be ignorant of the scripture is not to know Christ," St. Jerome. Sat., Oct. 1, St. Therese of Lisieux. The Little
Way: We are all called to be saints and we all think it impossible. Therese of
Lisieux is one in the company of famous saints because she tried to be like them
only in their smallest, humblest, and most hidden ways. She consciously set out
to be a saint. Sun., Oct. 2, St. Thomas of Hereford. Call to duty:
St. Thomas only wanted to live obscurity, but he was obliged in duty to
undertake high church and state offices. He wanted to live in peace with
everyone but was forced into conflict with powerful nobles and his own
archbishop. He hoped to die amongst his friends at home but died amongst
strangers in a foreign land. Our wants are not always God's wants for our
lives, but when we follow God's lead, we are rewarded abundantly. Mon., Oct. 3, St. Remigius. Be humble in your
successes: St. Remigius was a man of many natural talents and divine graces.
All of his undertakings were successful. Yet he remained humble. We may learn
from him to receive praise, no less than blame, quietly and with a lowly heart. Tues., Oct. 4, St. Francis of Assisi (Patron saint:
animals and veterinarians). Poverty: "My God and my all!" This was the
constant prayer of St. Francis and it explains both his poverty and his wealth.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew
5:3). Wed., Oct. 5, St. Maria Faustina Kowalska (Patron
saint: those seeking mercy). Divine mercy: Christ's message in His revelations
to St. Faustina was that this is a time for mercy. The times we live in, more
than any other in history, call for a great outpouring of the mercy of God. As
a result, the revelations to Faustina became known as "The Message of Divine
Mercy" and Jesus received a new title, "The Divine Mercy," similar to "The
Sacred Heart" as a renaming of Jesus himself. Thurs., Oct. 6, St. Bruno. Eternity: "Eternity is
stamped upon the minds of saints by gazing on the eternity of God," St. Gregory
the Great. We too should, like St. Bruno, think about what eternity will be
like with God before committing ourselves to courses that may deviate us from
attaining that goal. Fri., Oct. 7, St. Ammon. Public Worship: We are
summoned at least every Sunday to meet together as a body for the public worship
of God. We are reminded that the most effective possible means for the
achievement of holiness is the worship offered to God in celebration of the
sacraments. "Do this in remembrance of me" (1 Corinthians 11:24). Sat., Oct. 8, St. Bridget of Sweden. Frequent
confession: With every confession, we are drawn nearer to God and we gain a
clearer knowledge of our inward states, become more active in virtue, more fit
for mercy, and better disposed to receive God's gifts. Sun., Oct. 9, St. John Leonardi. Friendship: "A true
and firmly built Christian friendship is not brought about by selfish interest,
mere bodily proximity or deceitful flattery, but by the fear of God," St.
Jerome. St. John Leonardi found such a friend in St. Philip, and he never
looked for another. "Do not open your heart to everyone, but discuss your
affairs with someone who is wise and God-fearing," "Imitation of Christ," Thomas
a Kempis. Mon., Oct. 10, St. Francis Borgia. Depreciation of
"self:" St. Francis Borgia learned the worthlessness of earthly greatness by
long experience of the world; he learned the dignity of Christian humility in
meditation on Christ's humiliation. We need to learn more about ourselves in
the same ways. Tues., Oct. 11, St. Paulinus of York. Renewal of
baptismal promises: Many saints became saints because they did what all
Christians promise to do on baptism: renounce their past ways and accept
Christ. If we endeavor to follow our baptismal promises, our baptism would bear
more fruit. Diversity Date. National Coming Out Day Wed., Oct. 12, St. Wilfrid. Anchoring our worldview:
"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent
day or night. You who call on the Lord, give yourselves no rest and give God no
rest till God establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth"
(Isaiah 62:6-7). Diversity Date. Commemoration: Matthew Shepherd Thurs., Oct. 13, St. Edward the Confessor (Patron
saint: difficult relationships). Love of the church: David longed to build a
temple for God's service; Solomon accomplished the task. But we, who have God
made flesh dwelling sacramentally in our tabernacles and churches, should think
no time, no zeal, no wealth too much to devote to the beauty of a Christian
church: God's house. "I love the house where you live, O Lord, the place where
your glory dwells" (Psalm 26:8). Fri., Oct. 14, St. Callistus I. Reverence for the
dead: "This is a great work. If we are bidden to clothe the naked in life, how
much also the bodies of the dead. If we shelter travelers bound for distant
lands, how much also those who have departed to that eternal home whence they
will never return," St. Ambrose. Sat., Oct. 15, St. Teresa of Avila. Obedience to our
confessors: "After all, I die a child of the church." These words spoken by
St. Teresa teach us the lesson of her life: to trust in humble childlike
obedience our spiritual guides as the surest means of staying on the correct
path to heaven. ***** Order the 2004-2005 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary, complete with the entire year's Sanctoral Cycle, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa04_05.html
Return to table of contents As September ends and Autumn begins, we look back at
an eventful summer and hope you all had a great summer, and that the next few
months bring nothing but joy and productivity to you and your ministries. The next few months bring a lot of holidays:
Thanksgiving in Canada in October and in November in the United States. Then
Advent is upon us and sooner than we like, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the New Year. The holidays can be a wonderful and joy-filled time,
but they can also be depressing for many people in our community. Let us be
sensitive to each other and aware when people might be struggling with
depression and loneliness around the holidays. And we at Chi Rho Press pray that everyone will have a
fabulous holiday season! ***** Of course, with Christmas less than three months away,
it is not too early to start doing your holiday shopping at
ChiRhoPress.com. We never close! ***** There are some wonderful tapes and CDs of good
Christian music available at
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/tapes_CDs.html. Please visit! ***** Please check out the Chi Rho Cards! Our line of
greeting cards, by the talented New York artist Timothy Leetch, are now
available. See the descriptions of the cards on our Web site at:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/cards.html. Order some cards today! ***** Gracia y paz, R. Adam DeBaugh, Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. ****************************************** We are glad you are partners in ministry with us here
at Chi Rho Press. We are eager for your comments, your suggestions, your
assistance with selling our books, and your own purchases! And of course, we
covet your prayers for this ministry. If you've received the Chi Rho Connection as a result
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always include your e-mail address, mailing address, and telephone number. For all e-mail correspondence, please write
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. Our snail mail address is: Chi Rho Press, Inc. P.O. Box 7864 Gaithersburg, MD 20898 Our telephone and fax number is 301/926-1208. Customers outside the U.S. and especially our Canadian
friends can order using credit cards on our Web page. Some of our books are
also available through our Canadian distributor, MAP Enterprises, Mary Ann
Pearson, at her Web page,
http://www.christiangays.com. Copyright 2005, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
30 September 2005
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