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CHI RHO
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Vol. VI, No. 4
1. The Curmudgeon Chronicles
28 February 2005
2. Looking for Writers for "The Journey is Our Home:" Sharing Our Faith Journeys
3. "The Journey is Our Home:" Sharing Our Faith Journeys: Reflections on Lent,
by Raye-Anne Dorn
4. Have you read "Called Out"?
5. New Books on the
Remaindered Table
6. Suggestions for the
Liturgical Calendar
7. "Christian with a Twist"
8. Sanctoral Cycle
9. Adam's Last Word
This issue's Quotes:
In a letter written near the end of his life, J. R. R. Tolkien wrote, "so it may be said that the chief purpose of life, for any one of us, is to increase according to our capacity our knowledge of God by all the means we have, and to be moved by it to praise and thanks."
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Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Connection, the
electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press.
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.
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1. The Curmudgeon Chronicles by Adam DeBaugh (Curmudgeon in Chief, Chi Rho Press)
We hear a lot about spiritual gifts in some churches these days. The problem as I see it is that too many of us are exercising the wrong gifts, and not all those gifts we most utilize in our lives are spiritual!
We are constantly tempted by the bad spiritual gifts that we still love from our past. You know those gifts: Paranoia, Cynicism, Criticism, Power-Tripping, Co-dependence, Conflict, Stubbornness, Gossip, Back-Biting, Lack of Trust, Dysfunction, Low Self Esteem, Abuse, and my personal favorite, Pouting.
These are gifts from some source other than God, yet they are very familiar, aren't they? Sometimes I feel I have these gifts, and gifts like them, in more abundance than any others. And that's pretty scary. You may have seen them evidenced in your own church, or even in your own lives.
Church folk love to fight. And when we are fighting, we often are not being the Church of Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean we can't disagree, but we disagree with love and tolerance, not the hatefulness and viciousness and unyielding insistence on having everything one's own way often seen in our churches.
Just my opinion, of course. I could be wrong. But where are standards?
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2. Looking for Writers for "The Journey is Our Home:" Sharing Our Faith Journeys
Back in September 2002 we started soliciting our readers and authors to contribute essays for a series in the Chi Rho Connection in which people tell the story of their faith journeys. You do not have to tell everything about your faith journey, of course, just a piece of it!
The title of this column, "The Journey is Our Home," comes from a wonderful contemporary hymn by Ruth Duck, called "Lead on, O Cloud of Yahweh." The whole second verse reads,
Lead on, O fiery pillar, We follow yet with fears, But we shall come rejoicing Though joy be born of tears. We are not lost, though wandering, For by your light we come, And we are still God's people, The journey is our home.
We would like to resume this series, publishing a new faith story in each issue of the Chi Rho Connection. Our writers will be well known and not famous at all, clergy and lay people, LGBT people and non-gay people, people from all walks of life, and even Christians and non-Christians.
If you would like to contribute the story of your faith journey for inclusion in "The Journey is Our Home," please try to limit your story to 500 words. Write us at Connection@ChiRhoPress.com with your submission.
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3. "The Journey is Our Home:" Sharing Our Faith Journeys: Reflections on Lent by Raye-Anne Dorn
Here's a bit of the faith journey of Chi Rho Press Board member Raye-Anne Dorn.
Lent is a reminder of our necessity to reunite ourselves by a penitential spirit with Christ's work of salvation. The fasting during Lent enables us to unite ourselves more closely and effectively with Christ. But Lent is a useless season unless we make a sincere and personal effort to change our lives and make them better, to lead these lives with greater reliance on Christ while making reparations for our past.
I tend to think of Lent as a forty-day retreat into self-development. Lent presents Christ as the example to imitate. Through fasting, penance, and prayer, we are united to his sufferings so that we can partake of his redemption.
The meaning of Lent then is for us a season of spiritual development. This development involves taking a long, hard look at where we are and where we should be. It involves the assessing of our values and seeing how they stack up against Jesus' example.
So why do Lent? Lent is a time for making a necessary serious mind and heart change, and fasting, like all of the penitential exercises, is offered to God for God's use in molding us.
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4. Have you Read "Called OUT"?
We believe that Presbyterians and indeed all people of faith need to read "Called OUT! The Voices and Gifts of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Presbyterians" now more than ever.
"Called OUT!" was compiled by the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, Kathryn Poethig, Selisse Berry, and Melinda McLain. In it 39 LGBT Presbyterians tell their stories about their lives in, and out of the Presbyterian Church. People from both the old northern and southern churches, and the reunited Presbyterian Church (USA), from all over the United States, tell their stories here with candor, wit, and faith. An important book for all who either are Lesbian or Gay or would seek to understand Gay people of faith, regardless of their religion. Now in its second printing, "Called OUT!" has been called an incredibly valuable book. Former Stated Clerk William P. Thompson said "Presbyterians should read 'Called OUT' within the year."
"Called OUT!" is available from Chi Rho Press for $17.95 each, six or more copies for $15.25 each. You may order on our web site at http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevCalledOut.html
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5. New Books on the Remaindered Table
As you will recall, from time to time, books are returned to us from bookstores or distribution houses, or damaged in storage. Often these books are not able to be sold as "new" because the bookstore has put a price sticker on the back cover or the covers have been damaged in transit, or the covers got slightly damp in a plumbing disaster! As a result, we sell these slightly damaged books on our Remainder Table at a significant saving to you.
The insides of the books on our Remainder Table are not damaged, just the covers. Most of the damage is slight. The books on our Remainder Table are 40% off the list price.
All sales from the Remainder Table are subject to availability. No returns or refunds are permitted.
Please visit our Remainder Table and order one or all of the four books currently on sale there. The link is: http://www.chirhopress.com/products/remainders.html
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6. Suggestions for the Liturgical Calendar
We would like to have your input if you are one of the many Chi Rho Press customers who use our annual Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary in worship planning. Even though we are not far into this church year, our authors have begun work on the 2005-2006 edition so that it will be published well before the beginning of the next church year in November.
Now is your chance to make suggestions. If you use this publication, we would like to hear from you about what you like about it that we should continue and how we might improve it to better meet your needs. Please send your comments to adam@chirhopress.com.
If you don't already have a copy of this year's Liturgical Calendar and Lectionary, it is not too late to order your copy at this link: http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa04_05.html
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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 "Snap Out of It!" from the Lent section of "Christian with a Twist."
Please read Genesis 2:4b-9 and Romans 5:12
One of the purposes of the book of Genesis must have been to give an explanation of how things came to be. All ancient cultures had such stories, and it is amazing how similar they are. Now of course, with our modern scientific approach to things we know much, much more. Of course, comparing what we know, even now, to all that there is to know probably leaves much room for future generations to impress the God that created them.
By evolution, big bang, or whatever, God surely did create the earth and the heavens. It does not take any genius to look up and look down and know that they are there. It does not say Sony or Mitsubishi anywhere on them. God is by definition the source of all there is. You can call God something else, but you can not deny that a piece of creative work has been done. God did it. There was nobody else around to even put a bid on the contract.
How, why, when, and how long it took are interesting details. I suppose that God might find some of our efforts to do so quite amusing, sort of like watching a child try to figure out a new toy.
Of course we do grow up. God created us to do that, hard as that sometimes is to believe, and not only can we figure out a lot of things, we can pass knowledge on to others. That is a good thing. I do not know about you, but I am particularly fond of indoor plumbing and central heat. Modern medicine has benefited me, too. I am kind of glad that somebody found some knowledge, whether on a tree or elsewhere.
It is wonderful how God created so much and still left us plenty to do to occupy our time. We have accomplished quite a lot since the time of Genesis. We could not have done any of it without the resources God provided but, hey, we get at least a C+ for our efforts.
So why do we insist on bragging about how bad we can be? From way back in Genesis we have been claiming that we can sin so powerfully that we even created death itself. But no, we did not. God created life and living things that grow and change, reproduce and die. Life itself is eternal and anything about us that God considers worth saving will live on in eternity.
Our sins cause a lot of heartache. They are distracting little blips in God's infinite plan, but they are not the be all and end all of creation. God created the earth and the heavens. Do you not think God could snap us out of it if we were too far out of hand? God just has an amazing amount of patience.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevChristianWithATwist.htm
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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.
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Mon., Feb. 28, Bd. Angela of Foligno. God Is Our Father: "I said the Our Father with so much contrition and recollection, pronouncing every word carefully, that though I was in anguish at the thought of my sins, I yet received immense comfort and tasted something of the bliss God grants God's loved ones. I have never found a better way for realizing God's mercy than by saying that prayer which Jesus taught us," Bd. Angela of Foligno.
Tues., Mar. 1, St. David (Patron saint: poets). Loving the faith: St. David believed that physical austerity is useless without charity and humbleness. We are blessed, not simply for drinking only water and eating only one meal per day, but for hungering and thirsting for holiness.
Tues., Mar. 1, Diversity Date: Women's History Month
Wed., Mar. 2, St. Chad. Desire of heaven: The desire to be in heaven is the soul's comfort food. St. Chad longed for the peace of his cloister and often would spend hours meditating on heaven. "I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven" (Psalm 123:1).
Diversity Date. The Jones Act: granted U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans.
Thurs., Mar. 3, St. Aelred. True friendship: When we give ourselves to God, God gives us back friendship with all God's other gifts. Friends are no longer loved for themselves, but in and for God, and are loved with a love that is living and strong; for God can purify feeling. It is not feeling, but self-love and self-centeredness that corrupts friendship. "A friend loves at all times, and a brother or sister is born for adversity" (Proverbs 17:17).
Fri., Mar. 4, St. Casimir of Poland (Patron saint: bachelors). Praise of Mary: St. Casimir was the second son of Casimir IV, king of Poland. He grew up in an atmosphere of luxury, however the young prince turned his back on all of it to dedicate himself to the charity of the poor and afflicted. He had a special love and devotion to the Virgin Mary and his love for her was expressed as a hymn, "Daily, daily sing to Mary."
Sat., Mar. 5, St. John Joseph of the Cross. Sympathy: Sympathy consists of realizing the suffering of others as our own. St. John Joseph teaches us that to do this we have to put aside our own feeling for the love of Christ. St. John Joseph was often not content to relive the sufferings of others but at times took them upon himself.
Sun., Mar. 6, Sts. Perpetua and Felicity (Patron saints: barren women). Strength in weakness: God puts the example of women before us so that we can learn courage. God calls upon us to endure suffering of body and mind, if necessary, to prove our faithfulness to God. But God promises to uphold us by God's strength, light, and divine encouragement. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Mon., Mar. 7, St. Thomas Aquinas (Patron saint: publishers). Chastity: "I don't understand how a man can ever smile if he is in a state of mortal sin," St. Thomas Aquinas. A story tells that when St. Thomas was confined at Rocca Secca, his brothers tried to entrap him by sending a woman to his cell. He picked up a burning brand from the hearth and chased her out. He dreamed that night that two angels had girded him with a cord, a token of the gift of perpetual chastity. The Confraternity of Angelic Warfare still wear the cords under their clothing for the preservation of their chastity.
Tues., Mar. 8, St. John of God (Patron saint: book sellers, fire fighters, heart patients). The rewards of charity: God rewards us for works that are pleasing in God's sight by giving us grace and opportunity to do yet better. St. John of God attributed his conversion and the grace that enabled him to do so much to what he had done in his prior life helping Christian slaves in Africa. "I have never seen a compassionate and charitable [person] die a bad death," St. Augustine.
Wed., Mar. 9, St. Gregory of Nyssa. Hope in the worst of times: Learn from St. Gregory to stand up earnestly and humbly for the truth, and to leave the rest to God, in whose hand the gift of faith resides. "I wash my hands in innocence, and go about your altar, O Lord, proclaiming aloud your praise and telling of all your wonderful deeds" (Psalm 26:6-7).
Thurs., Mar. 10, The Forty Martyrs. Strength in numbers: All of us that live in the grace of Christ are one. Thank God for binding you to others by spiritual ties and pray that the bond that unites you here may last for eternity. "Friendship which is broken by death is no true friendship," St. Ambrose. "An offended brother is more unyielding than a fortified city and disputes are like the barred gates of a citadel" (Proverbs 18:19).
Fri., Mar. 11, St. Andrew Corsini. Repentance: St. Andrew is a prime example of a true penitent: one who trusts firmly in God's forgiveness but never forgives himself. "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death" (2 Corinthians 7:10).
Sat., Mar. 12, St. Gregory I. Conversions: "Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may return; renew our days as of old unless you have utterly rejected us and are angry with us beyond measure" (Lamentations 5:21-22).
Sun., Mar. 13, St. Isidore of Skete. Mind yourself: St. Isidore teaches us to avoid opportunities to go astray; not only situations that may cause great danger, but also any that may give rise to anger, vanity, excessive pride and arrogance, or any other passions. "The enemy of our souls in his malice does all he can do to induce us to sin; let us on our part do all that we ought to do. Have recourse to prayer, and the enemy will be put to flight. It is by thinking of God that we gain the victory," St. Isidore.
Mon., Mar. 14, St. Fructuosus. Perseverance in prayer: Often we lose the joy of the Holy Spirit when we need it the most: during our times of trial and hardship. We lose the Holy Spirit because we do not pray. Jesus teaches us to pray always if we are to get the strength we need against our spiritual enemies and that we should be ready to meet those enemies with a spirit of confidence in the victory.
Tues., Mar. 15, St. Louise de Marillac (Patron saint: social workers). Our brother's keeper: "As for your conduct toward the poor, may you never take the attitude of merely getting the task done. You must show them affection; serving them from the heart inquiring of them what they need; speaking to them gently and compassionately; procuring necessary help for them without being too bothersome or too eager," St. Louise de Marillac.
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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
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Do check out the two new titles added to our Remainder Table. You can benefit from the plumbing disaster which befell me in my house!
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We invite you to join Chi Rho Press as a partner in ministry with Dr. Rembert Truluck. You may buy his wonderful and inspiring book, "Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," on line at http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevStepsToRecovery.html
Or make a fully tax-deductible contribution by making your gift check out to Chi Rho Press, designate that it is "For Dr. Truluck" in the memo line, and send it to Chi Rho Press, P.O. Box 7864, Gaithersburg, MD 20898, USA. If you prefer, you may make your contribution on line at this link: http://www.chirhopress.com/sponsor.html. Just note in the "Special Instructions and Comments" that your contribution is designated "For Dr. Truluck" and we will make sure he receives your generous gift.
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Gracia y paz,
R. Adam DeBaugh, Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
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Copyright 2005, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
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