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CHI RHO
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Vol. VII, No. 8 2. From
the Editor's Cave by Adam DeBaugh 3.
May We
Suggest Three Books on HIV/AIDS Ministry? 4.
Step Number 2: Turn to
God for Help --------------------------------------------------
"If you have an apple and I have an
apple and we exchange apples then you and I will still each have one apple. But
if you have an idea and I have an idea and we exchange these ideas, then each of
us will have two ideas." -- George Bernard Shaw
***** 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. Please visit our Web site at www.chirhopress.com to
see our entire lines of books, handouts, videos, tapes, tchochkas, and stained
glass. Direct all other e-mail to
Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
Return to table of contents My good friend, Kathy S. Quinn, sent this to a
list-serve we both are on. We are not sure who wrote it, but we found it very
touching. A member of a certain church, who previously had been
attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor
decided to visit him. It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at
home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastor's
visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace
and waited. The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In
the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning
logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a
brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then
he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet
contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there
was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead. Not a word had been spoken since the initial
greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave.
He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the
middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and
warmth of the burning coals around it. As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said
with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and
especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday." We live in a world today, which tries to say too much
with too little. Consequently, few listen. Sometimes the best sermons are the
ones left unspoken.
Return to table of contents By Adam DeBaugh [This article is the fourth of a series published in
the "Epi-Grams," the newsletter of the health studies area of Westat. Adam is
the editor of "Epi-Grams." Since "Epi-Grams" is only published quarterly, this,
the fourth in the series, will be published June 15.] "Do you know the difference between a terrorist and an
editor? You can negotiate with a terrorist." English is a strange and confusing language. But that
is what makes it so much fun. And that is also why puns are so easy and
prevalent in English. Rather than being my usual curmudgeonly self and complain
about the myriad grammatical and spelling errors I encounter with alarming
frequency in my work, I want to offer up a bunch of one-liners gleaned from the
Internet. (Where else would I find this kind of stuff?) Some of these one-liners are pretty obvious. Some you
have to think about. The key for each of these is that you need to think just a
little askew. The humor in some of them depends on thinking about the
properties of some of the words, in the first one you need to recall that
sponges soak up water, for instance. Others rely on literal readings (like the
second one, "how long had I been gone? The whole time."). Some are just puns.
But hopefully all of them will make you think, if only for a little bit, and
most of them might even bring a smile to your face. Let me know if you don't get any of these. I promise
not to make fun of you. Really. No, honest, I promise. Well, maybe just a
little. Just think how much deeper the ocean would be if
sponges didn't live there. I went for a walk last night and my kids asked me how
long I'd be gone. I said, "The whole time." So what's the speed of dark? If you're sending someone some Styrofoam, what do you
pack it in? I just got skylights put in my place. The people who
live above me are furious. Is it true that cannibals don't eat clowns because
they taste funny? Isn't Disney World a people trap operated by a mouse? How come abbreviated is such a long word? If it's zero degrees outside today and it's supposed
to be twice as cold tomorrow, how cold is it going to be? Why do you press harder on a remote control when you
know the battery is dead? Why are they called buildings, when they're already
finished? Shouldn't they be called builts? Why are they called apartments, when they're all stuck
together? Why do banks charge you a "non-sufficient funds fee"
on money they already know you don't have? Why is a carrot more orange than an orange? When two airplanes almost collide why do they call it
a near miss? It sounds like a near hit to me! Why are there five syllables in the word
"monosyllabic?" Why do they call it the Department of Interior when
they are in charge of everything outdoors? Why do scientists call it research when looking for
something new? If vegetarians eat vegetables, what do humanitarians
eat? Why is it, when a door is open it's ajar, but when a
jar is open, it's not adoor? If "con" is the opposite of "pro," then what is the
opposite of progress? Why is it that lemon juice contains mostly artificial
ingredients but dishwashing liquid contains real lemons? Why do we wait until a pig is dead to "cure" it? Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle? Do Roman paramedics refer to IVs as "4s"? Why doesn't Tarzan have a beard? I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman,
"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the
purpose. War doesn't determine who's right, just who's left. Here endeth the lesson.
Return to table of contents
3.
May We Suggest Three Books on HIV/AIDS Ministry? As we commemorate 25 years since the beginning of the
HIV/AIDS pandemic on June 5, 1981, it is fitting to highlight three books
published by Chi Rho Press that are excellent resources for HIV/AIDS ministry
and for all those living with HIV. HIV/AIDS is still an important issue in our community
and in this issue we are featuring three important, small books on the HIV
health crisis. "Families Re-Membered: Pastoral Support for Friends
and Families Living with HIV/AIDS," by the Rev. Louis F. Kavar, Ph.D.
HIV/AIDS causes families to be re-structured, enlarged and changed or "re-membered."
This book explores the dynamics of family systems and the realities of extended
families of choice in the context of HIV/AIDS. $10.95 each, six or more copies
for $8.25 each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevFamiliesRemembered.htm
"To Celebrate and to Mourn: Liturgical Resources
for Worshiping Communities Living with AIDS," by the Rev. Louis F. Kavar,
Ph.D. "As people who continue to live in the midst of AIDS, one of our greatest
resources is that of the community of faith." Dr. Kavar discusses liturgical
symbols that have special meaning in the AIDS crisis for churches, and provides
parts of liturgies for various HIV/AIDS-related worship experiences. $3.95
each, six or more copies for $2.95 each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevToCelebrateAndToMourn.htm "I'm Still Dancing! A Gay Man's Health Experience,"
by the Rev. A. Stephen Pieters. A powerful book by a long-term survivor of
AIDS: articles, sermons and journal entries chronicle life with AIDS. Sick
since 1982 and diagnosed with AIDS in 1984, Steve's cancers have gone into
complete remission and he remains well to this day. He served for many years as
Field Director of the UFMCC's AIDS Ministry. $8.95 each, six or more copies for
$6.75 each, plus shipping and handling.
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevImStillDancing.htm
Return to table of contents
4.
Step Number 2: Turn to God for Help Step Number 2 in the "Steps to Recovery from Bible
Abuse," by the Rev. Dr. Rembert Truluck, is to Turn to God for Help. Here is the introductory material from chapter 7 of
"Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse," in which Dr. Truluck outlines the second
step needed to recover from Bible abuse, turning to God for help. Pray and ask God to guide you into a healthy spiritual
life and into a Christ-centered use of the Bible. God wants you to be happy and
to feel good about yourself. God, as you understand and experience God, is very
personal and individual. Nobody else can give God to you. This is why all
recovery programs encourage you to turn your life over to your "Higher Power" or
to God as you understand God. Your sense of self-esteem and self-worth depends
on your view of God. Be anxious for nothing, but in every thing by prayer
and supplication let your requests be known to God. And the peace of God, which
surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ
Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7). Cast all of your anxiety on God, for God cares for you
(1 Peter 5:7). Buy the complete book, "Steps to Recovery from Bible
Abuse," on the Chi Rho Press Web site, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevStepsToRecovery.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 "The Empty, Empty Tomb"
from the Easter section of "Christian with a Twist." Please read Luke 24:1-7 Perplexed. I relate to these women. What happened to
Jesus' body has always perplexed me. I have no problem understanding that Jesus
died on the cross. God knows humankind is capable of such a thing, we are
sometimes most cruel to the best among us. If scriptures and sermons were not
enough, theater productions like that of "Godspell" which was performed at our
church recently, reflect the harsh reality of our rejection of truth and love. I have no problem knowing that Jesus rose from the
dead. I have seen the dead bodies of loved ones. I know the spirit, the soul,
the person we love is released from the body and continues to live. I do not
understand how, but I can leave that mystery to God. I understand that Jesus comes back to us. He has
entered my life, and I know the profound way his living presence affects
others. I have seen him in the lives of people special to me and even
strangers, and if one day God intends to bring him back to us in another way,
that I can also count as one of life's mysteries. But the body. What would have happened to the body?
The words of the two men in dazzling clothes give me comfort. We may
understandably search for the living among the dead, but really we find them
among the living. It is among the living that we find Jesus. It is even among
the living and the continuing life forces of God's Creation that we find our own
loved ones who have passed on. But the body. A body with no person living in it is
empty. A harsh but beautiful remnant of a life remembered, but oh, so cold,
still, and empty. Perhaps the women who loved him so could not have faced the
sight of that emptiness. I do not know. Still, there are mysteries that leave
us perplexed.
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 2006 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary from today until our next scheduled electronic newsletter. ***** Tues., May 30, St. Joan of Arc (Patron
saint: rape victims). God does speak to us: If we take the time to listen, we
can hear God's voice. St. Joan is a prime example of the types of people that
God chooses for great things. She was an illiterate farm girl, unschooled and
ill prepared for what God had in mind for her, yet she heard God's voice and
allowed God to lead her. Wed., May 31, St. Angela Merici. Waiting for
God: We want for much but to get it accomplished, that is for God. "They who,
when they have knocked, are angry because they are not forthwith heard, are not
humble petitioners but imperious demanders. However long God may leave you
waiting, wait patiently for the Lord's own time," St. Peter Chrysologus. Thurs., June 1, St. Justin (Patron saint:
lecturers). The certainty of faith: We all receive the gift of faith with
little or no effort of our own. We need to learn how to value it from those who
reached it after a long search. Let us fear, like St. Justin did, the account
we shall have to render for God's gift. "I know whom I have believed, and am
convinced that God is able to guard what I have entrusted to God for that day"
(2 Timothy 1:12). Diversity Date: Gay and Lesbian Pride Month. (Please
see article number 2 in the last edition of the Chi Rho Connection for
alternative scripture readings for the four Sundays of June, Pride-Tide.) Fri., June 2, St. Mary of the Incarnation.
Doing penance: Sickness, humiliation and prosecution from every quarter,
endless personal sufferings and crosses of all sorts abound in the life of St.
Mary. They all make a great testimony to the spirit that is totally surrendered
to the will of God. "Unless you do penance, you will all perish" (Luke 13:3). Sat., June 3, Holy Martyrs of Uganda. The
narrow gate: Central Africa in the 1800's was a place where God's name had
never been spoken and the evil one ruled supreme by means of slavery, sorcery,
and cannibalism. These missionaries to Uganda were all martyred for their
faith. "Strive to enter by the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will seek to
enter and will not be able" (Luke 13:24). Sun., June 4, St. Francis Caracciolo.
Worshipping Jesus in the blessed sacrament: It is for us, not for angels, that
our LORD lives sacramentally upon the altar; yet angels crowd our churches to
worship him, while we ignore him. Learn from St. Francis to avoid such
ingratitude and to spend, as he did, every possible moment before the most Holy
Sacrament. Mon., June 5, St. Boniface of Crediton.
Willingness to let go: St. Boniface teaches us how the love of Christ changes
all things. It was for Christ's sake that he toiled, preferring poverty to
riches, labor to rest, suffering to pleasures, death to life, that by dying he
might live with Christ. Tues., June 6, St. Norbert. Reverence: In the
course of their work, St. Norbert and his followers had to stand up for the
reverence and honor that is due to the Holy Eucharist. We must guard in our
present worship practices against irreverence and outrages offered by others.
"Then the man said, 'LORD I believe,' and he worshiped Christ" (John 9:38). Wed., June 7, St. Robert of Newminster.
Setting examples: Religion and reason both teach us that we should act
virtuously; but only facts prove that we do so. This is why examples have more
power to move us, and why our individual actions are of such crucial importance
for others as well as for ourselves. Thurs., June 8, St. Medard (Patron saint: good
weather). Shelter: St. Medard is always depicted as a young man standing in
the rain under the shelter of an eagle. St. Medard teaches us that God's love
is as gentle as a dove but as fierce as an eagle. We are sheltered from
adversity by God's protection if we pray and believe that God will provide.
Just as St. Medard was sheltered from the rain, so will God protect us. Fri., June 9, Bd. Anne Taigi. Heavenly
knowledge: Every day duties are no hindrance to a full and vibrant relationship
with God. St. Anne would be in the middle of everyday tasks when she would feel
God's presence. She would immediately exclaim, "Leave me in peace, LORD; leave
me to my job!" "Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; and your old men
shall dream dreams and your young men shall see visions. Even on my servants,
both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days" (Joel 2:28-29). Sat., June 10, St. Margaret of Scotland.
Letting things go: Perfection consists in keeping a watch on the heart.
Wherever we are, we can make a solitude in our hearts, detach ourselves from the
world, and talk confidently with God. Let us take St. Margaret as our example
and gain encouragement from it always. Sun., June 11, St. Barnabas. Generosity: It
is remarkable to note the amount of time the apostolic church spent on
collecting and distributing alms. For the first Christians, sending alms to
Jerusalem was a testament to their unity of faith as well as the fervor of their
charity. Mon., June 12, St. John of Sahagun. Lovers of
peace: We all desire peace but few find it and enjoy it. If you realized what
peace would come to you and happiness to others if you kept yourself in a good
state, you would be more anxious for spiritual benefits. "Turn from evil and do
good; seek peace and pursue it" (Psalm 34:14). Tues., June 13, St. Antony of Padua (Patron
saint: travelers). Hide: We need to love to pray and labor unseen and cherish
in the secret of our hearts God's graces and the growth of our own souls. Like
St. Antony, let us attend to this and leave the rest to God. "But when you
pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Creator who is in
secret; and your Creator who sees what is done in secret, will reward you"
(Matthew 6:6). Wed., June 14, St. Basil. Christian courage:
"When I look about me I seem to have no one on my side. I can but pray I may be
found in the number of those seven thousand who have not bowed the knee to
Baal. I know our present persecutors seek my life; yet that shall reduce none
of the efforts I owe to the churches of God," St. Basil. Thurs., June 15, St. Germaine. Patience: St.
Germaine was a peasant, ignorant in human knowledge, who learned something that
is very precious in God's eyes: patience. She spent most of her life watching
over her family's flocks in the pastures, and in spite of neglect and cruelty,
she was good, kind, and devout. The unhappiness in her home was borne with
unfailing patience. Fri., June 16, St. John Regis. Others come
first: When St. John was struck in the face by someone whom he had rebuked, he
replied, "If you only knew me, you would have given me much more than that."
His meekness converted the man. It is in this spirit that he teaches us to win
souls to God. Sat., June 17, Sts. Marcian and Nicander.
Christian affection: Love God above all. Do not let any attachments keep you
from hearing God's voice. You help those you love best when you follow the call
of God. Do not grudge them to God when God calls them by death. They are more
than ever yours when they belong to God alone. ***** Order the 2005-2006 Liturgical Calendar and
Lectionary, complete with the entire year's Sanctoral Cycle, at this link:
http://www.chirhopress.com/products/product_details/BookRevLiturgicalCa05_06.html
Return to table of contents ***** I really encourage you all to become Guardian Angels
of Chi Rho Press. This will help us a lot as we prepare our next books for
publication. Just $150 for a year will make you an important participant in
this ministry. Thank you! ***** 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 Please 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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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 2006, Chi Rho Press, Inc.
31 May 2006
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