Xαρις και Eιρηνη is a blog written from the perspective of a Lutheran student studying for the pastoral ministry. It's title means Grace and Peace, a common greeting in St. Paul's letters and I think, a two-word summary of what Jesus Christ has won for me.
Ephesians 2:4-5
Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
Romans 5:1-3
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Colossians 4:5-6
Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.
Apology of the Augsburg Confession, Art.XV, 21
The Fathers had these reasons for maintaining the rites, and for these reasons we also judge it to be right that traditions [good customs] be maintained. And we [Lutherans] are greatly surprised that our adversaries, contrary to the entire Scriptures of the Apostles, contrary to the Old and New Testaments contend for another design of traditions, namely, that they may merit the remission of sins, grace, or justification.
4.17.2008
Want Your Hotmail E-mails?
The best thing about the internet is all the free stuff. Today I spent a little "free time" getting to know Mozilla Thunderbird, which is the mail client distributed by the same people that brought us Mozilla Firefox internet browser. I've had it in my head for a while now that it would be really nice to have my e-mails in personal possession. I don't know why... I guess I just came to the conclusion that their mine, so I should have them. The problem was that my primary e-mail host is Windows Live Hotmail, and in keeping with Microsoft philosophy - if you want it, they will charge you for it. But gratias a Mozilla, it turns out you can have Thunderbird access your mailbox and pull out all the e-mails for you, and continue to do so. Because at school I have a perpetual connection, all I have to do is open Thunderbird to get my e-mails-- You know, old-school style. No loading Hotmail. No ads. None of that. If you already own a Hotmail account, this is the way to go. If you don't have any online e-mail, sign up for Google, because you can do the same thing but it's infinitely more easy.
Every year for two days in Spring the MLC campus is invaded by an extremely powerful force. It's not an army, because armies are generally disciplined, and armies would be unstoppable if they could harness the kind of energy that this group displays. It's not a group or association of any kind. It's a demographic... That's right. I'm talking about the MLC Children's Theater and all the joyful chaos that ensues. I've never been lucky enough to have been in a production while I've been here, but if you go to school at MLC there's no way you can get by without at least being an observer. This year's production is "The Trial of Goldilocks," which promises to be as entertaining as ever. The best part of today for the kids is that they get a day off of school; to laugh, to sing, to cheer, watch, wonder... The best part of today for the faculty and students is that we can all stay awake without being caffeinated, because anytime something funny (or kind of funny) happens in the Auditorium the whole academic building shakes. As a pastor-track student, it reminds me why my teacher-track counterparts have fallen in love with what they are studying to do. It also reminds me of how brave they really are. Watching this group descend on an otherwise generally quiet campus also reminds me of the vital importance of this mission field. The Bible is right, God is right in all his "foolishness" (1 Corinthains 1:25) to exalt children as an example for faith. Of course, God means to encourage us in that kind of unshakable trust that children have for their parents. But I think there's also something to be said for enthusiasm. Just a thought.
Hello, whoever may be out there... This is just a quick note to say that I am hoping to get back up and running soon. My computer has a brand new motherboard, and once I am done with a philosophy paper due on Friday, things look to calm down a little.
Well, I'm here for a quick post despite what I need to prepare for tomorrow and a biggun' paper... OK, a moderatun' paper... for Philosophy that's due soon. Just wanted to let everyone know that I'm alive, and all the better for it. Some good news, some bad. I cleaned out a "new" computer for my little brother, both digitally and physically. I ordered some RAM off eBay, which is an early birthday present, and I'll be putting that in as soon as it gets here. I'm working on an MLC Meet Math T-shirt (any ideas anyone?) for the club and a poster for MLC Forum's Barber of Seville. In the meantime, my own motherboard fried (long time coming) and I've been looking into a very cheap upgrade in that area, all while fixing one eye on the Seminary requirement that I own a laptop next year. But I do enjoy my desktop, and I want to keep it because of the versatility and life-span. (Laptops are generally rated for a 3-year life... Better get 'em cheap.)
Anyway, here's a little essay I wrote for Spanish class on my favorite living artist, Vladimir Kush. You can look at some of his awesome works here and here. If you must know what it says, but don't know a stitch of Spanish, use Google Translator.
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Como un aficionado de arte, es fácil a veces generalizar y decir que no hay arte hoy-en-día como era en generaciones pasado. En edades modernas, la significa e importancia de arte han sido muy discutido, y todos formas de artistas han tenido sus opiniones. Solamente hay que buscar en el Internet las palabras « cita » y « arte », y va a descubrir muchas definiciones por muchas artistas en que es arte. En mi opinión, arte es todo que es creado por hombres. Pero tengo la opinión también que hay que distinguir entre arte y arte: Hay ciertas artistas (particularmente, parece, modernos) que deben ser abandonado por los museos. El arte de Vladimir Kush no es uno.
Vladimir Kush fue nacido en Mosco, Rusia en 1965 y viva hoy en Las Ángeles, EEUU. El habla de la estilo de su arte como « Realismo Metafórico, » y muchas personas creen que el nombre es uno bueno. Aunque la influencia de artistas surrealistas como Salvador Dalí es generalmente la primera cosa que personas notan en su arte, hay muchos elementos que conectan Kush a realistas, así como los impresionistas.
Kush cita a Monet, Botticelli, Bosch, van Gogh, Durer, Schinkel, Vermeer, y Dali como influencias. Es interesante que el tiene tan largas intereses, pero el hecho sirve también como un atestación a la universalidad de sus obras. Generalmente, sus pinturas representan la pasión de los artistas del Renacimiento, el color brillante que es evidente en las obras de los impresionistas, y el realismo con respecto a forma y matizando del moviendo a fines del siglo veinte. Lo que es mas mejor es el hecho que Vladimir Kush viva hoy, y su trabajo no ha terminado - ¿Posible va a tener usted un oportunidad poseer su propio Vladimir Kush?
Say a prayer of thanks that the justice system of California has stood up in defense of the right of Christians to practice their religion. This case, although having recieved very little national attention, was seen as pivitol in providing an example for similar cases, which will undoubtedly arise. The justice system is remarkably, although not universally consistent. The arguement of these girls against CLHS has theoretically been vetoed for good, and nobody can argue anymore that religious schools are merely "businesses," and therefore subject to anti-discrimination laws. ---------------------------- From the WELS Newsletter, ---------------------------- A Superior Court judge in Riverside County, Calif., has thrown out a lawsuit brought against California Lutheran High School (CLHS), Wildomar, Calif., that alleged the school discriminated against two female students by expelling them for their homosexual relationship. Judge Gloria Trask ruled last month that there was no legal basis for the claim that CLHS—operated by an association of WELS congregations in California—falls under the state's Unruh Civil Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation in business settings. Through its attorney, John McKay, CLHS argued the school is a private religious institution and can remove students for behavior that contradicts Christian values. "You can't infringe upon the basic rights of a religious group and their right of association by forcing them to accept people who don't believe in their values," McKay told the Riverside Press Enterprise. "How could the school teach that homosexuality is a sin, and at the same time allow these two girls to be students there?" The two girls were 11th-graders in September 2005. They were questioned by then-principal Rev. Gregory Bork after other students reported the girls had told them they were in a lesbian relationship—something they publicized on their own Web page. The girls then admitted the nature of their relationship to him. Rev. Bork says the school was forced to expel them after he lovingly worked with the families and the girls refused to repent and end their relationship. The ruling ends, for now, more than two years of legal proceedings; the plaintiffs are expected to appeal. Still, Mr. Steven Rosenbaum, the current principal, is expressing thanks for the ruling. "It's always humbling to step back and watch the Lord's hand at work in his time," he says. "He works everything out for the good of his people."
Lately, I've been busy writing a lot of papers. Not the big ones, just the little three-pagers that keep buzzing around my head like a daredevil mosquito. Annoying. But there is one good thing that has come from it: I've learned how much I like the Blues. Before this year, I never really listened to any of that stuff. Oh sure, I had heard Clapton songs, but that's not quite the same. (You Look Wonderful Tonight... meh.) Anyway, this past summer I was invited to go to Summerfest in Milwaukee with a friend to see B.B. King. It was an awesome concert! Being as unfamiliar as I was with that genre, what impressed me the most was that the whole concert was one big song. Each rhythm simply merged with the next, changing slightly, not too much, but not too little either. It was upbeat. Since then I've learned that I can listen to the Blues while doing homework, even while writing a paper in Spanish, which is something that I really couldn't do with other lyricized music. Anyway, I guess all I'm trying to say is that I'm a fan, and lately my listening has gravitated toward BB King, Memphis Slim and Buddy Guy. Here's a clip from the concert I attended in Milwaukee:
