Francis Collins, Renaissance Man

Not only was Francis Collins the director for the Human Genome Project, made many landmark discoveries of disease genetics, author of The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, and now has been nominated by Pres. Obama (and now confirmed) to be the new director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH)... but apparently he also can rock.

At the University of Miami School of Medicine graduation, the speaker there was Francis Collins, who is the Director of the National Genome Human Research Institute at the National Institute Health. All of us graduating students thought he would just be another boring talking head. Man, were we ever pleasantly surprised. Not only was the talk interesting, but the crowning point was when he took out a guitar and played a hilarious version of "My Way" entitled "Their Way". Sorry for the shoddy audio and shaky hands, it was the best I could do. Anyone who graduated from anything can really relate to this video.

new week-

Hello all,
Are you learning and growing? What is God leading you and speaking about? Hope you can come and share this with us- Wed July 29- Matt 15. Please let me know if you will be coming for supper!

Shall we make it 2 in a row? Looking forward to seeing you this week. We jump into Matt 14. Also, something light for supper. Haven't yet decided.

time off now lets meet

Who's here? Lets plan on meeting. I think Shivelys and Martha were the only ones on Wed so this week lets go back to Matt 13?
Also we'll plan a little bit of salad and BLTs.

Update and New Address

Hi everyone,

We are almost settled here in Charleston. All the unpacking is finished and we have learned our way around pretty quickly. We met some of our neighbors last week when we had a little incident (got locked out in the middle of a rain storm and we needed some shelter) and we will be meeting my fellow residents tonight at little get-together. Peter has adjusted quickly to working from home. I think it has been more difficult for him since I have been around the apartment being a distraction. But I will be off to work soon. I took my board exam today and if I passed I will be a licensed pharmacist next week!!

Will and Christy-I hope the wedding and honeymoon were a blast! I saw a few pictures online and you both looked great!

We will miss you all, but I'll try to give you little updates during the next year. Our new address is 900 King Street Apt 38B, Charleston, SC 29403.

-Ramonna

Meeting postponed

As you saw in my email, Bill and Liz are traveling to LA to attend the funeral of Bill's Aunt. Keep them in prayer as they travel. Lots going on at Hillsong with VBS this week. I travel to Colorado on Friday. We'll pick up next week.

great time on Wed

Wow, what a great time on Wed saying good by to Peter and Ramonna. We loaded the truck last night and they are on their way. God Speed, friends!

Interesting Article

Here's an interesting article on something happening in CA:

http://www.10news.com/news/19585458/detail.html

Googly Eyes Watching You

We talked about this Wednesday night: Google Maps has continued to refine their map-making skills... and get even MORE up close and personal. I'm not sure how many people are aware of this.

For example, recently in The Daily Tarheel, there was was an article about a new experiment (perhaps ill-conceived) in pedestrian crossings on the edge of UNC campus near the physics building. There's a neat-o 360-degree image of the intersection in question, which you can navigate right on the page. But that technology isn't confined to intersections like this.

Suppose we take the apartment complex where I used to live a few years ago:

View Larger Map
(This isn't a photo pasted from Google Maps; it's a live embedding of the map on the blog page.) You can click the '+'/'-' buttons to zoom in and out, and you can click-and-drag or use the directional arrows to move the view. Click the 'X' to make the address box go away.

However, did you know that you can also now do this?

View Larger Map
The directional arrows or click-and-drag now allow you to look up and around as if you are standing on the street. If you mouse-over the image so that the white arrows appear, clicking on the white arrows takes you in increments up and down the street.

Or, if you type "Open Eye Cafe, Carrboro, NC" into Google Maps, you will get this:

View Larger Map
and if you then click on the "street view":

View Larger Map

wed night

Several things are of note:
Who will lead chap 10?
Discuss Christy's bridal shower 16 May sat morning 11am - ladies only- men can make comments but we know there will be nothing of substance for them to add.
Also 3 June going away for Peter and Ramonna. What would Peter and Ramonna like as the theme? I'm thinking covered dish but you guys decide. I'd like to invite other friends from Hillsong and family members.

No Time to Pray? A Technological Solution!

From Chuck Shepherd's News of the Weird column:

The Web site InformationAgePrayer.com offers, for people too busy to speak to God themselves, a daily service of invocations (using voice-synthesizing software) for Catholics, Protestants, Jews, or Muslims. Starting each day "reciting" the Lord's Prayer (or the Islamic Fajr) is $3.95 a month. Hail Marys are 70 cents a day for 10. A Complete Rosary Package is $49.95 a month. Each prayer is voiced individually, according to a March report on LiveScience.com, with the subscriber's name on the screen, and for Muslim prayers, the computer's speakers point toward Mecca.

wed night

Just a reminder- no dinner at the Partins. A great rib feast is being prepared in the Kitchens of Hillsong- I'll be there. We start our Bible study at 7ish at our house as usual.

next week

Good to be back in CH and with you. This coming week, Matt 9 with Christy leading the way. Let me know if you have supper suggestions. Wed night 3 JUNE will say good bye to Peter and Ramonna. So mark you calenders.

This week in the Kingdom

Hello all,
Chapter 8 this week- If you have some suggestions about supper, let me know. I'll return to the homeland on Tuesday night.

Happy Easter

Scary German Bunny Man
by DiagonalView

WED NIGHT

Have fun- pray for Will and Christy- still suffering with sinus infection- spread to Will.

This week

What a great time last week. Peter has chap 7 and Martha will come up with something good to eat. Love you all. phil

this week

Hello All,
Chap 6- more teaching on the Kingdom of God from the Master Himself. How do you understand the difference between metaphor and simile and literal? How do you understand the a device of writing (literature) versus and command to obey?
Liz will facilitate our discussion- we'll have some grub!

The Gospel of Matthew chapter 5. See you soon.

This Week

Remember- the film Amazing Grace will be our content- look over the discussion questions. Also, we will have pizza. phil

next week

Sorry you could not all "experience" red beans and rice. Oh, well. Next week we will watch the movie Amazing Grace and have pizza. Not the discussion on the blog and attached in an email to the group.
Keep in prayer,
Will for his pain especially as the weather gets bad (wet).
Bill travels to Pittsburg for a Physicists Conference, and presents a paper.
Karen travels to visit her Dad at Mayo Clinc and takes a weekend at home with her family.
Ramonna's assignment.
Martha and I for life issues.

Discussion info for th movie Amazing Grace

FAITH SCENE STUDY
Additional Amazing Grace studies and resources are freely downloadable at www.amazinggracemovie.com.
Faith Themes: SALVATION, CALLING & PERSEVERANCE
Clip: “You found God, Sir?”
Time Code: Start: 0:18:13 - End: 0:20:51; Length: 2:06
CONVERSION
William Wilberforce (1759-1833) was first introduced to God through his aunt at a young age but pursued a
hedonistic lifestyle of parties and gambling in St John’s College Cambridge. Well-liked and witty, he was
first elected to the House of Commons at the age of 21. In 1784, Isaac Miner reintroduced Wilberforce to
Christianity. Immersing himself in studying the Bible and abandoning his indulgent ways, Wilberforce
contemplated a ‘life of solitude’ resolving to commit himself fully to the service of God. But with the
encouragement of his friend William Pitt, John Newton and the Clapham Community, Wilberforce considers
using his voice to praise the Lord and change the world as a young parliamentarian.
1. “The principles of Christianity lead not only to meditation but to action.” Agree or disagree?
2. “God found me. Do you have any idea how inconvenient that is?” What does Wilberforce
mean? Have you found this true in your own life?
3. The butler asks, “You found God sir?” Wilberforce says, “I think He found me.” What
differences are implied about the act of salvation from these perspectives? Rom 4:5, 3:24;
Ephesians 2:8-9
4. In light of “10,000 engagements of state today”, do you take time in your busy life to pray, dwell
in the wonder and awe of God?
CALLING
Many define “calling” to be the serendipitous combination of a few factors: gifting, timing of opportunities, a
leading from the Holy Spirit, and an affirmation of community.
1. How was each factor manifest in Wilberforce’s life?
2. What biblical principles inspired Wilberforce’s calling? James 2:14-18
3. Wilberforce committed himself to two ‘Great Objects’:
i) The Suppression of the slave trade and
ii) The Reformation of Manners (Social reform throughout all areas of society)
Which 65 societies did Wilberforce create or influence? Why are these significant?
5. Wilberforce argued that effective social reform should have a moral base ‘otherwise fail or
do more harm than good. Why did he believe this? Do you agree?
5. What ‘great object’ has God placed before you?
PERSEVERANCE
Though the bill was passed in 1807, Wilberforce devoted the rest of his life to rid the British Empire of
slavery. Chronically ill and repeatedly rejected by Parliament, Wilberforce tirelessly persevered over 20
years. Just 3 days after slavery is finally abolished in 1833, Wilberforce’s soul rested.
1. What inspiration and example can we draw from his perseverance to serve the public good?
2. In today’s society, why is perseverance less common?
3. How do we persevere in light of defeat and trials? Romans 5:3-4; James 1:3-4
4. What influence did Barbara Spooner have on Wilberforce’s decision to persevere?
5. How does passion differ from conviction as a motive for perseverance?
FAITH SCENE STUDY
Additional Amazing Grace studies and resources are freely downloadable at www.amazinggracemovie.com.
Faith Themes: AMBITION, GOALS & THE IMPOSSIBLE
Clip: Pitt and Wilberforce
Time Code: Start: 0:21:57 – End 0:22:51; Length: 0:53 sec
AMBITION
24 year-old Pitt aspires to become Prime Minister of England and appeals to Wilberforce for support and
partnership. Recently coming to faith in Christ, Wilberforce writes a letter informing Pitt of his decision to
enter the clergy and seeks a meeting at Brookes Club. Wilberforce said no one of their age has ever
served in Parliament and Pitt responds, “which is why we are too young to realize that certain things are
impossible. So we will do them anyway.”
1. Do you think Wilberforce and Pitt’s age influenced their ambition for social change?
2. Imagine if every young person wanted to change the world. What changes would we see?
3. What motivated Pitt’s ambition? What motivated Wilberforce’s ambition?
4. How can friends inspire courage in attempting to work for change? Which friends can surround
you and commit to making a difference with?
5. How did Wilberforce and Pitt’s friendship help in the accomplishing of their respective goals?
6. What other pairs in Biblical history were instrumental in monumental change? 1 Samuel 20:42;
Numbers 14:30 – 38; Esther 2: 22 – 82; Acts 14:3
7. How did Pitt’s influence in Wilberforce’s life contribute to the abolition of slave trade?
8. What command does Paul give to young adults in 1 Timothy 4:12?
THE IMPOSSIBLE
1. What are some obstacles to your ambitions? And what are the bases of these obstacles?
2. How does idealism or cynicism limit an attempt to make a difference?
What are some factors that make people idealistic or cynical about changing the world?
3. In what ways are you fearful or cynical?
4. Are fears reflective of the way in which we understand God? Do fears reflect a view of God?
5. How does God want us to view the impossible? Mark 9:23, Mark 10:27, Jeremiah 32:27
6. What is one of the most frequently repeated commands in Scripture? Deuteronomy 31: 6-8;
Genesis 26:24; 1 Chronicles 22:13; Isaiah 43:5
7. In what areas can you replace impossibility with faith? Fear with courage?
GOALS
1. How would you like your life and accomplishments to be summed up?
2. Should life goals and dreams be shaped by Micah 6:8 and Matthew 6:33?
3. What was distinctive about Christ’s ministry that makes relationships one of the most powerful
ways to effect change?
4. Why should integrity in personal relationships matter when pursuing goals?
FAITH SCENE STUDY
Additional Amazing Grace studies and resources are freely downloadable at www.amazinggracemovie.com.
Faith Themes: COMMUNITY, FREEDOM, FAITH & VOCATION
Clip: Clapham Dinner
Time Code: Start: 0:27:09 – End: 0:30:05; Length 2:49
COMMUNITY
In 1782 Pitt strategically arranged for Wilberforce to meet some abolitionists - Hannah More, Thomas
Clarkson, Reverend James Ramsey, and the freed former slave Olaudah Equiano, which later became
known as the Clapham Sect. These unsung heroes united to form the Committee for Abolition of the
African Slave Trade. “Wilberforce proved a man can change his times, but that he cannot do it alone.”
1. The Clapham Community was largely comprised of Anglican & Quaker abolitionists. How did
their faith drive their conviction of social justice and reform?
2. How did this small circle ignite and awaken the conscience of a nation so powerfully?
3. What effect can community achieve that a single individual cannot? Acts 22:15, 4:33;
1 Corinthians 12:12 – 27
4. What positive change can you and your circle of friends make together today?
5. In what ways can you ‘set captives free?’ Isaiah 61:1-3
FREEDOM
To Wilberforce's horror, Clarkson demonstrates the use of human shackles and Equiano reveals his
branding scar on this chest and says, “they put irons into the fires and do this. To let you know you no
longer belong to God but to a man.”
1. Why does man exercise power through cruelty?
2. Why was it important for Wilberforce to meet Equiano?
3. What freedoms are gained or forfeited when we belong to God? Or to man? Rom 8:1 –2,
2 Corinthians 3:17, Gal 5:1, 2 Pet 2:19
4. What attributes of God are implied in “belonging” to Him? Ps 24:1-2, Deut 4:32, Is Chapter 45
5. What things in your life own you? What do you use your freedom for?
FAITH & VOCATION
Pitt knows of Wilberforce’s personal dilemma to stay in government or to become a man of the cloth.
Clarkson poignantly discloses, “We understand you having problems doing the work of God and that of a
political activist.” With quiet strength and conviction, Hannah More exhorts “We humbly suggest that you
can do both.”
1. Why did Wilberforce view “work of a political activist” and the “work of God” as separate?
2. Why are we prone to divorce faith from our vocations? and categorize secular versus spiritual
vocations?
3. How is work a form of worship? Hebrews 12:1-2
4. How do John Newton and the Clapham community affirm Wilberforce’s calling?
5. What challenges do politicians face that demand or necessitate faith?
FAITH SCENE STUDY
Additional Amazing Grace studies and resources are freely downloadable at www.amazinggracemovie.com.
Faith Themes: HISTORICAL SLAVERY & CHANGE
Clip: The Smell of Slavery
Time Code: Start: 0:55:28 – End 0:56:50; Length: 1:37 seconds
HISTORICAL SLAVERY
The Madagascar was a slave ship. Wilberforce painted the horrors of slavery for Members of Parliament by
the smell of death, the smell of slavery. Never before did the citizens see or smell the reality and degrading
effects of slavery. The stench of death is overwhelming.
1. Wilberforce shouts “Remember God made men equal!” If man was created equally, why do we
still view others differently?
2. How did Clarkson and the Clapham community make slavery real for Members of Parliament
and the British Empire?
3. “How can we live in houses like this while others live in boxes?” Does the injustice of others
factor into decisions about your own lifestyle?
Olaudah Equiano was a central figure in the abolitionist movement in Great Britain. Equiano wrote an
eyewitness account of his life as a slave and of his work in the anti-slavery movement in his memoir titled
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or, Gustavas Vassa, The African. Published in
1789, this book was extremely successful and important because it was one of few first-hand accounts of
slavery. Equiano worked tirelessly towards this cause until his death on April 31, 1797.
1. Estimates say over 20 million slaves died in the Transatlantic Slave Trade. Why is this part of
our history still relatively unknown?
2. What are the residual consequences of the transatlantic slave trade today?
3. What other forms of inequality and discrimination still exist in our society?
4. Would people say that you view or treat others differently?
5. How are we to value others? Philippians 2:3-4, Romans 12:10, Galatians 5:13
CHANGE WITHIN
Pitt asks Wilberforce, “you don’t believe we can change things?” To which Wilberforce replies, “I’d rather
change myself first.” Confession of one’s sinfulness is often the first step towards God’s work of change in
and through one’s life.
1. Why is Wilberforce’s humility the proper attitude before changing anything else?
2. Why does changing the world begin with changing one’s character?
3. Historically, Christians were often the very perpetrators of slavery. Why is it crucial for the
Church to be an agent of reconciliation and to combat racism?
4. Why is reconciliation an important characteristic for all Christians? 2 Cor 5:17-21
5. How is the ability to forgive reflective of one’s understanding of grace? Luke 7:47
6. How is asking for forgiveness different than an apology?
7. Why is it necessary to acknowledge one’s own culpability in order to reconcile? 1 John 1:8-10
8. How can you be an agent of healing and reconciliation?
FAITH SCENE STUDY
Additional Amazing Grace studies and resources are freely downloadable at www.amazinggracemovie.com.
Faith Themes: JOHN NEWTON & THE HYMN AMAZING GRACE
Clip: Once Was Blind
Time Code: Start: 1:28:07 – End 1:29:42; Length: 1:31
JOHN NEWTON
Early in the film, still imprisoned by his guilt, John Newton bitterly tells Wilberforce that he was “explaining to
a child why a grown man cowers in a dark corner.” “Twenty thousand ghosts live with me in this church,
there’s still blood on my hands.”
1. What did Newton mean that he “once was blind”?
2. In what ways are we also blind? Why does one’s sense of guilt vary? Judges 21:25;
Romans 1:18 – 9, 21, 25, 28
3. How should guilt be assuaged or remedied? Colossians 21:3-14, Isaiah 53:5-6
4. What is the difference between guilt that leads to death and guilt that leads to life? 2 Cor 7:9-10
5. How does an understanding of sinfulness affect one’s appreciation of grace?
6. What is grace?
THE HYMN AMAZING GRACE
Born into a captain’s family who traded at the East India Company, John Newton (1725 -1807) embarked
on sea voyages at the young age of 11. He soon entered the prosperous slave trade and continued in this
work whilst converting to Christianity in 1748. Not until he nearly died in a storm on a voyage near the
shores of Buncrana Ireland that he repented and left the lucrative commerce. His testimony was recorded
in an article titled “Faith’s Review and Expectation” which later became the hymn “Amazing Grace.” He
proclaimed that, “Only God's amazing grace could and would take a rude, profane, slave-trading sailor and
transform him into a child of God.” Newton also wrote of his experiences in his autobiography 'An Authentic
Narrative' published in 1764, the same year he was ordained as a priest in the Church of England. John
Newton went on to write many other hymns as well and served as Wilberforce’s father figure in the faith.
1. “I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”
Is an understanding of one’s sinfulness proportional to one’s appreciation of grace?
2. What does it mean to be found?
3. How is repentance reflected in the hymn Amazing Grace? What is repentance?
4. How is it that grace can both teach us to fear whilst also relieving us of our fears?
6. “The Lord has promis’d good to me, His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion
be, As long as life endures.” Do you find yourself doubting these promises at times?
6. How can you be more an instrument of healing and reconciliation?
FAITH SCENE STUDY
Additional Amazing Grace studies and resources are freely downloadable at www.amazinggracemovie.com.
Faith Themes: HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Clip: Our Message Was Everywhere
Time Code: Start: 0:56:53 – End 0:57:51; Length: 1:00
Awareness can turn apathy into action. Clarkson rode on horseback to Bristol, Liverpool, and London
gathering evidence for Parliament. The Clapham Community campaigned with signs, informing consumers
of sugar that slaves were employed in the preparation of this ingredient. “It seemed our message was
everywhere. At least now there was hope, real hope.”
Today, there are more slaves in existence than the Transatlantic slave trade. We need, more than ever
before, a new generation of Wilberforces, Equianos, Clarksons and the Clapham Community to abolish the
modern-day slavery, the global crime of human trafficking.
Today, estimates state:
27,000,000: People in modern-day slavery across the world
50% of all victims are children
218,000,000: Children working aged between five and seventeen
126,000,000: Children who work in the worst forms of child labor;
300,000: Child soldiers involved in over 30 areas of conflict worldwide, some younger than 10 yrs old
20,000,000: Bonded laborers in the world
250,000,000: Dalit people of India, born into slavery and outside the caste system
2nd: Highest grossing revenue of organized crime in the world is Human Trafficking
“Trafficking in persons is modern-day slavery, involving victims who are forced, defrauded or coerced into
labor or sexual exploitation...millions more are enslaved in their own countries. The common denominator in
all trafficking scenarios is the use of force, fraud or coercion to exploit a person for commercial sex or for
the purpose of subjecting a victim to involuntary servitude, debt bondage, or forced labor. The use of force
or coercion can be direct and violent, or psychological.” -The Facts About Human Trafficking For Forced Labor,
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Washington, DC, June 3, 2008
1. Why does slavery still exist?
2. What are practical ways in which we can awaken the conscience of the world to modern day slavery?
3. Take a few moments to research the many great organizations fighting this evil. There are too many to
list but here are a few that are starting points. www.humantrafficking.org, www.dalitfreedom.net,
www.ungift.org, www.callandresponse.com, www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/, www.notforsalecampaign.org,
4. Why is it essential to unite and fight for the abolition of human trafficking?
5. What is the first requirement asked of man? Micah 6:8, Jeremiah 9:23-24, Luke 10:27
6. What attribute of God should fuel our conviction to respond? Psalm 11:7, 33:5, 140:12
7. Who did Jesus minister to and befriend? Matthew 21:32, 9:10, 11:5
8. What can you and your friends do to help and inspire others to live in their God-given freedom?
9. What practical ways can you and your friends partner with current organizations?
10. How can you be an instrument of amazing grace and amazing change?

This Week

Please note that we are now working on Matt 2-4. Great stuff.
Speaking of great stuff- I'm thinking about red beans and rice with sausage.

next week

Sorry for all you that missed a great supper and good conversation-

This coming week- Matt 2- 4. Keep your focus on the context of a Jew writing to a Jew. Get into the narrative as a 1st Century Jew. Think about what you might expect from a traveling Rabi.

Also, I'm taking request but making no promises.
Prayer requests:
Will- feeling better- getting results from medicine- heal his condition.
Karen- her Dad is in middle of the treatments for his tumor, keep praying for good results.
Ramona putting in her final requests for assignment for internship, Charleston, Asheville, Durham?
Phil and Martha- kids and jobs!

BTW- way to go Will our computer guru- I'm typing away at BK on their wireless on my Dell- and Will- no dial up boxes either- Hurray!

Love you all.

CT: The Lost Dawn Treader?

This is weird. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Voyage Dawn of Treader may actually be getting a rewrite... on ABC’s Lost.

C.S. Lewis’ influence on Lost isn’t anything new. After all, last year saw the addition of a character named Charlotte Staples Lewis (pictured). Her arrival on the island clearly rang of Prince Caspian. And when I wrote my recent Christianity Today review of the show, I was tempted to include my observations about the show’s parallels to The Great Divorce (a group of characters visit heaven—symbolically in Lost, literally in Divorce—but cannot be happy there because of their stubborn and selfish attachment to selfish sins and thus rush back to hell.)

Only recently has the show begun to overtly connect its island to the magical, mythical land of Narnia. While some examples of this would be spoilers to those not fully caught up, suffice it to say that the episode two weeks ago introduced an important place called “The Lamp Post” —which stands figuratively at the Island’s entrance, much like the one that welcomed Lucy to Narnia in The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe.

Entertainment Weekly’s resident Lost writer, Jeff Jensen, recently devoted a whole column to Narnia-Lost connections. While much of the article will read like ancient hieroglyphics to the uninitiated (and spoiler-heavy to fans not absolutely caught up), he had some thought-provoking observations—especially regarding Dawn Treader.

For any Lost and/or Narnia fans, click the link for a spoiler-free rundown of Jensen’s Dawn Treader comparison.

We have finished the "disicplines" book

We'll begin this next week with the Gospel of Matthew. Please begin to read it all the way through. This next week let's talk about the book, it's context, authorship, background, authorship.

Here is a riddle (not connected to Matthew).

It's like "manna", is gone at finish, seems to appear, yet has an origin. Like manna, there is never too much, but always enough.
What is it?

Ash Wednesday meal

In accordance with some traditions of fasting from meat- tonight we'll have tuna salad sandwiches, salad, and bread.

Our meal together

Have you any suggestions? The meal this week may conform to Ash Wed traditions if you like. Just let me know. Some folks do not eat meat on Ash Wed. Do we have anyone of that desire?

Ash Wednesday this week

At Masses and services of worship on this day, ashes are imposed on the foreheads of the faithful (or on the tonsure spots, in the case of some clergy). The priest, minister, or in some cases officiating layperson, marks the forehead of each participant with black ashes in the shape of a cross, which the worshipper traditionally retains until washing it off after sundown. The act echoes the ancient Near Eastern tradition of throwing ashes over one's head to signify repentance before God (as related in the Bible). The priest or minister says one of the following when applying the ashes:

Remember, O man, that you are dust, and unto dust you shall return. (Latin: Memento homo, quia pulvis es, et in pulverem reverteris.)

—Genesis 3:19

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel.

—Mark 1:15

Repent, and hear the good news.

—Mark 1:15

"Ash Wednesday" by Carl Spitzweg: the end of Carnival.

The ashes used in the service of worship or Mass are sacramentals, not a sacrament. The ashes are blessed according to various rites proper to each liturgical tradition, sometimes involving the use of Holy Water. In some churches they are mixed with light amounts of water^[2] or olive oil^[3][4], which serve as a fixative.

In most liturgies for Ash Wednesday, the Penitential psalms are read; Psalm 51 (LXX Psalm 50) is especially associated with this day.^[5] The service also often includes a corporate confession rite.

In some of the free church liturgical traditions, other practices are sometimes added or substituted, as other ways of symbolizing the confession and penitence of the day. For example, in one common variation, a small card or piece of paper is distributed to the congregation on which a person is invited to write a sin she/he wishes to confess. These small cards are brought forth to the altar table where they are burned.^[6]

In the Roman Catholic Church, ashes, being sacramentals, may be given to any Christian ^[7][8] as opposed to Catholic sacraments, which are generally reserved for church members, except in cases of grave necessity.^[9][10] Similarly, in most other Christian denominations ashes may be received by all who profess the Christian faith and are baptized.^[11]

In the Roman Catholic Church, Ash Wednesday is observed by fasting, abstinence from meat, and repentance—a day of contemplating one's transgressions. The Anglican Book of Common Prayer also designates Ash Wednesday as a day of fasting. In other Christian denominations these practices are optional, with the main focus being on repentance. On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, Roman Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are permitted to consume only one full meal, which may be supplemented by two smaller meals, which together should not equal the full meal. Some Roman Catholics will go beyond the minimum obligations demanded by the Church and undertake a complete fast or a bread and water fast. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are also days of abstinence from meat (for those Catholics age 14 and over), as are all Fridays in Lent. Some Roman Catholics continue fasting during the whole of Lent, as was the Church's traditional requirement, concluding only after the celebration of the Easter Vigil.

As the first day of Lent, it comes the day after Shrove Tuesday or Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday), the last day of the Carnival season.^[12]

[edit] Biblical significance

Ash Wednesday is a day of repentance and it marks the beginning of Lent. Ashes were used in ancient times, according to the Bible, to express mourning. Dusting oneself with ashes was the penitent's way of expressing sorrow for sins and faults. An ancient example of one expressing one's penitence is found in Job 42:3-6. Job says to God: "I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (vv. 5-6, KJV) Other examples are found in several other books of the Bible including, Numbers 19:9, 19:17, Jonah 3:6, Matthew 11:21, and Luke 10:13, and Hebrews 9:13.

However, some Christians who do not celebrate Ash Wednesday say that the practice is not consistent with Scripture and is of pagan origin.^[13] They usually cite Matthew 6:16–18, where Jesus gave prescriptions for fasting: "And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you." (NRSV) These groups argue that Jesus warned against fasting to gain favor from other people and that he also warned his followers that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were fasting. For these reasons, some Christian denominations do not endorse the practice. Others, however, point out that this very passage from Matthew is the one, not coincidentally, that is appointed by the Revised Common Lectionary to be read on Ash Wednesday. They might also clarify that the ashen Cross on the forehead does not represent the fast, but the mortal (fallen) condition of human existence. And they would refer to Jesus' words whereby he expected people to repent using sackcloth and ashes: "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes." (Luke 10:13; see also Matthew 11:21)

Theatre program from Ash Wednesday 1872

In Victorian England, theatres refrained from presenting costumed shows on Ash Wednesday, so they provided other entertainments, such as those shown on the program at right, from February 14, 1872 at the Gaiety Theatre, London.

this week

Hello All,
Megan is up. Megan, do you have any special request for supper?

The latest schedule:

Will has this week-Session 5- Compassionate Life

Session Six- Megan- Word Centered Life

Session Seven- Bill-Sacramental Life

Martha has planned Mac and Cheese with Wheat Bread and Jam. 

Supper and 4

Karen has the lead this week. I'm thinking of serving Bar-B-Q this week with slaw and potato salad. How is that with everyone?

On the Holiness Tradition

From Dallas Willard in Renovation of the Heart: Spiritual Transformation into Christlikeness is the process of forming the inner world of the human self in such a way that it takes on the character of the inner being of Jesus himself. The result is that the "outer" life of trhe individual increasingly becomes a natural expression of the inner reality of Jesus and of his teachings. Doing what he said and did increasingly becomes a part of who we are.

But for this to happen our body must increasingly be poised (my emphasis) to do what is good and refrain from what is evil. The inclination to worngdoing that literally inhabit its parts must be eliminated. The body must come to serve us as a primary ally in Christlikeness.

For good or evil, the body lies right at the center of the of the spiritual life...

pg. 159 From Transforming the body

Concerning Bumpy Wheels

I'm still thinking about the first chapter in our Spiritual Formation workbook. Remember the diagram that looked like a wheel? We were supposed to rate ourselves from one to ten in each of the six traditions. Inevitably we'd feel more at home in some than in others. Below the wheel, the workbook asked us, "How many feel that your 'wheel' goes bump, bump? What does that bumping make you want to do?"

The workbook seems to imply that all of us should be trying to get more comfortable and accomplished in all six areas. Do you think that's true? Why or why not?

I'm going to get a little odd here and ask Phil NOT to comment on this one right away. Phil, you've been a believer for a long time and are our spiritual leader, and are newly ordained as of today! Being a teacher myself, I know that when the teacher gives an opinion, most students simply accept that opinion and hesitate to express their own thoughts.

So, everybody else--what do you think?