Archive for the 'Christian' Category

Review of UM in The Anglican Digest

Published July 11, 2008 in Africa, Christian, ECUSA and Unlikely Missionary. 0 Comments

I am very exited to announce that The Anglican Digest has include my novel in their Transfiguration A.D. 2008 issue. The issue will be out soon, but in the meantime the review is here:

A novel set in 1990, this is the story of Episcopalian Katherine Tierney who spends a year working in a mission outpost in Burkina Faso.   The story might be predictable but Brady’s descriptions of the setting, the culture, and their impact on the characters is engrossing and, for those who have similar experience in their history, evocative of fond memories.  The spiritual issues with which the central character has to wrestle underscore the impact that time spent in mission can have on those who chose to invest their lives in that service.  In the opinion of this editor, Unlikely Missionary is worthwhile read. — JDB  ISBN: 1591136989, $15.95

This is a great encouragement. Thank you to Father John and TAD for recommending The Unlikely Missionary!

Sacrifice

Published April 6, 2008 in Christian. 0 Comments

I heard Maya Angelou interviewed this morning on NPR, which was fantastic. My husband took the kids to church so I could grade some papers and her interview was an unexpected spiritual moment.

She talked about finding what you love and being willing to sacrifice for it. What do you love? What are you willing to do anything for? Where do you spend your money, time and daydreams? This is what you love.

She also explained that she lives life as a Christian because it asks life to be lived. To love and find joy and work hard - it reminded me of the Benedictine principals that have found renewed popularity in the past few years. Work and play. And, be grateful.

Now, I’m distracted and can’t focus on grading papers! I wish I were with my family at church…

World Vision Jerusalem: News Alert

Published June 13, 2007 in Christian, Current Events, Mission and Social Justice. 1 Comment

This is a news alert that came from the World Vision Jerusalem office:

World Vision Jerusalem-West Bank-Gaza

News Alert – 13 June, 2007

Is Gaza heading towards civil war?

By Wadi Razzouk – Communications Officer

More than 55 people have been killed and close to 200 have been wounded in the fiercest and latest round of clashes between Fatah and Hamas that broke out three days ago. However, this time it seems that Hamas is trying to achieve a decisive military victory that would leave the Gaza Strip under its control.

The World Vision offices in Jabaliya (North Gaza) and Rafah (South Gaza) have been closed due to the ferocious fighting. The staff of the northern office said that a man was shot just outside the office by a sniper. All World Vision projects in the Gaza Strip have been put on hold, hoping that the fighting will subside soon.

Hamas seems to be in control of most of the parts in the Gaza Strip and has issued an ultimatum to Fatah and the Palestinian Authority security apparatus loyal to President Mahmoud Abbas to surrender their weapons by Friday afternoon.

Many of the victims killed in the past days were innocent civilians, including women and children.

There were reports about battles for control of hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip. Al-Awdah hospital in the northern town of Beit Hanoun was occupied two days ago by Hamas militants. Four people were killed in that battle. World Vision supplied medicines and medical supplies to this private hospital last year.

There is deep concern that these clashes might be a prelude to a civil war, which forebodes a worsening in the humanitarian crisis for the 1.5 million people living in the Gaza Strip. Their suffering is immense even without the infighting with 80 percent of the population dependent on food aid for daily survival.

Please join us in praying for peace in the Gaza Strip, in an area that seems to have seen all possible kinds of suffering.

Robert Webber (1933-2007)

Published May 6, 2007 in Christian, Culture and Writing. 0 Comments

From CB:

I recently learned that a wonderful scholar and churchman died last week, Dr. Robert Webber. I got to know Dr. Webber briefly during my time at Wheaton College. He was known affectionately as “Book of the Month Club Bob” because he seemed to be writing one book a month. He wrote the very popular Evangelicals on the Canterbury Trail: Why Evangelicals Are Attracted to the Liturgical Church and our conversations centered upon the struggle between a call to ministry and to academia. His words were always warm, encouraging, and brought me great strength in a difficult time. I never knew him well, but I will always thank God for him.

“May light perpetual shine upon him.”

A more complete obituary is at
Wheaton College:

Memorial services planned for Dr. Robert E. Webber

After an eight month battle with pancreatic cancer, Professor Emeritus Dr. Robert E. Webber (73) went to be with the Lord Friday, April 27, 2007. Dr. Webber, known as Bob, died at his home in Sawyer, Michigan, in the arms of his wife and faithful companion, Joanne.

Dr. Webber spent 32 years as Professor of Theology at Wheaton College, before moving on to Northern Seminary. He authored more than 40 books on worship and the Church, as well as contributing to magazines, journals, newspapers and radio shows.

Bob is being cremated, and his family will inter his ashes in a private ceremony.

Before his death, Bob carefully planned his memorial services, one for each of his earthly homes. The first will be a private memorial for the Webber family, Bob’s caregivers, the Bethany Beach community, and invited friends in Michigan.

The second service will be 7 p.m., Wednesday, May 16 at Christ Church in Oak Brook, Illinois. The Wheaton College family, Northern Seminary family, and friends in the area are invited to attend.

The final service will be at Grace Episcopal Church in Orange Park, Florida, the site of the Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies. The memorial begins at 7 p.m., Friday, June 15.

All three services will include the same scriptures, songs and communion if possible, and will follow the ancient-future format Bob made his life’s work.

In lieu of flowers, donations be made to:
The Robert E. Webber Institute for Worship Studies
Endowment Fund
151 Kingsley Highway
Orange Park, Florida 32073

or

The Robert E. Webber Center for Ancient Evangelical Future
Northern Seminary
660 East Butterfield Road
Lombard, Illinois 60148

“Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Hallelujah.”

“A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier”

Published March 18, 2007 in Books I'm Reading and Christian. 0 Comments

I was too cheap to buy it the past three times I’ve been in Starbucks this week. I normally spend $1.86 (including tax) for my Grande Dark Roast with 2 Sweet-n-Lows and Cream.

So, $22 for a book seemed steep, even though I almost made it through the whole first chapter standing in line the other day.

Luckily my neighbor did buy it and lent it to me today and I can’t put it down. But I keep flipping to the back cover and looking at Ishmael Beah’s star-quality smile and think of the great stuff he must be made of. I guess that we’re all made of it if we give ourselves the chance at true redemption.

“Those People” in New Orleans

Published March 6, 2007 in Christian, ECUSA, Mission, New Orleans and Social Justice. 0 Comments

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana gathered for their annual convention last weekend. I have attached Bishop Jenkins’ sermon which speaks candidly about the identity crisis of many in New Orleans since the storm. And, the renewed mission that has come out of tragedy.

One of the sections that stood out to me was Bishop Jenkins’ explanation as to why he is committed to staying in the Episcopal Church:

I call upon you and this Diocese to display toughness (not meanness, insensitivity or stubbornness) and a persistence that speaks of our true nature as partakers of the divine nature. I am weary of the tactic of who is the most injured. It reminds me of a game show my mother used to watch on our black and white television set. It was called “Queen for a Day.” Whoever told the most heart-wrenching story won a wringer washing machine. Do you remember it? I would love to have the applause-o-meter (I remember watching that meter ascend and descend as the studio audience applauded the saddest sob story) that determined the winner! What is the place of emotional sensitivity in our discernment of God’s will? A Thomist will note that the heart, as the seat of emotion, is not to be trusted. A Jesuit would counsel that private perception needs be tested in community. Even we test an individual’s perception of vocation in the local and diocesan community.

(Via The Bishop’s Blog)

A good thought to share

Published November 28, 2006 in Christian. 0 Comments

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” —Melody Beattie

We’re all fascinated by Africa

Published November 13, 2006 in Africa, Books I'm Reading, Christian and Culture. 0 Comments

I recently read Tim Bascom’s book “Chameleon Days: An American Boyhood in Ethiopia.” I gobbled it down in one afternoon it was so good, like a mini visit to Ethiopia.

When I was working as Press Officer for World Vision UK I helped lead a group of supporters to visit Ethiopia. I remember practicing complicated Amharic verses before our travels but when we arrived in Ethiopia we were tickled to find that everyone greeted us “Ciao,” a leftover from a brief Italian occupation.

In Addis we stayed in the Hilton before flying north. There was a gift shop and a pizza place but the smell of incense and strong coffee overwhelmed the familiar space and made it feel exotic. The hotel attendants would race ahead of us to push the elevator buttons, and we quickly realized that it was the only space where they could speak privately to us.

Bascom has a recommended reading list in the back of his book which includes other gems of stories about Africa, particulary from the perspective of missionary kids. I am not a missionary kid, I was completely unprepared and unversed in the ways of missionaries when I arrived. My experience is more like “The God’s Must Be Crazy.”

Here are some other recommendations from Bascom:
“The Scent of Eucalyptus,” Daniel Coleman; “Swimming in the Congo,” Margaret Meyers; “God’s of Noonday: A White Girl’s African Life,” Elaine Neil Orr.

Katrina recovery from the front lines

Published October 23, 2006 in Christian, ECUSA, New Orleans and Relief & Development. 0 Comments

The Episcopal Bishop of Louisiana, for whom I happily worked last year as his Press Officer before relocating to Pennyslvania, is on the front lines of fundraising for Katrina recovery. Check out his blog http://edola-bishop.blogspot.com/where he reflects honestly on the frustration of people not deeming the recovery work in Louisiana “worthy” of financial support.

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