There is a beautiful article by Garrison Keillor (BTW, who names their kid "Garrison"? Seems cruel to me) about, of all things, baptism. Apparently, Episcopalians renounce "evil powers" instead of the devil. It starts with a bunch of reflections on political polarization and goes from there to a wider reflection on baptism more generally.

I was whining - I admit it! Oh, it's a sorry state for a person to get into. Then my cousin M. said, "You sucked up a cord? While it was plugged in? You're lucky you didn't get shocked!" That was the cold water of perspective thrown onto my bad mood. After that, I was referred to this page by seraphimsigrist. I encourage you to read it - especially those ( Read more... )

I managed to reserve a rental car for Thanksgiving weekend (next step, see if my parents can send me the money in advance, as otherwise I won't be able to pay for it). I am getting very excited about going back to Idyllwild, where we spent most of my childhood Thanksgivings. So that's good ( Read more... )

I'm skeptical of churches that try to appeal to a single group of people, or walk any kind of cultural or political line. I'm skeptical of people who are certain they know what God wants. I am especially skeptical of church leadership that seeks power continually, and will not tolerate dissenters in any form. That is why I was so disturbed by ( Read more... )

Sorry, everyone - this is too important to me personally for a cut.

In July of 2002, I found myself walking, at the break of dawn, with two large bags and a medium-sized puppy, down the sand road in Djeol. I was on my way to Kaedi, thence to Nouakchott, thence to Paris and Los Angeles for the baptism of my godchildren. The journey was going to ( Read more... )