Mike's musings

39 weeks

Labels: baby, Moo

# posted by MikeCamel @ 8:29 pm 2 comments

Work, work, work

I was reading the nativity story to Jo today (yes, I know it's Lent). We got to the birth, and she said: "I love baby Jesus." "That's nice," I replied, thinking how well she's got got the point. Then she said, "I _love_ angels." "Hmm, I thought - fair enough - but not _quite_ as theologically positive." It was when we turned the page and she said, "I _LOVE_ camels," that I began to realise that the theological wasn't top of her list.

Labels: Jo, love, theology, work

# posted by MikeCamel @ 9:10 am 2 comments

Magnificat

I was back at work today, and got lots done, although my voice still isn't entirely sorted. I was supposed to have a supervision with Keith today, but he's not well either, so we've postponed for a while.

Forgot to post yesterday that we had a midwife visit yesterday. Yet another midwife - we've had very little continuity this time, but it doesn't bother us particularly. On her advice, we're off for a check-up at Colchester Hospital on Wednesday. They're not particularly worried, but the deal is that if you're measuring more than 3 weeks off what your expected size is, you're supposed to go and have a check-up. Jo was big, too, but not as big as this one. Moo's 32 weeks now, and measuring 39. No wonder people are asking her how long she'll be at work for - and that she's beginning to get more uncomfortable.

A good friend of mine from school emailed me today to catch up. We've talked a few times over the past couple of years. She suffers from mental illness (there are more people around who do than you might expect), and not all of her family know. She has a supportive husband, though. I'm really pleased that she keeps in touch - she was such a good friend at school, and one of those people it would be a shame to lose touch with.

Labels: friends, Mary, Moo, music, pregnancy

# posted by MikeCamel @ 8:42 pm 0 comments

A tortured soul

I had a chat with Edward from ERMC tonight, about placements. It seems that things have gone rather quiet, so he's picking up the baton. There's a problem with finding anything on the mental health side, where I'd been thinking about spending my non-ecclesial (or social) placement, and we've decided to look instead at a placement to do with death and dying - an area where I have very little experience, and which I'd already identified as needing work. We're going to see if we can find a suitable funeral directors or hospice who might take me on. I'm very happy about this, and look forward to seeing what we can sort out.

Went to church (Communion) today for the first time in weeks - I've been away, or ill, or both, and missed out, which I've not been happy about. Dad, Kate and I all went to the 0800 BCP service at Great Yeldham, which I was very pleased to have made. All in all, it's been a more theological weekend than I'd expected. Partly because my Dad, my Mum and Kate all read the draft of my personal assessement - which I'll also be discussing with Keith tomorrow, hopefully. They asked some interesting questions, and I feel that I've managed to make pretty much all the points I'd wanted to make in it. We also spent some time over supper and before discussing who we'd have on our "5 people for Lent" list (which I blogged on yesterday). This led to some interesting suggestions, including Judas (!), Luther, Pope John-Paul I (not the second), Bill Shankley, Rafa Benitez, Kevin Keegan (the last three from Mac, my father-in-law), Gerald Manley Hopkins (yeuch!), John Donne, Shakespeare and Johnny Cash. I urge you to try it with your family and friends - it was quite an interesting exercise to find out what people think that they _should_ be doing, and what they ought to saying!

Labels: death, ERMC, Lent, music

# posted by MikeCamel @ 7:04 pm 2 comments

Journey through Lent

• John Calvin: I think he was a fascinating theologian, and is much maligned. I think part of the problem he had was that he had too much faith in human nature. I'd be very interested to spend some time with him talking, debating, and learning.
• Alasdair MacIntyre: I've read some of his theology, and it's very good: really based in the social, which resonates strongly with me.
• William Byrd: for the music, always the music.
• Archbishop Rowan Williams I'd like to talk and debate and pray about the issues of homosexuality in the Communion, and how it fits into the broader picture. I'd take Archbishop Peter Akinola as an alternative, if Rowan's a bit busy.
• Moo: as a Christian: I don't know if it'll ever happen, but it would be great.

Labels: Lent, theology

# posted by MikeCamel @ 7:00 pm 1 comments

Jo's birthday party

Wish I could say the same about the rugby. We're 57 minutes in, and it doesn't look like we're going to win. In fact, a white-wash is still a distinct possibility.

Labels: friends, Jo, rugby

# posted by MikeCamel @ 6:54 pm 1 comments

Parents here

Had a sleep in the afternoon, and then helped Moo a bit preparing for Jo's party tomorrow. Oh, and there's the rugby, tomorrow as well...

Labels: illness, rugby

# posted by MikeCamel @ 6:50 pm 0 comments

Voice

Had a cup of tea with Dorothy, Keith's wife, and whispered at her. Then went for a drive and visited the churches of Belchamp Otten (darling little cheery organ) and Belchamp St Paul (a jewel of a high Anglican parish church). In the former, played "My Song is Love Unknown", "Sleepers Wake" (Wachet Auf) and "The Day Thou Gavest", which cheered me up no end.

Labels: music

# posted by MikeCamel @ 11:28 am 2 comments

Bits and pieces - 2 and Lent

I did some work today, as I've been feeling better, and had some voice. A few calls with a customer, and a few emails. I'm still not 100%, but definitely feeling better than I was. Let's hope this continues. I also got close to finishing my personal assessment for the year. This is important, as it goes to the bishop to check that all's on course for ordination, and to help in the selection of my title post (where I'll spend 3-4 years after I'm ordained, which is planned for Spring - well Petertide, actually - next year). I've printed off a copy for Keith to look at to see if he's got any comments or other thoughts.

Lent starts today. Moo asked me if I'm planning to give anything up. I'm not. I've got two resolutions, which are quite timely: to look after myself a little better, and to try to listen to some devotional music (whether classical or not, whether "officially" devotional, or just devotional for me) every day. That's what I need in terms of formation at the moment, I think.

Labels: Jo, Lent, work

# posted by MikeCamel @ 11:20 am 0 comments

"So poorly based" - reflections on Christianity and homosexuality

I'm not Anglican, but it troubles me deeply that the Episcopal Church in the U.S. is taking this stand against the entire Communion on a matter so poorly based in Scripture and tradition.

I take a different view, as I think is probably clear from other posts. I think there are a few points here. All of this post is, of course, my opinion. I could be wrong on points of fact, and you may disagree with my theology.

First of all, I believe that one of the interesting things about the Episcopal Church in the U.S. is that it is run along much more democratic lines than most of the other provinces of the Anglican Communion. For instance, it is committees who choose bishops, rather than other bishops, and so it's difficult to "impose" solutions on a set of people who are not all ordained, and not "under the discipline" of the church. There are arguments here that lay people may be more prone to being over-influenced by secular society. But the other side of the coin is that if the Holy Spirit _is_ moving through society, then people who are more free of the strictures of a fairly rigid hierarchy (the church), and will be better able to reflect God's revelation as expressed through the wider world.

The second point is that I disagree that they are taking a stand against the entire Communion. There are other provinces - the Church of England, for instance - where the issue of homosexual priests, bishops and lay people is becoming an vexed one.

Third, I don't agree with the suggestion that this is an issue "poorly based in Scripture and tradition". I would say that the view _against_ homosexuality is much less strongly based in Scripture than has generally been presented. And the tradition is fairly modern - there was a much greater acceptance of a variety of homosexual expressions certainly up to the Reformation than there has been until very recently.

Fourth, we should bear in mind that the church is splitting largely down what we could call "interpretational" lines. Those who are of a fundamentalist - or at least literalist - bent tend to interpret the Bible in one way, and those of a more liberal theological background (broadly of the "historical-critical" school) tend to be less literal. Of course, there are issues around tradition, as well: some of those who take a view which foregrounds tradition will tend to take an "anti-homosexual" view. That's the standard Roman Catholic view. But we should be aware that a number of the fundamentalist parties - often evangelical - are seeking to use the homosexual (which tends to be very emotive) debate as a point of contention. It's sometimes less about this particular issue, but more about how the Bible is read. We should remember that there is a broader political agenda (sometimes) at work here.

Last of all, one thing that ECUSA are doing is treating homosexuals with respect and love. Not just clergy, but laity as well. The rest of the Anglican Communion (with a few exceptions) have agreed that they should listen to homosexuals and treat them with love and respect. I don't see that happening. With rare (but heroic) exceptions, the message to gay people - lay and clergy - is that they are _not_ listened to, not respected, and not loved.

And I _know_ what Jesus Christ would have said about the last point, if nothing else.

A declaration

And there are more important issues. Violence against women, povery, global warming, persecution of Christians, persecution of non-Christians, despair, mental illness - where do you start? Not, for Christ's sake, with what people do in bed.

Labels: church, sexuality, theology

# posted by MikeCamel @ 7:48 pm 1 comments

A church, and some music

# posted by MikeCamel @ 4:57 pm 1 comments

Another week

Labels: illness, work

# posted by MikeCamel @ 7:15 pm 1 comments

Dar Es Salaam

There are a number of blogs around on this, including a good videoblog and recordings of press conferences at AnglicanTV. You might also want to check out Thinking Anglicans, which has lots of links, and Changing Attitude blog. The last, by the way, assumes quite a lot of existing knowledge about the people and positions - it's worth reading back.

One of the really hard things that's happened this time round is that a group of 7 Primates have refused to participate in Holy Communion with the others. This is down from 14 on a meeting at Dromantine 2 years ago, but is a shocking, shocking move: it's hard to think of a stronger statement that people could make as Christians.

You might also want to look at the Anglican Communion Official Website.

Labels: anglicans, sexuality

# posted by MikeCamel @ 7:18 pm 1 comments

Yet again, sleep

Labels: sleep

# posted by MikeCamel @ 7:15 pm 0 comments

Shocking, shocking result

Thanks to Sally for this one. I wonder how Ted would do...?

Labels: bible

# posted by MikeCamel @ 2:45 pm 2 comments

A bit about Jo

• she's forming more and more full sentences
• she's got very good at talking on the phone, although she'll still often refer to things that she can see, but which the person on the other end of the phone can't
• she seems to think that every picture of a snowman is the one that she made: it appears that there's only room for _one_ snowman in this world!
• she get when something's an accident - but seems to believe that this means that it wasn't her fault
• some favourite phrases at the moment: "was an accident", "not my fault", "never mind", "not 2 yet", "want a cuddle Daddy", "want a cuddle Mummy", "me put my welly boots on", "shall we?", "you come upstairs, too?", "me want a poo"
• she's very good at taking herself off to the loo, and can manage standard trousers and pants, but dungarees are _just_ too tricky
• she can dress and undress herself almost completely
• she tends to start sentences with "me" ("me opened the fridge door"), but, if prompted, will correct herself ("I opened the fridge door")
• she's excellent with "please" and "thankyou"
• she's got the girl pink gene. We tried, we tried. But Moo took her shopping today, and told her she could choose whatever paper plates she liked for her birthday party. She chose Disney princess plates. Well, at least the napkins she choose were Pooh ones (OK, Disney ones, but still...)

Labels: Jo

# posted by MikeCamel @ 3:47 pm 1 comments

More recovery

Oh - yesterday was Moo and my 14 year engagement anniversary. I gave her some very random books and bits and pieces, including this book, which is hilarious (and not what you may think):

Moo gave me three DVDs

• Scooby-doo - watched this today, and enjoyed it despite myself
• March of the penguins
• Ultraviolet

I'm being very good, and only checking work email once a day. How's about that?

Labels: films, Moo

# posted by MikeCamel @ 3:37 pm 2 comments

Hallucinations

Having been awake most of the night, this came along. Don't know whether I should really be posting it, but hey...

The Conversion of Saint Raul, or "reclaiming a poster boy"

Raul sat on the train, feeling rather pleased with himself. They'd got 6 new ones in London - of which 4 were down to him, and 1 of which he'd claim as an "assist" - and he had a good lead in Bristol, which is where he was going now. He'd got the relevant bishops' emails (sometimes, it seemed, provided somewhat unwillingly, but OAfJ knew how to pull the relevant strings), and he had some good contacts in the local media. In fact, the national - and even international - media were beginning to take notice of the work of Outing Anglicans for Jesus, and there'd been quite a scrum when Raul had thrown the last incumbent's vestments onto the muddy street outside the church and ritually burnt them, before handing him over to his bishop. Of course, it wasn't all high-church Anglo-Catholics, so you had to pick your desecration carefully, and one of Raul's favourites had been a nasty piece of work called Stephen, who'd finally confessed when the OAfJ had thrown his copy of "The Message" onto a bonfire in the church hall car park.

Just then, as the train passed through a tunnel, there was a flash of light. Raul was blinded, and ducked down onto the floor, sure that the train had hit something, and that the carriage would at any moment start to buckle. However, nothing of the kind happened, and he was about to get up, when suddenly he heard a voice.

"Oi, Raul. Why are you picking on me?"
"Jesus Christ," blasphemed Raul, "who the hell's that?"
"Right first time," said the voice, "it's Jesus, who you're persecuting. Now, get up, get off at the next station, and you'll get your instructions."
The other OAfJ officers with Raul were flabbergasted - they'd heard the sound, but couldn't see anyone. Raul, trying to rescue something of his dignity, got up from the floor of the carriage, but when he opened his eyes, he couldn't see anything. So they helped him off at the next stop, which was Bristol Temple Meads, the city station. They found a hotel, but he was completely blind for three days, and didn't touch a morsel of food or a drop of drink.

Now, in Bristol, there was a rector of a church in the city who was called Andy. The Lord called to him while he was tidying up after youth club, "Andy!". Andy took his mobile out of his pocket. Caller ID showed "THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY", which he was pretty sure he'd never set up in his contact list, so he decided to go with it. "Yes, Lord?" he answered.

The Lord told him "Go to the Hotel Judas on Straight Street and ask for a guy called Raul Tarsus, as he's praying. In a vision, he's seen a man called Andy come and place his hands on him to restore his sight."

"Lord," Andy answered, "you've got to be joking. I've seen this guy in the news, and all the harm he's been doing to the community in London. And he's come here with authority from the bishops to out and defrock anyone who's even remotely queer."

But the Lord said to Andy, "Get off your backside! This guy's my chosen instrument to present me to that post-Christendom society you're always on about, the media, and all those so-called "God-fearing Christians". I'll show him how much he'll have to suffer for me."

So Andy, somewhat against his better judgement, made sure he still had his mobile (in case God changed his mind on the way), put on a rainbow bracelet (might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb) and headed off to the hotel. They showed him up at reception - he had his dog-collar on, after all - and, full of trepidation, he entered Raul's room. He placed his hands on Raul, and said "Brother Raul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the train here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something seemed to fall from Raul's eyes, and he could see again.

Labels: illness, sexuality

# posted by MikeCamel @ 11:25 am 4 comments

Christians: choosing who to love

My intention had been to write from two directions:

1. as Christians, we don't get to decide who we should love: we're supposed to love everyone (including ourselves). This includes people of whom we may not approve - and I'm thinking in particular of gay, bisexual or lesbian people. And gay, bisexual or lesbian Christians, too.
2. we should maybe realise that other people don't get to decide who they love, either: and I'm thinking in particular of gay, bisexual or lesbian people. And gay, bisexual or lesbian Christians, too. God made each of us the way we are, and we must remember that Jesus told us to "love your neighbour as yourself", which means that we must realise that people must love the selves that God made them.

Sorry to be blunt - I expect comments (though I may delay responding to them all until I'm rather better).

Synchroblog

• Christian Sexuality as Ritual Worship at Phil Wyman's Square No More
• Christians: choosing who to love at Mike's Musings
• Loving God, Loving others, loving self- responding to the Goddess- a feminist perspective at Eternal Echoes
• Trinity by Mike Crockett
• Prophet's Passion at Adam Gonnerman's Igneous Quill
• A Love Supreme from Fernando's Desk
• What is this thing called love? at Steve's Notes from the Underground
• Love as it should pertain to us missionally? at Webb's Stumbling into the Kingdom
• Divine Eros by Handmaid Leah
• Loving the Other by John Smulo
• The Conjunction Between Sensuality and Spirituality by Matt Stone
• The Blogger Whom Jesus Loved at Jamie's More Than Stone
• Love Them Patriots at Calacirian
• I'm a better lover than I used to be... by Billy Calderwood
• Young people in on love by Tim Abbot
• The Art of Making Love....and Soap at Cindy's Tracking the Edge
• Being Missional: Love Comes Before Power by David Fisher at Be the Revolution

Update

Labels: illness, love, sexuality, synchroblog

# posted by MikeCamel @ 4:37 pm 4 comments

Still ill

Labels: illness, Moo

# posted by MikeCamel @ 4:34 pm 1 comments

No post

Intend to get anti-biotics, instead.

Labels: illness

# posted by MikeCamel @ 8:32 pm

Home

• no voice. At all
• lots of give-aways from the show which I've distributed between the 3 of us. One of the exhibitors had a bin into which you could dump give-aways that you didn't want, and which they'd donate to needy children (with some money on top)
• a sore throat (see above)
• lots of snot
• plaudits from colleagues for my booth hosting
• permission to take Moo out for a seriously good meal on the company as a thank you
• some good books to read
• some badges and bracelet things (you know, like the "make poverty history" ones) in rainbow colours
• some fun presents for Moo for our engagement anniversary (14 years)
• a personal assessment to write...

Labels: home

# posted by MikeCamel @ 6:58 pm 4 comments

Homewards bound today

Moo's taken some lovely pictures of Jo in the snow, which I've seen, and I had a little chat about it with her (Jo) on the phone this morning. She told me that she'd made a snowman, which is cool, and then offered me cake, which was a little surreal. But nice, of course. I'm very much looking forward to seeing both of them. I'm supposed to be traveling next week, as well, but at this rate, I'm just not going to be well enough, so we'll see how it goes.

I'm aware that I've not been very theological recently, but there we are. If you want something that's likely to raise your ire - for one reason or another - you might want to look at this open letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury and associated petition.

Labels: travel, weather

# posted by MikeCamel @ 4:21 pm 4 comments

Yes, cold

Labels: illness, work

# posted by MikeCamel @ 4:16 pm 0 comments

Cold?

Went to buy a new case today, as mine finally died on the way over. Didn't think to report it, so won't get any money for it, but a new one over here only cost $34.99 + tax (under $38 - around £18-£19), so I'm not complaining too much. I do, however, love to complain about the fact that over here in North America you never know how much something is going to cost you until you take it to the till! Sorry to shout, but this really exercises me. They don't put tax-inclusive prices up, and as taxes vary from state to state, you've basically got little chance to know what you're actually paying. Aaaaaaaaargh!

The show continues busy, and my MC work is winning plaudits (just being loud and myself in front of lots of people isn't _that_ difficult, but hey), so people seem happy. I'm full of snot and not sleeping well, but apart from that...

Labels: weather, work

# posted by MikeCamel @ 2:38 pm 1 comments

RSA 2007

In the morning, I went for a long walk around San Francisco, encompassing the areas of Mission, Castro and some of Market. Castro was very interesting: it's the gay culture centre of San Francisco. Found some good books there, and got some badges, as I'd hoped.

Labels: travel, walk, work

# posted by MikeCamel @ 4:40 pm 2 comments

If you're going to San Francisco...

So, it's 0207 tomorrow (or 1807 here, depending on your view of time), so time for a freshen up, then hopefully meet some colleagues for a beer and some food.

Labels: films, travel

# posted by MikeCamel @ 2:05 am 1 comments

Jo's new bed

The midwife came to visit this morning (coincidentally, arriving just before Si and D had to head off, so we didn't get so say goodbye properly). It was Debbie, who looked after us last time: she's not been around before for any of the appointments, and it was lovely to see her again. Moo's 29 weeks today or tomorrow. And measuring 36 weeks. She was measuring 34 weeks this time last pregnancy, and second babies do measure bigger, apparently, but still...

Labels: baby, friends, Jo, travel

# posted by MikeCamel @ 9:17 pm 0 comments

Things to think about

• as well as agreeing that I need to find somewhere with good music, Keith reckons that I should also find somewhere where I can make the most of my skills and interests in the online, as 'twere.
• he feels that my strong theological commitment to justification by faith is something worth nurturing. Although I'm of a liberal bent, theologically, in many ways, my core beliefs are very Reformation Protestant.
• I talked about how important this blog has become to me. Although, quite often, there's nothing theological going on, I do try to keep at least one post a week in that vein, and the opportunities to discuss, swap comments and the rest with others - including the SynchroBloggers - gives me lots.
• I made sure that my answers to some of the questions on the relevant forms - and what I'll say in my personal assessment - make it clear where my sympathies lie in terms of ("dangerous liberal") issues such as women priest/bishops and homosexuals. Although I've been warned off taking too strong a stance on the latter issue until I'm ordained, I'm feeling the need to step things up a little. It's a little thing, but I'm intending to get and wear some sort of brooch/badge to the next ERMC weekend. Just a rainbow. It's more about standing side-by-side, rather than being in people's faces, but it's time to make a little bit of a stand, I think.
• I need to keep looking after myself. I've not been well, and I have responsibilities to my colleagues, my course, my family and myself, not to mention God. Need to keep well.

Labels: blogging, homosexuality, theology

# posted by MikeCamel @ 9:01 pm 1 comments

Operation

Labels: family, prayer

# posted by MikeCamel @ 9:08 pm 2 comments