Turba Gallorum #3 - Hilary of Potiers

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Lord, grant us

• Precision of language
• Soundness of argument
• Grace of style
• Loyalty to truth

Amen.

Artists and Workers

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I am following up my post concerning ways of delineating between the strengths and weaknesses of people with another form of classification: Artist and Worker.

The worker wants to get something accomplished, anything. The artist wants to create, think, produce something worthwhile. The artist will trade productivity for profundity. The worker will trade profundity for practicality. The worker may be committed to quality but is at least equally committed to quantity.

These two groups can be found in many vocations. Most especially in the arts and religion, but also architecture and business. The worker wants to build a big church, write many books, design a city's worth of buildings. The artist wants something that will last, something that will impact people. The worker and the artist are impatient with each other.

The third class is the consumer. Consumers observe the worker work and the artist art (ha-ha). Then, they decidewho connects most with themselves. Most people with the worker, who tends to be more pragmatic than the artist. He is better at answering the question, "What do people want?" The artist, in her best moments, answers the question, "What do people need?" Sometimes he answers the question, "What do I want to express?"

I guess that I want to answer the questions of both worker and artist. I do not want to create beauty that no one understands. Also, I do not want to write something that everyone gobbles up because it suits their ill-formed tastes.

The Nature/Mission of the Church

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There are certain key statements in the Scriptures that are often referenced in answering the question of the Church's mission. Often these statements indicate the functions of the Church in the world as a missional and didactic institution. While these are essential considerations, the nature and primary occupation of the one, holy, catholic and apostolic Church are often neglected.

One aspect of the Church's nature that needs to occupy our thinking is Her place as Christ's Bride. We are preparing for a wedding. In our evangelization and discipleship we prepare members of the Church for that great wedding. The imagery of the marital relationship between Christ and the Church is abundant throughout the Scriptures. In the closing book of the canon the marital language is one of the most predominate features.

What is the end of the Church? Can it be said that She has one, all-encompassing vocation? Is there something that comprehends all of Her activities, calling and nature? I would contend that the Scriptures and Christian tradition indicate that there is one occupation that superintends all else. The Church is the place where the worship of the Trinity is realized. We are brought in relation to the Father in the Son by the Spirit. We participate in that activity of loving fellowship that has been the focus of heaven from the beginning of creation.

One place where the Bride prepares Herself and Her members for Her eternal vocation is in the corporate service of worship. Through the activites of Word, prayer, liturgy, giving and sacrament she is gathered as one in the communion of the Trinity. This actualization in time and space of Her calling focuses the Church to carry this reality of worship into all of Her life in this world. The corporate worship is the fullest relational realization of all the Church's efforts of mission, whether evangelism, discipleship, charity, or devotion.

What was "going on" prior to the creation? The persons of the Trinity were living together in self-giving love. Through the incarnation and atonement of Jesus Christ mankind has been invited to participate in this beautiful, eternal reality. The mission of the Church is to live in expression of this communion. Such a life calls, initiates and prepares others for the eternal worship of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

A Few Thoughts on Hope (Intro)

I've been asked to write a brief message on the subject of HOPE. In a time when war, terrorism, financial stress, natural disaster, personal tragedy, rampant disease, the breakdown of the family, degeneration of morals, and the loss of a Christian foundation for all of life are common, we need to consider HOPE. The exterior pressures that surround us in our homes, at work, on the news, and everywhere we turn often depress, frighten and overwhelm us. What subject presses upon us with more insistence than our need for some kind of hope in the midst of our turmoil?

In the meditation I attempt to briefly answer the who, why, when, what and how of HOPE. View the entire post in the March 2005 archives or by using the link below.

http://axegrinder.blogspot.com/2005/03/few-thoughts-on-hope.html

Turba Gallorum #2 - Teresa of Avila

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How different are your ways, O Lord,

from what our feeble minds imagine!

When a soul is resolved henceforth to love you

and to deliver itself into your hands,

you want from it nothing more than obedience

and that it should be well informed

as to what it really means to serve you,

and to seek only that!

It has no need to seek paths and

choose between them,

since from now on its will is yours.

It is you, my Lord,

who undertake to be its guide

along the path that is to its best advantage.

I offer this prayer of Teresa to you. I believe that it serves as an edifying corrective to some of my notions about seeking the Lord's direction in life. We do not seek the Lord's will. We seek the Lord and strive to know Him. As we learn His character we are able to make decisions based upon principles we derive from our knowledge of His character. I fear that many well-intentioned Christians are spinning their wheels waiting for God to tell them what choice to make when God is waiting on them to act upon the knowledge they have of Him. It is not so much a matter of God dictating to up what He wants us to do. He reveals Himself to us so that we may make principled decisions.

Politicians, Prophets, Plebians

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In many instances humanity can be classified by three terms: Politicians, Prophets, Plebians.

The politicians are the principle-less, cowardly compromisers. The prophets are the unbending, obnoxious troublemakers. The plebians are the uninspired masses who uncritically follow the leader.

We need politicians to get stuff done. We need prophets to remind us who we are and what is right. We need the plebes because everyone cannot be a mover and shaker.

The politicians do not like the plebes because they are not quick enough in their following. The politicians do not like the prophets because they are so hard to get along with.

The prophets do not like the politicians because they are so spineless and accomadating. The prophets do not like the plebians because they do not like to think and will follow anyone.

The plebes do not like politicians because they are so plastic and insincere. The plebians do not like the prophets because everything is always such a big deal. "Why can't they just relax, say something nice and watch the game?!"

Somehow in the midst of all this tension we are supposed to get along and cooperate.

A Biblical example for this means of classifying people can be found in Jeremiah. He speaks about prophets, princes and people. He mentions a fourth class: priests. What of the priests? They can be politicians (princes), prophets or people (followers).

Why "axegrinder?"

Why "axegrinder?"
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I know you're dying to axe how I came up with the name for my blog.

(Get it?)

There are a few reasons, maybe good, maybe not. I hope they satiate your curiosity and pique your interest in becoming a loyal reader of my luminous postings.

First, I was a fan of a rock band called the "Hoodoo Gurus" when I was in high school. They had a song called "Axegrinder." I culled my senior yearbook quote from this song:

"On the brink of who-knows-what!"

While I don't recommend that you become a devotee of the "Gurus," they did help pinpoint a suspicion I was having that my life was about to change in remarkable ways after I completed my sentence at Riverwood High School in North Atlanta (Sandy Springs to be exact). My suspicion turned out to be correct. I was baptized just before graduation and the Lord initiated a transformation process in my life that continues to elicit my gratitude and confound my expectations.

The Hoodoo Gurus used the term "axe," which usually refers to a guitar when used in musical contexts. "Grinding an axe" is playing a guitar. I use "axe" to metaphorically and forthrightly indicate an instrument for chopping wood, rather than an instrument for entertaining masses of screaming teenagers and 20-somethings. While "axegrinder" the blog may indeed lead to screaming masses, I doubt that it will be for the same reason (see "Third" below).

Here are the lyrics to "Axegrinder." See if you can spot your current blogging host in the words.

My edge is keen and I've honed my skill.
I've got nerves of steel and an iron will.
My skin is bronze, my trim is chrome,
Climb aboard - I'll drive you home.
I'm a silver - tongued baby with a heart of gold,
When I was made they broke the mould.
My blood runs hot, like molten lead,
Climb aboard - I'm gonna knock you dead.

I don't mince words, I spit 'em out.
I won't leave room for any doubt.
Get to the point, stop splitting hairs
That ain't getting either of us anywhere.
Sometimes it's better to be blunt
But is this some kind of publicity stunt?
So far you've whet my appetite,
Do you wanna grind with me tonight?

Axegrinder - I'm not famous for my tact.
Axegrinder - I've gotta sharpen up my act.
Axegrinder - Try and see things through my eyes.
Everything and everyone gets cut back down to size.

On the brink of who knows what?
We've gotta strike while the iron's hot.
l can hold your hand, try to guide you through
But I can't make your moves for you.

Swing my blade - that's how it's done.
Don't stop me now, I've only just begun.
I was told when I was young
I wouldn't work in an iron lung.
Now I've learned a trick of two.
I'm working up a sweat for you.

Not only did the Gurus point me forward to great expectations but they also identified an intolerace inherent in my personality toward malarky of all kinds. I would realize that I place a premium on straight-shooting. I will try to graciously and truly speak to you in my posts.

Second, the axe is a symbol of the Lord's ministry on the earth. He cuts us all down to size. He lays the axe to the root of sin in all our lives. He is the most skillful and effective axe-wielder. As with many aspects of His ministry, He allows some of us to carry out His good work. Let me know if I am being presumptuous in thinking that I may be useful to you in hacking away.

Third, sometimes the cross that we bear leads us to an axe that we must grind. Some of my posts will be in response to things that bother me. Some won't. Hopefully all of them will be "sharp." If my axe is ever dull, let me know. Make a comment or send me an email. I will most likely respond.

Finally, I toyed with a number of different names for my blog. I thought about using my name (too hard to spell). I thought about "Turba Gallorum" (too hard too remember, but will be a feature on axegrinder). Each of my ideas fell short. Axegrinder is not perfect but it is easy to remember/spell and it does capture some of what I'm about. Not the most scientific approach, but then again, I'm not a scientist.

Hack away.

Collect for Advent

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NOTE - I realize that we are in Trinity season. I dug up this collect that I wrote for use at a company Christmas party about 5 months back.

Our Father, this is a time of year that we focus our attention upon the incarnation of your Son, Jesus. As He dwelt in the womb of Mary by the Holy Spirit, we pray that He would dwell in our hearts by that same Holy Spirit that we might live together in the fellowship of the Holy Trinity.

As we travel through the pilgimage of Advent and Christmas, may our way be marked by times of reflection upon the reality of the God who became flesh and dwelled among us, who calls us to a life of holy, self-giving love, and who transforms us from people whose priorities are focused on ourselves to those who love you with our whole being and love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Collect = a brief formal prayer. Pronounced kol' ekt with emphasis on the first syllable, unlike the verb that means "to gather." A collect does gather the attention of the congregation together in offering corporate prayer to God.