Category: Misc.
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In memoriam: A.M. (Donald) Allchin
A.M. Allchin’s is one of those names that you run across all the time, in many different contexts, and you ask yourself: who is this man? As it turns out, Allchin was quite a man and he appears to have known most of the biggest names in Anglican, Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox circles over…
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Remembering 2010
‘My theme is memory, that winged host that soared about me one grey morning of war-time. ‘These memories, which are my life – for we possess nothing certainly except the past – were always with me. Like the pigeons of St. Mark’s, they were everywhere, under my feet, singly, in pairs, in little honey-voiced congregations,…
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Huck Finn, Only Huckier
Today was the funeral of a friend of mine who died last week. I worked with him in the 1980’s at a canoe rental in Missouri. His name was Mark, and it’s no insult to say that he was an odd bird. I’m not going to attempt to say the most important things about him,…
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Christmas Playlists
For several years, my wife and I have had a tradition of sharing our favorite Christmas music with friends. It started as actual mix tapes in the mid 90s, but has been CDs since then. We have a pretty good collection of Christmas music, and of course we have excellent taste! Here are a few…
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F.W. Robertson’s Life and Death
F.W. Robertson (1816-1853) was the kind of preacher people spoke of in superlatives: Charles Dickens reportedly said that “he was one of the greatest masters of elocution I ever knew. To hear Robertson read the church prayers was in itself a liberal education.” He was very popular in his day, and after his death (on…
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Handley Moule was Very Cool
H. C. G. (that’s Handley Carr Glyn) Moule was born in 1841 and died on May 8, 1920. He served as the Bishop of Durham from 1901-1920. He was an acute scholar and a powerful communicator. He wrote great Bible commentaries, an outline of Christian doctrine, and many sermons and poems. When the editors of…
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Prayer for the Class of 2010
(Here is a prayer I said for the graduates of the Torrey Honors Institute at today’s commencement) Father God, We bring these graduates before you today and we present them to you. We do not present them for your inspection, because we know you have already fully inspected them, because you are the knower of…
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A Perspective on Judgement
The other day I was driving home, and I experienced someone with road rage—me. A car cut me off in what could only be described as an audition for a job as stunt driver in the next Jerry Bruckheimer movie. As this car cut in front of me, I slammed on the brakes, honked my…
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12 Things to Do Now that You’re Graduating
I’ve been teaching in the Torrey Honors Institute for four years now, and nearly all of the students I have mentored over that time will be graduating in a few weeks. I still remember sitting in a circle of desks in the McNally buildings with a bunch of eager – and, okay, maybe a bit…
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Ambrose Read Silently
Today (April 4) is the day when Ambrose of Milan died in 397. Ambrose is one of the biggest names in the history of the early church, one of the traditional “Four Doctors of the Western Church.” He was the bishop of Milan when Augustine came there, and he made a big impression on Augustine.…
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Trinitarian Litany: Hide Me
From pride’s self-circled center which Requires a crowd that can applaud Each word of mine, each move and twitch, Deliver me, O Father God! From sloth’s complacent settling in, Remaining still when called to run, Entangled and beset by sin, Deliver me, O risen Son! From lying to myself and others, Recounting words that hurt…
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Found Poem: Wrong Way — Right Way
Wrong Way — Right Way Air An Invitation A Paycheck Hell Sinners All The World What Death Is Rejecting Ignoring A Stopped Watch All-Seeing “Be Ye Ready” Heaven No Savior Substitute An Anchor My Glasses Dark Glasses A Grade Book A Love Letter Mosquito Bites The Shadow How To Eat Necessary Parts Safe Keeping Clean…