Welcome!
If you’re looking for ways to get involved with St. Alban’s (the Anglican ministry at The Citadel) then you’re at the right place! From here you can:
- Find out what’s going on…
- Interact with news and notes of general interest… (check out the blog below)
- Grow a small group…
- Sign into the lounge (for Cadets)
- Find ways you can help this fun, real, and enjoyable ministry!
Stay a while and enjoy!
Apologetic and Clubs
Here’s a great article about evangelism from Resurgence, and a great thought to consider:
“Apologetics needs to consist of more than just smiling at people and being sweet. Argument plays a role, but argumentation is a sharp tool, and a tool is somethingthat a craftsman should—if he wants to keep all his fingers—understand fully in order to wield it properly.”
Why We Worship This Sunday
Great comment from a friend… on why Christmas Sunday worship is appropriate. I especially like the fact that he mentions about how long we’ve had this tradition!!
http://ihajj.blogspot.com/2011/12/why-we-worship-this-sunday.html
The Double Standard on Bike/Car Behavior
I’m a consummate “bike guy” — and as such was encouraged by a commenter an article I saw that sums up the double standard that I see whenever a discussion about whether cyclists or drivers are, in fact, essentially jerks
Commenter Karen Lynn Allen sort of nailed the whole debate with this:
Yesterday I saw a bicyclist do [insert dangerous, stupid, inconsiderate, boneheaded move here] and it nearly inconvenienced me. This means all bikers better watch out because the responsible, productive, law-abiding members of this community aren’t going to tolerate this kind of of anti-social behavior from you riffraff much longer.
Yesterday I saw a car driver do [insert dangerous, stupid, inconsiderate, boneheaded move here] and kill someone! A tragedy, but it was an accident, no one’s fault really, just one of those bad parts of living in the modern age that we all have to put up with. After all, anyone can make a mistake. It would be a shame to even suspend the driver’s license over it because they really might need it to get to work. It certainly is no reflection on me or how most people drive.
Applause!
The article went on to say, “Come to think of it, nearly 33,000 people were killed by cars last year, and still, no one seems to be talking about the epidemic of unsafe driver behavior. How many people were killed last year by bicyclists?”
via The Double Standard on Bike/Car Behavior.
Check out new rules for Assassin Game. Comments accepted!
http://goo.gl/ztbh3 Read the new rules… New Game starts tomorrow morning.
Vestry Game – Burn Notice
Office of Elimination: Your targets are being acquired, assassinations will begin after rules are read. Rules may be found here: http://goo.gl/VM7bZ
Confirm receipt with Priest (It’s never too late to quit; confirm intentions ASAP) Game will begin at 8PM tonight.
Five Myths about Young Adult Church Dropouts
Why do young people stop coming to Church? Is it because colleges are too harsh towards Faith? Is it just a natural thing… they’ll be back anyway, right? (No!) What are the reasons?
Barna recently put out an excellent article that is helpful for understanding what’s going on. You can read it below. One of the important quotes in the article says,
it is too simplistic to blame college for today’s young church dropouts. As evidence, many young Christians dissociate from their church upbringing well before they reach a college environment; in fact, many are emotionally disconnected from church before their 16th birthday.”The problem arises from the inadequacy of preparing young Christians for life beyond youth group.” Kinnaman pointed to research findings showing that “only a small minority of young Christians has been taught to think about matters of faith, calling, and culture. Fewer than one out of five have any idea how the Bible ought to inform their scholastic and professional interests.
I find that to be true of all ages, frankly. There are hoards of people who have no ability to connect the ethical dimension and cultural impact of the Scriptures to their own professional lives — which is why many people “check out” of Church. If Scripture doesn’t provide guidance for the Business person as well as for Clergy — then we have a problem. The good news is that the Gospel is pervasive and does impact every aspect of our lives. How does it impact you? (Let’s hear from you! Doctors, Lawyers, and Cowboys… how does the Gospel impact your professional and scholastic interests?)
via The Barna Group – Five Myths about Young Adult Church Dropouts.
The fallacy of a free will
The fallacy of a Free Will is a challenge to me. I am so tempted to believe that my will is free to choose what I want to choose — a belief aided by the American culture in which I live. (wink!) But, Luther was far more correct in noting that we are not equipped with a free will — but a bound will. Apart from the Spirit of God freeing us — we have no ability to choose. Below is a great article that explains it better than I’ve ever been able to!
No one, not even secular philosophers, believe in the freedom of the will. Technically speaking & from the materialistic perspective, freedom of the will is an impossibility. You only need to consider the premise for a moment. “Freedom of the will” is the belief that the human will is uninfluenced by anything other than itself. When it comes to freedom of the will no external circumstance is involved. The will is free. It is self-determined. It is moved purely by its own inclinations. Which ultimately means your will is not inclined to make any decision based on a preference, or the surrounding environment. It is uninfluenced. Therefore, it is “free” to choose whatever it desires without consideration of any particular object, or its quality. In fact, it has to be this way for free will to actually exist. Otherwise, if it’s not uninfluenced, some other force would have sway over the will. It would not be free.
If your will is truly free, it simply chooses without concern for any given object. If it faces two objects, it may choose either without partiality. Philosophers and theologians refer to this as the Law of Contrary Choice. In order for the will to be free, (and a choice to be legitimate) it must have the opportunity to refuse, or choose between two objects without a preference for either.
via Freedom of the Will and the Five Finger Death Punch of Theology | The Cripplegate.
Looking for a way to go deeper? Consider EDGE Groups with Fr. Greg!
Would you like to go deeper? EDGE Groups are opportunities to meet with 3-4 guys (including Fr. Greg) to discuss how to follow Christ more deeply. The groups will be approximately 1 hour long and will include lots of discussion, light readings, and prayer centered around growing deeper as a follower of Christ.
Just click on the following and write your name in the poll and select the times that work for you!
The Bible: Who wrote it, What does it say, How do I read it?
This week we begin a new three week series entitled, “The Bible: Who wrote it, What does it say, What does it Mean”. To begin the week we used Mark Driscoll’s notes from his great book, “Doctrine” and focused on the doctrine of “Revelation”. If God is really an omnipotent being – surely he could reveal himself. After all, if a woman won’t marry a guy if he can’t disclose a little bit of himself (even just a little), would we really follow a God who couldn’t accurately disclose who He is?
Here’s a link to the talk (This version 1 hour long… shorter version coming) given at Church of the Holy Cross and below are the notes from Mark Driscoll are below. Enjoy!
Read the rest of this entry »
+Mark Lawrence Charged Under Title IV Canons (Unbelievable!)
Just received an email from the Diocese that “serious charges” have been filed against Bishop Lawrence under the Title IV Canons of TEC.
Here’s the gist: On Thursday, September 29, 2011, +Mark Lawrence received communication from the President of the Disciplinary Board for Bishops that “serious charges” have been made under Title IV of the Canons of The Episcopal Church. These are allegations that he has abandoned The Episcopal Church. Several of these allegations also include actions taken by the Convention of the Diocese of South Carolina.
Bishop Lawrence has been accused of abandonment of the Doctrine, Disciple, and Worship of The Episcopal Church both through action and inaction.
The allegations include:
- Eliminating references to the Episcopal Church in the Diocesan Corporate Charter Purpose Statement
- Removing the accession clause in the Diocesan Constitution Taking no legal action against the leadership of St. Andrew’s when they left The Episcopal Church
- Pointing out to the Presiding Bishop that under the polity of The Episcopal Church that the PB has no authority in this diocese.
- The diocesan website has removed substantially all references to TEC.
Read them indepth on the Diocese of South Carolina’s website PDF.
The Very Rev’d Paul Fuener, president of the Standing Committee, received a letter requesting documentation concerning the ordination of Chad Lawrence, Bishop Lawrence’s son, along with minutes of Standing Committee meetings and any and all documents concerning resolutions sponsored or submitted by the committee to the Diocesan Convention for the past three years.
Pathetic and predictable – TEC, not DSC.
