Dim Lamp Two

January 15 is the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 02:14:00 +0000

Tomorrow, January 15, is the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday. I rather like this tribute done by the Irish band, U2.

Greetings

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 17:12:00 +0000

Dear readers,

I wish you all a very blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year! To spread the Christmas spirit around the world wide web, here is a portion of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

Interview with Noah benShea

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 01:32:00 +0000

This interview with Noah benShea reminds me of the Bible's wisdom literature. Noah is, among other things, an author, poet, and philosopher; in the noble tradition of the ancient wise sages.

CLWR's Advent Calendar

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:48:00 +0000

Ever since our daughter was a young child, we have enjoyed Advent calendars in our daily devotion time during the season. There are a wide variety of such calendars available. This season you may wish to check out Canadian Lutheran World Relief's online version, which provides information on various CLWR and Lutheran World Federation relief and development projects around the globe. You can check it out here. If you enjoy Advent calendars, perhaps you would like to share the type you are using, and where readers might access it by leaving a comment. Blessings as you continue your Advent journey.

A bit of history on the first airing of A Charlie Brown Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 23:28:00 +0000

[Ever since the debut, I’ve been a fan of the Peanuts cartoon. I can both, at times, identify and empathize with Charlie Brown. I think he is, in his own unique way, a Christ-figure. Plus, I think there is a fair bit of theology intricately woven into the Peanuts cartoon. So, also being a bit of a history buff, I was happy to come across this account of how the original A Charlie Brown Christmas almost never got aired. Dim Lamp]

Few headlines about network television make me giddy. Fewer still make me hopeful that all is good in the world. But back in August of 2010, I read the following headline from the media pages with great excitement: “Charlie Brown Is Here to Stay: ABC Picks Up ‘Peanuts’ Specials Through 2015.” The first of these to be made, the famous Christmas special, was an instant classic when it was created by Charles Schulz on a shoestring budget back in 1965, and thanks to some smart television executives, it will be around for at least another five years for all of us to see and enjoy.

What people don’t know is that the Christmas special almost didn’t happen, because some not-so-smart television executives almost didn’t let it air. You see, Charles Schulz had some ideas that challenged the way of thinking of those executives 46 years ago, and one of them had to do with the inclusion in his Christmas cartoon of a reading from the King James Bible’s version of the Gospel of Luke.

The more things change, the more things stay the same. You can read the whole thing here.

Report on child poverty in Alberta

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 21:51:00 +0000

According to a Calgary Herald news item, a recent coalition of antipoverty advocacy groups issued a report, “In This Together: Ending Poverty in Alberta.”

From a faith perspective, the sign of a democratic society working is how well the strong—those in power—care for the needs of the weakest, poorest, and most vulnerable among us. In this respect, the recent report indicts us all who are blessed by not living in poverty. We are one of the most affluent provinces of Canada—if not “the” most affluent. Yet, it is very telling that we neglect the poverty-stricken among us.

According to the report, citing Statistics Canada figures, children living below the poverty line in Alberta jumped from 53,000 in 2008 to 73,000 in 2009. Further, nearly half of all children who live in poverty come from homes where one or more people work fulltime year round. So the stereotype “blame game” of “those lazy welfare bums” just does not cut it in light of these facts. There are several things that, of course need to be done, however one thing I believe that the government needs to do and could do is raise the minimum wage level—there are still too many working poor. What solutions do you suggest that could reduce poverty? What are you personally prepared to do to be part of the solution rather than the problem? You can read more here.

You can also read the 16 page report here.

Snoopy's Identity Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 19:06:00 +0000

Is it a matter of we are what we eat or what?

Remembrance Day 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 16:14:00 +0000

IN FLANDERS FIELDS by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.

Morning Devotion

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 01:40:00 +0000

Yesterday, I read an interesting devotion from the Celtic Daily Prayer: A Northumbrian Office, pp. 379-380, which I think is worth sharing with readers of this blog. This month, the theme of the devotions is “Chosen People.” The biblical references for the following devotion on the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles/Booths/Succot are: Psalms 114:7-8; 118:20-28; Leviticus 23:33, 39-43 & John 7:2-6, 8-11, 14-17, 37-46. There is also a description of the feast from the Talmud, highlighting the celebrative mood. Dim Lamp

The Feast of Tabernacles or booths (Succot) is the context for John’s Gospel chapters 7 to 9.

During the Feast the procession carrying water from the pool of Siloam would circle the Temple and pour their libations on the altar, and this was done seven times in the last day of the Feast. Palm-branches and fruit were waved before God and psalms 113 to 118 always sung.

Bonfires were lit, and men of piety danced, holding lighted torches and singing songs and hymns to the accompaniment of harps, lyres, cymbals and trumpets played by Levites. Talmud

In the evening of the final day of the Feast there was a magnificent sight as the lamps were lit in the Court of the Women. Light streamed forth so that the Temple shone with an incredible brightness of light. It seems that this was the moment that occasioned Jesus’ amazing statement:

‘I AM the Light of the world.’

You can check out the Northumbian Community's web site here.

Children's Singer Raffi's new song

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Children's singer Raffi has a new song out, based on Jack Layton's last public letter, "Letter to a Nation." Give it a listen here.

Are the Danes really the happiest nation in the world?

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:13:00 +0000

According to the most recent OECD How’s Life study of happiness in 40 different nations, the answer is yes, the Danes are number one. Not far behind them is my country, Canada, with Norway coming in third. The Finns and Swedes also scored high in the study. The U.S.A. scored lower, not surprising, I think, given their uncertain economic situation.

However, according to the How’s Life study, happiness is not only measured by economic success and affluence. Although many people find a great deal of meaning in life vis-à-vis their work—nonetheless, there are other factors that contribute to happiness. The study also looked at factors such as: access to education and healthcare, unpolluted green spaces, connections with family and friends, safe neighbourhoods, and political involvement.

Being a Lutheran pastor, I wonder about the factor of faith preference and involvement—especially in the Nordic nations, which are, by faith, majority Lutheran countries. Does Lutheranism, in this period of its history, have a significant contribution to make in the overall happiness of individuals and nations? If the Nordic peoples were asked about their faith in relationship with their overall happiness, I wonder what they would say, and what conclusions could be drawn. We have a friend and colleague who lives in Denmark, and yes, I would describe him as a happy Dane overall. However, he tells us that in his neck of the woods only a small minority of people attend Sunday Worship Services on a regular basis. Yet, they still do show up in large numbers for baptisms, confirmations, weddings and funerals, and, of course, for Christmas and Easter too—but that’s about it. So, if there are any Nordic readers out there who would like to answer my questions above concerning a relationship between faith and happiness I’d be most grateful. You can read about the How’s Life study, with various pertinent links here.

35th Anniversary of ordaining women

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 22:30:00 +0000

This year marks the 35th anniversary of the ordination of women to the priesthood in the Anglican Church of Canada and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.

Special services and other events will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 2 in historic Lunenberg, N.S. The gathering will be a time of “celebration, reconnecting, sharing stories, renewing baptismal and ordination vows, and a variety of workshops to equip us in future ministry,” say organizers of Reflecting the Light of Christ. Read more here.

Our Yellowstone YouTube Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 24 Sep 2011 02:36:00 +0000

Recently Julianna, myself and Julianna's brother George visited Yellowstone National Park. Here are three videos that Julianna took with our camera. I finally figured out how to turn them into YouTube videos and upload them onto this post.

Above is Mammoth Hot Springs. Mammoth Hot Springs has limestone terrace formations. The colours are beautiful, and are created by micro-organisms.

Above is Old Faithful. The timing was perfect for us to see Old Faithful erupt. Hope you enjoy it. The wonders of creation, breath-taking! Old Faithful erupts about 120 feet into the air approximately every 90 minutes. I like how our video captures the different stages of the eruption.

Above is Castle Geyser. Castle Geyser was erupting at the same time as Old Faithful, so we were unable to see it in the early peak stage.

Exodus 16:2-15 Wordle

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 00:07:00 +0000

Weird news from Sweden

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 16:15:00 +0000

[The following news item was published in our local paper today, The Medicine Hat News, Friday, September 9, 2011, p. C8. The humorous story is most welcome, and serves as a counterpoint to the more somber nature of this weekend, especially Sunday for many in the U.S.A. and around the globe, as we remember the horrific, evil events of 9/11, ten years ago. May the LORD of heaven and earth have mercy on us all and help us all to prevent such a disaster from happening again. Dim Lamp]

'Drunk' moose all tangled up

STOCKHOLM, Sweden

A seemingly intoxicated moose has been discovered entangled in an apple tree by a stunned Swede.

Per Johannsson says he heard a roar from his vacationing neighbour's garden in southwestern Sweden late Tuesday and went to have a look. There, he found a female moose kicking about in the tree. The animal was likely drunk from eating fermented apples.

With the help of police and rescue services, the 45-year-old Johannsson later managed to set the moose free in part by sawing off tree branches.

But the animal appeared confused and wandered into Johannsson's garden, where she was still resting Thursday.

Other neighbours in the Goteborg suburb Saro had seen the animal sneaking around the area for days. Johannsson said the moose appeared to be sick, drunk or "half-stupid."

Frederick Buechner Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Mon, 05 Sep 2011 01:36:00 +0000

[Frederick Buechner has been, and still is, one of the most gifted preachers of our time. He has an ingenious way of wordsmithing his sermons. Here is an excerpt from one he preached on the occasion of the 250th birthday of Princeton University, based on Mark 4:35-41, titled: "A 250th Birthday Prayer." Dim Lamp]

Keep going, Jesus says, because to keep going is to keep living and to stop going is to stop living in any way that much matters. "Let us go across to the other side," he says, though who knows how far the other side is or what awaits us when we get there, if anything awaits us at all. And go bravely because if we are the boat and the storm and the fishermen in their helplessness, we are also, we have in us also, the holy one asleep in the stern with a pillow under his head whose presence gives us hope and courage.

I think there is a holiness that sleeps in the heart of all of us even when we do not know its name or seek to know it. I think that, however dimly, we have all of us glimpsed that holiness especially at those moments when we were wiser or braver or more loving than left to ourselves we know how to be, at those moments when we are overwhelmed by the joy of life and the tragedy of life and the indestructible beauty and holiness of life that lie deeper than either. I think that just our longing for it, our listening for it, can stir that holiness to life within us.

A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 00:39:00 +0000

[INTRODUCTORY NOTE: Canadians across the political spectrum mourned the death of Jack Layton this weekend. The Prime Minister offered Jack's family the option of a state funeral, which the family accepted, held in Roy Thompson Hall, Toronto on Saturday, August 27, 2011. I think those Canadians interested in our history will want to preserve, share, reflect upon, and even be motivated to act upon the content of Jack's last letter. I find it inspirational and instructive. I think it underscores the ultimate unity of all Canadians in their humanitarian striving for a better, friendlier future society with opportunities for us all. I especially like his conclusion, which I've posted on my other blog as a quote. May Jack's memory be a blessing among us all. Do you have any thoughts about Jack's letter? Please feel free to leave a comment. Dim Lamp]
A letter to Canadians from the Honourable Jack Layton

August 20, 2011

Toronto, Ontario

Dear Friends,

Tens of thousands of Canadians have written to me in recent weeks to wish me well. I want to thank each and every one of you for your thoughtful, inspiring and often beautiful notes, cards and gifts. Your spirit and love have lit up my home, my spirit, and my determination.

Unfortunately my treatment has not worked out as I hoped. So I am giving this letter to my partner Olivia to share with you in the circumstance in which I cannot continue.

I recommend that Hull-Aylmer MP Nycole Turmel continue her work as our interim leader until a permanent successor is elected.

I recommend the party hold a leadership vote as early as possible in the New Year, on approximately the same timelines as in 2003, so that our new leader has ample time to reconsolidate our team, renew our party and our program, and move forward towards the next election.

A few additional thoughts:

To other Canadians who are on journeys to defeat cancer and to live their lives, I say this: please don’t be discouraged that my own journey hasn’t gone as well as I had hoped. You must not lose your own hope. Treatments and therapies have never been better in the face of this disease. You have every reason to be optimistic, determined, and focused on the future. My only other advice is to cherish every moment with those you love at every stage of your journey, as I have done this summer.

To the members of my party: we’ve done remarkable things together in the past eight years. It has been a privilege to lead the New Democratic Party and I am most grateful for your confidence, your support, and the endless hours of volunteer commitment you have devoted to our cause. There will be those who will try to persuade you to give up our cause. But that cause is much bigger than any one leader. Answer them by recommitting with energy and determination to our work. Remember our proud history of social justice, universal health care, public pensions and making sure no one is left behind. Let’s continue to move forward. Let’s demonstrate in everything we do in the four years before us that we are ready to serve our beloved Canada as its next government.

To the members of our parliamentary caucus: I have been privileged to work with each and every one of you. Our caucus meetings were always the highlight of my week. It has been my role to ask a great deal from you. And now I am going to do so again. Canadians will be closely watching you in the months to come. Colleagues, I know you will make the tens of thousands of members of our party proud of you by demonstrating the same seamless teamwork and solidarity that has earned us the confidence of millions of Canadians in the recent election.

To my fellow Quebecers: On May 2nd, you made an historic decision. You decided that the way to replace Canada’s Conservative federal government with something better was by working together in partnership with progressive-minded Canadians across the country. You made the right decision then; it is still the right decision today; and it will be the right decision right through to the next election, when we will succeed, together. You have elected a superb team of New Democrats to Parliament. They are going to be doing remarkable things in the years to come to make this country better for us all.

To young Canadians: All my life I have worked to make things better. Hope and optimism have defined my political career, and I continue to be hopeful and optimistic about Canada. Young people have been a great source of inspiration for me. I have met and talked with so many of you about your dreams, your frustrations, and your ideas for change. More and more, you are engaging in politics because you want to change things for the better. Many of you have placed your trust in our party. As my time in political life draws to a close I want to share with you my belief in your power to change this country and this world. There are great challenges before you, from the overwhelming nature of climate change to the unfairness of an economy that excludes so many from our collective wealth, and the changes necessary to build a more inclusive and generous Canada. I believe in you. Your energy, your vision, your passion for justice are exactly what this country needs today. You need to be at the heart of our economy, our political life, and our plans for the present and the future.

And finally, to all Canadians: Canada is a great country, one of the hopes of the world. We can be a better one – a country of greater equality, justice, and opportunity. We can build a prosperous economy and a society that shares its benefits more fairly. We can look after our seniors. We can offer better futures for our children. We can do our part to save the world’s environment. We can restore our good name in the world. We can do all of these things because we finally have a party system at the national level where there are real choices; where your vote matters; where working for change can actually bring about change. In the months and years to come, New Democrats will put a compelling new alternative to you. My colleagues in our party are an impressive, committed team. Give them a careful hearing; consider the alternatives; and consider that we can be a better, fairer, more equal country by working together. Don’t let them tell you it can’t be done.

My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world.

All my very best,

Jack Layton

Worship Resources Online

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 05:12:00 +0000

One thing I do not understand is why we Lutherans in Canada and the USA do not offer accessible liturgies online free of charge to congregations and clergy. The publishers of our hymnals seem overly protective in this matter, and would rather sell these materials than offer them to the public free of charge.

The story is much different in at least two other denominations that I am aware of. For example, the Anglicans have all kinds of liturgies online, offered free of charge to their congregations and clergy. Their Book of Common Prayer can be accessed here, and their Book of Alternative Services is accessible here. The other denomination is the Lutheran Church of Australia, which also has some fine liturgical resources online here. This online accesibility is very practical, helpful, and much appreciated I'm sure, for worship planners, worship committees, musicians, and pastors. If any Lutheran clergy out there are reading this, and know the reason(s), can you tell us why we ELCICers and ELCAers are so far behind our Anglican and Australian brothers and sisters in this matter?

Around the Lutheran Blogosphere

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 05:30:00 +0000

Over at Awake At Sunrise, a seasoned pastor demonstrates how programs like Prezi can enhance sermons.

Food aplenty in stark contrast to those starving by the thousands in East Africa, is the subject of a post by Barefoot Pastor.

Campus pastor, Erik Samuelson reflects on the recent violence in Norway.

Over at Dallas Lutheran, Pastor Russell Vardell shares some thoughts on interpersonal wellness-vocational call, a subject for his congregation’s Sunday Adult study group.

At Professor Kirby Olson’s Lutheran Surrealism blog, read his reflection on economics in the inner city.

Thought-provoking Bonhoeffer Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 09 Jul 2011 19:19:00 +0000

While doing my devotions this morning I came upon this thought-provoking Bonhoeffer quotation. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, in his Letters & Papers From Prison, pp. 382-383, shared a vision of the church, which he had hoped to put forth in another book. This vision, in my humble opinion, is still as fresh and pertinent for us today as it was back in the 1940s when Bonhoeffer spent his last days in prison prior to his martyrdom.

“The church is the church only when it exists for others. To make a start, it should give away all its property to those in need. The church must share in the secular problems of ordinary human life, not dominating, but helping and serving. It must tell people of every calling what it means to live in Christ, to exist for others. It must not under-estimate the importance of human example (which has its origins in the humanity of Jesus and is so important in Paul’s teaching); it is not abstract argument, but example, that gives its word emphasis and power.”

Krister Stendahl Quote

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 18:06:00 +0000

"How can I sing my song to Jesus fully and with abandon without feeling it necessary to belittle the faith of others? I believe that question to be crucial for the health and vitality of Christian theology in the years ahead." -Krister Stendahl

Worshipping on holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 03:03:00 +0000

While worshipping on holidays, we attended a Day of Pentecost Holy Communion Service, which certainly surprised us. It surprised us because we were expecting a more traditional liturgy than the one on that particular Sunday. The title of the Service was “Fire Dance A Liturgy for Pentecost.” Although we arrived a bit late, we saw no official liturgical dancers though—so the title was a tad misleading. However, in the pews many—not all—parishioners were positively “happy-clappy,” and “sway as you sing” types. I found it quite amazing—surprised by the Spirit among us perhaps—that there were granddads and grannies grooving to the songs equally as much as the younger generations.

The liturgy was definitely rather unique. The traditional parts of the liturgy were replaced with—interspersed throughout—litanies, songs, Scripture readings from Acts 1 & 2, poems, sermon, prayers, and a mix of contemporary and traditional Holy Communion liturgy—Great Thanksgiving, Eucharistic Prayer, etc.

The music was primarily rock, blues, and folk-rock, with a four-piece band consisting of: lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass guitar and percussion. Both the songs and poems contained mostly implicit rather than explicit references to the Holy Spirit and/or Pentecost, with the exception of Peter Scholte’s “We are One in the Spirit.” The opening song was Van Morrison’s “Into the Mystic,” and another familiar song was Bruce Cockburn’s “Waiting for a Miracle.”

As I reflect on the Service, what likely surprised us most was interspersing the poems along with the readings from Acts. Neither of us would have thought to do that in a Holy Communion Day of Pentecost Service—yet, it was another way to celebrate the Holy Spirit’s creativity at work through the word delivered in this form among the faith community. Reflecting further, it strikes me that many of our traditional hymns are also in fact poems. Indeed, several Scripture passages are poems in, for example, the Psalms, Isaiah, and the Prologue of John’s Gospel, and the Christ hymn-poem in Philippians—and were originally spoken and/or sung by the faith community during public worship. As clergy, it is always educational when the Holy Spirit teaches us when attending Worship Services in other parishes while on holidays.

My Grandmother Ironed the King's Shirts

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Mon, 30 May 2011 04:50:00 +0000

The following heartwarming tale is a National Film Board short video made in 1999 by Torill Kove. Hope you enjoy it.

Around the Lutheran Blogosphere

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Fri, 20 May 2011 22:47:00 +0000

A bilingual [German and English] blog Sundries takes a brief look at angels.

Over at What if… read about “Missions and Jesus: An Atheist’s Surprising View.”

With the prediction of Jesus coming again tomorrow on May 21, 2011, “Thoughts On This Rapture Thing” is a timely reflection by The Shepherdess Writes.

For more on the kookiness of Harold Camping, et al, check out Both Saint and Cynic.

DallasLutheran comments on Thor in 3-D.

Progressive Involvement suggests that Rob Bell is a mainline protestant, quite possibly a Lutheran.

Norway's Bastoy Prison

noreply@blogger.com (Dim Lamp) — Sat, 07 May 2011 21:10:00 +0000

Norway's Bastoy prison is one of the most progressive in the world in its ideology and practice toward prisoners. It advocates a philosophy of restorative justice rather than punitive measures. From the statistics, it seems that the philosophy is working. For example, in Europe recidivism is about 70 percent. In Norway, it's 20 percent, and for Bastoy, it's 16 percent. According to Bastoy's governor, Arne Kvernvik Nilsen: "If you treat a human as an animal, he (or she) will turn into an animal." In Bastoy, even the guards associate with the prisoners, and eat meals with them. There is a trust-based relationship between prison staff and prisoners, and it seems to, for the most part, work. I think we Canadians might have some things to learn from Bastoy prison.

For those interested, there are several films on Bastoy prison. Here are three recent ones. "Prison Island Bastoy," (2010), produced in the Netherlands by Michel Kapteijns and selected for the 24th International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam, examines the rehabilitative philosophy in practice at Bastoy and explores the lives of some of the inmates there.

"King of Devil's Island" (Kongen av Bastoy, 2010), by Marius Holst, tells the story of Bastoy's early days as a boarding school and correctional institute. The film accompanies the exhibit "Bad Boy? Bastoy Boy's Home," which opened at the Norwegian Museum of Cultural History in December.

"From President to Parliament," (Presidenten fra Bastoy fengsel, 2008), directed by Charlotte Rohder Tvedt, tells the story of Peter O. Ranginya an Norwegian-Kenyan inmate at Bastoy prison convicted of embezzlement, who decides to run as a candidate in the Kenyan Parliamentary elections. The film follows Ranginya during his return to Kenya and documents the election and his hard work and optimism. [ This post is based on information from the May 2011 issue of Viking, the Sons of Norway magazine.]

You can also check out below this YouTube news report on Bostoy prison.