Great Post for Parents

Found this over at The Gospel Coalition blog.  I highly recommend it as thought provoking and challenging for parents trying to navigate the "busyness" of childhood.

Random Thoughts

Random disconnected thoughts on a rainy day:

1. God is the Subject not the Object of Theology.
2. Yes, Virginia there is a truth.  Not my truth.  Not your truth.  “What is truth?”  The answer, “Jesus Christ.”
3.  Discipleship is about following that Truth, and conforming our lives to Him.
4. Interestingly, to me at least, I read the following sentence recently from The Good and Beautiful God (Smith: IVP 2009), “The one primary mission for a pastor should be to make disciples, but there are a thousand other pressing needs, problems, and agendas that easily throw us off-track”.  Good words to remember, and now, today, an email from Bishop Daniel stating the same thing.  I do not believe he is reading the same book, so….
5. Maybe, these thoughts are not really disconnected.

RIP Dave Brubeck

The great Jazz musician died just short of the age of 92.

Here is a part of his composition of the music for a Mass:  To Hope.

Requiescat in pace!

Clement of Alexandria (2012)

Today we remember Clement of Alexandria (c. 210).

From The Fragments of Clement of Alexandria (VIII, 1), and appropriate for Advent:

Repentance than becomes capable of wiping out every sin, when on the occurrence of the soul's fault it admits no delay, and does not let the impulse pass on to a long space of time. For it is in this way that evil will be unable to leave a trace in us, being plucked away at the moment of its assault like a newly planted plant.

As the creatures called crabs are easy to catch, from their going sometimes forward and sometimes backward; so also the soul, which at one time is laughing, at another weeping, and at another giving way to luxury can do no good.

He who is sometimes grieving, and is sometimes enjoying himself and laughing, is like a man pelting the dog of voluptuousness with bread, who chases it in appearance, but in fact invites it to remain near him.

The Collect

 O God of unsearchable wisdom, you gave your servant Clement grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, the source of all truth: Grant to your Church the same grace to discern your Word wherever truth is found; through Jesus Christ your unfailing light, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.