Effectiveness of Prayer

Another example of trying to find scientific evidence to support faith truths and practices: "Does Intercession Work?"

I thought the analysis of the limitations of the study was helpful, but again, it all seems to be a little beside the point. All this focus on the "most effective" way to pray is, I'm sure, important to the ones asking for prayers, but where is the reflection on prayer's role in helping us to see that we are all interconnected, and that our connections to other people are what can help us to draw closer to God?

There are many assumptions made in religious communities about the reasons for and value of prayer that cannot legitimately be analyzed in a scientific study, and there are many understandings of prayer that go way beyond the "vending machine" approach to God or spirituality (put your token prayer in, get your healing effect out). I'm no naysayer of science and medicine, by any means, but I think a holistic approach to health and wellbeing - one that takes into account the psychological and spiritual as well as the physical - by definition cannot be broken down into the cumulative effect of partial approaches.

In other news, I'm going to see a play tonight called "Praying with my eyes open." I'll let you know if they have anything new to add to the scientific study's results.

The Spirituality of Materiality

One of my favorite professors from Iliff, now teaching at Yale Divinity School, has written an excellent article on valuing the material world without worshiping materialism.

As we approach Holy Week, the incarnation takes on special meaning: Jesus bears witness to God's self-giving love, which does not back down or compromise with fear, and in so doing shows us that God is here with us, that God shares our suffering and weeps with us for the brokenness of our world.

Did Jesus Walk on Ice?

Found this article interesting - although I have to say, the literal historical/scientific accuracy of the miracle stories seems beside the point to me.

Book recommendations for thinking Christians

My frustration with The West Wing and this long, drawn-out, attempted swan song of a season is up again today, after an episode about Election Day that did not reveal the results of the election! And although next week promises the "Moment of Truth" about who the next president will be, I am growing more suspicious of a conspiracy to delay the climax of the past TWO SEASONS of campaigning - and since I'm bitter and angry about the political situation and current administration in real life, the show is not living up to its one-time function of providing a lovely alternate reality where smart, witty, attractive Democrats rule the free world.

All of which is to say, I have actually been trying to reduce my TV-watching as one of my Lenten disciplines, which means I've been doing more reading lately. And I thought I'd share some of my recommendations with all 4 of you who read this space. :)

Novels:
Leaving Eden, by Ann Chamberlin. Fascinating mythological/anthropological/fictional account of the primeval couple, told by the Na'amah, daughter of Adam's first wife, Lilith. Offers a thoughtful glimpse into the world of matriarchal hunter-gatherers as they shifted to agriculture and a patriarchal worldview.

Father Melancholy's Daughter, by Gail Godwin. I read the sequel, Evensong, last year, and finally got around to reading the story of Margaret Gower's early life as the precocious daughter of an Episcopal priest who suffers from depression. Her mother's sudden departure from their life, and Margaret's journey to an identity that incorporates but transcends her parents' struggles, are told with careful reflection and an appreciation for both spiritual formation and psychological growth.

Spiritual Growth/Devotion

A Clearing Season: Reflections for Lent, by Sarah Parsons. Whether you have tried observing some form of spiritual discipline during Lent without success, or never understood the point to begin with, this is a wonderful guide to some intentional inner work that is both practical in its specificity and powerful in its insights.

Incandescence: 365 Readings with Women Mystics, compiled and translated by Carmen Acevedo Butcher. Beautiful imagery and fresh phrasing make this collection of brief daily readings both accessible and captivating.

Coming soon: more book recommendations on Theology, Church, and Culture.

Year-to-Date Highlights of My Life

It's been a while since I updated. Sorry - life's busy-ness and stress have kept me from being a faithful blogger lately.

News I should have reported previously:

I am going to be commissioned towards Deacon's orders at the New England Annual Conference this year (during the Ordination Service, Saturday, June 10, 1pm at Gordon College, if memory serves correctly). My Board of Ordained Ministry interviews/examination took place February 10, and although I was quite nervous, they seemed to go well. Now it's just three more years until I can be ordained... But praise God I've made it this far!

I have been nominated as a member of the World Methodist Council for 2006-2011, and so I will be traveling to Seoul, South Korea, for the World Methodist Conference in July. Pretty exciting to be one of 500 people chosen to represent the various branches of Methodism around the globe - and a wonderful opportunity to visit a new place and learn about a different culture. It's not all-expenses-paid, though, so I'll be sending out a plea for financial support to help cover the airfare and accommodations.

Soon I will only be working two jobs instead of three. Sort of. I have loved teaching children about music and drama with the Rising Curtain Theatre & Dance Academy for the past seven months, but between the commute and my other time commitments, I have decided to let this go for the time being. That leaves the Bishop's Young Adult Initiative (a brand-new full-time, year-long volunteer program for the Rocky Mountain/Yellowstone region of the UMC that I'm in charge of), and directing the choir and a few other things at my church here in Denver. And giving piano lessons to a 6-year-old boy at my church. And occasionally singing at weddings and funerals. But those require quite a bit less time and creative energy than teaching theater to kids age 3-7 and 5-14.

I am now the proud co-parent/caretaker/owner of a rabbit. Her name is Luci, and she clearly belonged to someone before my housemate found her in our neighborhood, but no one responded to our flyers or online postings, so we have gotten permission from our landlord to keep her. She's curious, social but not particularly cuddly, litterbox-trained, and very amusing when she does her evening calisthenics.

So life has been full lately. I made it through my crazy winter travel schedule, and although I will be heading out of town a couple more times this spring, I'm looking forward to sleeping in my own bed most of the time. As always, if you're a friend who lives somewhere other than Colorado, please consider coming to visit me - every season is beautiful in the Rockies! And if you're in the area, think about coming to Highlands UMC for our performance of the Gospel of Mark on Palm Sunday - should be a really powerful experience.