Moved

The move went very well yesterday, thanks to my parents and my brute squad: kateri_thinks, _storyteller_, strandsofchaos, and unicorndelamer -- not to mention the tireless and uncomplaining efforts of Kateri's daughter and Wolfling.

The Newer Place is huge! I'll miss my view of the pool, and the master bedrooom could have been laid out a bit better, but overall I'm delighted.

I ended the day feeling absolutely battered, but the jacuzzi tub was wonderful. To tell the truth, i still feel battered this morning, which is why I'm awake when I should be asleep at this hour.

The only serious glitch is that the cable company messed up the switch of service, so we don't have internet or cable tv. Hopefully that will get fixed today.

I have so many boxes to unpack. Top of the list is my shower soap and shampoo -- but the box isn't in my bathroom. Then I have all those boxes of books to unpack and put up in my office!

My mom and some of the brute squad got a good start on cleaning the old place yesterday, but we have to head back over today to finish.

I wish I knew which box the ibuprofin is in!

Communion: When To Exclude?

My friend P is a conservative Christian. He started out Baptist, became conservative Episcopalian, and recently converted to Greek Orthodoxy. We meet occasionally to have dinner and "Talk Shop". However different our personal faiths are, we don't know many people with whom we can have an intense theological discussion. Unfortunately, as he's become more conservative our talks have become less satisfying for me. He's far less inclined to consider my perspective, and his own positions are becoming more and more narrow.

Last night he sent me an email asking "Can you say you love Jesus? I'm not going to sign you up for a visit by The Presbyters, regardless of your answer, but even a qualified 'yes' will help. (I'm "arguing" with a Protestant who has a wrong view of communion.)"

My response was: During the time that I was actively taking communion, my answer would have been "yes." And if I had to answer "yes or no" now, it would still be "yes." I'm curious about what my answer has to do with the discussion. Even apostates can say they "love Jesus" yet not be in a place where they are eligible for communion under certain doctrines?

To which he responded: Exactly. Which is just the sort of point I'm going to try and make. If one's view of communion is a memorial meal for "friends of Jesus", then how can one exclude a Christo-pagan? Or other heterodox notions of Jesus?

My response was why are you looking for grounds to exclude people from Communion?

In my understanding there are two ways to look at who can and should partake of Communion. The first is that everyone is welcome at The Lord's Table. Jesus got into trouble because he would break bread with anyone who invited him to dine. He scorned no one's company. The second way of looking at it is that the Communion ritual was first celebrated and given to Jesus' closest followers. It's not something to be shared with those outside the Body. Sheep over here; goats over there.

I understand both positions. I favor the first, and always have, even during my own most orthodox (small "o") times of Christian faith.

On reflection, this is a rather ironic statement since in my personal life I am more inclined to draw circles of exclusion rather than invite others in.

I guess what it comes down to is that my vision of God is of One who invites all to come closer. The invitation is open to everyone. If you choose to stay away, that's your decision, but God will always have a place at the table for those who want to join the feast.

No Soap!

I have found everything that belongs in my bathroom except my soap, shampoo, and bath salts.

*goes to burrow through more boxes. . .