Frank Turk at Evangel is doing a short series on theodicy. I asked him how/when he would connect his discussion with Job and got the following response.

Job is where everyone goes. I think the Scripture pretty much screams out from about every third page an answer which we don’t need Job to tell us.

For the record, I think Jesus and the Gospel do a better job of making sense of suffering from a top-down standpoint than we get from Job.

Job makes good use of Job’s place in creation, but in Job, God says to Job, “dude: if you think you can do a better job, I’ll ask your advice when you can answer my questions.” I think the rest of the Bible says something a little more revelatory and Christ-centered.

I think this is partially mistaken, and because Mr Turk offered that he enjoys a little disagreement and discussion, what follows will be a few points on which I disagree with his remark. Read the rest of this entry

1. The body, just a shell … or not!
2. Slums, the upside.
3. The Orthodox boot.
4. The Woods doctrine.
5. Quiet and the need for same.
6. Of translation.
7. Two posts on anathema, here and here.
8. Mr Greenwald (attempts) to skewer the right on “small government.” This begs the question, the right gets to power and expands the power of government while making rhetorical gestures favoring downsizing federal power, the left gets to power and also expands the power of government while making rhetorical gestures favoring increasing federal power. If one is in favor of downsizing … which party do you choose?
9. CA vs Amazon.
10. Military technology and Israel.
11. Heh.
12. Ontology, subsidiarity and equality.

Good morning.

1. The decision making process.
2. VAT. By what principles do we decide what sorts of things can justly be taxed? Should any and all human activity be subject to tax?
3. Heresy?
4. Clark Carleton on homosexuality and reorientation therapy from an Orthodox perspective.
5. Your progressive government’s latest outrage.
6. Fun in Russia.
7. The lure of Keynesian economics. “The government enacts a stupid policy doomed to failure. When the policy inevitably fails, the government swoops in to fix it by expanding its power. Repeat as needed.”
8. Porn and the church.

Good morning.

1. Anne Brontë, Plato, and St. John Climacus … considered together.
2. Why and Lent.
3. Stimulus claims considered (by a supporter).
4. The education bubble/cartel.
5. Best seller.
6. Congress shirking … which brings to my mind the question … the Senate similarly shirked its responsibilities enabling Julius Caesar to cross the Rubicon, might there be parallels in our future?
7. Obama and Marxism.
8. A cat and death.
9. A conundrum … the question is perhaps less about the kid but how to correct/sanction/fire his prior grammar teachers who passed him on at this point.
10. Bankers as optimists.
11. Avatar.
12. Nepal monastery.
13. Free independent press.
14. Gun nuts.
15. Ms Palin.

Tonight (and it will continue into tomorrow) the third installment of the Great Canon of St. Andrew introduces a new person into the mix. Besides the Old and New Testament figures which appear, supplicatory prayers are offered to St. Mary of Egypt. For myself, until I was introduced to the Eastern traditions as a convert had never heard of St. Mary of Egypt, but she is an important person in the Eastern Lenten tradition. This week, as many of the western Protestants react in revulsion to ascetic practices of the former Pope, her story may make for interesting counterpoint.

Her story can be found in many places, here for example, but the highlights are that she was woman who in her youth resided in Alexandria and led a life devoted to the pursuit of passion, specifically sex. At some point, however she fell into the company of a party going on pilgrimage to Jerusalem and decided to accompany them (without it might be noted dropping her particular pursuits). Then, when she arrived in Jerusalem she found that she could not enter the church. With great effort she was only able to get near the doors. She realized her sins were keeping her away, she prayed to the Theotokos and was allowed entry. Shortly thereafter she was Baptised in the Jordan and fled into the desert and dwelt there alone for 47 years before meeting Abba Zosimas through whom we learn her story.

Anyhow, if the papal ascetic practices strike allergic reaction in Protestants then the story of St. Mary of Egypt would likely do the same. However her extreme examples of sin, repentance, and asceticism which signal her importance in the East.

Tonight’s canon, like last night made an interesting connection. In the last post, I noted that Moses striking the rock produced water, which is seen as a type of Jesus on the cross when speared gushing water (and blood). This was brought up again. This event, when Jesus was pierced and water and blood and specifically the water and blood is connected with the liturgical sacramental acts of Baptism (water) and Eucharist (blood) with his death (and resurrection).

From Ode 4:

May the blood and water that wells from Thy side be a font for me and a draught of forgiveness, that I may be cleansed, anointed and refreshed by both as with drink and unction by Thy living words, O Word. (John 19:34; Acts 7:38)

The Church has acquired Thy life-giving side as a chalice, from which gushes forth for us a twofold torrent of forgiveness. and knowledge as a type of the two covenants, Old and New, O our Saviour.

From Ode 6:

Rise and make war against the passions of the flesh, as Joshua did against Amalek, and ever conquer the Gibeonites – illusive thoughts. (Exodus 17:8; Josh. 8:21)

From Ode 7:

Rise and make war against the passions of the flesh, as Joshua did against Amalek, and ever conquer the Gibeonites – illusive thoughts. (Exodus 17:8; Josh. 8:21)

Ode 8 (Theotokion):

As from scarlet silk, O spotless Virgin, within thy womb the spiritual purple was woven, the flesh of Emmanuel.  Therefore we honour thee as in truth Mother of God.

A remark on that last, tradition I am told has it that Mary was spinning thread when the Angel came her at the Annunciation, as is seen in some of the annunciation icons. Scarlet as well as purple were royal colors, if you notice Byzantine mosaics the royalty are shown with red shoes … which was an indication of high honor. Which came first, red as royal -> Mary spinning red thread or vice versa I don’t know.

Good morning.

1. Considering repentance and envy.
2. I thought it was DNA.
3. The dog that didn’t bark, or the missing outrage (and a suggested answer).
4. The heathcare discussion continues.
5. Some historical inaccuracies aimed against the Christian (East?) in an upcoming movie.
6. Nuclear power and Mr Obama’s dishonest tactics.
7. A Lenten prayer.
8. A cricket race.
9. A kindle question.
10. Health benefits and fasting.
11. Ebay and the bear.
12. My notion of this map would be more Lovecraftian.
13. Whence the outrage?
14. Three bikes: one, two, three.
15. Air superiority … a thing our admin is in the process of giving up.
16. The economy.
17. Comparing Bush and Obama on international law.
18. Racial quotas in academia.

Well, I’ve got a few half written posts and a few notions I’ve been mulling over, but time has been a bit short lately. Lent is a big part of why, as like Holy week, Clean week is a busy time for the active Orthodox Christian … and I’m not even going as far as some do. At any rate, we have services every night this week, Sunday night was the Forgiveness Vespers, and the next four nights we are taking part in the Canon of St. Andrew. Friday we celebrate a pre-sanctified liturgy and Saturday night (as is normal) is Great Vespers (our church unlike many in the Slavic tradition does not do Great Vigil, but splits the Matins/Canon part of the Vigil service to Sunday morning, which is I gather a Greek custom and a little easier).

Anyhow, in lieu of finishing up those partial posts, here are a few quotes from tonight’s service,  which was the second night of the Canon. A little background first on the Canon. St. Andrew of Crete, the author, was Bishop of Crete in the 8th century. This canon was so well received that it was established as a practice of reading it in four parts during the first week of Lent throughout Eastern Orthodoxy. Each part contains 9 sections (like the rest of the canons, but unlike them this includes a second canon). Each canon begins with a short sung hymn called an Irmos. Then the priest chants a short fragment consisting of a few sentences of meditation. The response is “Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me” accompanied by a prostration (or if you are not physically up to the demands of prostrations a sweeping bow called a metania which starts with crossing oneself and from the final hand position (hand at the right shoulder) one sweeps one’s hand in a bow brushing your hand to the floor. The last two stanzas have a different response, being “Glory to the Father … ” and “now and ever unto ages of ages. Amen,” and the penultimate stanzas is a reflection on the Trinity and the final is a reflection on the Theotokos, sometimes called the Theotokion. After the 6th Ode there is a break and the Kontakion (another hymn) is inserted, sung three times slowly.

Some stanzas that stood out for me tonight:

From Ode 1:

Deliberately have I imitated blood-thirsty Cain, O Lord, enlivening my flesh while murdering my soul by striking it with my evil deeds.

From Ode 2:

Joseph’s was a splendid coat of many colors, but mine is one of shameful thoughts which condemns me even as it covers my flesh.

I persist in caring only for my outer garment, while neglecting the temple within — one made in the image of God.

From Ode 4:

Jacob and his sons, the Patriarchs, established for you, O my soul, an example in the ladder of active ascent. By his way of life Jacob took the first step, fathering twelve sons and offering them as further rungs which step-by-step ascend to God.

But you, my hopeless soul, have rather imitated Esau, surrendering to the crafty Devil the beauty you inherited from God, two ways — works and wisdom — have you been deceived, and now is the time for you to change your ways.

From Ode 6:

Water pouring from the rock when struck by Your servant Moses, prefigured your life-giving side, O Savior, from which we draw the Water of Life.

From Ode 7:

Solomon was mighty and full of wisdom yet did wrong before the Lord when he turned to idols. And you, my soul, resemble him in your evil life.

1. Masoretic vs LXX … a discussion.
2. Fur and the fabulous.
3. That liquidity trap thing.
4. More on that healthcare and measurement problem. (more here).
5. Repentance … is not about guilt.
6. Bloody progressives.
7. The Saints and beauty.
8. Unemployment.
9. Of milk and man.
10. Of fasting and labels.
11. Austrian econ.
12. “pragmatism“
13. High Tech bug zapper.

Good morning.

1. Now that’s a snowblower.
2. Bailout and expectations.
3. The fall of Rome … took not 4 centuries but 14, btw.
4. Another cap/trade proposal.
5. Some dance.
6. The Metropolitan Ware talks in VA.
7. Health insurance and mortality and a follow-up.
8. Demographics and Lent in Russia.
9. Uh, I disagree. If Russia and US borders were 100 miles apart … we’d be trading partners and our economies would be so intermingled and intertwined that nuclear exchange would be unthinkable.
10. I don’t think I could disagree more.
11. Interesting … except that there is almost zero chance that much homework is getting done.
12. For Valentines day … the actual St. Valentine. A geek lover note.
13. More left leaning lies and distortions regarding Ms Palin.
14. The President has an official “twitterer?“

1. The economics of snow removal. 
2. The Empress Theodora … or more properly St. Theodora the Empress.
3. The personal and political … and for which the left wants more and more of it seems, e.g., healthcare and government.
4. Iran and conflict.
5. State taxes and movement.
6. The threats of which our administration was mindful.
7. Mr Chavez.
8. A problem suggested with populism … that it cannot lead to limited government.
9. Academic linkage as racism.
10. Pay scales and government.
11. Disencentivising incentives.
12. To think he was in the running.
13. CO₂ and climate … and one of the problems with the AGW proponents who will say “weather isn’t climate” when they don’t say it.
14. Yet another progressive unhappy with the President.

Good morning. Well, it didn’t snow last night. 😀

1. Looking at the Iliad.
2. Grumbling about Avatar and its message.
3. Afghanistan.
4. Small town and the city.
5. New wars … well I think I’m not reading (any!?) Balkan blogs, perhaps that’s something that needs correction.
6. Men in black.
7. Zoooom.
8. Dating … a scene upon which my young daughters will soon enter.
9. A tax plan.
10. Why Greek monetary problems are a problem outside of Greece. 
11. Thinking ahead.
12. Secession.
13. A new CBS program and Mr Hayek.
14. A word from the desert on fasting.

Today in a BSA related discussion the following statement was made,

…and that’s without even getting into the dubious idea of “manliness” — the idea that there is one right way to be a man.

and to this I have to agree with the BSA. There is in fact only one right way to “be a man”, this is not a multiple choice exam. Examine for a moment, the BSA Scout Law:

Scout Law

A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly,
courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty,
brave, clean, and reverent.

which pretty much nails it. One has expressed manliness by (a) being a man and (b) living those 12 virtues.

There is no “alternate” or “other” way to be a man.

Well, I had more than a little difficulty getting my machine to boot last night. While embarrassingly enough I figured it out quickly this morning … the dual-boot Windows (7)/Ubuntu experiment on my laptop is a little rocky right now. Anyhow, enough about my excuses … links?

1. Comparing Democrat and Republican.
2. Toyota’s recall and state response … linked to GM ownership. A real journalist could likely do some digging there …
3. It’s interesting when democrats accuse the GOP of hypocrisy.
4. Those protective labor laws.
5. Wordplay and the sheatfish. Yikes.
6. IPCC problems.
7. Lessons for Iran?
8. Guppies in the wild.
9. An interesting reflection on economics.
10. The binding power of hatred.

Good morning.

1. A Lenten blog fer da younger set (HT: ByzTex)
2. Faith as hermeneutic.
3. Roman and Orthodox on Original sin compared.
4. 7 deadly sins … and a book. And the count was 8! Hmmph.
5. This and that recession … a graph.
6. State and size of same.
7. On inerrancy.
8. Love and fear.
9. Failure to govern … and why.
10. An important conservative book noted.
11. Reading On Being Human.
12. Some thoughts on the Super Bowl. My view of the Super Bowl is still partially transfixed with the vision of the scrum after the on-side kick. That many guys who are that strong all fighting that hard for one ball. It’s hard to imagine what that was like I think.

1. Of multiple “validities.”
2. For the liberals reading this, are these “two cherished axioms” accurate? And if so, what does it then mean to discuss matters with conservatives in good faith?
3. Not unrelated .. uhm, that’s not what any conservatives I know think of liberal ideas.
4. Alas, one of the best ways to “double exports” is kill the value of the dollar.
5. Fannie, Freddie and the bear.
6. On Ms Palin.
7. Life and regret.
8. Fasting and the Christian life.
9. Chicago elections.
10. One way to put it, the conflict is between rationing by the arrogant technocrats and ignorant consumers.
11. We’ll have to see if this one has legs.