Is the Episcopal Church a Frothing Water Feature?

Is the Episcopal Church a frothing water feature? Foaming attractively for the amusement of shoppers in the mallspace of American religion but going, ultimately, nowhere?

Here's the Dean of Virginia Theological Seminary, Ian Markham, gushing from General Convention about the Episcopal Church:

"So why is this General Convention going to be historic? It is because we offer a “product” that our age needs and wants; the immediate cultural war is coming to an end; and we now have leadership in the Church that is ready to be imaginative about our programming for the future. I am confident that in 50 years’ time, the General Convention of 2015 will be the moment that historians identify as the turning moment in the fortunes of The Episcopal Church."

This is Markham foaming about culture:

"now The Episcopal Church is where the majority of Americans are (especially the younger demographic). Large evangelical megachurches are very aware of how they will alienate the young if they are too overtly hostile to the inclusion of gays and lesbians. Being pro-gay is good in modern America; and as we have seen with the Supreme Court decision last week, the affirmation of equality embedded in the American story from its founding finally reaches our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters."

Right on, Ian. All the secular liberals and the people that just don't care are going to start flocking to your gay church. Really? Just like they did with the ordination of women? Maybe you remember how that was going to fill the pews, and dismally didn't.

The Episcopal Church has lost over a quarter of its worshiping attendance in the last decade, some 200,000 people. Let's see if Markham's froth and foam will turn that around.

Your Pal,

LSP

The Mind of the House of Bishops Bonking

I went searching for the mind of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church, and I found it in an atrium, in Salt Lake City.

A Bonking Wind Chime

I heard bonking, somewhere up above me, and looked up. There it was! The mind of the House of Bishops!

The House of Bishops

The bonking wind chimes have just passed Resolution A036, making the marriage canons of their church gender neutral.

Well done, team.

LSP

Irenicon

OK, that's enough Rainbow Unicorn awesomness for now. Here's sa pic from Salt lake City instead. I like the covered malls downtown and think it's a neat use of space.

Speaking of which, everyone seems happy in the mallspace. Perhaps that's because they're rich, or they haven't checked the prices, or maybe they're just happy to be knocking about.

Whatever the case, have a blessed Sunday.

I'm off to church.

LSP

The Episcopal Church's Long March to Gaydom

Everyone knows that the once respectable Episcopal Church has gone gay and that they're mirroring the US Supreme Court. I guess their tax exempt status will remain intact.

Via Virtueonline:

As the 78th Convention of the Episcopal Church prepares to enact legislation that will enshrine gay marriage in its internal laws, or canons, church leaders expressed satisfaction that this would be the culmination of 39 years of pro-gay activism.

In response to the Supreme Court's ruling on gay marriage, Rev. Brian Baker, Chair of the Convention's Marriage Resolutions Committee, announced to the Press that the Episcopal Church had "been having a conversation around this for 40 years," and that "today was a significant, monumental day."

The President of the House of Deputies, Rev. Gay Jennings, agreed with Baker. This was "a momentous day," she said, "General Convention has adopted over a period of 39 years, advocacy for the support of... civil rights for all citizens."

****

Quite the march, eh? But bear this in mind, the Episcopal Church lost 200,000 people between 2003-2013 and that shows no sign of slowing.

How many will be left to enjoy the Pink Rainbow Utopia?

Your Pal,

LSP

The Mysticke Rainbow, or Scalia Gets it Right

Here's Scalia on the new mysticism of the law:

"If, even as the price to be paid for a fifth vote, I ever joined an opinion for the Court that began: ‘The Constitution promises liberty to all within its reach, a liberty that includes certain specific rights that allow persons, within a lawful realm, to define and express their identity,’ I would hide my head in a bag. The Supreme Court of the United States has descended from the disciplined legal reasoning of John Marshall and Joseph Story to the mystical aphorisms of the fortune cookie."

Scalia's referring to yesterdays SCOTUS decision to go gay; he might just as well have been describing the theology of the Episcopal Church.

Ad Astra,

LSP

Supreme Court Goes Gay, Episcopalians Rejoice

If you want a vision of the future Winston, imagine a rainbow wellie boot stamping on a human face forever.

There was a lot of crying on the floor of the General Convention today, tears of joy, as the Supreme Court's decision to get gay percolated through to the delegates in Salt Lake City's Pillar of Salt Palace. 

Within hours, the Episcopaliens were living it up at a Eucharist presided over by the world's first ever lesbian bishop, Mary Glasspool.

Via Virtueonline:

Following the news of the Supreme Court's 5-4 June 26 ruling that gay marriage is a constitutional right, delegates to the church's 78th Episcopal General Convention worshipped at a Eucharist celebrated by the partnered lesbian bishop, the Rt. Rev. Mary Glasspool, here in the Salt Palace.

Glasspool was consecrated on December 4, 2009, as the assisting Bishop of Los Angeles and the world's first ever partnered lesbian bishop.

After moving joyously to an opening liturgy set to jazz and swing, rejoicing worshippers sat to hear a sermon by the President of the Deputies, Rev. Gay Jennings. Speaking to John 17, and St. John of Patmos, Jennings spoke eloquently of the need for mystical language to express heavenly truths. The "suitcase of human comprehension is not big enough for the concepts Jesus has to stuff into it," she told listeners, to laughter and applause.

You can read the whole thing here if you like, and as you do, ponder the nature of a court that's higher than the one ensconced in Washington DC.

Some feel a Rubicon has been crossed.

Civil Disobedience,

LSP

Presiding Bishop Ignores Jihad

Is the outgoing Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, shy of Jihad and the ongoing persecution of Christians by Muslims? 

Via Virtueonline:

In her sermon at the opening Eucharist at this year's 78th General Convention, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, drew attention to murder, oppression, and suffering in the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, and elsewhere. She ignored the brutal and, in modern times, unprecedented persecution of Christians by Muslims, which some commentators believe amounts to genocide.

You can read the whole thing here, and while you're at it, ask yourself why Jefferts Schori gave an old Brazilian occultist a look-in, but passed over the tens of thousands of Christians who have been driven from their homes; to say nothing of those crucified, beheaded, raped, enslaved and killed by Islamists.

Maybe she ignored that because, you know, Islam is the Religion of Peace.

ISIS Laughs,

LSP

Hillary

Presented without comment.

LSP

Gay Jennings Tells General Convention to Repent of White Privilege!!

Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, who is white, told the Episcopal Church that it had to repent of something called "white privilege" and, of course, racism.

Via Virtueonline:

During a heartfelt opening address to the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (TEC), the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the Convention's House of Deputies, called on the Church to repent of "white privilege" and "racism."

During her opening address to the General Convention in Salt Lake City, Rev. Gay Clark Jennings told assembled delegates that the Episcopal Church had to look outside of itself and repent of failing to end a raft of hot-button progressive left issues, such as gun violence, discrimination, inequality, white privilege and racism.

You can read the whole thing here, and if you do, ask yourself how many Episcopalians will be left to end white privilege, inequality and racism.

 

Hint, TEC has lost over a quarter (200,000 persons) of its Sunday attendance in the last 10 years.

Your Friend,

LSP

Katharine Schori Launches into Space, in Salt Lake City

The outgoing Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church told General Convention delegates this morning that her denomination is on a journey into intergalactic space.

Via Virtueonline:

The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Katharine Jefferts Schori, opened the Church's 78th General Convention, by inviting the assembled delegates to travel to a new galaxy of "interdependence" after a recent Episcopal history marked by "warring, chaos," and "collateral damage."

After referring to the Task Force for Reimagining the Episcopal Church (TREC), Jefferts Schori told her listeners to "warp up and get moving." The Presiding Bishop continued to borrow language from the hit T.V. series, Star Trek, to describe the mission of the denomination.

"We're bound for the galaxy called Galilee," said Schori, "And the edges of the known world, because that's where Jesus sent us and that's where he promises to meet us. The journey is likely to be a long one, in spite of the glimpses of heaven around us. We will measure this journey in light-years, and expect those years to be filled with growing awareness of the light of the world."

You can read the whole thing here, and while you're at it, reflect on her use of "interdependent" and "holographic."

Your Correspondent,

LSP

Bonking at General Convention

So what's it like at TEC's General Convention? According to today's House of Deputies News:

"When you walk through the main entrance to the Salt Palace convention center you might be startled by a wooden bonking sound."

The "bonking sound" is caused by "wind chimes," apparently.

I won't comment.

In other news, guns are "prohibited" at GC15. Good thing I left all mine at home then, isn't it.

Shoot straight,

LSP

Go On, Fly To Salt Lake City -- GenCon15

I packed my bags, put on a blazer, and flew to Salt Lake City. So why'd you do that, LSP? You ask wonderingly Just for kicks? No, although SLC is a neat little mountain town with an interesting light rail system and a weirdly utopian air. 

Typical SLC Supermarket

No, I'm not here for that, I am here to help cover the Episcopal Church's General Convention. They'll be electing a new Presiding Bishop, discussing ways to "restructure" (downsize) their failing operation, and, of course, approve gay marriage rituals without having to change the heterosexist Prayer Book.

Room with a View

There's some other cool stuff too, like fighting "extremism" (Jihad) by fighting The Weather and funding LGBT advocacy in Africa. But more of that anon.

So stay tuned.

LSP

The Illuminati Are Great And Powerful?

I frequently get begging letters from the Illuminati, asking me to join their not-so-secret-anymore society and get wealth, power, fame and success. Like Jay Z, or Beyonce.

Minaj

Here's an example:

Are you not tired of poverty?Why

your mate are enjoying life.

Did you want to be rich and

have famous. Come and join

the brotherhood member

today now. Once you join us, we

are going to buy you one

dapples in any country you

wish to stay with a new car

and you will also be receiving

$250,000 dollars per week.. We

are going to turn your life with

different kind of things you wish

in your life. Do you

want to promote your

business? We can help you by

bringing you more customer

into your business. Are you a

musician? did you want

to be at the top in the world, like

LIL WAYNE, RICK ROSS, JAY Z,

SEAN PAUL, LUDACRIR..we can

make you rich like these men.

If you are in need of joining the

brotherhood, Email us

now: {powerfulilluminati@yahoo.com}

you can easily contact us now:

+2348144368825. we are waiting for your reply

Jay Z

The benefits of joining the Illuminati are more specifically listed as:

A Cash Reward of USD $300,000 USD

A New Sleek Dream CAR valued at USD $120,000 USD

A Dream House bought in the country of your own choice

One Month holiday (fully paid) to your dream tourist destination.

One year Golf Membership package

A V.I.P treatment in all Airports in the World

A total Lifestyle change

Access to Bohemian Grove

Monthly payment of $1,000,000 USD into your bank account every month as a member

One Month booked Appointment with Top 5 world Leaders and Top 5 Celebrities in the World.

Real Smart

I'm not saying that Jay Z wrote these letters, he may not have; perhaps it's Kanye, or Nicki Minaj. We just don't know. In the meanwhile...

Kick out the Jams,

LSP

Summer Solstice Hi-Jinx

It's the Summer Solstice, or Litha, when hippies like nothing better than to go to an ancient stone circle, goof about, get brewed up and rip each other off. Some get all mysticke and worship the Sun gods.

Here's a sample ritual:

Gods who bring us light, we honor you!

Hail, Ra, whose mighty chariot brings us light each morning!

Hail, Ra!

Hail, Apollo, who brings us the healing energies of the sun!

Hail, Apollo!

Hail, Saule, whose fertility blooms as the sun gains in strength!

Hail, Saule!

Hail, Helios, whose great steeds race the flames across the sky!

Hail, Helios!

Hail, Hestia, whose sacred flame lights our way in the darkness!

Hail, Hestia!

Hail, Sunna, who is sister of the moon, and bringer of light!

Hail, Sunna!

We call upon you today, thanking you for your blessings, accepting your gifts. We draw upon your strength, your energy, your healing light, and your life giving power! Hail to you, mighty gods and goddesses of the sun!

Just a bit of harmless tomfoolery, right? 

Remember this. It's all fun and games until you wake up and find a demon gnawing on your elbow.

Your Pal,

LSP

I Went For A Shoot

I took a couple of ARs out for a spin today with one of the team. It was raining, which is Texas' new normal, but that didn't stop us putting rounds down range. It was good to hear the sound of the guns cracking out across the countryside.

So that was a good shoot, unlike the one in Charleston. Some say that the killer is satanic and I think, for what it's worth, that if he isn't he might as well be. The relatives of the victims, on the other hand, are clearly Christian.

It's no small thing to say you forgive the person who killed people you love.

God bless,

LSP

The City of Brass

And the heart of a beast in the place of a man’s heart was given

From the City of Brass

They unwound and flung from them with rage, as a rag that defiled them
The imperial gains of the age which their forefathers piled them.
They ran panting in haste to lay waste and embitter for ever
The wellsprings of Wisdom and Strength which are Faith and Endeavour.
They nosed out and digged up and dragged forth and exposed to derision
All doctrine of purpose and worth and restraint and prevision:
And it ceased, and God granted them all things for which they had striven,
And the heart of a beast in the place of a man’s heart was given...

You can read the whole thing here, if you like. Kipling was writing about the Empire on which the sun never set, some think he's relevant today.

Kizmet,

LSP

Storm Clouds

I went to Walmart to conduct some business, and by the time I left storm clouds had rolled in, like a metaphor for Western culture itself.

Perhaps you remember the lyrics of a '70s pop song, "Your future dream is a shopping scheme"? For "shopping scheme" read "strip mall," and it looks as though those are about to get washed away in the flood of peak retail meets static and declining wages, monster debt and the voracious maw of Big Government. I guess they'll be replaced by Dollar Stores, tire shops and Quinceanera vendors.

But maybe that's OK, maybe a society that's lost touch with reality, to the extent that it thinks gender is a mental construct, can go on forever until it rests in a golden trans utopia of frolicking rainbow unicorns. Who knows, perhaps a culture that actively encourages and subsidizes killing children in the womb, to the tune of $1 million a day, won't somehow commit demographic suicide.

Then again, others believe that as it was in days of Belshazzar, the writing's on the wall.

Mene, Mene,

LSP

Snake Boots

Thanks to Tropical Storm Bill, Texas is underwater, so wearing the right kind of boots is important. Here's LL's advice, via Virtual Mirage:

LSP: All of those boots look pretty neat, but which ones are the most waterproof? Most of the state is underwater now, so it's worth considering.

LL: And snake proof. I'm sure that it's a water moccasin's and cottonmouth's picnic out there as they're swimming between the homes. Wear the sandal boots and roll the dice...

Typical Sandal Boots

One of the church people here shot 20 snakes the other day at one of his tanks. I do not know if he was wearing sandal boots or not.

Your Friend,

LSP

Tropical Storm Bill 2015

The War on Weather took a savage new twist, as Tropical Storm Bill blew into North Central Texas from the Gulf.  As much as 12" of rain are predicted to fall today on several already waterlogged communities in the Lone Star State, threatening to overwhelm local infrastructure  and the renowned Alamo spirit of the population.

Storm Chaser

Here in Hill County, situated between Dallas and Waco on what some call the "I35 corridor of desolation," resources are at breaking point, as streets flood and high winds rip through once prosperous farming communities.

Ruin

"If only we'd have gone and paid the Carbon Tax!" stated one devastated resident, as she surveyed her home, "I thought climate disruption was just a money grabbing scam, cooked up by New World Order shills in Big Government, and their transnational Illuminati puppet masters. Now everything I left outside is wet, because of rain. This is a war."

Typical Texas Storm

Will the Brazos overflow its banks and turn Waco into Little Venice? Will Dallas become a city of islands, clinging to high ground as the waters rise? Or will Texas finally come to its senses and confront the greatest threat this nation has ever faced, The Weather, and pay the tax.

Prepared. Note Fishing Rods

This, as with Bill itself, remains to be seen.

From the eye of the storm,

LSP