Fish on Friday #1

It's Friday, and that means fish, the idea being to take a break from reading the Ante-Nicene Fathers on the nature of the episcopate and go out and catch some dinner. But as you await that exciting installment in the varied life of LSPland, here's an excerpt from St. Ignatius of Antioch:

See that you all follow the bishop, even as Jesus Christ does the Father, and the presbytery as you would the apostles; and reverence the deacons, as being the institution of God. Let no man do anything connected with the Church without the bishop. Let that be deemed a proper Eucharist, which is[administered] either by the bishop, or by one to whom he has entrusted it. Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude[of the people] also be; even as, wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church. (Letter to Smyrna)

Note that, for Ignatius, bishops are seen as the successors of Christ and the presbyters or priests, as successors of the apostles. The bishop, surrounded by his priests, is the image of Christ in the midst of the apostles. 

We can only wonder what the martyr bishop, who was a disciple of the Apostle John, would say about his, ahem, successors in the episcopal college today. 

Fish on,

LSP

The Final Frontier of Gayness

Via Anglican Samizdat: Apparently, there is a need “for the gay community to have a safe space in every corner of the universe.” To that end, a gay pride flag has been launched 31km. above the surface of the earth where the rising sun shone through it, illuminating the rainbow.

Archbishop Barry Morgan

The Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, who is popularly known as Bazbot 5000, was last seen floating 1000ft above the Bristol Channel. 

A Typical Scene in the Welsh Church

Here at the Compound we have to ask, has the Welsh Primate reached the final frontier?

To the stars,

LSP

The Feast of St. Michael the Archangel

Take note, you heathen, it's the Feast of St. Michael the Archangel today. So here's a prayer:

Holy Michael, Archangel, defend us in the day of battle. 

Be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. 

May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do thou, 

O Prince of the heavenly host, 

by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits 

who wander through the world for the ruin of souls. 

Amen.

God bless,

LSP

The Smart Vote

Presented without comment.

The Intelligent Vote

Carry on,

LSP

It's Bushcraft Wednesday! Forging The Spear

Bushcraft is just that, a craft, and like any craft it has its tools. Like spears. Think about it, you're looking at your bushcraft toolkit and ticking off the items. Large and small kniives, check; whetstone, check, snares, line and hooks, check; re-purposed single shot 12 gauge musket, check. But where's the spear?

You don't have one. Bad error. Do you go to Cabela's or Academy or Bass Pro, and give your money to "the Man" for some hyped up piece of outdoors industry gimmickry? No, that's not what bushcraft's about. You make one yourself. Hammer, forge and tongs.

Here at the Compound we hope you find this short infovideo as helpful as we do.

Rorke's Drift,

LSP

Lesbian Trump Supporter Slams Mook

Just when you thought that American politics couldn't get any more theater of the absurd, out comes this, Lesbian Trump Supporter Slams Gay Clinton Campaign Manager.

And she does, drawing attention to the fact that Team Clinton's received millions of dollars from Muslim countries, like Saudi Arabia and Qatar, that take a rather, ahem, low view of rainbow riders. Who kill them, in fact.

I'd say she has a point, which would make Hillary's chipper little Mook a top level malfeasant.

But you be the judge.

LSP

Archbishop of Wales Caught on Camera!

U.K police were baffled by footage of the Archbishop of Wales, Barry Morgan, flying 1000ft above the Bristol Channel.

Stunned coppers thought the object, which was emitting "black heat," was a UFO until magnification revealed Archbishop Barry Morgan.

The Archbishop of Wales, captured on police helicam for 7 minutes

"We thought it was a Chinese lantern or a balloon," said one police source, "But its black heat ruled that out. It turned out [to be] Barry Morgan. He bobbed around in the air for about 7 minutes before disappearing."

Barry Morgan

Morgan has been the focus of investigation by UFOlogists after saying that the Bible supported gay marriage.

The dramatic footage of Barry Morgan was captured by thermal imaging cameras on a police helicopter at 9.30 pm.

Police have appealed for help

Barry Morgan did not show up on local air traffic control, leading to speculation that the Welsh bishop is using off-world technology.

Police have appealed to the public for further eyewitness accounts of the rogue prelate.

Cymru am byth,

LSP

Weak Wonky And Weird

OK. The greatest debate the world has ever seen is over. Who won? Opinion at the Compound was that DJT came over as reasonable, as opposed to mad bomber, and that Hillary came over over as weak, wonky and weird.

But why, we ask, is Fox giving Hillary such positive coverage? Surely Megynne isn't partisan for Hillary?

Central message? You inside-the-beltway gravy-trainers, guess what? You've messed up, badly, and you're being called to account. Hillary, that means you.

Watch DJT surge in the polls.

LSP

In The City

So Where's this so-called "Ghetto"? Oh yeah, here it is.

Some say, unless they're determinists, that life is made up of a series of freewill choices. That's true for human beings and perhaps it's true for cities also. For example, Dallas had a choice, once. "Am I going to be a city, or a road?" It opted for road.

I was reminded of this today, as I drove across Dallas to visit a friend on the M Streets. I RV'd at his place and we set upon some low and slow pulled pork like there was no tomorrow. I tell you, that pork was as tasty as you like and better. 11 hours in the cooking and worth every minute.

On The Road

After the delicious pig it was time for some firearms show and tell. Some neat wealthy elite shotguns, a nice Winchester 70 30-06 and a Desert Eagle all featured. I'd never handled a Desert Eagle before, what a canon. Are they made out of re-purposed car parts? I don't know, but I like the myth.

A Book

Then books. "Do any of you read Latin and Greek?" asked my friend. "I'm an expert," stated GWB and I replied that I was "a bit rusty." Too bad, because M Streets was giving away a stack of the stuff, but you had to be able to read them. As it is, I settled for some translations. Thanks, Penguin Classics.

So that was that. Thanks for the hospitality, M Streets. A return match at the Compound is definitely in order.

And now for the debate.

LSP 

Torrential Rain and Mammon

Driving to the second Mass of the day was a bit of a deal because of torrential rain. Who wants to hydroplane across HWY 22 in the downpour? So I took it slow and wore a pair of Wellington boots to keep my 1% inside-the-beltway loafers dry.

In the sacristy I pointed to the boots and asked our MC, who's a renowned bronc champion, if he liked my "new church shoes." He shook his head.

"It's not that bad out there."

"Well c'mon, it was pretty much zero-viz coming up from the compound."

"Look. I'm not interested in your sad little stories, LSP."

"Yeah, said the rich man. You can't serve God and Mammon."

Wellingtons

And that's what the sermon was about, with reference to Dives and Lazarus. Note that the former isn't named in the Gospel, he's nameless and accordingly not written into the book of life. "I do not know you," says Christ, elsewhere, and, "Depart from me ye cursed, into the lake of eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you did not feed me."

A Random Fish

No, the rich man was too busy enjoying the mammonistic gravy train to love God or his neighbor and accordingly found his way to perdition, which is separated from heaven by a great chasm.

Don't Worship This

Some say the god of our age is Mammon. I'd think twice before you pledge allegiance to that particular deity.

God bless,

LSP

Diocese of Toronto Flies Over The Rainbow

Appalled

The Anglican Church of Canada (ACoC) flew over the rainbow this week, electing its first ever openly partnered gay bishop (OPGB), Keith Robertson. Robertson will serve as one of three Suffragan Bishops in the Diocese of Toronto.

Speaking after his election, Robertson stated that he would work for the "peace and unity" of the church and that he would be "a bishop for the whole church."

The peace and unity of the church is really important to me and I will work to continue that peace and unity as a bishop... I think LGBTQ clergy and lay people might naturally gravitate towards me looking for some leadership around the issue of full inclusion, but I absolutely see myself as a bishop for the whole church, including people who have a very different view of things than I do. I'm their bishop, too."

Well that's just it, isn't it; you're not our bishop. Bishops are centers of Apostolic unity in the church and that's exactly what Robertson is not. He can't be a bishop for the whole church because his OPGB lifestyle puts him outside the communion of the church, making him a locus of disunity and schism rather than unity. 

This means that Toronto's new Suffragan, despite good intentions, acts as an anti-bishop who will serve to further fragment the already scandalously divided Body of Christ. 

A Rainbow Unicorn

So well done, ACoC, for bravely flying over the rainbow and away from the church you claim to be a part of.

Be sure to dodge the unicorns on the way up.

LSP 

Mix it up, Fool!

Everyone's bored of "the usual spot" and stories of Bluegill rising from the depths and into the fry pan, and I don't blame you. It's been samey. So, with an eye on adventure, I went to the other side of lake Whitney dam, to the spillway, to see what was up.

I'll tell you what was up, SeaWorld. A brief recce from the top of the riprap told me there were plenty of fish in the channel, and in the pool beneath the fishing pier. Big Gar, up to 4' long, maybe larger, sizable catfish, suspended in wait of prey, schools of young Sand Bass darting about and who knows what else. Just all kinds of fish, visible through the technology of a pair of polarized Ugly Stick sunglasses. Cheap, maybe $10 at Walmart.

Excited at the prospect of catching a monster, I cast off with a light rod, 12lb test, a treble hook and a worm, weightless (WWR). Natural presentation and no resistance rules, says fishing wisdom. Well, let's see about that, I thought, cynically.

Kaboom! No sooner had the worm begun to sink than something hit it like a Rhodesian Light Infantry flying column. Thrash! Drag out! Rod bent double, and remember, it's a light rod. Then up came a Gar; they're gentle giants, for all their ferocious prehistoric teeth, and this was a young one. Back you go, my friend.

Just for kicks, I moved down the pier and cast off by the wall of the dam. There were big Catfish lurking in the depths, you could see them, and who knows, maybe they'd be interested in the weightless worm rig.

After a few minutes waiting, what cost patience?, something most certainly was. The fish tore out into mid-pool and dived ferociously for the bank, then back again. A fighter. This went on for maybe 5 minutes, which seemed like the 10 seconds of forever, until the fish was finished. I reeled him in. A Catfish, not a monster, but not far off, either. 

An hour or two later, Striper, Black Drum, and more Catfish than I could be bothered to count struck the WWR and came in. Pretty much every cast a fish, and good ones, too. If I'd had a cooler, well, there'd be a big fish fry tonight.

As it is, a couple of fat Bluegill are about to hit the pan.

Fish On,

LSP