St. Nicholas Day-- December 6 (PartB)

One Nicholas story tells of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman's father had to offer prospective husbands something of value — the larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man's daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home, providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, tossed through an open window, are said to have landed in stockings or shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from Saint Nicholas. Sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. And so St. Nicholas is a gift-giver.

I like this part because my wife's German heritage includes sweet tasting goodies and small gifts today!

Here's my gift for you --
Old-Fashioned Sour Cream Sugar Cookies

(I use the shape of stockings and coins to honor Nicholas today!)

Ingredients:

½ cup           butter / margarine

1 cup          sugar

1           egg

1 tsp           vanilla

2-2/3 cups           flour

1 tsp           baking powder

½ tsp            soda

½ tsp           salt

¼ tsp            nutmeg

½ cup           sour cream

Recipe:

Heat oven to 425 degrees.

Mix butter, sugar, egg, and vanilla.

Blend dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture alternately with sour cream.

Roll ¼” thick on well-floured surface.

Use cookie cutters or glass lip (less than 3”).

Place cookies on greased baking sheet. Sprinkle with sugar.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes (less is better!)

Eat with cold, cold milk while they are soft and HOT!

St. Nicholas Day-- December 6 (Part A)

As Bishop of Myra, a seacoast town in southern Turkey, Nicholas lived the qualities that caused his fame and popularity to spread throughout the Christian world. His vigorous actions on behalf of his people and in defense of the Christian faith reveal a man who lived his convictions. His concern was for the welfare of his flock and his stand for orthodox belief earned him respect as a model for bishops and defender of the faith. He died December 6, AD 343 in Myra and was buried in his cathedral church.

Stories tell of Nicholas saving his people from famine, sparing the lives of those innocently accused, and much more. He did many kind and generous deeds in secret, expecting nothing in return. Within a century of his death he was celebrated as a saint. Today he is in the East as wonder, or miracle worker and in the West as patron of a great variety of persons: children, mariners, bankers, pawn-brokers, scholars, orphans, laborers, travelers, merchants, judges, paupers, marriageable maidens, students, children, sailors, victims of judicial mistakes, captives, perfumers, even thieves and murderers!

In 325 Emperor Constantine called the Council of Nicea, which was the first ecumenical council ever held. More than 300 bishops from all over the Christian world came to debate the nature of the Holy Trinity, one of the early church's most intense theological questions. Arias, from Egypt, taught that the Son Jesus was not equal to God the Father. This was the Arian controversy which shook Christianity's very foundations. According to one account, when confronted by the unyielding Arias, Nicholas slapped him in the face.

Other names in Europe: Germany (Nikolaus), Netherlands (Sinterklaas), France (Nicolas), Italy (San Nicola)

In celebration, check out posting "B" for today!

Ramon Paul Vardell - RIP

Ironic (?) that both my mother-in-law and uncle (both about 77) were hospitalized for months with infections of the abdomen due to complications from minor surgery.

My mother-in-law was home for three months before she returned for a repair. She is in the hospital again because of yet another infection, but it seems better.

My uncle never made it back to his home. Hopeful signs arose and he was a fighter (two tours of duty in Vietnam with the Marines), but in the end he succumbed to the infection. I was asked to help with the funeral and offered the Lutheran commital service. What joy and comfort. He now rests in God's hands. He was a great guy and well-loved, and that will be sorely missed. Ironic (?) that the Marine motto is "Semper Fidelis" (Always Faithful)); that was Uncle Ramon's life motto; now Christ will take up the "Always Faithful" banner, as the Lord promises to hold Ramon Paul firm until he is reunited with his loved ones.

No I am NOT still in Minnesota.

You may have wondered -- what happened? Did he get stuck in feet of Minnesota snow and will not be thawed out enough to Blog until after Easter??? No, nothing that dramatic -- just life. I did well at the conference and had a good Minnesota visit. Got home and family were in the hospital (mother-in-law and uncle), so that is the closest thing I have to an excuse.

Lutheran Education on the Texas Frontier

Today, I presented at paper at the Lutheran Historical Conference in St Paul, Minnesota
My title was “Education on the Frontier: The First Hundred and One Years of Lutheran Higher Education in Texas”
I looked at the developments that led to the current two Texas Lutheran-affiliated universities.
I appreciated the opportunity to learn also about historical issues across North America. Plus, it is always good to share with Lutheran historians things that happen in the Southwest -- often basically unknown.

"The Garden of Earthly Delights" - Visited Again

At Madrid's Prado Museum, we viewed the original art work by Hieronymous Bosch, entitled "The Garden of Earthly Delights."

I first encountered this piece in March 2009, when we attended an off-Broadway play in New York City, based on the painting of the same name.

In this triptych, Bosch gives the viewer a sense of the Creation, Fall, and Hell, though some critics argue about the middle theme.

I actually considered buying a copy on linen (Spain has reasonable prices!), but decided against it. This time the third panel disturbed me most of all. I sensed that Bosch was dwelling on the punishment and not the opportunity for amendment of life or, MOST importantly, the possibility of forgiveness. Perhaps we live in a time that needs to view representations of end-times punishment for sin, as so many seem oblivious to any judgment for personal actions. On the other hand, the church's job, I believe, is not so much to shout condemnations, but to raise the reality of the end and then proclaim the promises of new life in Christ, as well as renewed life for Christ's own. Thanks, Bosch, for the wake-up call. I will try to take it from here and preach the power of Christ to change lives!

I arrived in Spain’s Santiago de Compostela later than planned due to flight delays on Monday evening. Still, the late afternoon sun illuminated the day, so I toured a bit before collapsing with jet lag. Across from this ancient pilgrimage church was a more modern (17th century?) building with decorations depicting the Apostle, St. James. The following morning, my daily devotions included the cryptic mention of the death of James from Acts 12: “After that time Herod the king laid violent hands upon some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword….” The legend of St. James then continues with two followers rescuing his body and sailing away from Israel to bury James covertly in the northwest corner of Spain. Then in the 8th century a pious monk follows the stars (compostela) to discover the hidden tomb of St. James (Santiago). Once honored, St James then returns to assist Spanish armies in defeating the Moors (North African Muslims). Do the pious pilgrims who have been following this ancient road to the church for penance, healing, reconciliation, or grace for loved ones know about St. James with raised sword fighting Moors? It gives one pause to think of one who dies by the sword (James) would return to live again for the sword. Didn't Jesus say in Matthew 26 (with James listening): “Whoever lives by the sword, dies by the sword?”

Priests in Film "The American" & "Machete"

This past weekend offered two movies in which Roman Catholic priests figure prominently, though not as the main character. In "The American," the priest seems to fill a rather traditional role -- voice of conscience, soul care, and reflective on life. In "Machete," OK, it's a comic book, but the priest performs traditional roles -- present in the church, listening to confessions. However, he is also the brother of Machete, so he violates the seal of the confessional by passing on incriminating evidence, blasts bad guys with twin shotguns, and harbors a naked Lindsay Lohan and her mom-figure.

Which is more real? Which is more what priests wish would be?

Priests would go for "The American," I am sure. But certainly there are moments when twin shotguns could seem like a good solution.

Realistically, if one can say that about a movie, the Italian priest is doing good evangelism -- reaching for the lost soul, and as the movie develops there are hints that Clooney's character is listening or being worked on subconciously as he wants out of his life of death-dealing. Sadly, the priest seems to have lost hope for Clooney's character as he confronts him for the last time. But the Spirit may still be reaching.
Sadly, movie-goers may lose some hope for the real Clooney, as this was not one of his better films. Pretty, but not much substance.

Cheech Marin (Machete's brother, the priest) attempts the role of priest as agent of social change -- maybe. But really, this is just a cartoon, and little positive can be said. The issue, not raised in the film, of violating the seal of the confessional for the greater community good is a difficult one, and deserves more reflection than this movie gives it. But this was a loud, noisy live-action cartoon after all!

"When Schools Flourish, All Things Flourish"

Schools started this week in our area. On our church's drive-by sign, I posted the message: "When Schools Flourish, All Things Flourish -- Martin Luther". It is a good reminder that many of the things we take for granted today had to be started somewhere. Luther was one of the earliest to argue for town-supported schools that would be available for all children. Yes, ALL CHILDREN -- Luther even thought girls should attend. That was an even more radical idea for the time. As parents drive by the church building headed to the local school houses, we are not asking that they stop to express a word of thanks, rather we are just inviting folks to a fellowship that continues not to take the status quo for granted, but find new ways to be faithful to God in response to changing community needs.

"Get Low" with a Lutheran twist.

Robert Duvall continues to be amazing. And Bill Murray pulls surprise after surprise. These guys are good, and the rest of the cast does very well -- especially the "sincere young man"/driver and Sissy Spacek.

The first two-thirds of the movie was fabulous -- what a script. Then the last third just kind of played out with little surprise or insight. I suppose that is why it is a "small film" not a blockbuster.

The Christianity portrayed was realistic -- the sincere minister (Gerald McRaney) shared the religious truth as he saw it and played poker with the community leaders! The older minister did not let the Duvall character escape from the truth, but still showed up in support.

Go see this film!

A note that I was unaware of until the September 2010 "The Lutheran" magazine, p. 10: "Family stories of Elizabeth C. Birkholz, a pastor of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, Marietta, Ga., formed the basis of Get Low, starring Robert Duvall as Felix "Bush" Breazeale, a Tennessee man who held a funeral for himself in 1938 while he was still alive .... Birkholz's great-grandfather, Frank Quinn, was the funeral home director, and her grandfather, Frank "Buddy" Robinson, drove the hearse. The movie was co-written by Birkholz's husband, Scott J. Seeke, pastor of The River Lutheran Church, Alpharetta, Ga. Birkholz and her family were extras in the film.