Preparing for Book Seven: JK Rowling's Favorite Painting

We have learned that this is author JK Rowling's favorite painting, Caravaggio's Supper at Emmaus. About Caravaggio's 1601 painting, Rowling says "Jesus reveals himself to the disciples having risen from the dead. I love it. Jesus looks very likeable ...and the painting captures the exact moment when the disciples realize who this man is, blessing their bread.” Now add this to her love of the poet Chesteron (and her public admiration of CS Lewis) and we are indeed pondering the themes for Book VII - if not a clue to her final plot turn.

What made this moment so shocking - the "victim" revealed the truth (as in this moment from Luke 24:30-31 "When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight."

We know that there is going to be a major surprise (she has told us she completely plotted out the story line - boring as that is, she admits - before she wrote the prose) which she has been planning for since the first book. Most people think it has to do with deaths (and perhaps it does), but what if it also has to do with life? Remember Charles Dicken's Tale of Two Cities, "Recalled to Life?" What is Harry looking at here anyway?

What made this moment in Carvaggio's painting so momentous is that it is the moment that the disciples recognized Him (identity revealed) and remembered what He'd said to them beforehand (foreshadowing hints that gave the story away if they'd been paying attention earlier) - the Lord had prepared them but their attention was diverted elsewhere (readers beware). In this moment, they see (which is the point of every great mystery novel, that epiphany - that AHA! moment). It was in the breaking of the bread, by being inside the story that the disciples recognized who He was and in that moment understood the story, the most amazing plot twist ever. This was done not with Spielberg-Lucas special effects, but came in a regular storyboard character/plot moment, breaking bread. The way this painting illustrates this moment, they are at supper, having a regular meal as they must have done hundreds of times before - but only in this moment are their eyes opened, the vision of their eyes and the vision of their souls.

They are saved.

If this is the sort of thing that inspires Jo Rowling, what are we to expect in the seventh and final book?

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

-Colossians 3:12-17

Time Out: A Blast from the Past (or is that the future?)

BB NOTE: Yes, we admit it - there are plenty of recovering Trekkies (or is that Trekkers?) here at the Cafe. Now that Star Trek (and it's descendants or ancestors) are off the air, we've been missing flipping through the channels and finding the beloved reruns. We're still slightly Luddite when it comes to the television because here at the Cafe we don't have cable. Understand that's practically flatearth (we've made up for it in Apple gadgets though) and so we don't have the Science Fiction Channel. But we do have the next best thing.

And speaking of the next best thing, here is one of the best scenes ever in Star Trek. We recall going to see an encore presentation of this particular film at the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum (on their giganic IMAX screens) in DC with hundreds of other Trekkers and the audience would get in the act and do the lines along with the film. It was a Rocky Horror Experience (though no rice).

This film in particular is filled with great lines - and so we do wonder how many out there actually all ready know (or still know) the lines from this clip? The BabyBlueBrother need not answer because we know he does. But for your viewing enjoyment we bring it to you tonight - and one does often feel a bit like a member of the Starship Enterprise these days. Oh that we were all one big happy fleet.


LATER: Okay, while we're on this topic, we might as well post another great moment. Still funny after twenty years.


EVEN LATER: Well, we're on a roll now. Here's a fine tribute to forty years of Star Trek. We saw our first episode Metamorphosis when we were six and Grandma let us stay up late.

Dylan's Own Top Ten Dylan Albums

DylanDaily.com lists Bob Dylan’s own Top Ten Dylan albums judged by the set lists of the first ten shows of the Europe 2007 tour. They are:

1. Modern Times (2006)
2. The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (1963)
3. Highway 61 Revisited (1965)
4. "Love And Theft" (2001)
5. Another Side of Bob Dylan (1964)
6. Blonde on Blonde (1966)
7. John Wesley Harding (1968)
8. Nashville Skyline (1969)
9. Blood on the Tracks (1974)
10. Basement Tapes (1975)

Here's also a list of all the songs played (and how many times) on the tour so far:

All Along The Watchtower (11)
It's Alright, Ma (I'm Only Bleeding) (11)
Like A Rolling Stone (11)
Rollin' And Tumblin' (11)
Summer Days (11)
Thunder On The Mountain (11)
When The Deal Goes Down (10)
Highway 61 Revisited (9)
Spirit On The Water (9)
Cat's In The Well (8)
Nettie Moore (8)
Watching The River Flow (7)
A Hard Rain's A-Gonna Fall (5)
It Ain't Me, Babe (5)
Don't Think Twice, It's All Right (4)
Most Likely You Go Your Way (and I'll Go Mine) (4)
Stuck Inside of Mobile (with the Memphis Blues Again) (4)
Tangled Up In Blue (4)
Ain't Talkin' (3)
Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues (3)
Country Pie (2)
Desolation Row (2)
Girl Of The North Country (2)
High Water (for Charley Patton) (2)
Honest With Me (2)
I'll Be Your Baby Tonight (2)
To Ramona (2)
Tweedle Dee & Tweedle Dum (2)
Visions Of Johanna (2)
Boots of Spanish Leather
Chimes Of Freedom
John Brown
Lay Lady Lay
Man In The Long Black Coat
Masters Of War
Not Dark Yet
Simple Twist Of Fate
Tears Of Rage
The Levee's Gonna Break
The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll
This Wheel's On Fire
'Til I Fell In Love With You
Things Have Changed
Under The Red Sky

That's 44 different songs in eleven shows so far. Amazing. And he's playing the electric guitar and the electric keyboards. And of course, the harmonica. But he ain't hittin' that tambourine. Well, not yet.

Photo above taken April 9.

Back to the bus ...

What then shall we do?

BB NOTE: Excellent analysis of the recent actions of the Episcopal House of Bishops by Ephraim Radner here. There's so much to quote from, we'll choose these four excerpts, but encourage a full reading of the entire piece.

...it is very difficult to see on what basis the House of Bishops could reject the Scheme as inherently unconstitutional. The character and shape of the Scheme is one of request and permission. The unwillingness of our bishops to look at this carefully and instead insist on reading it in terms of “oppression” and “offense” is bizarre and irrational. Indeed, their rejection of the Scheme appears wholly capricious and arbitrary...

...Theologically and politically, the autonomy of the Episcopal Church was, from the beginning, profoundly circumscribed by constraints (from the Church of England and internally) imposed by Prayer Book doctrine, by the configuration of Convention, by the general claims of Holy Scripture, and by the early reiteration by the Convention (1814) that the Episcopal Church is, from an ecclesial (though not civil) perspective, the “same body” as the “Church of England”. How exactly the notion of “autonomy” must be understood in terms of TEC’s “constituent membership” in a body of churches that upholds and propagates a common “faith and order” that is “historically” traceable is exactly what is at issue in the present conflict in the Communion. The Windsor Report remains to date the most carefully articulated response to this question, and it speaks in terms very different from the House of Bishops’. They in turn ignore their own history, whatever its debatable details, and pass by in silence the Communion’s own attempt at providing clarity to this matter...

...Yet the House of Bishops wants to claim the Primates are “kicking them out” of the Communion, when in fact it is they, the American bishops, who have deliberately chosen a path they know—if they are thinking clearly—must lead to this outcome. Even their own consultative bodies have told them this. Before the 2003 General Convention, the House of Bishops’ Theology Committee recommended that no action be taken on matters that would alter the discipline of the church in the area of human sexuality – such as the consent to Gene Robinson’s episcopal election. Such actions would divide the church, since, they argued, there was no clear consensus within the church that could support it. The House of Bishops knowingly and deliberately chose in 2003 to ignore their Committee’s recommendations. The “schismatic”, as Andrew Marvell wrote, is the one who causes separation, not necessarily the one who separates...

...With whom and under whom do we now fulfill our vows made before God? It is no longer possible to receive equally the claim made by the House of Bishops to be faithful to the apostolic trust, along with the claim by the “Church throughout the world” that this trust demands another set of actions and commitments. What then shall we do?

When the moon is in the Seventh House ...

Blogger "Reformed Pastor" has some interesting research into one of the candidates for Episcopal Bishop of El Camino Real (more here and here). I like U2 too - but this is wild. Processing Smugeons anyone?

NPR Commentary: Marking Milestones with Dylan Songs

Came across this audio commentary from last August on National Public Radio of one man marking the milestones of his life with Bob Dylan songs. The beginning of the recording is jumbled a bit with an ad (it happens). We will admit, we've been tracking a lot from the music too (though perhaps with different lessons then this commentator illistrates, though there are similarities). Imagine sountracking your life with Dylan. We're thinking about it.

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em? Jim Naughton's Blog to be StandFirmed ...

BREAKING NEWS: Interesting announcement over at Jim Naughton's blog Daily Episcopalian today. Looks like he's tired of going over to StandFirm to get his news.

Well, better late then never? They say imitation is the best form of flattery. And that's it for the cliches for today.

A Tip of the TinFoilHat to ElfGirl - who stopped into the cafe today on her latest trip back to the Shire. We've got a special order of lembas bread baking in the oven in her honor. Stop and see us again soon!

Alleluia!

Rise Again
By Dallas Holm.
Performed by Bob Dylan and Clydie King.

Go ahead, drive the nails in My hands;
Laugh at me... where you stand.
Go ahead, and say it isn't Me;
The day will come... when you will see.

'Cause I'll rise.... again;
Ain't no power on earth can keep Me down!
Yes, I'll rise... again;
Death can't keep Me in the ground.

Go ahead, mock My name;
My love for you is still the same.
Go ahead, and bury Me;
But very soon, I will be free!

'Cause I'll rise.... again;
Ain't no power on earth can keep Me down!
Yes, I'll rise... again;
Death can't keep Me in the ground.

Go ahead, and say I'm dead and gone,
But you will see that you were wrong.
Go ahead, try to hide the Son;
But all will see that I'm the One!

'Cause I'll come again!
Ain't no power on earth can keep me back!
Yes, I'll come again;
Come to take My people back.

Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body. Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid. It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin. The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
-Luke 23:50-56

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
-Hebrews 4:14-16

Celebrating BabyBlueOnline's First Anniversary

We're joined by Jenny Noyes of the ACN, here in busy downtown Sewickley, PA at the local Starbucks. Sure are interesting characters who drop by this place - makes one think we're actually at the BabyBlueCafe! So we feel at home. Besides being on a short holiday, we're toasting BabyBlueOnline's First Year Anniversary as of April 2! Put on your tinfoil hats and pull up a chair. The Chais and Butterbeer are on the house!

Thanks to all of our wandering friends and guests who drop by the cafe - even to all our dear Anons (you know who are!) - we appreciate you all! Thank you! And let's get ready for the next year - it could be one for the history books.

Spring?

These photos were taken on the road from Virginia to Pittsburgh yesterday. Headed north for a few days to visit ACN's Jenny Noyes and family and hang out, but ran into a snow storm on the Pittsburgh Turnkpike. Was it not just a few days ago that we posted this? What was it the Groundhog said?

A Letter from John Yates, Rector of The Falls Church on the Virginia Situation

BB NOTE: John Yates provides an excellent overview of where we are right now, including a clear update on the Diocese of Virginia and The Episcopal Church's lawsuits against the Virginia Churches.

April 4, 2007

TO THE FAMILY OF THE FALLS CHURCH:

If you read the local paper, you know that there have been regular articles featuring the group of TFC parishioners who felt they could not go along with our decision to sever our ties with The Episcopal Church. You might be interested in my most recent letter to Bill Fetsch regarding the request they made of me to have use of the Historic Church, several classrooms and fellowship space for a portion of Sunday mornings. I've attached that letter.

As you probably know, at a recent Tanzanian gathering of all Anglican primates, they asked TEC (The Episcopal Church) to place a moratorium on rites blessing persons living in same sex unions and on any further consecrations of non-celibate gay bishops - both of which violate Anglican teaching - or lose its standing in the Communion. The primates also asked for an end to lawsuits against parishes that have left TEC to come under the shepherding of Anglican bishops in Africa and South America.

At a March meeting in Texas of Episcopal bishops, these requests were rejected. The bishops expressed their desire to remain in the Anglican Communion, but said they were unable to make the decision requested by the primates. They asked for a meeting with the Archbishop of Canterbury. Attached also is a summary of the statement of the House of Bishops, as reported in the Living Church magazine. The full text is available on our website.

I also wanted to briefly update you about the lawsuits filed in the Virginia courts by the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and by The Episcopal Church against The Falls Church, our sister churches in the Anglican District of Virginia, and members of our vestries and other individuals.

First, on February 22, and again on March 8, our lawyers wrote to the lawyers for The Episcopal Church and for the Diocese, asking that everyone agree to suspend all pending actions in law and other legal proceedings until after September 30, just as the primates of the Anglican Communion directed in their February 19 Tanzania Communique. Both TEC and the Diocese rejected this request and indicated that they intend to proceed with their lawsuits. Copies of this correspondence have been posted on our web site at www.TheFallsChurch.org.

Second, on March 23, a three-judge panel appointed by the Virginia Supreme Court conducted a telephone conference with lawyers for our church, for our sister ADV churches, for the Diocese, and for TEC. The panel indicated that it would grant the applications filed by our lawyers and those filed by the Diocese and TEC to consolidate all of the legal proceedings pending in various Virginia county courts into a single case in the Fairfax County courts. We expect that an order regarding consolidation will be issued by the panel sometime in the next several weeks, and that a single judge from Fairfax County will then be designated to hear consolidated cases.

Third, on March 12, lawyers for our church and for our sister churches filed with the Virginia courts our responses to the lawsuits filed by the Diocese. These responses asked that the courts dismiss the lawsuits for a variety of legal reasons and also that, even if the lawsuits were to go forward, that the vestry members and others named as individual defendants be dismissed because there is no valid legal reason for suing them. No schedule for arguing these matters in the courts has yet been set, but we expect this will occur after these cases are all consolidated in Fairfax County. Copies of these court filings have also been posted on our web site.

Finally, lawyers for The Episcopal Church have indicated that they intend to proceed with their lawsuit in Fairfax County against our church, our ADV sister churches, and more than 200 individuals, named and unnamed (primarily vestry members and trustees of these churches). They and our counsel have agreed that our responses to these lawsuits will be due in mid-April.

Please continu e to keep all of these matters in your prayers. Please pray for the appointment of a wise judge who will rule justly and for godly wisdom and grace for our leadership and our lawyers. Most of all, please pray that God will resolve all of these disagreements in a way that honors Him and His word and that draws people to our risen and redeeming savior Jesus Christ.

In the family,


John Yates

BB NOTE:Many thanks to the ever-diligent Greg and the amazing team at StandFirm!

Look who's finally playing the guitar on stage again! Live performance was from just last Wednesday (March 28, 2007) in Stockholm. Not a tambourine in sight, though, you sure can hear it ...

NOTE: We decided to go with quality rather than speed, so when you click on the link, go vacuum a few rooms, put the laundry in the dryer, put the apple pie in the oven, answer a few e-mails, then click to play. It will be worth the wait. One of the great songs - and he's back in center stage with the guitar - finally.

What stays true?

“For me there is no Right and there is no Left. There’s truth and there’s untruth, y’know? There’s honesty, and there’s hypocrisy. Look in the Bible, you don’t see nothing about Right or Left. Other people might have other ideas about things, but I don’t, because I’m not that smart. I hate to keep beating people over the head with the Bible, but that’s the only instrument I know, the only thing that stays true.”

Bob Dylan, 1986

Flash Back

"It would sadden me greatly if there was a real break in the Anglican communion, because we are members one of another and share a common baptism. All of us would be diminished if any part of the communion was expelled."

Frank Griswold, 2006
Retired TEC Presiding Bishop

So much for being independent (how can we be expelled from something we are independent of?). Notice the wording about "common baptism." That means we are all baptized into the same Church (our common baptism is "Anglican" - remember all the fuss about baptismal convenants - well, this is the common baptism as Anglicans and TEC is changing the meaning of that baptism - that's at the heart of the current crisis and division, make no mistake about it). One is then diminished when expelled from the whole. TEC is not the whole Kahuna.

"We are members one of another and share a common baptism," Bishop Griswold said to the Guardian last year before the lawyers got a hold of him and told him to shush.

If a picture paints a thousand words ...

"TEC: Don't sue me!" The Nephew, aged 10, saw that we were rather sad today to hear all the speculation coming out of the House of Bishops and of Bishop Sauls and David Booth Beers rumored scheme to turn The Episcopal Church into the latest episode of The Sopranos (Tony, call your office). TinFoilHats are a must these days, or so it seems. All this talk of weird conspiracy plots afoot is starting to sound like the TEC Bishops have left their Ivory Tower for the Grassy Knoll. They seem to even relish basking in the latest conspiracy theories that we are now thinking they might want to just save time and hold their September House of Bishops Meeting inside Area 51.

So the Nephew, with crayons and pipecleaners in hand, took it on himself to create something special to help make the message loud and clear to those in the House of Bishops (who are supposed to take the high road as beacons of Christ's love to a brokenhearted world and as guardians of His Word as a light to the nations - and not serve volunteer lay people with lawsuits and rumblings of rumors to do even worse, but oh well) - and that he did.

Truly his picture (see above) says what a thousand words could not say. Even The Beloved Cat makes it in.

Notice he has the sun shining through the clouds - there is always hope. Thanks, Johnny - you are the best. I love you too.