My Brother-in-law sent me an update on the arrested Goat and Dog duo:

CAPSHAW — A goat and a dog found playing in the road in north Alabama a week ago have re turned home.

Here’s the article from the Times Daily.

THe Countrey Parson observing the manifold wiles of Satan (who playes his part sometimes in drawing Gods Servants from him, sometimes in perplexing them in the service of God) stands fast in the Liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free. This Liberty he compasseth by one distinction, and that is, of what is Necessary, and what is Additionary. As for example: It is necessary, that all Christians should pray twice a day, every day of the week, and four times on Sunday, if they be well. This is so necessary, and essentiall to a Christian, that he cannot without this maintain himself in a Christian state. Besides this, the Godly have ever added some houres of prayer, as at nine, or at three, or at midnight, or as they think fit, & see cause, or rather as Gods spirit leads them. But these prayers are not necessary, but additionary. Now it so happens, that the godly petitioner upon some emergent interruption in the day, or by over-sleeping himself at night, omits his additionary prayer. Upon this his mind begins to be perplexed, and troubled, and Satan, who knows the exigent, blows the fire, endeavouring to disorder the Christian, and put him out of his station, and to inlarge the perplexity, untill it spread, and taint his other duties or piety, which none can perform so wel in trouble, as in calmness. Here the Parson interposeth with his distinction, and shews the perplexed Christian, that this prayer being additionary, not necessary; taken in, not commanded, the omission thereof upon just occasion ought by no means to trouble him. God knows the occasion as wel as he, and He is as a gracious Father, who more accepts a common course of devotion, then dislikes an occasionall interruption. And of this he is so to assure himself, as to admit no scruple, but to go on as cheerfully, as if he had not been interrupted. By this it is evident, that the distinction is of singular use and comfort, especially to pious minds, which are ever tender, and delicate. But here there are two Cautions to be added. First, that this interruption proceed not out of slacknes, or coldness, which will appear if the Pious soul foresee and prevent such interruptions, what he may, before they come, and when for all that they do come, he be a little affected therewith, but not afflicted, or troubled; if he resent it to a mislike, but not a griefe. Secondly, that this interruption proceede not out of shame. As for example: A godly man, not out of superstition, but of reverence to Gods house, resolves whenever he enters into a Church, to kneel down, and pray, either blessing God, that he will be pleased to dwell among men; or beseeching him, that whenever he repaires to his house, he may behave himself so as befits so great a presence; and this briefly. But it happens, that neer the place where he is to pray, he spyes some scoffing ruffian, who is likely to deride him for his paines: if he now, shall either for fear or shame, break his custome, he shall do passing ill: so much the rather ought he to proceed, as that by this he may take into his Prayer humiliation also. On the other side, if I am to visit the sick in haste, and my neerest way ly through the Church, I will not doubt to go without staying to pray there (but onely, as I passe, in my heart) because this kinde of Prayer is additionary, not necessary, and the other duty overweighs it: So that if any scruple arise, I will throw it away, and be most confident, that God is not displeased. This distinction may runne through all Christian duties, and it is a great stay and setling to religious souls.

Essential to the work of ministry is remembering God has created each of us with unique. Each soul under our care has distinct gifts and weaknesses, unique traits and histories.  It is natural for us to assume that our own view and experience is definitive.  Remembering that while there are certain essentials to the faith, here Herbert speaks of practice but this is also true of doctrine, we can accept a broad divergence in non-essentials.  Each Christian lives out the faith according to their own unique situation and personality.  While every Christian should pray, the time and form this takes is adapted to each individual and family in the Church.
This chapter reminds us that when we can make a distinction between essentials and unessentials we can be more diligent in performing our essential tasks and less scrupulous over things that are not fundamental.  I think that further it should remind us that as we teach, we should make a clear distinction between what is essential and what is helpful; and in a way that helps people apply the necessary practices of the Christian life in a way that fits into their unique contexts.

(Image from electrospray‘s Flickr site)

From the June 5th edition of the Times Daily:

Burglary: Medication, pots, pans, newborn baby clothes, 300 DVDs, 2,000 CDs, 30 PlayStation2 games, two framed pictures, 40 books, makeup, a table and chairs, VCR, a couch and ottoman, a 27-inch television, two diamond rings, entertainment center. chest of drawers, three rugs, diabetic supplies, food items, children’s pull-ups, baby wipes, shampoo, wash clothes, conditioner, a PlayStation2 game system and five containers of various personal items were taken from a residence in the 8300 block of Lauderdale 92, Rogersville. A window air conditioning unit was damaged and eight fish were killed.

Finished up my big ‘To Do’ list at the National Archives this afternoon.  I made some good discoveries.  I celebrated with a Haggis Supper at a restaurant across from the Kelvingrove Museum.  I’m heading in early tonight…I’m tired.

I’m in Belfast now having spent a wonderful weekend in Stevenston.  I stayed with my friend Allan and his parents Rev. John & Mrs. Moira Lafferty.  I’m completely full of tea, coffee, biscuits, scones and jam, steak pie, sausage, pancakes and bacon.  They showed me around Stevenston and the beach which has a nice mural of Robert Burns.  Stevenston is in Ayrshire (Burn’s Country) and the house across the street from the Manse was apparently the home of one of Burns’ lovers.

I preached at Livingston Church this morning and made my way to Glasgow airport to fly to Belfast.  I’m staying in a very nice victorian house close to the Uni, the bedroom is very large and I can stretch out.

Went to Edinburgh today to work at New College Library, the National Library of Scotland and the National Archives.  I also grabbed a double chocolate nougat in Princess Street Park … lovely.

They’ve done some work on Waverly Street Rail Station, new escalators and bathroom refurbishments — I don’t mind paying 30p so much to use the restroom since I get to use the cool new dyson hand dryers, it really does dry your hands properly.

I’m off to Stevenston tomorrow after doing some laundry. 

National Library of Scotland

National Archives

New College

A treat for doing all my research!

I went to get a prescription refilled for my son today. I didn’t get it filled because of the Insurance Company — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama. They have him listed as a her and wouldn’t fill the prescription. (There are further complications but that’s the gist of it.) I called customer service, which, if you aren’t angry before calling by the time you get through the voice message menu selection tree, you are by the time you can actually speak to a human. The customer service rep was friendly and told me that they had updated their error. He also explained that it would not be updated in the computer until tomorrow so he gave me a number to have the pharmacist call to have them override the error. The pharmacist was helpful, the BC/BS pharmacy help line was not. The folks at Blue Cross refused to do what their customer service rep told me they would and would not even discuss it but kept trying to get off the phone before the pharmacist could explain the situation. She wouldn’t speak to me, she doesn’t talk to cardholders.

Reminds me of an old Saturday Night Live skit with Lily Tomlin playing Ernestine the operator doing a commercial for the phone company, the slogan was ‘We don’t care. We don’t have to. We’re the Phone Company.’

Other folks are angry too.

Graeme’s Baptism

Originally uploaded by countryparson

Graeme was baptized this Sunday. We had a wonderful service, Rev. John Malone, Robin’s cousin and Allsboro native administered the sacrament. Big sister Keelyn sang ‘All things bright and beautiful’ for the special music.

I saw this post about churches moving to open source this morning.

Was glad to notice someone else discussing it.