Comments on: Thoughts on Ash Wednesday http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/ Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:24:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Doug http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-8871 Doug Sun, 19 Apr 2009 11:20:56 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-8871 Not having an Anglican parish choice, we've ended up for the moment in a Presbyterian church; so just a comment from outside... Here it seems that everyone is quite enthusiastic about Jesus and the gospel. They are taught the truth and from discussion with each, believe it whole heartedly. All worship most enthusiastically. The preaching is straight biblical, the missions include everyone and are enthusiastically carried out, and the pains of life often shared for common support. I wish nominal Christians could be directed to a believing church where the body builds everyone up and Jesus' love and truth might just end their nominalism. Not having an Anglican parish choice, we’ve ended up for the moment in a Presbyterian church; so just a comment from outside… Here it seems that everyone is quite enthusiastic about Jesus and the gospel. They are taught the truth and from discussion with each, believe it whole heartedly. All worship most enthusiastically. The preaching is straight biblical, the missions include everyone and are enthusiastically carried out, and the pains of life often shared for common support. I wish nominal Christians could be directed to a believing church where the body builds everyone up and Jesus’ love and truth might just end their nominalism.

]]> By: An Anxious Anglican http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-8743 An Anxious Anglican Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:30:20 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-8743 This was a wonderful post, Father Harding, and I am sorry that I missed it during Lent. Many of us would benefit (myself foremost) if we considered ourselves to be "nominal Christians" before we thought to apply the label to anyone else (Matthew 7:4-5 and all that!). This was a wonderful post, Father Harding, and I am sorry that I missed it during Lent. Many of us would benefit (myself foremost) if we considered ourselves to be “nominal Christians” before we thought to apply the label to anyone else (Matthew 7:4-5 and all that!).

]]> By: Ed Langley http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-7181 Ed Langley Wed, 11 Mar 2009 02:34:12 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-7181 "It is part of pastoral ministry even in a school that you inevitably know something of the particular dying each person brings. Each one brings perhaps a long struggle with a chronic illness, a losing battle with persistent depression, a sick child, the recent loss of a parent, the shame of constant defeat in the battle with a besetting sin." As a Hospice Chaplain, I understand the feeling of seeing someone, getting to know the dying person, realizing your/my own mortality especially when the person is my generation. It is even harder when the person is younger and the pain seems deeper and more draining. I carried ashes with me in case was requested to impose, but I think, thankfully wasn't. Thanks for what you said. In Christ, Ed Langley “It is part of pastoral ministry even in a school that you inevitably know something of the particular dying each person brings. Each one brings perhaps a long struggle with a chronic illness, a losing battle with persistent depression, a sick child, the recent loss of a parent, the shame of constant defeat in the battle with a besetting sin.” As a Hospice Chaplain, I understand the feeling of seeing someone, getting to know the dying person, realizing your/my own mortality especially when the person is my generation. It is even harder when the person is younger and the pain seems deeper and more draining. I carried ashes with me in case was requested to impose, but I think, thankfully wasn’t.
Thanks for what you said.

In Christ,

Ed Langley

]]> By: John-Bede Pauley http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-7000 John-Bede Pauley Thu, 05 Mar 2009 09:09:04 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-7000 Dear Fr. Harding, This is off-topic, I fear, but I wasn't able to find your e-mail address, so am contacting you via your blog's "leave a reply" option. Apologies for the jolting incongruity. I just ran across William Witt's reference to research you've done on Anglican theological literature across the twentieth century. Would you be willing to discuss your research w/ me off-list? (It could prove helpful in my research on 20th-c English cathedral music). My e-mail address: jpauley@csbsju.edu pax et bonum, Br. John-Bede Pauley OSB Dear Fr. Harding,
This is off-topic, I fear, but I wasn’t able to find your e-mail address, so am contacting you via your blog’s “leave a reply” option. Apologies for the jolting incongruity.
I just ran across William Witt’s reference to research you’ve done on Anglican theological literature across the twentieth century. Would you be willing to discuss your research w/ me off-list? (It could prove helpful in my research on 20th-c English cathedral music). My e-mail address: jpauley@csbsju.edu
pax et bonum,
Br. John-Bede Pauley OSB

]]> By: Timothy Fountain http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-6889 Timothy Fountain Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:32:58 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-6889 Our egalitarian cultural notions have cost us the old language of "elders" and even "Father." It was understood for a long time that congregations would be full of people in different stages of spiritual development - some "weak", some babies, some healthy, some sick... but that there should be mature leaders and teachers in the faith. How awful that so many underdeveloped, immature people fill our pulpits and stand at our altars. Too many come to the ordained ministry trying to discover a spiritual life, rather than having developed a life worth sharing. Don't look to the pews for the "problem" of nominal Christians. If we are doing well, the pews should have "all sorts and conditions." But look critically toward the pulpit and altar... Our egalitarian cultural notions have cost us the old language of “elders” and even “Father.” It was understood for a long time that congregations would be full of people in different stages of spiritual development – some “weak”, some babies, some healthy, some sick… but that there should be mature leaders and teachers in the faith.

How awful that so many underdeveloped, immature people fill our pulpits and stand at our altars. Too many come to the ordained ministry trying to discover a spiritual life, rather than having developed a life worth sharing. Don’t look to the pews for the “problem” of nominal Christians. If we are doing well, the pews should have “all sorts and conditions.” But look critically toward the pulpit and altar…

]]> By: Aaron Z. http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-6846 Aaron Z. Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:25:58 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-6846 Leander, this is wonderful. Your comment about so-called nominal Christians is right on. I have been thinking a lot about the talk, so popular these days, about "discipleship," a term not actually found in the Bible. There is a tendency to distinguish between "real" disciples and everybody else warming the pews. This seems unbelievably contemptuous and presumes an ability to judge rightly the hearts, motives, and thoughts of churchgoers. I, for one, am glad when anyone comes to church at all, and if they continue to come, praise God! Leander, this is wonderful. Your comment about so-called nominal Christians is right on. I have been thinking a lot about the talk, so popular these days, about “discipleship,” a term not actually found in the Bible. There is a tendency to distinguish between “real” disciples and everybody else warming the pews. This seems unbelievably contemptuous and presumes an ability to judge rightly the hearts, motives, and thoughts of churchgoers. I, for one, am glad when anyone comes to church at all, and if they continue to come, praise God!

]]> By: Leander+ http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-6845 Leander+ Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:20:32 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-6845 Thanks for the kind words. Eric, the process is automated by Wordpress but it does bring into question the whole concept of the inanimate object. Thanks for the kind words. Eric, the process is automated by WordPress but it does bring into question the whole concept of the inanimate object.

]]> By: Lent around the blogosphere (updated) « Lent & Beyond http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-6844 Lent around the blogosphere (updated) « Lent & Beyond Thu, 26 Feb 2009 14:12:37 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-6844 [...] Rev’d Dr. Leander Harding has posted his Thoughts on Ash Wednesday.  I like how he closes his entry.  It reminds us that there are many who may be seeking more of [...] [...] Rev’d Dr. Leander Harding has posted his Thoughts on Ash Wednesday.  I like how he closes his entry.  It reminds us that there are many who may be seeking more of [...]

]]> By: Jeremy Bonner http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-6843 Jeremy Bonner Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:44:25 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-6843 Amen to all of the above. What a great deal can be said in comparatively few words. Amen to all of the above.

What a great deal can be said in comparatively few words.

]]> By: Bruce Robison http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/comment-page-1/#comment-6842 Bruce Robison Thu, 26 Feb 2009 12:28:35 +0000 http://www.leanderharding.com/blog/2009/02/25/thoughts-on-ash-wednesday/#comment-6842 This is a gift, Leander. Thank you. And have a blessed Lent. This is a gift, Leander. Thank you. And have a blessed Lent.

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