The Pilot Point website is now open!

This has been a slightly crazy week, so I haven’t posted much. But I do want to let you know that the web site for my novel, Pilot Point, is now open! Bookmark it: www.pilotpointnovel.com.

And if you are in charge of a semi-reputable site and would like to swap links, let me know in the comments or e-mail me: mark at godknows99 dot com.

Pentecost Communion in Three Kinds

Holy Communion at my humble parish yesterday was very meaningful. As I waited to receive, I reflected that, as if giving Christ’s body and blood were not enough, the Lord also gives us His Spirit. This gave me a deep awe, and joy, and peace.

Receiving yesterday also had an element of humor, if I may be slightly irreverent. The rector’s very young son (2 or 3 years old, I forget which.) held the sacrament, which his father intincted and placed in the child’s mouth.

But that was not enough for the him! He held out his hands to the wine, and drank from the chalice as well. The pious child received in three kinds!

(And in case anyone is tempted to nit-pick the rector’s on-the-spot decision, even I think a sacramental irregularity is preferable to an unhappy small child during communion.)

Outrage: Democrats Give Mexican President Standing Ovation for Dumping on Arizona

It’s bad enough that a foreign leader goes before Congress and meddles by telling our states what they should or should not do. It’s bad enough that the President of Mexico dumps on Arizona for doing their best to deal with problems pouring out of his country. That is outrage enough.

But then the Demorats give him a standing ovation for doing so! Even former Governor of Arizona and current Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, who bears a lot of responsibility for the intolerable illegal immigration situation in Arizona, had the nerve to stand and applaud.

I am at a loss for words. These Demorats are standing and cheering for a meddling foreign leader against an American state struggling to deal with the problems caused by the failed state of the same leader. Whose side are the Democrats on?

I think they just answered that question.

Castro is also bashing Arizona. Let’s bring him before Congress so the Democrats can cheer him, too.

About AMiA Choosing Ministry Partner Status UPDATED

The AMiA has issued a communiqué in which it announces it will seek Ministry Partner status instead of remaining a full jurisdiction of the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA). The communiqué with Matt+ Kennedy’s astute comments may be found here.

Although I am saddened AMiA will not be remaining a full jurisdiction of ACNA, and although I share Fr. Kennedy’s concern this development will be spun negatively for ACNA, I think this may be a good decision for the long run.

For better or for worse, AMiA has always been something of a maverick. And that has already caused friction in ACNA. At the first Provincial Assembly, I noticed many looked askance at how quickly AMiA made a certain gentleman a bishop. Then there is the haste AMiA’s Christ Church is showing in ordaining a woman priest.

Whatever one thinks of this sort of maverick conduct, ACNA and AMiA will likely work better together with less conflict as ministry partners than wedded together. I think AMiA has made a wise decision for both them and for ACNA.

UPDATE:
ACNA has released a statement. Further thoughts and comments may be found here.

Census Follies

In the brilliant 80’s TV series Max Headroom, “Blanks” are those who evade being documented by the government. Being a Blank was very much against the law, of course.

I’m beginning to feel like a Blank, at least as far as the Census is concerned.

No, I am not one of those who are refusing to answer the Census. Just the opposite. I do not yet know if I will answer each and every question, but I do want to be counted.

Yet I have not received a census form. I have not received a phone call, even though I am in the phone book. And the Census 2010 site is a joke. It seems to have everything on it except what do you do if the Census hasn’t found you. I could not even find a place where I could say, “Hey I’m here! Send me a form, you bureaucratic dullards.” Believe me, I tried yesterday evening and gave up.

And these are the sort of people who are going to run our healthcare? The Census Bureau has ten frickin’ years to prepare, and they can’t do better than this?

If I were paranoid, I’d think this is not mere incompetence. I’d think the Obama regime doesn’t want conservative Texans to be counted for political reapportionment. But surely not!

The Consecration of *YAWN* Mary Glasspool

As Matt Kennedy notes, the response to the consecration of Mary Glasspool has been . . . underwhelming. Indeed, as I perused the usual blogs over the weekend, I found remarkably little on the event.

Apostasy does become boring rather quickly, does it not?

However, a very significant statement on the consecration may be found here.

An Open Letter to the Mayor of Austin, Texas

Dear Mayor Leffingwell,

I see that the City of Austin is boycotting Arizona because that state dares to defend itself against the numerous predations of illegal immigration.

Let it therefore be known that I am now boycotting your fair city. And this boycott is not just symbolic. Twice in the past three years, I’ve visited Austin for the state high school basketball championships. Also, I frequently drive through Austin, often stopping at one of the HEB Central Markets there.

In fact, within the next month, I will be driving through the Austin area again. Rest assured that I will not stop in Austin as before, but will drive right on through. And I will not purchase anything in Austin as long as you are boycotting Arizona.

In short, you boycott Arizona; I boycott you.

Have a nice day.