GroshLink

We have good news to report from today's MRI at PSU-Hershey Medical Center.  Her venous angioma/cavernous malformation hasn't grown, which is quite apparent in her continued positive development.  We've decided against the angiogram and further MRIs. There is a low percentage chance of another bleed and no means to helpfully address the current situation.  If additional bleeds occur, they will be noticeable, giving us the ability to respond.  

Praise God for the stable condition of the bleed, the continued positive development in all areas, and family support (thank-you to Grandpa Ginder for watching her this evening as she tried to calm down from all the activities of the day, while the rest of us took part in Wednesday night activities at Etown Brethren-in-Christ)!  We take our next steps as a family, leaning upon the Christ's strength given to us through His Spirit, Word, prayer, sacraments, and the people of God. 

The professor which shared a version of this piece with a class of which I was a part, embraced the following story: 

This is a car ad from England which never got to tv because of spooky things in it.  Look carefully for when the car becomes a ghost.  

There are numerous versions posted, but this one at least provides proper warning.  Comments on Nightmare Before Christmas and the origin of All Hallows Eve/All Saints Day some other time. 

As I woke up to A Mighty Fortress is our God on cyberhymnal this morning, I took some time to reflect upon my family's faith development and where I stand in relationship to it. As I've shared with some of you before, the Grosch family had been responsible for collecting the Groschen, but as a result of the reformation of faith led by John Hus, beginning in 1457, they choose the narrow path of the Unitas Fratum (i.e., the Unity of the Brethren).

In 1743, Valentine and Barbara (Sandman) Grosh left the turmoil of the region on the Loyal Judith to settle with the Moravian Colony in Lititz, PA.  Valentine (who was taken into the Moravian Congregation along with his wife Barbara at Warwick during a Synod held there Nov. 20 to 23, 1749) hosted a gathering of the United Brethren (later referred to as the United Brethren in Christ but not to be confused with the Brethren in Christ) led by one of his sons, Christopher Grosh* . . . which eventually became Ranck's United Methodist Church. 

In addition to the Ranck family, the Long's Barn meetings were attended by the family of Valentine Grosh, a Moravian who may also have come to America when the Rancks did. Family acquaintance led to the marriage in 1769 of John Michael's daughter Mary to Valentine's son Christopher. For several years this young couple lived at Lititz but shortly they moved to a part of John Michael's farm near New Holland, when he divided it between his two sons Samuel and Valentine and his daughter Mary.

In the home of Christopher and Mary Grosh religious services were held for twenty-seven years in a large room prepared for that purpose on the second floor.  The first occasion was a preaching service conducted there in 1802 by Christian Newcomer, the famed itinerant preacher from Maryland, who had been born in Bareville, Pennsylvania.  Christopher Grosh himself is listed as a preacher among the United Brethren people from 1789 until his death in 1829.  The services were continues in the same place for fifteen more years when at Christopher Grosh's death the farm passed on to the daughter Elizabeth and her husband Daniel Weidman.  After forty-two years of worship in this Christian home, the congregation in 1844 was determined to build a church and Ranck's Church was born. -- From a Brief History of the Ranck Family. Note: The second paragraph is included in the Ranck & Swope Genealogy.

Our family comes from the line of Christopher's brother Philip (b. 1732 in Eichloch, d. 24 Feb. 1812).  Philip, as his brother Christopher, married a member of the Ranck family (Anna Margaret Ranck, b. 1740, d. 24 Feb. 1818), prominent in the French Protestant Church.  I assume Philip remained connected with Moravianism as his son Samuel filled various offices in the Moravian Church.  [Note:  Another Samuel Grosh was a prominent carriage manufacturer of Lititz, Pa].  But our branch, coming from Philip's son George, left the Moravian community in Lititz to join relatives in Maryland and then to take root in Marietta with John Jacob Grosh (Note:  John Jacob's quite a figure, see Marietta history.  He's the son of John Grosh, and grandson of Valentine). At some point our branch of the family became Presbyterian for several generations, which included lay and ordained leadership in PA and New York.  I was raised at Donegal Presbyterian Church, Mount Joy, PA.  For those interested in revivalism check out what is recorded in the Ranck family history, below is a picture of the location of Christopher Grosh's first sermon.

Here's the cyberhymnal story story linking A Mighty Fortress is our God to a significant moment in Moravian history:

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As an encouragement in ministry, a friend on InterVarsity Christian Fellowship's Graduate & Faculty Ministry team emailed the below quote by C.S. Lewis on latent Christianity (Thank-you Kevin!)

A professor recently pointed to the fragrance of Christ emanating from followers of Christ on campus being the compelling witness of enabling other members of the campus community to glimpse God and explore following Christ with the People of God. C.S. Lewis' interaction with Hugo Dyson and J.R.R. Tolkien serves as an excellent illustration of such an initiation into the Kingdom of God.  One's relationship with God, or lack of relationship, shapes a way of life which overflows into all aspects of one's life, even one's vocation. (More)

Dr. Dale C. Allison Jr., Errett M. Grable professor of New Testament exegesis and early Christianity, and I agree about at least one item.  In a spiritual formation seminar last spring, I remember him challenging those which would offer the Desert Fathers and Mothers as role models for spiritual formation, i.e., living like Christ.  This topic comes up for me again and again when discussing the teaching authority of the Desert Fathers and Mothers.  Yes, there is much to learn from them, but their teaching is not the Word of God.  An important part of teaching is not only our stated relationship with God, but also our embodiment of the Word (through our life, words, and actions).  It is in the area of pursuit of holiness through extreme measures where I find the Desert Fathers and Mothers going a separate direction.  For those with a beginning interest in the Desert Fathers, check out Discovering the Desert Paradox:  What many found when they sought God in a seemingly God-forsaken landscape.  Conversation with Belden Lane, Presbyterian professor of theology at St. Louis U. Note:  Belden's The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Mountain and Desert Spirituality (Oxford, 1998) is resported to be a brilliant analysis of how geography has played a vital role in the history of Western spirituality.  I guess this goes on the to read list.

Questions provided by the facilitator, at the discussion of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night, see earlier post. Anyone who has read the book have thoughts?  I'll get to them. I promise. I don't lie in my world, well not too often. You can trust me. Really.

Elizabethtown Public Library began its conversation on The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night (note: begins with cartoon/reading) by Mark Haddon asking whether the book is really a good piece of literature.  I'd hope so if it's being promoted by One Community, One Book, but you might remember my post regarding the surreal experience of coming across A Curious Incident in the One Community, One Book campaign. 

Saturday October 27th's Human Trafficking and Enslavement Symposium, Carlisle Theatre, Carlisle, PA.

We've been wondering when we should stop referring to Eden as Baby Eden.  Looks like the beginning of June 2008 will be a good time.  We'll call her Eden and pass the Baby title onto the next youngest member of the Grosh family.  That's right!  A new Groshling is on the way!  And to clarify -- just ONE Groshling is on the way (confirmed by ultrasound this morning). 

On Sunday, October 14, Valerie from Brethren-in-Christ World Mission (BIC-WM) shared a presentation regarding Islam in the United Kingdom (UK), note:  mentioned in Prayer: A week in mission. Some material she shared from a 2001 census and Muslim's in London, 2006 Report by Greater London Authority include the following:

Islam in the UK
1.4-2.9 million
2. More than 1,500 mosques and 5,000 Quaranic schools
3. Muslim groups have identified the UK as their Gateway to the West4. London has been called the policitcal and evangelistic center of Islam

Places of origin of London's Muslims, with the first four being particular high:  (More)

In follow-up to Negative Report of American Church Scene? and the Imperfect Church, Willow Creek repenting of its failures came into my e-box.  Real repentence leading to transformation, go here for a brief clip of Bill Hybels and here for thoughts by Greg Hawkins.  But don't worry there is research to be done and money for your local congregation to participate  

I would comment, event programming is a tool.  In many circles there is an overdependence upon the numbers (equated with the relevance and value of the programming) and the marketing necessary to generate them, e.g., Master Chief of Halo 3 in youth groups.  Programming, in this case with a focus on initiating people into the kingdom of God, must be a catechesis into a Biblical oriented perspective on the world which by the Spirit of God is lived out in the context of the People of God becoming more like Christ under submission to the Word of God.  And when the call of Christ is not the first priority, other interests cloud our vision and connection with the Body of Christ . . . leading to dissatisfaction as noted by a comment on the Negative Report of American Church Scene? 

Below is an excerpt from Willow Creek repenting of its failures: (More)

So after trying Heroes, I thought I'd give The Bionic Woman a chance.  As you know, the machine is nothing without the woman. But I have better ways to use my time. Why? The Department of Agriculture (i.e., the cover in one of the episodes) has more sexuality and violence in the first several episodes than is beneficial . . . now that I put it that way, I confess Alias may fall in this category).  Maybe as my girls grow older and I contemplate more on the Christ of Christmas, I've become more sensitive to shining like a star in a dark world.  Heroes has been better than Lost, in which I never found much interest. Time to place NetFlix order of the new Dr. Who in queue.  Although the episodes which I've seen don't take me back to Tom Baker (and to a lesser degree Peter Davison who was fantastic in All Creatures Great and Small), they're worth a run through.

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Received email letting me know about these presentations by Ed Brown, Director of Care of Creation Inc., and Cal Beisner, spokesperson for the Cornwall Alliance.  The presentations are from a recent environmental forum at the Proclamation Presbyterian Church in suburban Philadelphia.

For those interested, here are the audio links (click to play or right click to download and save):

1. Ed's Presentation
2. Cal's Presentation
3. Q&A Session 

As a family, we understand our call as human beings to love God and to use the gifts we've been given to bless/love one-another, our neighbors, and the piece of creation given to our care, including the proper disposal of waste in our house, our township, our county, our state, our country, and our world.  Pray for the next steps of the landfill conversation in our township.

A few months ago I received the below email.  I would respond that I do not believe in Christian perfectionism as an individual, a local assembly, or the visible representation of the Body of Christ on earth.  The wheat are mixed among the tares in the Imperfect Church as much as they are in my own life.  Yes, followers of Christ are to be known by their transformed lives as individuals and a people, so when it appears that the faith shapes human beings into ugly, rude creatures I'm disappointed, even angered.  In response, we are called to pray, to teach the Scriptures in a manner leading to godly living, to share our concern and when necessary as part a community, exercise appropriate discipline.  At times, God may even be call us issue a prophetic challenge.  But we must not forget that human beings begin as ugly, rude creatures; American culture/values do shape Christians in the United States (e.g., low tipping is familiar to me as one with German-American roots and who finds it necessary to carefully watch his family's limited resources); and most importantly, our concern is in what direction one travels in the continuum of drawing closer to God given form in a humble understanding of ourselves and a life of blessing toward others and the creation?  How do you respond?

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A few weeks ago I posted on Randy Pausch's final lecture stemming from his loosing battle with terminal pancreatic cancer.  Yesterday Theresa and I watched his appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show in which he reprised a portion of the CMU lecture ("Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams") and chatted w/Dr. Oz regarding facing death.

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Sign Theresa up for Mom's Video Game Boot Camp (Note:  No need to watch more than 2 minutes of the video on the 2nd page of the article as it is one extended AOL PR piece)?  Some different questions than those brought to us by the Master Chief of Halo 3 in youth groups, particularly the unhelpful stress on the irrelevance of parents. I guess I don't have anything wrong w/video gaming in the house, but it's not that impressive to the real life action of keeping one's house with 4 loads of laundry and an aggressive 2 year old! Hayley and Ellen started with lunch and time in Sinclair Ferguson's Big Book of Questions & Answers: A Family Devotional Guide to the Christian Faith.   (More)

"BB Warfield characterized Augustinianism as miserable sinner christianity.  The distortion of Augustine's intentions came through his disciples who were fighting Pelagianism and anyone who saw any merit in the life of a Christian ... see page 109 in this great book by J.I. Packer Keep in Step with the Spirit (I wonder if Olllie's has any more of these to give away) ... see answer 149 in Westminster Catechism ... doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed ... this negative outlook has caused some to just give up on any attempt toward holy living ... and as a result, they were emotionally drawn to Methodists and others who talked about the possibility of practical growth in holiness and sanctification ... (More)

For all their successes, American universities "have the same problem now as in the 19th century," writes Eric Rauchway, a professor of history at the University of California at Davis. The problem, he says in a brief history of state universities, is insufficient financial support from federal and state governments . . . "Through the 20th century," he adds, "the U.S. provided more years of college than other rich nations, and reaped the rewards of increased labor productivity and income." Today, he argues, higher education's "real problem once again is funding," particularly from state governments. The University of Colorado, for instance, now gets only 9 percent of its budget from Denver, notes Mr. Rauchway. Penn State receives just 13 percent from Harrisburg, and the University of California under 20 percent from Sacramento. As a result, students are increasingly being left to deal with higher tuition fees on their own.  -- A glance at The New Republic Online: The poor history of state universities, note:  original article posted at The Lessons of the History of the State Universities.

For a more visceral statement of university life take a moment to prayerfully consider the ideas and thoughts raised by this provoking video generated by a Spring 2007 Intro to Cultural Anthrology Class at Kansas State University (thank-you to Derek for bringing the video to my attention through the College Transition Initiative). 

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In a recent book, church growth guru George Barna seems to suggest the end or irrelevance of the local congregation. He speaks for a significant number of people who find their congregation unsatisfying or who cannot find a church at all. It is not hard to understand such ambivalence and frustration. The church is divided and broken. It is filled with sinners and hypocrites. R. R. Reno and others have said that we are living in the "ruins of the church." This is how it has always been and exactly as Jesus said it would be.

Welcome to life in the church. It is not perfect and, in this life, it will never be perfect, but it is nevertheless instituted by God. The ministry of the Gospel (and sacraments) and the exercise of discipline are the evidences that the church is Christ's. -- A Perfect Church? Not in This Life, R. Scott Clark, Associate Professor of Historical and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary, California.

If finding the Perfect Church is a concern of yours, I'd encourage you to read this article.  Thank-you to Miller for passing this piece along for my edification.

Residents of central Pennsylvania routinely receive much larger exposure from natural sources in their environment, Penn State said.

I [Tom] had the opportunity to take Eden to her WIC appointment in Lancaster on Tuesday morning.  She was quite active and resourceful as she pushed a kids chair across the play area to get from one table to the other table for our conversation times in the waiting room.  She didn't even make a sound when she had her finger pricked for the blood test, a little too much familiarity with the medical world!  But she had lots to share about the Bugs Bunny bandaid for her boo-boo and applied her sticker (for doing such a good job) to her back as if it was a nursery nametag.   (More)

My father’s suicide catapulted me into a time of deep grief, a time when I questioned all I thought I knew about God, while clinging to Him daily for the strength to get through the pain.

In those first shock-filled days after I heard the news that my father had hung himself in the basement of our home, my heart would scream: "NO, NO, don’t think about it! It hurts too much!"

After the funeral, when I left to return to university, I felt so alone and overwhelmed. Whenever I had time to think, I would think of Dad, and I would cry. Questions and doubts started to fill my mind . . . -- Asking God Hard Questions, by Anne-Marie Montgomery.  (More)

For those of you wondering about InterVarsity's ministry in the field, here's what a senior in Harvard Radcliffe Christian Fellowship's shared with the first years a few weeks ago.  A good word which calls us to continue to pray for first years as they enter the second part of their term, older students as they serve as mentors, faculty as they seek to pass along their faith in words/action, and InterVarsity staff as by the grace of God they are part of bringing the Light of Christ to the campus mix in an era where Christian image is turning youths off.

And I don’t know if this is you, but in case any of you are worried, you know, thinking, ‘how am I going to maintain my faith in college?’ I just wanted to let you know that in my three years here I have never seen anyone maintain their faith in college. Sometimes it is neglected, and it sort of withers, and dies, it’s true, but in my personal experience, college has made my faith grow tremendously, you know, just skyrocket. And that is why we call this event Launch. Because we are not about maintaining anything. So, my first bit of advice to you, Christians, not to maintain but to increase your faith during your time here at Harvard, is doubt! Pursue your doubts and see where they lead; own them and be honest about them. Because if God is not bigger than your doubts, if he’s not stronger than your fears, if he’s not the bad mama jama that he says he is, then either he’s not real at all, or he’s not a god worth having faith in (More)

Pray for tomorrow's presentation sponsored by the University of Pittsburgh Christian Faculty Forum and the Christian Medical Association to be a blessing to the Medical Community and the larger Pitt campus, giving insight into the complexity and beauty to which the medical profession seeks to provide care/healing.

Why No Physician Will Ever Understand the Human Body
Richard A. Swenson, M.D.
2003 Educator of the Year, Christian Medical Association
12:00 noon, Wednesday, October 17
Lecture Hall #3, 4th Floor, Scaife Hall

No physician has ever understood the human body—it exceeds comprehension.  (More)