tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-154554192009-07-14T10:47:25.839-05:00Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto. Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. Amen.Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.comBlogger240125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-35153066460818408712009-07-11T16:53:00.003-05:002009-07-11T16:53:00.198-05:00

Here is an excellent post from Bishop Whitaker urging United Methodist pastors to use the Church's prayer of Great Thanksgiving when celebrating the sacrament of Holy Communion. The sacrament is a focal point of our worship, especially in the Wesleyan tradition as the bishop points out (sadly many of our churches seem ignorant of this, judging by their practice), and how we celebrate this

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-48414833419913229212009-07-04T00:01:00.007-05:002009-07-09T16:01:09.720-05:00

Maybe today would be a nice time to re-read (some of) our founding document, The Declaration of Independence, and consider seriously its implications:When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-63585405451474008312009-07-01T07:51:00.000-05:002009-07-01T07:51:01.931-05:00

I found this quote over at the Eastern Orthodox blog, Glory to God for all Things, (whose author was formerly a contributor of 'Pontifications'). I don't know the source, though it sounds very Lewis-esque to me...Good and EvilI think evil is always small, and that good is infinite. Evil closes itself to God and thus becomes even smaller; Good opens itself to God and thus becomes infinite. Evil

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-43456718599624504082009-06-23T12:22:00.002-05:002009-06-25T09:55:19.546-05:00

The other day I saw this interesting news story: French President Nicolas Sarkozy, in an exceedingly rare presidential address to parliament, said that the Muslim 'burqa' - a full body gown would not be welcome anywhere in France as it is, he said, a sign of "debasement of women.""The burqa is not a religious sign, it's a sign of subservience, a sign of debasement — I want to say it solemnly," he

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-60552247871549182522009-06-17T18:33:00.001-05:002009-06-18T09:54:05.526-05:00

Interest in the Early Church Fathers and the practices of the ancient undivided church has been steadily growing for years among Evangelicals and other Protestants thanks to the work of such figures as Rob Webber, Thomas Oden, and others.Now, thanks to generous donors, Wheaton College, one of the best respected and most intellectually substantial Evangelical colleges in the US, has launched a

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-90672734348518840912009-06-14T14:49:00.001-05:002009-06-14T14:55:53.852-05:00

Rowan Williams, with that wizard-like presence that makes you want to believe him, presents a very simple message of Easter. Through the videos we get snippets of the worship and liturgical life of Christians in the Anglican tradition, a tradition to which we United Methodists are also heirs (though sometimes we forget it). We also see shots, just across the river from the Archbishop's Lambeth

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-86497386059233371822009-06-08T09:45:00.000-05:002009-06-08T22:32:02.086-05:00

1) First, here is a fascinating New York Times piece that tracks the "paradox" of declining female happiness.American women are wealthier, healthier and better educated than they were 30 years ago. They’re more likely to work outside the home, and more likely to earn salaries comparable to men’s when they do. They can leave abusive marriages andsue sexist employers. They enjoy unprecedented

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-20345404944257452172009-05-29T04:39:00.000-05:002009-05-29T04:39:00.155-05:00

This map is a little bit old (through 2007) now, but still very cool. This is where the United Methodists are. In most of the other countries - especially in the Western Hemisphere, in Europe, Austrailia & Indonesia and India & its neighbors - there are autonomous Methodist Churches that are in full communion with the United Methodist Church, yet not a part of our structure (yet).

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-34536334871324417572009-05-21T12:16:00.007-05:002009-06-11T16:47:27.828-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I was sent this outstanding article about Mr. Obama's recent speech at Georgetown University addressing issues of the economy. Below are several quotations that convey much of the meat of the argument. I believe that this author (a professor at Georgetown) has "hit the nail on the head" in his analysis of our collective problems in the US.Yesterday our President spoke at

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-91769858063179767862009-05-16T17:03:00.006-05:002009-05-16T17:38:02.102-05:00

Last night I saw the new Dan Brown movie, Angels and Demons, and I wanted to share just a couple thoughts with anyone who might be thinking of seeing it.First off, I must say that this movie is about 6000 times better than The DaVinci Code movie. Now perhaps if I had read the book first (as I foolishly did for DaVinci) I might think differently, but this time I just enjoyed the movie. It is a

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-19396574608416786222009-05-10T15:53:00.002-05:002009-07-06T12:04:28.987-05:00

Here is a fabulous article by Randy Maddox tracing the similarities between much of Wesley's theology and that of the Eastern Orthodox tradition. It goes through a brief sketch of a Wesleyan systematic theology - highlighting similiarities and differences on such issues as Trinity, Human Nature/the Fall, Grace and Cooperation, Christology, the nature of Salvation, and the role of the Spirit and

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-81304721236028942392009-05-07T14:23:00.001-05:002009-05-11T14:23:46.177-05:00

The emerging body, The Anglican Church in North America, has recently announced that 28 dioceses and dioceses-in-formation will comprise the new church when it meets to ratify its canons and constitution next month (June 22-25) in Bedford, TX.Numerous ecumenical guests will be on hand including prominent evangelical pastor Rick Warren, and Metropolitan Jonah, the Archbishop of Washington and New

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-83408849446720070582009-05-01T14:18:00.006-05:002009-05-14T10:00:31.491-05:00

Here is something to keep in mind next time your church wants to build a new facility: according to a study conducted by Lifeway Research, unchurched people prefer traditional-looking church architecture to the more modern "mall" look that has been adopted by many evangelical or "seeker sensitive" churches.Unchurched/non-Christian subjects of the study were asked to rate the appeal of several

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-37481685202977331972009-04-27T11:15:00.003-05:002009-06-11T16:47:27.829-05:00

In the last days of April, the leadership of The University of Louisiana at Lafayette, the university at which I serve as a campus minister, decided to discontinue our Philosophy major in an attempt to save money in response to state-wide budget cuts in higher education. Current majors will be allowed to finish their degrees, but no new majors will be accepted into the program and so the number

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-31436953352991962292009-04-18T15:26:00.001-05:002009-05-14T10:00:31.491-05:00

Here is an interesting commentary from a worship leader that I hope will get some people thinking in new ways.Some years ago he noticed that many young people in his contemporary mega-church seemed less engaged with the worship than their Baby Boomer parents. They were more interested in ancient practices and liturgy. Hopefully the desire to reconnect with the ancient practices of the Church and

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-23355621485418090042009-04-12T02:43:00.001-05:002009-05-14T10:00:31.491-05:00

The Lord is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!Almighty God,through Jesus Christ you overcame deathand opened to us the gate of everlasting life.Grant that we, who celebrate the day of our Lord's Resurrection,may, by the renewing of your Spiritarise from the death of sin to the life of righteousness;through Jesus Christ our Lord.Amen.United Methodist Hymnal #320

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-69067489349202960882009-04-10T02:38:00.001-05:002009-05-14T10:00:31.492-05:00

Almighty God,graciously behold this your family,for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willingto be betrayed into the hands of sinners,and to suffer death upon the cross;who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,One God, for ever and ever. Amen. United Methodist Hymnal #284; from The Book of Common Prayer (1979) page 221

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-52158497785489844292009-04-09T02:33:00.000-05:002009-05-14T10:00:31.492-05:00

Gracious God,your Annointed One, on the night before he suffered,instituted the sacrament of his body and blood.Mercifully grant that we may recieve it thankfullyin remembrance of Jesus Christ our Lord,who in these holy mysteriesgives us a pledge of eternal life. Amen. United Methodist Hymnal #283; from The Book of Common Prayer 221

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-57976794771850518082009-04-07T00:12:00.001-05:002009-05-04T14:26:36.828-05:00

I ran across this about three weeks ago, but obviously haven't had much time for blogging. A number of atheist and secularist Britons are asking the Church of England to "cancel" their baptisms. Like many of their generation they were, as a matter of course, brought to the Church as infants and baptized, but many fell away or rejected the Christian faith as youth or adults and now they want their

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-65326485677340621332009-03-17T07:55:00.000-05:002009-03-17T07:55:00.405-05:00

A few months ago I wrote this blog post exploring a new suggestion from some quarters that we, in America, should divorce (no pun intended) the language of "marriage" from our law code altogether and create some sort of generic civil union contract that would apply to any persons (regardless of their gender) who would like to enter into such an agreement. "Marriage" as a concept would be left

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-19022664240360043362009-03-12T09:28:00.001-05:002009-05-04T15:41:50.728-05:00

Studies in recent years have shed much light and the many ways that divorce is detrimental to the children of divorced families.Their message is clear: in terms of success in school and relationships, in terms of substance abuse, legal trouble, and pre-marital sex - divorce is bad for children. It also tends to damage the economic security of women and children more than men.Well, according to a

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-12352662771320829362009-03-09T09:07:00.003-05:002009-03-09T09:31:34.002-05:00

As you have no doubt heard, President Barack Obama plans to reverse a ban on federal funding on stem cell research that involves the destruction of human embryos today (the Bush-era policy only banned funding for EMBRYONIC stem cell research, there are lots of other kinds).Administration officials said this move was part of a pledge to "use sound, scientific practice and evidence, instead of

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-57075111727765574452009-03-08T10:03:00.001-05:002009-05-04T15:48:52.696-05:00

There are two Bibles I've been eagerly awaiting that have recently been published. One is The Wesley Study Bible recenty pubished by Abingdon Press. I have been using it at work and have been thoroughly pleased with it.The other I picked up Sunday at Books-A-Million. I was totally surprised to see it there because I had heard that the project was delayed. I guess not.That's right, Oxford

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-64369774236447063432009-03-03T08:58:00.003-06:002009-06-22T12:50:42.530-05:00

For some years I've had half a mind to attempt a move to the UK or some Commonwealth country. But if I ever did, I might quickly find that I'd rather be back in the good ole' USA. Probably my main impediment, besides the weather, from moving to the UK or Canada is my discomfort with those countries' policies towards free speech.I have been reminded about this issue because of a story I caught

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15455419.post-55388481494132917512009-02-20T12:37:00.001-06:002009-02-23T08:45:06.460-06:00

You may have heard about the ecumenical dialogue group "Evangelicals and Catholics Together" headed by Chuck Colson and Fr. Richard John Neuhaus. The group has done some remarkable work in finding common ground and reaching consensus on theological and social issues.You may also have heard that Fr. Neuhaus recently died, as did Avery Cardinal Dulles, another leader in this dialogue from the

Daniel McLain Hixonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09314281652215835311danielhixon@juno.com0