That's Crazy!

Wow, two months without an update. I've just been so busy and not doing much that translates easily to a blog entry! I guess if I was completely anonymous with it, I could share more of what I'm up to, but I don't really see the point of that.

I took a week off and went home for Christmas. It was good to see my family again, my dad, my two sisters and their families, including my four nieces and two nephews. We all went together to a cousin's wedding in Edmonton, and that was a grand time as well. While in Alberta I took a road trip and got to spend some time with Clara in Calgary and Brendan in Rocky, and that was good, too. Then I hung out with Jill for a couple of days and flew back to Corner Brook. Unfortunately, I got sick while I was there. I had a fever all Christmas Day, and I missed midnight communion at First United in the Fort, though it was nice to see everyone at the church on Sunday morning, Christmas Eve.

Since I've been back I've been pursuing my set Learning Goals for my internship - the major goal is Pastoral Care and Visiting. I really feel like I'm picking up momentum in my learning here - it hasn't been easy, being so far from home, and in such a different place.

I baptised a little baby on January 21st. That was very exciting, and I think it went well (though as soon as Wayne put the oil on her head she started to cry). We walked down the aisle to welcome her into the community, and she really liked it when we turned around and she could see the big stained glass window behind the chancel. That window is the same image as the one in the Chancellor Room at VST, and I think it's also in the Narthex at my church in Fort Saskatchewan, though I'm not certain. Only the VST one has a bat flying over Jesus' head, though - still not sure what that's all about. Anyway, yay baptism!

I'm leading the confirmation course here - a big group! That's a daunting task; I want to do well by them.

I never did explain where the expression "Gospel crazy" comes from. In my first year at VST, my Synoptic Gospels course was taught by Dr. Stephen Farris, who was our professor of preaching. I think everyone in that class really enjoyed his teaching. Each class would start with a little lesson in Greek - alphabet and basic vocabulary. Then we would look at a topic in the study of the synoptics. At some point during the lesson, Stephen would shift out of teaching and into "homiletics" - delivering a little bit of proclamation on a piece of whatever it was we had talked about that week.

The weeks that we looked at the parables of Jesus, he usually would come out at some point with this saying: "That parable... it's crazy. It's gospel crazy," or something like, "It's so crazy, it might even be gospel." To say that the kingdom of God is like a mustard seed, or a bit of yeast, or that it is hard for a wealthy person to achieve the kingdom, is crazy. And it's good news. Both.

Since then, I've looked for opportunities to use that expression properly - but I haven't preached on the parables! The only time I've really used it is in a "preaching club" meeting at Jessica's house about a year ago, during one of our discussions. It was shortly after that that I started a weblog, and the expression came to mind when I was looking for a title.

Since then, I've used it for my screen name on the Wondercafe discussion forums, and it's taken on a new meaning: as though I am one who is "crazy for the gospel." Or perhaps, that I am crazy the way the gospel is crazy? Either way, I'm okay with it.