Personal

I am in the news…

And it is a very nice article. “Schreyer dean set for priesthood” ran in our local paper. Somehow the reporter with the university beat heard about my ordination to the priesthood and asked for an interview. Given my position I felt it prudent to check with the Provost and President and I want to say that they have been fantastic, very supportive and encouraging. Although the journalist picked up on some offhanded sorts comments I made, I think it is a nice article. You could tell, however, that he was not a regular on the religion beat; he did not ask a single question about the current debates going on in the national church.

(I should add that I am not sure where he got the idea that I am “well know his work in biblical studies.” Targum studies, among all 18 of us maybe…. )

In and Out

Sep 24th, 2007

by Christian Brady.

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Just a quick note to apologize for intermittent blogging and to say that I hope to be back in full swing soon. Last week really took a lot out of me, what with the Patriot Tour and then E’s trip down to New Orleans. Things are still going on with the House of Bishops and I hope to make some comments, but…well…there are only so many ways to say one is disappointed, and it doesn’t matter what side one is on. Talk about Laodicea…

So, more anon, but until then, enjoy the view from our back porch on a foggy Sunday morning (yesterday).

Audio Book! The Unlikely Missionary

Sep 6th, 2007

by Christian Brady.

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Some of you all know that my wife has written a novel, The Unlikely Missionary. Well last night we began recording her audio version of the novel. The Prologue is up and it will all soon be available through iTunes. This is a story about a young college graduate woman who goes to West Africa (Burkina Faso) and has a “coming of age” experience as she confronts God and her past. It would make a great novel for a woman’s study group hint, hint.

The podcast will be free, a chapter is available as a pdf from her site, and the book itself is fairly reasonable cost as well. So please drop by and give the Prologue a listen (it is only 12 minutes) and let Elizabeth know what you think! New chapters will go up every other week.

Audio Book!

Starting immediately I will begin offering an audio version of the novel The Unlikely Missionary. I will make chapters available every other week until the whole novel is complete. There will be no charge, I just ask that you let others know about this site and the novel.

You may either listen to the chapters from within each post, download from the link included in the post, or (once iTunes updates) receive an automatic update by subscribing to the podcast via iTunes. (Link will be provided shortly.)

The first chapter available is the Prologue.

Enjoy!

(Via The Unlikely Missionary.)

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (5.8MB)

NOLA Murder Board

Aug 30th, 2007

by Christian Brady.

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CNN has featured a friend of mine who is rector of St. Anna’s in New Orleans. Bill and his wife are remarkable people who have come through great struggles of their own, even before Katrina, to serve God in ministry. What adds to the distress is that one would hope that crime would go down as NOLA fights for its survival and rebirth and yet it has gotten worse.

NEW ORLEANS, Louisiana (CNN) — Father Bill Terry of St. Anna’s Episcopal Church in New Orleans wants everyone to know what’s happening in New Orleans: too many murders with too few people held accountable.

Father Bill Terry writes another name on the board, which he started to humanize the victims.

He keeps track of the slayings on what he calls the “murder board,” a plastic board that hangs outside his church. He started listing murder victims earlier this year to humanize the headlines.

At first, the names were neatly typed by a printer. But as the killings continued at a rampant pace, he says, he resorted to adding victims’ names by hand with permanent marker.

“Numbers are very easy to deal with emotionally. When it becomes a human being, then we start to personalize and it’s harder to deal with. I want people to squirm. I want people to feel uncomfortable about the murders going on in the city,” Father Bill told CNN.

In the first 29 days of this month alone, the city witnessed 27 killings, according to the New Orleans Police Department. So far in 2007, police say 137 people have been killed. That puts the city on pace for roughly 200 slayings this year.

Please be sure to read the entire story and remember those lost to violence and those working to bring justice and peace to those who remain behind.

’2 Years On’ and who can stand it?

Aug 28th, 2007

by Christian Brady.

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I have been too busy to blog regularly, but I should not let the Second Anniversary of Hurricane Katrina go past. Below is my wife’s comments from her blog The Unlikely Missionary and she points out the importance of positive remembrance.

Elizabeth’s words speak better than any I could muster:

I spoke to a friend in New Orleans this afternoon who left work early to go home and drink. She was so overwhelmed and depressed by the relentless “2 Years On” footage and anger she couldn’t function anymore.

What are we remembering by watching the footage, the trauma of that time? When a loved one passes away do we remember them by watching tapes of their bypass surgery? Or, do we watch video of the beautiful times? Photos of them healthy and alive, the way they would want to be remembered.

For me, I remember the strangest most exotic sensation of sitting in the French Quarter watching the tops of the cruise ships glide by. Because, lest we should forget, the city is 20 feet below sea level you actually have to walk up a few flight of stairs to see the Mississippi River. Once you are up on the River Walk there is usually a solo sax player and if you look to the right, the Crescent City Connection is lit up and there might even be a breeze along the river.

Just remembering you today, New Orleans.

I also wanted to remind folks of the interview I did with Karen Swensen, former CBS anchor from New Orleans (and PSU alumna) who remained in NOLA during the storm and immediately after. It is a very moving story. Let us celebrate the lives of the past while building for the future.