What's up with the name?

When you have a name for your blog that doesn't contain any real words, I suppose that it's important to explain it. This name actually came to me in a dream. My good friend, Brian, had suggest that I start a blog (because there needs to be more liberal theological views out there), and I told him that I'd need to come up with a really cool name before I could have a blog. It's kind of like starting a band... the name is everything. Anyway, this name came to me that night.

So, when you read "conXian," it's supposed to sound like the English word "connection." This is really a key word for me. I happen to be a seminary student studying for hopeful ordination in The United Methodist Church. "Connection" is the way I describe my call to ordained ministry: I am called to help people connect with God, with each other, and with the rest of Creation. So, there you go... that's why connection is important.

Now, the X. Well, first of all, it's a little reminiscent of the 18th century English spelling "connexion," which is the spelling that John and Charles Wesley (the founders of Methodism) used. The X is also important because I am a member of Generation X. On the other hand, I am a little disturbed by the overuse of X, such as Xtreme sports or Pibb Xtra. But, in this case I'm willing to give in to make my greater point. So, now we've got connexion and gen x.

On to Xian. Although, this looks like it's probably a Chinese word, that's not how I'm using it. Xian is my shorthand for Christian. You know, like Xmas. I used to get really upset about the whole Xmas thing. X also gets used in Xing, for crossing, so I figured the X was a criss-cross, so was used for CROSSing or CRISSmas, which would take the Christ right out of Christmas. However, this is not the case. It's all about the Greek. Christ is the Greek word for "anointed" or "Messiah" (which is Hebrew). In the Greek alphabet, it looks more like XPISTOS: Chi Rho Iota Sigma Tau (then the ending) Omicron Sigma. X is actually the first letter of Christ. And if you use Christ as if it were Jesus' last name, then it would be his initial. So Xian and Xmas actually make total sense and have good linguistic and theological backing. Oh, and that's all to say that I consider myself a Christian, and this column will probably deal a lot with Christianity, so that's why it's got Xian in the title.

And finally, con. Con is the Spanish word for "with." (think chile con carne) Now, I have this little pet peeve about people talking about ministry TO someone or some group of people. It drives me nuts. It assumes that the "minister" has everything to give and nothing to gain from the "object of ministry." That just doesn't make sense, and I think it's wrong. Christian ministers need to open their eyes and realize that they don't have all the answers and that they (and other Christians) have a lot to learn about God from people who aren't Christians, or are poor, or come from another culture. Just because there are some things that we can help others with, it doesn't mean that we're the masters of the universe and have nothing to learn. Anyway, that's to say that I like to talk about ministry WITH someone, because it's a cooperative effort and we all grow from it.

So, there you go.... I'm all about connection, and I'm Methodist because I use connexion, I'm a gen Xer, and a Xian, and I think that working CON other people is important. Bet you never thought anyone could make seven letters so obnoxiously complicated. Well, I do my best... making everything obnoxiously complicated is what I'm all about.