Apologies to all those who are struggling with a genuine weight problem.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvHnmo499_Y
Al asks all the rest of us as we watch our belts stretch and snap:
"O.K. Homeboys and girls, what are ya gonna do about it?"
BTW. I have an apple pie in the oven right now and the fudge I made after supper should be ready to eat in about 15 minutes.
So come on over and we'll sit around and rebuke these idols of gluttony together.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsJbRYEApPY
Get thee behind me calories.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZznlKcbGang
Thursday, December 28, 2006
100 things you probably didn't know
The brain is soft and gelatinous - its consistency is something between jelly and cooked pasta.
200 million people have already stopped writing their blogs.
Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts
hexakosioihexekontahexaphobiacs is a term for people who fear the number 666 (what do you call people who are afraid of big words (impossibleapes?)
In a fight between a polar bear an a lion, the polar bear would win..........
for the other 95 go here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/2006/12/100_things_we_didnt_know_last_2.shtml
200 million people have already stopped writing their blogs.
Barbie's full name is Barbie Millicent Roberts
hexakosioihexekontahexaphobiacs is a term for people who fear the number 666 (what do you call people who are afraid of big words (impossibleapes?)
In a fight between a polar bear an a lion, the polar bear would win..........
for the other 95 go here
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/magazinemonitor/2006/12/100_things_we_didnt_know_last_2.shtml
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Seal beautifully Xtols the virtues of Love Divine.
love helps us know our name
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pz-vjzIOYPs
"Not only do we know God through Jesus Christ, but we only know ourselves through Jesus Christ. Apart from him we cannot know the meaning of our life or death, or God or of ourselves."
Blaise Pascal
Monday, December 25, 2006
And Now For Something Exotic/All the Way From Sweden
Söndag, december 24. 2006
Dagens citat IVPs kommentar till Matteus skildring av Jesu födelse.
Matthew challenges prejudice against pagans. The first story after Jesus' birth opens with Magi who have traveled a long distance to offer homage to a new king born in Judea. They enter Jerusalem with a large enough caravan to attract the city's attention (2:3); they must have assumed that they would find the newborn king in Herod's palace in Jerusalem.
Matthew challenges prejudice that favors political power. Another central character in this narrative is Herod (2:3, 7-8). That Herod is dismayed by the Magi's announcement is not surprising (2:3); in this period most Greeks, Romans and even Jews respected astrological predictions. Further, a cosmic signal of another ruler would necessarily indicate the end of the current ruler's reign. Other rulers also proved paranoid about astrologers, and some had been ready to kill their own descendants to keep the throne.
Matthew challenges the prejudice that respects spiritually complacent religion. Not knowing himself where the king would be born, Herod gathers the religious experts, the chief priests and scribes (2:4), most of whom in this period were loyal to his agendas. These experts immediately identify the place where the Messiah will be born on the basis of Micah 5:2 (Mt 2:5-6). But while the religious leaders know where the Messiah will be born, they do not join the Magi in their quest. These are the religious leaders, but they fail to act on all their Bible knowledge. Jesus is just a baby, and they take him for granted.
Matthew reinforces these points by reminding us that it is the pagans who worshiped Jesus. After the Magi have left Jerusalem, they come and worship Jesus (2:9-11). A road led south to Bethlehem, which was about six miles from Jerusalem, so the rest of the Magi's journey probably did not take very long. That they offer Jesus both homage and standard gifts from the East (2:11) fits Eastern practices; for instance, royal courts there used frankincense and myrrh.
(Tänk också på herdarna. Herdarna ansågs som syndiga och bara lite bättre än spetälska och prostituerade, eftersom de inte kunde hålla sabbaten. Att de kommer och tillber utmanar vår tendens att ge de framgångsrika och lyckade företräde framför de fattiga och utstötta.)
Inlagd av Daniel Astgård i Citat kl 07:39 Kommentar (1)
Kommentarer
Visa kommentarer som (Linjär Trådad)
great postthe metaphor of the curtain of partition being torn in two at the crucifixion is very powerfuli think it maybe the ultimate purpose of his life and deathbreaking down walls of separation and barriers to love and communitybringing us out of tribalism and even individualism into the body of Christ, the new man, the ultimate goal and purpose of creation, incarnation and recreation..
#1 len (Link) på 2007-01-03 19:12 (Svara)
Lägg till kommentar
Dagens citat IVPs kommentar till Matteus skildring av Jesu födelse.
Matthew challenges prejudice against pagans. The first story after Jesus' birth opens with Magi who have traveled a long distance to offer homage to a new king born in Judea. They enter Jerusalem with a large enough caravan to attract the city's attention (2:3); they must have assumed that they would find the newborn king in Herod's palace in Jerusalem.
Matthew challenges prejudice that favors political power. Another central character in this narrative is Herod (2:3, 7-8). That Herod is dismayed by the Magi's announcement is not surprising (2:3); in this period most Greeks, Romans and even Jews respected astrological predictions. Further, a cosmic signal of another ruler would necessarily indicate the end of the current ruler's reign. Other rulers also proved paranoid about astrologers, and some had been ready to kill their own descendants to keep the throne.
Matthew challenges the prejudice that respects spiritually complacent religion. Not knowing himself where the king would be born, Herod gathers the religious experts, the chief priests and scribes (2:4), most of whom in this period were loyal to his agendas. These experts immediately identify the place where the Messiah will be born on the basis of Micah 5:2 (Mt 2:5-6). But while the religious leaders know where the Messiah will be born, they do not join the Magi in their quest. These are the religious leaders, but they fail to act on all their Bible knowledge. Jesus is just a baby, and they take him for granted.
Matthew reinforces these points by reminding us that it is the pagans who worshiped Jesus. After the Magi have left Jerusalem, they come and worship Jesus (2:9-11). A road led south to Bethlehem, which was about six miles from Jerusalem, so the rest of the Magi's journey probably did not take very long. That they offer Jesus both homage and standard gifts from the East (2:11) fits Eastern practices; for instance, royal courts there used frankincense and myrrh.
(Tänk också på herdarna. Herdarna ansågs som syndiga och bara lite bättre än spetälska och prostituerade, eftersom de inte kunde hålla sabbaten. Att de kommer och tillber utmanar vår tendens att ge de framgångsrika och lyckade företräde framför de fattiga och utstötta.)
Inlagd av Daniel Astgård i Citat kl 07:39 Kommentar (1)
Kommentarer
Visa kommentarer som (Linjär Trådad)
great postthe metaphor of the curtain of partition being torn in two at the crucifixion is very powerfuli think it maybe the ultimate purpose of his life and deathbreaking down walls of separation and barriers to love and communitybringing us out of tribalism and even individualism into the body of Christ, the new man, the ultimate goal and purpose of creation, incarnation and recreation..
#1 len (Link) på 2007-01-03 19:12 (Svara)
Lägg till kommentar
A Case of Mistaken Identity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zCfKZHPbq5g
My Father told us that if that Fat Guy in the Red Suit tried to break into our house again he'd blast him and his silly reindeer too. We expected to have venison for Christmas dinner but somehow the fat guy always got in and out without Dad murdering him.
Apparently he wasn't so nimble and quick this time.
Tragic.
My Father told us that if that Fat Guy in the Red Suit tried to break into our house again he'd blast him and his silly reindeer too. We expected to have venison for Christmas dinner but somehow the fat guy always got in and out without Dad murdering him.
Apparently he wasn't so nimble and quick this time.
Tragic.
Jesus’ Christmas Invitation Part 1
adapted from a piece by rainbow christian/Ninure Saunders at
http://deaconninure.0catch.com/Christmas/XMAS_letter_from_jesus.html
Hello dear friend!
You know, it's been many years since people first started celebrating my Birthday. Everyone realizes and appreciates how much fun it is for the children but I can’t help thinking that most folks seem to be missing the point. Every year, when Christmas comes around, they throw a big party but for some reason they seem to forget to invite me! They begin preparing for the festivities months in advance, but when the big day comes, I’m not even on the guest list!
Even though I’m not invited, sometimes I’ll quietly slip in. Usually everyone is drinking, laughing and having a grand old time. There is always a fat fellow in a bright red suit, wearing a phoney white beard. He’ll waltz in and shout, "Ho Ho Ho!" and he’ll tease the boss’s wife “Oh my, I hear you have been a naughty girl this year”, and other such nonsense.
He is usually ‘two sheets to the wind’, but he manages to weave his way around the floor while everyone cheers. When he finally collapses into a big armchair, all the children come running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa!! Santa!!"
Then he will begin telling some fanciful stories about how he lives at the North Pole with a crew of elves and that every year on my birthday he rides in his sleigh pulled by a bunch of flying reindeer, delivering presents to children all over the world!! As far as I can tell there’s not a word of truth in any of it! But by the way everyone reacts you'd think he was the guest of honour and the whole holiday was about him! It’s at this time I walk out the door, but no one seems to notice.
Sometimes it makes me feel about as lonely and forlorn as a stray dog! Maybe you don’t think it gets to me but it does,………….sometimes.
Another thing that amazes me is how, on my birthday, instead of offering me a present, most people give gifts to each other! It's usually all kinds of stuff they don't even need, or things they will have to exchange or re-gift anyway! Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends decided to celebrate by giving themselves presents but never gave you a thing, or even acknowledged your presence? Someone once told me that it's because I’m not exactly around, or in your face, like other people are, so how can they give me a present anyway? Well, my answer is that you could help those who need really it. How about giving something to those who have so little that they would never think of exchanging or re-gifting. Why not go visit the lonely! Comfort the sick! Do like my friend Johnny Cash did and sing a song for those in prison. How about offering a smile and a kind word to a person who is forgotten and put aside! Any gift you give to these people, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See Matthew 25:34-40)
http://deaconninure.0catch.com/Christmas/XMAS_letter_from_jesus.html
Hello dear friend!
You know, it's been many years since people first started celebrating my Birthday. Everyone realizes and appreciates how much fun it is for the children but I can’t help thinking that most folks seem to be missing the point. Every year, when Christmas comes around, they throw a big party but for some reason they seem to forget to invite me! They begin preparing for the festivities months in advance, but when the big day comes, I’m not even on the guest list!
Even though I’m not invited, sometimes I’ll quietly slip in. Usually everyone is drinking, laughing and having a grand old time. There is always a fat fellow in a bright red suit, wearing a phoney white beard. He’ll waltz in and shout, "Ho Ho Ho!" and he’ll tease the boss’s wife “Oh my, I hear you have been a naughty girl this year”, and other such nonsense.
He is usually ‘two sheets to the wind’, but he manages to weave his way around the floor while everyone cheers. When he finally collapses into a big armchair, all the children come running over to him excitedly yelling, "Santa!! Santa!!"
Then he will begin telling some fanciful stories about how he lives at the North Pole with a crew of elves and that every year on my birthday he rides in his sleigh pulled by a bunch of flying reindeer, delivering presents to children all over the world!! As far as I can tell there’s not a word of truth in any of it! But by the way everyone reacts you'd think he was the guest of honour and the whole holiday was about him! It’s at this time I walk out the door, but no one seems to notice.
Sometimes it makes me feel about as lonely and forlorn as a stray dog! Maybe you don’t think it gets to me but it does,………….sometimes.
Another thing that amazes me is how, on my birthday, instead of offering me a present, most people give gifts to each other! It's usually all kinds of stuff they don't even need, or things they will have to exchange or re-gift anyway! Let me ask you, wouldn't you find it odd if when your birthday came along, all your friends decided to celebrate by giving themselves presents but never gave you a thing, or even acknowledged your presence? Someone once told me that it's because I’m not exactly around, or in your face, like other people are, so how can they give me a present anyway? Well, my answer is that you could help those who need really it. How about giving something to those who have so little that they would never think of exchanging or re-gifting. Why not go visit the lonely! Comfort the sick! Do like my friend Johnny Cash did and sing a song for those in prison. How about offering a smile and a kind word to a person who is forgotten and put aside! Any gift you give to these people, I'll count as if you gave it to me personally! (See Matthew 25:34-40)
Jesus Part 2
Well sad to say, things aren’t getting any better. Perhaps you can imagine my feelings a few years ago when I heard they were taking my name out of the entire event. It is almost a criminal offence to wish someone a Merry Christmas, just because my name is in it. People are doing all they can to push me out of the picture on my own birthday? ‘Sigh!’ It’s a sign of the times, I guess.
It reminds me of what happens all too often to another friend of mine. He’s not your average guy. In fact most people think he’s ‘special’, if you know what I mean. He’s so ‘special’ that very few people take time to speak to him. Some, who claim on Sunday that they believe all people are made in the image of God, act as if that isn’t true on Monday. Heck they don’t even act as if it were true on Sunday either. Perhaps they don’t think my friend is really one of them. I get the impression that they see him as a quality control mistake that my Father and I let ‘get by’ and then failed to fix under warranty. They act as if it’s best that this ‘mistake’ be hidden away so good folks won’t have to be uncomfortable.
One day I found my friend sitting in his wheelchair by the steps of the church, his head was in his hands. I asked him what was wrong, and he mumbled a word. He only had a few ways to communicate but if you took the time you’d know what he meant. With a little effort you could see that he could give and receive love just like everybody else, and oh how he longed to be accepted. But hardly anyone reached out to him. The only people who spent time with him were agency workers that were paid to help. This day, not even those fine Christian people going into the service could muster the courage to include my friend with a hello, a handshake or even a nod of their head.
These fine upstanding ‘Christians’ must have such delicately balanced lives and such a ‘nice’ church that they’re afraid to take a chance of ruining it by letting my friend in.I put my arm around his shoulder and told him I knew how he felt. I've wanted to become more involved with this same church for many years and they've never really let me in either!
It reminds me of what happens all too often to another friend of mine. He’s not your average guy. In fact most people think he’s ‘special’, if you know what I mean. He’s so ‘special’ that very few people take time to speak to him. Some, who claim on Sunday that they believe all people are made in the image of God, act as if that isn’t true on Monday. Heck they don’t even act as if it were true on Sunday either. Perhaps they don’t think my friend is really one of them. I get the impression that they see him as a quality control mistake that my Father and I let ‘get by’ and then failed to fix under warranty. They act as if it’s best that this ‘mistake’ be hidden away so good folks won’t have to be uncomfortable.
One day I found my friend sitting in his wheelchair by the steps of the church, his head was in his hands. I asked him what was wrong, and he mumbled a word. He only had a few ways to communicate but if you took the time you’d know what he meant. With a little effort you could see that he could give and receive love just like everybody else, and oh how he longed to be accepted. But hardly anyone reached out to him. The only people who spent time with him were agency workers that were paid to help. This day, not even those fine Christian people going into the service could muster the courage to include my friend with a hello, a handshake or even a nod of their head.
These fine upstanding ‘Christians’ must have such delicately balanced lives and such a ‘nice’ church that they’re afraid to take a chance of ruining it by letting my friend in.I put my arm around his shoulder and told him I knew how he felt. I've wanted to become more involved with this same church for many years and they've never really let me in either!
Jesus' Invitation part 3
Well, there's an end even to my patience. So I'm going to let you in on a secret.........I've been thinking about doing something about all this for quite sometime, but the way things are going, I think it’s high time I got on with it. I’ve started seriously planning my own party!
It's going to be the biggest, most fantastic feast you could possibly imagine! Better than any church potluck or lavish Christmas party.
It might not happen this year, but I'm sending out invitations right now because I know a lot of people who never get invited to anything and they need to know they have something to look forward to.
There's going to be room for billions; in fact, there’s room for everyone who doesn’t mind sharing a table with my ‘special friend’ and me! Some really famous old timers and modern celebrities are going to be there but many of the ‘big ones’ won’t. You’ll be surprised who will be at the head table and even more surprised by those who are seated by the kitchen door.
I don’t think people realize I meant it when I said, “The last shall be first and first shall be last.”
I'll reserve you a seat of honour, right beside me and my special friend ……… that’s if you don’t mind the company (Matthew 8:11). So hold on to your hat because when everything is ready, I'm going to spring this party as a big surprise and a lot of carefree and self-satisfied people are going to be left out in the cold. I not too worried about their feelings, because they’ll probably think that my guest list isn’t exclusive enough and they wouldn’t want to come to our kind of party anyway.
Please let me know right away if you'll be coming. I want to reserve you a place. I’ll even write your name in large golden letters in my big
‘ ‘GOLDEN GUEST BOOK’!
Please don’t forget to tell my ‘special friend’ that you and I are both looking forward to seeing him at the feast.
Yours Sincerely (With Much Disappointment, but Even More Love),
JESUS
P.S. Do you think Matt. 25 is for real? Perhaps its time we decided to do something about it?
Brought to you by your friends on the
ROAD TO EMMAUS
It's going to be the biggest, most fantastic feast you could possibly imagine! Better than any church potluck or lavish Christmas party.
It might not happen this year, but I'm sending out invitations right now because I know a lot of people who never get invited to anything and they need to know they have something to look forward to.
There's going to be room for billions; in fact, there’s room for everyone who doesn’t mind sharing a table with my ‘special friend’ and me! Some really famous old timers and modern celebrities are going to be there but many of the ‘big ones’ won’t. You’ll be surprised who will be at the head table and even more surprised by those who are seated by the kitchen door.
I don’t think people realize I meant it when I said, “The last shall be first and first shall be last.”
I'll reserve you a seat of honour, right beside me and my special friend ……… that’s if you don’t mind the company (Matthew 8:11). So hold on to your hat because when everything is ready, I'm going to spring this party as a big surprise and a lot of carefree and self-satisfied people are going to be left out in the cold. I not too worried about their feelings, because they’ll probably think that my guest list isn’t exclusive enough and they wouldn’t want to come to our kind of party anyway.
Please let me know right away if you'll be coming. I want to reserve you a place. I’ll even write your name in large golden letters in my big
‘ ‘GOLDEN GUEST BOOK’!
Please don’t forget to tell my ‘special friend’ that you and I are both looking forward to seeing him at the feast.
Yours Sincerely (With Much Disappointment, but Even More Love),
JESUS
P.S. Do you think Matt. 25 is for real? Perhaps its time we decided to do something about it?
Brought to you by your friends on the
ROAD TO EMMAUS
Friday, December 22, 2006
Christmas Tag
Franklin, over at Paradoxum (That MagicalPlace where soft words can break bones), tagged me. Someone asked him to share 5 things that others may not know about him and then to tag others to do the same. Franklin tagged me. So here are 5 things you probably don't know about the Impossibleape.
1. Name the T.V. you'd most like to have a copy of every episode ever made.
The I Love Lucy Show. (And I do...vicariously. I instilled the Lucy bug in my daughter Evie and then spent many hours and a few dollars searching eBay and haunting movie stores to buy them as presents for her B.D. and Christmas.)
2.The one T.V. show you wish they'd issue on a DVD so you could have the entire collection.
It's About Time, Its About Space (Its About the Whole Human Race)!
This appeared in the mid sixties. It featured Joe E. Ross as a hilarious cavemean who of course went oooh, oooh, oooh. If you remember he had just finished up a role as Gunther Toody in Car 54 Where are You. The oooh, oooh just followed along with him. The series ran all of one season.....go figure.
3. What title do you possess by birthright?
I am a Haweater. Meaning I was born on the mystical isle of the Manitoulin aka 'The den of the Great Spirit Manitou.' Our family farm was next to the property that contained the cliff face in which was found the cave said to be Manitou's lair. The stories told about a light that never extinguished night or day. We would dare to peak in during daylight and sure enough there was a light deep in back of the opening in the rock face. We never dared to go there after dark. As far as we know the light shines in darkness as well.
4. What are your greatest weaknesses?
(a) I have mixed hemispheric laterality. A form of muddled and muted ambidexterity (my right brain and left brain do a Three Stooges act trying to get through the 'activation doorway' to decide issues, plan responses or orchestrate actions.) This partly explains how I can say 'I am not Lazy, Crazy or Stupid, I just act that way'.
(b)I subconsciously chose Charlie Brown as the role model in my most formative years.
"Good Grief! What a Blockhead!"
5. What you want to be when you grow up?
A Jean Vanier clone. He is my hero and a living saint. Of course as George Orwell said. "Saints must be held guilty until proven innocent." We will have to wait a few years till Jean shuffles off his mortal coil and the Papal Office of Saintly Sifting and Evaluation (P.O.S.S.E.) finishes its investigation before I can be sure I want to emulate him in every way.
There you have it. What else is there to know?
I'm tagging Kim G., Steve B., James (aka Earl)B., James S.,Errol E.
and Jenn but I think she has done this for another tagger so she may be exempted from this diclosure.
Merry Christmas and Happy Fun and Games to all.
1. Name the T.V. you'd most like to have a copy of every episode ever made.
The I Love Lucy Show. (And I do...vicariously. I instilled the Lucy bug in my daughter Evie and then spent many hours and a few dollars searching eBay and haunting movie stores to buy them as presents for her B.D. and Christmas.)
2.The one T.V. show you wish they'd issue on a DVD so you could have the entire collection.
It's About Time, Its About Space (Its About the Whole Human Race)!
This appeared in the mid sixties. It featured Joe E. Ross as a hilarious cavemean who of course went oooh, oooh, oooh. If you remember he had just finished up a role as Gunther Toody in Car 54 Where are You. The oooh, oooh just followed along with him. The series ran all of one season.....go figure.
3. What title do you possess by birthright?
I am a Haweater. Meaning I was born on the mystical isle of the Manitoulin aka 'The den of the Great Spirit Manitou.' Our family farm was next to the property that contained the cliff face in which was found the cave said to be Manitou's lair. The stories told about a light that never extinguished night or day. We would dare to peak in during daylight and sure enough there was a light deep in back of the opening in the rock face. We never dared to go there after dark. As far as we know the light shines in darkness as well.
4. What are your greatest weaknesses?
(a) I have mixed hemispheric laterality. A form of muddled and muted ambidexterity (my right brain and left brain do a Three Stooges act trying to get through the 'activation doorway' to decide issues, plan responses or orchestrate actions.) This partly explains how I can say 'I am not Lazy, Crazy or Stupid, I just act that way'.
(b)I subconsciously chose Charlie Brown as the role model in my most formative years.
"Good Grief! What a Blockhead!"
5. What you want to be when you grow up?
A Jean Vanier clone. He is my hero and a living saint. Of course as George Orwell said. "Saints must be held guilty until proven innocent." We will have to wait a few years till Jean shuffles off his mortal coil and the Papal Office of Saintly Sifting and Evaluation (P.O.S.S.E.) finishes its investigation before I can be sure I want to emulate him in every way.
There you have it. What else is there to know?
I'm tagging Kim G., Steve B., James (aka Earl)B., James S.,Errol E.
and Jenn but I think she has done this for another tagger so she may be exempted from this diclosure.
Merry Christmas and Happy Fun and Games to all.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Here is My All Time Favourite Turkey Bit.
Mr. Bean Puts the Turkey On.
And J., no matter how bad things may seem, remember to count your blessings.
If he weren't an ocean away Mr. Bean could be sitting across the table making googly eyes over your Christmas turkey.
Enjoy all the best of the season.
May I suggest you take in a service at Mr. Bean's church.
After all the holiday preparations you probably could use the shut eye.
Couldn't we all?
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Over the years I've Been There, Done That. AKA The Turkey Hypothesis
Things I have said or done. Or would have, if the opportunity had been given to me;
1. In a semi-rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road.
The reason:
"Too many deer are being hit by cars out here!
I don't think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore."
2. My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for "minimal lettuce." He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg.
3. I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her own life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.
4. When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I announced to the technician, "its open!"
His reply, "I know - I already got that side."
5. The stoplight on the corner buzzes when its safe to cross the street.
I was crossing with a coworker of mine.
She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for.
I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red.
Appalled, she responded, "What on earth are blind people doing driving?!"
I was told these are true stories. I believe most of them, because I've been there and done that a time or two.
1. In a semi-rural area. We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the Deer Crossing sign on our road.
The reason:
"Too many deer are being hit by cars out here!
I don't think this is a good place for them to be crossing anymore."
2. My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco. She asked the person behind the counter for "minimal lettuce." He said he was sorry, but they only had iceberg.
3. I work with an individual who plugged her power strip back into itself and for the sake of her own life, couldn't understand why her system would not turn on.
4. When my husband and I arrived at an automobile dealership to pick up our car, we were told the keys had been locked in it. We went to the service department and found a mechanic working feverishly to unlock the drivers side door. As I watched from the passenger side, I instinctively tried the door handle and discovered that it was unlocked. "Hey," I announced to the technician, "its open!"
His reply, "I know - I already got that side."
5. The stoplight on the corner buzzes when its safe to cross the street.
I was crossing with a coworker of mine.
She asked if I knew what the buzzer was for.
I explained that it signals blind people when the light is red.
Appalled, she responded, "What on earth are blind people doing driving?!"
I was told these are true stories. I believe most of them, because I've been there and done that a time or two.
Perhaps this explains my 'claw in beak' syndrome.
I was born on Christmas day on the Manitoulin Island. Those with the distinction of being form that fabled place are called 'Haweaters' and 'Freshwater Newfies'. I'm not sure who is supposed to be insulting whom by this comparison, if you know what I mean.
The year I was born my father had insisted he was having duck for the Christmas meal. Mom never cared much for duck. She had her heart set on a 'Little Turkey'. When she went into labour on Christmas Eve (a whole half century ago), she was delighted to know that the duck she was going to prepare for Christmas would have to wait. She was going to have Turkey for Christmas after all. I don't think she was in much shape to enjoy a full Christmas meal on the day I was born, but in one one way or the other, she had a 'Little Turkey' that Christmas.
(The stories above are are some proofs of the Turkey Hypothesis.)
Here's to trying to have a less Mortifying Christmas than some we have experienced.
Best Wishes
Len
aka the impossibleape
(The stories above are are some proofs of the Turkey Hypothesis.)
Here's to trying to have a less Mortifying Christmas than some we have experienced.
Best Wishes
Len
aka the impossibleape
(I've evolved a little since my Turkey days.
Can you tell?)
Monday, December 18, 2006
Mother Jones Likes Tammy and Jimmy's Little Jay (I think I do too.)
The son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker says that Jesus loves you, tattoos and all. by Dave GilsonDecember 13, 2006
MJ.com: One thing that struck me is how you've put yourself in a leadership position where you freely admit you don't know all the answers. And people literally embrace you for that.
JB: I don't have all the answers. I grew up around people who told me they did, and then in the long run I found they didn't. So I figured I better start out honest with people and stay that way. I think there's pressure when you're a pastor that you have to have all the answers, and if you don't, your faith is built on sand. For me, faith is about believing in those things you can't see and at times can't understand. I've been really blessed to have people who are open to that and stick around. Not everyone does stick around, though................
JB: We're really just a small church. We meet in bars. We're a come-as-you-are-whoever-you-are kind of church. We're a church about love and grace and acceptance and caring about people and at times agreeing to disagree.................
MJ.com: "One Punk Under God" catches you right as you make the decision to make Revolution a gay-affirming church. How did you get to that point?
JB: It took me a long time to get there. I had a lot of gay friends and even had some congregation members who were gay, and I just wasn't sure where I stood. In my heart, I was like, "How can I condemn these people for their love of one another?" I started looking deeper into the Bible and studying and then I went to a [gay-affirming] church. It all came together at one point. One of my friends came out, and I ran into one of my old camp counselors who had come out. I was like, "This is so strange-all these people who have been important parts of my life are all coming out and are being asked to leave their church or not having anything to do with their church anymore." It kind of took a while because I knew I'd be risking everything. I knew this particular decision would cause me to lose a lot and would cause the church to hurt.
MJ.com: Has the church been just as strong since that decision?
JB: The church is going well, but we haven't been supported. We lost a lot of financial support and I've lost most of my speaking engagements. News traveled fast.
MJ.com: How is New York treating Revolution?
JB: It's the best it's ever been. I'm really happy here. ..........It's a really interesting crowd. We have an agnostic person who comes on a regular basis, a transgender person who said that they found our church because they we're looking for a church that wouldn't hate them. The congregation is really great. My mom is really sick with cancer, so I've been gone a lot and members of the congregation have been getting up and speaking. I'm starting to realize that we've become a church of people instead of a church with this head guy. There's something really neat about that because I don't think it's fair for them to think that I have this hotline to God. Too often we put these pastors up on pedestals and make it all about the man of God. That's something I'm really excited to be getting away from.
read the full interview at
http://motherjones.com/interview/2006/12/jaybakker.html
Dave Gilson is the associate editor of Mother Jones.
MJ.com: One thing that struck me is how you've put yourself in a leadership position where you freely admit you don't know all the answers. And people literally embrace you for that.
JB: I don't have all the answers. I grew up around people who told me they did, and then in the long run I found they didn't. So I figured I better start out honest with people and stay that way. I think there's pressure when you're a pastor that you have to have all the answers, and if you don't, your faith is built on sand. For me, faith is about believing in those things you can't see and at times can't understand. I've been really blessed to have people who are open to that and stick around. Not everyone does stick around, though................
JB: We're really just a small church. We meet in bars. We're a come-as-you-are-whoever-you-are kind of church. We're a church about love and grace and acceptance and caring about people and at times agreeing to disagree.................
MJ.com: "One Punk Under God" catches you right as you make the decision to make Revolution a gay-affirming church. How did you get to that point?
JB: It took me a long time to get there. I had a lot of gay friends and even had some congregation members who were gay, and I just wasn't sure where I stood. In my heart, I was like, "How can I condemn these people for their love of one another?" I started looking deeper into the Bible and studying and then I went to a [gay-affirming] church. It all came together at one point. One of my friends came out, and I ran into one of my old camp counselors who had come out. I was like, "This is so strange-all these people who have been important parts of my life are all coming out and are being asked to leave their church or not having anything to do with their church anymore." It kind of took a while because I knew I'd be risking everything. I knew this particular decision would cause me to lose a lot and would cause the church to hurt.
MJ.com: Has the church been just as strong since that decision?
JB: The church is going well, but we haven't been supported. We lost a lot of financial support and I've lost most of my speaking engagements. News traveled fast.
MJ.com: How is New York treating Revolution?
JB: It's the best it's ever been. I'm really happy here. ..........It's a really interesting crowd. We have an agnostic person who comes on a regular basis, a transgender person who said that they found our church because they we're looking for a church that wouldn't hate them. The congregation is really great. My mom is really sick with cancer, so I've been gone a lot and members of the congregation have been getting up and speaking. I'm starting to realize that we've become a church of people instead of a church with this head guy. There's something really neat about that because I don't think it's fair for them to think that I have this hotline to God. Too often we put these pastors up on pedestals and make it all about the man of God. That's something I'm really excited to be getting away from.
read the full interview at
http://motherjones.com/interview/2006/12/jaybakker.html
Dave Gilson is the associate editor of Mother Jones.
Jay Bakker is No Ordinary Chip Off the Old Block.
This Bakker preaches revolutionary change
By Frazier Moore, Associated Press December 13, 2006
NEW YORK -- He was born into the glare of televangelist parents Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker. Then the "Praise the Lord" empire collapsed in scandal. His father went to jail for fraud.
Jay Bakker spent his teens in the darkness, rebelling and bent on self-destruction from alcohol and drugs.
But now, about to turn 31 on Dec. 18 this tattooed, multi-pierced pilgrim is on a righteous path: preaching God's grace to a flock of young, downtrodden, and disillusioned parishioners most any other church would turn away.
Jay is the focus of "One Punk Under God: the Prodigal Son of Jim & Tammy Faye," a reality series about the back-to-basics church he calls Revolution, which, notwithstanding his decade-long sobriety, holds services in an Atlanta bar.
Keeping the faith while keeping Revolution going will prove to be a challenge for Bakker.
"I think Revolution is kind of stuck between a rock and a hard place," he muses in the first episode, airing tonight at 9 on the Sundance Channel. "With some groups we're too Christian, and with the Christians we're not Christian enough." ...............
Now "One Punk Under God" finds Bakker continuing a mini-crusade for an alternative to the God he could never make peace with: a wrathful God who hated him for all the flaws he hated in himself.
"God loves us for who we are," contends Bakker, explaining that it comes down to "grace": "God's love for all people, and his unconditional love."
In defiance of both his billing as "punk" and his calling as preacher, Bakker is an affable, unassuming chap who happens to wear a stud in each ear as well as a lip ring. And tattoos: He got the first of many -- it praises Revolution -- at 19 while living in Phoenix, where he helped found the church. In the series' finale, he will get a tattoo in tribute to his mother.
He never set out to be the punk anti-Bakker for a lost generation. Nor has he disavowed his parents, whose past disgrace could easily fuel skepticism about his own ministry.
"I don't have a strategy like, 'OK, I'm gonna distance myself from them, so I can build a church and be my own man,' " he says. "Me and my dad have a hard time getting along, and now, with my mom being as sick as she is, that's hard -- but I love them, and they did a lot of great things, as well as make mistakes."
A mistake of theirs he means to avoid: building a church so big and all-consuming that its own sustenance is its primary cause.
In episode two, Bakker will make a tough decision that could threaten his church: Should he declare himself a gay-affirming minister?
"Absolutely, without question," Amanda says, but warns of a backlash.
She's right. A conservative foundation wastes no time pulling thousands in funding.
That's OK. "Salvation is free. It's a gift," Bakker says.
read full Slate article at
http://www.slate.com/id/2155444/
Why Johnny Wore Black
WE KNOW full well that the work begun in that manger is not yet complete.
Christmas is, for the time being, a feast of light juxtaposed with darkness. We brighten our sanctuary with candles, but the night persists beyond these walls. Though we wipe our tears away to join in the yuletide celebration, we are still a people who mourn.
Katherine E. Willis Perchey, "A Feast Juxtaposed"
Christmas is, for the time being, a feast of light juxtaposed with darkness. We brighten our sanctuary with candles, but the night persists beyond these walls. Though we wipe our tears away to join in the yuletide celebration, we are still a people who mourn.
Katherine E. Willis Perchey, "A Feast Juxtaposed"
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Friday, December 15, 2006
If we looked into the manger this Christmas and saw a Child With Downs Syndrome, Would We Understand?
If not,
then perhaps we do not understand Incarnation, Suffering or Redemption
Fortunately for us it isn't all about precepts, and concepts and propositions or Theology
Its about God so Loving the World that He Gave Himself so We can Give Ourselves to Him by Giving Ourselves to One another in Love.
Blessed Christmas
LH
THE INCARNATRION /A Part of the Mysterious Neccessity
"the origin of the word “sin” is derived from the Indo-European root ‘es-,’ meaning ‘to be.’"
I found this quotation at Solidaridad http://marydaly.blogspot.com/
It is a fascinating blog by a theology student who is struggling to make the church more inclusive and accepting of people in all our frailties. She is sharing some important insights over there. Perhaps you should take a moment to check it out.
This quote was particularly interesting to me because it helps clarify a new understanding taking root in my spirit. The idea that sin (Adam and Eve's apple episode) is required for humankind to Be(come) like Christ. Our becoming requires that we possess the freedom to choose in a world of consequence and interrelationship and this experience of freedom requires that we leave the garden of innocence to enter a world of suffering, knowledge and be-ing. If we do not leave the garden we could not Be or Become, nor would we be able or need to Believe.
Our becoming like Christ (not remaining like Adam) is so important to God that He(?) risks all in giving us the choice to Be or not to Be like Jesus. To Be or not to Be n relationship with Him(?).
For many years I have been trapped, very uncomfortably trapped in a condemning and judgemental conception of history and God's involvement with the world. The usual theology of history and God's Plan has been, 'Creation, Fall, Redemption' (aka return to paradise lost). This story leaves us at the mercy of a bloodthirsty deity who hates our humanity (our frailty) but is somehow able to appease his wrath by a complicated sado/masochistic orgy of violence and blood sacrifice. Thankfully I have heard of a new way to understand the story of God's involvement with us in history it goes like this, 'Creation, Incarnation, Recreation' (into the image of Christ, becoming a fully formed Imago Dei by means of the beatific vision....we shall become like him(?) when we see Him(?) as he is.)
This new way of thinking about God and History lets me see God as loving but with a restraint upon His(?) power. The restraint has to do with the process of recreating us in the likeness of Christ. This recreation is the meaning and purpose of history. For some reason it can not be accomplished without the problematic elements of free will, and it's consequence which is suffering (deserved and undeserved). It is the mysterious necessity for which Jesus was and is the answer. His incarnation, His becoming like us, and suffering and dying like us is the means by which we (God and mankind) can overcome the restraint of the mysterious necessity.
Life is still a perplexing mystery to me. Why suffering is so random and extreme? Why do innocent people suffer for the sins of of others. I don't know why. But God no longer seems as capricious, wrathful or maniacal as He(?) did when I thought it was all about Creation, Fall, Redemption.
This new understanding has Redeemed God for me and somehow the mysterious necessity fulfilled in Jesus has redeemed me to God.
I found this quotation at Solidaridad http://marydaly.blogspot.com/
It is a fascinating blog by a theology student who is struggling to make the church more inclusive and accepting of people in all our frailties. She is sharing some important insights over there. Perhaps you should take a moment to check it out.
This quote was particularly interesting to me because it helps clarify a new understanding taking root in my spirit. The idea that sin (Adam and Eve's apple episode) is required for humankind to Be(come) like Christ. Our becoming requires that we possess the freedom to choose in a world of consequence and interrelationship and this experience of freedom requires that we leave the garden of innocence to enter a world of suffering, knowledge and be-ing. If we do not leave the garden we could not Be or Become, nor would we be able or need to Believe.
Our becoming like Christ (not remaining like Adam) is so important to God that He(?) risks all in giving us the choice to Be or not to Be like Jesus. To Be or not to Be n relationship with Him(?).
For many years I have been trapped, very uncomfortably trapped in a condemning and judgemental conception of history and God's involvement with the world. The usual theology of history and God's Plan has been, 'Creation, Fall, Redemption' (aka return to paradise lost). This story leaves us at the mercy of a bloodthirsty deity who hates our humanity (our frailty) but is somehow able to appease his wrath by a complicated sado/masochistic orgy of violence and blood sacrifice. Thankfully I have heard of a new way to understand the story of God's involvement with us in history it goes like this, 'Creation, Incarnation, Recreation' (into the image of Christ, becoming a fully formed Imago Dei by means of the beatific vision....we shall become like him(?) when we see Him(?) as he is.)
This new way of thinking about God and History lets me see God as loving but with a restraint upon His(?) power. The restraint has to do with the process of recreating us in the likeness of Christ. This recreation is the meaning and purpose of history. For some reason it can not be accomplished without the problematic elements of free will, and it's consequence which is suffering (deserved and undeserved). It is the mysterious necessity for which Jesus was and is the answer. His incarnation, His becoming like us, and suffering and dying like us is the means by which we (God and mankind) can overcome the restraint of the mysterious necessity.
Life is still a perplexing mystery to me. Why suffering is so random and extreme? Why do innocent people suffer for the sins of of others. I don't know why. But God no longer seems as capricious, wrathful or maniacal as He(?) did when I thought it was all about Creation, Fall, Redemption.
This new understanding has Redeemed God for me and somehow the mysterious necessity fulfilled in Jesus has redeemed me to God.
LH
Thursday, December 14, 2006
THE BORING NATIVITY
December 2006
THE BORING NATIVITY
by Laurie Cook
My wife and I went to see The Nativity the other night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Before going I heard a critic say it was flat and somewhat boring. They said that it lacked the wonder and awe that they expected from the story of God coming to earth. But as I watched the movie it dawned on me that this was actually the point. God went to great lengths to come to man in humility, to inject himself into humanity in the middle of poverty and injustice. I’m so glad that the movie maker didn’t concentrate on the spectacular by over dramatizing and emphasizing the angel visits with powerful computer generated special effects.
This depiction of the story brought a portrayal of what I perceive to be the true message of incarnation. God chose this time and this place for a variety of reasons. But of special significance for me this year watching The Nativity, was the fact that he came into poverty at a time of paralyzing injustice. And by the way, being enslaved by the Romans was only part of the injustice. Joseph and Mary and their community were also subjected to injustice at the hands of a corrupt, national political leader and a pompous legal religion as well.
As I walked out of the cinema the first thought that hit me was a question. Given the carefully constructed setting of this story of God coming down to man, how do we as Christians ever get to a prosperity gospel; how do we end up with our religion of multi-million dollar buildings and programs that concentrate the use of these resources around serving the saints?
If you haven’t already seen The Nativity, go and see it and let the message of the incarnation speak to you in whatever way God sees fit to express his story to you. But I would simply ask you to reflect on both his role and our role in a world full of poverty and injustice. Allow God to draw you further into his story, not as theatregoers, not as followers of religion, not as enslavers, but into his way of living the incarnation.
by
Laurie Cook,CEO, World Relief Canada
Laurie Cook,CEO, World Relief Canada
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Happy Prince Mp3
Oscar Could Make a Young Man's Imagination Fly. Not Always Fly Straight, mind you,But in the End He Himself Did Fly Right.
I am lookning forward to hearing some of his witty repartee in the garden of paradise.
http://www.archive.org/details/hpot_librivox (realplayer version)
A Happy Prince Christmas
A Happy Prince Christmas:
Oscar Wilde’s fairytale is one of my most important Christmas memories. During my early teenage years I was trying to come to terms with the fact that the world didn’t always work things out to my personal satisfaction. Scarves and sweaters weren’t exactly my Christmas fantasy fulfilled but each year I received more and more of them. At the same time, I was becoming keenly aware of how much unhappiness there was in the world. How could I reconcile this dark realization with a simpler, kinder view that included a belief in a loving God who intervened in the affairs of men, or at least took a passing interest in them? I felt a real need to find a way to reconcile a simple faith with an honest and reasonable understanding of the world. But how?
As a young person I had a tradition of watching every Holiday special ever aired on the only two channels we could get on the Manitoulin in those days, CBC and CTV. Year after year Charlie Brown would remind us of the true meaning of Christmas but by the time I was a teenager most of the seasonal offerings weren’t reflecting life as I knew it. Thankfully in the early 70’s I discovered two new shows that addressed many of the issues that were plaguing me. One was the Selfish Giant and the other the Happy Prince. If you get a chance to see either don’t pass it up. (Happily I have been able to obtain a copy of The Happy Prince so I can enjoy it all year round. Come and visit and I’ll share this treasure with you.)
If you know the story, you may recognize yourself in the characters? Perhaps you feel like the children who are hoping for something good to happen (perhaps the end of a difficult season in life) ………….. ‘there certainly has been a terribly hard frost this year.’
Personally I hope you see yourself as the little swallow. If after the first few pages you aren't flattered by the comparison, just hang on, it gets better.
Early in the story the swallow is flighty, vain and immature. Perhaps you don’t share any of these faults (I’ll let you and your families be the judge of that), but no doubt your wings are a little tarnished and rather ill fitting. Mine need to be dry cleaned……often!
Despite the swallow’s many shortcomings, he eventually surrenders his plans for his own comfort in order to fulfill the longings of the Prince’s heart and to care for the needs of others. In doing this the swallow begins to participate in one of life’s great mysteries and ministries. As he grows in a grace tempered by suffering, his acts on behalf of the poor and the outcasts of the city begin to transform himself and others around him.
In life, we can be the suffering, sometimes our loved ones are called to this unhappy role. More often, the strangers we pass on the street or see on T.V. are the ones needing a compassionate sacrifice. But whoever they are, they each represent the heart of God , as they did for the Happy Prince in our story.
My Christmas wish is that we can see an inkling of meaning and purpose in our personal trials and challenges. When I am hard pressed it helps me to remember the example of someone like Mother Theresa and how she accomplished ‘Something Beautiful for God’. She didn’t do this in spite of the pain. She did it through sufferings shared in love. This is the most difficult mystery but in reality it is the most beautiful.
At times we may feel we are consigned to the ‘ash heap’ but our hope is; when the angels are sent to gather the most precious things in the city we will be chosen by God and by the Happy Prince.
“….for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing forevermore and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me.”
Many blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.
Love
Len, Cathy, Evie and Josh Hindle
http://www.oscarwildecollection.com/
http://www.happyprince.ca/
Oscar Wilde’s fairytale is one of my most important Christmas memories. During my early teenage years I was trying to come to terms with the fact that the world didn’t always work things out to my personal satisfaction. Scarves and sweaters weren’t exactly my Christmas fantasy fulfilled but each year I received more and more of them. At the same time, I was becoming keenly aware of how much unhappiness there was in the world. How could I reconcile this dark realization with a simpler, kinder view that included a belief in a loving God who intervened in the affairs of men, or at least took a passing interest in them? I felt a real need to find a way to reconcile a simple faith with an honest and reasonable understanding of the world. But how?
As a young person I had a tradition of watching every Holiday special ever aired on the only two channels we could get on the Manitoulin in those days, CBC and CTV. Year after year Charlie Brown would remind us of the true meaning of Christmas but by the time I was a teenager most of the seasonal offerings weren’t reflecting life as I knew it. Thankfully in the early 70’s I discovered two new shows that addressed many of the issues that were plaguing me. One was the Selfish Giant and the other the Happy Prince. If you get a chance to see either don’t pass it up. (Happily I have been able to obtain a copy of The Happy Prince so I can enjoy it all year round. Come and visit and I’ll share this treasure with you.)
If you know the story, you may recognize yourself in the characters? Perhaps you feel like the children who are hoping for something good to happen (perhaps the end of a difficult season in life) ………….. ‘there certainly has been a terribly hard frost this year.’
Personally I hope you see yourself as the little swallow. If after the first few pages you aren't flattered by the comparison, just hang on, it gets better.
Early in the story the swallow is flighty, vain and immature. Perhaps you don’t share any of these faults (I’ll let you and your families be the judge of that), but no doubt your wings are a little tarnished and rather ill fitting. Mine need to be dry cleaned……often!
Despite the swallow’s many shortcomings, he eventually surrenders his plans for his own comfort in order to fulfill the longings of the Prince’s heart and to care for the needs of others. In doing this the swallow begins to participate in one of life’s great mysteries and ministries. As he grows in a grace tempered by suffering, his acts on behalf of the poor and the outcasts of the city begin to transform himself and others around him.
In life, we can be the suffering, sometimes our loved ones are called to this unhappy role. More often, the strangers we pass on the street or see on T.V. are the ones needing a compassionate sacrifice. But whoever they are, they each represent the heart of God , as they did for the Happy Prince in our story.
My Christmas wish is that we can see an inkling of meaning and purpose in our personal trials and challenges. When I am hard pressed it helps me to remember the example of someone like Mother Theresa and how she accomplished ‘Something Beautiful for God’. She didn’t do this in spite of the pain. She did it through sufferings shared in love. This is the most difficult mystery but in reality it is the most beautiful.
At times we may feel we are consigned to the ‘ash heap’ but our hope is; when the angels are sent to gather the most precious things in the city we will be chosen by God and by the Happy Prince.
“….for in my garden of Paradise this little bird shall sing forevermore and in my city of gold the Happy Prince shall praise me.”
Many blessings to you and yours this Christmas season.
Love
Len, Cathy, Evie and Josh Hindle
http://www.oscarwildecollection.com/
http://www.happyprince.ca/
Sunday, December 10, 2006
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Joyeux Noel! Because 'Life Without Limbs can also become Life Without Limits!'
Nick Vujicic is a worthy witness to hope, and meaning in the face of challenges and deprivations of the most severe kind. His witness does not answer for all the pain we see around us, but it makes a worthy contribution to the hope we have in Jesus that someday all these trials will prove to be worthwhile and meaningful, even if beyond our present comprehension.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LtCrlXdd2E
Jenn, If you are watching I hope you will share this and the TeamHoyt videos with your daughter.
Joyeux Noel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4LtCrlXdd2E
Jenn, If you are watching I hope you will share this and the TeamHoyt videos with your daughter.
Joyeux Noel
Friday, December 08, 2006
Britney, Britney, Britney, your 'posse' (sic) needs to be corralled
Now that you have shown us where the cabbage patch is, what can you do for an encore?
My personal and professional advice is that you find a support group for 'born again virgins' to hang with. They've got to be better for your rep and mental health than the Hilton/Lohan 'posse' (sic) you've been SEEN with lately. Time to put them (and it) in the corral .
I'm sure someone is praying for you.
Let's hope it helps.
Take care or we'll be seeing you in the funny papers again.
My personal and professional advice is that you find a support group for 'born again virgins' to hang with. They've got to be better for your rep and mental health than the Hilton/Lohan 'posse' (sic) you've been SEEN with lately. Time to put them (and it) in the corral .
I'm sure someone is praying for you.
Let's hope it helps.
Take care or we'll be seeing you in the funny papers again.
LH
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Bonhoeffer on What is a Christian?
A Christian is someone who shares the sufferings of God in the world.-Dietrich Bonhoeffer
might I add
and who doesn't willfully and with malice of forethought add to them.
might I add
and who doesn't willfully and with malice of forethought add to them.
Monday, December 04, 2006
Haggard Revisited/Perhaps Scapegoating is A Greater Evangelical Sin (a subset of the greatest sin/False Pride, Prejudice and Exclusivism.)
Ted Haggard's "Sin"-- Jon Pahl
Now that some of the dust has settled from the unfortunate fall of evangelical leader Ted Haggard -- who has confessed to being a "sinner" to his congregation -- we can achieve some longer-range perspective on what it all means. I agree with Martin Marty that Rev. Haggard, along with his family and all those involved in this scandal, deserves compassion, and one wishes him peace (see "Considering Ted Haggard's Plight," Sightings, November 6). ButHaggard's letter to his church reveals a truncated understanding of sin anda failure to recognize how the movement he led as President of the NationalAssociation of Evangelicals is in part responsible for his plight.
Like most evangelicals, Haggard is the theological heir of Saint Augustine, finding sin in pride and lust. Unlike Augustine, however, Haggard sees pride and lust as personal attributes. "I alone am responsible," he asserts in his letter. "I created this entire situation," he reiterates. And yet a third time he says, "It was created 100 percent by me."Augustine has a more sophisticated understanding of the origins of sinfuldesire. In his Confessions, he reveals how sin arises from within a socialnexus. In the famous account in Book 2, he describes stealing a bunch of pears with a gang of his friends. He did this not because he was hungry, but because it was transgressive. He and his friends constructed a foul desire and then he acted on it.
A similar dynamic can be observed among many conservative evangelicals withregard to homosexuality. By targeting gay sex as "sin," the religious righthas mobilized "values voters." But by scapegoating homosexuality, they drawattention to it as "temptation." As Haggard puts it: "There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life." It is as if the religious right's culture war has played out in Ted Haggard's soul. As an individual willing to carry the blame as a "sinner," he acted out the scapegoating that has in part organized powerfor the movement he led.
In its mild form, this scapegoating of homosexuals has been expressed in"Defense of Marriage" laws, one of which passed in the recent elections in Colorado. Haggard was a vocal supporter of these laws. Such tension between his public person and his private behavior must have been excruciating.
A more extreme form of this logic has led to movements like that of the Rev. Fred Phelps's "God Hates Fags" campaign. Passion for"purity" against homosexual desire has been used to rally evangelical righteousness, and to round up voters. Consequently, those who feel homosexual desire and who are also persuaded by the logic of a Phelps will likely bear a degree of self-hatred that leads to isolation and repression. Haggard would appear to be in such a position. "For extended periods of time," Haggard writes, "I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach."But what Haggard does not seem to recognize, as Augustine did, is how his desires were in part the result of what he believed and taught. Augustine demonstrates that a dirty desire is desirable precisely because it is dirty. Similarly, Haggard, I believe, was actually possessed by the social constructions of the very movement he led. He suggests as much when he reveals that "when I stopped communicating about my problems, the darkness increased and finally dominated me." But a problem can only dominate one in this way when it is constructed as a problem. If, say, gay sex wereconsidered good within a committed, loving, and publicly recognizedrelationship, it would not pose a moral threat.
According to Augustine, an individual either participates in God, who is gracious and life-fulfilling love, or one falls into lust, which is prideful assertion of one's desires to dominate. The religious right has had plentyof experience with domination lately. It is more than a little disturbing,then, that Haggard, in his letter, imagines that he will be "healed" when his "sins" are "dealt with harshly," and when, with the "oversight" of leading anti-gay pastors Dr. James Dobson, Jack Hayford, and Tommy Barnett, he is "disciplined." (Dobson has since withdrawn from the counseling team.)
It is unlikely that those in this group will actually confess their collective responsibility for Haggard's sins. To do so, they would have to acknowledge the systemic violence they have accepted and promoted by scapegoating homosexuals.
Policies produce practices, and when a taboo is constructed, it invariably becomes a temptation.Prior to his fall, Haggard had been an admirably clear voice for broadening evangelical activism to include support for environmental causes and attention to poverty as a religious issue. One might now hope that evangelicals and others continue to learn through his example -- by recognizing with Augustine how desire is rooted in a social nexus.
References:The full text of Ted Haggard's letter is available at the Colorado SpringsGazette: http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1326184&secid=1.
Jon Pahl is Professor of the History of Christianity in North America at theLutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and a Fellow in the Centerfor the Study of Religion at Princeton University.
Now that some of the dust has settled from the unfortunate fall of evangelical leader Ted Haggard -- who has confessed to being a "sinner" to his congregation -- we can achieve some longer-range perspective on what it all means. I agree with Martin Marty that Rev. Haggard, along with his family and all those involved in this scandal, deserves compassion, and one wishes him peace (see "Considering Ted Haggard's Plight," Sightings, November 6). ButHaggard's letter to his church reveals a truncated understanding of sin anda failure to recognize how the movement he led as President of the NationalAssociation of Evangelicals is in part responsible for his plight.
Like most evangelicals, Haggard is the theological heir of Saint Augustine, finding sin in pride and lust. Unlike Augustine, however, Haggard sees pride and lust as personal attributes. "I alone am responsible," he asserts in his letter. "I created this entire situation," he reiterates. And yet a third time he says, "It was created 100 percent by me."Augustine has a more sophisticated understanding of the origins of sinfuldesire. In his Confessions, he reveals how sin arises from within a socialnexus. In the famous account in Book 2, he describes stealing a bunch of pears with a gang of his friends. He did this not because he was hungry, but because it was transgressive. He and his friends constructed a foul desire and then he acted on it.
A similar dynamic can be observed among many conservative evangelicals withregard to homosexuality. By targeting gay sex as "sin," the religious righthas mobilized "values voters." But by scapegoating homosexuality, they drawattention to it as "temptation." As Haggard puts it: "There is a part of my life that is so repulsive and dark that I've been warring against it all of my adult life." It is as if the religious right's culture war has played out in Ted Haggard's soul. As an individual willing to carry the blame as a "sinner," he acted out the scapegoating that has in part organized powerfor the movement he led.
In its mild form, this scapegoating of homosexuals has been expressed in"Defense of Marriage" laws, one of which passed in the recent elections in Colorado. Haggard was a vocal supporter of these laws. Such tension between his public person and his private behavior must have been excruciating.
A more extreme form of this logic has led to movements like that of the Rev. Fred Phelps's "God Hates Fags" campaign. Passion for"purity" against homosexual desire has been used to rally evangelical righteousness, and to round up voters. Consequently, those who feel homosexual desire and who are also persuaded by the logic of a Phelps will likely bear a degree of self-hatred that leads to isolation and repression. Haggard would appear to be in such a position. "For extended periods of time," Haggard writes, "I would enjoy victory and rejoice in freedom. Then, from time to time, the dirt that I thought was gone would resurface, and I would find myself thinking thoughts and experiencing desires that were contrary to everything I believe and teach."But what Haggard does not seem to recognize, as Augustine did, is how his desires were in part the result of what he believed and taught. Augustine demonstrates that a dirty desire is desirable precisely because it is dirty. Similarly, Haggard, I believe, was actually possessed by the social constructions of the very movement he led. He suggests as much when he reveals that "when I stopped communicating about my problems, the darkness increased and finally dominated me." But a problem can only dominate one in this way when it is constructed as a problem. If, say, gay sex wereconsidered good within a committed, loving, and publicly recognizedrelationship, it would not pose a moral threat.
According to Augustine, an individual either participates in God, who is gracious and life-fulfilling love, or one falls into lust, which is prideful assertion of one's desires to dominate. The religious right has had plentyof experience with domination lately. It is more than a little disturbing,then, that Haggard, in his letter, imagines that he will be "healed" when his "sins" are "dealt with harshly," and when, with the "oversight" of leading anti-gay pastors Dr. James Dobson, Jack Hayford, and Tommy Barnett, he is "disciplined." (Dobson has since withdrawn from the counseling team.)
It is unlikely that those in this group will actually confess their collective responsibility for Haggard's sins. To do so, they would have to acknowledge the systemic violence they have accepted and promoted by scapegoating homosexuals.
Policies produce practices, and when a taboo is constructed, it invariably becomes a temptation.Prior to his fall, Haggard had been an admirably clear voice for broadening evangelical activism to include support for environmental causes and attention to poverty as a religious issue. One might now hope that evangelicals and others continue to learn through his example -- by recognizing with Augustine how desire is rooted in a social nexus.
References:The full text of Ted Haggard's letter is available at the Colorado SpringsGazette: http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1326184&secid=1.
Jon Pahl is Professor of the History of Christianity in North America at theLutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, and a Fellow in the Centerfor the Study of Religion at Princeton University.
Friday, December 01, 2006
Why has everyone been asking Alfie when Edwin knew what its all about all along
Edwin
ALIVE!
in London Tuesday Dec. 5 2006.
Be There!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxaAfaCln8
Because
It feels so good to breathe the air
Another spin around the sun
On this spec of life in the universe
the gift of love is there for everyone
Angels working overtimeday or night
to hold the hands that play all alone
a baby's born pure to the world
as the old man lays down his hand
and closes his eyes with nothing said
every year another promise is made
a pint of beer raised towards a better day
lets find a star a star to call our own
and make the wish maybe we can't make it home
ain't it good to be alive
to feel the sun strong against your face
strawberry blond waves of silky hair
spills over me like the milky way
ain't it good to be alive
ain't it good to be alive
alive alive
alive alive
ain't it good to breathe the air
another spin around the sun
on this spec of light in the universe
a little peace of love in everyone
ain't it good to be alive
ain't it good to be alive
to feel the sun strong against your face
spills over me like the milky way
alive alive alive alive alive
ALIVE!
in London Tuesday Dec. 5 2006.
Be There!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqxaAfaCln8
Because
It feels so good to breathe the air
Another spin around the sun
On this spec of life in the universe
the gift of love is there for everyone
Angels working overtimeday or night
to hold the hands that play all alone
a baby's born pure to the world
as the old man lays down his hand
and closes his eyes with nothing said
every year another promise is made
a pint of beer raised towards a better day
lets find a star a star to call our own
and make the wish maybe we can't make it home
ain't it good to be alive
to feel the sun strong against your face
strawberry blond waves of silky hair
spills over me like the milky way
ain't it good to be alive
ain't it good to be alive
alive alive
alive alive
ain't it good to breathe the air
another spin around the sun
on this spec of light in the universe
a little peace of love in everyone
ain't it good to be alive
ain't it good to be alive
to feel the sun strong against your face
spills over me like the milky way
alive alive alive alive alive
Thursday, November 30, 2006
These Three Angels Are Dylan's Christmas Gift to Us Melancholics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7PBOlLJU_hk
If You Can't Have a Merry Christmas
Then a Melancholy One Will Have To Do
God Bless You Gentlemen
God Bless You
If You Can't Have a Merry Christmas
Then a Melancholy One Will Have To Do
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
When You've Only Got A Hundred Years to Live........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o-YicWjgyXg
Go on and hug that old man.Because maybe you've only got a hundred years to live.....
Psalm 39:3-5 (King James Version)
3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0EQlQXoEo
YOU CAN RUN ON FOR A LONG TIME BUT
SOONER OR LATER GOD'S GONNA CUT YOU DOWN!
How Can We Hear God's Voice?
This was offered in response to the question by a person known as'tis' on Jenn's blog, Idle Rambling Thoughts (an excellent piece of work in its own right..check it out; Idle Rambling Thoughts ).
'Tis' has provided one of the best descriptions of what it means to hear from God that I have ever read. I am officially proclaiming it as one of my favourite quotations. I hope you find it instructive and inspiring.
"This type of question is usually reserved for theological exams and covers several pages, if not volumes. So, here is a brief sketch of what I think.............................. God works through power with, not power over. So, in that sense it makes it hard for me to think of God as speaking directions of any sort.
So how to know when God is speaking?
I think that I never quite know when God is active, except only through hindsight. There are moments of syncronicity that cannot be explained; things that come together for unknown reasons at the same time, nudges to do something I would normally not do, feelings of being filled with warmth and love. I understand these as Holy Spirit moments, of being touched by the Spirit of the Divine moving in and through us. This is usually felt in relationship with others.
Usually, when I sense the presence of the Divine it is actions of mercy, kindness, and love (moving me to be more open) or in instances of feeling utter despair and saddness (a feeling of comfort).
I don't experience God in language....that is I don't hear or know what God says, rather I experience the Divine embodied in the world, through others around me, in events and in creation. And of course, there are many times when I cannot sense the Divine in my life. I think by and large most of our lives are lived unaware of the Divine presence. Even monks and mystics who spend their lives trying to commune with GOd will tell you there are moments when we cannot see or feel God in our lives. It is part of being human."
tis
(thank you for the great thoughts 'tis')
'Tis' has provided one of the best descriptions of what it means to hear from God that I have ever read. I am officially proclaiming it as one of my favourite quotations. I hope you find it instructive and inspiring.
"This type of question is usually reserved for theological exams and covers several pages, if not volumes. So, here is a brief sketch of what I think.............................. God works through power with, not power over. So, in that sense it makes it hard for me to think of God as speaking directions of any sort.
So how to know when God is speaking?
I think that I never quite know when God is active, except only through hindsight. There are moments of syncronicity that cannot be explained; things that come together for unknown reasons at the same time, nudges to do something I would normally not do, feelings of being filled with warmth and love. I understand these as Holy Spirit moments, of being touched by the Spirit of the Divine moving in and through us. This is usually felt in relationship with others.
Usually, when I sense the presence of the Divine it is actions of mercy, kindness, and love (moving me to be more open) or in instances of feeling utter despair and saddness (a feeling of comfort).
I don't experience God in language....that is I don't hear or know what God says, rather I experience the Divine embodied in the world, through others around me, in events and in creation. And of course, there are many times when I cannot sense the Divine in my life. I think by and large most of our lives are lived unaware of the Divine presence. Even monks and mystics who spend their lives trying to commune with GOd will tell you there are moments when we cannot see or feel God in our lives. It is part of being human."
tis
(thank you for the great thoughts 'tis')
What the hell does God have in mind?
God's Loyal Opposition
God's tough love can be hard to take. But he provides the boot camp we need to be human.
By Frank Schaeffer
Writing fiction that reflects the gritty reality of a fallen world is not a crime. But sometimes it is treated as one.
I'm a writer who was raised evangelical. For the last seventeen years, I've lived my small spiritual struggle in the context of the Greek Orthodox Church. My writing includes sex, death, pain, and satire at the expense of people who are certain of things no one can prove. It is shaped by my experiences. Recently those experiences included having a Marine son at war.
God is a character in my new novel. He shows up as a foul-mouthed African-American Marine Corps drill instructor in a story--extruded from my worst nightmares--about a young Marine who is killed in Iraq and the aftermath for his family.
Some people believe that writers who are Christians should stick to writing books like “The Chronicles of Narnia." Maybe they can picture God better as a lion than as a DI who swears drinks and fights and trains young people to kill.
According to Christian teaching, we're made in "the image of God" and "God is love." But what is love?
If we read the book of Job, we see God strings a lot of people along and kills a few---all Job's children, for instance---before they have a clue that he cares. And when Job asks why, God tells him to mind his own business. This is not love as Oprah explains it, or as we like to think of it.
If we read the gospels, we see Jesus calling people snakes and/or filthy defiled bones in a tomb, which in Jesus’ time was as profane as yelling the expletive that begins with "mother" and ends with an abbreviated reference to sexual intercourse. We just don't feel the impact of Jesus' words because we're not the first century Pharisees being called "unclean" creatures. Perhaps God's love is sometimes closer to the love we find in the hearts of Marine Corps drill instructors than to the bland therapeutic definition we give it sometimes. Love leads from the front. We all die, so Christ showed us how to overcome death. We must suffer to learn humility, so our DI God provides the boot camp we call life and gives us the chance to earn the title of human--just as the DIs of Parris Island give their recruits the opportunity to earn the title of Marine.
God's love comes as a kick in the ass. Reality is a jolt to the senses, like when we first realize that our very existence makes us all killers. We live because other creatures die. But we filter out this reality for the same reason we'd rather buy our steaks in the supermarket than from a slaughterhouse reeking of blood.
Even when we wish for good things there is a dark side. When my Marine son went to war, every time I heard the words, "Today a Marine was killed," I prayed, "Please don't let it be John!" I knew I was really praying, "Let another father get the bad news."
Little is clear, let alone black and white. It turns out that steaks do come from slaughterhouses and even good prayers can be selfish. And in this world, if writing doesn't reflect paradox it is a lie. Telling only "nice stories"--about life, about religion--can be its own kind of lying.
Woody Allen was right--there is such a thing as loyal opposition to God. Asking tough questions is okay. Solomon knew all about this, as we see in the book of Ecclesiastes. If God didn't want us saying or thinking even despairing things like "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," he wouldn't have created writers.
Writing which reflects gritty reality is a way of exploring truth. Solomon just put into words the very reasonable question all writers worth their salt have been asking ever since: what the hell does God have in mind?
God's tough love can be hard to take. But he provides the boot camp we need to be human.
By Frank Schaeffer
Writing fiction that reflects the gritty reality of a fallen world is not a crime. But sometimes it is treated as one.
I'm a writer who was raised evangelical. For the last seventeen years, I've lived my small spiritual struggle in the context of the Greek Orthodox Church. My writing includes sex, death, pain, and satire at the expense of people who are certain of things no one can prove. It is shaped by my experiences. Recently those experiences included having a Marine son at war.
God is a character in my new novel. He shows up as a foul-mouthed African-American Marine Corps drill instructor in a story--extruded from my worst nightmares--about a young Marine who is killed in Iraq and the aftermath for his family.
Some people believe that writers who are Christians should stick to writing books like “The Chronicles of Narnia." Maybe they can picture God better as a lion than as a DI who swears drinks and fights and trains young people to kill.
According to Christian teaching, we're made in "the image of God" and "God is love." But what is love?
If we read the book of Job, we see God strings a lot of people along and kills a few---all Job's children, for instance---before they have a clue that he cares. And when Job asks why, God tells him to mind his own business. This is not love as Oprah explains it, or as we like to think of it.
If we read the gospels, we see Jesus calling people snakes and/or filthy defiled bones in a tomb, which in Jesus’ time was as profane as yelling the expletive that begins with "mother" and ends with an abbreviated reference to sexual intercourse. We just don't feel the impact of Jesus' words because we're not the first century Pharisees being called "unclean" creatures. Perhaps God's love is sometimes closer to the love we find in the hearts of Marine Corps drill instructors than to the bland therapeutic definition we give it sometimes. Love leads from the front. We all die, so Christ showed us how to overcome death. We must suffer to learn humility, so our DI God provides the boot camp we call life and gives us the chance to earn the title of human--just as the DIs of Parris Island give their recruits the opportunity to earn the title of Marine.
God's love comes as a kick in the ass. Reality is a jolt to the senses, like when we first realize that our very existence makes us all killers. We live because other creatures die. But we filter out this reality for the same reason we'd rather buy our steaks in the supermarket than from a slaughterhouse reeking of blood.
Even when we wish for good things there is a dark side. When my Marine son went to war, every time I heard the words, "Today a Marine was killed," I prayed, "Please don't let it be John!" I knew I was really praying, "Let another father get the bad news."
Little is clear, let alone black and white. It turns out that steaks do come from slaughterhouses and even good prayers can be selfish. And in this world, if writing doesn't reflect paradox it is a lie. Telling only "nice stories"--about life, about religion--can be its own kind of lying.
Woody Allen was right--there is such a thing as loyal opposition to God. Asking tough questions is okay. Solomon knew all about this, as we see in the book of Ecclesiastes. If God didn't want us saying or thinking even despairing things like "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity," he wouldn't have created writers.
Writing which reflects gritty reality is a way of exploring truth. Solomon just put into words the very reasonable question all writers worth their salt have been asking ever since: what the hell does God have in mind?
Monday, November 27, 2006
John Stott Defines Evangelicalism
Ape's comments:
I like how John Stott subtly disengages the false premise that the Bible equals 'The Word of God' (aka Jesus) . Mr Stott elevates Christ over scripture without disrespecting the role of scripture as revealer of the Word of God.
I am also happy to hear that he encourages us to take up social justice and active love in the world.
All talk, prayer, study, preaching, verbal witness do not equal fulfillment of God's stated desire that we "Walk Humbly, Do Mercy and Love Justice".
Evangelism Plus
John Stott reflects on where we've been and where we're going.Interview by Tim Stafford posted 10/13/2006 09:10AMIn 2004, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote that if evangelicals chose a pope, they would likely select John Stott. Stott, 85, has been at the heart of evangelical renewal in the U.K. His books and biblical sermons have transfixed millions throughout the world. He has been involved in many important world councils and dialogues, not least as chair of the committees that drafted the Lausanne Covenant (1974) and the Manila Manifesto (1989)—two defining statements for evangelicals. For more than 35 years, he has devoted three months of every year to traveling the globe, with a particular emphasis on churches in the majority world. He is ideally suited to comment on evangelicals' past, present, and future. ct senior writer Tim Stafford interviewed him at his home in London.Related articles and links
As you see it, what is evangelicalism, and why does it matter?
An evangelical is a plain, ordinary Christian. We stand in the mainstream of historic, orthodox, biblical Christianity. So we can recite the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed without crossing our fingers. We believe in God the Father and in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.Having said that, there are two particular things we like to emphasize: the concern for authority on the one hand and salvation on the other.For evangelical people, our authority is the God who has spoken supremely in Jesus Christ. And that is equally true of redemption or salvation. God has acted in and through Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners.I think it's necessary for evangelicals to add that what God has said in Christ and in the biblical witness to Christ, and what God has done in and through Christ, are both, to use the Greek word, hapax—meaning once and for all. There is a finality about God's word in Christ, and there is a finality about God's work in Christ. To imagine that we could add a word to his word, or add a work to his work, is extremely derogatory to the unique glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You didn't mention the Bible, which would surprise some people.
I did, actually, but you didn't notice it. I said Christ and the biblical witness to Christ. But the really distinctive emphasis is on Christ. I want to shift conviction from a book, if you like, to a person. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to me. Their main function is to witness to Christ.
Part of your implication is that evangelicals are not to be a negatively inspired people. Our real focus ought to be the glory of Christ.
Our real focus ought to be the glory of Christ.I believe that very strongly. We believe in the authority of the Bible because Christ has endorsed its authority. He stands between the two testaments. As we look back to the Old Testament, he has endorsed it. As we look forward to the New Testament, we accept it because of the apostolic witness to Christ. He deliberately chose and appointed and prepared the apostles, in order that they might have their unique apostolic witness to him. I like to see Christ in the middle, endorsing the old, preparing for the new. Although the question of the New Testament canon is complicated, in general we are able to say that canonicity is apostolicity.
How has the position of evangelicals changed during your years of ministry?
I look back—it's been 61 years since I was ordained—and when I was ordained in the Church of England, evangelicals in the Church of England were a despised and rejected minority. The bishops lost no opportunity to ridicule us. Over the intervening 60 years, I've seen the evangelical movement in England grow in size, in maturity, certainly in scholarship, and therefore I think in influence and impact. We went from a ghetto to being on the ascendancy, which is a very dangerous place to be.
Can you comment on the dangers?
Pride is the ever-present danger that faces all of us. In many ways, it is good for us to be despised and rejected. I think of Jesus' words, "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you.".......................
You know our growing church probably as well as any Westerner does. I wonder how you evaluate it.
The answer is "growth without depth." None of us wants to dispute the extraordinary growth of the church. But it has been largely numerical and statistical growth. And there has not been sufficient growth in discipleship that is comparable to the growth in numbers.....................
What about what some call the greatest mission field, which is our own secularizing or secularized culture? What do we need to do to reach this increasingly pagan society?
I think we need to say to one another that it's not so secular as it looks. I believe that these so-called secular people are engaged in a quest for at least three things. The first is transcendence. It's interesting in a so-called secular culture how many people are looking for something beyond. I find that a great challenge to the quality of our Christian worship. Does it offer people what they are instinctively looking for, which is transcendence, the reality of God?The second is significance. Almost everybody is looking for his or her own personal identity. Who am I, where do I come from, where am I going to, what is it all about? That is a challenge to the quality of our Christian teaching. We need to teach people who they are. They don't know who they are. We do. They are human beings made in the image of God, although that image has been defaced.And third is their quest for community. Everywhere, people are looking for community, for relationships of love. This is a challenge to our fellowship. I'm very fond of 1 John 4:12: "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us." The invisibility of God is a great problem to people. The question is how has God solved the problem of his own invisibility? First, Christ has made the invisible God visible. That's John's Gospel 1:18: "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."People say that's wonderful, but it was 2,000 years ago. So in 1 John 4:12, he begins with exactly the same formula, nobody has ever seen God. But here John goes on, "If we love one another, God abides in us." The same invisible God who once made himself visible in Jesus now makes himself visible in the Christian community, if we love one another. And all the verbal proclamation of the gospel is of little value unless it is made by a community of love.
These three things about our humanity are on our side in our evangelism, because people are looking for the very things we have to offer them.And therefore you're not despairing of the West.
I'm not despairing. But I believe that evangelism is specially through the local church, through the community, rather than through the individual. That the church should be an alternative society, a visible sign of the kingdom. And the tragedy is that our local churches often don't seem to manifest community.............
Where do we evangelicals need to go?
We've been through quite a trip in the last 50 years. My immediate answer is that we need to go beyond evangelism. Evangelism is supposed to be evangelicals' specialty. Now, I am totally committed to world evangelization. But we must look beyond evangelism to the transforming power of the gospel, both in individuals and in society. With regard to individuals, I'm noting in different expressions of the evangelical faith an absence of that quest for holiness that marked our forebears, who founded the Keswick movement, for example, and the quest for what they sometimes called scriptural holiness or practical holiness. Somehow holiness has a rather sanctimonious feel to it. People don't like to be described as holy. But the holiness of the New Testament is Christlikeness. I wish that the whole evangelical movement could consciously set before us the desire to grow in Christlikeness such as is described in Galatians 5:22-23.
Regarding social transformation, I've reflected a great deal on the salt and light metaphors, the models that Jesus himself chose in Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount. "You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world." It seems to me that those models must be said to contain at least three things.First, that Christians are radically different from non-Christians, or if they are not, they ought to be. Jesus sets over against each other two communities. On the one hand there is the world, and on the other hand there is you, who are the dark world's light. Jesus implied that we are as different as light from darkness and salt from decay.
Second, Christians must permeate non-Christian society. Salt does no good if it stays in the saltshaker. Light does no good if you hide it under a bed or bucket. It has to permeate the darkness. So both metaphors call us not just to be different, but to permeate society.
The third, the more controversial implication, is that the salt and light metaphors indicate that Christians can change non-Christian society. The models must mean that, because both salt and light are effective commodities. They change the environments in which they are placed. Salt hinders bacterial decay. Light dispels darkness. This is not to resurrect the social gospel. We cannot perfect society. But we can improve it.
My hope is that in the future, evangelical leaders will ensure that their social agenda includes such vital but controversial topics as halting climate change, eradicating poverty, abolishing armories of mass destruction, responding adequately to the AIDS pandemic, and asserting the human rights of women and children in all cultures. I hope our agenda does not remain too narrow.
I like how John Stott subtly disengages the false premise that the Bible equals 'The Word of God' (aka Jesus) . Mr Stott elevates Christ over scripture without disrespecting the role of scripture as revealer of the Word of God.
I am also happy to hear that he encourages us to take up social justice and active love in the world.
All talk, prayer, study, preaching, verbal witness do not equal fulfillment of God's stated desire that we "Walk Humbly, Do Mercy and Love Justice".
Evangelism Plus
John Stott reflects on where we've been and where we're going.Interview by Tim Stafford posted 10/13/2006 09:10AMIn 2004, New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote that if evangelicals chose a pope, they would likely select John Stott. Stott, 85, has been at the heart of evangelical renewal in the U.K. His books and biblical sermons have transfixed millions throughout the world. He has been involved in many important world councils and dialogues, not least as chair of the committees that drafted the Lausanne Covenant (1974) and the Manila Manifesto (1989)—two defining statements for evangelicals. For more than 35 years, he has devoted three months of every year to traveling the globe, with a particular emphasis on churches in the majority world. He is ideally suited to comment on evangelicals' past, present, and future. ct senior writer Tim Stafford interviewed him at his home in London.Related articles and links
As you see it, what is evangelicalism, and why does it matter?
An evangelical is a plain, ordinary Christian. We stand in the mainstream of historic, orthodox, biblical Christianity. So we can recite the Apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed without crossing our fingers. We believe in God the Father and in Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit.Having said that, there are two particular things we like to emphasize: the concern for authority on the one hand and salvation on the other.For evangelical people, our authority is the God who has spoken supremely in Jesus Christ. And that is equally true of redemption or salvation. God has acted in and through Jesus Christ for the salvation of sinners.I think it's necessary for evangelicals to add that what God has said in Christ and in the biblical witness to Christ, and what God has done in and through Christ, are both, to use the Greek word, hapax—meaning once and for all. There is a finality about God's word in Christ, and there is a finality about God's work in Christ. To imagine that we could add a word to his word, or add a work to his work, is extremely derogatory to the unique glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You didn't mention the Bible, which would surprise some people.
I did, actually, but you didn't notice it. I said Christ and the biblical witness to Christ. But the really distinctive emphasis is on Christ. I want to shift conviction from a book, if you like, to a person. As Jesus himself said, the Scriptures bear witness to me. Their main function is to witness to Christ.
Part of your implication is that evangelicals are not to be a negatively inspired people. Our real focus ought to be the glory of Christ.
Our real focus ought to be the glory of Christ.I believe that very strongly. We believe in the authority of the Bible because Christ has endorsed its authority. He stands between the two testaments. As we look back to the Old Testament, he has endorsed it. As we look forward to the New Testament, we accept it because of the apostolic witness to Christ. He deliberately chose and appointed and prepared the apostles, in order that they might have their unique apostolic witness to him. I like to see Christ in the middle, endorsing the old, preparing for the new. Although the question of the New Testament canon is complicated, in general we are able to say that canonicity is apostolicity.
How has the position of evangelicals changed during your years of ministry?
I look back—it's been 61 years since I was ordained—and when I was ordained in the Church of England, evangelicals in the Church of England were a despised and rejected minority. The bishops lost no opportunity to ridicule us. Over the intervening 60 years, I've seen the evangelical movement in England grow in size, in maturity, certainly in scholarship, and therefore I think in influence and impact. We went from a ghetto to being on the ascendancy, which is a very dangerous place to be.
Can you comment on the dangers?
Pride is the ever-present danger that faces all of us. In many ways, it is good for us to be despised and rejected. I think of Jesus' words, "Woe unto you when all men speak well of you.".......................
You know our growing church probably as well as any Westerner does. I wonder how you evaluate it.
The answer is "growth without depth." None of us wants to dispute the extraordinary growth of the church. But it has been largely numerical and statistical growth. And there has not been sufficient growth in discipleship that is comparable to the growth in numbers.....................
What about what some call the greatest mission field, which is our own secularizing or secularized culture? What do we need to do to reach this increasingly pagan society?
I think we need to say to one another that it's not so secular as it looks. I believe that these so-called secular people are engaged in a quest for at least three things. The first is transcendence. It's interesting in a so-called secular culture how many people are looking for something beyond. I find that a great challenge to the quality of our Christian worship. Does it offer people what they are instinctively looking for, which is transcendence, the reality of God?The second is significance. Almost everybody is looking for his or her own personal identity. Who am I, where do I come from, where am I going to, what is it all about? That is a challenge to the quality of our Christian teaching. We need to teach people who they are. They don't know who they are. We do. They are human beings made in the image of God, although that image has been defaced.And third is their quest for community. Everywhere, people are looking for community, for relationships of love. This is a challenge to our fellowship. I'm very fond of 1 John 4:12: "No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us." The invisibility of God is a great problem to people. The question is how has God solved the problem of his own invisibility? First, Christ has made the invisible God visible. That's John's Gospel 1:18: "No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known."People say that's wonderful, but it was 2,000 years ago. So in 1 John 4:12, he begins with exactly the same formula, nobody has ever seen God. But here John goes on, "If we love one another, God abides in us." The same invisible God who once made himself visible in Jesus now makes himself visible in the Christian community, if we love one another. And all the verbal proclamation of the gospel is of little value unless it is made by a community of love.
These three things about our humanity are on our side in our evangelism, because people are looking for the very things we have to offer them.And therefore you're not despairing of the West.
I'm not despairing. But I believe that evangelism is specially through the local church, through the community, rather than through the individual. That the church should be an alternative society, a visible sign of the kingdom. And the tragedy is that our local churches often don't seem to manifest community.............
Where do we evangelicals need to go?
We've been through quite a trip in the last 50 years. My immediate answer is that we need to go beyond evangelism. Evangelism is supposed to be evangelicals' specialty. Now, I am totally committed to world evangelization. But we must look beyond evangelism to the transforming power of the gospel, both in individuals and in society. With regard to individuals, I'm noting in different expressions of the evangelical faith an absence of that quest for holiness that marked our forebears, who founded the Keswick movement, for example, and the quest for what they sometimes called scriptural holiness or practical holiness. Somehow holiness has a rather sanctimonious feel to it. People don't like to be described as holy. But the holiness of the New Testament is Christlikeness. I wish that the whole evangelical movement could consciously set before us the desire to grow in Christlikeness such as is described in Galatians 5:22-23.
Regarding social transformation, I've reflected a great deal on the salt and light metaphors, the models that Jesus himself chose in Matthew 5 in the Sermon on the Mount. "You are the salt of the earth; you are the light of the world." It seems to me that those models must be said to contain at least three things.First, that Christians are radically different from non-Christians, or if they are not, they ought to be. Jesus sets over against each other two communities. On the one hand there is the world, and on the other hand there is you, who are the dark world's light. Jesus implied that we are as different as light from darkness and salt from decay.
Second, Christians must permeate non-Christian society. Salt does no good if it stays in the saltshaker. Light does no good if you hide it under a bed or bucket. It has to permeate the darkness. So both metaphors call us not just to be different, but to permeate society.
The third, the more controversial implication, is that the salt and light metaphors indicate that Christians can change non-Christian society. The models must mean that, because both salt and light are effective commodities. They change the environments in which they are placed. Salt hinders bacterial decay. Light dispels darkness. This is not to resurrect the social gospel. We cannot perfect society. But we can improve it.
My hope is that in the future, evangelical leaders will ensure that their social agenda includes such vital but controversial topics as halting climate change, eradicating poverty, abolishing armories of mass destruction, responding adequately to the AIDS pandemic, and asserting the human rights of women and children in all cultures. I hope our agenda does not remain too narrow.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Rule of St. Benedict
LET ALL GUESTS who arrive be received like Christ, for he is going to say, "I came as a guest, and you received me." Rule of St. Benedict
ACCORDING TO PAUL, it was not truly the Lord's Supper unless everyone from any social status ate it together, signifying equal inclusion. Bread and wine eaten in the context of a full meal also symbolize care for the poor, for when all eat together, there are no needy.
Reta Halteman Finger, "An Instinct for Community"
IF WE CANNOT see God in the commonalities that constitute daily life, we would not recognize Christ if he walked into the room and sat down beside us.
DON C. SKINNER, A Passage through Sacred History
Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Community is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit, not built upon mutual compatibility, shared affection, or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath, having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire, and having been embraced by the same divine love. - Henri Nouwen
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. - Isaiah 58:9-10
ACCORDING TO PAUL, it was not truly the Lord's Supper unless everyone from any social status ate it together, signifying equal inclusion. Bread and wine eaten in the context of a full meal also symbolize care for the poor, for when all eat together, there are no needy.
Reta Halteman Finger, "An Instinct for Community"
IF WE CANNOT see God in the commonalities that constitute daily life, we would not recognize Christ if he walked into the room and sat down beside us.
DON C. SKINNER, A Passage through Sacred History
Every Christian community must know that not only do the weak need the strong, but also that the strong cannot exist without the weak. The elimination of the weak is the death of the community.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer
Community is first and foremost a gift of the Holy Spirit, not built upon mutual compatibility, shared affection, or common interests but upon having received the same divine breath, having been given a heart set aflame by the same divine fire, and having been embraced by the same divine love. - Henri Nouwen
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil, if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted, then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday. - Isaiah 58:9-10
Friday, November 24, 2006
Thursday, November 23, 2006
The Amazing Grace of Rick and Dick Hoyt
(Beautiful People Series)
DON'T MISS THIS VIDEO
it will rend your heart and make you believe that perhaps, just perhaps love is at the centre of the universe and it is the most powerful and important thing we will ever know...........and it is enough!
Be sure to visit Team Hoyt at
http://www.teamhoyt.com/
and support The Hoyt Foundation if you can.
DON'T MISS THIS VIDEO
it will rend your heart and make you believe that perhaps, just perhaps love is at the centre of the universe and it is the most powerful and important thing we will ever know...........and it is enough!
Be sure to visit Team Hoyt at
http://www.teamhoyt.com/
and support The Hoyt Foundation if you can.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Punk News on Johnny Cash's Death (R2E's beautiful people series)
The Man in Black, singer Johnny Cash has died at age 71. Cash's career in music spanned 6 decades. He died from complications arising from diabetes at 1 AM EST today at Baptist Hospital in Nashville, TN. Our deepest condolences go out to his family and friends. Cash's legacy and influence is impossible to measure and touched all corners of the musical spectrum. Thanks to all of you who submitted this news, there sure were a lot of you.
In Memoriam: Johnny Cash: 1932-2003
Posted by adam on Friday, September 12, 2003 at 9:33 AM (EDT)
I wear the black for the poor and the beaten down,
Livin' in the hopeless, hungry side of town,
I wear it for the prisoner who has long paid for his crime,
But is there because he's a victim of the time
Ah, I'd love to wear a rainbow every day,
And tell the world that everything's OK,
But I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back,'
Till things are brighter, I'm the Man In Black
This was a real man of GodNever perfect
Always real
I have see only a few
in my lifetime
I pray we will see more.......
Johnny Cash: 1932-2003
J.C. Has Busted Out of His Rusty Cage and He Runs
Now that Johnny has boarded the 309
he can tell Death, the Devil and Sun Records Where to Get Off!
(and he has)
Rest in Peace
Hurt
There is no mystery so great as misery
The Happy Prince
There is no music video so great as
Hurt by Johnny Cash and Rick Rubin
See it now and know you are not alone.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SmVAWKfJ4Go
I BELIEVE IN THE KINGDOM COME but i still haven't found what i'm looking for
by U2
(If Martina is my Thomas Aquinas
Bono is my St. Augustine)
I have climbed highest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing
in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors
will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes Im still running
You broke the bonds
and youLoosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed it
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryqUE_2D65I
Someday all truth will be God's truth. It just won't be quite what any of us expected. But of this I am confident, when all colours do bleed into ONE, that ONE will be revealed on a cross.
(If Martina is my Thomas Aquinas
Bono is my St. Augustine)
I have climbed highest mountain
I have run through the fields
Only to be with you
Only to be with you
I have run
I have crawled
I have scaled these city walls
These city walls
Only to be with you
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
I have kissed honey lips
Felt the healing
in her fingertips
It burned like fire
This burning desire
I have spoke with the tongue of angels
I have held the hand of a devil
It was warm in the night
I was cold as a stone
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
I believe in the kingdom come
Then all the colors
will bleed into one
Bleed into one
Well yes Im still running
You broke the bonds
and youLoosed the chains
Carried the cross
Of my shame
Of my shame
You know I believed it
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for
But I still havent found
what Im looking for...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryqUE_2D65I
Someday all truth will be God's truth. It just won't be quite what any of us expected. But of this I am confident, when all colours do bleed into ONE, that ONE will be revealed on a cross.
Love is a Temple, Love's a Higher Law
We are one but we are not the same
We 'GET' to carry each other
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jag_CtwE-v8
I can't emphasize it enough
we don't 'have' to carry each other
we 'GET' to carry each other
that means
You Too!
We 'GET' to carry each other
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jag_CtwE-v8
I can't emphasize it enough
we don't 'have' to carry each other
we 'GET' to carry each other
that means
You Too!
Love's The Only House Big Enough For All The Pain In The World
In case you haven't figured it out....Martina McBride is one of my favourite Theologians
God Bless you good ol'country gal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVu3_xiJbQo
God Bless you good ol'country gal.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVu3_xiJbQo
God's Will
It comes to us dressed as a bag of leaves
limping in a brace
wheeling in a chair
speaking with a lisp
being singled out for a joke
never being picked to play ball
be being told that if they kiss a tree
they can come to the party
but never getting invited
even after they embrace a forest
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhLMJfTDNw4
Do You Know God's Will?
What did you do when you met him?
One Thing
WHAT REALLY COUNTS in life is that at some time you have seen something, felt something, which is so great, so matchless, that everything else is nothing by comparison, that even if you forgot everything, you would never forget this.
Søren Kierkegaard, Journals and Papers
What would be that one thing that you'd trade it all away for?
Matthew 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Is this a live question for you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMn5UhxzE-w
Søren Kierkegaard, Journals and Papers
What would be that one thing that you'd trade it all away for?
Matthew 16:26For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
Is this a live question for you?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMn5UhxzE-w
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
You Can Run On For A Long Time But........
Truth Telling
Few Did It Better Than You J.C.
We Miss You
Now That You've Taken That Ride on the 309
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e0EQlQXoEo
.....sooner or later God'll cut you down!
Psalm 39:3-5 (King James Version)
3My heart was hot within me, while I was musing the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue,
4LORD, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is: that I may know how frail I am.
5Behold, thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah.
Monday, November 20, 2006
This One's For You STAG
Kaj Munk (1898-1944) - Kaj Harald Leininger Petersen Danish playwright and priest, whose outspoken, passionately patriotic sermons during World War II led to his being killed by the Nazis.
Munk helped revitalize the Danish theatre by his rejection of the naturalistic drama in favor of the more spiritually oriented plays. Dominant features in Munk's writings were his deep Christian faith and admiration for the strong-willed man of action.
Quote:
"What is the task of the preacher (or the church) today?
Shall I answer: "Faith, hope and love"?
That sounds beautiful.
But I would say -- Courage.
No, even that is not challenging enough
to be the whole truth.
Our task today is recklessness.
For what we Christians lack
is not psychology or literature,
We lack a holy rage.
The recklessness that comes
from the knowledge of God and humanity.
The ability to rage when
justice lies prostrate on the streets . .
and when the lie rages across the face of the earth
--a holy anger about things that are wrong in the world.
To rage against the ravaging of God's earth,
and the destruction of God's world.
To rage when little children must die of hunger,
when the tables of the rich are sagging with food.
To rage at senseless killing of so many,
and against the madness of the militaries.
To rage at the lie that calls the threat of death
and the strategy ofdestruction -- peace.
To rage against complacency.
To restlessly seek that recklessness
that will challenge and seek to change
human history until it conforms
with the norms of the kingdom ofGod.
And remember the signs of the Christian church have always been --the Lion, the Lamb, the Dove and the Fish (Editor's note. Perhaps the STAG? as well)--but never the chameleon."
Kaj Munk<http://www.kevinburt.typepad.com/> Quoted in EXILES by Michael Frost
Munk helped revitalize the Danish theatre by his rejection of the naturalistic drama in favor of the more spiritually oriented plays. Dominant features in Munk's writings were his deep Christian faith and admiration for the strong-willed man of action.
Quote:
"What is the task of the preacher (or the church) today?
Shall I answer: "Faith, hope and love"?
That sounds beautiful.
But I would say -- Courage.
No, even that is not challenging enough
to be the whole truth.
Our task today is recklessness.
For what we Christians lack
is not psychology or literature,
We lack a holy rage.
The recklessness that comes
from the knowledge of God and humanity.
The ability to rage when
justice lies prostrate on the streets . .
and when the lie rages across the face of the earth
--a holy anger about things that are wrong in the world.
To rage against the ravaging of God's earth,
and the destruction of God's world.
To rage when little children must die of hunger,
when the tables of the rich are sagging with food.
To rage at senseless killing of so many,
and against the madness of the militaries.
To rage at the lie that calls the threat of death
and the strategy ofdestruction -- peace.
To rage against complacency.
To restlessly seek that recklessness
that will challenge and seek to change
human history until it conforms
with the norms of the kingdom ofGod.
And remember the signs of the Christian church have always been --the Lion, the Lamb, the Dove and the Fish (Editor's note. Perhaps the STAG? as well)--but never the chameleon."
Kaj Munk<http://www.kevinburt.typepad.com/> Quoted in EXILES by Michael Frost
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