COFFEE BREAK 133

+ updated at 11:18am EST, Saturday, January 30, 2010

+ What is Christian Orthodoxy?  I have a really good friend who is a third-generation Eastern Orthodox Priest (Russian heritage).  He does not believe that any Presbyterian -- Liberal, Conservative, Moderate -- is anywhere close to being "orthodox."  We have great conversations.  The Eastern Orthodox have many beliefs and practices which are quite attractive and fascinating.  I have always respected him because of his compassion and humility and gentleness and eagerness to discuss our belefs and values.  That's what it's all about and such wonderful people are found in every denomination and sect and wisdom tradition.  Orthodoxy literally means "right praise" and I'm sure God delights in the praise of all kinds of people from all kinds of traditions. 

+ Shuck and Jive offers "What Does History Require of You?" by John Shuck". Excerpt: "What needs to be done is to get serious about downscaling a suburban lifestyle that doesn't produce anything. Energy realities will demand it."  I offered a comment about my growing disappointment with President Obama and all of the Democrats who haven't delivered anything close to the kind of "change you can believe in" which would please me. 

+ I have enjoyed offering comments recently at Viola Larson's Naming His Grace blog but decided to stop recently due to the frustration of simply not being understood by Viola and those who share her narrowly defined Christian beliefs.  In a post she offered yesterday, "Making Jesus God", Viola is clearly writing about me.  Well I am honored that she is still thinking about me!  But I told her recently that it was time for me to move on and I hope she will move on from any desire to continue knocking down my beliefs without understanding me (including serious mis-statments of comments I made).  However, if she would make a more determined effort to seek genuine understanding, then I would be delighted to continue the conversation.

+ Spirituality and Practice is offering an E-retreat on InterSpiritual Wisdom beginning this Sunday.  It will be led by Shaikh Kabir and Shaikha Camille Helminski, Rabbi Rami Shapiro, Swami Atmarupananda, Dr. Ed Bastian, Rev. Cynthia Bourgeault, Spiritual Paths Institute; Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice.  I'm signed up.  How about you?

At The Abundancetrek Blog, I have begun a series of posts on InterSpiritual Wisdom.

+ EarthEasy offers “The Death of Stillness” by Richard Mahler, author of Stillness: Daily Gifts of Solitude. The article begins:

Whatever the question, "busy" is the answer.
How are you?
"Busy."
How's work?
"Busy."
How's the family?
"Busy."

We hear it again and again, all day long. But you can't fool me. "Busy" is more than a buzzword. It's shorthand for, "My schedule is a nightmare, my phone won't stop ringing, and my e-mail box is overflowing. I have a mile-long list of obligations to my spouse, boss, kids, friends, pets, car, and houseplants. I'm so swamped that I can't afford to give you more than a one-word answer."

+ At The Abundancetrek Blog, I have begun a series of posts on Christian-Muslim Dialogue.

+ Spirituality and Practice offers a film review of an important documentary, The Shock Doctrine, based on Naomi Klein's book of the same title which is a penetrating and provocative analysis of how the Friedman school of unregulated capitalism is damaging so many countries on the planet including the USA. The review begins: "If you are troubled by the growing gap between the rich and the poor in America and elsewhere, this documentary will clear some things up for you about how the powerful have rigged the political game to give themselves even more wealth."