+ updated at 2:29pm EST on Friday, December 7, 2012
+ We are on an amazing journey. I invite you to join me and explore some of the wonderful, fantastic places which we can and even must encounter sooner or later. I invite you to write about your journey. Go to my Let's Go series of posts.
+ OK, since I'm thinking about some of my favorite places on the web, I must suggest that you think about including Theological Wanderings of a Street Pastor, that is if you like blogs with spiritual and theological and political and cultural depth. Barrett's posts are simply fascinating most of the time. I'm a fan. And he's also a great friend.
+ And I am a big fan of Bill McKibben, a fantastic environmental writer and activist. The New York Times recently offered "To Fight Climate Change, College Students Take Aim at the Endowment Portfolio" which features a campaign promoted by McKibben to divest from fossil fuel industries unless they change their policies.
+ Of course, I remain a big fan of Paul Krugman and his great blog. Here is "The Fiscal Ignoramus Factor." Oh how I wish our political leaders would heed the advice of the likes of Krugman and Reich. Keynes was right. Keynesian Economics is an important policy for us to choose as we move our planet toward more compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance.
+ I am becoming a big Robert Reich fan. What a great blog. Here is his latest: "Cliff Notes on the Three Real Perils Ahead." The real cliffs we face are: Growing Poverty, Rapidly Increasing Healthcare Costs and Global Warming.
Showing posts with label Theology. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Theology. Show all posts
Friday, December 7, 2012
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
COFFEE BREAK 338
+ updated at 12:52pm ESDT on Wednesday, June 20, 2012
+The Theological Wanderings of a Street Pastor offers "Religious Liberalism 101: A Book Review of Paul Rasor’s ‘Faith Without Certainty’"
+ I am taking a Spirituality and Practice ecourse on Practicing the Presence of God. Here is what I shared today in the Practice forum:
2 Corinthians 12 is one of the great peaks of the Bible. Read it all when you get a chance. I was required to preach a sermon to my Presbytery before ordination in 1975. This was my text and it has always been close to my heart.
I think it's all about TRUST ... trusting the process ... trusting the here and now at all times, at this time, all the time ... trusting everything to work out beautifully, wondrously, miraculously, naturally. The Heavenly Council is working for us night and day. Now is the time to surrender, to rest in the "peace which passes all understanding," the sufficient grace which is offered so freely "not as the world gives" but in the mysterious and marvelous way heaven gives ... unconditional Love ... unlimited Love... uniting Love ... amazing Grace.
Breathe deeply. Breathe fully. Be still. Be silent. Be centered. Be grounded. Lighten up. Loosen up. Let go. Let God. Celebrate. Enjoy. Be glad all over!
+ Not yet 90 BUT the high humidity makes it feel like its 96 already (12:12pm). You could see how high it goes today at http://www.wunderground.com/US/NY/Whitesboro.html?bannertypeclick=bigwx
+ Almost 90 out now at noon.
+ As I just said (below), Shuck and Jive is always fascinating and provocative. Read today's post.
+ I have to go inside now (11:44am ESDT). It has been nice to be outside but the heat is starting to get unbearable for a Norwegian-American like me!
+ A lot has been happening (of course) since I last blogged here. Among other things ...
+The Theological Wanderings of a Street Pastor offers "Religious Liberalism 101: A Book Review of Paul Rasor’s ‘Faith Without Certainty’"
+ I am taking a Spirituality and Practice ecourse on Practicing the Presence of God. Here is what I shared today in the Practice forum:
2 Corinthians 12 is one of the great peaks of the Bible. Read it all when you get a chance. I was required to preach a sermon to my Presbytery before ordination in 1975. This was my text and it has always been close to my heart.
I think it's all about TRUST ... trusting the process ... trusting the here and now at all times, at this time, all the time ... trusting everything to work out beautifully, wondrously, miraculously, naturally. The Heavenly Council is working for us night and day. Now is the time to surrender, to rest in the "peace which passes all understanding," the sufficient grace which is offered so freely "not as the world gives" but in the mysterious and marvelous way heaven gives ... unconditional Love ... unlimited Love... uniting Love ... amazing Grace.
Breathe deeply. Breathe fully. Be still. Be silent. Be centered. Be grounded. Lighten up. Loosen up. Let go. Let God. Celebrate. Enjoy. Be glad all over!
+ Not yet 90 BUT the high humidity makes it feel like its 96 already (12:12pm). You could see how high it goes today at http://www.wunderground.com/US/NY/Whitesboro.html?bannertypeclick=bigwx
+ Almost 90 out now at noon.
+ As I just said (below), Shuck and Jive is always fascinating and provocative. Read today's post.
+ I have to go inside now (11:44am ESDT). It has been nice to be outside but the heat is starting to get unbearable for a Norwegian-American like me!
+ A lot has been happening (of course) since I last blogged here. Among other things ...
- Family and friends gathered in Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill, North Carolina in late May for a memorial service for my dad who died in on March 27, 7 weeks before he would have turned 100. He was born on May 21, 1912.
- Mary, my wife, suffered a concussion during a short bus ride taking the University of Rochester Nursing School faculty to graduation at Eastman Hall on May 19. Recovery has been slow and frustrating. The symptoms seem to be lessening but she still has some bad days.
+ Spirituality and Practice offers "Are We Living in Sensory Overload or Sensory Poverty?" by Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat.
Monday, October 17, 2011
COFFEE BREAK 297
+ updated at 2:22pm ESDT on Monday, October 17, 2011.
+ In "America's 'Primal Scream," Nicholas D. Kristoff offers some important reflections on the Occupy Wall Street movement. He says it's resonating because most of us are quite aware of the growing income inequality here in the USA and elsewhere.
+ In "A Movement Too Big to Fail," Chris Hedges offers some important reflections on the Occupy Wall Street movement. It begins: "There is no danger that the protesters who have occupied squares, parks and plazas across the nation in defiance of the corporate state will be co-opted by the Democratic Party or groups like MoveOn. The faux liberal reformers, whose abject failure to stand up for the rights of the poor and the working class, have signed on to this movement because they fear becoming irrelevant."
+ In his latest sermon, The Myth of the Call, John Shuck has some very profound thoughts about the call of Abram and how it relates both positively and negatively to our current movements for compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance. Here is the conclusion of that sermon:
The myth of the call is rooted in patriarchal spirituality. The figure is Abraham. He gets the divine summons to leave what is familiar, to leave his comfort zone, and to be a blessing. The call to be a blessing is a source of power that we can tap into in our contemporary movements for justice and peace, such as the movement taking place around the country. That call to go out and demonstrate, to dream of change, and to act is a powerful and necessary thing.
The shadow of the call is fanaticism. Abram’s call involved a displacement of the Canaanites and the willingness to kill his own son for this vision. There is delusion, fanaticism, carelessness, and ruthlessness associated with this call. Abram needs a partner. He needs a strong Sarai. Before going off to sacrifice their son, he might ask her opinion first.
If there is a call, it is to all of us. It is a call to be as well as to do. The values of relationship, companionship, diversity, wisdom, partnership, nurturing, and compassion will make our movement for social and economic justice stronger, more sustainable, and will enlarge that circle of blessing.
+ It is high time for us Presbyterians to do what some courageous, prophetic Methodists are doing. Go to http://johnshore.com/2011/10/17/methodist-ministers-to-perform-gay-weddings-despite-ban/.
By the way, some prophetic and courageous Presbyterians are doing GLBT weddings but more are needed.
+ In "America's 'Primal Scream," Nicholas D. Kristoff offers some important reflections on the Occupy Wall Street movement. He says it's resonating because most of us are quite aware of the growing income inequality here in the USA and elsewhere.
+ In "A Movement Too Big to Fail," Chris Hedges offers some important reflections on the Occupy Wall Street movement. It begins: "There is no danger that the protesters who have occupied squares, parks and plazas across the nation in defiance of the corporate state will be co-opted by the Democratic Party or groups like MoveOn. The faux liberal reformers, whose abject failure to stand up for the rights of the poor and the working class, have signed on to this movement because they fear becoming irrelevant."
+ In his latest sermon, The Myth of the Call, John Shuck has some very profound thoughts about the call of Abram and how it relates both positively and negatively to our current movements for compassion, peace, justice and sustainable abundance. Here is the conclusion of that sermon:
The myth of the call is rooted in patriarchal spirituality. The figure is Abraham. He gets the divine summons to leave what is familiar, to leave his comfort zone, and to be a blessing. The call to be a blessing is a source of power that we can tap into in our contemporary movements for justice and peace, such as the movement taking place around the country. That call to go out and demonstrate, to dream of change, and to act is a powerful and necessary thing.
The shadow of the call is fanaticism. Abram’s call involved a displacement of the Canaanites and the willingness to kill his own son for this vision. There is delusion, fanaticism, carelessness, and ruthlessness associated with this call. Abram needs a partner. He needs a strong Sarai. Before going off to sacrifice their son, he might ask her opinion first.
If there is a call, it is to all of us. It is a call to be as well as to do. The values of relationship, companionship, diversity, wisdom, partnership, nurturing, and compassion will make our movement for social and economic justice stronger, more sustainable, and will enlarge that circle of blessing.
+ It is high time for us Presbyterians to do what some courageous, prophetic Methodists are doing. Go to http://johnshore.com/2011/10/17/methodist-ministers-to-perform-gay-weddings-despite-ban/.
By the way, some prophetic and courageous Presbyterians are doing GLBT weddings but more are needed.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
COFFEE BREAK 290
+ updated at 12:36pm ESDT on Wednesday, September 14, 2011
+ Here is a great line from a great sermon recently preached by Barrett Lee:
The paradoxical irony of heaven’s economy is that those who keep forgiveness for themselves will lose it while those who give it away will keep it forever.
+ I am back from a month of travel in England and Scotland. I have been blogging about it at The Abundancetrek Travel Blog. You will find a link to some beautiful sunset photos.
+ My friend John Shuck is reading a good book and, of course, blogging about it at Breaking Up With God (Part 1) and Breaking Up With God (Part 2) and Meaning of Life, Part 72. Here is a quote from Sarah Sentilles, Breaking Up With God: A Love Story. She quotes Louis Dupre:
"I need God for all I am, Dupre said. And God needs me for all God is. God needs me to be God. God is the life force of everything that is, he said. God is everywhere, the core of everything that is. Most Christains and Jews are too afraid of pantheism to admit this, he said. Mystics are not afraid of pantheism. They know if God is not in the movement of my fingers, then God does not exist."
+ Here is a great line from a great sermon recently preached by Barrett Lee:
The paradoxical irony of heaven’s economy is that those who keep forgiveness for themselves will lose it while those who give it away will keep it forever.
+ I am back from a month of travel in England and Scotland. I have been blogging about it at The Abundancetrek Travel Blog. You will find a link to some beautiful sunset photos.
+ My friend John Shuck is reading a good book and, of course, blogging about it at Breaking Up With God (Part 1) and Breaking Up With God (Part 2) and Meaning of Life, Part 72. Here is a quote from Sarah Sentilles, Breaking Up With God: A Love Story. She quotes Louis Dupre:
"I need God for all I am, Dupre said. And God needs me for all God is. God needs me to be God. God is the life force of everything that is, he said. God is everywhere, the core of everything that is. Most Christains and Jews are too afraid of pantheism to admit this, he said. Mystics are not afraid of pantheism. They know if God is not in the movement of my fingers, then God does not exist."
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
COFFEE BREAK 257
+ Shuck and Jive offers "Unprotected Texts: A Review" by John Shuck. It begins: "I have written about the Bible quite a bit on this blog. My general refrain is that we should not use the Bible as an excuse for not owning up to our own opinions. It is nice when you run across an articulate author who agrees with you (or at least you hope so!)" Read this review.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 236
+ Talk of the Nation (NPR) offers "Neurotheology:Where Religion and Science Collide." Host Neal Conan interviews Andrew Newberg, author of Principles of Neurotheology. This is happening on air right now and will be available permanently after 6pm.
Friday, October 15, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 211
+ updated at 10:33am ESDT on Friday, October 15, 2010
+ This was posted yesterday without a title so I am re-posting it with a title.
+ I just found out that you can watch all of GOD IN AMERICA online at http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/view/
+ Another fascinating evening last night on the PBS special GOD IN AMERICA. If you missed it, try to see it when it runs again. PBS tends to run these specials more than once at different times. This may happen SOON. Part 3 covered the last half of the twentieth century and the first decade of the new century. Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jerry Falwell got special attention. King chose to remain outside of the political leadership and was in a better position to speak truth to power including his decision to come out against the Viet Nam War.
+ This was posted yesterday without a title so I am re-posting it with a title.
+ I just found out that you can watch all of GOD IN AMERICA online at http://www.pbs.org/godinamerica/view/
+ Another fascinating evening last night on the PBS special GOD IN AMERICA. If you missed it, try to see it when it runs again. PBS tends to run these specials more than once at different times. This may happen SOON. Part 3 covered the last half of the twentieth century and the first decade of the new century. Billy Graham, Martin Luther King Jr. and Jerry Falwell got special attention. King chose to remain outside of the political leadership and was in a better position to speak truth to power including his decision to come out against the Viet Nam War.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 210
+ updated at 11:58am ESDT on Wednesday, October 13, 2010
+ Getting a good balance in my life is something I am striving to achieve. My cyber life is a significant part of it, particularly as I promote sustainable abundance, peace, justice and compassion. My Prayer Life is really important. My Family Life. My Church Life. My Interest in things like Rock'n'Roll, Baseball, Travel, Photography, Politics, Theology and more.
OK Prayer must come first. I have been doing pretty well at establishing a daily practice of Centering Prayer as taught by Father Keating. I have been trying to increase my efforts in Intercessory Prayer. I do a lot of Journaling with a desire to write more and more about my spiritual journey. I intend to add more Joyful Wandering posts at The Abundancetrek Blog.
+ I have really enjoyed Baseball lately. Some amazing Pitching. The League Championship Series between Yankees and Rangers and Phillies and Giants should be fascinating. As for the Red Sox, Next Year in Boston!
+ I hope you have been watching God in America on PBS. The last of 3 episodes is on tonight. It is so riveting that I stopped watching Baseball for the past 2 nights and I love Baseball.
+ The Presbyterian Church (USA) has been promoting Earth Care for several decades. Now there are certified Earth Care Congregations. I am going to encourage my church to get involved.
+ Getting a good balance in my life is something I am striving to achieve. My cyber life is a significant part of it, particularly as I promote sustainable abundance, peace, justice and compassion. My Prayer Life is really important. My Family Life. My Church Life. My Interest in things like Rock'n'Roll, Baseball, Travel, Photography, Politics, Theology and more.
OK Prayer must come first. I have been doing pretty well at establishing a daily practice of Centering Prayer as taught by Father Keating. I have been trying to increase my efforts in Intercessory Prayer. I do a lot of Journaling with a desire to write more and more about my spiritual journey. I intend to add more Joyful Wandering posts at The Abundancetrek Blog.
+ I have really enjoyed Baseball lately. Some amazing Pitching. The League Championship Series between Yankees and Rangers and Phillies and Giants should be fascinating. As for the Red Sox, Next Year in Boston!
+ I hope you have been watching God in America on PBS. The last of 3 episodes is on tonight. It is so riveting that I stopped watching Baseball for the past 2 nights and I love Baseball.
+ The Presbyterian Church (USA) has been promoting Earth Care for several decades. Now there are certified Earth Care Congregations. I am going to encourage my church to get involved.
Monday, September 20, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 201
+ updated at 12:01pm ESDT on Monday, September 20, 2010.
+ There is now a new way of being Good News Ambassadors. The New Church for the New Age. Something like the old church 4 the old age but really quite different. It is not restricted by worn out dogma and worn out buildings and worn out rituals. It is wide open to finding truth and meaning in all kinds of places. The Abundancetrek Connections Galore page offers links to all kinds of places where people are discovering and sharing truth and meaning in all kinds of ways.
+ Americans must make a much better effort to understand and appreciate Muslims. Here is a story of an effort being made by an American Muslim to reach out to those who are acting out of ignorance, fear and suspicion.
+ There is now a new way of being Good News Ambassadors. The New Church for the New Age. Something like the old church 4 the old age but really quite different. It is not restricted by worn out dogma and worn out buildings and worn out rituals. It is wide open to finding truth and meaning in all kinds of places. The Abundancetrek Connections Galore page offers links to all kinds of places where people are discovering and sharing truth and meaning in all kinds of ways.
+ Americans must make a much better effort to understand and appreciate Muslims. Here is a story of an effort being made by an American Muslim to reach out to those who are acting out of ignorance, fear and suspicion.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 189
+ updated at 9:18pm ESDT on Thursday, July 15, 2010
+ My nephew, Randall Solomon, is featured in "‘Green team’ means greenbacks" by Meredith Mandell recently published by NorthJersey.com. An appreciative and reliable source says that Randy is "The Sustainability Master of the Universe."
Excerpt 1: "PATERSON — City officials hope to start a 'green team,' a citizen advisory board that will guide city officials on how to make environment-friendly decisions — such as purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles or installing solar panels on municipal buildings."
Excerpt 2: The program, begun last year, is a partnership of Rutgers University, the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey and the New Jersey League of Municipalities. It offers municipalities financial incentives and guidance on ways to go green. So far, Sustainable New Jersey has certified 35 municipalities and registered 275.
Excerpt 3: "Randall Solomon, executive director and a founder of the program, said Paterson’s participation could save taxpayers millions of dollars just by upgrading its older municipal buildings for energy efficiency."
+ Spirituality and Practice offers a review of Jesus for the Non-Religious: Recovering the Divine at the Heart of the Human by John Shelby Spong. Here's an excerpt: "He notes in the preface to this book that throughout his professional life he has followed the motto of his theological seminary: 'Seek the truth; come whence it may, cost what it will.'"
An excerpt from the book is powerful and provocative. It is today's Spirituality and Practice Spiritual Reading. I like it so much that I offer the whole thing here:
THE LAMENT OF A BELIEVER IN EXILE
Ah, Jesus!
Where have you gone?
When did we lose you?
Was it when we became so certain that we possessed you
That we persecuted Jews,
Excommunicated doubters,
Burned heretics,
And used violence and war to achieve conversion?
Was it when our first-century images
Collided with expanding knowledge?
Or when biblical scholars informed us that the Bible does
Not really support what we once believed?
Was it when we watched your followers distorting people
With guilt,
Fear,
Bigotry,
Intolerance,
And anger?
Was it when we noticed that many who called you Lord
And who read their Bibles regularly
Also practiced slavery,
Defended segregation,
Approved lynching,
Abused children,
Diminished women,
And hated homosexuals?
Was it when we finally realized
That the Jesus who promised abundant life
Could not be the source of self-hatred,
Or one who encourages us to grovel
In life-destroying penitence?
Was it when it dawned on us that serving you would require
The surrender of those security-building prejudices
That masquerade as our sweet sicknesses?
We still yearn for you, Jesus, but we no longer know where
To seek your presence.
Do we look for you in those churches that practice certainty?
Or are you hiding in those churches
That so fear controversy that they make 'unity' a god,
And stand for so little that they die of boredom?
Can you ever be found in those churches that have
Rejected the powerless and the marginalized,
The lepers and the Samaritans of our day,
Those you called our brothers and sisters?
Or must we now look for you outside ecclesiastical settings,
Where love and kindness expect no reward,
Where questions are viewed as the deepest
Expressions of trust?
Is it even possible, Jesus, that we Christians are the villains
Who killed you?
Smothering you underneath literal Bibles,
Dated creeds,
Irrelevant doctrines,
And dying structures?
If these things are the source of your disappearance, Jesus,
Will you then reemerge if these things are removed?
Will that bring resurrection?
Or were you, as some now suggest, never more
Than an illusion?
By burying and distorting you were we
Simply protecting ourselves
From having to face that realization?
I still seek to possess what I believe you are, Jesus:
Access to and embodiment of
The Source of Life,
The Source of Love,
The Ground of Being,
A doorway into the mystery of holiness.
It is through that doorway that I desire to walk.
Will you meet me there?
Will you challenge me,
Guide me,
Confront me,
Reveal your truth to me and in me?
Finally, at the end of this journey, Jesus,
Will you embrace me
Inside the ultimate reality
That I call God
In whom I live
And move
And have my being?
For that, Jesus, is my goal in this book.”
+ My nephew, Randall Solomon, is featured in "‘Green team’ means greenbacks" by Meredith Mandell recently published by NorthJersey.com. An appreciative and reliable source says that Randy is "The Sustainability Master of the Universe."
Excerpt 1: "PATERSON — City officials hope to start a 'green team,' a citizen advisory board that will guide city officials on how to make environment-friendly decisions — such as purchasing fuel-efficient vehicles or installing solar panels on municipal buildings."
Excerpt 2: The program, begun last year, is a partnership of Rutgers University, the Municipal Land Use Center at The College of New Jersey and the New Jersey League of Municipalities. It offers municipalities financial incentives and guidance on ways to go green. So far, Sustainable New Jersey has certified 35 municipalities and registered 275.
Excerpt 3: "Randall Solomon, executive director and a founder of the program, said Paterson’s participation could save taxpayers millions of dollars just by upgrading its older municipal buildings for energy efficiency."
+ Spirituality and Practice offers a review of Jesus for the Non-Religious: Recovering the Divine at the Heart of the Human by John Shelby Spong. Here's an excerpt: "He notes in the preface to this book that throughout his professional life he has followed the motto of his theological seminary: 'Seek the truth; come whence it may, cost what it will.'"
An excerpt from the book is powerful and provocative. It is today's Spirituality and Practice Spiritual Reading. I like it so much that I offer the whole thing here:
THE LAMENT OF A BELIEVER IN EXILE
Ah, Jesus!
Where have you gone?
When did we lose you?
Was it when we became so certain that we possessed you
That we persecuted Jews,
Excommunicated doubters,
Burned heretics,
And used violence and war to achieve conversion?
Was it when our first-century images
Collided with expanding knowledge?
Or when biblical scholars informed us that the Bible does
Not really support what we once believed?
Was it when we watched your followers distorting people
With guilt,
Fear,
Bigotry,
Intolerance,
And anger?
Was it when we noticed that many who called you Lord
And who read their Bibles regularly
Also practiced slavery,
Defended segregation,
Approved lynching,
Abused children,
Diminished women,
And hated homosexuals?
Was it when we finally realized
That the Jesus who promised abundant life
Could not be the source of self-hatred,
Or one who encourages us to grovel
In life-destroying penitence?
Was it when it dawned on us that serving you would require
The surrender of those security-building prejudices
That masquerade as our sweet sicknesses?
We still yearn for you, Jesus, but we no longer know where
To seek your presence.
Do we look for you in those churches that practice certainty?
Or are you hiding in those churches
That so fear controversy that they make 'unity' a god,
And stand for so little that they die of boredom?
Can you ever be found in those churches that have
Rejected the powerless and the marginalized,
The lepers and the Samaritans of our day,
Those you called our brothers and sisters?
Or must we now look for you outside ecclesiastical settings,
Where love and kindness expect no reward,
Where questions are viewed as the deepest
Expressions of trust?
Is it even possible, Jesus, that we Christians are the villains
Who killed you?
Smothering you underneath literal Bibles,
Dated creeds,
Irrelevant doctrines,
And dying structures?
If these things are the source of your disappearance, Jesus,
Will you then reemerge if these things are removed?
Will that bring resurrection?
Or were you, as some now suggest, never more
Than an illusion?
By burying and distorting you were we
Simply protecting ourselves
From having to face that realization?
I still seek to possess what I believe you are, Jesus:
Access to and embodiment of
The Source of Life,
The Source of Love,
The Ground of Being,
A doorway into the mystery of holiness.
It is through that doorway that I desire to walk.
Will you meet me there?
Will you challenge me,
Guide me,
Confront me,
Reveal your truth to me and in me?
Finally, at the end of this journey, Jesus,
Will you embrace me
Inside the ultimate reality
That I call God
In whom I live
And move
And have my being?
For that, Jesus, is my goal in this book.”
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 171
+ updated at 5:13pm ESDT on Wednesday, April 28, 2010
+ On April 24 Seattle became the first city in the world to affirm The Charter for Compassion. See http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fetzer-institute-and-compassionate-action-network-partner-on-compassionate-seattle-celebration-91855374.html
+ At http://johnawilde.blogspot.com/2010/04/friends-declare-me-apostate-heretical.html, "Pastor Bob" and I are continuing to discuss my heresies and apostasies. I just published Comment 34 responding to Bob's Comment 33. Anybody else want to dive in?
Excerpt 1 from Comment 34: "I think one of the beauties of Orthodoxy (Correct Praise) is that it really does allow a very wide range of interpretation. It seems to me that you have a narrow range within that larger range which you and Viola and others insist all Christians accept."
Excerpt 2 from Comment 34: "I do believe in miracles but I also believe in great story telling and I believe that one must allow disagreement on whether particular miracles happened or not. For me it is really important to keep the tent big and open."
Excerpt 3 from Comment 34: "I certainly do not come close to exhibiting the Full Divinity Jesus revealed AS TOLD IN GREAT STORIES. I do believe that the Real Presence of Christ is a description of our basic Oneness with God which is broken by Sin but restored in Holy Communion. In other words, we have the POTENTIAL to be as fully divine as the Jesus of THE STORY."
+ On April 24 Seattle became the first city in the world to affirm The Charter for Compassion. See http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/fetzer-institute-and-compassionate-action-network-partner-on-compassionate-seattle-celebration-91855374.html
+ At http://johnawilde.blogspot.com/2010/04/friends-declare-me-apostate-heretical.html, "Pastor Bob" and I are continuing to discuss my heresies and apostasies. I just published Comment 34 responding to Bob's Comment 33. Anybody else want to dive in?
Excerpt 1 from Comment 34: "I think one of the beauties of Orthodoxy (Correct Praise) is that it really does allow a very wide range of interpretation. It seems to me that you have a narrow range within that larger range which you and Viola and others insist all Christians accept."
Excerpt 2 from Comment 34: "I do believe in miracles but I also believe in great story telling and I believe that one must allow disagreement on whether particular miracles happened or not. For me it is really important to keep the tent big and open."
Excerpt 3 from Comment 34: "I certainly do not come close to exhibiting the Full Divinity Jesus revealed AS TOLD IN GREAT STORIES. I do believe that the Real Presence of Christ is a description of our basic Oneness with God which is broken by Sin but restored in Holy Communion. In other words, we have the POTENTIAL to be as fully divine as the Jesus of THE STORY."
Saturday, March 13, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 157
+ updated at 9:46am EST, Saturday, March 13, 2010.
+ Last night we saw Roommates, a 1995 film about the up and down relationship of a grandfather with his grandson. Here's an excerpt from the Spirituality and Practice review by Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat: "Roommates is buoyed by a funny, colorful, and touching performance by Peter Falk as the inimitable Rocky who lives to be 107 years old. The screenplay, based on a story by Max Apple and directed by Peter Yates, celebrates the vital connection between grandparents and grandchildren. Over the course of the film, Rocky is a mentor — sharing the wisdom accumulated through years of experience; a role model — preparing Michael for what it is like to be old and a grandparent; a wizard — passing on a sense of delight; and a nurturer — helping his grandson see that the love he has to give his children is more important than anything else in life."
+ I just sent an email to the Traditional Values Coalition. Here is what I wrote:
I don't know how I got on your mailing list. Your partisan agenda is quite annoying if not downright disturbing . You equate God with whatever you want God to be and, guess what? God can not be defined by you or me or anyone else. We are always learning. We are always discovering. I recommend that you read QUANTUM THEOLOGY by Diarmuid O'Murchu.
You seem to believe that Government regulation or involvment is always bad. There is no doubt that government could be a lot better than it is but it often works in our best interests. Many good things have been accomplished by Government. Your partisan Republican agenda does no service to God or the Church of Christ or our nation and planet.
I have long believed that we need both Conservatives and Liberals. Birds and planes need right wings and left wings. Most of the weight is in the Center in birds and planes. We have a problem in our country because too much of the weight is in the wings and that is keeping us down. Conservative is not a bad word. Liberal is not a bad word. We need to respect each other and develop the best possible policies and programs for our nation and our planet.
+ Last night we saw Roommates, a 1995 film about the up and down relationship of a grandfather with his grandson. Here's an excerpt from the Spirituality and Practice review by Mary Ann and Frederic Brussat: "Roommates is buoyed by a funny, colorful, and touching performance by Peter Falk as the inimitable Rocky who lives to be 107 years old. The screenplay, based on a story by Max Apple and directed by Peter Yates, celebrates the vital connection between grandparents and grandchildren. Over the course of the film, Rocky is a mentor — sharing the wisdom accumulated through years of experience; a role model — preparing Michael for what it is like to be old and a grandparent; a wizard — passing on a sense of delight; and a nurturer — helping his grandson see that the love he has to give his children is more important than anything else in life."
+ I just sent an email to the Traditional Values Coalition. Here is what I wrote:
I don't know how I got on your mailing list. Your partisan agenda is quite annoying if not downright disturbing . You equate God with whatever you want God to be and, guess what? God can not be defined by you or me or anyone else. We are always learning. We are always discovering. I recommend that you read QUANTUM THEOLOGY by Diarmuid O'Murchu.
You seem to believe that Government regulation or involvment is always bad. There is no doubt that government could be a lot better than it is but it often works in our best interests. Many good things have been accomplished by Government. Your partisan Republican agenda does no service to God or the Church of Christ or our nation and planet.
I have long believed that we need both Conservatives and Liberals. Birds and planes need right wings and left wings. Most of the weight is in the Center in birds and planes. We have a problem in our country because too much of the weight is in the wings and that is keeping us down. Conservative is not a bad word. Liberal is not a bad word. We need to respect each other and develop the best possible policies and programs for our nation and our planet.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 156
+ updated at 1:37pm EST, Wednesday, March 10, 2010
+ Blue Skies, Nothing But Blue Skies ... for a week now. wow. This doesn't happen here in the Mohawk Valley
+ Haaretz offers "When Israelis degrade Israel by humiliating Joe Biden" by Bradley Burston. Excerpt: "What conceivable advantage is there in the Interior Ministry choosing the occasion of a high-profile visit by Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a mission aimed at soothing strained relations between Israel and the Obama administration, to announce the approval of 1,600 new homes for Israelis in East Jerusalem?"
In case you don't know it, Haaretz is an Israeli newspaper. Why is it that the Israelis can have an informed conversation about Israel's controversial policies in their major media outlets and we can't here in the USA?
+ Shuck and Jive offers "Better than a Month of [Evolution] Sundays" by John Shuck.
Excerpt 1 (a quote from Michael Zimmerman):
What do the following have in common?
A. Sarah Palin's claim that health care reform will lead to "death panels."
B. The birthers' claim that President Obama was born in Kenya.
C. The constant refrain that the evolution/creation controversy is a battle between religion and science.
The simple answer is that there is overwhelming evidence demonstrating that each statement is false while proponents of each hope that the frequency and volume of repetition substitutes for truth.
Excerpt 2 (a comment by "Pastor Bob"): "The truly interesting (strange) thing about claims that Obama was born in Africa or Indonesia is that because his Mom was an American citizen, Obama is an American citizen from birth. Which means he can run for president no matter where he was born!"
+ Blue Skies, Nothing But Blue Skies ... for a week now. wow. This doesn't happen here in the Mohawk Valley
+ Haaretz offers "When Israelis degrade Israel by humiliating Joe Biden" by Bradley Burston. Excerpt: "What conceivable advantage is there in the Interior Ministry choosing the occasion of a high-profile visit by Joseph R. Biden, Jr., a mission aimed at soothing strained relations between Israel and the Obama administration, to announce the approval of 1,600 new homes for Israelis in East Jerusalem?"
In case you don't know it, Haaretz is an Israeli newspaper. Why is it that the Israelis can have an informed conversation about Israel's controversial policies in their major media outlets and we can't here in the USA?
+ Shuck and Jive offers "Better than a Month of [Evolution] Sundays" by John Shuck.
Excerpt 1 (a quote from Michael Zimmerman):
What do the following have in common?
A. Sarah Palin's claim that health care reform will lead to "death panels."
B. The birthers' claim that President Obama was born in Kenya.
C. The constant refrain that the evolution/creation controversy is a battle between religion and science.
The simple answer is that there is overwhelming evidence demonstrating that each statement is false while proponents of each hope that the frequency and volume of repetition substitutes for truth.
Excerpt 2 (a comment by "Pastor Bob"): "The truly interesting (strange) thing about claims that Obama was born in Africa or Indonesia is that because his Mom was an American citizen, Obama is an American citizen from birth. Which means he can run for president no matter where he was born!"
Saturday, February 27, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 148
+ Presbyterians for Earth Care offers "Sabbath and the Care of Creation" byTerry Chapman (PDF)
Excerpt 1: "Everything depends on human beings embracing these two essential Sabbath truths: God paused for breath and so should we, because when we do, we remember who we are."
Excerpt 2: "Jurgen Moltmann sums up the centrality of Sabbath, “'The goal and completion of every Jewish and Christian doctrine of creation must be the doctrine of the Sabbath; for on the Sabbath and through the Sabbath God ‘completed’ his creation, and on the Sabbath and through it, men and women perceive as God’s creation the reality in which they live and which they themselves are.'”
Excerpt 1: "Everything depends on human beings embracing these two essential Sabbath truths: God paused for breath and so should we, because when we do, we remember who we are."
Excerpt 2: "Jurgen Moltmann sums up the centrality of Sabbath, “'The goal and completion of every Jewish and Christian doctrine of creation must be the doctrine of the Sabbath; for on the Sabbath and through the Sabbath God ‘completed’ his creation, and on the Sabbath and through it, men and women perceive as God’s creation the reality in which they live and which they themselves are.'”
Thursday, February 25, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 146
+ updated at 8:25pm EST, Thursday, February 25, 2010
+ Huffington Post offers "Only Spirituality Can Solve The Problems Of The World" by Deepak Chopra. Excerpt: "If there is anything that will at this moment heal our wounded planet with its immense problems of social injustice, ecological devastation, extreme economic disparities, war, conflict and terrorism, it is a deeper experiential understanding and knowledge of our own spirit. With this deeper understanding and with an interfaith dialogue that looks at our commonalities rather than our differences, we have the opportunity to solve the problems of the world, address its inequities and heal ourselves. The word, "healing" and the words, holy and whole, all mean the same thing. To be healed is to have the return of the memory of who we really are. When we return to our sacred source, the world will be holy, and it will be healed."
+ 2:11 pm WEATHER UPDATE: Utica area is now expecting to get 8 to 14 inches of snow before it ends sometime tomorrow. Higher elevations to the South may get 2 feet.
+ The Worldwide Religion of Reality offers "Total Enlightenment: The Wisdom Prophecy."
Excerpt 1: John L. Petersen is quoted: "We need to start the discussion about how a new world might operate. We need to get going. We're already late."
Excerpt 2: Dan Brown is quoted: "According to legend, the sages who encrypted the Ancient Mysteries long ago left behind a key of sorts… a password that could be used to unlock the encrypted secrets. This magical password – known as the verbum significatium – is said to hold the power to lift the darkness and unlock the Ancient Mysteries, opening them to all human understanding. At a pivotal moment in history… a moment when mankind can no longer survive without the truth, knowledge, and wisdom of the ages. At this dark crossroads, mankind will at last remember the Word and herald in a wondrous new age of enlightenment." (The Lost Symbol)
+ The Charter for Compassion has now been signed by almost 40,000 people. Here's how it begins: "The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves." Read it all. Please consider signing it if you haven't already. Tell your friends about it. Spread the word. Compassion. What the world needs now.
+ Click HERE to find out about a great conference on Emerging Christianity coming up in Albuquerque in April. It's on my wish list. Maybe someone can help me make my wish happen.
+ Voices of Sophia offers "Feminist theology basics: What is gender?" by Heather W. Reichgott. Excerpt:
Feminist theory defines essentialism as the view that women have certain traits by nature, although it’s very much open for discussion what those traits are, what makes them good or bad, and how they ought to be deployed in the world. Theologically, this means God made two genders and each gender was created in a certain way, although it’s very much open for discussion whether or not that implies a hierarchy of genders.
Feminist theory defines constructivism (or constructionism) as the view that gender is created by culture. That does not mean gender does not exist, although that is a common misunderstanding of constructivism. Things created by culture are very real, and cannot easily be changed: buildings, books, economies, laws, prisons, prizes, even our own names. Theologically, this can mean we are to learn and grow into a predefined godly gender role, or it can mean gender roles are open to debate, criticism and change. A constructivist might stress Genesis 1.26-27 and Galatians 3.28: God made humanity male and female, not male or female, implying a combination or continuum of genders–and even our created gender can be altered by who we become in Jesus Christ.
+ It is snowing lightly this morning but it is expected to pick up this afternoon and get windy as well. We have been spared a real winter storm until now.
+ Huffington Post offers "Only Spirituality Can Solve The Problems Of The World" by Deepak Chopra. Excerpt: "If there is anything that will at this moment heal our wounded planet with its immense problems of social injustice, ecological devastation, extreme economic disparities, war, conflict and terrorism, it is a deeper experiential understanding and knowledge of our own spirit. With this deeper understanding and with an interfaith dialogue that looks at our commonalities rather than our differences, we have the opportunity to solve the problems of the world, address its inequities and heal ourselves. The word, "healing" and the words, holy and whole, all mean the same thing. To be healed is to have the return of the memory of who we really are. When we return to our sacred source, the world will be holy, and it will be healed."
+ 2:11 pm WEATHER UPDATE: Utica area is now expecting to get 8 to 14 inches of snow before it ends sometime tomorrow. Higher elevations to the South may get 2 feet.
+ The Worldwide Religion of Reality offers "Total Enlightenment: The Wisdom Prophecy."
Excerpt 1: John L. Petersen is quoted: "We need to start the discussion about how a new world might operate. We need to get going. We're already late."
Excerpt 2: Dan Brown is quoted: "According to legend, the sages who encrypted the Ancient Mysteries long ago left behind a key of sorts… a password that could be used to unlock the encrypted secrets. This magical password – known as the verbum significatium – is said to hold the power to lift the darkness and unlock the Ancient Mysteries, opening them to all human understanding. At a pivotal moment in history… a moment when mankind can no longer survive without the truth, knowledge, and wisdom of the ages. At this dark crossroads, mankind will at last remember the Word and herald in a wondrous new age of enlightenment." (The Lost Symbol)
+ The Charter for Compassion has now been signed by almost 40,000 people. Here's how it begins: "The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves." Read it all. Please consider signing it if you haven't already. Tell your friends about it. Spread the word. Compassion. What the world needs now.
+ Click HERE to find out about a great conference on Emerging Christianity coming up in Albuquerque in April. It's on my wish list. Maybe someone can help me make my wish happen.
+ Voices of Sophia offers "Feminist theology basics: What is gender?" by Heather W. Reichgott. Excerpt:
Feminist theory defines essentialism as the view that women have certain traits by nature, although it’s very much open for discussion what those traits are, what makes them good or bad, and how they ought to be deployed in the world. Theologically, this means God made two genders and each gender was created in a certain way, although it’s very much open for discussion whether or not that implies a hierarchy of genders.
Feminist theory defines constructivism (or constructionism) as the view that gender is created by culture. That does not mean gender does not exist, although that is a common misunderstanding of constructivism. Things created by culture are very real, and cannot easily be changed: buildings, books, economies, laws, prisons, prizes, even our own names. Theologically, this can mean we are to learn and grow into a predefined godly gender role, or it can mean gender roles are open to debate, criticism and change. A constructivist might stress Genesis 1.26-27 and Galatians 3.28: God made humanity male and female, not male or female, implying a combination or continuum of genders–and even our created gender can be altered by who we become in Jesus Christ.
+ It is snowing lightly this morning but it is expected to pick up this afternoon and get windy as well. We have been spared a real winter storm until now.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 140
+ updated at 8:16pm EST, Thursday, February 11, 2010
+ Liberal Christian Commentary offers "Evolution (Transfiguration) Sunday" by Sea Raven. Excerpt: "Transfiguration happens whenever anyone comes into his or her inheritance in the kingdom of God. To come down from that lofty theological mountain peak for a moment, in 21st Century language, transfiguration is what happens once anyone chooses to participate in the ongoing, evolving struggle to establish God’s realm of distributive justice-compassion on earth."
+ The Washington Post offers its latest poll data and trends. Interesting results in many ways. My take is that the tide has not turned as much as some pundits are saying and the Democrats could still do well in November IF they get some things done between now and then.
+ Liberal Christian Commentary offers "Evolution (Transfiguration) Sunday" by Sea Raven. Excerpt: "Transfiguration happens whenever anyone comes into his or her inheritance in the kingdom of God. To come down from that lofty theological mountain peak for a moment, in 21st Century language, transfiguration is what happens once anyone chooses to participate in the ongoing, evolving struggle to establish God’s realm of distributive justice-compassion on earth."
+ The Washington Post offers its latest poll data and trends. Interesting results in many ways. My take is that the tide has not turned as much as some pundits are saying and the Democrats could still do well in November IF they get some things done between now and then.
Monday, January 25, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 129
+ updated at 10:10pm EST, Monday, January 25, 2010
+ The Supreme Court and Congress has for decades been allowing big multinational corporations to have more and more influence over our politics. Last week the Court voted by a 5-4 vote to allow any corporation to spend as much money as they want to influence elections. All restrictions lifted.
Democracy Now! offers an interview with Jamin Raskin which presents a scathing critique of this decision.
LATE ADDITION: An even more scathing response is offered by Adam McKay in his blog at The Huffington Post.
+ Media Matters offers "Can the media's climate change deniers ignore the latest temperature record?" It begins: "This January, major meteorological organizations throughout the world -- including NASA -- released reports showing that the past decade, 2000-2009, was the warmest on record. The reports undermine the right-wing media's numerous claims that recent snow and cold weather shows that climate change does not exist or has slowed over the past 10 years."
+ You can now download a five-module course, "Globalization We Can Grasp," with plenty of information and practical ideas for dealing with this oppressive domination system hurting so many citizens of planet Earth. The course was developed by the North American Working Group for Covenanting for Justice of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC).
+ Spirituality and Practice offers a film review of Last Chance Harvey. Excerpts:
+ Two Friars and a Fool offers "Shooting People for Jesus". Excerpt: "I shouldn't be surprised, but this stuff just hits me like a kick to the ribs. It sends me spinning off into depression to realize how many people calling themselves Christians are full of violence and proud of it. We are never going to be satisfied that Christ has been crucified enough. We keep putting him up there over and over and it is disgusting."
+ Viola Larson's post, "Where are we at? What about Jesus Christ?" continues to attract comments including several by me. We are dealing with orthodoxy which I see as a dynamic process and not static content. One of the brothers thinks it is pretty irresponsible of me to part from the tenets of fourth century and sixteenth century orthodoxy. And, of course, Viola Larson has said before that I am not a Christian since I don't believe in Jesus in the same way she does. If she had her way, I would be kicked out of the Presbyterian Church. Thankfully, my Presbytery and most Presbyteries don't have such a narrow lens.
+ Heavy rain today along with plenty of melting snow will definitely create flooding in some places around here. It is quite warm for January today. Soon, possibly by midnight tonight, the forecasters say that it will be very cold again and we will get more snow but there is no major storm predicted at this time.
+ The Supreme Court and Congress has for decades been allowing big multinational corporations to have more and more influence over our politics. Last week the Court voted by a 5-4 vote to allow any corporation to spend as much money as they want to influence elections. All restrictions lifted.
Democracy Now! offers an interview with Jamin Raskin which presents a scathing critique of this decision.
LATE ADDITION: An even more scathing response is offered by Adam McKay in his blog at The Huffington Post.
+ Media Matters offers "Can the media's climate change deniers ignore the latest temperature record?" It begins: "This January, major meteorological organizations throughout the world -- including NASA -- released reports showing that the past decade, 2000-2009, was the warmest on record. The reports undermine the right-wing media's numerous claims that recent snow and cold weather shows that climate change does not exist or has slowed over the past 10 years."
+ You can now download a five-module course, "Globalization We Can Grasp," with plenty of information and practical ideas for dealing with this oppressive domination system hurting so many citizens of planet Earth. The course was developed by the North American Working Group for Covenanting for Justice of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC).
+ Spirituality and Practice offers a film review of Last Chance Harvey. Excerpts:
- It takes some of us many years to discover our true song, to take a risk on love, or to free ourselves from prisons of our own making.
- Last Chance Harvey is a life-affirming romantic drama that reminds us that it is never to late to turn our lives around. The trick is that it usually takes a leap of faith into the dark which can be very frightening. Dustin Hoffman conveys Harvey's awkwardness as he finds himself reaching out to a complete stranger for sympathy and a little human kindness. She responds to his pain, and they spend a long time together after Kate convinces him to attend his daughter's wedding reception. She joins him and provides moral support as he expresses his love for Susan. What is endearing about the intimacy that develops between these two middle-agers is their convivial conversation. In the end, it serves them both very well.
+ Two Friars and a Fool offers "Shooting People for Jesus". Excerpt: "I shouldn't be surprised, but this stuff just hits me like a kick to the ribs. It sends me spinning off into depression to realize how many people calling themselves Christians are full of violence and proud of it. We are never going to be satisfied that Christ has been crucified enough. We keep putting him up there over and over and it is disgusting."
+ Viola Larson's post, "Where are we at? What about Jesus Christ?" continues to attract comments including several by me. We are dealing with orthodoxy which I see as a dynamic process and not static content. One of the brothers thinks it is pretty irresponsible of me to part from the tenets of fourth century and sixteenth century orthodoxy. And, of course, Viola Larson has said before that I am not a Christian since I don't believe in Jesus in the same way she does. If she had her way, I would be kicked out of the Presbyterian Church. Thankfully, my Presbytery and most Presbyteries don't have such a narrow lens.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 128
+ Updated at 12:29pm, Thursday, January 21, 2010
+ In her continuing and determined effort to chastize John Shuck and all Progressive Christians, Viola Larson wrote: "John Shuck does bother me because he so brazenly denies my Lord while holding an office that is meant, by way of ordination, to glorify, love and proclaim Jesus Christ. And it bothers me that so many others allow this to go on, even encourage it. There is a word for that it is called apostasy." You can see this comment and the post which blasted us and all the comments at http://naminghisgrace.blogspot.com/2010/01/where-are-we-at-what-about-jesus-christ.html
I responded:
Dear Viola,
I do not believe John Shuck is brazenly denying your Lord at all. His understanding of your Lord obviously differs from yours on many points.
Many of us have come to accept the reality of hard-wired homosexuality as a reality of humanity. Your obsession with this particular issue is homophobia, nothing less. I hope you get over it. And Jesus had nothing to say about it at all. And the 3 or 4 other references to it in scripture are problematic and probably culturally-conditioned and certainly not written in stone.
It is sad when people decide they are right and others are wrong without any effort to be humble and willing to acknowledge our human limitations.
Einstein was one of the great minds and hearts of the last century and he said: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
A great American judge, Learned Hand, said "The spirit of liberty is the spirit of not being too sure you are right.”
Gandhi said: "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
And the great Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who is featured in "Meaning of Life, Part 43" at Shuck and Jive said:
"Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth."
and:
"Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times."
and:
"Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness."
Those are the first 3 of his 14 precepts which are full of wisdom and compassion and common sense. Go to http://seaox.com/thich.html and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see them all.
Love + John A Wilde + Whitesboro NY + www.abundancetrek.com + "The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, humankind will have discovered fire." -- Teilhard de Chardin
+ Sunshine along the Erie Canal feels good for a second day.
+ In her continuing and determined effort to chastize John Shuck and all Progressive Christians, Viola Larson wrote: "John Shuck does bother me because he so brazenly denies my Lord while holding an office that is meant, by way of ordination, to glorify, love and proclaim Jesus Christ. And it bothers me that so many others allow this to go on, even encourage it. There is a word for that it is called apostasy." You can see this comment and the post which blasted us and all the comments at http://naminghisgrace.blogspot.com/2010/01/where-are-we-at-what-about-jesus-christ.html
I responded:
Dear Viola,
I do not believe John Shuck is brazenly denying your Lord at all. His understanding of your Lord obviously differs from yours on many points.
Many of us have come to accept the reality of hard-wired homosexuality as a reality of humanity. Your obsession with this particular issue is homophobia, nothing less. I hope you get over it. And Jesus had nothing to say about it at all. And the 3 or 4 other references to it in scripture are problematic and probably culturally-conditioned and certainly not written in stone.
It is sad when people decide they are right and others are wrong without any effort to be humble and willing to acknowledge our human limitations.
Einstein was one of the great minds and hearts of the last century and he said: "My religion consists of a humble admiration of the illimitable superior spirit who reveals himself in the slight details we are able to perceive with our frail and feeble mind."
A great American judge, Learned Hand, said "The spirit of liberty is the spirit of not being too sure you are right.”
Gandhi said: "Freedom is not worth having if it does not include the freedom to make mistakes.”
And the great Vietnamese Buddhist monk, Thich Nhat Hanh, who is featured in "Meaning of Life, Part 43" at Shuck and Jive said:
"Do not be idolatrous about or bound to any doctrine, theory, or ideology, even Buddhist ones. All systems of thought are guiding means; they are not absolute truth."
and:
"Do not think that the knowledge you presently possess is changeless, absolute truth. Avoid being narrow-minded and bound to present views. Learn and practice non-attachment from views in order to be open to receive others' viewpoints. Truth is found in life and not merely in conceptual knowledge. Be ready to learn throughout our entire life and to observe reality in yourself and in the world at all times."
and:
"Do not force others, including children, by any means whatsoever, to adopt your views, whether by authority, threat, money, propaganda, or even education. However, through compassionate dialogue, help others renounce fanaticism and narrowness."
Those are the first 3 of his 14 precepts which are full of wisdom and compassion and common sense. Go to http://seaox.com/thich.html and scroll down to the bottom of the page to see them all.
Love + John A Wilde + Whitesboro NY + www.abundancetrek.com + "The day will come when, after harnessing space, the winds, the tides and gravitation, we shall harness for God the energies of love. And on that day, for the second time in the history of the world, humankind will have discovered fire." -- Teilhard de Chardin
+ Sunshine along the Erie Canal feels good for a second day.
Monday, January 11, 2010
COFFEE BREAK 120
+ updated at 11:55am EST, January 11, 2010
+ My Facebook friend Mark Shaw offers something to ponder:
Here's a good Thomas Merton quote that I was pondering yesterday: "Religion answers questions; spirituality questions answers." Is this true? More about Merton at www.merton.org and www.markshawbooks.net.
+ My friend Ralph Clingan offers this great contribution to our understanding of "Reformed and Always Being Reformed," the Presbyterian motto:
Dearly beloved! A few years ago I did an inventory of my library. My career as an activist pastor, professor and theologian started in 1961, so I have amassed a large collection of books. The largest single segment of my library consists of books about music, prayer and spirituality. I have a book, The Background of Passion Music (London: SCM Press Ltd, 1957) by Basil Smallman late Musicologist of Nottingham University. I may have cited this wee tome before, but in the wake of the demise of beloved feminist, out and proud Lesbian theologian Mary Daly, Smallman's words reminded me of the importance of such passionate workers among us. Jacob Spener (1635-1705), a Reformed pastor and theologian educated at Strasbourg, spent a year in Geneva. Spener found that "the Calvinist branch of the Reformed Church showed ramarkable humanism in the emphasis laid on practical Christianity, on the expression of faith by good works rather than by the strict observance of doctrinal minutiae." His Pia desidera (1675) contained six proposals to guide his students and colleagues:
i The Bible should be studied in private, small group meetings;
ii The laity should regain their position as a common priesthood and their rights to share in the spiritual governance of the church,
iii A new emphasis be placed on practical Christianity,
iv Unbelievers should be approached with greater sympathy and understanding,
v Increased value should be attached to the cultivation of spiritual life in theological education, and
vi A more direct and emotional type of preaching should be encouraged.
As we enter the last year of the first decade of 2000, I found Smallman's citations from Spener a good reminder of how enduring a legacy is ours. Aluta continua ...
+ The Sunday New York Times offers "The Other Plot to Wreck America" by Frank Rich. Summary: "The financial crash precipitated by the failure of Lehman Brothers was the banking industry's 9/11. Without reform, another massive attack on our economic security is guaranteed." This is a very important column by a very knowledgeable and concerned columnist. We need Wall Street reform and we need it now. A few bankers got and are still getting millions of dollars while millions of people have lost homes and jobs and more. It's tragic and too many politicians are ignoring this crisis or minimizing the possible consequences of no reform or little reform.
+ The last 30 years as Right Wingers Understand it: The debt tripled when Reagan was President. Clinton's fault. The debt tripled again when W was President. Obama's fault.
+ My Facebook friend Mark Shaw offers something to ponder:
Here's a good Thomas Merton quote that I was pondering yesterday: "Religion answers questions; spirituality questions answers." Is this true? More about Merton at www.merton.org and www.markshawbooks.net.
+ My friend Ralph Clingan offers this great contribution to our understanding of "Reformed and Always Being Reformed," the Presbyterian motto:
Dearly beloved! A few years ago I did an inventory of my library. My career as an activist pastor, professor and theologian started in 1961, so I have amassed a large collection of books. The largest single segment of my library consists of books about music, prayer and spirituality. I have a book, The Background of Passion Music (London: SCM Press Ltd, 1957) by Basil Smallman late Musicologist of Nottingham University. I may have cited this wee tome before, but in the wake of the demise of beloved feminist, out and proud Lesbian theologian Mary Daly, Smallman's words reminded me of the importance of such passionate workers among us. Jacob Spener (1635-1705), a Reformed pastor and theologian educated at Strasbourg, spent a year in Geneva. Spener found that "the Calvinist branch of the Reformed Church showed ramarkable humanism in the emphasis laid on practical Christianity, on the expression of faith by good works rather than by the strict observance of doctrinal minutiae." His Pia desidera (1675) contained six proposals to guide his students and colleagues:
i The Bible should be studied in private, small group meetings;
ii The laity should regain their position as a common priesthood and their rights to share in the spiritual governance of the church,
iii A new emphasis be placed on practical Christianity,
iv Unbelievers should be approached with greater sympathy and understanding,
v Increased value should be attached to the cultivation of spiritual life in theological education, and
vi A more direct and emotional type of preaching should be encouraged.
As we enter the last year of the first decade of 2000, I found Smallman's citations from Spener a good reminder of how enduring a legacy is ours. Aluta continua ...
+ The Sunday New York Times offers "The Other Plot to Wreck America" by Frank Rich. Summary: "The financial crash precipitated by the failure of Lehman Brothers was the banking industry's 9/11. Without reform, another massive attack on our economic security is guaranteed." This is a very important column by a very knowledgeable and concerned columnist. We need Wall Street reform and we need it now. A few bankers got and are still getting millions of dollars while millions of people have lost homes and jobs and more. It's tragic and too many politicians are ignoring this crisis or minimizing the possible consequences of no reform or little reform.
+ The last 30 years as Right Wingers Understand it: The debt tripled when Reagan was President. Clinton's fault. The debt tripled again when W was President. Obama's fault.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
COFFEE BREAK 109
+ updated at 7:29pm EST
+ The Word or God's Plan is a major theme of the scriptures for this Sunday. I found some great wisdom offered by Bishop Tutu:
+ TruthDig offers "One Day We’ll All Be Terrorists" by Chris Hedges.
We all need to be concerned about the treatment of American citizen Syed Fahad Hashmi.
Excerpt: "'My brother was an activist,' Hashmi’s brother, Faisal, told me by phone from his home in Queens. 'He spoke out on Muslim issues, especially those dealing with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His arrest and torture have nothing to do with providing ponchos and socks to al-Qaida, as has been charged, but the manipulation of the law to suppress activists and scare the Muslim American community. My brother is an example. His treatment is meant to show Muslims what will happen to them if they speak about the plight of Muslims.'"
+ Common Dreams offers "Six Things to Do in 2010" by Jim Hightower.
+ Naming His Grace offers "Islam's connection to Christianity versus Judaism's connection" by Viola Larson. I continue to be involved in the discussion responding to this post. "Reformed Pastor" thinks Karen Armstrong is not a scholar. Scroll down to the 27th comment and see my response. Excerpt:
I rarely (maybe never) find anybody without an agenda. Yes, Karen Armstrong has an agenda. Currently she is focused on Compassion. I like that agenda a lot.
I see scholarship and getting degrees as two very different things. I think Karen Armstrong has easily won global recognition as a competent and challenging scholar.
Thinking about agendas, I wonder what makes us "Conservative" or "Liberal" or "Moderate" etc. I know I had some very negative experiences with a certain style of Christianity usually labeled "Conservative" as a child and as a young adult. And I had some very positive experiences with a style of Christianity usually labeled "Liberal." I wonder if that is the main reason for most of us to identify with an "agenda" as we become adults. I don't know.
Maybe my INFP personality type makes me inclined to being a "Liberal." It's probably a combination of things.
+ The Word or God's Plan is a major theme of the scriptures for this Sunday. I found some great wisdom offered by Bishop Tutu:
- God works through history to realize God’s dream. God makes a proposal to each of us and hopes our response will move His dream forward. But if we don’t, God does not abandon the goal, He doesn’t abandon the dream. (Page122, God Has a Dream). (found at http://www.upepiscopal.org/Hiawathaland/Hiawathaland%20Feb%202007.4.pdf)
- I have a favourite book of cartoons by the late Mel Calman of the London Observer newspaper entitled, “My God”. One shows God somewhat nonplussed and saying, “Oh dear, I think I have lost my copy of the Divine Plan!” Looking at the state of the world we might be forgiven for wondering if God ever had a plan at all. There are devastating floods in one part and destructive droughts in other parts. Couldn’t God have organised things better so that there was enough water for all? Then there are all the man-made disasters of tyranny and oppression, an endless doleful catalogue of woe. There are the long lines of bedraggled refugees from natural and man-made disasters. We have the casualties of racism, ethnic strife and xenophobia and staring us in the face is the looming catastrophe of climate change and ecological degradation signaled by tsunamis, cyclones and hurricanes. (found at http://www.who.int/mediacentre/events/2008/wha61/desmond_mpilo_tutu_speech/en/index.html)
- Negotiations happen not between friends but between enemies. And a surprising thing does seem to take place, at least it did in South Africa. Enemies begin to find that they can actually become friends, or at least collaborators for the common good. They come together and then actually they ask themselves, “Why did we take so long to get to this point? Why did so many people have to die?” Of course, you must have leaders who are willing to take risks and not just seek to satisfy the often-extreme feelings of their constituencies. They have to lead by leading and be ready to compromise, to accommodate, and not to be intransigent, not to assert that they have a bottom line. Intransigence and ultimatums only lead to more death. (found at http://www.beliefnet.com/Inspiration/2004/04/Desmond-Tutus-Recipe-For-Peace.aspx?p=2)
+ TruthDig offers "One Day We’ll All Be Terrorists" by Chris Hedges.
We all need to be concerned about the treatment of American citizen Syed Fahad Hashmi.
Excerpt: "'My brother was an activist,' Hashmi’s brother, Faisal, told me by phone from his home in Queens. 'He spoke out on Muslim issues, especially those dealing with the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. His arrest and torture have nothing to do with providing ponchos and socks to al-Qaida, as has been charged, but the manipulation of the law to suppress activists and scare the Muslim American community. My brother is an example. His treatment is meant to show Muslims what will happen to them if they speak about the plight of Muslims.'"
+ Common Dreams offers "Six Things to Do in 2010" by Jim Hightower.
+ Naming His Grace offers "Islam's connection to Christianity versus Judaism's connection" by Viola Larson. I continue to be involved in the discussion responding to this post. "Reformed Pastor" thinks Karen Armstrong is not a scholar. Scroll down to the 27th comment and see my response. Excerpt:
I rarely (maybe never) find anybody without an agenda. Yes, Karen Armstrong has an agenda. Currently she is focused on Compassion. I like that agenda a lot.
I see scholarship and getting degrees as two very different things. I think Karen Armstrong has easily won global recognition as a competent and challenging scholar.
Thinking about agendas, I wonder what makes us "Conservative" or "Liberal" or "Moderate" etc. I know I had some very negative experiences with a certain style of Christianity usually labeled "Conservative" as a child and as a young adult. And I had some very positive experiences with a style of Christianity usually labeled "Liberal." I wonder if that is the main reason for most of us to identify with an "agenda" as we become adults. I don't know.
Maybe my INFP personality type makes me inclined to being a "Liberal." It's probably a combination of things.
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