An Open Mind

For LisaRose

2010-02-19T08:21:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

If inanimate corporations didn’t profit from wars, we might be able to do away with them.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Going forward, you will accompany me. If I go backward, I’m not so sure you will.
When I’m on the ground, you’re surely with me. If I’m in the air, I’m not so sure.
When I focus on the bottom line, not a chance. Your focus is on top of the line efforts.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Hey guys, Silas, our friendly inn-keeper, says I can put this meal on my tab if I promise to pay by Saturday. With that kind of service, we’ll be coming back to this place forever!”

[No, that never happened, not even on Maundy Thursday.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “doldrums”

I heard a friend was in them, but I knew she had not left her house… Aha, dictionary.com has an explanation of sorts.

1. a state of inactivity or stagnation, as in business or art: August is a time of doldrums for many enterprises.

2. the doldrums,
a. a belt of calms and light baffling winds north of the equator between the northern and southern trade winds in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.
b. the weather prevailing in this area.

3. a dull, listless, depressed mood; low spirits.

Origin: 1795–1805; obs. dold stupid (see dolt) + -rum(s) (pl.) n. suffix (see tantrum)

So, number 3 must be the one where my friend is. But that number 1 and the origin seem to describe Congress perfectly, don’t you think?

Conversion or Else

2010-02-01T09:57:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The Auctioneer says: “What am I bid for this marvelous Peace on Earth?”

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Change is the constant. We adapt or stagnate. Bodies and brains deteriorate, then die (assuming “natural” death). Billions of years in the making, too many of us never see the grand opportunity of being co-creators with you, co-conspirators in making your dominion of life abundant and loving on Earth, thus proving the lie to eternal death and destruction.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Okay. That’s not funny, guys. Who put the sugar in the salt container?”

[Hmm. Salt or sugar? Interesting question. Which are we? Can we be both? ... But He never asked that question.]

D. Blog: Climate Change and Peak Oil

It’s clear that governments have a hard time responding to climate change, and most of them (and big oil companies) don’t want their citizens to know about Peak Oil (i.e., that we will soon, if we don’t already, face a decline in the supply of easily accessible and easily refined oil). The Transition Movement offers some hope for local communities to respond to the twin threats, and in the process build stronger, more resilient communities with lifestyles far less dependent on the use of fossil fuels, lifestyles much less consumption oriented, and economies better able to sustain when growth is no longer possible. I’ll be devoting more time to our local efforts as Transition Asheville, likely meaning less time for this blogspot. Here are some of the resources that our group has found helpful in beginning to work on the transition to the inevitable descent to a society with less fossil fuel energy. I encourage anyone reading this to get informed and involved, if you aren't already.

Resources for Transition Movement “Mullers”

http://www.transitiontowns.org/
Website for the international movement

http://www.transitionus.org/
Transition movement in the US, includes online training modules/webinars and means of registering for future live webinars, plus many other resources under:
http://www.transitionus.org/resources/reading

http://www.chrismartenson.com/crashcourse
Understanding the prospect of coming economic, energy and environmental crash(es)

http://www.thomasberry.org/
Several resources on this site. His books have inspired many. The Great Work speaks powerfully to the task of changing our attitudes toward and beliefs about Earth.

http://www.brianswimme.org/
Berry’s colleague/collaborator, Swimme presents the new cosmology based on scientific findings of the past century, especially. Humans are the unique product of a process that has lasted billions of years, the cosmos and Earth coming to self-conscious life. The Hidden Heart of the Cosmos gives an excellent, readable overview of this process.

- Peak Oil – a film, and topic of many websites, including some that claim to debunk the threat as a myth.

- “End of Suburbia” (a film) More on the changes that will likely occur with the end to oil supplies sufficient to keep our current lifestyles going

- “The Awakening Universe” (15-minute film based on the work of Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme, inspiring!)

The Transistion Handbook: From oil dependency to local resilience, Book by Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition movement

- Permaculture (a topic that should become familiar to people who are active in Transition, lots of information in libraries and on the Internet)

- Ecozoic Age (Berry & Swimme idea that should also become familiar – lots on the Internet)

Politicians' Infidelities

2010-01-31T10:07:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Disturbing the peace is an offense that can land us in jail. So why do we put up with those who promote war?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Do you mind if I call you God? Or Goddess?
How about Allah? Krishna? Buddha? Father? Mother? Mystery?
Ground of all being? Yahweh? Great Spirit? Source?

No, you don’t? Just call you.
Okay.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“The fortune-teller said that in a former life I was an island princess sacrificed to the goddess Makiri.”

[Something about that does not sound authentically Jesus…]

D. Blog: Politicians and their Infidelities

Why am I so little surprised when politicians break their marriage vows?

I suppose it’s because so many of them break the vows they make to the public. The main one being the vow to serve the interests of the people who elect them. (I distinguish between those who elect them and those who buy their loyalty.)

Aged and Sparkling

2010-01-30T08:16:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Disturbing the peace is an offense that can land us in jail. So why do we put up with those who promote war?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

As my story unfolds, I encounter many surprises and countless pleasures. I enjoy new sights, walk new paths, explore new places. In truth they are quite old, most of them. That they seem new to me bestows a freshness upon them. Even though some of them show signs of old age, deterioration even, that, too, carries a measure of freshness for me.

It is, I hope, similar with me. I age, but I am not simply old. I carry newness within, originality, creativity, provocative sparkle. Like you, ever new.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Whatever you say, Peter.”

[Nope, it never appears in the gospels.]

D. Blog: Supreme Court Activism, Yikes!

Well, sure, corporations get a blank check. Founding Fathers never really believed in the will of the people. While we’re at it, the slogan on our currency should be changed to “In Corporations We Trust.”

Corporation Defined

2010-01-29T10:36:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

And for dessert, I’d like a slice of peace pie, please.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The “supernatural” wonders we hear about and the “miracles” we read bout are okay as far as they go, I suppose. But I’m far more impressed by the natural wonders of life on Earth – trees, flowers, birds, bees, diverse animals including humans, water, air, wind, rain, rivers, oceans, mountains, rocks and sand. I’m certainly more impressed by the miracle of life. To focus on other “wonders” or miracles distracts us from the vastly larger picture you’re creating.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“No, I’m sorry, Mrs. Friedman. I don’t think I’m altar guild material.”

[She tried, but He didn’t have to say it.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “corporation”

The most common form of business organization, and one which is chartered by a state and given many legal rights as an entity separate from its owners. This form of business is characterized by the limited liability of its owners, the issuance of shares of easily transferable stock, and existence as a going concern. The process of becoming a corporation, called incorporation, gives the company separate legal standing from its owners and protects those owners from being personally liable in the event that the company is sued (a condition known as limited liability). Incorporation also provides companies with a more flexible way to manage their ownership structure. In addition, there are different tax implications for corporations, although these can be both advantageous and disadvantageous. In these respects, corporations differ from sole proprietorships and limited partnerships.

[Definition provided by investorwords.com]

[I couldn’t help but notice that a corporation is an entity, not a person. An entity separate, in fact, from its owners when it comes to legal rights. Nothing in there, either, about civil rights – like freedom of speech -- for the corporate entity.

For an extremely convoluted argument in favor of the “Supreme” Court decision, check out George Will’s column that appeared in yesterday’s Washington Post. I’m getting the idea that
the modern US government is about protecting the health and welfare of its big businesses and financial institutions, much moreso than its people.]

Judicial Activism -- Yikes!!

2010-01-28T09:34:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Maybe we should try asking questions first, so we won’t feel that shooting is required.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

As my story unfolds, I encounter many surprises and countless pleasures. I enjoy new sights, walk new paths, explore new places. In truth they are quite old, most of them. That they seem new to me bestows a freshness upon them. Even though some of them show signs of old age, deterioration even, that, too, carries a measure of freshness for me.

It is, I hope, similar with me. I age, but I am not simply old. I carry newness within, originality, creativity, provocative sparkle. Like you, ever new.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Sure, whatever you say, Peter.”

[Nope, it never appears in the gospels.]

D. Blog: Supreme Court Activism, Yikes!

Well, sure, corporations get a blank check to pay for politicians. Founding Fathers never really believed in the will of the real people. While we’re at it, let’s change the slogan on our currency to “In Corporations We Trust.”

Eve's Apple?

2010-01-27T09:17:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Ready or not, Eirene is coming around the mountain.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

So, here we are again, you and I. You mostly silent. I waiting for the words to express a thought or two for you. Even when the words do not seem to come, it doesn’t matter. For here we are again, you and I.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Why do I always have to clean up the mess?”

[He was the first-born child, but did He whine as a child? Not like this.]

D. Blog: Apple Varieties

Tom Brown has made it his mission to locate and keep old apple tree varieties. There are thousands of varieties beyond what we find in grocery stores. He has found more than 900 “old timey” varieties in this region of the country. Most of the names you will never find in the stores. Here’s a small sampling of names:

Church, Biscuit, Black Bud, Big Rambo, Accordian, Bug Horn, Burningtown Spice, Candy, Chintz, Coffee, Fired Sweet, Fall Limbertwig, Flat Top, Grandma, Green Horse, Half Acre, Horseshoe, Iron Wedge, Jewel Smoker, Joe Buff, Kansas Sweet, Twenty Ounce, Trout, White Sheepnose, World’s Wonder, Yellow Spitzenburg, Pokey Seedling, Neverfail, Night Dropper, Luet’s Great Keeper, Little Brushy Spice, Mongolian, Greasy Ball, Prissy Gum, Red Cheese, Vagabond, Pig Nose, Thinskin, Granny Christian, Duchess of Oldenburg.

I don’t think the selection at the grocery store will ever look the same. Monocultured apples can’t cut it. Now I'm wondering, if we edit the story, what was the name of the variety Eve ate?

What Do We Ask For?

2010-01-26T08:05:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Is it just me, or do lots of other people think war is a huge waste – of lives, energy, time, money, material, minds, spirits – when there are many more important things we should be doing?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I like to think that I’m a good person. Then I recall that Jesus said only you are good. Okay, I won’t argue that point. However, that might just mean my goodness is not the same as yours, that mine does not reach your perfection. That’s okay, too. You’re the holy and perfect One. I am but a reflection of your goodness, but I’m as good as I can be, because ultimately I inherited all my best qualities from you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m sure I did not ask the caterers for escargots at this last supper.”

[And I’m sure He never said this.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Military conflicts prove
The old maxim:
You get what you ask for.

Democracy or Corporatocracy?

2010-01-25T07:20:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Waiting on deck: Peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

A gray and rainy day dos not dampen my spirits, for there are so many of life’s joys that take place on the inside.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Mom, it’s nice that you take an interest in my travels, but I think your spoon collection has gotten out of hand.”

[I’m pretty sure I have this one right – He never said it.[

D. Blog: Extra Word of the Week – “corporatocracy”

[I thought this was a word I had created. Nope. It’s been around long enough to have this Wikipedia article that explains it.]

Corporatocracy or corpocracy is a form of government where corporations, conglomerates or government entities with private components, control the direction and governance of a country. This is sometimes considered to be a form of fascism.

Concept
This belief has two factors: campaign finance and special interests, also includes government ownership.

First, corporations provide financial support to competing political parties and major political party candidates. This allows the corporations to hedge their bets on the outcome of an election so that they are assured to have a winner who is en-debted to them. As politicians are increasingly dependent on campaign contributions to become elected, their objectiveness on issues which concern corporate interests is compromised.

Second, in many cases former corporate executives are appointed as powerful decision makers within government institutions. They are often charged with the regulation of their former or future employers. Government employees who collude with corporations often accept high ranking positions within corporations once they have demonstrated their commitment to serve the corporate interest. These lucrative offers provide incentive for government employees to serve special interests as well as provides their new employers with access to governmental decision makers. This is known as the "revolving door" between corporations and the institutions established to regulate their behavior; and can lead to regulatory capture.

Arguments
There are currently no governments designated by any governmental agency as a corporatocracy. Political progressives, however, have criticized governments for being de facto corporatocracies. Because governments tend to obscure the degree to which corporate interests are entangled in their affairs, an objective standard for declaring a government a corporatocracy is difficult. However many Western governments based on a capitalist system have been accused of being corporatocracies. Many corporations contribute abundantly to political candidates and causes. This creates a dependency of the politician on the corporation - in order to keep his power and wealth (i.e. continue receiving support for re-election bids), he might be obliged to "pay back" to the corporation using his political influence.
Some have argued that corporations exert their influence through the WTO (an international agency), although this is hotly debated. In this view, governments are in control of their countries at one level, while international corporations rule those governments at a different, level, and so there is in place a sort of "global corporatocracy". This global influence in turn has a great deal of power over the national and trans-national (e.g. the EU) governments, who rely and to an extent depend on them.

Some say the term "corporatocracy" has no real place in the lexicon, adding that corporations are primarily fictional entities possessing no real power. In fact, it is the people behind those corporations that hold the power. In that sense, a corporatocracy is nothing more than a democracy where the class which owns the means for producing wealth is fighting for its best interests. However, corporations have also been ruled to be considered a 'person' legally, so meaning they have the ability to exert power.

It is significant that the richest 1 percent globally own almost 40 percent of the world, and that most of these same people have significant ties to the richest and most influential corporations.

Buying politicians controversy
Those who dismiss the idea of a corporatocracy often say the only way it is possible is if it were legal to buy a politician's vote. In such a way, the corporation would, in fact, have a direct vote on major policy matters. However, all true democracies have made vote buying illegal. However, under the terms of at-will employment, corporations can require their employees to vote a certain way in exchange for (continued) employment. Such a policy is legal, although people intuitively know it probably shouldn't be.

However, those who believe there may be corporatocracies argue that no one individual, and perhaps no other groups of individuals, would have that much power, money or influence. Further, they argue the decisions on what to push for and who to support are made by a relatively few from inside the corporation. Therefore, while thousands of people may make up a corporation, only a few have the power to speak for the corporation and advocate issues on behalf of the corporation. That provides those corporations with a substantial amount of power, leading to a corporatocracy.

Further, they argue that it does not take an overt effort to buy a politician's vote. Making a substantial donation to a certain politician's campaign could be seen as sending a signal to that politician that the money is there if they vote in a way the corporation desires. Conversely, the money could be donated to an opponent if the vote does not go the corporation's way.

The January 2010 Supreme Court decision on Citizens United v. FEC could be construed as a gateway ruling towards a corporatocracy.

Use of the term
U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower himself argued against the strengthening corporatocracy in the form of a military-industrial complex that sets national and international financial, economic, political and military policies due to a permanent war economy.

In his 2004 book Confessions of an Economic Hit Man, John Perkins writes; "corporations, banks, and governments (collectively the corporatocracy)".

The concept of a government run by corporations or instances where governments are actually weaker (politically, financially, and militarily) than corporations is a theme often used in both political fiction and science fiction. In these instances the dominant corporate entity is usually dubbed a megacorporation.

Inner and Outer Shadow

2010-01-24T07:57:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

On a sinking ship, they say “women and children first.” In war, of the same women and children they say “collateral damage.”

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

If I had it to do over again, I’d do some things differently.
If I had it to do over again, I’d hope for more humor.
If I had it to do over again, I’d spend more time outside of buildings.
If I had it to do over again, I’d spend more time looking at and listening to beauty.
If I had it to do over again, I’d spend less time worrying about what people think of me.
If I had it to do over again, it would certainly be different – but no better.
If I had it to do over again, I certainly would!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Alright, which one of you guys borrowed my razor?”

[This is not why He’s usually pictured as having a beard.]

D. Blog: Inner and Outer “Darkness”

Matthew’s gospel has Jesus speak of sending some people into the “outer darkness.” So, I wonder what might merit such banishment.

How about blatant greed? It appalls me.
How about merciless killing? It horrifies me.
How about sexual predators? They disgust me.
What about seeking self-interest at the expense of the public well-being? It outrages me.

Inexcusable? Irresponsible? Unforgivable?

To me, they reveal what I’ll call “inner shadows” that become manifest as “outer shadows” and, without a strong light shining on them will lead to permanent shadow. I know of some people who live there...

Gettysburg Address - 2010 Version

2010-01-23T07:27:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I expect nothing holy or noble in war, so its reality does not surprise or shock me.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

My days are filled with good things, so it is also good to spend some time with you who make it all possible. Otherwise there arises that dread possibility of too much of a good thing (hah! Can there really be such?). Whatever. Slowing enough to appreciate the goodness, however, permits some perspective and allows me to distinguish between good things, and, to avoid that paradoxical possibility of o-d’ing on goodness. Life is good! Yeah!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Don’t go ballistic on me, Pete. I just meant I have to take on the Jerusalem establishment.”

[I doubt that “ballistic” was in His vocabulary. Taking on the establishment, perhaps.]

D. Blog: Un-quoting Lincoln

“…and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.” -- President Abraham Lincoln, November, 1863

The Supreme Court decision of 2010 un-quotes him:

“and that government of corporations, by corporations, for corporations, shall not be limited in any way whatsoever.”

Have You Stolen Anyone's Thunder Lately?

2010-01-22T07:40:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I have no time for violence and killing. There’s a peace to build.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When I consider your works, I am in awe.
When I consider the works of humans, I can be surprised, disgusted, inspired or disgusted.
When I consider your works, I bow in reverence.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You know, Dad, this Pat Robertson disciple is trying to steal our thunder.”

[So it seems. Won’t work. And He never had to say this, but see below for where the phrase came from.]

D. Blog: Word (phrase) of the Week – “steal one’s thunder”

Meaning
Someone 'steals your thunder' when they use your ideas or inventions to their own advantage.
Origin
Devices that produce the sound of thunder have been called on in theatrical productions for centuries. The methods used include - rolling metal balls down troughs, grinding lead shot in bowls, shaking sheets of thin metal. The latter device, called a thunder sheet, is still in use today…

The story that lies behind 'stealing someone's thunder' is that of the literary critic and largely unsuccessful playwright, John Dennis. In 1704, Dennis's play Appius and Virginia was produced at the Drury Lane Theatre, London and he invented a new method of creating the sound of thunder for the production. We don't know now what this method was (some texts say it was a refinement of the mustard bowl referred to by Pope, in which metal balls were rolled around in a wooden bowl), but it is reported that after Appius and Virginia failed and was closed, the method was soon afterwards used in a production of Macbeth. Dennis was less than pleased at having his idea purloined and this account of his response was recorded by the literary scholar Joseph Spence (1699–1768) and later quoted in W. S. Walsh's Literary Curiosities, 1893:
"Damn them! They will not let my play run, but they steal my thunder."

The actual words are in doubt and are also reported as "That is my thunder, by God; the villains will play my thunder but not my play!" What is clear is that Dennis's experience was the source of this attractive little phrase.

[I won’t try to steal Gary Martin’s thunder. He wrote this article for phrases.org.uk]

Who are We in Comparison?

2010-01-21T08:28:00.004-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The desire for peace will never go away.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

In a sacred grove of ancient trees that have truly stood the tests of time, I got a better sense of my place in the world. I might think I’m pretty special – and I know that we humans can destroy these magnificent lives – but even profit-hungry lumbermen eventually felt awe in the presence of the complex and hardy survivors. I went into the redwood grove and came out changed, too.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Pat Robertson is the only person in the world who understands me and what I’m about.”

[Yeah, right, like an earthworm understands my wife.]

D. Blog: Who are We in Comparison?

Cologne or Mace?

2010-01-20T10:33:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace is a gift from God. Can we open it now?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I find my thrill in many places, as you know. Most important, I believe, is knowing your grace. To me that means your loving care, which has far more meaning than the traditional language of “salvation.” (What that word usually signifies I’ve never really believed – saved from my sin). Never mind any of that. What’s important to me is that I’m no longer confused by or trapped in that mindset, which basically keeps people at a distance from you and from their neighbors. Too concerned about pleasing you, they don’t learn to enjoy your presence in this life, on Earth, and with others who might come to know you apart from traditional Christianity. I am so thankful to have been released from that onerous kind of religion. Free to be, you and me!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Peter, I think my church should be controlled by bureaucrats and Yes men.”

[But no women. Never said it.]

D. Blog: Creative Criminal Mind

ASHEVILLE — City police on Tuesday arrested a man charged with breaking into another man’s home, spraying him in the face with cologne and robbing him at knifepoint.
James Keith Robinson, 47, address unknown, was charged with robbery with a dangerous weapon, simple assault and breaking and entering. According to the arrest warrants, Robinson broke into the Lamancha Drive apartment on Tuesday and stole $20 from the man at knifepoint.
Bond was set at $5,000.
-- Asheville Citizen-Times, Jan. 20, 2010

[James would never carry mace. Too effeminate. Cologne worked fine, but it only got him $20 and an arrest.]

Human Intelligence

2010-01-19T09:58:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Birds, fish, and wild animals are so inferior to humans when it comes to acting with intelligence. They don’t know anything about war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I’m too pre-occupied this morning for being creative, maybe even for focusing on you for any length of time. But I know you forgive me, that you want me to enjoy my life, to be active and filled with the wonder of it all. I also know that I could never pay “proper” attention. So I will avoid going through the motions of piety or dutiful obedience or following the “rules” of religion. I will heed your voice and your presence in all things. That seems to be enough, thanks to you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"In years to come, Peter, we will become unrecognizable. We’ll be like Jewish idols.”

[What we all want, right? He didn’t. And He didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

We shall walk through the valley in peace –
And the mountains,
The woods and plains.

Transition Movement

2010-01-18T11:17:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

If Jesus had appeared as a warrior, then Christians going to war might make sense. He didn’t, so what gives?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Marvelous are your works, such that we see signs of your activity in even the most natural of coincidences. We experience sickness or distress, then assume you punish us for some violation of religious or moral “law.” We witness natural calamity; you have brought judgment for someone’s wrongs. A chance encounter with someone who assists us on our path; you brought us together. We double-book on our calendar and another person has to cancel one of those appointments; thank you, God, we say, for re-arranging the schedule. Whatever.
In addition to making you a “God of the gaps,” we make you a "coincidental God."
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Mom knows best. So for my first trick, I’ll turn this water into wine, symbolizing the fact that cleansing on the inside is more important than cleansing on the outside.”

[I always wondered about that story, but He didn’t explain it.]

D. Blog: Wind at Our Backs?

I’ve been part of a group that’s trying to stir a movement in the Asheville area to begin preparing for more severe climate change and the inevitable decline in cheap oil supplies and what that will mean for human life on Earth in terms of economies, transportation, food production, building, etc. How to we prepare our communities to be resilient enough to survive the drastic changes that we will face? If you haven’t yet encountered the Transition Initiatives, or Transition Towns Movement, look for them on the Internet.

Our local group has twice shown the film, End of Suburbia, and this past week sponsored two presentations on climate change by a professor John Brock of Warren Wilson College. He says we appear have the wind at our backs in terms of what we're doing locally. His presentations (the first at 1 on a weekday afternoon, the second at 7 on a Sunday evening) were attended by about 125 people from in and around Asheville. Our emailing list now numbers about 200 people who are beginning study groups, networking, and thinking about the various working/action groups that will begin to plan and put into place some of the ideas that will make ours a more resilient community.

For me personally, it’s exciting to see how many people are concerned and ready to do something to build a more cohesive community that will be able to respond to life without cheap oil and to make it a better life in the process.

Going with the Flow

2010-01-17T08:27:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

God provides peace on Earth. Our task is to expand that peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Time and events pass.
A natural disaster. “My” team’s victory. New things learned.
They linger within me, sometimes even to shape me.
They lie behind me.
But they also carry me into the future.
Time and events pass.
A birth. A death. A resurrection
They linger in me, shape me, carry me with your flow.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Not all roads lead to Rome, nor to Jerusalem. God is not confined in either place.”

[Sounds like Him, but He didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: Earthquake in Haiti

Another earthquake, another calamitous loss of life and property, a situation of great need and great suffering. One friend asks what kind of God could allow this to happen. A celebrity preacher of some infamy says the Haitian people brought this tragedy upon themselves because of their “pact with the devil” – practicing voodoo. Isn’t it interesting how we can jump to such wildly different conclusions (wrong conclusions) about divine involvement in natural disasters? Why do we try to establish a supernatural explanation for a natural event?

A GPS Might Not Help Find the Way

2010-01-16T07:12:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The war against Earth is not going well for humans, either.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I have never seen an end to your blessings, your goodness, your mercy.
I have never heard an end to your wisdom, your example, your demand for justice.
I have never experienced an end to your creation, your peace, your life.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Fill it up, check the tire pressure, clean the windshield and change the oil, please.”

[His mode of transportation required none of those, unless we think metaphorically.]

D. Blog: A New Crime on the WNC Scene

Timothy Robert Cutshaw, 23, address unknown, charged with failure to enroll/tamper with GPS device. Bond was set at $10,000.
-- Asheville Citizen-Times, Jan. 16, 2010

[By all means, let’s discourage a crime like this. We wouldn’t want a young man to find his way.]

Obnibulated Yet?

2010-01-15T08:31:00.004-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Like the truth, peace will out.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Can you forgive me for thinking that Pat Robertson should have a voodoo curse put upon his mouth?
Meanwhile, I’ll pray for his conversion to Christianity.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I don’t see the point of your hula-hoop, Eli.”

[No point, and not something He said.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “obnubilate”

Verb
1.
obnubilate - make less visible or unclear; "The stars are obscured by the clouds"; "the big elm tree obscures our view of the valley"
becloud, befog, fog, haze over, obscure, mist, cloud
conceal, hide - prevent from being seen or discovered; "Muslim women hide their faces"; "hide the money"
overshadow - cast a shadow upon; "The tall tree overshadowed the house"

2.
obnubilate - make unclear, indistinct, or blurred; "Her remarks confused the debate"; "Their words obnubilate their intentions"
obscure, blur, confuse
alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"
confuse, confound - mistake one thing for another; "you are confusing me with the other candidate"; "I mistook her for the secretary"
muddy - cause to become muddy; "These data would have muddied the prediction"

[Thanks to yourfreedictionary.com for making the meaning of this word clear…]

Playing Cards with Jesus

2010-01-14T09:53:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I read that there’s an ammunition shortage in Western North Carolina. Right. I have none at all.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Life is good. Yeah!
Just being here is magnificent!
It’s a wonderful life.
They got it right.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’ll match your 50 and raise you 100. The cards are falling my way tonight.”

[Maybe He had 3 threes? Nope, never said it.]

D. Blog: Oh, the Gall!

ASHEVILLE — A Cherokee man will spend six months in prison for selling 51 bear gall bladders.
The U.S. Justice Department also announced Wednesday that Clement Calhoun was sentenced in federal court in Asheville to a year of supervised release and revocation of his hunting license.
Authorities charged Calhoun, a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, as part of a three-year undercover investigation called Operation Botanical focused on the trafficking of ginseng and bear parts in the Southern Appalachians.
According to court documents, Calhoun sold bear gall bladders outside the reservation between January and September 2005. He pleaded guilty in December to transporting and selling bear parts in violation of the Lacey Act.
Calhoun said in court in December that the bladders were worth at least $6,600.
Traditional Asian medicines involve the use of many parts of the bear, with bile from the gall bladder being the most coveted part. Increasing demand for bear gall bladders may threaten the black bear population, authorities said.
“This operation and its resulting conviction and sentence should send a message to those illegally trafficking in animal parts,” said Ignacia Moreno, assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. “We at the Justice Department take these crimes seriously and will continue to focus on regions and areas where this activity is suspected.”
The defendant's attorney, Rich Cassady, of Sylva, said in court documents that Calhoun, 48, has lived his whole life in the Big Cove community and is one of only about 400 fluent Cherokee speakers left on the reservation.
Calhoun also was required to make a public apology for selling the gall bladders.
“I understand that the selling (of) bear gall bladders could threaten the black bear population by creating a financial incentive for poaching,” he said in a letter published last week in the Cherokee One Feather.
--Asheville Citizen-Times, January 14, 2010

[This story raises a lot of questions for me, but I’ll limit myself to one: what medicinal purpose is bear gall bladder bile supposed to serve? See below.]

Bear bile from the bear gall bladder is one of the most treasured of traditional Chinese medicines. Prescriptions for bear gall first appeared in writing in the 7th century (Bensky and Gamble 1986). Bear bile is believed to have special qualities to treat ailments of the liver, stomach and a diverse illnesses from fever to digestive disorders.
As Asian bear populations decline and wild bear bile and other bear parts become more difficult to obtain, sources of bear parts outside Asia will be developed by traders and others willing to make significant profits.
-- clickerado.com

Impotent Jesus?

2010-01-13T09:14:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

God’s presence in the midst of war is understandable.
God’s favoring one side in a war is not likely.
God’s support for war is impossible!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You have heard our saying that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” True enough, for instance, in matters of landscape or flowers or colors. All will appeal to some people as beautiful.

As the ultimate be-holder, you see everything as beauty, everyone as beautiful. And, I think, the Genesis and /or the English translation understates your response to creation. Not only “good” or “very good,” but a goodness that includes “beautiful.”
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“No, Mary, I can’t have children. I’m impotent.”

[How about a virgin birth, then, Jesus? No. He didn’t say this.]

D. Blog: Stewardship of Earth

Earth’s self-care makes our “stewardship of Earth” look like rape. She might well convict, sentence and punish us for our abusive behavior. “Punish” isn’t the right idea; it’s more a matter of her causing us to experience the inevitable consequences of our actions. If we don’t respect her, we cause our own destruction. If we don’t understand the nature of our relationship with her, we can only bring about harm to both her and to us.

Have You Been Brainwashed?

2010-01-12T09:51:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“I think peace is round, like Earth. And like an orange – good for you.” -- Emily, age 10.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I have a lot on my mind, many possibilities that vie for my attention. I need your help in focusing on the next good thing I should do, so I might do that well before moving on to another good or necessary thing.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“We are the champions, my friends!”

[That wasn’t the theme song for Palm Sunday.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Enough brainwashing convinces
People that war
Is beneficial

Be Prepared

2010-01-11T09:06:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Ever notice how much oppressive governments fear peace activists?

[A friend of mine, executive director of a peace organization in the US, was recently denied entry to Israel when he wanted to help lead a Christian Peacemaker Team to work in Palestinian communities.]

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I just did some things I never did before, never even tried before. It involved some effort, took some learning and some proper tools, but the outcome was good. So, I feel pretty good about myself, too, good enough to declare that yes, an old dog can indeed learn some new tricks. Thanks for your help, you old dog.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’ll pick up the tab – but only tonight guys.”

[Not what He said at their last supper together...]

D. Blog: Peak Oil and Climate Change

Think of them as reflected in the parable of the wise and foolish virgins. Or, for those who were Boy Scouts, remember the motto: be prepared.

Inadequate God Talk

2010-01-10T08:56:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace does not surpass divine understanding; it expresses divine wisdom.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You are everywhere, in everything and everyone. The Life Force, force behind everything, incarnate in everything, without being confined to any thing, any time, or any place.

So why do I keep trying to put such thoughts into words? What hope is there that I express them adequately?

I suppose the answer could be simple: just because. Or it could have more depth: because I know no other means of expressing my thoughts; because unless they come in words, the thoughts cannot become real.

Just as the Word became flesh. Without physical expression, Christ is but an ideal, never a reality. So, I know you, Life Force, in the words you give me.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“There’s a light at the end of the tunnel!”

[If He said it as the stone was rolled away from the tomb, it was not recorded in English.]

D. Blog: Absolute Mysterious

Photography Questions

2010-01-09T07:27:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Another military conflict in store? No thinks. I’ll sit this one out, too.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

In case you missed it, I’m happy with our latest purchase.
In case you missed it, I’m okay with the frigid weather.
In case you missed it, I’m delighted with our warm home.
In case you missed it, I’m pleased with our life together.
In case you missed it, I’m so glad you led us to this place!
In case you missed it, I’m grateful for everything!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Actually, James and John, I thought you would sit with the servants.”

[The real places of honor for Him, but He didn’t say it like this.]

D. Blog: Common Questions about My Photography

- “Did you take all of these photos?”
[Huh? Yes. I stole them from someone whose work I admire more than my own…]

- “What kind of camera do you use?”
[Huh? Are we interested in technology or in artwork? When I’m in a museum, do I care what kind of brush a painter used?]

- “Is that really what it looked like?”
[Hmm… Do you want realism or art? If you want journalistic photography, that’s seldom art. Besides, a camera might not lie, but it never recreates exactly. Does a painter?]

- “What software did you use?”
[Hmm… In your opinion, is that cheating? Again, are you looking for realism or art? The painter recreates a vision, why not a photographer using another medium?

The "Secret" Messiahship

2010-01-08T07:47:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

A just peace can never create as much injustice as a “just war” does.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Our words fail to capture our experience of you.
Your Word captures us.
Our words cannot describe the influence you have on our lives.
Your Word describes our potential.
Our words become idols that then turn to ashes.
Your Word is true and leads us to abundant life.
Our words are flexible and deceptive.
Your Word is a trustworthy guide for our way.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Don’t ask, don’t tell.”

[Not the way Mark recorded His “secret” messiahship.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week -- Bloodgeon as Eggcorn

In linguistics, an eggcorn is an idiosyncratic substitution of a word or phrase for a word or words that sound similar or identical in the speaker's dialect. The new phrase introduces a meaning that is different from the original, but plausible in the same context ("old-timers' disease" for "Alzheimer's disease"). This is as opposed to a malapropism, where the substitution creates a nonsensical phrase. Classical malapropisms generally derive their comic effect from the fault of the user, whilst eggcorns are errors that exhibit creativity or logic. Eggcorns often involve replacing an unfamiliar, archaic, or obscure word with a more common or modern word ("baited breath" for "bated breath").
The term "eggcorn" was coined by Geoffrey Pullum in September 2003, in response to an article by Mark Liberman on the website Language Log, a blog for linguists. Liberman discussed the case of a woman who substitutes the phrase egg corn for the word acorn, arguing that the precise phenomenon lacked a name; Pullum suggested using "eggcorn" itself.

[Thank you, Wikipedia]

bludgeon » bloodgeon
Classification: English
Spotted in the wild:
§ On Sunday morning (2:30am), a mexican woman and her 19 year old daughter got bloodgeoned to death here in Fremont. (Livejournal post, 2 Feb, 2004)
§ Democracy is the bloodgeoning of the people, by the people, for the people. (reader comment, accessed Jan 4, 2009)
§ There are waaay too many games out there with ‘rap’ gangster types on it or games that encourage people to bloodgeon their friends to death with bats or whatever. (Forza2 motorsport forum, July 5, 2007)
§ My first day saw the brutal task of bloodgeoning a mouse to death to feed a jaguarundi, and my eyes were the first to behold the 5 hour old baby Spider Monkey. (Blog post, June 07, 2007)
Analyzed or reported by:
§ Pat Schwieterman (in the Eggcorn forums)

A bloodthirsty eggcorn. The origin of bludgeon is not well understood. AHD4 laconically states “[Origin unknown.]”, and the OED offers several lines of inquiry — or speculation:
[Not found before the 18th c.: origin unknown.Blogon (with g = j) is quoted by Dr. Whitley Stokes from the Cornish drama Origo Mundi (? 14th c.), but its relation to the English is uncertain. Other Celtic etymologies sometimes proposed are on many grounds untenable. A Du. vb. bludsen to bruise, has also been compared; and it has been suggested that the word is of cant origin, connected with blood.]
It is therefore possible — though not very likely — that users of the eggcorn are even going back to the word origin.

[Thank you, Eggcorn Database.]

Exercise for the Heart

2010-01-07T08:25:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace: from dream to vision to plan to reality.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

In hard economic times, a young man returned to his parental home. It can be very tough to “make it” financially in a tight job market. There is no shame, then, in going home to Mom & Dad, right Mom & Dad?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“My favorite joke goes like this…”

[Sorry, it wasn’t recorded.]

D. Blog: An Analogy

Physical exercise makes the heart pump faster and keeps it functioning as it should. Spiritual exercise makes the heart pump faster, too, so that it develops and functions as it should – with compassion.

Going Forward?

2010-01-06T09:36:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The road to peace has lots of potholes and detours, but we can get there.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

There are divine wonders. There are “natural” wonders. There are human wonders. Conclusion: it’s a wonder-filled life.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“One grateful leper is worth a dozen dutiful disciples.”

[I wish He had said it.]

D. Blog: “Going forward”

One of my mini-rants: what a stupid speech element! It’s used by all manner of pundits, politicians and executives, of course, to indicate time progression. I liked this one: “Be assured that going forward, this road block will be cleared.” Just be careful. Going backward in time, that roadblock will be worse than you can imagine!

I.e., time can't go any direction other than forward.

Too Much, Too Little

2010-01-05T09:31:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Military officials in Afghanistan have said this “war” isn’t working. Well, DUH! (Or, millions of us told you so from the beginning.)

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

“I thought it would never end.” We use that statement for both positive and negative experiences. Then we say “All good things must come to an end” about the positives and “This, too, shall pass” about the negatives. Some of us also say “The end is near.”

From our perspective, all the above are true. I can’t begin to decide which might be true from your perspective. Let it be.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Matthew, it had to be a UFO, not a star!”

[In those days, nobody would have believed it, so He didn’t explain it.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Too much on our plates, or
Too little on our plates
We choose the former

DC Pro Sports

2010-01-04T10:04:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I know peace, Sir, and what my government is doing is not peace!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Throughout that day after the storm, I thought of you and the marvels of your Earth. I must have shoveled a ton or more of snow, thinking occasionally of the amazing systems of water and clouds, climate and evaporation. Who do we think we are to mess with these things of divine magnitude and mystery?
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Say, guys, since we’ll be hanging out together for a while on these crosses, maybe we could have a game of 20 questions to get better acquainted.”

[I’m not saying He didn’t say it, I’m just saying He didn’t say it in English.]

D. Blog: Sports Town?

Washington, DC, where I used to live, has teams in each of the major professional sports. Except for the hockey team, however, it’s tough to apply the word “professional” to them. The players get paid like professionals, but one wonders… The baseball team is a joke. The basketball team, built around three very good players, is in shambles because the star won’t behave professionally – even put guns in his locker because of an argument with a bench player. The football team is in disarray under an arrogant, ego-centric owner whose every move seems to undermine the authority of those he hires as general manager and coach.

This leads me to my latest resolution: I’ll focus my sporting attention elsewhere – until one of those teams gets into the playoffs, and that might not be in my lifetime.

Jesus' Christmas Message

2010-01-03T08:06:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“War sucks.” – Jules, age 11.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

A dog barks before sunrise. At a deer perhaps? It knows. You know. I’d like to know, but can only wonder and speculate. We perceive in different ways, but we are part of a whole, a network of perceiving life even as we experience it. I like it that I’m a part of it, not separate from it. And, if I like it, I assume you do, too. And that you are part of it, too, not separate from the network. I might liken you to the sys-op of this incredible creation net. But then, my perception is quite limited.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Did you get the message I sent on Christmas?”

[That “peace on Earth” thing, I suppose. But He never said this.]

D. Blog: A Week

If it’s Tuesday, I’m visiting away from home. (but not Belgium)
If it’s Wednesday, I’m communicating with people thousands of miles away.
If it’s Thursday, I’m sending postcards to new friends I met through my work.
If it’s Friday, I’m enjoying the chance to watch tourists enjoying my city.
If it’s Saturday, I think I’ll work in the yard, then take an outing to walk along the river.
If it’s Sunday, I get to be in worship with my spiritual family.
If it’s Monday, I’ll be eager to outline a new week of a wonderful life.

Who's Fidimplicitary?

2010-01-02T09:13:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

We don’t need propaganda to convince us that peace is what we need.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When the roll is called up yonder???
When the saints go marchin’ in???
You know those images no longer work for many of us, as I imagine they would not have worked for Jesus. He said “Whenever two or three are gathered in God’s name,” we’re already there, Heaven on Earth. We’re already in that number.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I wear this rabbit’s foot around my neck to ward off evil spirits.”

[One of the many sayings you won’t find in the texts.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “fidimplicitary”

Meaning: having faith in someone else’s views.

Originally applied as criticism of academics who put implicit trust in the work of earlier scholars, I think it fits a lot of the general population who rely on others to determine what they think or believe. Some who come to mind are those who get news from Fox and information/opinions from Rush Limbaugh or Glenn Beck. I can think of others... They’re all pretty much fidimplicitary.

Simple Resolutions?

2010-01-01T07:57:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

God’s peace proposal: good will to all.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The gifts that truly keep giving come from you: love, hope, trust, peace. Nice as some material things can be, these others matter most, and the material things cannot obscure your gifts to me.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Leper, you had me at ‘Thank You.’”

[We never say it or hear it enough. But He didn’t say this.]

D. Blog: Resolutions

I’m keeping them simple this year.
- Love God
- Love others (all, not just my kind)
- Love Earth
- Love myself

Perhaps not so simple to practice, but simply stated.

Jesus' Insurrection

2009-12-31T08:59:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Next year I’ll celebrate peace every day.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The old year passes into memory, and to much of what it held I say “good riddance!” But to some of its events I say “awesome! There is reason to hope.”

Sadly, the negative carry-overs will give major challenge to the hopes and dreams. My prayer is for wisdom in our political leadership and patience in national populations. I think I’m carrying more hope than despair as I leave 2009. You bless me.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Judas, I don’t think it’s justified to call me a loser just because I won’t lead an insurrection against Rome.”

[A wimp? No. His troops would engage in a more subtle takeover, but He never said this.]

D. Blog: Thought for 2010

“No pessimist ever discovered the secrets of the stars or sailed to an uncharted land or opened a new heaven to the human spirit.” -- Helen Keller

2009 Highlights

2009-12-30T07:22:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I know peace, and this, friend, is not peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Interesting, a minor physical problem appears and I immediately ask myself: what have I done wrong to bring on this problem? Are you trying to tell me something by this? Interesting, and probably a silly reaction, definitely a self-centered reaction. Sturdy and hardy as they can be, bodies don’t last. They have parts that go bad, wear out, get irritated by actions and contact with other entities. That’s it. No message from you. No little punishment by you. It is what it is, a sore toe.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Just friends, Mary? Is there another guy?”

[He would have known, right? So He didn’t say this.]

D. Blog: 2009 Highlights

For me, the list includes these events:

- Obama inauguration
- Serving on the Vision Team and other aspects of life with First Congregational UCC of Asheville
- Many rich family times
- Trips to Nags Head, Chattanooga, and northern California
- UNC winning the NCAA championship
- Lakers winning the NBA championship
- Remodeled bathroom
- Installation of solar panels
- Getting acquainted with Green Man
- Hearing Miriam McGillis speak about the New Cosmology, Peak Oil, Climate Change, Thomas Berry and Brian Swimme
- Learning about and beginning to work with the Transition Towns Movement
- Applying permacultural design to our yard and garden
- Receiving an insurance “bonus” after being rear-ended in my pickup
- Sharing my photographs and receiving words of praise for them

I hope your year has been blessed in similar ways.

Seeing the Enemy?

2009-12-29T08:37:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The river to peace flows in a deeper channel than we choose to go.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I wonder whether you, through our entanglement with Earth, are leading us in this new greening/environmental movement. Is this movement evidence that Earth is trying to restore her life-engendering powers through forces beyond our intellectual knowing and beyond scientific awareness? We like to think we are in control, that we are learning to “manage” Earth’s systems. Perhaps we should see these greening efforts as Earth’s work, Earth making humans act more responsibly as stewards of life. Just wondering. At times, you can be very subtle, even sneaky..
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“The new shades were a Godsend out there in the wilderness. Thanks, Mom.”

[Hmmm. Nope. Not in any of the texts.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

It seems we broke the mirror
So we no longer
See the enemy

Considering X-mas

2009-12-28T08:52:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Dungeons and dragons are symbols for injustice and war. Defeating the symbols without controlling what they symbolize is of no value.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The psalm says, “If I forget you, O Israel.” I recall the lament and the devotion, but it seems misplaced, secondary to where our ultimate devotion lies – to you. As much as a homeland can mean to us, I think it should not be primary in our hearts. You are our one true home.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Actually, ‘God’s country’ would more likely be someplace called Greenland.”

[He might have been a model for Green Man, but He didn’t say this.]

D. Blog: X-mas

According to the signs, we can still buy fresh-cut X-mas trees, or get an X-mas dinner for $9.95 at the local diner.

I play with this X-mas “word.” I suppose the X is a Greek symbol for Christ, but X-mas has given me some sympathy for those whose bumperstickers say “put Christ back in Christmas.” Who among us speaks Greek?

I wonder whether modern children might make a first association of X-mas with X-men. Maybe that’s okay. Jesus was something of an X-man: mysterious, had super powers, a hero figure.

I think trying to put Christ back in the holiday is a hopeless cause. I suspect it’s always been more about family sharing and gift-giving than about advent candles and Christmas Eve services. And maybe that’s okay, too. Christ is surely present when we experience and demonstrate love. Imposing piety and self-righteousness on the holiday detracts from its holy nature.

Cliches of 2009

2009-12-27T06:58:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The road to peace is paved with hope and loving sacrifice. Fear and self-interest create pot-holes, lengthy detours and dead ends.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You fill my senses.
You fill my mind.
You fill my time.
You fill my life.
God, you’re wonderful!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I see fools.”

[When He looked at His disciples? Thought it, perhaps, but didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: 10 Un-Favorite Cliches of 2009 (in no particular order)

- “On the ground”

- “Going forward”

- “On the street”

- “Bottom line”

- “At the end of the day”

- “Under the radar”

- “Between the lines”

- “Rush”

- “Sarah”

- “Outside the box”

Better Off Without Such Headlines

2009-12-26T07:42:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

International sporting competitions further the goal of peace, until nations get in the way.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One, Mary’s Child,

We have a mixed message in the stories of your birth. A simple birth in a simple place to a simple woman who is not yet married. Simple shepherds who get the first announcement of your arrival. So it seems the story should be a tale of the poor boy who rises to prominence – like Joseph or Moses.

But then we have these uncommon, extraordinary and miraculous elements that highlight how unique, special and divine you are. A virgin mother, a descendant of King David, parents who are visited by angels and dreams, a choir of angels to announce your birth, a star that marks your birth, wise men from afar who bring gifts to the one they recognize as the newborn king of the Jews.

We leave the realm of the simple, natural and universal experience of your presence and make it so out of the ordinary that we can no longer relate to you on a personal level. No longer one with and for us, you are “lord”, “master”, supreme ruler of all. No longer the Christ within us, but Christ above humanity. Divinity no longer residing in our midst with the meek and lowly, but the ideal, the celebrity far beyond us.

Perhaps you (and we) should create some real stories of your birth in our midst today.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Matthew, I really like the scene with the wise men. It shows how much greater I am than Moses or David. Way to go!”

[No. Jesus did not get the chance to edit.]

D. Blog: Something We Can Live Without

Have you noticed how news headlines and stories attribute emotions to countries?
“China angered by interference…”
[Maybe China need an anger management class?]

Or, a country takes an action?
“Iran warns…”
[The supreme ruler or his spokesman maybe, but the whole country? Really? It reminds of a place called Oz and its wizard, who wasn’t so great as the pretense of embodying a country.]

And this one always gets me:
“US wins gazillion Olympic medals…”
[Athletes do all the hard work, country gets credit. Athletes -- mostly nameless, get token rewards; country “wins” and we are all so proud of ourselves...]

Could we please get real?

White Christmas

2009-12-25T08:17:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“Sure, war has its place – in the past.” – Kevin, age 11

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I think we need new carols. No more Christmas songs of nostalgia and sentimentality. No more stable, wise men, star or shepherds, virgin or inn keeper. Just this: You entered human life experience to demonstrate your love for us and to offer freedom from oppressive political, religious, economic and social systems. You reminded us of our importance to you, that all of us are precious, forgiven and encouraged to share the mystery of life with you in the vastness of space and time. You lived and live among us to dispel our fears and announce your peace among those who know their oneness with you and with one another. I think you would welcome more such carols. I know I would.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m a conservative – religiously, politically and economically.”

[No. They were the ones responsible for His execution]

D. Blog: Our White Christmas

It's Not about the Eonomy, Stupid!

2009-12-24T10:00:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace of mind is not possible without peace in the heart.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The days proceed as a parade of surprise, wonder and enjoyment.
Whom shall I thank?
I see beauty all around me. I know love and friendship. I meet ordinary yet amazing people
Whom shall I thank?
I hear and read stories about people who do or have done great things for the betterment of humanity.
Whom shall I thank?
I live in a time of awesome hope and awful danger, a time that stirs anticipation, anxiety and high energy.
Whom shall I thank?
I’ll offer my thanks to you, for you rule in and over and through it all.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Show me the money!”

[Nope. Nothing about payment, bonus or reward in His contract.]

D. Blog: Not Exactly Humbug

The point of all this Christmas hoopla grows duller for me each year. I “get”, appreciate, and truly enjoy the emphasis on family and friends. Most of the rest of it? Not so much. Santa and Ho Ho Ho? Nope. Not as we get him. Why, even Buddhists, Taoists, and Communists dress up in Santa costumes. He’s been transformed from a Christian saint into a chubby party-fantasy guy, totally cut off from Nicholas of Mira. Star of Bethlehem? Physical nonsense, unless we think the Magi had an On Star system to guide them. Holy Child born in a stable? I like the symbolism, of course, but it has no basis in fact.

Christ come on Earth on our behalf? Now that I do believe -- with all that is in me. But with the modern Christmas phenomenon, we’re hard-pressed to get to this layer of ultimate meaning. The “newsworthy” meaning has to do with how retailers fare in the great season of buying. To that a definite "Bah, Humbug!" is in order.

Jesus' Last Will and Testament

2009-12-23T09:41:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Which GPS will direct us to Peace? (e.g. Godly Prayer System?)

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Change is the only constant, so either you change constantly or you create change constantly. Or both. I exercise caution, then around fixed religious beliefs, ancient practices, erecting memorials, trying to recreate the past. Part of the old hymn has it right: “Forward through the ages.” If we want to go with you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"I, Jesus of Nazareth, being of sound mind, do hereby leave all my worldly goods, including my seamless garment, to be held in trust for The Little Sisters of the Poor."

[Another thing He didn’t say from the cross.]

D. Blog: “Neither Rain nor Snow…” – unless delivering by car

There was no mail today.

A Mixed Message

2009-12-22T09:51:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Swords now appear only in sporting competitions and entertainment. Now it’s missiles and bombs we try to live by – and will die by.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The holiday has slipped up on me this year. Oh, I’ve prepared gifts, decorated and made plans for visitors. All of that with little stress, but also without a lot of focus on other kinds of preparation, on advent and the coming of the Christ into our lives. I like to think that’s become such a part of me, that I have such an awareness of that presence much of the time, that a special season for it is not necessary. Christ lives in and among us; preparing for that reality seems redundant. Now it’s a matter of living accordingly. Didn’t Jesus say something like that? Anyway, I do celebrate the Christ presence in my life, that you are, in effect, built into our genetic structure, that we are not bound by death-dealing political, economic, religious and social structures that would impose themselves upon us. We are saved as we choose to be.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“There are no stars.”

[A true statement – suns and a Son, but He didn’t say so.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Consider this mixed message at Christmas:
Pray for peace and
Pay for war

In Your Dreams?

2009-12-21T09:35:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

So, soldier, do you think Jesus was misguided or misquoted when He said “Love your enemies?”

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Since before I was born you have known and cared for me. Such an idea is almost more than I can comprehend. The depth and constancy of such love is more than I can comprehend. It leaves me in awe once again, stunning me with the magnitude of the thought. The God of the expanding universe pays that kind of attention to me? Is intimately involved in the events of my daily life?

It makes me want to be sure I’m doing things that will please you and make you proud. I’m grateful to know it is enough that what I’m doing makes me happy; that pleases you, too. But it adds to my joy when I think I please you beyond that, that I make my parent proud.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m dreaming of a white Christmas.”

[But not of the storm that precedes it.]

D. Blog: In Your Dreams?

[And this was the "before" picture...]

Abusive Relationships

2009-12-19T14:29:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

No peace ever disturbed my sleep.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

It might stretch beyond our ability to comprehend, but life is a miracle. It might seem natural, but it reaches beyond natural, as we know natural, to supernatural. Its depth and breadth and time span dwarfs and warps any kind of “natural” that we can mean by that word. Your cosmos found a way to bring life into being beyond any natural events. You found a way to evolve humans into existence, beyond anything that could have been expected naturally. Your brought me, uniquely, into this divine process, and I can but wonder and give thinks.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Sounds good to me: fireworks for the Passover celebration.”

[After the meal, when the went to the garden. Didn’t happen.]

D. Blog: Abusive Relationships

Earth does much more for us that we do for her. Trees do more for us than we can possibly do for them. Rivers do more for us than we do for them. Air is more important to us than we are to it. And so on. These sustain us far more than we maintain them. They sacrifice for us and we take advantage of them. They enable our existence and we behave as if they can do so without limit. Among humans this is known as an abusive relationship.

Those Who Value Parsimony

2009-12-18T07:21:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Ever notice how the government tries to estimate the cost of its armed conflicts? Trillions of dollars these days, never mind the lives lost and destroyed. For comparison sake we should ask for an estimate of the cost of peace, so we know which is the better value.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

How do you really feel about sin? Or is it simply human projection to think you feel? I like to think you feel, but I have difficulty when it comes to connecting the emotion of hate with you. So I part company with those who say you hate sin. I imagine sin saddens and grieves you, even makes you angry sometimes. But I like the old preacher’s analogy: sin is like a raspberry seed under your dentures. It irritates you, annoys you, and you wish you could get rid of it. But you love raspberries. You allow creation to behave in ways that are not in line with your wishes. It pains you, especially when we do hurtful things to one another. But you love your world.

I wonder about this projection of hate of sin. Perhaps it is we who hate sin, because it demonstrates how far we are from being divine. Or, perhaps we love to hate sin because we can feel self-righteous in the process…
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I need more fiber in my diet.”

[Lack of fiber wasn’t a problem in His day.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week -- "parsimony"

Noun
1.
parsimony - extreme care in spending money; reluctance to spend money unnecessarily
parsimoniousness, penny-pinching, thrift
frugality, frugalness - prudence in avoiding waste

2.
parsimony - extreme stinginess
minginess, niggardliness, niggardness, tightfistedness, meannes, parsimoniousness,
closeness, tightness
stinginess - a lack of generosity; a general unwillingness to part with money
littleness, pettiness, smallness - lack of generosity in trifling matters
miserliness - total lack of generosity with money

[Thanks to thefreedictionary.com for explaining this ultimate Scroogey/Republican value.]

No to "Gift" Cards

2009-12-17T07:35:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

WWJD? What He did not do was carry a weapon. WWJD? Act nonviolently.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

“Life is suffering; then you die.” It’s a statement and a perspective with limited truth. It reminds me a lot of the idea that there is something called “original sin.” There are alternatives that resonate with greater truth for me, as in “original blessing,” or “life holds suffering and joy, simple pleasures and great satisfaction, love and wonder; so live it to the fullest.”

The negative outlook strikes me as similar to childish whining, a complaint against the universe, a challenge to the way you created things, a denial of life’s possibilities, or the stuck-in-the-mud path chosen instead of the clear road to enjoyment. Just accept and forgive what we don’t like. Our idea of perfection was never in the cards, the stars, or your mind.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Did you get some tofu for tonight’s supper, Nathaniel? You know John won’t eat the lamb.”

[Never said it.]

D. Blog: No more “gift” cards

Why from now on I’ll give cash instead of “gift” cards, you might wonder. I got to thinking about those cards when they started popping up everywhere, even my local gas station. The grocery store sells them, the drug store, the department store. Go into a big box store and they sell these cards for other big box stores. “What’s up with all these cards?” I asked myself.

Here’s what I came up with, after absolutely no research:
-- If, say, Staples sells a card for Applebee’s, Staples receives a percentage of that purchase from Applebee’s. Okay. What else?
-- I buy my son a card for Best Buy, say for $25. Some time later, he goes shopping at Best Buy and picks out a CD that costs about $20. Well, there’s another $5 on the card. What does he do? Same thing I would do: he finds something else to buy so that remainder isn’t wasted. My “gift” to him becomes an additional purchase he feels he must make at Best Buy. The gift that keeps giving – to Best Buy. More.
-- Suppose he doesn’t want to use my gift at Best Buy. Nope, sorry, can’t redeem it for cash.
-- Suppose he waits too long to use my gift. Sorry, unlike my cash gift, this one has an expiration date.
-- Okay then, some time after his birthday, say a month, he goes to Best Buy and manages to purchase something he wants that costs exactly $25. Pretty nice, right?
-- Well... but what was the money to buy the card doing during that month? Suppose Best Buy puts that into an interest bearing account and gets $.50 (I know, pretty high interest, but you get the idea). Do you think they credit any of that interest to his card? Nah. Suppose instead I’d given him some cash and he put it in his interest-bearing account until he was ready to spend it. Better for him, right?
-- So, I’m thinking this “gift” card to my son is more like a loan to Best Buy. They use the money from me until my son wants to use that money. Why not just give him the money??
-- This loan to Best Buy has some unusual characteristics. They might not be required to pay it back if, say, he misplaces the card. Or they might not have to pay all of it back if, say, his CD purchase costs $24.50 and he’s not interested in using the remaining $.50. And, Best Buy does not pay any interest on this loan I’ve made to them, neither to me nor to my son.
I’d like a loan on those terms, too. Know anybody who’ll give me one?

-- Or perhaps, instead of a loan, I might think of it as a reverse credit card. I give Best Buy credit, but they don’t necessarily have to make payment to my son until he demands it (or some of it), and the terms of this credit card don’t say anything about 18.9% interest on outstanding balances or minimum payment or payment due date.

Think I could get Best Buy (or any other business offering “gift” cards) to give me a credit card with similar terms?

I think gift cash is the way to go this Christmas.

Peace on the Back Burner

2009-12-16T07:55:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When peace gets put on the back burner, we get burned.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

“Blessings all mine, and 10,000 beside…” Does it get any better than this? Perhaps, but for me this is good enough, more than I hoped. Life is good, Yeah!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Call no man 'father,' unless he’s celibate, of course.”

[He never gave birth to this conundrum]

D. Blog: Snowfall

Snow has fallen, snow on snow. Its beauty lasts even less than it will. Or perhaps the beauty is what lasts – in memories and photographs. But then when snow melts, it lasts in other ways, ways that nourish and sustain the planet and the life forms living on it. Isn’t that the way of all beauty? Even if it at times involves some struggle or hardship, it enriches our lives.

[Thanks to the BBC International website for this photograph.]

Imagination Deficit Disorder (IDD)

2009-12-15T08:35:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I’ll bet all I have on peace in the finals.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

We cannot rightly blame you for boredom. Life is so challenging, interesting and downright entertaining, anybody feeling bored must not pay attention. Perhaps they suffer from Imagination Deficit Disorder (IDD), which leads them to watch too much television. Thankfully, I don’t seem to have such a condition. I love the life you give us, can’t get enough of it!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Get me to the synagogue on time.”

[What time would that have been? – Didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Which war would I fight in?
That would be the one in which
No one gets killed.

Dating Jesus

2009-12-14T08:22:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

A preacher who never opposes war is a false prophet.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

If I didn’t know better, I might think you care only for me, for my state, for my country, for my religion, my race, my species, my planet. All have received abundant gifts as a result of the course of life’s evolving. But while I know all of my situation in life is blessed, the blessedness can only continue as I am mindful that I hare your bounty with the rest of the world the world to which you expressed your love through Jesus the Christ.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I think we should date other people for a while.”

[Comment: ??]

D. Blog: No Rapture for Me

I suppose God could pull off a rapture like that envisioned by some Christians, improbable and fantastic as the notion is to me. But it’ll never happen. It makes less sense than the Star Trek fictions or the group that thought a passing comet meant they would be taken away from Earth. That escapist stuff has a place, but not in reality.

The more realistic apocalyptic scenarios involve things of our own human doing: nuclear war or radioactive and other toxic wastes, climate change, the end of the oil age. I’ll keep my focus on those very tangible threats and ignore the imaginary ones.

Crisis of Spirit

2009-12-13T08:38:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Resort to violence is an admission of failure on someone’s part.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

A leader has disappointed us.
A shepherd would lead us astray.
Lead us now, you who never disappoint.
Guide us back to paths of righteousness and peace.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“With all the walking we do, I wish I had a pedometer.”

[And if wishes were horses… He never even thought it]

D. Blog: Crisis

Athletes have violated the sanctity of fair play.
Tiger Woods is just one who violated the sanctity of marriage vows.
Bernie Madoff violated the sanctity of the trust people had in him.
Wall Street executives violated the sanctity of fiduciary responsibility.
Barack Obama violated the sanctity of the Nobel Peace Prize.
Religious authorities violate the sanctity of their calling.
We have all violated the sanctity of Earth.

I consider it a crisis of Spirit that underlies most of our ills.

Garden of Eden=Earth?

2009-12-12T06:53:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

You cannot expect people to trust you when you carry a gun.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Could we survive for a second without your sustaining presence? I don’t think so.
Do we know enough to go it on our own? I don’t think so.
Can we control our own fate? I don’t think so.
Do you try to keep us from getting too deep into trouble? Absolutely!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“No, Mom. I’m sorry, I can’t go home with you. These are my peeps now.”

[Not how He broke the news to her that He had left the family.]

D. Blog: Garden of Eden = Earth?

Perhaps we have misunderstood the story.
Perhaps Earth is the garden and we are in it, but don’t realize that any longer.
Perhaps our role is still that of tending to her health and welfare.
Perhaps Earth is a more hospitable and more fragile place than we have imagined.
Perhaps the traditional interpretation of a “fall” is but an imaginary explanation of our toil and the evil we encounter as we make our way in this verdant and complex planet.
Perhaps we need to realize we could never leave the garden of Earth, except in our imaginations.

Shanghaied!!

2009-12-11T07:10:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

If we remove wars from the picture, then governments might truly serve the needs of their people.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

As your sheep, we need a great deal of care and attention.
Thank you for being our shepherd.
As your sheep, we sometimes stray and get lost and need someone to seek and find us.
Thank you for being our shepherdess.
As your sheep, sometimes we encounter perils and need someone to protect us.
Thank you for being our shepherd.
As your sheep, sometimes we hear voices that would lead us along dangerous paths.
Thank you for being the shepherdess who calls us back to safer paths.
As your sheep, we sometimes become injured and hurt and need someone to heal and comfort us.
Thank you for being our shepherd.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Just blame the woman.”

[What He refused to say of the woman caught in adultery.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “shanghai”

[Thanks to Merriam-Webster.com for explaining this term’s origin and meaning.]

Function: transitive verb
Inflected Form(s): shang·haied; shang·hai·ing
Etymology: Shanghai, China; from the former use of this method to secure sailors for voyages to eastern Asia
Date: 1871
1 a : to put aboard a ship by force often with the help of liquor or a drug b : to put by force or threat of force into or as if into a place of detention2 : to put by trickery into an undesirable position

[Illustration: “With his acceptance speech this week, President Obama attempted to shanghai the Nobel Peace Prize into serving the purposes of war.”]

Skeptics? No, Deniers

2009-12-10T06:53:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“I know. Let’s pretend we’re Christians and become pacifists!” – Shamir, age 12, on how to achieve lasting peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

As a physical expression of who you are, Earth is amazing! I hope you don’t think it’s blasphemy when I say that Earth expresses your essence at least as well as Jesus did. We can more readily experience it as life creating, sustaining, adapting, loving, encompassing what we know of both matter and spirit. What a wonderful world!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Did I really say that about my own people, John?”

[Probably not as down on them as gospel writer John was, but He didn’t ask this question.]

D. Blog: Denial

Climate change skeptics are in the denial stage. I’m not a scientist, but the consensus among them, based on data not speculation, says the warming is occurring. Skeptic says, “But Earth has experienced these cycles of warming and cooling in the past.” Telling response for me is that the warming has never before occurred this rapidly in the past. And what’s so different about this particular warming trend? An overgrown human population burning fossil fuels for the past 150 years, far beyond what was possible ever before on Earth. Only in this period of time has this occurred. To doubt or deny such an obvious set of facts makes an ostrich seem realistic.

Exploiting Differences

2009-12-09T07:42:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

We’re all held hostage by war-making systems.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When we fail to know our connection with the other, how can we possibly connect with you? Or, as the letter of James says, how can we love you if we don’t love our brothers, sisters, enemies? Impossible. They, too, are your offspring, your enfleshments in this world. If we see only separation from them, we separate from you as well.

That’s how I see the “fall” in the story of Adam and Eve. They saw their separateness and so became divided. Poor things… But that’s just a story. Poor us… for real.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“When do you think the Messiah will come?”

[As far as we know, not something He asked His cousin John when they were children.]

D. Blog: Questions in the News Room

Whose personal tragedy can we exploit today in order to draw an audience?

Which celebrity’s personal failings can we exploit to keep the public distracted from things of real importance?

How can we play up political differences of opinion to create strong emotional reactions in the population such that they want to hear the extremists rant?

What Jesus Wanted for Christmas

2009-12-08T08:38:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

In the game of life, peace always trumps war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You give us so many wonderful things. No wonder we like to give presents to our family and friends. It’s part of our DNA as your children. Fortunately for us, you don’t respond like the woman who gave two sweaters to her son. When he came to visit wearing one of them, she said “What? Didn’t you like the other one?” I imagine you simply observe which of your countless gifts we notice and make use of, and you take some gratification when they help us grow, mature and share with others.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Thanks Mommy, just what I wanted for Christmas: my two front teeth.”

[Yeah, right, He never said that.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Earth’s diversity
stretches the mind, beyond
what we can ever know.

A Pet Peeve

2009-12-07T09:53:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

How many pacifists does it take to change a light bulb?
None. They carry a light within. [Well, some do…]

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

How divine to put or restore the breath of life in a person. An obstetrician should relish the job of initiating the first breath in a new life. To breathe is to live.

To breathe is to inspire. To lose breath is to expire. Your breath inspires. Your comfort comes to the expiring. May it be so for us the living to know your inspiration. May it be so for those facing death to know your comfort.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Okay, Dad. When I turn 30, I’ll move out on my own. Promise.”

[We don’t know if there was such a conversation. If there was, it wasn’t in English.]

D. Blog: A Pet Peeve

I get terribly frustrated with drivers who are overly polite. You know. The ones who after coming first to an intersection with a four-way stop will wave to others to go first. Instead of following the rules of the road, they follow some personal rule about performing random acts of kindness (maybe) or just don’t recall the rules of the road. All their “kindness” does is cause uncertainty about what they’re doing and prolong everyone’s stay at the intersection. Is that wave a greeting? Do they need assistance? Oh, I guess they want someone else to go first so they don’t have to commit to a driving decision based on what has been prescribed as safe driving practice.

One such driver caused me to be rear-ended the other day. Instead of proceeding through a perfectly fine green light that most drivers had been seeing as a signal to go on through the intersection, she saw someone waiting to enter the flow of traffic from a service station, and she decided to perform her random act of kindness for the day. Problem was she was paying no attention to vehicles behind her. As the vehicle from the gas station pulled into the intersection, I hit my brakes (at a light that had been green for quite some time, remember). The driver of the large pickup pulling a trailer could not avoid hitting my vehicle as the polite driver moved on down the road, oblivious to the fact that her act of kindness was a dangerous and unnecessary gesture that caused an accident in its wake.

Now, I’m all for acts of kindness. I just have a serious problem when drivers mix the impulse for kindness with stupidity.

In the World=Incarnation

2009-12-06T08:41:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I’ve never met a peace I didn’t like, never met a war I did like, never heard of a torture that could be justified as moral.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I wonder, occasionally, whether all of our attempts to communicate with you seem ludicrous to you. Or, do you appreciate our attempts to connect with you? It doesn’t really make a difference in what I’ll do; I’ll keep trying because it benefits me. This is plain self-interest, because these attempts help me focus on what’s going on inside me, to find what’s important to me, to feel good about my life and the direction it’s taking. So, like it or not, I’ll continue to send my thoughts your way, and continue to see the blessings in my life.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Warrior God has given way to Daddy God. Deal with it.

[He taught something almost like this, but didn’t say it. Maybe that’s why so many people can’t believe it.]

D. Blog: In the World

When the Christian scripture says we are not to be “of the world,” it causes us problems because people interpret that to mean not of the natural world. But the appropriate interpretation of “world” here means the political and economic systems of power in the world, not the entire physical world. We cannot live in any other world, not even as we seek a spirituality in our lives. We have no other means of encountering divinity except through our bodily senses, in and of the natural world. The whole notion of incarnation reflects this – the sacred soul resides in a physical body, thus confirming its value. We honor the Holy One in this life, in this world.

Elephants in the Room

2009-12-05T09:51:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Green is a primary peace color; red, not so much.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Thanks.
Thanks for the memories.
Thanks for the blessings of today - and for its challenges.
Thanks for tomorrow’s goys and hopes fulfilled.
Thanks for that within and between us which lies beyond time.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"That time share in Babylon sounds great, Nicodemus."
[But not the investment He recommended.]

D. Blog: Watch out for the Elephant

We seem unable to address adequately the major threats to our “way of life.” Climate change, population growth and the decline in supplies of fossil fuels will have far greater impact than terrorists or Muslim extremists. Yet we as a nation devote vast amounts of resources and personnel to the latter, more familiar threats with more familiar counter measures.

I think it’s akin to focusing on the little brat’s tantrums when it’s the elephants that can destroy the entire house.

Think You Understand Transgression?

2009-12-04T07:02:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When we aspire to overcome nature, we lose.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Given a choice between a meeting and doing things around the house, I would normally choose the latter. The other day I didn’t have a choice. Meeting. But as it turned out, the meeting was more beneficial than staying at home would have been. I just never know when you will surprise me with grace and joy.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Mister, you won’t believe what this popcorn ceiling will do for the resale value of this house.”

[Not exactly the kind of work He did before entering the ministry.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “transgression”

According to the Huffington Post,

“Tiger Woods' apology for his affair has caused a sensation -- but also, it seems, a whole lot of confusion over the meaning of the word ‘transgression.’

In the apology Woods posted to his website, he wrote:
‘I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart.’

In the wake of his admission, ‘transgression’ and ‘transgression definition’ topped Google Trends as the most popular search terms in the US.”

In case Tiger’s vocabulary confuses you, too, wordnetweb.princeton.edu offers this definition:

- the act of transgressing; the violation of a law or a duty or moral principle; "the boy was punished for the transgressions of his father"
- the spreading of the sea over land as evidenced by the deposition of marine strata over terrestrial strata
- the action of going beyond or overstepping some boundary or limit

[Sort of like going to war??]

In the Beginning...

2009-12-03T08:14:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Empires come and go. God’s dominion stays.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You amaze me – at least once every day. Or if I’m paying some attention, every hour. On some days more often than that. I imagine that if I could be so attentive, I might be amazed from moment to moment, like a curious child.

We let common life obscure the uncommon facts of life on Earth, our uncommon personal life stories, the uncommon creativity and achievements of humanity. That lightbulb everyone is so anxious to change, for instance. It’s a great metaphor for the light you provide, being taken for granted, yet so vital and so miraculous – if we pay attention.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“In the beginning, I didn’t know a word.”

[John might have written something like it, but He didn’t say it.]

D. Blog: Balancing Acts

Neighbor cat chases a squirrel in our yard. It’s probably just practice for the well-fed cat, but no game for the squirrel. Survival of the fittest? I wonder. Perhaps it’s simply part of an amazingly complex balancing act that nature performs.

As for humans, are we resilient enough, strong-minded enough, fit enough to survive the coming decline (collapse) of the fossil fuel balance that our population depends upon?

Tiger Woods, Imagine

2009-12-02T09:02:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The only hope of satisfying Divinity’s purpose lies in achieving world peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You know that one of the main ways we know you is as Creator. When we see the grandeur and the intricacy of the universe, we stand in wonder at the divine power that made it all. Equally awesome to me is the fact that you have given to us, the children made in your image, a measure of that same ability to create. I imagine it might be our greatest spiritual gift. For I experience creativity as a spiritual force. When we use it, instead of destructive power, we unleash more of your spirit into the universe. I know that when I am using my creativity, I feel very much connected to you. Help me to use this ability in ways that express your love and further your creative activity.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“If I am to model my life after my ancestor, King David, I certainly need a Bathsheba. You’ll do, Mary.”

[Not that kind of King, so He didn’t say that.]

D. Blog: Imagine…

I can Imagine I might accidentally hit a tree hard enough when backing out of my driveway that it would require a visit to the emergency room. I can imagine I would call my insurance company. Involvement of a hydrant would, I imagine, bring somebody from the local fire department.

Police? Hard to imagine. Reporters? I don’t think so. Making international news? Unthinkable.

Neighborhood gossip? I imagine so.

Thank you, Tiger Woods, for proving that we are a global village.

The War Thing

2009-12-01T08:35:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Only those with hope and trust find peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Thank you for the gift of time, without which there is no life. That was a stupendous idea you have. But we need experiences of your timelessness, too. I wonder whether the tendency to structure and fill our time has the by-product of eliminating the openings for glimpses of the timeless and eternal – you. I am grateful for all encounters with you, in the countless ways they come.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“When in Samaria, do as the Samaritans do.”

[The alternative lesson to one of His parables, but it never caught on.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

I don’t get it, this war thing.
Explain to me why
you believe it works.

Meeting Crises

2009-11-30T08:05:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

War bonds? Peace bonds make a better investment.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Sometimes I am aware that I know very little. I know the routines of my day-to-day existence, but of any larger scheme or plan or meaning or ultimate goal I can only speculate, as if fumbling around in a dense fog. Occasionally I get a glimpse of something ultimate in a moment when light breaks through that fog. I use that piece of ultimate truth to give me some bearing and orient me in the cosmos. That helps, but the fog remains. Please keep your light shining on the pieces of your truth that give me hope and inspiration.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Which way is up?”

[On a roundish and rotating planet, and in a multi-dimensional universe, that’s a good question, but He didn’t need to ask.]

D. Blog: When Crisis Comes

We can see all manner of crises ahead (climate change, peak oil and energy descent, population overload, resource depletion, pollution of air and water and soil). Yet I can see the opportunity in them, and they bring an excitement that the status quo does not. The challenges, I think, stir our creativity in ways that might otherwise leave it dormant. The challenges also encourage us to reach out to neighbors in ways we would otherwise not be inclined to do. We are moved to say “I need some help” and “How can I help?” We are moved to work together lest we fail to meet the challenges.

Disrupted Plans

2009-11-29T05:09:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace will never be the burden and the waste that is war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Awesome.
Unbelievable.
Mysterious.
Incredible.
Blessed.
Unlimited.
Holy.

I’ll stop at seven adjectives,
just because they are enough.
enough to suggest but not encompass
this enterprise we know as life.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Close the door behind you, Judas.”

[Not the next to last thing He said to Judas.]

D. Blog: Disrupted Plans

My carefully laid out plans for the day often get disrupted or set aside. It sometimes annoys me when this happens, but it usually turns out for the best and I learn some things that I would not have learned had things gone according to my plans. Consider this a lesson on what plans the Divine One has for creation.

Economic Salvation is Near

2009-11-28T06:42:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

The next phase of our political evolution will include a peace party.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Earth is beautiful, amazing, fertile, diverse, adaptable, awesome. Very good, indeed, Genesis writer. And that’s an understatement. Better to say “wonderful” or “excellent” or “incredible” or “perfect.” The same is true of humans, who are of Earth, you say. If only we knew…
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Get thee behind me Judith. I’ll lead you to my bachelor pad.”

[Never said that!]

D. Blog: Unfit to Print

Item: A lot of merchants tempted a lot of people to shop on the day after the Thanksgiving holiday, fueling speculation that economic salvation is near.

Black Friday?

2009-11-27T08:12:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

If posterity lasts long enough, I don’t think “enlightened” will be the word to describe this period of human violence.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The country and western song says you get the blues, and I can imagine it when I hear some of what comes to us as news. We humans do some very cruel things to each other and to Earth. If you get the blues, I wonder if you get utterly depressed. I don’t really think so; you’re too busy monitoring the whole of creation, watching for your offspring to turn to you, to grow into fullness of life with you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Bang, bang! You’re dead!”

[You tell me, why didn’t He say this as a child?]

D. Blog: Black Friday

[Thanks to wikipedia.org for explaining this strange term, one I would rather apply to the day of Jesus’ crucifixion.]

Origin of the name "Black Friday"

Black Friday as a term has been used in multiple contexts, going back to the nineteenth century, where it was associated with a financial crisis in 1869. The earliest uses of "Black Friday" to mean the day after Thanksgiving come from or reference Philadelphia and refer to the heavy traffic on that day. The earliest known reference to "Black Friday" (in this sense), found by Bonnie Taylor-Blake of the American Dialect Society, refers to Black Friday 1965 and makes the Philadelphia origin explicit:
JANUARY 1966 -- "Black Friday" is the name which the Philadelphia Police Department has given to the Friday following Thanksgiving Day. It is not a term of endearment to them. "Black Friday" officially opens the Christmas shopping season in center city, and it usually brings massive traffic jams and over-crowded sidewalks as the downtown stores are mobbed from opening to closing.
The term Black Friday began to get wider exposure around 1975, as shown by two newspaper articles from November 29, 1975, both datelined Philadelphia. The first reference is in an article entitled "Army vs. Navy: A Dimming Splendor," in The New York Times:
Philadelphia police and bus drivers call it "Black Friday" - that day each year between Thanksgiving Day and the Army–Navy Game. It is the busiest shopping and traffic day of the year in the Bicentennial City as the Christmas list is checked off and the Eastern college football season nears conclusion.
The derivation is also clear in an Associated Press article entitled "Folks on Buying Spree Despite Down Economy," which ran in the Titusville Herald on the same day:
Store aisles were jammed. Escalators were nonstop people. It was the first day of the Christmas shopping season and despite the economy, folks here went on a buying spree. ... "That's why the bus drivers and cab drivers call today 'Black Friday,'" a sales manager at Gimbels said as she watched a traffic cop trying to control a crowd of jaywalkers. "They think in terms of headaches it gives them."
Usage of the term has become more popular in the Midwest since 2000.

Accounting practice

Many merchants objected to the use of a negative term to refer to one of the most important shopping days in the year. By the early 1980s, an alternative theory began to be circulated: that retailers traditionally operated at a financial loss for most of the year (January through November) and made their profit during the holiday season, beginning on the day after Thanksgiving. When this would be recorded in the financial records, once-common accounting practices would use red ink to show negative amounts and black ink to show positive amounts. Black Friday, under this theory, is the beginning of the period where retailers would no longer have losses (the red) and instead take in the year's profits (the black). The earliest known use, again found by Bonnie Taylor-Blake, is from 1981, again from Philadelphia, and presents the "black ink" theory as one of several competing possibilities:
If the day is the year's biggest for retailers, why is it called Black Friday? Because it is a day retailers make profits -- black ink, said Grace McFeeley of Cherry Hill Mall. "I think it came from the media," said William Timmons of Strawbridge & Clothier. "It's the employees, we're the ones who call it Black Friday," said Belle Stephens of Moorestown Mall. "We work extra hard. It's a long hard day for the employees."
The Christmas shopping season is of enormous importance to American retailers and, while an examination of the quarterly SEC filings of major retailers such as Wal-Mart or Target shows that most retailers intend to and actually do make profits during every quarter of the year, some retailers are so dependent on the Christmas shopping season that the quarter including Christmas produces all the year's profits and compensates for losses from other quarters.

Who Celebrates by Giving Thanks?

2009-11-26T06:41:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Forsaking all other, I declare my troth to Thee, Eirene.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The fall leaf colors have almost disappeared. Yet that feature of all can carry us through winter’s lack of variety in its color palette. Like animals storing food or fat for winter, we can store the colors of fall. A few photographs help with our recall efforts. Images of you do the same for our remembrance of your presence among us.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Yeah, my stepfather runs the Joseph & Sons construction business in Nazareth. I’d be there with him, but for now I’m fulfilling my 3-year missionary tour.”

[This statement isn’t in the records.]

D. Blog: Who Celebrates Thanks-giving?

Thanksgiving. For? Who won’t be celebrating this holiday? How many tables will feature arguments?

Still, it’s another great day to be alive, a day full of blessings, and a day to express some of what they mean to us.

Divine Feminine

2009-11-25T06:24:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When I am at peace with nature, I am at peace with God.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You came.
You saw.
You died.
You conquered.
Caesar failed.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"No. I refuse to wear a stupid beanie on my head just so I can be a part of a sexist fraternity."

[For several reasons, He never said this.]

D. Blog: Divine Feminine

Why do people seem to fear the idea that divinity has a feminine aspect? When so much of the masculine aspect of divinity is understood as angry and judgmental, why not fear that? Even though Jesus presented God as merciful, loving and forgiving, we still have insisted on a divinity defined as masculine. Why must we understand God as gendered at all? Divinity might be neither masculine nor feminine, or even multiply-gendered. What makes us think we know anything about divinity and gender? We know only that at times throughout the course of human history, divinity has been perceived as feminine and masculine, a spirit presence which comes to us in ways we might understand (pronoun).

Call Me When...

2009-11-24T06:13:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace will not be complete without you.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I have been so blessed, am so aware of you as a gracious presence in my life, that I am caught short when I encounter someone whose experience of life is much more angst-filled, dreary and depressing. I wonder whether I am simply avoiding the “harsh realities of life.” I wonder whether I’m turning away from the cross that is mine to bear as one who follows Jesus. But you remind me that I do bear my cross or crosses, and maybe bear them with a measure of good humor and grace.

I also wonder what hinders the flow of your grace. I fear it is something in our human attitudes and behavior, when we are dull and mean-spirited. I imagine that would be hard for your grace to overcome, not impossible, but difficult. So I pray for the continued full flowing of your grace to the lives of those who need it most.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"Have you heard the saying: If there is a hell, Rome is built on it?"

[He surely had a sense of humor, but never told this joke.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Don’t call me when you
Go to war. Do call me when you
Want to build peace.

To Lawn or Not to Lawn

2009-11-23T07:01:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Sooner or later peace comes. I opt for sooner.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Winter’s coming soon, and I wonder wherein lies its charm” Snow and ice might be beautiful at first, but they are full of menace. I think winter challenges us, tests our survival and adaptive abilities in ways other seasons do not. It also reminds us of death. We might not want the reminder, go to Florida or Arizona to avoid its challenges, both physical and psychological. You avoided nothing. I accept winter’s challenges and reminders. They strengthen me.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I admire the Essenes, but the vow of obedience, poverty and chastity? That’s not for me.”

[He never said it, so perhaps that eliminates the theory of His connection with the Essenes.]

D. Blog: Doing Away with a Lawn

Thoreau objected to the time wasted on tending to a yard. I’m with Henry. Plus, I object to the waste of energy, mine and the gas in the mower, to tend a lawn. Lawns, I understand, were a recent development historically, intended to demonstrate that one had the means to pay for the sheep or gardeners to maintain such an otherwise wasteful bit of Earth. There’s also the waste of time and energy spent on clearing leaves, when all they have in mind is to nourish the soil so more vegetation can grow. I’m ready to break free of the tyranny of maintaining a lawn and spend my time rebuilding the soil and letting our plot of land produce things of sustainable value: fruit, vegetables, trees, and flowers of the perennial type. More and more, I believe we must move toward sustainability in all things.

Put Up Where It Belongs

2009-11-22T07:50:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

A peace at hand is worth two in a bush.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

We come to this place because it is dedicated to you.
We come to this place out of dedication to you as we have seen you in Jesus the Christ.
We come to this place because we share with others a commitment to serve you and one another.
We come to this place for the inspiration and courage to serve others in our wider community, and for the renewal we need to do so.
We come to this place because we need to be reminded that we are loved and forgive, that we are your children, that we have received the charge to care for Earth and for our neighbors.
We come to this place because we hope to find you in our midst.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Every person here deserves to die. Except me, of course.”

[Not even in a lesser-known sermon did He say this.]

D. Blog: A Rant on “Up”

We Christians speak of Christ as the light of the world, the one who brightens our lives. That being true, it does not make sense to add “up” as in “you light up my life.” I get the sense; I object to the grammar. We have perfectly good nouns to speak of the phenomenon of light. We have a wonderful verb to describe the act of bringing light into a space: brighten. So, how lazy is our language that we add an “up” (an adverb) to make grammatical soup?

News or Gossip

2009-11-21T06:56:00.000-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Nothing is strong enough to shake me from the arms of the divine. My peace has a lifetime guarantee.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Do other people have this sense that the course of their lives has been remarkable? When I think about it, it seems as if my life’s journey has had a lot of excitement, transition, variety and goodness. I’d say yes to “wonderful,” for sure, but also “astonishing,” “amazing,” “glorious” and “blessed.” My thanks for the opportunities and experiences of love and joy and laughter to go with the creative path on which you’ve led me.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Which end of this spork thing is the handle?”

[We all want to know, but He didn’t.]

D. Blog: But Is It News?

“Talk show hostess to resign”

[Something about watching people talk to one another when we can’t be part of the conversation strikes me as being akin to eavesdropping on gossip. We might like gossip about celebrities, but I question whether it qualifies as news.]

This Blog Not Homologated

2009-11-20T07:08:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I’m running with you, Jesus – on the track to peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I love the way you stealthily work in and around us to bring your loving will into reality. Your touch is far more complex and subtle than we comprehend. I’m learning that coincidence and synchronicity are marks of your activity, not just meetings of time and event but, in biblical language, “fullness of time.” You operate as a stealth divinity, an infiltrating agent, whose works are largely invisible to our level of sensory perception. I wonder if you’re trying to train us in the use of our spiritual sensors.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Wait, wait, don’t tell me. I know this one.”

[Ah, the games He never played.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “homologate”

verb tr.:
1. To approve officially.
2. To register a specific model of a motor vehicle to make it eligible to take part in a racing competition.

ETYMOLOGY:
From Latin homologare (to agree), from Greek homologein (to agree or allow).

NOTES:
Some auto racing competitions require participating vehicles to be available for sale to the general public, and not be custom made for racing. The process of homologation verifies this. The initials GTO listed after some auto names (Ferrari, Pontiac, etc.) mean "Gran Turismo Omologato", Italian for "Grand Touring, Homologated".

USAGE:
"Mr Jimmy Gray said: 'We've major issues which appear to be discussed in the press. Decisions are made and then we're asked to homologate these decisions."Labour Group Leader Hits Out; Aberdeen Press & Journal (UK); Jul 9, 2007.
"What was needed was a more streamlined street car to homologate for racing."Malcolm Gunn; Parked on the Showroom Floor; Chicago Daily Herald; Oct 18, 2009.

[Thanks to the website wordsmith.org for this fine word.]

Seek Peace with Earth

2009-11-19T09:09:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I have decided to seek peace with Earth.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You are our ultimate home, the one in whom we find refuge, identity and belonging. Made in your image, we live as pilgrims and prodigals until we turn to you, where we recognize our kinship and you make us feel right at home.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I only got this job because I have family connections.”

[The explanation He never gave for His ministry.]

D. Blog: Unusual Military Justice

Fascinating story about the African-American woman soldier put in jail because she missed her deployment to one of the conflict zones after not being given adequate (and required) time to arrange for child care for her 10-month-old child.

Illustration of two things that come to my mind. One, an instance when it’s okay to leave a child behind? (Soldiers have to do it all the time.) Two, abusive behavior toward a Black woman soldier by the military? (Who would have guessed that could happen?)

Criminal Contrast

2009-11-18T08:45:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When peace rises above the horizon, some people run toward the darkness.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You created us to adapt to our surroundings. Is it something in our genetic makeup, though, that makes us more attuned to the landscape like that of the generations of our ancestors? I, for instance, feel particularly at ease in wooded hills and mountains. Why not the plains, the sea coast, the desert, the jungle? Is it simply a matter of taste? Possibly. Anyway, I’m grateful for the variety, happy to experience it and to have found my own preference.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"Let’s do the next song as a 3-part round."

[Always with the 3’s. No way He said this!]

D. Blog: Another Woman an the Rampage

- Stephanie Wilkie Huntley, 41, of Asheville, charged with obtaining property by false pretense and two counts of misdemeanor larceny. According to arrest warrants, Huntley returned stolen merchandise to CVS pharmacy on River Ridge Drive for a gift card in the amount of $3.50.
-- Asheville Citizen-Times, 11/11/09

[Not to the scale of Madoff taking from investors or investment bankers taking from taxpayers, but let her be an example to you lest you try to obtain property by false pretense in the mountains of North Carolina. The contrast makes me crazy...]

Excellent Loan Terms

2009-11-17T08:23:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

I always cry over spoilt peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Everything we have we owe to you.
Your repayment terms are generous.
You do not expect it all back.
You want us to enjoy what you lend to us.
May we also find joy in what we share in your honor.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I wonder if this is what my therapist meant by acknowledging the dark side?”

[I don’t wonder if He said this in the tomb.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

If there are better days ahead,
Then so be it.
Let the good times roll!

100 Years of Warfare??

2009-11-16T08:51:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

No one whose vision includes the prospect of 100 years of warfare qualifies to be a head of government.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I love it when you put me in touch with people who inspire with their commitment to peace and justice that goes beyond national borders.
I love it when I meet people who embrace those of other religions, knowin that nothing less can ever lead to a peaceful world.
I love to see people trying to understand and then appreciating people of other faith traditions instead of attempting to convert them.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"The Angels left Los Angeles? I must be in a time warp."

[They all went to Hawaii, said to be Heaven on Earth.]

D. Blog: Questions of the Day

-- Ever notice that at least 99% of players for teams with Native American mascots/names are not Native American?

-- Aren’t ya kinda surprised, ya know, that Sarah Palin, like, wrote a book, like, all by herself? You betcha!

-- Who’s next? Terrell Owens?

-- How does this make sense: According to researchers at Harvard, in 2008, 155 US military personnel died in Afghanistan, while in the same year more than 2200 military veterans died in the US because they had no medical insurance coverage?
[Thanks to LisaRose Barnes for forwarding that information.]

Bridge to Somewhere

2009-11-15T05:18:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

“When I was little, I didn’t mind playing with guns with other boys. Then I realized guns are not toys and killing other people is no game.” – Randall, age 14.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One, Idol-smashing God,

I don’t know that it’s you who destroy idols directly so much as we humans destroy the idols we have made when we have a clearer experience of who you are. I don’t know that it’s so much a matter of you being jealous as it is you wanting to protect us from the destructive effects of worshipping idols. Your presence in our lives is so much more beneficial to us. You want us to hold a truer, clearer vision of who you are. You constantly leave revelatory glimpses of you for us to observe, but most of the time our perceptive tools are faulty or suffer from overwhelming interference. Even that you can overcome.

Take away the idols that block us from communion with you. Erase the wordy constructions that become set as concrete and prevent us from receiving your word of life. Explode the myth stories that portray you falsely as judgmental and domineering and petty. Help us to know you, rather than knowing only myth stories supposedly about you. Keep me from making idols.
Amen.

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You can go to hell, Satan!”

[Not exactly how He worded it.]

D. Blog: A Bridge to Somewhere

Nantahala Gorge, NC

Jesus Got a Draft Notice?

2009-11-14T06:25:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

We have become so proficient in killing that, in comparison, Cain’s slaying of Abel is about on the level of a parking violation.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

In football, they say that when a team can go deep, it has a better chance of success. The same is true in relationships, including the one we have with you. Going deep in football also involves some risks, the but rewards can be substantial and sustained team success depends on it. I think the analogy holds, so let’s go deep.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“So Dad, what do you think I should do about this draft notice from the Salvation Army?”

[Probably a toss-up if it came to Him.]

D. Blog: Non-News of the Week

Infomercials
95% of the popular online search topics
Sarah wrote a book??

Making Valetudinarians of Us All

2009-11-13T06:39:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

We honor the war dead – unless they happen to be civilians who wanted no part of warring.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

The future, as always, holds both threat and promise. The threat frightens; the promise encourages. To recognize the threat but seek fulfillment of the promise seems to me the reasonable course. The change that comes requires adapting our ways of living, or it brings death. You always choose adaptation in order for life to continue. You set before us this choice between life and death. You make the choice, too, as we see and hear in your message of resurrection. I’ll follow your example.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’d like to introduce the people who made this gathering possible – the women in the crowd.”

[Coulda, shoulda, but it’s not recorded that He did.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “valetudinarian”

"one who is constantly concerned with his own ailments," 1703, from valetudinary (1581), from L. valetudinarius, from valetudo "state of health," from valere "be strong" + -tudo, abstract noun suffix. Valetudinary (adj.) "sickly" is recorded from 1581.
[Thanks to the Online Etymology Dictionary for the definition and origin.]

Distinct from hypochondriacs, who think they always have some ailment or another, we valetudinarians take extreme care not to become ill, especially when we have no adequate health insurance coverage…

Recalling Nero's Fiddling

2009-11-12T09:25:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

In Britain they still celebrate Armistice Day, when a war ended. What happened to ours?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I like the modern spiritual that asks you to “guide my steps while I run this race.” I don’t think of that as determining my steps. You set some boundaries that keep me safe. Aside from that, there are probably a number of paths open to me, and you will continue to guide once I’ve moved along a path. If it’s not a path for me, I’m sure to run into obstacles that move me in a different direction, no matter how hard I try to overcome those obstacles. All of it is worthwhile, even the dead ends.

It always interests me to hear when people look back over their lives and see how you’ve been guiding them along their way. It could, of course, be our assigning to you what is merely a matter of chance. And I don’t know, either, what to say about hose whose lives seem to go nowhere, or to places of destruction and death. I know it’s not simply a matter of them choosing wrong paths. There is a call to us who have felt your guidance to offer some guidance ourselves. I know that I look back over my life and feel that your guidance has kept me on safe paths, paths that have taken me to good places of learning, growth and service. This remains true where I am today. Thank you for guiding me. Help me be alert to opportunities to help others on the paths that will provide blessing to them.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I stand corrected. A mustard seed does not grow to be a large tree.”

[Even if He made mistakes, He never said this.]

D. Blog: Health Care Reform

Random Thoughts

Since 2003, over 5,000 US military personnel have died in Iraq and Afghanistan in moves to change governments there, to suppress the threat of terrorist attacks, and to keep supplies of oil flowing to the US to support our “way of life.”

Meanwhile, within the US, according to the American Medical Association at least 150,000 US citizens have died unnecessarily because they could not get health insurance. My math sees that as thirty times as many. Where’s the real terror threat? Way of life or way of death for many? And there is no supply of oil that can continue supporting our consumption addiction.

Now Congress has to deal with the abortion bug-a-boo in order to pass health care reform legislation. No health care insurance can provide payment for abortions, say abortion opponents (many of whom also oppose health care reform). So apparently we’ll have even more people who can’t get health care, more children and their mothers who’ll have to be covered by already mandated state and federally funded insurance programs. I don’t get the logic. Add to that the fact that there are already far too many humans for Earth to support.

I suppose I must be missing something here, but Nero’s fiddling comes to my mind…

Agreeing With Andy

2009-11-11T09:18:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Instead of a Veterans Day, we should have a No War Day. – Andy Rooney, WWII Veteran

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I feel your awesome mystery in nature, in the relative vastness of Earth, the stretch of this continent. I feel a kind of depression, though, in the press of humanity as we look for ways to encounter nature’s wonders. As part of the throng, we become spectators and collectors, not conscious participants in the realm of nature. This reminds me of people who come to worship as spectators, not as fully conscious members of a community. May we know our place in both.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“So, how’s that multiplication problem working out?”

[Problem? What problem? He never said this.]

D. Blog: Tough on Criminals in Asheville

ASHEVILLE — A Hickory man has been arrested by Asheville police on a 1993 warrant for stolen property, according to warrants filed at the Buncombe County Magistrate’s Court. Joe Cofield, 50, of Hickory was charged with possession of perfume and clothing stolen from the Hess’s department store in Biltmore Square Mall in 1992. He was being held in the Buncombe County Detention Center with bond set at $5,000.
-- Asheville Citizen-Times, 11-2-09

[There are cold cases and there are cold cases. In this case, the store no longer exists and the mall is almost out of business. 17-year-old perfume and clothing probably don't fit current fashion, either, but this case goes into the solved column.]

Party Time!

2009-11-10T07:45:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

No failure so great as that of passing on the option for peace.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Sometimes I wonder if you like to play with us – without our noticing. You do things on our behalf, to help make life a little more pleasant for us, and most of the time we attribute it to an impersonal “luck” or “good fortune.” Seldom do we imagine that a more personal force, a not disinterested presence – you –is working behind and within the scenes. I’m beginning to suspect you might like it that way – although some occasional recognition and credit is nice, too.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“What I advise you to do is wear a copper bracelet and a crystal necklace. I guarantee it will make you feel better.”

[Not among His healing methods.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

Having a wonderful time.
Wish you were here. You are?
Well let’s party!

Google This!

2009-11-09T10:06:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When there’s whitewater rafting we can do, who needs the “thrill” of war?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

To what shall I liken our mountain splendor in fall?
The harvest of a lifetime?
The crowning achievement of nature?
An affirmation of praise in color?
Defiance and faith despite approaching death?
A rampage of beauty?
Another attempt by nature to get our attention?
Perhaps your simple declaration: It is Good!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"It must be great to live in Rome, imperial capital, heart of the civilized world."

[Believe He said that and you might also believe I'll sell you the Golden Gate Bridge at the bargain price of $1 million.]

D. Blog: Google This!

- Thomas Berry
- Brian Swimme
- Peak Oil
- “End of Suburbia” (a film)
- Crash Course
- Transition Movement
- Permaculture
- Ecozoic Age

They’re all about change we need.

Divine Regrets?

2009-11-08T05:07:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace might rob us of our self-importance in the world. Can’t have that.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Who can dispute your wisdom?
Only those who cannot reconcile your power and goodness with suffering.
You respond in Christ.
Who can dispute your power?
Only those who cannot reconcile your wisdom and goodness with suffering.
You respond in Christ.
Who can dispute your goodness?
Only those who cannot reconcile your power and wisdom with suffering.
You respond in Christ.
Who can dispute your glory?
Only those who do not see.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Cousin John, I have doubts about the ethics of collecting protection money from the rich so you won’t condemn them to hell.”

[They did have differences over some things, but this wasn’t one of them.]

D. Blog: Divine Regrets?

Sometimes I wonder whether God has any regrets -- about us humans, I mean.
Considering the gifts and talents we have, our creativity, resources and adaptability, we make some ungodly choices and terrible mistakes. This cannot possibly be according to some divine plan. So, my sense is that we muddle along, that the divine experiment with life in time and space continues moving along in a sacred hope that we realize our potential as divine offspring.

Old but Honest News

2009-11-07T06:31:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Protests against abortion have a hollow sound if they don’t similarly protest against war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

What an incredible burst of energy that set everything into motion! Your desire for life was/is so powerful as to overcome all constraints of sacred time an space. Your longing to give and receive love was/is so overwhelming as to endure billions of years and countless lightyears of space before Earth could produce both life and love that approximate your own. I can scarcely take it into my mind and heart.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

"I love the part when the pagan Egyptians drown in the sea. Just what those infidels had coming to them!"

[He never had such childish views.]

D. Blog: Old but Honest News

This week some men (mostly), exercising an unnatural “right” to carry guns, deprived many people of their natural rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Suffering from Mulligrubs?

2009-11-06T06:18:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace might mean admitting having done wrong in the world. That could hurt our pride.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You give us visions of a world that could be, visions of a reality that could replace the one we have experienced.
You give us dreams of a society that could be, dreams of compassion, justice and peace.
Let our actions move us in the direction of our visions; let our attitudes reflect our dreams.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Guys, Thaddeus won the contest for our new slogan: the few, the proud, the disciples! Now go out there and recruit!”

[Not quite what Matthew recorded Him saying when He told them to go and make disciples.]

D. Blog: Word – “Mulligrubs”

n. 1. A griping of the intestines; colic.
Whose dog lies sick of the mulligrubs?
- Beau. & Fl.
2. Hence, sullenness; the sulks.

[Great word, but seldom seen in the US, despite plentiful examples of politicians who suffer from the malady. Thanks to thefreedictionary.com for the definition.]

ODD: Understanding Conservative Republicans

2009-11-05T08:55:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace has priority in my party platform.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Today is such a gift. There has never been another day like this one; there will never be another one. One by one, they come to us in succession, and we sometimes mistakenly think their outward similarity makes them identical. This day is unique in all of time, just as I am. We were made for each other. You do that for me every day. Wherever I turn in my mind, I see your wonderful gifts. My paltry thanks can never adequately express my gratitude, but I offer my thanks anyway. Now I’ll move on through this new day and live it in a way that might express my joy in it and in you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Do you know the way to San Jose?”

[Trying to find Joseph in Jerusalem? NOT.]

D. Blog: Understanding Conservative Republicans

What is Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)

ODD is a psychiatric disorder affecting behavior. Three characteristics of the child who has ODD are: aggression, defiance and the constant need to irritate others. When documenting the child's behavior; characteristics or behavior patterns should be in place for at least 6 months. The behaviors will have a negative impact on social and academic functioning. It is important to look for the following characteristics:
· The child often loses his/her temper
· The child is defiant and doesn't obey rules/routines
· The child argues often with adults and peers
· The child seems to go out of his/her way to annoy others in very bothersome ways
· The child is often lacking accountability and blames others for inappropriate behaviors
· The child often seems angry, spiteful and vindictive
· The child is often prone to tantrums and will be non-compliant

Key to determining ODD is the frequency of the characteristics.

How is ODD diagnosed?

Psychiatric disorders are diagnosed by a review of medical history, ruling out other disorders, medical tests and ongoing observation. Good documentation from both parents and teachers over a period of time about the child's behavior are critical for the practitioner. Although there's no clearly understood cause, it is believed to be a combination of genetics, environment, and/or medical problems. The onset of the pattern of behaviors often starts early from toddler/pre-school ages and is believed to effect both females and males. Some children will have both ODD and ADD, however, a child with just ODD does have the ability to sit still, which isn't the case with the child with ADD or ADHD.

How is ODD Treated?

There are relatively few studies done on the effective treatment for ODD. There is no one way to treat cases of ODD. Sometimes, medication is used to treat some of the symptoms, sometimes psycho therapy and or family therapy is used but more often than anything else, behavior modification is used. The earlier a form of consistent treatment is in place, the greater chance of success. See best practices below for some tips.

Best Practices

The best way to treat a child with ODD in and out of the classroom include behavior management techniques, using a consistent approach to discipline and following through with positive reinforcement of appropriate behaviors. Be fair but be firm, give respect to get respect.
· Develop consistent behavior expectations.
· Communicate with parents so that strategies are consistent at home and school.
· Apply established consequences immediately, fairly and consistently.
· Establish a quiet cool off area.
· Teach self talk to relieve stress and anxiety.
· Provide a positive and encouraging classroom environment.
· Give praise for appropriate behavior and always provide timely feedback.
· Provide a 'cooling down' area/time out.
· Avoid confrontation and power struggles

[It seems ODD - such a wonderful acronym -- appears in grownups, too. Thanks to Susan Watson’s article in About.com]

Weird Asheville's Weird Crime

2009-11-04T09:23:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When drought plagues us, we seek water.
When war plagues us, why not seek peace?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

“When the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.” Sentimental and senseless bit of religious garbage, I think.

Roll calling? I don’t think so. The biblical text I recall says that our names are written on your heart already. Calling roll would be redundant, and you don’t do that kind of redundant. Up yonder? We should know better. If you call roll, it’s here and now.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Listen to this latest Roman joke: What do you call a pretty girl in Rome? A tourist.”

[I like it, and He had no special fondness for the Roman empire, but He never said it.]

D. Blog: Weird Crime in Weird Asheville

ASHEVILLE — A Fletcher man was charged with larceny by an employee. Aaron Lamar Payton Martin, 24, stole, took or carried away $51 worth of men’s and women’s underwear from Kohl’s on Bleachery Boulevard, according to warrants at the Buncombe County Magistrate’s Office. He was released with a written promise to appear in court.
-- Asheville Citizen-Times, 10-26-09

[Sporting his new underwear as evidence??]

Opinions and Facts

2009-11-03T09:00:00.002-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Life has more than enough meaning and excitement without war.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Religion and politics produce aggravating discussions and antagonistic debates. But both have a place in a healthy society. Religion claims to hold truth, yet delivers grave injustices and ignorance. Politics claims to foster justice, yet relies too often on deceit and lies.
You inspire all truth and justice – when we are willing to listen.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“No, I’ve never actually seen a unicorn, but I believe they exist, because they are mentioned in scripture.”

[Not one of His shining moments. Scripture is not meant to be science.]

D. Blog: Tuesday Haiku

We are entitled to
Our own opinions,
But not to our own facts

[Not an original idea, but so far as I know original in haiku form.]

We Fall, We Get Up

2009-11-02T10:24:00.001-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

If the bottom line does not include peace, there is no profit.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

In the grand scheme of things, what if you improvise as things go along?
If you live, don’t you have to change?
When we are more likely to provide pet health care than health care for humans, are we going to the dogs?
In my small scheme of things, my improvised musings amuse me.
I’m sure you understand.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Wait, wait, don’t tell me. I know this one.”

[Ah, the games He never played.]

D. Blog: We Fall, We Get Up

Have you noticed how children will trip and fall and experience it as natural. They hop right back up. As we get older, such an occurrence causes embarrassment. We fear someone might have seen our misstep, might recognize our less than perfect condition. I once took a class in tai chi. Some middle school girls looked in on the class and asked the instructor “what is this?” He explained that it was a class on how to get up after you fall.

Children’s attitude is healthy: How very natural.

Have a friend in Jesus? Be His friend!

2009-11-01T07:09:00.003-05:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Until we invest more in peace, our bottom line will continue in the red.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When you issue an invitation to a banquet, I’ll come hungry.
When you throw a party, I’ll be there.
When you fill my life with goodness, I’ll offer my thanks.
When you inspire me with awe, I’ll sing praises to you.
When you offer unconditional love, I’ll accept it with humility.
When you ask me to do something for you, … I’ll think about it.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I decided to enter the synagogue talent show as a ventriloquist, since so many people claim to have heard my voice saying outrageous things.”

[I wish I’d heard His act, don't you?]

D. Blog: Friends with Jesus

The image of Jesus presented in the gospels has him without any real friends. No one knew him such that they truly understood him. No one joked and laughed with him. There was no person to whom he could go for advice or a reliable opinion.

I’d like to think this image is the fault of the gospel writers, not a true picture of a basically lonely human being. I’d like to think, even, that we can be Jesus’ friends. That is not the same as claiming him as our friend. Being his friend, the gospel writer says, rightly, means doing what he asks, not having him do what we ask.

Un-News

2009-10-31T07:20:00.001-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Designated huggers take God’s place in the love lineup. Peace now!

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Politics wears me out, so I don’t want to think about it.
Religion wears me out, too, so no more thinking about it.
Perhaps if I keep my focus on loving you and loving my neighbors, that can pass for my religion and my politics.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“You look real good for having had five husbands.”

[Not what He said to the Samaritan woman at the well.]

D. Blog: Un-news of the Week

- Paris Hilton, again. Please, spare us from gossip pretending to be news.

- Fox “News”, always. This conservative political arm rants about children singing a song (during African-American History Month) that honors African-Americans of achievement, including President Obama. Fox shouts: INDOCTRINATION! BRAINWASHING!! PROPAGANDA!!!

Fox “News” obviously knows all there is to know about those things. They take priority over reporting real news.

Do You Like Jazz?

2009-10-30T07:22:00.002-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Who’s afraid of the little, good peace?

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

Any time we leave our familiar neighborhood, we enter other worlds.
Any time we step outside our normal patters, we walk into alternative realities.
Any time we move beyond the walls that enclose our minds, we have a chance of finding you.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“So, what was your near death experience like, Lazarus? White light and all that? I wonder how mine will be.”

[I wish the gospel mentioned their conversation, but it doesn’t.]

D. Blog: Word of the Week – “Jazz”

By 1912, Amer.Eng., first attested in baseball slang; as a type of music, attested from 1913. Probably ult. from Creole patois jass "strenuous activity," especially "sexual intercourse" but also used of Congo dances, from jasm (1860) "energy, drive," of African origin (cf. Mandingo jasi, Temne yas), also the source of slang jism.

"If the truth were known about the origin of the word 'Jazz' it would never be mentioned in polite society." ["Étude," Sept. 1924]

The verb meaning "to speed or liven up" is from 1917; all that jazz "et cetera" first recorded 1939; Jazzercise is 1977, originally a proprietary name. Jazz Age first attested 1922 in writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, usually regarded as the years between the end of World War I (1918) and the Stock Market crash of 1929.

[Thanks to the Online Etymology Dictionary, I have an even greater appreciation for jazz…]

The Fairy Tale Analogy

2009-10-29T07:27:00.001-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Destruction brings more of the same. Time for change.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When I approach you in a different place or time, it’s of no concern to you. I might worry about the difference in my routine and discipline, but you remind me that you have a unique take on all of that. In truth, it might not be such a matter of importance to you if I seek the encounter or not. It happens according to your ways even if I don’t seek it. You will
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“I’m telling you, people, now that the flood’s over, beachfront property is the way to go.”

[Not what He taught about where to build houses.]

D. Blog: Fairy Tale Analogies

A man on the radio spoke of those who are like Chicken Little, people who try to frighten us into responding to threats: nuclear war, overpopulation, limited natural resources, diminishing oil supply, global warming, terrorism, disappearing species, human extinction.

His these was that we humans have a psychological tendency and need to create such threats. I turned off the radio at that point. These threats are not imaginary, figments of our neurotic impulses.

The fairy tale analogy I suggest is not Chicken Little, but the Three Little Pigs. The threats don’t represent misapprehensions of reality. They are all too real, much more like the big bad wolf readying to huff and puff and blow our house down. And too many of us delude ourselves into thinking our lives of straw and sticks can withstand that terrible force when it comes.

Felony Conversion?

2009-10-28T08:58:00.002-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Left to our own devices, we often wind up slaughtering one another and destroying the peace available when we rely on God’s devices.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

You are in all time and space, so we can encounter and interact with you any time and any place. At school, on the job, in a medical office, a grocery store, a gas station, mowing the yard, walking in the woods. Why do we try to limit our encounters to a specific time and place? Silly of us, if not downright blasphemous.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Gimme a ‘G’. Gimme an ‘O.’ Gimme a ‘D’. What’s it spell?... Oh, right. You can’t spell.”

[Why He didn’t turn the Sermon on the Mount into a pep rally.]

D. Blog: “Felony Conversion”

BLACK MOUNTAIN — Police say a Fairview woman kept rented kitchen appliances worth $2,458. Tammy Diane Morgan, 38, was charged with felony conversion, according to a warrant served Monday. The warrant states Morgan failed to return the appliances to Aaron’s Rental on U.S. 70 in Black Mountain. Bond was set at $1,000.
-- Asheville Citizen-Times, Oct. 20, 2009

[I like the idea of felony conversion, but this isn’t the meaning I’d attach to it…]

Miraculous Haiku

2009-10-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Of the longing for peace, there shall be no end.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I hurt.
But life is good.
I could use more money.
But life is good.
I’m overextended.
But life is good.
Yeah!!
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“For the record: I have nothing to do with snakes.”

[I see the connections, but He never said it.]

D. Blog: If it’s Tuesday, there must be Haiku

I don’t need to ask for
Or expect miracles.
They’re all around me.

No Way!

2009-10-26T10:38:00.001-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

War represents a failure of imagination.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

When illness strikes, I have trouble focusing on other things. I can become obsessed with my ailment and allow it to cast a shadow over the health in other parts of my system and my life. I remind myself: it is well with my soul.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“No Way!”

[No way He said that!
(And hats off to research associate Alice Martin-Adkins for discovering this un-quote.]

D. Blog: Didn’t Happen, You Say?

Alice and I spent a delightful afternoon with our friend Walter, a teenager when he survived a Nazi concentration camp. The visit brought to mind the ludicrous claim made by a few that the Holocaust didn’t happen, that it’s all a hoax. Can anybody, even the Iranian President, truly believe that claim? The claim itself must be some sort of hoax, a ploy, a sham, a distraction, a further attempt to discredit Jews, blame them even for their own victimization.

Quite apart from all the physical evidence and the personal stories of millions of people like Walter whose relatives were murdered, isn’t it telling that we do not hear Germans say it never happened.

350

2009-10-25T05:12:00.002-04:00

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

When violence and terror appear, beauty evaporates and ugliness fills the void she leaves.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I wonder whether the biblical characters had the same sort of feelings that I do about taking a journey? There are always unknowns and potential dangers. How will I need to make adjustments along the way? Will things be the way I hope or expect when I arrive at my destination?

It’s a great metaphor for life. And in metaphor as in life, you journey with us.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“After this, you can call me a real nowhere man.”

[Not what He told the disciples at the ascension.]

D. Blog: 350

I took part in the local rally in support of an international goal of 350 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere, the amount deemed likely to make life sustainable and limit climate change.

On the one hand, I was pleased that such an event took place in our city and that city officials have already taken measures to lower local carbon imprint and have plans to do even more. On the other hand, I thought this particular event was too much pep rally and not enough education. In other words, not enough focus on why the effort is so important if we humans are to have the opportunity to flourish as part of the Earth community.

Meanwhile, as the 250-300 of us gathered in the plaza, a group twice that large walked past to demonstrate their support of research to cure Alzheimer’s disease. And four blocks away, another group of about 800 attended a free concert and downtown block party.

The numbers say we’ve got a lot of work to do.