Douglas Coupland, in his excellent book, Life After God, particularly in a chapter entitled, "In The Desert", writes: The radio stations all seemed to be talking about Jesus nonstop, and it seemed to be this crazy orgy of projection, with everyone projecting onto Jesus the antidotes to the things that had done wrong in their own lives. He is Love. He is Forgiveness. he is Compassion. He is a Wise Career Decision. He is a Child Who Loves Me. … [Read more...]
My 10 Favorite Hiding Places
January 23, 2007 By 28 Comments
Many people who reveal and expose so much of themselves give the impression that they are authentic, real and vulnerable. I've long since learned that when someone gives that impression, they are usually (not always) using this impression of authenticity as smoke and mirrors to deflect people from their truest selves. Why? Because they may be deeply ashamed of who they really are, fear rejection, or need to be admired and accepted. They could also be your typical INFPs who hunger for the … [Read more...]
Mac! You’re Beautiful!
January 23, 2007 By 2 Comments
My personal thanks go out to John over at macstansbury for leading me to a very cheesy YouTube video of a young lady singing James Blunt's "Your Beautiful" to her mac. Only mac-users can understand her pain. … [Read more...]
Gnosis Not the Highest State!
January 23, 2007 By 5 Comments
The New Dictionary of Theology writes of Gregory of Nyssa (d. 385-ish), who observed the stages of the ascent of the soul: Gregory is also noted for his influential mystical writings in which he traces three stages in the ascent of the soul from apatheia, freedom from passion, through gnosis, mystical knowledge in which the senses are left behind, to theoria, the highest stage in contemplation in which (since a created soul cannnot see God) one passes into the limitless ascent into the divine … [Read more...]
The Opposers of Liberty!
January 22, 2007 By 7 Comments
Yesterday for my talk I read from John 7: 37-52. In a profoundly radical statement, Jesus says, "Let anyone who thirsts come and drink." Jesus makes a simple invitation ascribing spiritual authority to the individual. Each one can come, if they are thirsty, and drink. But right on the heels of this subversive invitation all kinds of oppositions, obstacles, excuses, distractions and alternatives come rushing in: popular opinion (some say he's the Prophet, some say he's the Messiah, some say he's … [Read more...]
Cartoon Caption Contest Winner!
January 22, 2007 By 5 Comments
Congratulations go out to Steve Thomas for the caption he submitted. He submitted several, and if he didn't win, he should be rewarded for tenacity. There were many good ones, but in the end, one had to be chosen through the grid of my sick sense of humour. So, this is the final product. It's funny, but in the past I've usually imagined a caption but deleted it and let others come up with their own. This time it was just the picture I had and didn't imagine a caption. I drew the prisoner with … [Read more...]
Last Chance!
January 21, 2007 By Leave a Comment
There looks to be over 60 cartoon captions submitted so far. Go here to enter. Lots of good ones to look at and add to. You have to midnight my time to submit. I'll announce the winner tomorrow as I'm too tired to stay up tonight. I'm exhausted from this weekend, and Lisa and I just returned from a memorial service for our friend who took his own life two weeks ago tomorrow. It was fine until they got to the slide show of pictures of him. That slayed us! Good night and good luck! … [Read more...]
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