Some good words from Jim Wallis for the hurricane victims and how you can help...
During hurricanes, floods and other natural disasters, those who have the least to lose are often those who lose the most. Why?
New Orleans has a poverty rate of 28% - more than twice the national rate. Life is always hard for poor people - living on the edge is insecure and full of risk. Natural disasters make it worse. Yet even in normal times, poverty is hidden and not reported by the media. In times of disaster, there continues to be little coverage of the excessive impact on the poor. Devastated luxury homes and hotels, drifting yachts and battered casinos make far more compelling photographs.
As the Gulf Coast now faces the long and difficult task of recovery, what can we do?
Here are several ways to make a difference.
A Fire Dragon living in The Year of the Dragon.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter Five
Another good book club Monday night. Just getting around to publishing the post though.
The ideas of Empire and Reality are beginning to stir up some good thought and give traction. And the notion of imagination comes up again and again. From the book...
Indeed, vanquished peoples are not really subjects of the empire until their imagination has been taken captive... until that imagination is broken, domesticated, and reshaped in the image of the empire, the people are still free.
Imagination. Taken captive. Set free.
From within the group, we let this work through us on issues of ethics, education, television, etc. When this Revolution of God in Jesus became a religion was when people submitted their imagination to the empire whilst keeping the "ethics of Jesus" (so to speak). Ethics with no guiding narrative is empty moralism. (Worse yet, ethics co-opted for the empire's gain is dangerous and deceitful.)
But that is our culture: "Just tell me what I need to do and I'll do it."
Our imaginations are held captive to other things (making money, paying bills, getting stuff, etc.), and we do not want to contemplate Reality.
I guess maybe I understand why some people get into fundamentalist groups: A strong leader above everyone else, telling people with certainty just how things are. Taking their imaginations captive with their own agendas.
But it's not up to the powerful to re-imagine this world; it's up to all of us to re-imagine this world. That is the great call of Jesus: Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand! Turn from your dehydrated progress myths to see that my kingdom–not this empire–is Reality.
Ben had some great thoughts on this at book club that he has written on his blog...
What is real? Question everything. Question the big things, question the small things, question the day to day things and the things the day to day things are based on. What's on the list? To me, the list is quite small.
Is where I live real? The physical structure of my house is, but the borders of the property I claim to own is not. California is not. America is not. We create these borders, these lines in the sand and adhere to them, protect them, fight for them.
The ideas of Empire and Reality are beginning to stir up some good thought and give traction. And the notion of imagination comes up again and again. From the book...
Indeed, vanquished peoples are not really subjects of the empire until their imagination has been taken captive... until that imagination is broken, domesticated, and reshaped in the image of the empire, the people are still free.
Imagination. Taken captive. Set free.
From within the group, we let this work through us on issues of ethics, education, television, etc. When this Revolution of God in Jesus became a religion was when people submitted their imagination to the empire whilst keeping the "ethics of Jesus" (so to speak). Ethics with no guiding narrative is empty moralism. (Worse yet, ethics co-opted for the empire's gain is dangerous and deceitful.)
But that is our culture: "Just tell me what I need to do and I'll do it."
Our imaginations are held captive to other things (making money, paying bills, getting stuff, etc.), and we do not want to contemplate Reality.
I guess maybe I understand why some people get into fundamentalist groups: A strong leader above everyone else, telling people with certainty just how things are. Taking their imaginations captive with their own agendas.
But it's not up to the powerful to re-imagine this world; it's up to all of us to re-imagine this world. That is the great call of Jesus: Repent! For the kingdom of God is at hand! Turn from your dehydrated progress myths to see that my kingdom–not this empire–is Reality.
Ben had some great thoughts on this at book club that he has written on his blog...
What is real? Question everything. Question the big things, question the small things, question the day to day things and the things the day to day things are based on. What's on the list? To me, the list is quite small.
Is where I live real? The physical structure of my house is, but the borders of the property I claim to own is not. California is not. America is not. We create these borders, these lines in the sand and adhere to them, protect them, fight for them.
Emma in Nepal
Emma is a cool girl that we met when we were out in Thailand this summer. She spends her days floating somewhere between Nepal, India, and Thailand as an agent of mercy and justice.
The last several weeks (perhaps months now) she has been in Nepal, befriending several street boys and trying to figure out ways to get them off the street and get them educated.
She is looking for some help in sponsoring these kids, and she is a person we wholeheartedly endorse. If you have any interest in making a direct impact with your funds, this is your chance. There is no overhead, just the kids' needs. Or heck, move out to Nepal and help take care of the boys... that's another possibility!
You can read more about it here on her blog. Here's a piece of what she wrote...
It takes a little less than $100 a month to house, feed, educate, tutor, clothe, and nurture my wild tikes. Multiply that times six and that quickly becomes more than I alone can handle. There is also one more boy I want to take in... but of course that's on hold until funding can be secured! Like I said before, I've never asked you to contribute to airfare or anything on a personal level regarding me, but now I am asking you to contribute directly to the kids. If you are interested in making a one time or monthly sponsorship, let me know. I always tease the boys saying, "I told you to stop begging, but now I must beg for you."
The last several weeks (perhaps months now) she has been in Nepal, befriending several street boys and trying to figure out ways to get them off the street and get them educated.
She is looking for some help in sponsoring these kids, and she is a person we wholeheartedly endorse. If you have any interest in making a direct impact with your funds, this is your chance. There is no overhead, just the kids' needs. Or heck, move out to Nepal and help take care of the boys... that's another possibility!
You can read more about it here on her blog. Here's a piece of what she wrote...
It takes a little less than $100 a month to house, feed, educate, tutor, clothe, and nurture my wild tikes. Multiply that times six and that quickly becomes more than I alone can handle. There is also one more boy I want to take in... but of course that's on hold until funding can be secured! Like I said before, I've never asked you to contribute to airfare or anything on a personal level regarding me, but now I am asking you to contribute directly to the kids. If you are interested in making a one time or monthly sponsorship, let me know. I always tease the boys saying, "I told you to stop begging, but now I must beg for you."
Saturday, August 27, 2005
In Recovery...
...for/from being an @$$hole. That's where I've been the last couple days if I've seemed missing or absent. Sorry.
It's interesting the patterns we fall into in life, no? And sometimes feel helpless to get out of, no? And we don't necessarily like those things we do, but we keep doing them. And we hate ourselves for that.
Perhaps I use we instead of I in hopes that I'm not the only one out there who does this stuff... but I am willing to accept it if I am.
Spending a few days with some friends working through some unhealthy patterns in my/our life and seeking some resolve/redemption has been wonderful and exhausting. Holly and I both feel like we could sleep for days. It's like having run a marathon each day, and now I am just so freaking tired and all I want to do is sleep.
Thanks to all of you who continue to press onward with us in this journey called life. Thanks to all of you who continue in prayers and thoughts for us in this stage of life called constant transition. Thanks to all of you who remind us that we are normal, yet exceptional people... you are as well.
It's interesting the patterns we fall into in life, no? And sometimes feel helpless to get out of, no? And we don't necessarily like those things we do, but we keep doing them. And we hate ourselves for that.
Perhaps I use we instead of I in hopes that I'm not the only one out there who does this stuff... but I am willing to accept it if I am.
Spending a few days with some friends working through some unhealthy patterns in my/our life and seeking some resolve/redemption has been wonderful and exhausting. Holly and I both feel like we could sleep for days. It's like having run a marathon each day, and now I am just so freaking tired and all I want to do is sleep.
Thanks to all of you who continue to press onward with us in this journey called life. Thanks to all of you who continue in prayers and thoughts for us in this stage of life called constant transition. Thanks to all of you who remind us that we are normal, yet exceptional people... you are as well.
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Wallis on Robertson on Chavez
So, I wasn't planning on commenting on the whole Robertson-Chavez thing, but I ran across this from the Sojourners website.
Jim Wallis writes, "This incident reveals that Robertson does not believe in democracy; he believes in theocracy. And he would like governments, including our own, to implement his theological agenda, perhaps legislate Leviticus, and take out those who disagree."
Read the full article here.
I am just hoping that most folks can really see that comments like the ones that Robertson made are hardly Christian at all. In fact, they seem to be completely contrary to Jesus.
Jim Wallis writes, "This incident reveals that Robertson does not believe in democracy; he believes in theocracy. And he would like governments, including our own, to implement his theological agenda, perhaps legislate Leviticus, and take out those who disagree."
Read the full article here.
I am just hoping that most folks can really see that comments like the ones that Robertson made are hardly Christian at all. In fact, they seem to be completely contrary to Jesus.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Emergent Gathering 2005
Hey there, just a reminder that the fall gathering is quickly approaching. Go here for more info on that. It is an incredible time in the desert with friends discussing things of God in the way of Jesus.Also, at this gathering, Troy Bronsink and I will be trying to spearhead a meeting of songwriters/musicians who are wanting to create some new songs that represent our journeys now and reflect the Kingdom of God theology that we seem to keep rallying around... songs of justice-mercy-love. Here is a blog to join that discussion.
If you are considering going and are interested in being a part of this music-theology discussion/experiment, please let me know.
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Holly's Art Blog
http://hollys-art.blogspot.com/ is a blog I set up for Holly to display her artwork. I plan on putting up some older pieces, but also post some of the new stuff she is working on. Enjoy!
The Progressive Baptist
Thanks Jason for this link.
Like many sincerely religious people, Campolo has little regard for America's consumer culture. "Christianity is countercultural," he says. "If one embraces Jesus, one has to raise some serious questions about the American way of life, especially its consumerism. Here's a society that has us buying new cars all the time, and has got us caught up with fashion models, and every year, women and men are getting rid of their clothing because somebody in never-never land has decided that these clothes are out of style. What we are discarding in this consumeristic society, because the dictates of custom have decided are out of date, is appalling. People are spending huge amounts of money on cars that are basically status symbols, and it's contrary to the teachings of Jesus. We are wasting so much money in catering to our pleasure, while we allow the basic needs of others to go unmet.
Campolo's critique of U.S. policies and culture leads him to some stark positions. "To be a Christian in today's world is to be opposed to America," he says. "Why? America believes in capital punishment, and Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the rich.’ Jesus said, ‘Woe unto you who are rich, blessed are the poor.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the powerful.’ Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ "
Campolo also objects strongly to churches becoming too patriotic. "We have reached a stage of idolatry when, in any given church in America, you're going to run into more trouble if you remove the American flag than if you remove the cross," he told church leaders, according to Christianity Today.
Like many sincerely religious people, Campolo has little regard for America's consumer culture. "Christianity is countercultural," he says. "If one embraces Jesus, one has to raise some serious questions about the American way of life, especially its consumerism. Here's a society that has us buying new cars all the time, and has got us caught up with fashion models, and every year, women and men are getting rid of their clothing because somebody in never-never land has decided that these clothes are out of style. What we are discarding in this consumeristic society, because the dictates of custom have decided are out of date, is appalling. People are spending huge amounts of money on cars that are basically status symbols, and it's contrary to the teachings of Jesus. We are wasting so much money in catering to our pleasure, while we allow the basic needs of others to go unmet.
Campolo's critique of U.S. policies and culture leads him to some stark positions. "To be a Christian in today's world is to be opposed to America," he says. "Why? America believes in capital punishment, and Jesus says, ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the rich.’ Jesus said, ‘Woe unto you who are rich, blessed are the poor.’ America says, ‘Blessed are the powerful.’ Jesus said, ‘Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.’ "
Campolo also objects strongly to churches becoming too patriotic. "We have reached a stage of idolatry when, in any given church in America, you're going to run into more trouble if you remove the American flag than if you remove the cross," he told church leaders, according to Christianity Today.
Monday, August 22, 2005
On Divestment
From Voices in the Wilderness...
Others directly and publicly refuse to pay part or all of their federal income tax. We do this because roughly half of that tax is used to fund the US war machine.
Tax resistance is the most direct way US citizens can avoid being complicit in this war. If all of us who have written our Congresspersons or taken to the streets also refuse to financially back the war, the decision-makers in Washington have a much harder time ignoring our resistance.
We ask you to consider war tax resistance this tax year, and in the years to come. The best way to stop the war machine is to refuse to fund it.
This is something we have recently considered... divestment from the American government. Here might be a good place to start if you are interested.
Others directly and publicly refuse to pay part or all of their federal income tax. We do this because roughly half of that tax is used to fund the US war machine.
Tax resistance is the most direct way US citizens can avoid being complicit in this war. If all of us who have written our Congresspersons or taken to the streets also refuse to financially back the war, the decision-makers in Washington have a much harder time ignoring our resistance.
We ask you to consider war tax resistance this tax year, and in the years to come. The best way to stop the war machine is to refuse to fund it.
This is something we have recently considered... divestment from the American government. Here might be a good place to start if you are interested.
A Weekend in the Desert
Holly and I left Thursday to spend a couple days in the desert with some friends. Stayed at a cheap little hotel in the Palm Springs area. It was about 104 degrees by lunchtime, but it was suprisingly mild in the shade.
Talk of life, living in the way of Jesus, art, music, family, etc. Good stuff.
Saturday morning, Holly and I headed just north to Joshua Tree National Monument for some hiking and driving around. Beautiful enchanted place. Not as hot as it was last year when Jasen and Travers and I tried the "Desert Retreat"... in fact, it bearly hit 90 in the monument. I guess 4000 feet makes all the difference.
Anyway, some pictures I thought you might enjoy. Here's a sampling from the gallery...
Talk of life, living in the way of Jesus, art, music, family, etc. Good stuff.
Saturday morning, Holly and I headed just north to Joshua Tree National Monument for some hiking and driving around. Beautiful enchanted place. Not as hot as it was last year when Jasen and Travers and I tried the "Desert Retreat"... in fact, it bearly hit 90 in the monument. I guess 4000 feet makes all the difference.
Anyway, some pictures I thought you might enjoy. Here's a sampling from the gallery...
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Not to leave you hanging...
...but the computer is still a bit on the fritz.
It took me being on the phone with Apple for 5 phone calls (with a total of 100 or so minutes of wait time), a trip to the Apple Retail Store, several phone calls back and forth with the company I bought extra RAM from, and several hours in front of the laptop.
As it turns out, my RAM had gone bad (no big because I have a lifetime guarantee), but it took days to find that out! Now Tiger is back on my iBook and I have new RAM installed, but we leave out of town in about 20 minutes, so the real test of whether this bad boy is back up and running will be on Sunday when I install the rest of the software and restore my identity so to speak.
Thanks to those of you who called to help, who prayed, and who endured my suckish attitude. Cheers! A round of pints on me. Really, my beer should be finished brewin' by the time I am back home, so...
It took me being on the phone with Apple for 5 phone calls (with a total of 100 or so minutes of wait time), a trip to the Apple Retail Store, several phone calls back and forth with the company I bought extra RAM from, and several hours in front of the laptop.
As it turns out, my RAM had gone bad (no big because I have a lifetime guarantee), but it took days to find that out! Now Tiger is back on my iBook and I have new RAM installed, but we leave out of town in about 20 minutes, so the real test of whether this bad boy is back up and running will be on Sunday when I install the rest of the software and restore my identity so to speak.
Thanks to those of you who called to help, who prayed, and who endured my suckish attitude. Cheers! A round of pints on me. Really, my beer should be finished brewin' by the time I am back home, so...
Re-Imagining Business
I have been reeling with the implications of some of these thoughts. By "these thoughts" I am referring to the thoughts posted in the previous post. I also am reading ahead into chapter 4 and am reminded that we must not seek to overthrow the empire, but actually use the systems in place as starting places for revolution, reformation, and the imagining of new possibilities. As I've heard it, no revolution or renewal movement happens in a vaccuum. So here we are in America.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
Re-Imagining Business
I have been reeling with the implications of some of these thoughts. By "these thoughts" I am referring to the thoughts posted in the previous post. I also am reading ahead into chapter 4 and am reminded that we must not seek to overthrow the empire, but actually use the systems in place as starting places for revolution, reformation, and the imagining of new possibilities. As I've heard it, no revolution or renewal movement happens in a vaccuum. So here we are in America.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
My fried Emma posts that we need corporatinos to come out to Nepal and invest in their people in order to bring them up out of poverty. I cringe on first read because I feel like I know how many corporations work. In fact, here is something I just read in Collapse that resonated with my suspicions. He is quoting this from a businessperson...
American businesses exist to make money for their owners [and/or stockholders]; it is the modus operandi of American capitalism. A corollary to the money-making process is not spending it needlessly... Business leaders are more likely to be accountants or attorneys than members of the clergy.
So, this and other things (like watching the film The Corporation) lead me to think that that could only ruin a place such as Nepal. After all, caring for the people is simply a way of 'spending money needlessly'.
We have accepted this as 'the way the world works' or 'the way business is'. When we have lost our ability to imagine a better world, we have lost our saltiness.
Only two options are a business or charity? Perhaps it's time to consider a third alternative. Businesses who have, as part of their DNA, a sort of generosity/sustainability/Kingdom factor... and not just for good PR. The shareholders invest, not to make a higher dollar return, but to know that their money is helping to bring about goodness in the world.
This all sounds like what the Church was meant to be... people investing their resources in creating a better world... helping to realize the Kingdom of God. Hmm.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter Three
Last night was a lively discussion. We have finally reached that, "How am I implicated in this?" stage. Nice. That's what I hoped this book would bring.
We discussed the notion of empire and the parallels between the Roman empire and the empires we see around us, expressed in Pax Americana (mind you this was an actual phrase used by our government months ago) and also expressed in Corporate Capitalism.
Power and Wealth... that was the simplest definition we could think of as far as establish what was empire.
We talked about how not all things in the empire are always bad. However, this hope of following this Jesus was a re-evaluation of how things really work in this world. A sort of pulling back of the curtains to see what is really going on. Remember that on the Roman coin was Pax (goddess of peace) on one side and military arms on the other side, saying that this 'peace' that is happening was brought by violence... and this is not the way of Jesus.
Ben brought up some good points regarding the redemptive side of the "American Dream", namely stories of immigrants who have left oppresive lands to seek a better life in America. America is in some ways a place where anyone can be anything... sort of.
I said that much of that was the myth of capitalism that seems to be true for only a fraction of a fraction of people, but his point still stands. This place might be a bit better (at least) than other places.
Martin brought up a good point that in so many ways, the US has this thought that our standard of living is the standard of living... or ought to be. So people come out here, buying into this myth, leaving behind the family farm (where they were fine to begin with) and searching for riches in the good ole US of A.
This is made possible not by holding guns to peoples heads (usually) and saying buy these products and live this life! No, it is much more subversive Ben pointed out. It is simply the lure that is on that TV set. Those things they think they need... those things we think we need. Products, stuff, a "better way of life" where you can consume all you want and not be happy (just like most wealthy Americans, Heath added). Oh, and have I mentioned that America is the most heavily medicated nation in the world with regards to mood-altering drugs? Has this stuff proven effective for us?
Okay, slow down Ryan. I am getting going like I was last night.
The last half hour was implications for us as individuals, families, community, etc. How then shall we live? Stop shopping at places? Will that really make a difference? Help support organizations that are helping to solve these problems? Is money the answer? Time? Lobbying congress like Bono? Divesting monies from our government that has caused so much bloodshed?
More on that soon. I have already said too much.
We discussed the notion of empire and the parallels between the Roman empire and the empires we see around us, expressed in Pax Americana (mind you this was an actual phrase used by our government months ago) and also expressed in Corporate Capitalism.
Power and Wealth... that was the simplest definition we could think of as far as establish what was empire.
We talked about how not all things in the empire are always bad. However, this hope of following this Jesus was a re-evaluation of how things really work in this world. A sort of pulling back of the curtains to see what is really going on. Remember that on the Roman coin was Pax (goddess of peace) on one side and military arms on the other side, saying that this 'peace' that is happening was brought by violence... and this is not the way of Jesus.
Ben brought up some good points regarding the redemptive side of the "American Dream", namely stories of immigrants who have left oppresive lands to seek a better life in America. America is in some ways a place where anyone can be anything... sort of.
I said that much of that was the myth of capitalism that seems to be true for only a fraction of a fraction of people, but his point still stands. This place might be a bit better (at least) than other places.
Martin brought up a good point that in so many ways, the US has this thought that our standard of living is the standard of living... or ought to be. So people come out here, buying into this myth, leaving behind the family farm (where they were fine to begin with) and searching for riches in the good ole US of A.
This is made possible not by holding guns to peoples heads (usually) and saying buy these products and live this life! No, it is much more subversive Ben pointed out. It is simply the lure that is on that TV set. Those things they think they need... those things we think we need. Products, stuff, a "better way of life" where you can consume all you want and not be happy (just like most wealthy Americans, Heath added). Oh, and have I mentioned that America is the most heavily medicated nation in the world with regards to mood-altering drugs? Has this stuff proven effective for us?
Okay, slow down Ryan. I am getting going like I was last night.
The last half hour was implications for us as individuals, families, community, etc. How then shall we live? Stop shopping at places? Will that really make a difference? Help support organizations that are helping to solve these problems? Is money the answer? Time? Lobbying congress like Bono? Divesting monies from our government that has caused so much bloodshed?
More on that soon. I have already said too much.
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
While waiting...
...for my computer to be backed-up and then reformatted, then hopefully, fixed... I decided I'd take a stab at my newest book. Having finished Bono's biography a week or so ago, I felt a void in my life. Time for a new book!
I had ordered Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed several days ago. I got it for free from some book club. Sweet. I have wanted to read this book for some time.
I am only in the first few pages and I am already making connections. You see, earlier today, Jesse and I talked about the ever-rising cost of oil and its effects on us and others. I made some statement (that surely was borrowed) about how America is a society built on oil. Since the Industrial Revolution, oil has been the sustainer of the society. Everything seems to depend on oil in a very direct way, or a somewhat indirect way.
Well, here are some hanting words from Jared Diamond's first few pages:
It has long been suspected that many of these mysterious [societal collapses] were at least partly triggered by ecological problems: people inadvertently destroying the environmental resources on which their societies depended.
Not to be a doomsdayer, but wow, those are startling thoughts. And this connected to some of the stuff we're reading about in Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire make me really think about shaping an alternative imagination of how we ought to live. Hmm.
More to come for sure...
I had ordered Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed several days ago. I got it for free from some book club. Sweet. I have wanted to read this book for some time.
I am only in the first few pages and I am already making connections. You see, earlier today, Jesse and I talked about the ever-rising cost of oil and its effects on us and others. I made some statement (that surely was borrowed) about how America is a society built on oil. Since the Industrial Revolution, oil has been the sustainer of the society. Everything seems to depend on oil in a very direct way, or a somewhat indirect way.
Well, here are some hanting words from Jared Diamond's first few pages:
It has long been suspected that many of these mysterious [societal collapses] were at least partly triggered by ecological problems: people inadvertently destroying the environmental resources on which their societies depended.
Not to be a doomsdayer, but wow, those are startling thoughts. And this connected to some of the stuff we're reading about in Colossians Remixed: Subverting the Empire make me really think about shaping an alternative imagination of how we ought to live. Hmm.
More to come for sure...
A Prayer for my Computer
Hi folks. I am writing from Holly's computer. My computer crashed yesterday evening, unexpectedly. I have been on the phone with Apple this morning (until the call was dropped a few minutes ago!)... and it's not been good. Apparently I am one of the first people to report something like this in this particular operating system. They think I might have to wipe the hard drive completely. Please God, no!
I know it may sound trivial to some of you, but this is a really big deal for me... really. It's not just music and photos (although it's that too). It's emails, SharpSeven business files (some recently completed, but not yet uploaded), songs I have written, recorded, etc.
Please, if you are the praying kind, pray that somehow this will get resolved without the destroying of my hard drive.
Okay, off to the Apple Store to see if they can be any more helpful than the phone guy was.
I know it may sound trivial to some of you, but this is a really big deal for me... really. It's not just music and photos (although it's that too). It's emails, SharpSeven business files (some recently completed, but not yet uploaded), songs I have written, recorded, etc.
Please, if you are the praying kind, pray that somehow this will get resolved without the destroying of my hard drive.
Okay, off to the Apple Store to see if they can be any more helpful than the phone guy was.
Monday, August 15, 2005
Shalom Revisited
So, at least one person has commented, saying they couldn't make out what the painting was created with or what some of the images were. So I uploaded a larger file for your downloading pleasure. If you don't know what I'm talking about, see previous Shalom post with painting.
This was probably the most difficult painting we have done together. Of course, I guess it's really only the second one we have done together!
Painting the chaos of life, gluing the bills, the receipts, the newspaper clippings, the pop-culture icons... that was all easy... even fun.
The hard part was bringing shalom to the mess.
I was reminded of how hard it can be to do good... to bring shalom to the mess of life. In fact, so hard is it to do good, support good things, live well, live generously, put our resources in good places... so hard is it that we sometimes end up as deer in the headlights... frozen. We can't move because we cannot discern which way is best. We just stay-put instead of trying out any sort of goodness.
Stuck. Wanting to do good, but so afraid of not doing the best. Stuck. Burying the master's talent.
Painting our way out of the chaos was tricky and took several days and different methods. It was difficult to bring shalom to the chaos.
The white felt a bit cliché in some ways, but James says it looks like light is tearing through the chaos. I like that. A gentle, but sudden tear where the Kingdom of God reaches us in the here and now. And we are but a small part of allowing it to find its way into this world I think.
This was probably the most difficult painting we have done together. Of course, I guess it's really only the second one we have done together!
Painting the chaos of life, gluing the bills, the receipts, the newspaper clippings, the pop-culture icons... that was all easy... even fun.
The hard part was bringing shalom to the mess.
I was reminded of how hard it can be to do good... to bring shalom to the mess of life. In fact, so hard is it to do good, support good things, live well, live generously, put our resources in good places... so hard is it that we sometimes end up as deer in the headlights... frozen. We can't move because we cannot discern which way is best. We just stay-put instead of trying out any sort of goodness.
Stuck. Wanting to do good, but so afraid of not doing the best. Stuck. Burying the master's talent.
Painting our way out of the chaos was tricky and took several days and different methods. It was difficult to bring shalom to the chaos.
The white felt a bit cliché in some ways, but James says it looks like light is tearing through the chaos. I like that. A gentle, but sudden tear where the Kingdom of God reaches us in the here and now. And we are but a small part of allowing it to find its way into this world I think.
Sunday, August 14, 2005
Moving with Sufjan Stevens
Greetings From Michigan: The Great Lakes State
An amazing find. Thanks to my buddy Troy Bronsink for leading me to this artist. Prophetic stuff. Beautifully haunting. Wow. Favorite track thus far is For the Widows in Paradise...
I have called you children, I have called you son.
What is there to answer if I'm the only one?
Morning comes in Paradise, morning comes in light.
Still I must obey, still I must invite.
If there's anything to say, if there's anything to do,
If there's any other way, I'll do anything for you.
I was dressed embarrassment.
I was dressed in wine.
If you had a part of me, will you take you're time?
Even if I come back, even if I die
Is there some idea to replace my life?
Like a father to impress;
Like a mother's mourning dress,
If you ever make a mess, I'll do anything for you
I have called you preacher; I have called you son.
If you have a father or if you haven't one,
I'll do anything for you.
I did everything for you.
Post-Purchase Depression
So, I have come to realize that I hate buying things. Seriously.
I get bored. I get excited to buy something (ie. a new digital camera, a new backpack, groceries, etc.). I buy it. I use it or consume it. I get depressed.
What's up with that? Is there a condition called post-purchase depression?
I hate buying stuff, and I aim to stop doing it all together. Seriously. Perhaps I'll starve, but at least I can get off this rollercoaster!
I get bored. I get excited to buy something (ie. a new digital camera, a new backpack, groceries, etc.). I buy it. I use it or consume it. I get depressed.
What's up with that? Is there a condition called post-purchase depression?
I hate buying stuff, and I aim to stop doing it all together. Seriously. Perhaps I'll starve, but at least I can get off this rollercoaster!
Friday, August 12, 2005
Seeing Jesus in a Porn Star
Thanks to Will for this incredibly moving story, journaled in 8 parts on this woman's blog. As Will says, it'll take you about 15 minutes to read it, but I highly recommend it. Really.
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Shalom Amidst The S***
Our latest piece that Holly and I have created together. It is entitled "Shalom Amidst The S***".
If you want to catch a closer look at it, you might just have to swing by the 814. It will be on display at Apt #7.
If you want to catch a closer look at it, you might just have to swing by the 814. It will be on display at Apt #7.
The Idea of America
I have heard this phrase at least a couple times in the last week or so. "The idea of America," they say. Bono said that he loves the idea of America, Peter Jennings felt the same way (and obtained America citizenship), and I guess I could see where they're going with this.
While I might have my issues–that I have brought up in previous posts–with America in its current state, I think I could go there with both these fellas.
The idea of a nation of people where anyone could come and make a life for themselves, escape oppression, find hope, where the Earth seemed rich with blessing, where the government and people lead the way by example (how very much like ancient China) instead of by force, where the rich care for the poor in such a way that all find their stomachs full... and perhaps we find no longer rich and poor as distinctions.
But I am reminded that this is not the case in so many ways today. For as much energy as I could spend supporting an argument for higher tax burden for those who make more in this nation, feeling that it is their moral responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, I do still believe that inspiration is far better than legislation. In fact, this morning, when I heard on NPR that the state of California is going to raise like 100 million dollars by taxing the rich, I kind of shuddered. I mean, is legislation the best means necessary? Will people not give out of the goodness of their own hearts? I wonder. I really do.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said he wanted to bring about inspiration, not legislation in furthering his cause that all men and women would be recognized as being created equal.
But looking at how things "actually" work in America, it is hard for me to buy into this "idea of America" sometimes because I think most people have a different "idea of America." The myths generated by television shows and movies and whatnot do not generally promote these ideals, but an alternative set of ideals that are very egocentric, hoarding, materialistic, and disconnected.
Sounds a bit like the idea of Christianity to me. There are so many people who have so many different ideas of how it's supposed to work, what is at its heart. Moral legislation or inspiration? I read somewhere recently that when a lighthouse does it's job, it doesn't need to send off fireworks to say, "Hey! Over here! Look, a lighthouse!" because it is a lighthouse and by its very nature, people will see it for what it is.
I wonder if any of this makes sense or resonates with any of you... or perhaps infuriates you? Just questions. Just trying to help in the re-imagining of a better world. Just trying to figure out what that means for me and my family and friends.
While I might have my issues–that I have brought up in previous posts–with America in its current state, I think I could go there with both these fellas.
The idea of a nation of people where anyone could come and make a life for themselves, escape oppression, find hope, where the Earth seemed rich with blessing, where the government and people lead the way by example (how very much like ancient China) instead of by force, where the rich care for the poor in such a way that all find their stomachs full... and perhaps we find no longer rich and poor as distinctions.
But I am reminded that this is not the case in so many ways today. For as much energy as I could spend supporting an argument for higher tax burden for those who make more in this nation, feeling that it is their moral responsibility to take care of those who cannot take care of themselves, I do still believe that inspiration is far better than legislation. In fact, this morning, when I heard on NPR that the state of California is going to raise like 100 million dollars by taxing the rich, I kind of shuddered. I mean, is legislation the best means necessary? Will people not give out of the goodness of their own hearts? I wonder. I really do.
Martin Luther King, Jr. said he wanted to bring about inspiration, not legislation in furthering his cause that all men and women would be recognized as being created equal.
But looking at how things "actually" work in America, it is hard for me to buy into this "idea of America" sometimes because I think most people have a different "idea of America." The myths generated by television shows and movies and whatnot do not generally promote these ideals, but an alternative set of ideals that are very egocentric, hoarding, materialistic, and disconnected.
Sounds a bit like the idea of Christianity to me. There are so many people who have so many different ideas of how it's supposed to work, what is at its heart. Moral legislation or inspiration? I read somewhere recently that when a lighthouse does it's job, it doesn't need to send off fireworks to say, "Hey! Over here! Look, a lighthouse!" because it is a lighthouse and by its very nature, people will see it for what it is.
I wonder if any of this makes sense or resonates with any of you... or perhaps infuriates you? Just questions. Just trying to help in the re-imagining of a better world. Just trying to figure out what that means for me and my family and friends.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Busy and Bored
So, I just thought I'd post these overarching sensations I have had simultaneously the last several weeks... Busy and Bored.
What is up with that? I have so much to get done this month. It has potential to be one of SharpSeven's busiest months in a while, but I don't want to do anything. And I just sit around twiddling my thumbs. What's up with that?
Perhaps I just see everything as one big project. Perhaps that's why I can't get going. "Think smaller, Ryan" or "One project at a time." But it doesn't work. I mean, it sorta does. But the to-do lists just keeping growing.
And then I feel like a slave to the system... who just works from home. Is this a curse of home-businesses? Or does everyone else feel this way?
The answers to these questions I am sure will open up new understandings of the Universe.
What is up with that? I have so much to get done this month. It has potential to be one of SharpSeven's busiest months in a while, but I don't want to do anything. And I just sit around twiddling my thumbs. What's up with that?
Perhaps I just see everything as one big project. Perhaps that's why I can't get going. "Think smaller, Ryan" or "One project at a time." But it doesn't work. I mean, it sorta does. But the to-do lists just keeping growing.
And then I feel like a slave to the system... who just works from home. Is this a curse of home-businesses? Or does everyone else feel this way?
The answers to these questions I am sure will open up new understandings of the Universe.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter Two
Good night it was. Book club, night two. Tom Giblin's Irish Pub. I had meself two black-and-tans. And I saw that I could have ordered a Shandy! Wow... I would have Sivin, but alas, my Irish within groaned for a Guiness.
This chapter seemed lighter than the last. A few interesting concepts, but just that... concepts. Ideas of grace, truth, and spirituality in a new light.
Grace always being relational provides for a communal shalom. Truth embodied and incarnated instead of disembidied (like how I was taught to see it in Bible college)... truth never existing beyong a faithfulness to God... truth not as disconnected facts that are absolutebut rather the true-ness of God which is inexplicable. And a earthly spirituality... not the Greek dualism that is so pervasive now (which I might add was a heresy several years back wrapped up in gnosticism).
Conversations like these (ones about what these sacred texts really meant) always make me wonder how we've gotten so far off these last 2000 years. How those who claim to be Christian have often (not always) seemed to have been on the wrong side of battles, you know?
Grace, for example, has become a sort of trump card for not doing good works. Who cares how they live... it's all about what key facts they memorize (believe). Sure, I believe that God redeems/heals us through this grace (both directly and through others), but it is then to be dispensed into the world in action... not hoarded for ourselves.
Truth, which has the Jewish notions of God's faithfulness (and our faithfulness in return), has been completely changed into 'facts'. The 'truth' that Jesus or Paul would have been speaking of was this Jewish understanding. Which means that turning Truth into the 'absolute facts' is not what truth is about at all... or if it is, it is but a small part of it.
Truth has proven to be a violent word in our lifetime and in the centuries before. Take Manifest Destiny, the truth that God wanted the Europeans to take the Cross and the Crown and make disciples (colonize people) all across the Americas. Or the truth of honoring Allah by crashing airplanes into buildings. Or the truth about democracy being the highest form of government and that all the world should have it, even if it is difficult to 'prop up' as VP Cheney said.
And spirituality... we have reconstructed it to be something between just me and Jesus instead of being something that holds redemption for our world in the here and now. As Jesus said, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," not "God, wipe out this place so we can go to heaven." It's about bringing heaven to earth, so to speak, as my friend Mike would say.
Well, these are just my thoughts. Perhaps some others will bring in some stuff as well. Next chapter gets into some of the Roman world contextualization... sweet.
This chapter seemed lighter than the last. A few interesting concepts, but just that... concepts. Ideas of grace, truth, and spirituality in a new light.
Grace always being relational provides for a communal shalom. Truth embodied and incarnated instead of disembidied (like how I was taught to see it in Bible college)... truth never existing beyong a faithfulness to God... truth not as disconnected facts that are absolutebut rather the true-ness of God which is inexplicable. And a earthly spirituality... not the Greek dualism that is so pervasive now (which I might add was a heresy several years back wrapped up in gnosticism).
Conversations like these (ones about what these sacred texts really meant) always make me wonder how we've gotten so far off these last 2000 years. How those who claim to be Christian have often (not always) seemed to have been on the wrong side of battles, you know?
Grace, for example, has become a sort of trump card for not doing good works. Who cares how they live... it's all about what key facts they memorize (believe). Sure, I believe that God redeems/heals us through this grace (both directly and through others), but it is then to be dispensed into the world in action... not hoarded for ourselves.
Truth, which has the Jewish notions of God's faithfulness (and our faithfulness in return), has been completely changed into 'facts'. The 'truth' that Jesus or Paul would have been speaking of was this Jewish understanding. Which means that turning Truth into the 'absolute facts' is not what truth is about at all... or if it is, it is but a small part of it.
Truth has proven to be a violent word in our lifetime and in the centuries before. Take Manifest Destiny, the truth that God wanted the Europeans to take the Cross and the Crown and make disciples (colonize people) all across the Americas. Or the truth of honoring Allah by crashing airplanes into buildings. Or the truth about democracy being the highest form of government and that all the world should have it, even if it is difficult to 'prop up' as VP Cheney said.
And spirituality... we have reconstructed it to be something between just me and Jesus instead of being something that holds redemption for our world in the here and now. As Jesus said, "Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven," not "God, wipe out this place so we can go to heaven." It's about bringing heaven to earth, so to speak, as my friend Mike would say.
Well, these are just my thoughts. Perhaps some others will bring in some stuff as well. Next chapter gets into some of the Roman world contextualization... sweet.
Monday, August 08, 2005
So telling...
The latest way someone found their way to this blog... while searching for how to recognize hypocrite person.
So telling...
So telling...
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Action Movies, War, and Empire
So, Holly and I and Trav drove up to the Bay yesterday. Beautiful drive... save the traffic.
Lots of NPR. A couple unrelated news articles that seemed to connect in my head. Let's see if they connect in yours as well.
First, they reviewed the summer film roster and told how each film was doing. "Action films are suprisingly not doing well this summer," I heard the reviewer say. Usually summer is the time for the shoot-em-up, good-vs-evil films. Apparently this summer, people were weary from all the violence. They reviewer wondered if this signaled a demise in the most profitable genre of film. I wondered if people in some ways are just tired of violence in the world? Tired of supporting a war they don't really believe in... and now that the blind nationalism has fallen like scales from most people's eyes, they are tired of the movies that seek to further this type of thinking.
I read somewhere recently (sorry, but I cannot remember where) that superhero movies and epic tales of good-vs-evil always surge during war/conflict times. The thought is that it reinforces the purposefulness of the war, reminds the public of the myths that serve the Empire... like remembering that Caesar was the provider of peace (through bloody wars usually). Hmm.
Second, I heard Prime Minister Tony Blair announce that those who did not seek to further the interests of England would be deported if they act out in anyway that is in conflict with the British way of life. This is all very reminiscent of the Sedition Act, is it not? Wow. Do not dare to speak against the Empire. Huh. Thank God that we do not live in non-totalitarian regimes. Thank God that we can speak our mind. Thank God that we don't have to yield to our governments as infallible. Hmm.
Then that got us thinking about the whole shoot-to-kill policy that England set up several weeks ago. I mean, don't get me wrong: what a tragic thing that happened there in England, but is this really the best way to handle it and respond to it?
I still wonder what might have happened had we as people in the West actually thought about why 9/11 took place... why the bombings continue. My brother-in-law says that now everything is so far progressed that many don't even think about why they are doing it, but at some point, it had real meaning. Real meaning. I think so.
While I would never endorse the atrocities that have taken place in the last several years, I do think that the West (and particularly America) could stand to do some self-evaluation. And most people in the West would say, "But why? We are so generous, and civil, and we place such high value on life, and we love freedom." But I would encourage you to look beneath the surface of those empty words. Our freedom is often built of the back and sustained by oppressive forces. Iraq might be a good example of just how far America will go to "defend it's freedom" and "ensure it's way of life." Or how so many of the commodites that we enjoy in the "Free World" are bought at ridiculous prices, leaving people enslaved in systems of corruption and poverty.
I read some of Bono's words that said that if you are going to fight a war on terror, make sure you remember that poverty is one of the largest forces of terror alive on our planet. And those are not empty words. I hope we will hear that and live, grappling with what the implications for our lives mean.
I do not mean to come across preachy or self-righteous or put-together, but rather as a critic of a system of which I live in and am a part of, but am trying to rehabilitate and redeem and... well, get out of, so to speak. Okay, I am out of breath, and it's time to leave. Ciao.
Lots of NPR. A couple unrelated news articles that seemed to connect in my head. Let's see if they connect in yours as well.
First, they reviewed the summer film roster and told how each film was doing. "Action films are suprisingly not doing well this summer," I heard the reviewer say. Usually summer is the time for the shoot-em-up, good-vs-evil films. Apparently this summer, people were weary from all the violence. They reviewer wondered if this signaled a demise in the most profitable genre of film. I wondered if people in some ways are just tired of violence in the world? Tired of supporting a war they don't really believe in... and now that the blind nationalism has fallen like scales from most people's eyes, they are tired of the movies that seek to further this type of thinking.
I read somewhere recently (sorry, but I cannot remember where) that superhero movies and epic tales of good-vs-evil always surge during war/conflict times. The thought is that it reinforces the purposefulness of the war, reminds the public of the myths that serve the Empire... like remembering that Caesar was the provider of peace (through bloody wars usually). Hmm.
Second, I heard Prime Minister Tony Blair announce that those who did not seek to further the interests of England would be deported if they act out in anyway that is in conflict with the British way of life. This is all very reminiscent of the Sedition Act, is it not? Wow. Do not dare to speak against the Empire. Huh. Thank God that we do not live in non-totalitarian regimes. Thank God that we can speak our mind. Thank God that we don't have to yield to our governments as infallible. Hmm.
Then that got us thinking about the whole shoot-to-kill policy that England set up several weeks ago. I mean, don't get me wrong: what a tragic thing that happened there in England, but is this really the best way to handle it and respond to it?
I still wonder what might have happened had we as people in the West actually thought about why 9/11 took place... why the bombings continue. My brother-in-law says that now everything is so far progressed that many don't even think about why they are doing it, but at some point, it had real meaning. Real meaning. I think so.
While I would never endorse the atrocities that have taken place in the last several years, I do think that the West (and particularly America) could stand to do some self-evaluation. And most people in the West would say, "But why? We are so generous, and civil, and we place such high value on life, and we love freedom." But I would encourage you to look beneath the surface of those empty words. Our freedom is often built of the back and sustained by oppressive forces. Iraq might be a good example of just how far America will go to "defend it's freedom" and "ensure it's way of life." Or how so many of the commodites that we enjoy in the "Free World" are bought at ridiculous prices, leaving people enslaved in systems of corruption and poverty.
I read some of Bono's words that said that if you are going to fight a war on terror, make sure you remember that poverty is one of the largest forces of terror alive on our planet. And those are not empty words. I hope we will hear that and live, grappling with what the implications for our lives mean.
I do not mean to come across preachy or self-righteous or put-together, but rather as a critic of a system of which I live in and am a part of, but am trying to rehabilitate and redeem and... well, get out of, so to speak. Okay, I am out of breath, and it's time to leave. Ciao.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
My New Book
My latest read...
Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
Wow. What a great book. I am constantly amazed at how honest and articulate Bono is in speaking of his faith. Perhaps it is so easy because it goes hand in hand with what he does. DATA, Drop the Debt, Jubilee 2000, The ONE Campaign... this is faith with works.
If you are a U2 fan (or even if you're not yet one!), go out and pick the book up. It might jar/trouble/inspire you, reading this refreshing take on life, faith, family, the world, and music.
Bono: In Conversation with Michka Assayas
Wow. What a great book. I am constantly amazed at how honest and articulate Bono is in speaking of his faith. Perhaps it is so easy because it goes hand in hand with what he does. DATA, Drop the Debt, Jubilee 2000, The ONE Campaign... this is faith with works.
If you are a U2 fan (or even if you're not yet one!), go out and pick the book up. It might jar/trouble/inspire you, reading this refreshing take on life, faith, family, the world, and music.
On Anarchy
My friend Chris, who is part of our Relational Tithe network, is going to this conference this weekend on Anarchism and Christianity.
What a great quote from the Jesus Radicals' (the folks who are putting on the conference) site...
Even when they call us mad, when they call us subversives and communists and all the epithets they put on us, we know we only preach the subversive witness of the Beatitudes, which have turned everything upside down.
–Oscar Romero
This last Sunday morning, we talked a bit about the subversive nature of the Beautitudes. How Jesus was raising the lowest to places of honor... those society had marginalized: the meek, those who did not hunger and thirst for the riches of the world, those who declared peace over war. And then uses these people as models for the Kingdom.
Some of Wendell Berry's thoughts on this from our Colossian book:
Despite its protests to the contrary, modern Christianity has become willy-nilly the religion of the state and the economic status quo. Because it has been so exclusively dedicated to incanting anemic souls into Heaven, it has been made the tool of much earthly villainy. It has, for the most part, stood silently by while a predatory economy has ravaged the world, destroyed its natural beauty and health, divided and plundered its human communities and households. It has flown the flag and chanted the slogans of empire. It has assumed with the economists that "economic forces" automatically work for good and has assumed with the industrialists and militarists that technology determines history. It has assumed with almost everybody that "progress" is good, that it is good to be modern and up with the times. It has admired Caesar and comforted him in his depredations and defaults. But in its de facto alliance with Caesar, Christianity connives directly in the murder of Creation. For in these days, Caesar is no longer a mere destroyer of armies, cities, and nations. He is a contradicter of the fundamental miracle of life. A part of the normal practice of his power is his willingness to destroy the world. He prays, he says, and churches everywhere compliantly pray with him. But he is praying to a God whose works he is prepared at any moment to destroy. What could be more wicked than that, or more mad.
What a great quote from the Jesus Radicals' (the folks who are putting on the conference) site...
Even when they call us mad, when they call us subversives and communists and all the epithets they put on us, we know we only preach the subversive witness of the Beatitudes, which have turned everything upside down.
–Oscar Romero
This last Sunday morning, we talked a bit about the subversive nature of the Beautitudes. How Jesus was raising the lowest to places of honor... those society had marginalized: the meek, those who did not hunger and thirst for the riches of the world, those who declared peace over war. And then uses these people as models for the Kingdom.
Some of Wendell Berry's thoughts on this from our Colossian book:
Despite its protests to the contrary, modern Christianity has become willy-nilly the religion of the state and the economic status quo. Because it has been so exclusively dedicated to incanting anemic souls into Heaven, it has been made the tool of much earthly villainy. It has, for the most part, stood silently by while a predatory economy has ravaged the world, destroyed its natural beauty and health, divided and plundered its human communities and households. It has flown the flag and chanted the slogans of empire. It has assumed with the economists that "economic forces" automatically work for good and has assumed with the industrialists and militarists that technology determines history. It has assumed with almost everybody that "progress" is good, that it is good to be modern and up with the times. It has admired Caesar and comforted him in his depredations and defaults. But in its de facto alliance with Caesar, Christianity connives directly in the murder of Creation. For in these days, Caesar is no longer a mere destroyer of armies, cities, and nations. He is a contradicter of the fundamental miracle of life. A part of the normal practice of his power is his willingness to destroy the world. He prays, he says, and churches everywhere compliantly pray with him. But he is praying to a God whose works he is prepared at any moment to destroy. What could be more wicked than that, or more mad.
Monday, August 01, 2005
Colossians Remixed: Chapter One
Had our first Colossians Remixed book club tonight. Good stuff. Seemed to be a great deal of thought and energy flowin'. Ben also has some great thoughts going from last night.
We discussed the two narratives that the authors saw in postmodern culture: Postmodern Disquiet and Cybernetic Global Consumerism. The authors were being descriptive, not prescriptive about these narratives...and they will eventually offer a different narrative that is more appealing and generous and hopeful than either of these two.
Most folks tonight had a hard time with the Cybernetic Global Consumerism script. How could anyone really buy into the fact that consumerism is somehow at the base of what will bring us optimism? How does our economic practices infect our view of the future? Unresolved we were, but we all seemed to agree that optimism based on technology or consumerism as saviors was bound to fail as greatly as modernism did.
We spoke at length about the end of the chapters statements regarding 9/11, postmodernity, and empire. The authors cited several references about why the terrorists did what they did, but the consensus from the book was that the gross sense of 'keeping all our options open' and therefor 'not being able to really commit to any one thing' made the terrorists sick. My sister said that as she read this stuff it made her feel a bit ashamed because she knew that they were spot on. (If that didn't make any sense at all, please read the book!)
We are meeting again this next Monday night at Tom Giblin's if you're in town. 7pm.
Good stuff. Anyone else want to add some thoughts?
We discussed the two narratives that the authors saw in postmodern culture: Postmodern Disquiet and Cybernetic Global Consumerism. The authors were being descriptive, not prescriptive about these narratives...and they will eventually offer a different narrative that is more appealing and generous and hopeful than either of these two.
Most folks tonight had a hard time with the Cybernetic Global Consumerism script. How could anyone really buy into the fact that consumerism is somehow at the base of what will bring us optimism? How does our economic practices infect our view of the future? Unresolved we were, but we all seemed to agree that optimism based on technology or consumerism as saviors was bound to fail as greatly as modernism did.
We spoke at length about the end of the chapters statements regarding 9/11, postmodernity, and empire. The authors cited several references about why the terrorists did what they did, but the consensus from the book was that the gross sense of 'keeping all our options open' and therefor 'not being able to really commit to any one thing' made the terrorists sick. My sister said that as she read this stuff it made her feel a bit ashamed because she knew that they were spot on. (If that didn't make any sense at all, please read the book!)
We are meeting again this next Monday night at Tom Giblin's if you're in town. 7pm.
Good stuff. Anyone else want to add some thoughts?
On Spirituality...
Spirituality should never just be about you and God. Anything less than creation-wide redemption is blasphemy. Spirituality ought to be about you and God as much as it should be about you and the world.
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