Single-Story confession

The following is an article that appeared in Brian McClarens blog site as a reader responded to his new book, A New Kind of Christianity

I'm sure that you're seen this link or watched this already (I'm sure somebody has posted it to you) about Chimamanda Adichie's talk on the danger of the single story... see:

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/chimamanda_adichie_the_danger_of_a_single_story.html

It's an excellent perspective - and she talks a lot about Africa's "single story" in the eyes of the Western world... but I have to shamefully admit that I have also had a "single story" about the issues of Palestine... and reading your most recent posts (and clicking on the links too) has made me realise (even more) the extent
of my ignorance.

On the one hand, I abhor war and violence... and can't stand the fighting that's going on between Israel and Palestine... but I have to admit, it had always been "sold" to me - and particularly when I lived in America and worked in Ohio at a church (as a worship leader)...that Palestinians were evil and that America had some kind of God-given mandate to defend, protect and fight against the Palestinians on behalf of the jews. I was quoted numerous scriptures of how America was blessed because it 'was on the side of God's people - on the side of Israel'... and they believed that America would, in a sense, be cursed if they ever 'aligned themselves with the enemy' (being the devil - but also the Palestinians... or Muslims in general).

Cycling in San Francisco

So I went for a bike ride while in the City, it seemed like the trendy thing to do.  I've seen so many adds and pix of people riding in the City and thought I needed to experience some urban jungle riding myself, not to mention I was trying to train for an upcoming dh race.

All I can say is OMG...the people who ride bicylces in SF are clearly a more highly evolved species that I am.  I started off at the Wharf and was freaked out by the amphibious boat that hauls around tourists.  I was riding along the side of the road, between the rail road tracks (another story) and suddenly found myself in the shadow of a boat hull about to suck me under.  I got away from the four wheeled boat in time to then make my way onto the Embarcadero.

A Prayer for my enemies

A Prayer Regarding Critics and Enemies by Serbian Orthodox Bishop


By Bishop Nikolai Velimirovic, Serbian bishop who spoke out against Naziism, was arrested, and taken to Dachau.

Bless my enemies, O Lord. Even I bless them and do not curse them. Enemies have driven me into your embrace more than friends have. Friends have bound me to earth; enemies have loosed me from earth and have demolished all my aspirations in the world.

Enemies have made me a stranger in worldly realms and an extraneous inhabitant of the world.

Just as a hunted animal finds safer shelter than an unhunted animal does, so have I, persecuted by enemies, found the safest sanctuary, having ensconced myself beneath Your tabernacle, where neither friends nor enemies can slay my soul.

The connection between smiles and shoes

Every weekday morning I drive my youngest son to school.  I am really enjoying this, because he will be driving soon and I will be closing another chapter in my life and will be another step removed from my sons actually needing anything from me other than money.  But that's another story.  As I drive away from the school each day I notice a group of elementary aged kids gathered at a bus stop.  There are two of the cutest girls, both probably fifth or sixth grade, who I have been watching at the stop every morning.  They are obviously good friends, and it has actually become part of my daily ritual to watch the joy on their faces as they greet each other and talk intensely about subjects I know nothing about.  As the months passed by I was amazed at how these two girls always seemed to engage in this ritual of talking and smiling and laughing, no matter how cold the weather, they were always just full of some unusual glee for this time in the morning.

Why I need the resurrection in 100 words or less.

I'm still kind of soaking in the whole resurrection thing...thought this was pretty strong.

A peice by Kara Root from http://www.patheos.com/

I need the Resurrection because my sister is sick and can't afford insurance,

Because I've told a weeping Haitian mom, "No, I can't take your son home with me."

Because I've been rushed off a Jerusalem street so a robot could blow up a bag that could've blown up us.

Because I've exploded in rage and watched their tiny faces cloud with hurt.

Because evil is pervasive and I participate.

I need the Resurrection because it promises that in the end all wrongs are made right.

Death loses.

Hope triumphs.

And Life and Love

Prevail.
 

The Last Supper

Maundy Thursday...the day in the liturgical calendar known for observing this event.  An outstanding parable written by Peter Rollins on this entitled The Last Supper...


It is evening, and you are gathered together with the other disciples in a small room for Passover. All the time you are watching Jesus, while he sits quietly in the shadows listening to the idle chatter, watching over those who sit around him, and, from time to time, telling stories about the kingdom of God.  As night descends, a meal of bread and wine is brought into the room.

It is only at this moment that Jesus sits forward so that the shadows no longer cover his face. He quietly brings the conversation to an end by capturing each one with his intense gaze. Then he begins to speak:

Waving a new art form?

One thing really occurred to me during our trip to Guatemala and travelling throughout that country...everybody waves at everybody.  I was amazed at how we would be travelling through remote areas and come across a truckload of total strangers and they would feverishly wave and honk their horns simply as a gesture of friendliness and sense of recognizing the presence of a fellow human.

Gathered and Scattered Church

A Youtube link for the much awaited book by Hugh Halter...click to watch, pretty interesting?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a5AMKwj73kY&feature=player_embedded

Pioneers and Settlers

This is a quote from a Brennan Manning book.  It's a bit long, but quite good and engaging...I hope you enjoy it.

“According to Wes Seeliger in his book Western Theology, there are two kinds of people, two visions of life. The first sees life as a possession to be carefully guarded. They are called Settlers. The second sees life as a wild, fantastic gift. They are called Pioneers.

Some thoughts on the "E" word...

Some thoughts on Evangelism from one of my favorite thinkers, Brian McLaren, as shared at a recent conference in Canada:

"So many of our forms, structures, and assumptions about evangelism are not Biblical – or even traditional in the ancient sense. They are simply conventional in the modern colonial era of recent memory. For example: evangelism is not revivalism. Evangelism is not colonialism. Nor is it sales and marketing. Nor is it argument.

Getting in touch with my inner dog...

This picture was taken while riding in the back of a pickup truck on a Guatemalan two lane road.  It seems that the primary mode of transportation in Guatemala is riding in the back of a pickup truck.  The country is full of Toyotas trucks with "lumber" racks stuffed with three generations of passengers.   We can't do this in the USA now, it's illegal, it's dangerous, it's the kind of thing you do with dogs and livestock.  People should be in a seat and a seatbelt.  I had my first chance to ride in the back of the truck was when we traveled from the capiatal city out into the villages at night. 

Brick making 101

Guatemalan brick making recipe:  Dig clay from a field and place in pile.  Mix in water from a bucket and stir with hoe, best done at night with a headlight and ten of your best friends in bare feet.  Let sit overnight.  Add pine needles (gathered from nearby mountains).  Stir.  Pour into single form.  Repeat.  Let dry for four days then turn over.  Let dry for another four days.  Build walls.

As I mentioned in my last post regarding our Guatemalan trip,

Guatemalan quandry...

Back from the ten day Guatemala trip.  Not really sure where to start...but I guess I might start with one of my selfish goals for the trip, and that was to get totally ruined by rubbing elbows with the Third World.  I think it was goal attained, I do feel pretty ruined.  We just have no idea how prosperous and spoiled we are in the West and the rest of the world is full of some pretty amazing people.  For three of the days we stayed in the village of San Antonio, about three hours from Guatemala City and a humble farming and ranching community in the foothills. 

Guatemala confession

It's been far too long since I went somewhere to help somebody else and nearly just as long since I went to the third world.  I have a confession to make: This trip is absolutely all about me.  Don't be fooled to think I am some kind of humanitarian giant.  I am a self-absorbed Westerner who needs a good dose of "blessed are the poor in spirit" and there

Is a story really that powerful?

I got a peek at a quote from Brian McLarens soon-to-be-released book, A New Kind of Christianity, which shed some light on my last post regarding our treatment of the Bible as an object, like a scientist with a scalpel and a microscope.  (No, Brian didn't send me his manuscript to read, I just jacked it off his blogsite).

In this quote I am imagining McLaren, who is not a seminarian but an English professor turned pastor/author/activist is explaining why he is able to see the Bible in this manner, as opppossed to the typical systematic format:

Lessons from a microscope

I was driving my son to school the other day, asking him about what they were studying in Biology.  "The microscope"  he replied, "and it's pretty cool."  Being the pseudo philosopher that I am, we began to discuss the amazing discovery of all things when you can reduce them to their smallest parts.  We also talked about what science must have been like before the microscope and how the it has shaped our way of approaching the study of any object.  All you need is a scalpel, some slides, and a microscope, you can cut up just about any living thing,

The Song You Sing

I was going for a jog along the Truckee River this week. I only jog when the weather is too foul to ride my bike, so I was a little perturbed. It was beginning to snow heavily, the peaceful, quite snow that falls straight down. My mind was reeling that day with the crazy spin that only a true “Type A” personality experiences. It seemed I was looking back on some things from the past that didn’t make sense and was also quite concerned about some things in the future. I have been doing some real inventory lately after finishing Donald Miller’s latest book A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.

Getting into the blogosphere!

I humbly accept the fact that I am way behind the times...it's 2010 and I am finally creating a blogspot. It seems the technology has advanced to the point that even I, in my middle ages, can actually do it myself and for no cost...amazing.

The world of the www has absolutley changed everything. Not since the printing press 500 years ago has information exchange and social change happened so incredibly fast. I am a student of the www and it has changed me deeply.

I hope to fill this thing with some good articles, pix and stuff, but this is just my trial blog to "get er done!"