Thursday, December 31, 2009
A bloody rerun!
Worth repeating, from ER, January 2008. I think these are still my thoughts on these issues and images regarding atonement, blood atonement, and so on.
--ER
--ER
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
If Dick Cheney was in charge of fighting the Ku Klux Klan, the Southern states would still be occupied territories and vassals of the Union -- STFU!
Sorry, what we are fighting, in terrorism, is not a GD war. Treating it like a war is stoopid. Treat it like a disease! Treat it like a disease! And killing everybody who carries a disease is not the way to treat a disease.
Not in a free (more or less) society, anyway!
--ER
Not in a free (more or less) society, anyway!
--ER
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
At the Chair, at the Chair, where I first saw the light ...
Friend of mine, a pastor, has been going off about just driving past the Tallest Cross in Texas, off Interstate 40 in the Panhandle.
He wants to buy land adjacent and erect a huge electric chair.
I'd chip in.
I wonder if anyone of the people whose necks, cars and skin are decked with crosses realizes that it's the equivalent, executionwise, of wearing an electric chair, or a noose, on a chain around the neck, or on a bumpersticker, or on a shoulder.
Before I thought much about it, the bloodiness of the Cross made me squeamish. Now that I think about it, it just makes me wonder: How can anyone find glory in any kind of capital punishment.
Atonement? Amen. Blood atonement? Barbaric.
--ER
He wants to buy land adjacent and erect a huge electric chair.
I'd chip in.
I wonder if anyone of the people whose necks, cars and skin are decked with crosses realizes that it's the equivalent, executionwise, of wearing an electric chair, or a noose, on a chain around the neck, or on a bumpersticker, or on a shoulder.
Before I thought much about it, the bloodiness of the Cross made me squeamish. Now that I think about it, it just makes me wonder: How can anyone find glory in any kind of capital punishment.
Atonement? Amen. Blood atonement? Barbaric.
--ER
Monday, December 28, 2009
Take Oklahoma's 2 U.S. senators ...
Saturday, December 26, 2009
'The Case for Christ,' by Lee Strobel
Not bad, for what it is. But cheesy almost to the point of smarminess.
YB, my son-in-law, agnostic, more or less, had it foisted on him by some young earth creationists of his acquaintance. I told him I'd get him somethin' better. Feel free to make your own recommendations in the comments!
--ER
YB, my son-in-law, agnostic, more or less, had it foisted on him by some young earth creationists of his acquaintance. I told him I'd get him somethin' better. Feel free to make your own recommendations in the comments!
--ER
Friday, December 25, 2009
Merry Christmas, y'all and all!
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Giant Lizard Attacks Oklahoma!
A white Christmas! And I'm in balmy Houston. It figures!
Lizard warning from National Weather Service, Norman, OK
December 24, 2009 at 9:50 am
LIZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING…
…WINTER SWARM WARNING IS CANCELLED…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A LIZARD
WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING. THIS
REPLACES THE WINTER SWARM WARNING WHICH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
* TIMING: ALL OF TODAY AND THIS EVENING
* MAIN IMPACT: HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW…LOW VISIBILITY AND
STRONG WINDS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. LIZARD CONDITIONS
AT TIMES. SNOWFALL WILL AVERAGE 4 TO 8 INCHES…BUT SOUTHERN
OKLAHOMA MAY RECEIVE 8 TO 11 INCHES…GENERALLY BETWEEN LAWTON
AND PAULS VALLEY.
* OTHER IMPACTS: A PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEEZE WILL BE
POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AS THE
PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONS FROM RAIN TO SNOW.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A LIZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS…MAKING GROVELING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT GROVEL. IF
YOU MUST…HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL SKIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED…STAY WITH YOUR VEEHICKLE.
--ER
Lizard warning from National Weather Service, Norman, OK
December 24, 2009 at 9:50 am
LIZARD WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING…
…WINTER SWARM WARNING IS CANCELLED…
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN NORMAN HAS ISSUED A LIZARD
WARNING…WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 PM CST THIS EVENING. THIS
REPLACES THE WINTER SWARM WARNING WHICH IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.
* TIMING: ALL OF TODAY AND THIS EVENING
* MAIN IMPACT: HEAVY SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW…LOW VISIBILITY AND
STRONG WINDS WITH WIND GUSTS OF 45 TO 55 MPH. LIZARD CONDITIONS
AT TIMES. SNOWFALL WILL AVERAGE 4 TO 8 INCHES…BUT SOUTHERN
OKLAHOMA MAY RECEIVE 8 TO 11 INCHES…GENERALLY BETWEEN LAWTON
AND PAULS VALLEY.
* OTHER IMPACTS: A PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN AND SLEEZE WILL BE
POSSIBLE ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AS THE
PRECIPITATION TRANSITIONS FROM RAIN TO SNOW.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A LIZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS
AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT
CONDITIONS…MAKING GROVELING EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT GROVEL. IF
YOU MUST…HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL SKIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET
STRANDED…STAY WITH YOUR VEEHICKLE.
--ER
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
I hate it, but I agree with the Conservative Action Project on the health insurance bill
"Mandating that individuals must obtain health insurance, and imposing any penalty – civil or criminal – on any private citizen for not purchasing health insurance is not authorized by any provision of the U.S. Constitution."
I think the public option might have kept the mandate from being unconstitutional, which is probably why it was fought so hard.
Name another instance where the federal government forces individiduals, under pain of fine or imprisonment, to purchase any other good or service from a private, for-profit provider. I can't think of any.
--ER
I think the public option might have kept the mandate from being unconstitutional, which is probably why it was fought so hard.
Name another instance where the federal government forces individiduals, under pain of fine or imprisonment, to purchase any other good or service from a private, for-profit provider. I can't think of any.
--ER
Monday, December 21, 2009
Let Obama be Bartlet!
Sunday, December 20, 2009
In my next life ...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Kill the bill: The Whole Ass or No Ass Atall
The healthcare reform bill.
Obama, as DrLobo pointed out, is doing what he said he would do: He said he would lead by consensus.
Now, you can't lead by consensus if not everybody concedes. Ergo, with no public option, the libs in the Senate need to vote NO.
The last thing anybody should want is to make things worse, and making things worse is what's going to happen if they don't stand up, and then campaign on how they, again, saved the country -- by saying NO to a half-assed approach.
Campaign slogan: Democrats: A Full Ass or No Ass Atall!
--ER
Obama, as DrLobo pointed out, is doing what he said he would do: He said he would lead by consensus.
Now, you can't lead by consensus if not everybody concedes. Ergo, with no public option, the libs in the Senate need to vote NO.
The last thing anybody should want is to make things worse, and making things worse is what's going to happen if they don't stand up, and then campaign on how they, again, saved the country -- by saying NO to a half-assed approach.
Campaign slogan: Democrats: A Full Ass or No Ass Atall!
--ER
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Restoration movement: Restore what?
So, I'm reading a history of the Restoration movement.
I understand the rebellion against church heirarchies, bishoprics, presbyteries, and so on. But then I grew up in one congregational tradition (Southern Baptist) and sojourn now within another congregational tradition (United Church of Christ.)
I understand the desire to "restore" Christianity to its "New Testament" -- that is, first-century -- habits and ways of thinking.
I understand the need to look to the New Testament scriptures, as received, for clues as to how to do that. I did that very thing in one of the seminary classes I just finished.
What I don't get is this: If the aim is to rely on the New Testament scriptures for hints and clues, that's one thing. But since the first New Testament Christians, that is, first-century Christians, didn't have the New Testament scriptures, how and why and where was the justification for the Restoration leaders -- whether Campbell or Stone of Raccoon John -- to insist that the New Testtment as a whole be relied on in determining what the customs, patterns and habits of the earliest church should be??
Because the whole shootin' match had changed and was splitting in a bunch of different directions before the Five Gospels, and the others, were even written.
Makes me nuts, this veneration of the Bible that gets tangled up in the idea of the Word of God and almost always devolves into Bible worship.
If the only God you know is the God you've read about, then all you've done is read about God.
If the only Jesus you know is the Jesus you've read about, then all you've done is read about Jesus.
If the only Holy Spirit you know is the Holy Spirit you've read about, then all you've done is read about the Holy Spirit.
--ER
I understand the rebellion against church heirarchies, bishoprics, presbyteries, and so on. But then I grew up in one congregational tradition (Southern Baptist) and sojourn now within another congregational tradition (United Church of Christ.)
I understand the desire to "restore" Christianity to its "New Testament" -- that is, first-century -- habits and ways of thinking.
I understand the need to look to the New Testament scriptures, as received, for clues as to how to do that. I did that very thing in one of the seminary classes I just finished.
What I don't get is this: If the aim is to rely on the New Testament scriptures for hints and clues, that's one thing. But since the first New Testament Christians, that is, first-century Christians, didn't have the New Testament scriptures, how and why and where was the justification for the Restoration leaders -- whether Campbell or Stone of Raccoon John -- to insist that the New Testtment as a whole be relied on in determining what the customs, patterns and habits of the earliest church should be??
Because the whole shootin' match had changed and was splitting in a bunch of different directions before the Five Gospels, and the others, were even written.
Makes me nuts, this veneration of the Bible that gets tangled up in the idea of the Word of God and almost always devolves into Bible worship.
If the only God you know is the God you've read about, then all you've done is read about God.
If the only Jesus you know is the Jesus you've read about, then all you've done is read about Jesus.
If the only Holy Spirit you know is the Holy Spirit you've read about, then all you've done is read about the Holy Spirit.
--ER
Friday, December 11, 2009
ER could *so* become a Hebrew Bible scholar
I mean, you know, if I learned the language and everything. Getting to use a Hebrew font in my exegesis paper RAWKED, as brother Luke would say.
But, who knew this stuff was so dang interesting? :-)
(At right: Eastern Orthodox icon of Elijah.)
Good vibes, happy-happy thoughts and prayers, please. Intro to Hebrew Bible final in 2 1/2 hours! High noon to 4 p.m. (Oklahoma time).
BTW, Luke has posted one of his sermons here. It's great. Check it out.)
--ER
Monday, December 07, 2009
Thank the gods!
Last homework assignment for Intro to Hebrew Bible!
It's all over but the 4-hour final! Woo hoo!
Victor H. Matthews and Don C. Benjamin, Old Testament Parallels, 319-340.
Group: Blue
I. Vital Statistics for Texts (titles, dates, places)
Egyptian love songs, 1290-1224 BCE, in rooms that Ramesses II added to the Karnak Temple, excavated in early 20th century near the present city of Luxor in Egypt.
Stories of Ishtar and Tammuz, 700s-600s BCE, palace of Sennacherib and library of Ashurbanipal, in Nimrud. Assyria, excavated in 1845, near present Mosul, Iraq.
Visions of Neferti, composed 1991-1962 BCE, setting 2500s-2100s and 1900s-1700s, BCE.
II. Summary of Content, with relevant examples
Egyptian love songs: “The songs are full of images of touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing. … Even though Egypt’s love songs may be a thousand years older than those in the Song of Songs, the parallels are unmistakable (321).” Provocative, sensual language: “My cup is still not full from making love with you … I will not stop drinking your love, even if they beat me with sticks into the marsh … I will not abandon the one I desire.”
Stories of Ishtar and Tammuz: Ishtar, fertility goddess, and Tammuz, god of vegetation, are lovers separated by death but reunited by love. Tammuz descends, by stages, to the land of death to mark the long dry season, and Ishtar faithfully goes to rescue him and “the tears of Ishtar in the land of the dead bring Tammuz back to life (330).” Prophetic language: “When Ishtar reached the gate of the Land of No Return, she challenged the gatekeeper, saying, ‘Open your gate so I may enter! If you fail to do this, I will smash the door. I will shatter the bolt … I will cause the dead to rise and consume the living. The dead will outnumber the living!’ ”
Visions of Neferti: Prophecies of monarchical downfalls and risings: “But a new pharaoh will come from the south, Amenenhet the Triumphant will be his name. A son of southern Egypt will wear the white crown, a son of Nubia will wear the red crown. He will unite the two lands of Egypt …”
III. Significance of Texts for Biblical Studies
Parallels to Song of Solomon, Esther and Ruth; the biblical prophets; and the biblical wisdom books.
--ER
It's all over but the 4-hour final! Woo hoo!
Victor H. Matthews and Don C. Benjamin, Old Testament Parallels, 319-340.
Group: Blue
I. Vital Statistics for Texts (titles, dates, places)
Egyptian love songs, 1290-1224 BCE, in rooms that Ramesses II added to the Karnak Temple, excavated in early 20th century near the present city of Luxor in Egypt.
Stories of Ishtar and Tammuz, 700s-600s BCE, palace of Sennacherib and library of Ashurbanipal, in Nimrud. Assyria, excavated in 1845, near present Mosul, Iraq.
Visions of Neferti, composed 1991-1962 BCE, setting 2500s-2100s and 1900s-1700s, BCE.
II. Summary of Content, with relevant examples
Egyptian love songs: “The songs are full of images of touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing. … Even though Egypt’s love songs may be a thousand years older than those in the Song of Songs, the parallels are unmistakable (321).” Provocative, sensual language: “My cup is still not full from making love with you … I will not stop drinking your love, even if they beat me with sticks into the marsh … I will not abandon the one I desire.”
Stories of Ishtar and Tammuz: Ishtar, fertility goddess, and Tammuz, god of vegetation, are lovers separated by death but reunited by love. Tammuz descends, by stages, to the land of death to mark the long dry season, and Ishtar faithfully goes to rescue him and “the tears of Ishtar in the land of the dead bring Tammuz back to life (330).” Prophetic language: “When Ishtar reached the gate of the Land of No Return, she challenged the gatekeeper, saying, ‘Open your gate so I may enter! If you fail to do this, I will smash the door. I will shatter the bolt … I will cause the dead to rise and consume the living. The dead will outnumber the living!’ ”
Visions of Neferti: Prophecies of monarchical downfalls and risings: “But a new pharaoh will come from the south, Amenenhet the Triumphant will be his name. A son of southern Egypt will wear the white crown, a son of Nubia will wear the red crown. He will unite the two lands of Egypt …”
III. Significance of Texts for Biblical Studies
Parallels to Song of Solomon, Esther and Ruth; the biblical prophets; and the biblical wisdom books.
--ER
Thursday, December 03, 2009
Blind and stupid lead the blind and stupid in 'Conservative Bible' project
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Forward, march! Take Seminary Hill No. 1!
One paper due Saturday.
One paper due Tuesday.
One paper due a week from Friday.
A 3 1/2-hour final exam next week.
I'm behind on work-work.
Our tree is not up.
Our house is not Griswolded.
Uphill all the way from today until a week from Friday!
Forward ... march!
--ER
(On a lighter note: We think God might be trying to give us another cat. Poor critter keeps whinin' outside the house, but the WonderWeinieDog of the Short Yellow Doghouse keeps spookin' her away.)
One paper due Tuesday.
One paper due a week from Friday.
A 3 1/2-hour final exam next week.
I'm behind on work-work.
Our tree is not up.
Our house is not Griswolded.
Uphill all the way from today until a week from Friday!
Forward ... march!
--ER
(On a lighter note: We think God might be trying to give us another cat. Poor critter keeps whinin' outside the house, but the WonderWeinieDog of the Short Yellow Doghouse keeps spookin' her away.)
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Ribeyes, lamb chops, cabrito, wine or beer
Hardcore Old Testament Christians would get a lot farther by emphasizing some of the do's instead of so many don'ts.
"Lord, for these cereal grains and hops, may we be truly grateful."
--ER
"Lord, for these cereal grains and hops, may we be truly grateful."
--ER
Saturday, November 28, 2009
'An insider confirming outside critics dispels the myth that classified information redeems a failed policy'
These men speak with moral authority and have my attention.
Roger Morris and George Kenney:
Matthew Hoh Speaks Grim Truth To Power
--ER
Roger Morris and George Kenney:
Matthew Hoh Speaks Grim Truth To Power
--ER
Friday, November 27, 2009
'Everything Iz st00pid'
Ecclesiastes 1, from The LOLcat Bible Project! OMG! I love it!
Everything Iz st00pid
1 Teh werdz ov teh preechur, teh son ov David, King of teh Jerusalem.2 "St00pid! St00pid!" Sez teh teechurcat. "Srsly st00pid. Everythingz st00pid."3 Wut man getz 4 laburz he toilz @ undur teh sunz?4 Generashun comez n generashun goez, still same lolcats.5 Sun rizez n setz, goez bak n rize agin.6 Teh wind blowz souf n norf, rownd n rownd, alwayz teh sayme.7 Seaz can has streemz, nevur fullz. Streemz go bak where comez frum.8 All tingz has DO NOT WANT, more den werdz sez. Lolrus never sez "enuf bucket, kthnx" or kitteh sez "dats good, enuff cheezburger."9 Has happen? Gunna be agin. Nuthing new undur teh sunz.10 Kitteh can not sez "OMFGZ sumthing new!" is jus REPOST!.11 New kittahz 4gitz old kittahz, new kittahz 4gitd bai even newer kittahz.
--ER
Everything Iz st00pid
1 Teh werdz ov teh preechur, teh son ov David, King of teh Jerusalem.2 "St00pid! St00pid!" Sez teh teechurcat. "Srsly st00pid. Everythingz st00pid."3 Wut man getz 4 laburz he toilz @ undur teh sunz?4 Generashun comez n generashun goez, still same lolcats.5 Sun rizez n setz, goez bak n rize agin.6 Teh wind blowz souf n norf, rownd n rownd, alwayz teh sayme.7 Seaz can has streemz, nevur fullz. Streemz go bak where comez frum.8 All tingz has DO NOT WANT, more den werdz sez. Lolrus never sez "enuf bucket, kthnx" or kitteh sez "dats good, enuff cheezburger."9 Has happen? Gunna be agin. Nuthing new undur teh sunz.10 Kitteh can not sez "OMFGZ sumthing new!" is jus REPOST!.11 New kittahz 4gitz old kittahz, new kittahz 4gitd bai even newer kittahz.
--ER
Thursday, November 26, 2009
2009 Thanksgiving Day prayer
May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
-- Psalm 67 (NIV)
Happy Thanksgiving Day, y'all!
--ER
and make his face shine upon us,
that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
for you rule the peoples justly
and guide the nations of the earth.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you.
Then the land will yield its harvest,
and God, our God, will bless us.
God will bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will fear him.
-- Psalm 67 (NIV)
Happy Thanksgiving Day, y'all!
--ER
Thursday, November 19, 2009
The blood of war bleeds into the ground
Let us never, ever forget it. For most us, land is real estate, something to be bought and sold -- traded like cards. For most of the rest of the world, land is home.
Now, y'all can give me all the shit you want. But I guarandamntee you that I *get* what's going on with ancient Israel -- and maybe modern Israel, as wrong as it seems to be -- and Judah better than most of my lib brothers and sisters, if not y'all.
--ER
Now, y'all can give me all the shit you want. But I guarandamntee you that I *get* what's going on with ancient Israel -- and maybe modern Israel, as wrong as it seems to be -- and Judah better than most of my lib brothers and sisters, if not y'all.
--ER
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
'Sexual and Marital Metaphors in Hosea, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Ezekiel'
I'm reading this book. I was so moved by some of the stuff I actually READ in Jeremiah -- Israel as cheating Zion, Yahweh as put-upon husband, chastening her by sexually humiliating her -- I wanted to read more.
In setting the stage, the author says that the historical-critical ideas of the metaphors as words or ideas that represent other actual words or firm ideas (the substitionary approach) is too restrictive for how the metaphors should be understood.
She asserts that a cognitive approach, that is, seeing metaphors as cognitive devices with the power to transform perception and reorient perspective, in preferred.
It's traditional exegesis versus feminist exegesis.
I'm thinking that calling these ancient images "metaphors" in the first place is too limiting, and that "allegory" gets closer to the kind of thing that transforms perception and reorients perspective.
An allegory is greater than the sum of its metaphors and similes.
Zion/Israel is always a female and Yahweh is always a male, and both are always in what we today would consider a dysfunctional relationship.
As allegory, though -- something with the power ro transform perception and reorient perspective -- what we have is a story about a relationship between a powerful persona and a much less powerful (but not totally powerless) persona, which is, in fact, the nature of the Covenant.
It eliminates the gender baggage, which puts the power differential is sharper focus.
Discuss.
--ER
In setting the stage, the author says that the historical-critical ideas of the metaphors as words or ideas that represent other actual words or firm ideas (the substitionary approach) is too restrictive for how the metaphors should be understood.
She asserts that a cognitive approach, that is, seeing metaphors as cognitive devices with the power to transform perception and reorient perspective, in preferred.
It's traditional exegesis versus feminist exegesis.
I'm thinking that calling these ancient images "metaphors" in the first place is too limiting, and that "allegory" gets closer to the kind of thing that transforms perception and reorients perspective.
An allegory is greater than the sum of its metaphors and similes.
Zion/Israel is always a female and Yahweh is always a male, and both are always in what we today would consider a dysfunctional relationship.
As allegory, though -- something with the power ro transform perception and reorient perspective -- what we have is a story about a relationship between a powerful persona and a much less powerful (but not totally powerless) persona, which is, in fact, the nature of the Covenant.
It eliminates the gender baggage, which puts the power differential is sharper focus.
Discuss.
--ER
Monday, November 16, 2009
How might a drop of holiness behave on the surface of a lake in God's holy Creation?
I do not necessarily doubt that Jesus walked on the water. It's just not necessary to my faith. I do not not believe it. ...
Play along now: Jesus's divinity = the "Godness" of God who poured God's self into Creation.
Jesus "loaned" that to the temporarily "holified" Peter, who lost it when he lost it, and he splashed through, but a patina of holiness lingered each time and smaller expressions of Peter bounced on the surface and splashed through, etc., until what was left, which was just Peter, sank.
Why not? ... Just ponderin' just how dim the glass is through which we look.
Check this out, and this ramblin; will make more sense:
--ER
Play along now: Jesus's divinity = the "Godness" of God who poured God's self into Creation.
Jesus "loaned" that to the temporarily "holified" Peter, who lost it when he lost it, and he splashed through, but a patina of holiness lingered each time and smaller expressions of Peter bounced on the surface and splashed through, etc., until what was left, which was just Peter, sank.
Why not? ... Just ponderin' just how dim the glass is through which we look.
Check this out, and this ramblin; will make more sense:
--ER
"An atypical act of juvenile delinquency'
For liberty and justice for ALL.
And I'd like to thank these righty-rights -- Newsbusters.org -- for helping spread the news of this amazing little boy. Oh, but have a trash can or bucket handy if you read the comments.
--ER
And I'd like to thank these righty-rights -- Newsbusters.org -- for helping spread the news of this amazing little boy. Oh, but have a trash can or bucket handy if you read the comments.
--ER
Sunday, November 15, 2009
OK, so we need some prayer concentrated right here, 15 miles north of Oklahoma City, please
For healing and health, or at least some relief. Dr. ER's physical. My mental.
Prayers. Happy thoughts. Karma. Warm feelings. Disruptors. Photon torpedoes. Whatever ya got.
I swear to God, I do not know what to believe about prayer. "Does it work"? Well, not like a freaking gumball machine, no. And God is no Santa Claus in the sky.
But we need some help here. Not that we need any more than we've been needing for quite awhile now, but there's a timing issue. Dr. ER has work to do, and can't. And she's getting on a plane Tuesday to go to Ohio to see her sister and niecelets, and the trip along could have her down for a week. I'm driving up next week to get her, and the trip back, even without a plane trip and a week in an unfamiliar sleeping environment, could have her down for a month. And there's that work to do.
"Life is prayer," one of you told me. I like it. Right now, this life, mine, is asking to borrow some of your lives, in a "Life is prayer" sense.
Faith is trust -- and I throw myself into the Cosmos and trust God, not to DO for me, or us, but to BE with me, and us.
Hope is not optimism, thank God. Because I'm not optimistic, and it would suck to be hopeless, too. Hope, resting in faith, propels me into the life before me, which, itself, is gift and grace.
Love is the single most audacious thing Jesus asks of us, and the single hardest thing he demands of us. Lord help me in Love, with Love, and to Love, because the greatest of these is Love.
Amen.
--ER
Prayers. Happy thoughts. Karma. Warm feelings. Disruptors. Photon torpedoes. Whatever ya got.
I swear to God, I do not know what to believe about prayer. "Does it work"? Well, not like a freaking gumball machine, no. And God is no Santa Claus in the sky.
But we need some help here. Not that we need any more than we've been needing for quite awhile now, but there's a timing issue. Dr. ER has work to do, and can't. And she's getting on a plane Tuesday to go to Ohio to see her sister and niecelets, and the trip along could have her down for a week. I'm driving up next week to get her, and the trip back, even without a plane trip and a week in an unfamiliar sleeping environment, could have her down for a month. And there's that work to do.
"Life is prayer," one of you told me. I like it. Right now, this life, mine, is asking to borrow some of your lives, in a "Life is prayer" sense.
Faith is trust -- and I throw myself into the Cosmos and trust God, not to DO for me, or us, but to BE with me, and us.
Hope is not optimism, thank God. Because I'm not optimistic, and it would suck to be hopeless, too. Hope, resting in faith, propels me into the life before me, which, itself, is gift and grace.
Love is the single most audacious thing Jesus asks of us, and the single hardest thing he demands of us. Lord help me in Love, with Love, and to Love, because the greatest of these is Love.
Amen.
--ER
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Artemis, Epictetus, Zeus and Jesus -- help, y'all!
I have to get a fictional character I've created for a class converted to Christ, in three pages, by Saturday.
He's 50 years old, an educated freedman living in Ephesus. The year is about 90 C.E. At age 15, he became totally devoted to Artemis, in direct response to the threat Paul's preaching brought to the local silver trade and the Ephesus economy in general.
I think I'm going to have his patron, his former master who is almost as close as a brother -- they're about the same age and grew up together -- killed off somehow, and somehow tie my guy's personal business fortunes to that.
That oughta soften him up some for conversion -- BUT, an overnight leap from Artemis to Jesus seems unlikely.
My guy has been exposed to Stoic thinking over the years and has heard Epictetus teach in Rome (although I can't mention any historic figures at all in my narrative). He has a good idea of Zeus as "king of the gods," even as he contrinues to embrace his "hometown" goddess, Artemis of Ephesus, even though he now lives in Rome (I think I'll have him suddenly homeless, too).
Question: Do y'all think that might have prepared his mind to be ready to convert to Christ, once his heart had been broken and his dreams dashed? He never has embraced Stoicism; he has only thought about it for years, as he remained devoted to Artemis.
Thoughts?
--ER
He's 50 years old, an educated freedman living in Ephesus. The year is about 90 C.E. At age 15, he became totally devoted to Artemis, in direct response to the threat Paul's preaching brought to the local silver trade and the Ephesus economy in general.
I think I'm going to have his patron, his former master who is almost as close as a brother -- they're about the same age and grew up together -- killed off somehow, and somehow tie my guy's personal business fortunes to that.
That oughta soften him up some for conversion -- BUT, an overnight leap from Artemis to Jesus seems unlikely.
My guy has been exposed to Stoic thinking over the years and has heard Epictetus teach in Rome (although I can't mention any historic figures at all in my narrative). He has a good idea of Zeus as "king of the gods," even as he contrinues to embrace his "hometown" goddess, Artemis of Ephesus, even though he now lives in Rome (I think I'll have him suddenly homeless, too).
Question: Do y'all think that might have prepared his mind to be ready to convert to Christ, once his heart had been broken and his dreams dashed? He never has embraced Stoicism; he has only thought about it for years, as he remained devoted to Artemis.
Thoughts?
--ER
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
A Democratic president at war
IF we're going to stay at war in Afghanistan, then I want my president to send as much of our treasure and our materiel into Afghanistan as the previous president sent into Iraq. Or more.
President Obama is rejecting the options put before him? Good.
Send more than the generals are asking for. A lot more. Get it over with.
The Republican Party so hates government it can't even use it for the legitimate power of a legitimate war.
Send a Democrat to finish a Republican war. Again.
--ER
President Obama is rejecting the options put before him? Good.
Send more than the generals are asking for. A lot more. Get it over with.
The Republican Party so hates government it can't even use it for the legitimate power of a legitimate war.
Send a Democrat to finish a Republican war. Again.
--ER
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
God and His Wife?
"Asherah and the God of the Early Israelites."
Fascinating, especially for those who imagine God as both/neither male-female.
--ER
Fascinating, especially for those who imagine God as both/neither male-female.
--ER
Monday, November 09, 2009
Pissed-off redneck feminist bitch theologian with Queer Theory tendencies
Dudes, if I were a chick, the headline might describe me -- after deeply readin' Isaiah for the first time.
Holy misogynistic metaphor!
God hiked his estranged Zion's skirt up to show her female parts, in sexual humiliation? Did God then force His way with her to punish her/redeem her?
And then He apologized later?
Whoa.
--ER
Holy misogynistic metaphor!
God hiked his estranged Zion's skirt up to show her female parts, in sexual humiliation? Did God then force His way with her to punish her/redeem her?
And then He apologized later?
Whoa.
--ER
Sunday, November 08, 2009
'I stood still, I forgot who I was'
"The Dark Night"
By St. John of the Cross (excerpt, version by Robert Bly)
In the delicious night,
In privacy, where no one saw me,
Nor did I see one thing,
I had no light or guide
But the fire that burned inside my chest.
That fire showed me
The way more clearly than the blaze of noon
To where, waiting for me,
Was the One I knew so well,
In that place where no one ever is.
Oh night, sweet guider,
Oh night more marvelous than dawn!
Oh night which joins
The lover and the beloved
So that the lover and beloved change bodies!
In my chest full of flowers,
Flowering wholly and only for Him,
There He remained sleeping;
I cared for Him there,
And the fan of the high cedars cooled Him.
The wind played with
His hair, and that wind from the high
Towers struck me on the neck
With its sober hand;
Sight, taste, touch, hearing stopped.
I stood still, I forgot who I was,
My face leaning against Him,
Everything stopped, abandoned me,
My worldliness was gone, forgotten
Among the white lilies.
Awesome.
Sermon text this morning at church, the last of 10 Sundays of sermons from "Ten Poems to Change Your Life." Next Sunday, we return to regular programming. :-)
--ER
By St. John of the Cross (excerpt, version by Robert Bly)
In the delicious night,
In privacy, where no one saw me,
Nor did I see one thing,
I had no light or guide
But the fire that burned inside my chest.
That fire showed me
The way more clearly than the blaze of noon
To where, waiting for me,
Was the One I knew so well,
In that place where no one ever is.
Oh night, sweet guider,
Oh night more marvelous than dawn!
Oh night which joins
The lover and the beloved
So that the lover and beloved change bodies!
In my chest full of flowers,
Flowering wholly and only for Him,
There He remained sleeping;
I cared for Him there,
And the fan of the high cedars cooled Him.
The wind played with
His hair, and that wind from the high
Towers struck me on the neck
With its sober hand;
Sight, taste, touch, hearing stopped.
I stood still, I forgot who I was,
My face leaning against Him,
Everything stopped, abandoned me,
My worldliness was gone, forgotten
Among the white lilies.
Awesome.
Sermon text this morning at church, the last of 10 Sundays of sermons from "Ten Poems to Change Your Life." Next Sunday, we return to regular programming. :-)
--ER
Thursday, November 05, 2009
Hidden hymns and singin' for supper
In In the Beginning Was the Meal (Minneapolis, Fortress Press, 2009), Hal Taussig's discussion of the hymns embedded in John and in some of the New Testament letters is an eye-opener.
I knew there were snippets of hymns in the Scriptures. But to imagine the entertainment/worship time of the earliest Christian plenary meals as being a time of singing those hymns as a way of transmitting and firming up early theology and Christology -- well, I just find that very exciting.
It also helps me to see the Gospels themselves as liturgy, not only meant to be read aloud but sung, acted out and performed. The letters, parts of them, too.
And this all helps balance out the historical reality that the festive meal was not a "Christian" institution, by showing that the early Christians *made* it their own.
Lovin' all my books this semester, but Taussig's is the one I recommend for the regulars around here.
--ER
I knew there were snippets of hymns in the Scriptures. But to imagine the entertainment/worship time of the earliest Christian plenary meals as being a time of singing those hymns as a way of transmitting and firming up early theology and Christology -- well, I just find that very exciting.
It also helps me to see the Gospels themselves as liturgy, not only meant to be read aloud but sung, acted out and performed. The letters, parts of them, too.
And this all helps balance out the historical reality that the festive meal was not a "Christian" institution, by showing that the early Christians *made* it their own.
Lovin' all my books this semester, but Taussig's is the one I recommend for the regulars around here.
--ER
