I found this piece while looking through the Financial Times. This article is bar none the best I have read on the current global warming debate. It is not a scientific treatise, nor is it an emotional plea. It is instead an article written by Vaclav Klaus, President of the Czech Republic, who has risen through the mud and the muck of world politics and has actually been able to call a spade a spade.
At first I was surprised to see an article like this coming from an Eastern European; but as I thought about it, I realised that this man is among the most qualified as he has seen freedom taken away from the masses based on the whims of a few. I am not a conspiracy theorist, nor will I ever be one, but I become disgruntled when the "enlightened" feel that it is their job to govern the rest of us. Mr. Klaus stated that "Instead of speaking about "“the environment”", let us be attentive to it in our personal behaviour." In this I most wholeheartedly agree. For if we are not disciplined with the liberties we have, there are those who always be ever anxious to take them away.
Thursday, June 14
Saturday, June 9
Rescue
Human Trafficing
The Pursuit of Happyness
Little Children
Watch these movies and consider (not all in one night--one in a week was fast enough for us) these pictures in light what Robert Capon says on the coinherence of God. He likes to open up the real world behind these film-worlds. Starting with the Athansian creed, we are to know that "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three Gods but one God."
Capon expounds upon the mystery of coinherence: "this coinherence...rubs off on the world that the Trinity brings forth. When God creates man in his own image, for instance ('man,' just to remind you, is the 'adham, male and female), he makes us into beings totally in love with mutual indwelling, with walking into, with dancing into relationships at every turn of our lives. For one thing, he's made us positively wild about turning two people into 'one flesh' in marriage. For another, he's made us just as driven to implicate ourselves in friendships, families, towns, cities, and states. He's made a sociable world....The whole natural order--from the nearest grain of sand to the farthest star--is just as much an image of the mutual indwelling of the Persons of the Trinity" (Genesis, the Movie, 30).
I especially like how he puts into words the "positively wild" bit about marriage.
The Pursuit of Happyness
Little Children
Watch these movies and consider (not all in one night--one in a week was fast enough for us) these pictures in light what Robert Capon says on the coinherence of God. He likes to open up the real world behind these film-worlds. Starting with the Athansian creed, we are to know that "the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three Gods but one God."
Capon expounds upon the mystery of coinherence: "this coinherence...rubs off on the world that the Trinity brings forth. When God creates man in his own image, for instance ('man,' just to remind you, is the 'adham, male and female), he makes us into beings totally in love with mutual indwelling, with walking into, with dancing into relationships at every turn of our lives. For one thing, he's made us positively wild about turning two people into 'one flesh' in marriage. For another, he's made us just as driven to implicate ourselves in friendships, families, towns, cities, and states. He's made a sociable world....The whole natural order--from the nearest grain of sand to the farthest star--is just as much an image of the mutual indwelling of the Persons of the Trinity" (Genesis, the Movie, 30).
I especially like how he puts into words the "positively wild" bit about marriage.
Mere snippets of news
The Greeks have invaded the "conservative party" in the form not of a Trojan horse, but of the Goddess of Democracy. To warn us of the past and present terrors of communism around the world, a Victims of Communism Memorial was made by sculptor T. Marsh, mimicing one already in San Francisco.
It's about time someone set up a memorial to remind us of the "more than 100 million people who died in a terrible ideology's revolutions, wars, and purges" (National Review, 'A Goddess for Victims,' 5.28.07). What I find remarkable in this monument is her name, which belies either the national identity that we consider ourselves an humanistic, urbane, sophisticated people who no longer believe in God or the other identity in being an evangelical, law-abiding, idol-hating people who think we can actually save the world from heretics.
So, now we host in D.C. the little sister of the Statue of Liberty: introducing the Goddess of Democracy, who represents "a universal symbol of freedom, representing in majestic form the rights and aspirations of all women and men" (ibid). It is not my intent to direct your attention to the impending doom of Rome-like characteristics of the USA, or to the fanatisicm of either liberal or conservative parties at the Capitol. Neither do I desire for you draw a sharp intake of breath over the possibility of publically sanctioned belief in gods and goddesses. The explaination for these events lies in the ancient poetry of the venerable Asaph--am I stretching the Psalm here?--that when Athena, goddess of justice and wisdom, is called into our midst, God takes "his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement...:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
"Give justice to the weak
and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted
and the destitute.
"Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from
the hand of the wicked" (82:1-4).
It's about time someone set up a memorial to remind us of the "more than 100 million people who died in a terrible ideology's revolutions, wars, and purges" (National Review, 'A Goddess for Victims,' 5.28.07). What I find remarkable in this monument is her name, which belies either the national identity that we consider ourselves an humanistic, urbane, sophisticated people who no longer believe in God or the other identity in being an evangelical, law-abiding, idol-hating people who think we can actually save the world from heretics.
So, now we host in D.C. the little sister of the Statue of Liberty: introducing the Goddess of Democracy, who represents "a universal symbol of freedom, representing in majestic form the rights and aspirations of all women and men" (ibid). It is not my intent to direct your attention to the impending doom of Rome-like characteristics of the USA, or to the fanatisicm of either liberal or conservative parties at the Capitol. Neither do I desire for you draw a sharp intake of breath over the possibility of publically sanctioned belief in gods and goddesses. The explaination for these events lies in the ancient poetry of the venerable Asaph--am I stretching the Psalm here?--that when Athena, goddess of justice and wisdom, is called into our midst, God takes "his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement...:
"How long will you judge unjustly
and show partiality to the wicked? Selah
"Give justice to the weak
and the fatherless;
maintain the right of the afflicted
and the destitute.
"Rescue the weak and needy;
deliver them from
the hand of the wicked" (82:1-4).
Wednesday, May 30
quoting and thinking
"I'm not sitting here at my computer, for example, because I was here ten minutes ago--or because once upon a time my parents gave me being. I'm here because right now God is bringing me out of nothing into being. And so it is with you, and your dog, and your shoes, and everything else in the universe." ~Robert F. Capon.
Considering the fact that we are dependant upon no other person nor force for our existence, we are pleased to be found in the present state of accumilating post-ex nihilo stuff for our household. If our furniture exists in the mind of God before it enters our house, then o how full are all those blank walls and corners and kitchen floors! We spent all of Memorial Day discovering the store that boasted on cartoonish banners "CLEARANCE SALE" "MEMORIAL DAY SALE" "END OF SEASON SALE." We entered with the wariness of purchasers who have precious hard earned money to spend and the scepticism of penny pinchers practicing hard to please. A hour later, we left the store with refreshing hope and the happiness of a vision. We saw pub tables around which to host our friends, rugs combining the antiquity of wool fibers with modern abstract colour, and a salesman we could trust (even with all our inexperienced youth). Thus, we experienced into the future the idea of possessions held in existence even now until we should pile them into our truck bed and subject them to the beating of everyday life as we live in growing and changing community with our neighbours.
Considering the fact that we are dependant upon no other person nor force for our existence, we are pleased to be found in the present state of accumilating post-ex nihilo stuff for our household. If our furniture exists in the mind of God before it enters our house, then o how full are all those blank walls and corners and kitchen floors! We spent all of Memorial Day discovering the store that boasted on cartoonish banners "CLEARANCE SALE" "MEMORIAL DAY SALE" "END OF SEASON SALE." We entered with the wariness of purchasers who have precious hard earned money to spend and the scepticism of penny pinchers practicing hard to please. A hour later, we left the store with refreshing hope and the happiness of a vision. We saw pub tables around which to host our friends, rugs combining the antiquity of wool fibers with modern abstract colour, and a salesman we could trust (even with all our inexperienced youth). Thus, we experienced into the future the idea of possessions held in existence even now until we should pile them into our truck bed and subject them to the beating of everyday life as we live in growing and changing community with our neighbours.
Saturday, May 26
More Thoughts On Postmodernity
Denis Haack, who along with his wife Margie, are the directors of Ransom Fellowship; a ministry that is committed to developing discernment and deepening discipleship within the Church.
Mr. Haack has written a very good response to a young lady who is struggling with the Church's lack of interaction with our Postmodern culture. He has mixed criticism with grace, and given sound wisdom we all would be wise to heed.
Mr. Haack has written a very good response to a young lady who is struggling with the Church's lack of interaction with our Postmodern culture. He has mixed criticism with grace, and given sound wisdom we all would be wise to heed.
Friday, May 25
Blast From the Past
This should be a fun movie to watch...Jay was one of my upper-classmen at Annapolis. He yelled at me quite a bit during my Plebe year, and then flew with me quite a bit after.
Don't worry, he has has been made fun of amply for the "docudrama" being done on him.
Sunday, May 20
Postmodern Epistemology
We have both been enjoying the band Keane as of late. Keane is an eclectic mix of folk/alternative/new age rock that blends a fun mix of sounds that both cause one to think as well as be bolstered by their upbeat sounds.
One of their recent works, Under The Iron Sea, contains the song "Is it Any Wonder." Have a look at the lyrics:
"I always thought that I knew
I'd always have the right to
Be living in the kingdom of the good and true and so on
But now I think I was wrong
and you were laughing along
and now I look a fool for thinking you were on my side
Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder that I don't know what's right?
Sometimes it is hard to know where I stand
It's hard to know where I am
Well maybe it's a puzzle I don't understand
Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm
stranded in the wrong time
Where love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme
Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder that I don't know what's right?
This song is a great example of how post modern thought is so prevalent in the very ideas and lyrics of our culture. And so, it is imperative that we, the Church, understand where our friends are coming from and thus be able to provide the answers to what is right, show a reason to stand, and show that there really is a kingdom of the good and true. Indeed, we should not just have the answers, but live the answers.
Friday, May 18
Friday, May 11
the unthanked guest
I remember it every time I look at the photo of my groom and me on my dresser. In a frame of Waterford crystal with a wavy heart pattern (as if saying "may waves of love wash over your hearts when worn and weary as on this heart-warming day"), the picture is held secure. The giver is entirely unknown, the casulty of a war with Bed, Bath and Beyond tissue and their complementary, miniscule gift tags. Maybe we'll meet again when in conversation with some old family friend, they mention how they always give crystal frames to newlyweds and surely we have one in our permanent decor?
Thursday, May 10
Joyful Living
Living joyously and expectantly are just two of the ways that we as Christians are called to fulfill our cultural mandate. Unfortunately we really don't do a good job worshipping our Lord joyfully. How to adequately celebrate events such as the Sabbath is a question that is deserving of much contemplation. I found this website on Greg Wilbur's blog. While it does not answer all of my questions, it does give me a good start.
Tuesday, May 8
On The Other Hand...
Do you notice how often folks are asked to apologize for things these days? I mean, there are always news events reported on that are demanding an apology for some offense taken. (Imus anyone?) What good does this apology do for us, or for the offended? The party line would state that confession is good for the soul and that the individual, or peoples, or ethnic group, et al who have been apologized to feel better.
At best, this is a half truth. At worst, a gross lie. If you really think about it true repentance can only mean that the time for the repair of one's life is over and you are in greater need of an embalmer than a physician. Robert Capon mentions in his book Between Noon and Three that it is "simply pointless to confess to anybody unless you are either prepared to stay dead or be sure that the person you are dealing with is capable of, and committed to, raising the dead. Anyone committed to less than that will just insist, glumly or gladly, on shoveling dirt onto your coffin".
However, does this mean that we should not apologize for committing a wrong? No...because of Grace. Grace has died, is dying, and will die for our life. Our omissions kill, and our joy consequently comes from Another. Consequently, unless we accept the forgiveness of the One who is able to raise the dead, our confessions are worthless. They become nothing more than the last desperate gasps of western civilization as she tries to hold on to some false morality.
At best, this is a half truth. At worst, a gross lie. If you really think about it true repentance can only mean that the time for the repair of one's life is over and you are in greater need of an embalmer than a physician. Robert Capon mentions in his book Between Noon and Three that it is "simply pointless to confess to anybody unless you are either prepared to stay dead or be sure that the person you are dealing with is capable of, and committed to, raising the dead. Anyone committed to less than that will just insist, glumly or gladly, on shoveling dirt onto your coffin".
However, does this mean that we should not apologize for committing a wrong? No...because of Grace. Grace has died, is dying, and will die for our life. Our omissions kill, and our joy consequently comes from Another. Consequently, unless we accept the forgiveness of the One who is able to raise the dead, our confessions are worthless. They become nothing more than the last desperate gasps of western civilization as she tries to hold on to some false morality.
Sunday, May 6
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