i recently watched the movie "Jesus Christ Superstar", long a favorite of my parents, their friends & little ol' me. This may not result in much of an insight (this certainly isn't particularly much of a blog), but i found something interesting in their rendition of Potius Pilate. He says something that is no where in the scriptures (in the movie's defence, this is loosely based on what would Judas' point of view of Jesus be, yes, that's what this movie is about) or any commentary i'm aware of so far. Pontius pilots states (well- sings, this is a rock opera) after the crowd (mob) declares "We have no king, but Caesar!", "Up 'till now that's been terribly lacking."
That being no where in the text, one may do some behind the scenes wondering. What would make an ol' meanie like Pontius Pilate wash his hands of the matter. What had to come first before such a gesture was the investment of some pity. Some say this out of character behavior was the result of just how innocent Jesus was. Or at least, how special He was.
"We have no king, but Caesar!" was in fact what was out of character... from the Jews. This is not news to the reader. What was new to me, was that "Up 'till now that's been terribly lacking." shows that there was suddenly extreme interest in what could possibly have changed these particular Jew's tune. Additionally, that whatever it was, he should probably do the exact opposite of what they wanted- even if it seemed a good thing for Rome, purely because of how suspicious such a turnaround had to be.
Whatever take folks have had of Pilate, that he treated Jesus with some pity, not out of Jesus' effect on him personally... but out of suspicion of the Jews sudden respect for Caesar, just may be interesting.
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Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Saturday, June 21, 2008
"Self Centered Religions: Wait, What?"
Most people know that the continuing thread running through pagan religions is the taking too literally the gods as real entities. In other words, an initiation into a mystery cult most likely involves finding out that Zeus or Thor have more to do with representing lightening that welding it. Many people know these gods as metaphors stem from symbols being needed to ease understanding of a culture's personal mythology. Several people know these mythologies date back to Bronze Age observations of nature & it's relationship to the spiritual realm. There are a handful of people that know that these myths & their symbols are strikingly similar no matter how far apart the cultures are away from each other... this gives rise to the use of calling them "universal" symbols. A few people know that the other continuing thread running through pagan religions is that for those that don't take the gods too literally as real entities, they instead use the flowering of consciousness practice.
This does not invite God into you as one of many willing temples of His abode. This proclaims rather that you are either a sort of god in your own right due to your flowered conscious (popularly known as enlightenment) or are the figment of the imagination of a higher, greater consciousness (popularly called an illusion of The Dreamer... ie. "All is an illusion"). The latter states that this higher, greater consciousness is not (or at least, not as yet) a fully formed thing. A side effect of this is that it would be naive to assign it a personality. The result is that you either focus inward trying to reconcile that everything important is inside you just waiting to be manifested or that you must focus inward trying to figure out the best way to disintegrate into oblivion.
What a very small number, if any, of these adherents seem to catch on to is how incredibly self centered this idea (& it's offspring) happens to be. These teachings claim to highly prize altruism, compassion & peace, but they are transparent to anyone that truly is compassionate. The question must be addressed to all of this is:
"If there really is A GOD & A DEVIL, wouldn't it be the Devil's method, to lure as many way from God as possible by A.) convincing them he [the Devil] is only their repressed desires and B.) use concepts of light as bait to actually lure them into darkness. After all, the goal in the end isn't loving others or an awesome mysterious being, but to curl up into a metaphoric ball & become an island just as the Devil is taught in Christianity as having wanted to do since his beginning?"
The flowering of or the attainment of "higher consciousness" may have a small safe place somewhere in the truth, but it does have a dark side. Namely that self centeredness is the exact opposite of worshiping God... so
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This does not invite God into you as one of many willing temples of His abode. This proclaims rather that you are either a sort of god in your own right due to your flowered conscious (popularly known as enlightenment) or are the figment of the imagination of a higher, greater consciousness (popularly called an illusion of The Dreamer... ie. "All is an illusion"). The latter states that this higher, greater consciousness is not (or at least, not as yet) a fully formed thing. A side effect of this is that it would be naive to assign it a personality. The result is that you either focus inward trying to reconcile that everything important is inside you just waiting to be manifested or that you must focus inward trying to figure out the best way to disintegrate into oblivion.
What a very small number, if any, of these adherents seem to catch on to is how incredibly self centered this idea (& it's offspring) happens to be. These teachings claim to highly prize altruism, compassion & peace, but they are transparent to anyone that truly is compassionate. The question must be addressed to all of this is:
"If there really is A GOD & A DEVIL, wouldn't it be the Devil's method, to lure as many way from God as possible by A.) convincing them he [the Devil] is only their repressed desires and B.) use concepts of light as bait to actually lure them into darkness. After all, the goal in the end isn't loving others or an awesome mysterious being, but to curl up into a metaphoric ball & become an island just as the Devil is taught in Christianity as having wanted to do since his beginning?"
The flowering of or the attainment of "higher consciousness" may have a small safe place somewhere in the truth, but it does have a dark side. Namely that self centeredness is the exact opposite of worshiping God... so
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Sunday, March 16, 2008
"Judge Not..."
Over time I've seen a Southsider, not a Fountainer (as they are extinct), but a 5 pointer, that I once judged as homeless, then a streetwalker (hint-hint intended), now I've no idea, & have finally stopped trying to label. Pretty slow for a Christian, eh? Once, I brought a flier she put up on the telephone pole by Bell Bottoms (near the bus stop) to Greg to read (because I thought it would amuse him. He didn't seem to find it all that funny like I did, but it was fun just to do. This was the first of it's kind I'd seen since high school. It lamented that "so called" Christians could do very thoughtless things.
Well, amen.
Not so long ago, I saw her put up another one I knew better (as a good Christian) not to take down to show anyone. This was not one I'd ever seen the like of since grade school when fliers were a new thing (in Southside). This one warned parting ladies to always have enough gas to get home as they were vulnerable to creepy guys (her words) at gas stations. As a good Christian I knew not to take it down to show anyone. As a good Christian I knew that if I took t down (even if only to show it) that would hinder it being read. Right by Bell Bottoms. Good place for it. They have female jello wrestling & male cage fights. Might want enough gas, ya know?
So, I've finally stopped trying to judge what she is or was or whatever, and am now judging Bell Bottoms. Something it never entered my mind to do until then. No, they aren't the only bar in town, they're just where her flier is located.
"...people in whose heart is My law"
--Isaiah 51:7
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Well, amen.
Not so long ago, I saw her put up another one I knew better (as a good Christian) not to take down to show anyone. This was not one I'd ever seen the like of since grade school when fliers were a new thing (in Southside). This one warned parting ladies to always have enough gas to get home as they were vulnerable to creepy guys (her words) at gas stations. As a good Christian I knew not to take it down to show anyone. As a good Christian I knew that if I took t down (even if only to show it) that would hinder it being read. Right by Bell Bottoms. Good place for it. They have female jello wrestling & male cage fights. Might want enough gas, ya know?
So, I've finally stopped trying to judge what she is or was or whatever, and am now judging Bell Bottoms. Something it never entered my mind to do until then. No, they aren't the only bar in town, they're just where her flier is located.
"...people in whose heart is My law"
--Isaiah 51:7
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"Busy,Busy..."
"Be still and Know..."
--Psalm 46:10
It's quite a busy time it seems. I've been intentionally doing almost everything I can to stay at home to heal from oral surgery while still working. It's tough. Errands I used to take for granted as not that big a deal to perform, now boom at me their necessity & laugh at how tired accomplishing them make me. I truly feel like a hypochondriac. Every temptation I used to take for granted as not that big a deal to overcome, now boom at me their necessity & laugh at how tired resisting them make me. I truly feel like Layman Damien of the Cross.
An example would be how sending out birthday cards late... would make me feel awful. It would happen every now & then. Now, I don't feel so bad about it (now, that is awful) Now, I understand why some refer to it as a ministry. It now has all the hallmarks, light though they may be in comparison to facing violent hindus in India (Mark Gobel's friend), violent muslims in Africa (the Oldeyes), & every trip to the Holy Land(s) (insert name here). I had face violent Christians as a child, but neither on either side knew enough about Christ to know how off they were to threaten in His name. No, It never came to blows. No not because they thought I was Qui Chai Cane or whatever David Carradine's name was in Kung Fu.
Oopps, a tangent!
It's quite a busy time it seems. Daylight savings, Palm this & that, St. Patty's, Purim, spring equinox (try that word at Scrabble), etc... Then there is, of course [sigh] more later...
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--Psalm 46:10
It's quite a busy time it seems. I've been intentionally doing almost everything I can to stay at home to heal from oral surgery while still working. It's tough. Errands I used to take for granted as not that big a deal to perform, now boom at me their necessity & laugh at how tired accomplishing them make me. I truly feel like a hypochondriac. Every temptation I used to take for granted as not that big a deal to overcome, now boom at me their necessity & laugh at how tired resisting them make me. I truly feel like Layman Damien of the Cross.
An example would be how sending out birthday cards late... would make me feel awful. It would happen every now & then. Now, I don't feel so bad about it (now, that is awful) Now, I understand why some refer to it as a ministry. It now has all the hallmarks, light though they may be in comparison to facing violent hindus in India (Mark Gobel's friend), violent muslims in Africa (the Oldeyes), & every trip to the Holy Land(s) (insert name here). I had face violent Christians as a child, but neither on either side knew enough about Christ to know how off they were to threaten in His name. No, It never came to blows. No not because they thought I was Qui Chai Cane or whatever David Carradine's name was in Kung Fu.
Oopps, a tangent!
It's quite a busy time it seems. Daylight savings, Palm this & that, St. Patty's, Purim, spring equinox (try that word at Scrabble), etc... Then there is, of course [sigh] more later...
Buy Bonds & Get Your Kids On Centering Prayer TODAY!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
"A Long Gone Civilization"
"...nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies"
-- I Timothy 1:4
It dawned on me the other day that most stories about elves came from the English, inheritors of countless Scott, Irish, & Welsh (as well as obviously, their own) tales of advanced, magical peoples-- now vanished back to the magical realms from hence they came. Supposedly they left "Man" because they [elves, etc...] felt called back home due to their work there[the Brit. Isles] was completed. These elegant and graceful creatures were never to return, only they were to leave behind the influence of their impact via such things as implements of great craftsmanship, techniques for doing certain things, and the Arts. I'm sorry, but does anyone else see this as a comparison to the fall of the Roman empire? The more technologically advanced, master craftsmen & engineers-- w/ their high morals (doubt it? Just ask 'em) and regard for the Arts... loftily traipsing back to Avalon/Rome.
We may debate which came 1st, the chicken or the egg, but we know that elves tales came before the Romans. We also know that the Romans were anything but finished w/ the Celts when they had to return to defend what was left of the Eternal City. Yet, did the poet/historians borrow so heavily, that the similarities seen are merely do to that? I've rarely seen such a round robin... every time I chalk up one theme to another one I see it's connection to something older & not just in the sense that that is true of most things in general. Throw Christian prophesies and themes in, too and it's fascinating hard hard it is to get out of the mire! :)
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-- I Timothy 1:4
It dawned on me the other day that most stories about elves came from the English, inheritors of countless Scott, Irish, & Welsh (as well as obviously, their own) tales of advanced, magical peoples-- now vanished back to the magical realms from hence they came. Supposedly they left "Man" because they [elves, etc...] felt called back home due to their work there[the Brit. Isles] was completed. These elegant and graceful creatures were never to return, only they were to leave behind the influence of their impact via such things as implements of great craftsmanship, techniques for doing certain things, and the Arts. I'm sorry, but does anyone else see this as a comparison to the fall of the Roman empire? The more technologically advanced, master craftsmen & engineers-- w/ their high morals (doubt it? Just ask 'em) and regard for the Arts... loftily traipsing back to Avalon/Rome.
We may debate which came 1st, the chicken or the egg, but we know that elves tales came before the Romans. We also know that the Romans were anything but finished w/ the Celts when they had to return to defend what was left of the Eternal City. Yet, did the poet/historians borrow so heavily, that the similarities seen are merely do to that? I've rarely seen such a round robin... every time I chalk up one theme to another one I see it's connection to something older & not just in the sense that that is true of most things in general. Throw Christian prophesies and themes in, too and it's fascinating hard hard it is to get out of the mire! :)
Buy Bonds & Get Your Kids On Centering Prayer, TODAY!
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
"When God Is: Speed"
Where were you when I...?"
Job 38:4
It was not so long ago that folks used to wish eachother "God's speed". Things today have the potential to go at speeds that impress us & though we bragg about this in comparison to olden days when things weren't able to go as fast, we are still impatient for them to go even faster. The truth is the reason things are at the speeds they are today in our modern/post-modern time period is because those that came before us were not satisfied with the rate at which things were going and invented all kinds of stuff with open ended improvement capablity. Though the current idea of "right now" may be more immeadiate than our forebear's idea, it is their impatience we've inhereted. When they wished one another God's speed it was not always for particular instences. It was, after a short while, a way of just saying goodbye. Yes, it is their impatience we now have as a legecy.
Folks no longer wish eachother God's speed. The word "cool" is much older than "groovy", but still in full swing. Is "God's speed" outdated due to how long ago it was coined? The word"cool" argues against this (though it may just be too cool to leave usage). The folloing is the most right wing conservitive Christian thing I've probably ever said:
we no longer wish one another God's speed because we're A.) increasingly Godless and B.) both the Godless & spiritual alike (see... noticed even i said "spiritual" & not "Christian etc... we're are becoming increasingly Godless) where was I? Oh, yeah-- and B.) both the Godless & spiritual alike quite simply have found God to be too slow!
You may issue me my flag lapel & parted on the side hair style, now...
Oh, wait. I already have those.
As society uses political correctness to remove more and more of things God in public, little wonder a catch phrase that has Him in it has fallen out of usage. This is why many find political correctness a less than innocent thing. As usual it is an original good thing, become corrupted.
That is A.). B.) is the doosy. It was not so long ago, that things like sudden storms, very, very often attributed to the LORD, were examples of how fast He can be (see Job). Yet, as we've become the give it to me NOW generation, nothing is ever fast enough. As for God's speed? We Christians are always wanting Him to improve us. We want to sin less, and I don't know, I guess "shine" more. Yet, God takes His time and we fidgit. Though trees are an example of nature (ie... God) being slow not fast, a better one is us.The deal is God made us and He knew what we would be like if we ever fell (which we did). Broken things resist quick-fixes. Those are for rare situations, even they of which are usualy temporary-- needing more intensive attention down the road. The LORD must be saying:
"God's speed? You can't HANDLE God's speed!"
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Job 38:4
It was not so long ago that folks used to wish eachother "God's speed". Things today have the potential to go at speeds that impress us & though we bragg about this in comparison to olden days when things weren't able to go as fast, we are still impatient for them to go even faster. The truth is the reason things are at the speeds they are today in our modern/post-modern time period is because those that came before us were not satisfied with the rate at which things were going and invented all kinds of stuff with open ended improvement capablity. Though the current idea of "right now" may be more immeadiate than our forebear's idea, it is their impatience we've inhereted. When they wished one another God's speed it was not always for particular instences. It was, after a short while, a way of just saying goodbye. Yes, it is their impatience we now have as a legecy.
Folks no longer wish eachother God's speed. The word "cool" is much older than "groovy", but still in full swing. Is "God's speed" outdated due to how long ago it was coined? The word"cool" argues against this (though it may just be too cool to leave usage). The folloing is the most right wing conservitive Christian thing I've probably ever said:
we no longer wish one another God's speed because we're A.) increasingly Godless and B.) both the Godless & spiritual alike (see... noticed even i said "spiritual" & not "Christian etc... we're are becoming increasingly Godless) where was I? Oh, yeah-- and B.) both the Godless & spiritual alike quite simply have found God to be too slow!
You may issue me my flag lapel & parted on the side hair style, now...
Oh, wait. I already have those.
As society uses political correctness to remove more and more of things God in public, little wonder a catch phrase that has Him in it has fallen out of usage. This is why many find political correctness a less than innocent thing. As usual it is an original good thing, become corrupted.
That is A.). B.) is the doosy. It was not so long ago, that things like sudden storms, very, very often attributed to the LORD, were examples of how fast He can be (see Job). Yet, as we've become the give it to me NOW generation, nothing is ever fast enough. As for God's speed? We Christians are always wanting Him to improve us. We want to sin less, and I don't know, I guess "shine" more. Yet, God takes His time and we fidgit. Though trees are an example of nature (ie... God) being slow not fast, a better one is us.The deal is God made us and He knew what we would be like if we ever fell (which we did). Broken things resist quick-fixes. Those are for rare situations, even they of which are usualy temporary-- needing more intensive attention down the road. The LORD must be saying:
"God's speed? You can't HANDLE God's speed!"
Buy Bonds & Get Your Kids On Centering Prayer Today!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
When God is: "Pins & Needles"
"Where were you when I...?"
--Job 38:4...
When those that have strayed from the path have the Lord back in their life, they seem invigorated and happy. I cant help but think, however, that for those that've let their souls go to sleep and were numb because of it (like when your foot went to sleep and was numb because of it) God comes flowing in feeling like pins & needles!
Buy Bonds & Get Your Kids On Centering Prayer Today!
--Job 38:4...
When those that have strayed from the path have the Lord back in their life, they seem invigorated and happy. I cant help but think, however, that for those that've let their souls go to sleep and were numb because of it (like when your foot went to sleep and was numb because of it) God comes flowing in feeling like pins & needles!
Buy Bonds & Get Your Kids On Centering Prayer Today!
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