War & bars
“If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied.”
-- I Corinthians 15: 19
Several people believe the Bible should never be read because it’s responsible for the majority of the most devastating wars ever fought. The majority of where these folks tend to hang out is in bars. Some of which’ve even been behind bars. Alcoholism is 50% about being physically pre-disposed through your DNA, to addictiveness to a very distinct chemical substance. The other 50% is about abusing the chemical to which one is quite literally allergic. It’s 100% about the problems that started one drinking in the 1st place + the ones accumulated along the way. In bars where the bartender is more teddy bear then drill sergeant, the conversations can reveal why so many of them are there, guzzling down something to which they are allergic: allergic to death.
“I refuse to ever crack open the Bible again; it’s responsible for most of the worst wars ever fought!”
Bars in the Bible-belt are incompetent at staying away from religion & politics. They usually have some very sensitive Christians in them; drinking away the guilt they have over not being up to the challenge of God’s desire to perfect them. Any mystic worth his/her salt would gently tell them they don’t have to do it on their own. Bars are notorious for only having mystics not worth their salt. When they’re drunk they’re called patrons. When they’re sober they’re called the staff.
“Don’t blame the book for the reader’s actions.”
Personal responsibility is a sore spot with citizens trying to escape something. It’s the seesaw effect created by these two that causes more fights than pride.
“They’re being brainwashed into thinking all that horrible stuff in there is the word & will of some ‘Almighty God’.”
Every human that ever lived (including Jesus) has been a victim. Victims (with the exception of Jesus) have a love/ hate relationship with the “attack this & defend that” strategies of the fallen creatures of a never to fall Creator.
“If I started a war in your name that you were actually against, would it be your war and your fault?”
Bartenders usually intervene at these points. So always remember to tip your bartender, buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
Monday, July 30, 2007
Fellowship vs. Max Lucado
“Fellowship vs. Max Lucado?”! No, I’m not suggesting Max Lucado is anti-fellowship. I’m telling a little of a personal trek I’ve been on lately that I believe has finally been completed. Well, as completed as eternal subjects go, anyway. Enough semantics, here’s the deal…
Max Lucado came out with a book some years ago called “It’s Not About Me”. When I first started coming to this particular body of Christ, I heard this title being used as a catch-phrase interwoven into all kinds of stuff. It was poignant. It was powerful. It did me a lot of good: in the practically never-ending attempt to divorce myself from my ego. This is something I grew up being told was one of the ultimates in being holy. This seems to be belief-wide as far as the different religions go. I was suspicious it could be taken too far, so I tried to be careful. My carefulness raised a red flag tonight at the small group I’m a part of and enjoying.
The Bible is distinct from almost all other holy writings in that the majority of it is narrative. Most other scripture is as you’ve seen in the book of Proverbs. Its deep stuff, but it borders on being random. It’s looser in theme than in plot-oriented, narrative works. In other words, our religious text it is full of people’s stories - all revealing the nature of the Bible’s main character: God.
I stated in an earlier blog that talking about myself gave me the willies. “It’s Not About Me” rang in my inner ear, I suppose. Egos love to talk about themselves. Red Flag! A red flag for team Lucado, at least. However, team Careful raised its own red flag tonight. Small groups by definition are about getting more personal. These are brothers & sisters in Christ that are getting to know one another better. This is because this is fellowship’s definition as well. The most selfless person, no matter how well taken care of by Providence, simply shouldn’t be so modest as to be afraid of talking about his/herself. Small groups emulate what you find in your Bible. Small groups are by necessity narrative. In other words, small groups are full of people’s stories - all revealing the nature of our lives’ main character: God.
Max Lucado’s right. In that it should not ever be all about me. Yet, it’s about me to the extent that the most intensive example is an internalized one. It’s about me only to the extent that my lesser story adds to the greater story of God. Fellowship: talk about you. “Not About You”: don’t talk about you. As for the title: GOTCHA! So buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
P.S. If anyone wonders what that ending bit means, see MY blog: “Being Still/June 29th".
“Fellowship vs. Max Lucado?”! No, I’m not suggesting Max Lucado is anti-fellowship. I’m telling a little of a personal trek I’ve been on lately that I believe has finally been completed. Well, as completed as eternal subjects go, anyway. Enough semantics, here’s the deal…
Max Lucado came out with a book some years ago called “It’s Not About Me”. When I first started coming to this particular body of Christ, I heard this title being used as a catch-phrase interwoven into all kinds of stuff. It was poignant. It was powerful. It did me a lot of good: in the practically never-ending attempt to divorce myself from my ego. This is something I grew up being told was one of the ultimates in being holy. This seems to be belief-wide as far as the different religions go. I was suspicious it could be taken too far, so I tried to be careful. My carefulness raised a red flag tonight at the small group I’m a part of and enjoying.
The Bible is distinct from almost all other holy writings in that the majority of it is narrative. Most other scripture is as you’ve seen in the book of Proverbs. Its deep stuff, but it borders on being random. It’s looser in theme than in plot-oriented, narrative works. In other words, our religious text it is full of people’s stories - all revealing the nature of the Bible’s main character: God.
I stated in an earlier blog that talking about myself gave me the willies. “It’s Not About Me” rang in my inner ear, I suppose. Egos love to talk about themselves. Red Flag! A red flag for team Lucado, at least. However, team Careful raised its own red flag tonight. Small groups by definition are about getting more personal. These are brothers & sisters in Christ that are getting to know one another better. This is because this is fellowship’s definition as well. The most selfless person, no matter how well taken care of by Providence, simply shouldn’t be so modest as to be afraid of talking about his/herself. Small groups emulate what you find in your Bible. Small groups are by necessity narrative. In other words, small groups are full of people’s stories - all revealing the nature of our lives’ main character: God.
Max Lucado’s right. In that it should not ever be all about me. Yet, it’s about me to the extent that the most intensive example is an internalized one. It’s about me only to the extent that my lesser story adds to the greater story of God. Fellowship: talk about you. “Not About You”: don’t talk about you. As for the title: GOTCHA! So buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
P.S. If anyone wonders what that ending bit means, see MY blog: “Being Still/June 29th".
Frogger
Frogger is an old video game based on Leap-frog of physical games of yore. This in turn may’ve come from hopscotch (or vice-versa). All of this may’ve in turn come from the way the knight [horsy] moves in chess. Who knows?
It appears many have come to D.F. after playing a sort of Frogger game with bodies of Christ in the past. You can start off “Church of Christ”, go to the “Unitarians”, then land at D.F. You can start off “Catholic”, go to the “Southern Baptist”, then land at D.F. The combos could be infinite. As anyone reading this knows, we’re so glad souls land here when they do, we certainly don’t mind the hopscotch path they took. Those very journeys can be some of the best reserves from which to draw spiritual direction. Not just in the obvious sense, seeing as how we all draw direction from our past. More like as Tommy Tenny admonished: “Be prepared to give someone your yesterday today”, where it’s not your past helping you, but someone else’s past helping you or your past helping someone else.
When two or more folks are talking about God-stuff at the church-house, the majority recite (right off the bat) where they were before coming to Disciples Fellowship. Like when Beowulf recites his “business card” to the king. Some act a little annoyed, which is funny, ‘cause I’ve seen how much red tape is cut through when this action takes place. People are getting to know each other. It’s so cool when a few people talking have similar histories, they start to relate as soon as they realize it. It’s equally cool overhearing or being part of the opposite: a couple of seekers mutually intrigued by experiences far from their own.
I hope ya’ll know what I mean and can relate. If not, I hope this can interest you, enabling you to buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
Frogger is an old video game based on Leap-frog of physical games of yore. This in turn may’ve come from hopscotch (or vice-versa). All of this may’ve in turn come from the way the knight [horsy] moves in chess. Who knows?
It appears many have come to D.F. after playing a sort of Frogger game with bodies of Christ in the past. You can start off “Church of Christ”, go to the “Unitarians”, then land at D.F. You can start off “Catholic”, go to the “Southern Baptist”, then land at D.F. The combos could be infinite. As anyone reading this knows, we’re so glad souls land here when they do, we certainly don’t mind the hopscotch path they took. Those very journeys can be some of the best reserves from which to draw spiritual direction. Not just in the obvious sense, seeing as how we all draw direction from our past. More like as Tommy Tenny admonished: “Be prepared to give someone your yesterday today”, where it’s not your past helping you, but someone else’s past helping you or your past helping someone else.
When two or more folks are talking about God-stuff at the church-house, the majority recite (right off the bat) where they were before coming to Disciples Fellowship. Like when Beowulf recites his “business card” to the king. Some act a little annoyed, which is funny, ‘cause I’ve seen how much red tape is cut through when this action takes place. People are getting to know each other. It’s so cool when a few people talking have similar histories, they start to relate as soon as they realize it. It’s equally cool overhearing or being part of the opposite: a couple of seekers mutually intrigued by experiences far from their own.
I hope ya’ll know what I mean and can relate. If not, I hope this can interest you, enabling you to buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
Art
The last service in which we put chairs in a circle, Tyler & Helen started us off telling us about artists, writers, etc… Helen said that they would “fall in love with the characters that they’d create”. The theological implication seemed to be leading in the direction of God created us & loves us. However, I had something dawn on me that wasn’t all that theological (or if so, it’d be pushing it). My personal hesitance (& in one case a block) to take back up doing things in the Arts may come from the ol’ cliché “a fear of commitment”.
Whether a character is written, acted, drawn or what have you, I’m probably just not willing to invest the love & labor into the creation of one these days, the way I used to when I was so called productive.
“…you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.”
-- Micah 5: 13
I wish I could play this off as something as holy as avoiding idol worship, but I know it’s just not the same thing. I hope that if I did, someone w/ the fruits of the spirit would call me on it. I say “someone w/ the fruits of the spirit” because I don’t like being called on something any more than the next guy. The way oil & vinegar don’t mix, producing something & me just slide right off of each other. God could very well be angry at me. I doubt it. But, you know…
Folks like to say when a man drags his feet getting married it’s because he has “a fear of commitment”. I’m starting to see, it can be true in other, seemingly unrelated areas of love as well.
The last service in which we put chairs in a circle, Tyler & Helen started us off telling us about artists, writers, etc… Helen said that they would “fall in love with the characters that they’d create”. The theological implication seemed to be leading in the direction of God created us & loves us. However, I had something dawn on me that wasn’t all that theological (or if so, it’d be pushing it). My personal hesitance (& in one case a block) to take back up doing things in the Arts may come from the ol’ cliché “a fear of commitment”.
Whether a character is written, acted, drawn or what have you, I’m probably just not willing to invest the love & labor into the creation of one these days, the way I used to when I was so called productive.
“…you will no longer bow down to the work of your hands.”
-- Micah 5: 13
I wish I could play this off as something as holy as avoiding idol worship, but I know it’s just not the same thing. I hope that if I did, someone w/ the fruits of the spirit would call me on it. I say “someone w/ the fruits of the spirit” because I don’t like being called on something any more than the next guy. The way oil & vinegar don’t mix, producing something & me just slide right off of each other. God could very well be angry at me. I doubt it. But, you know…
Folks like to say when a man drags his feet getting married it’s because he has “a fear of commitment”. I’m starting to see, it can be true in other, seemingly unrelated areas of love as well.
Monday, July 16, 2007
“Future? Don’t need no stinkin’ future!”
Our camp town meeting (sing that song, doo-dah, doo-dah) mentioned a lot about the future. We also mentioned the positive things we’ve currently in place as opposed to what we’ve experienced at other places of worship. As one that goes on a church tour every now and then, I concur. Regardless of what I’ve learned from the ICOC, for my future self, D.F. is “the academy”.
“Many of us found ourselves frightened by the idea of a no future D.F.”
The real question is not whether leavers can re-visit, but what if this body disbands? The real answer I hope is that just as the church isn’t a building, D.F. isn’t just this people I’ve come to know and care about as a whole, but that they are still who they are individually. I believe even if we were dispersed worse than the Jews, some of us would still maintain our God given bonds.
My point is we should enjoy planning for the future of D.F., but not be too scared by the idea of a life without it. I’m easily scared by it. I admit it… but, I know I shouldn’t be. It’s a lack of faith in God’s will for me. Anyone out there that can take comfort in God’s will for them being something other than such heartbreak: be comforted.
So, buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
P.S.
“…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
-- Matthew 28: 20
Our camp town meeting (sing that song, doo-dah, doo-dah) mentioned a lot about the future. We also mentioned the positive things we’ve currently in place as opposed to what we’ve experienced at other places of worship. As one that goes on a church tour every now and then, I concur. Regardless of what I’ve learned from the ICOC, for my future self, D.F. is “the academy”.
“Many of us found ourselves frightened by the idea of a no future D.F.”
The real question is not whether leavers can re-visit, but what if this body disbands? The real answer I hope is that just as the church isn’t a building, D.F. isn’t just this people I’ve come to know and care about as a whole, but that they are still who they are individually. I believe even if we were dispersed worse than the Jews, some of us would still maintain our God given bonds.
My point is we should enjoy planning for the future of D.F., but not be too scared by the idea of a life without it. I’m easily scared by it. I admit it… but, I know I shouldn’t be. It’s a lack of faith in God’s will for me. Anyone out there that can take comfort in God’s will for them being something other than such heartbreak: be comforted.
So, buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
P.S.
“…lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”
-- Matthew 28: 20
Music
This is an attempt at opening up more… Classical music has its pagan stories, but for the most part its Christian music. However, Classical music + words = Opera. You have to change the whole word. This stuff is rarely Christian. I know “New Age” is a pagan religion, but its music category (having no words) is innocent. Just like pagan Classical music, if you don’t know the story, the sounds are just music. This is proven in music that’s words are in a language you don’t know. At that point, it’s just music. New Age music came out of Classical music.
Now we have Ambient music. This almost never has words and when it does they rarely form a sentence. Being secular, it’s neither Christian or pagan. The Ambient genre came out of New Age music. I consider it innocent as well.
With the obvious exception of Opera, these styles of music are seen as mood music instead of message music. Due to my current personal belief that the source of all the responses to the questions in message music is spiritual in nature, I have a hard time listening to secular, message music. From protest songs that are heavy on message (albeit with a tendency to be annoying) to mere feel good, party songs that are light on message, the answer to their questions ring out in my head, “God, try God, ever heard of God?”
This leaves me being one that when I’m not listening to a praise song (which isn’t all that much), I’m listening to mood music.
On a personal note I’m a huge fan of Ambient music. It’s what I listen to most the time. I was a Classical fan, and then New Age came out. I was a New Age fan then Ambient came out. I thought what sounded better than Classical was New Age and now I believe what sounds better than New Age is Ambient. I’m well aware some would consider this musical heresy to say so, but I think you can be a huge fan of these styles with out knowing much about them. This achieves the very effortlessness that makes most mood music so appealing.
Classical: Christian
New Age: Pagan
Ambient: Secular
I’ve quit listening to secular message music (risking my being out of date with the language of my times) because it’s lack of spiritual common sense annoyed me. I’ve started listening to secular mood music, though. How ironic!!! Buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
This is an attempt at opening up more… Classical music has its pagan stories, but for the most part its Christian music. However, Classical music + words = Opera. You have to change the whole word. This stuff is rarely Christian. I know “New Age” is a pagan religion, but its music category (having no words) is innocent. Just like pagan Classical music, if you don’t know the story, the sounds are just music. This is proven in music that’s words are in a language you don’t know. At that point, it’s just music. New Age music came out of Classical music.
Now we have Ambient music. This almost never has words and when it does they rarely form a sentence. Being secular, it’s neither Christian or pagan. The Ambient genre came out of New Age music. I consider it innocent as well.
With the obvious exception of Opera, these styles of music are seen as mood music instead of message music. Due to my current personal belief that the source of all the responses to the questions in message music is spiritual in nature, I have a hard time listening to secular, message music. From protest songs that are heavy on message (albeit with a tendency to be annoying) to mere feel good, party songs that are light on message, the answer to their questions ring out in my head, “God, try God, ever heard of God?”
This leaves me being one that when I’m not listening to a praise song (which isn’t all that much), I’m listening to mood music.
On a personal note I’m a huge fan of Ambient music. It’s what I listen to most the time. I was a Classical fan, and then New Age came out. I was a New Age fan then Ambient came out. I thought what sounded better than Classical was New Age and now I believe what sounds better than New Age is Ambient. I’m well aware some would consider this musical heresy to say so, but I think you can be a huge fan of these styles with out knowing much about them. This achieves the very effortlessness that makes most mood music so appealing.
Classical: Christian
New Age: Pagan
Ambient: Secular
I’ve quit listening to secular message music (risking my being out of date with the language of my times) because it’s lack of spiritual common sense annoyed me. I’ve started listening to secular mood music, though. How ironic!!! Buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer TODAY! :)
Monday, July 9, 2007
Blog 13- Quit blogging & go “Do”
If a blog is a vent machine, here goes… I wish people would quit blogging about how messed up the Muslim world is, & go teach. That being said, I have no intention of going & teaching the Muslims anything. I know this sounds hypocritical, but then, I’m not addressing bloggers as a whole, but the elitists. It is strange, many do get their disclaimers in, to show the [common sense] viewpoint that the common people of the Muslim world are not to blame for the state in which they find themselves. Yet, even ½ of those bloggers turn around & accuse them of that exact very thing.
I find it very encouraging that there is a noticeable absence of any such blogging on the D.F. website. What’s so encouraging? Well, that it appears that aside from having such fruits of the spirit like kindness, forbearance, etc… most, if not all the saints here, would evidently quit talking & start walking the talk. They would go teach. Well, once they were done w/ the “Who am ‘I’ to teach?” bit (it’s bound to be part of the process). The depressing or angering part is said members of this Body, would have to spend most of their time admitting to whomever they taught that:
“No, I’m not typical of the average American. I’m actually a part of a contrast society. I’m not even sure if I’m typical of the average contrast society, due to the fact that modesty keeps us from advertising to one another.”
Now, I realize that given enough time, people with similar/near similar ideas can find each other .Contrast societies or otherwise. They may even transcend the us vs. them mentality one could accuse me of here. However, most square Johns like us, w/ our JOB & all, don’t think we have time for such things. So, those in acceptance of such an education (like 3rd world countries or… like me) are going to continue being inundated w/ folks that have good intentions, but no unity.
We are able to hope, however, that God provides the unity & that the receivers of this attention, see that humans from all walks of life can be guided by God to them (knowing nothing of each other), but preaching the same universal truths w/ sweet, but not artificial sweeteners & no add ons or fillers. Yet, what about the lands from which these “missionaries” have originated?
By the way… I have the flu. Sorry if this sounds ½ baked. This has definitely been a “writing to understand” blog.
If a blog is a vent machine, here goes… I wish people would quit blogging about how messed up the Muslim world is, & go teach. That being said, I have no intention of going & teaching the Muslims anything. I know this sounds hypocritical, but then, I’m not addressing bloggers as a whole, but the elitists. It is strange, many do get their disclaimers in, to show the [common sense] viewpoint that the common people of the Muslim world are not to blame for the state in which they find themselves. Yet, even ½ of those bloggers turn around & accuse them of that exact very thing.
I find it very encouraging that there is a noticeable absence of any such blogging on the D.F. website. What’s so encouraging? Well, that it appears that aside from having such fruits of the spirit like kindness, forbearance, etc… most, if not all the saints here, would evidently quit talking & start walking the talk. They would go teach. Well, once they were done w/ the “Who am ‘I’ to teach?” bit (it’s bound to be part of the process). The depressing or angering part is said members of this Body, would have to spend most of their time admitting to whomever they taught that:
“No, I’m not typical of the average American. I’m actually a part of a contrast society. I’m not even sure if I’m typical of the average contrast society, due to the fact that modesty keeps us from advertising to one another.”
Now, I realize that given enough time, people with similar/near similar ideas can find each other .Contrast societies or otherwise. They may even transcend the us vs. them mentality one could accuse me of here. However, most square Johns like us, w/ our JOB & all, don’t think we have time for such things. So, those in acceptance of such an education (like 3rd world countries or… like me) are going to continue being inundated w/ folks that have good intentions, but no unity.
We are able to hope, however, that God provides the unity & that the receivers of this attention, see that humans from all walks of life can be guided by God to them (knowing nothing of each other), but preaching the same universal truths w/ sweet, but not artificial sweeteners & no add ons or fillers. Yet, what about the lands from which these “missionaries” have originated?
By the way… I have the flu. Sorry if this sounds ½ baked. This has definitely been a “writing to understand” blog.
Drinking
I was reading Adam Newby’s old blogs. Someone told him that they stayed in touch w/ what he was up to by reading his blog. This was nice for them because they could still feel close to him even though they couldn’t spend much time w/ him live & in person. I’m afraid not a lot about my social life is in my blogging. I get concerned if they become too much about me. Now, I haven’t a clue.
Most of my friends want to be reassured that I’m still:
a non-denominational Christian.
Most of my family wants to be reassured that I’m still:
sober.
My co-workers never have to worry; they’d be the 1st to know if I was slipping either way. They know, like my family, but not all my friends, that I have 3 1/2 years sober.
In recovery, you’re always one drink away from a relapse. Thanks be to God we’re not always one sin away from Hell. For one, we sin too frequently. For another, even if we die in a sin who on earth is to say mercy ends before the Judgment. It might be when we receive it most.
“…& in all your ways acknowledge Him
& He will direct your paths.”
-Pr. 3:6
I always try to give God credit for the strength of my sobriety. By strength, I mean not only the ability to remain sober, but the ability to do so around an endless exposure to the product. God quite simply took the desire away. My parents (smokers, both) are so glad I never became a cigarette smoker. I’m so glad I never touched crack.
I’m the only non- coke user in my sobriety group. Their hippocampus, once burnt-out can’t acknowledge pleasure for 10 yrs. Put that on a cigarette pack & you’ll get a lot less whining (they don’t ‘cause it doesn’t apply). Crack labels? “Fahget-about-it.” Due to my talking so much about God in private w/ my councilor, she only requires I attend group once a month. She understands how the Church & its fellowship oriented lifestyle is more than a substitute, it’s the real thing. She’s never even asked to talk to Greg.
Talking all about me gives me the willies, but I should probably open up more. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. For now, though, I have the flu… ha-ha, so buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer, TODAY! J
I was reading Adam Newby’s old blogs. Someone told him that they stayed in touch w/ what he was up to by reading his blog. This was nice for them because they could still feel close to him even though they couldn’t spend much time w/ him live & in person. I’m afraid not a lot about my social life is in my blogging. I get concerned if they become too much about me. Now, I haven’t a clue.
Most of my friends want to be reassured that I’m still:
a non-denominational Christian.
Most of my family wants to be reassured that I’m still:
sober.
My co-workers never have to worry; they’d be the 1st to know if I was slipping either way. They know, like my family, but not all my friends, that I have 3 1/2 years sober.
In recovery, you’re always one drink away from a relapse. Thanks be to God we’re not always one sin away from Hell. For one, we sin too frequently. For another, even if we die in a sin who on earth is to say mercy ends before the Judgment. It might be when we receive it most.
“…& in all your ways acknowledge Him
& He will direct your paths.”
-Pr. 3:6
I always try to give God credit for the strength of my sobriety. By strength, I mean not only the ability to remain sober, but the ability to do so around an endless exposure to the product. God quite simply took the desire away. My parents (smokers, both) are so glad I never became a cigarette smoker. I’m so glad I never touched crack.
I’m the only non- coke user in my sobriety group. Their hippocampus, once burnt-out can’t acknowledge pleasure for 10 yrs. Put that on a cigarette pack & you’ll get a lot less whining (they don’t ‘cause it doesn’t apply). Crack labels? “Fahget-about-it.” Due to my talking so much about God in private w/ my councilor, she only requires I attend group once a month. She understands how the Church & its fellowship oriented lifestyle is more than a substitute, it’s the real thing. She’s never even asked to talk to Greg.
Talking all about me gives me the willies, but I should probably open up more. I’m happier than I’ve ever been. For now, though, I have the flu… ha-ha, so buy bonds & get your kids on centering prayer, TODAY! J
Dipping
I’ve smoked less than a pack of cigarettes in my life. I’ve dipped snuff even less. Yet, I dip back into my memories all the time. As I’m dipping, there’s always this hesitation, this pause. I truly believe I have some sort of safeguard (my mental defense mechanism’s kindred) that buffers my nervous system from whatever shock is lying just out of reach. Still, we all have our share of bad memories. So, what good is this failsafe?
Once you’ve gotten out of your dip whatever it is you wanted; you spit the excess into your spittoon. Case closed. When you’re dipping you have to carry a cup around w/ you at all times. Most carry a soda can. In the Army, I often suggested that a dipper wrap his cup in cammo tape so it would match his uniform. Unfortunately, there exists nothing for memory dipping as far as spittoons go.
God may be using unwanted memories for His very wanted results. Bad & unwanted as said memories may be, they guide us away from repeating evil. If you remember a spanking, you shy away from getting another. If you remember a guilt trip, you shy away from another one. “Once bitten, twice shy.”
I’m a fan of positive thinking, so I wonder; if I don’t like some of the memories my guardian angel doesn’t lock away, how bad are the ones he does? I have Sicilian blood through my Grandmother’s Mother. I’ve been told growing up that Sicilians are the most morbid people on earth & that’s why I can be happy & morose simultaneously. Yes, I enjoyed Goth-rock in high school. No, I never wore the make-up. No, I will never think black nail polish looks good. Yet, as many Sicilians would agree (Danger! 99.9% are Catholics) being under the weather can bring you closer to God. I have the flu. So buy bonds & get your kids doing centering prayer TODAY! J
I’ve smoked less than a pack of cigarettes in my life. I’ve dipped snuff even less. Yet, I dip back into my memories all the time. As I’m dipping, there’s always this hesitation, this pause. I truly believe I have some sort of safeguard (my mental defense mechanism’s kindred) that buffers my nervous system from whatever shock is lying just out of reach. Still, we all have our share of bad memories. So, what good is this failsafe?
Once you’ve gotten out of your dip whatever it is you wanted; you spit the excess into your spittoon. Case closed. When you’re dipping you have to carry a cup around w/ you at all times. Most carry a soda can. In the Army, I often suggested that a dipper wrap his cup in cammo tape so it would match his uniform. Unfortunately, there exists nothing for memory dipping as far as spittoons go.
God may be using unwanted memories for His very wanted results. Bad & unwanted as said memories may be, they guide us away from repeating evil. If you remember a spanking, you shy away from getting another. If you remember a guilt trip, you shy away from another one. “Once bitten, twice shy.”
I’m a fan of positive thinking, so I wonder; if I don’t like some of the memories my guardian angel doesn’t lock away, how bad are the ones he does? I have Sicilian blood through my Grandmother’s Mother. I’ve been told growing up that Sicilians are the most morbid people on earth & that’s why I can be happy & morose simultaneously. Yes, I enjoyed Goth-rock in high school. No, I never wore the make-up. No, I will never think black nail polish looks good. Yet, as many Sicilians would agree (Danger! 99.9% are Catholics) being under the weather can bring you closer to God. I have the flu. So buy bonds & get your kids doing centering prayer TODAY! J
Free Love
My parents were Hippies. My Dad will always correct me & say he was a beatnik. I happen to know better. Beats dress like Bohemian Goth-kids, my Dad’s a Hippie. My Mom also has a curious reaction when I say this around her. She’ll say, “Yes, I was a flower-child.” Now, she starts the sentence off w/ “Yes” but still corrects me in a subtle way. I guess the reason is because they both have seen what’s been done in the name of Hippiedom (+ what it sometimes caused them to do) & want to distance themselves from it.
Having Hippie parents exposed me to a lot of things most kids never see (hear, smell, taste & feel) growing up & I owe who I am today to that exposure. One of them was an emphasis of freedom, peace & love (yes, yes, music, Art & literature, too, but let me get to my point). The part my parents may want to distance themselves away from was what happened after 2 decades had gotten a hold of freedom, peace & love. Namely hedonism.
Freedom turned into a hatred of the government & eventually all authority. Peace turned into a shield for getting away w/ self threatening behavior. Love turned into free love, w/ all the very jealousies it wished to avoid, s.t.d.s, & arrested development in romance, intimacy & relationships. By the 80’s this was all so passé no one could avoid a retro- 50’s nerdom, which has jokers my age running around w/ split personalities. Just try having a conversation w/ us—we ride the fence or are WAY too gung- ho.
Most of my friends are Christians. Some will correct me & say, “Yes, we are a contrast society.” I guess the reason is because they’ve seen what’s been done in the name of Christendom (+ what it sometimes caused them to do) & want to distance themselves from it.
My parents were Hippies. My Dad will always correct me & say he was a beatnik. I happen to know better. Beats dress like Bohemian Goth-kids, my Dad’s a Hippie. My Mom also has a curious reaction when I say this around her. She’ll say, “Yes, I was a flower-child.” Now, she starts the sentence off w/ “Yes” but still corrects me in a subtle way. I guess the reason is because they both have seen what’s been done in the name of Hippiedom (+ what it sometimes caused them to do) & want to distance themselves from it.
Having Hippie parents exposed me to a lot of things most kids never see (hear, smell, taste & feel) growing up & I owe who I am today to that exposure. One of them was an emphasis of freedom, peace & love (yes, yes, music, Art & literature, too, but let me get to my point). The part my parents may want to distance themselves away from was what happened after 2 decades had gotten a hold of freedom, peace & love. Namely hedonism.
Freedom turned into a hatred of the government & eventually all authority. Peace turned into a shield for getting away w/ self threatening behavior. Love turned into free love, w/ all the very jealousies it wished to avoid, s.t.d.s, & arrested development in romance, intimacy & relationships. By the 80’s this was all so passé no one could avoid a retro- 50’s nerdom, which has jokers my age running around w/ split personalities. Just try having a conversation w/ us—we ride the fence or are WAY too gung- ho.
Most of my friends are Christians. Some will correct me & say, “Yes, we are a contrast society.” I guess the reason is because they’ve seen what’s been done in the name of Christendom (+ what it sometimes caused them to do) & want to distance themselves from it.
Sunday, July 8, 2007
Time Periods & Outlook
I wonder; there are so many Trekkies, Dungeon & Dragon lovers, etc… I wonder, if the heroes and heroines (though fictional) of those time periods were as in love w/ their own eras as much as some of our citizens seem to be today? Also, how do we (romantics or not) love our own time period in the same way? I believe we would have to edit our time. Just like these fans have edited the genres w/ which they seem so infatuated. Not everyone in the past was a knight or a wizard. Nor will everyone in the future be a starship captain. Will tomorrow’s regular Joes be playing roll plying games. If so, will they be playing Bush & Osama (Obama & Osama?)or will they be playing you & me, all edited for their enjoyment?
Movies, though well known for escapism, also go through a lot to reflect life. So much of cinema is about the everyman. In a historical period piece he doesn’t start out a hero necessarily, or is even all that interesting. We either relate or we don’t… at first. However, we are drawn into the novelties of the era or we identify w/ the items we recognize. After that, we are drawn into the story & the time period matters less. Whether the story is very real, or not, half of them have a character that says, “I love my job!”
If he or she is sarcastic, that’s 1 thing, but if genuine, we have the one that has found a way to enjoy their slice of the genre their time will go down in history as being. There “job” has very little to do w/ their enjoyment of it. It’s their personality fitting into the work (which is a reflection of the time), because of their outlook.
If we were to pretend today’s clothes were costumes, see today’s items as artifacts, etc… the pretending part of it would soon dissolve. Reason being, far from escapism or denial, you are forcing yourself to be enmeshed in the present. In fact, you have to take it even more seriously, as you become the hero/ everyman of your times.
There had to be knights that really dug being a knight. There’s no doubt there will be star captains that are really going to dig living in the future. I’ve been living like I’m in an advanced civilization for some time now. Compared to every 5 yrs. that goes by, I am! Is this not what God wants for us? I realize what today offers, & though I need only take advantage of a small part of it, I’m in love w/ this new century & the decades that led up to it. God’s presence reassures me that adventure is not an event. Digging the early 2000s (the early 21st century) is an outlook.
“…& lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
-Mt. 28:20
I wonder; there are so many Trekkies, Dungeon & Dragon lovers, etc… I wonder, if the heroes and heroines (though fictional) of those time periods were as in love w/ their own eras as much as some of our citizens seem to be today? Also, how do we (romantics or not) love our own time period in the same way? I believe we would have to edit our time. Just like these fans have edited the genres w/ which they seem so infatuated. Not everyone in the past was a knight or a wizard. Nor will everyone in the future be a starship captain. Will tomorrow’s regular Joes be playing roll plying games. If so, will they be playing Bush & Osama (Obama & Osama?)or will they be playing you & me, all edited for their enjoyment?
Movies, though well known for escapism, also go through a lot to reflect life. So much of cinema is about the everyman. In a historical period piece he doesn’t start out a hero necessarily, or is even all that interesting. We either relate or we don’t… at first. However, we are drawn into the novelties of the era or we identify w/ the items we recognize. After that, we are drawn into the story & the time period matters less. Whether the story is very real, or not, half of them have a character that says, “I love my job!”
If he or she is sarcastic, that’s 1 thing, but if genuine, we have the one that has found a way to enjoy their slice of the genre their time will go down in history as being. There “job” has very little to do w/ their enjoyment of it. It’s their personality fitting into the work (which is a reflection of the time), because of their outlook.
If we were to pretend today’s clothes were costumes, see today’s items as artifacts, etc… the pretending part of it would soon dissolve. Reason being, far from escapism or denial, you are forcing yourself to be enmeshed in the present. In fact, you have to take it even more seriously, as you become the hero/ everyman of your times.
There had to be knights that really dug being a knight. There’s no doubt there will be star captains that are really going to dig living in the future. I’ve been living like I’m in an advanced civilization for some time now. Compared to every 5 yrs. that goes by, I am! Is this not what God wants for us? I realize what today offers, & though I need only take advantage of a small part of it, I’m in love w/ this new century & the decades that led up to it. God’s presence reassures me that adventure is not an event. Digging the early 2000s (the early 21st century) is an outlook.
“…& lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
-Mt. 28:20
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