October 30, 2006
October 29, 2006
Television worth watching: The Monastery
I have gotten totally sucked into the show The Monastery. The basic story of this show is six men from all walks of life are chosen to enter a Benedictine monastery. This show offers an interesting insight into life as a monk and the struggle that it holds.
On tonight's episode one of them men was struggling with how to find meaning in daily recitation of the Psalms in chant. The act of liturgy was difficult for him. The monk he was speaking with said, "I think the secular liturgy is a sports game..." He went on to describe how a football game offers the same flow and pattern of worship. The procession of the teams, the invocation and etc.
It was an image of a worship service that I hadn't thought about before.
Another quote from the Abbott, "Part of maturity is having a conflict and coming out of it."
edit: The show is on TLC
On tonight's episode one of them men was struggling with how to find meaning in daily recitation of the Psalms in chant. The act of liturgy was difficult for him. The monk he was speaking with said, "I think the secular liturgy is a sports game..." He went on to describe how a football game offers the same flow and pattern of worship. The procession of the teams, the invocation and etc.
It was an image of a worship service that I hadn't thought about before.
Another quote from the Abbott, "Part of maturity is having a conflict and coming out of it."
edit: The show is on TLC
October 27, 2006
Michael J. Fox Responds to Rush Limbaugh
A heartfelt response by Michael J. Fox to Rush Limbaugh.
"Science is an important part of our society." - Michael J. Fox
"Nobody wants Pity... I am not a victim... I am someone in this situation..."
"If there are answers out there we have a right to pursue them..."
"Disease is a non-partisan problem that requires a bipartisan effort"
October 26, 2006
Keith Olberman is now my hero
Why I love Keith Olberman. The power and tone of Edward Murrow and the passion of a real journalist.
October 23, 2006
Another Good Quote
So, Erin and I were chatting and I remembered another good quote from tonight.
"When will Americans learn that 'God Bless America' is not in the Bible?"
Really this idea of God's Country is a bit freaky. Jim Wallis quoted his wife on this one once she moved here from England.
"When will Americans learn that 'God Bless America' is not in the Bible?"
Really this idea of God's Country is a bit freaky. Jim Wallis quoted his wife on this one once she moved here from England.
Faith and Politics
So, the live blogging failed, mostly because my phone was set to post drafts instead of actual published posts. The battery on my phone was questionable as well. So I retired the Treo 700w for a trusty sheet of paper and pen. (Thank you Thomas and Kim.)
Essentially here is what I found interesting about this discussion:
1) It was a discussion and not a heated debate. Both Jim and Greg were civil and in many cases agreed with each other more than they disagreed. I think that is the wonderful thing about their discussion. Both men are Christians and after kingdom things. They go about it in different ways.
2) Jim focussed more on being an independent who considers all the issues and votes the way your faith guides you. Greg focussed more on digging deeper and being a compassionate Christ-centered individual.
3) Both detest the co-opting of one stance as "the Christian stance" and I have to agree. To question anyone's faith as a result of their politics is purely the work of evil.
4) Both think that we should look at all the issues behind being Christian and not just focus on the "big two." Most Christian's would place these issues as abortion and gay marriage and most people polarize their faith based on this. It is much much bigger than all that. Poverty is huge. Gobal warming is huge.
Now on to some general thoughts...
The real issue is that when a party claims Christ and calls another "Unchristian" we are judging. It is not our job to judge. The big two issues are deep down what many people just go with as being the only reason they vote on way or another and that pains me (Greg and Jim as well).
I think that ends most of my general thoughts. My favorite image tonigth came from Jim regarding what a politician looks like. They all look like pilots testing the wind with their finger in the air. They vote whatever way the wind blows them to. We cannot change things by selecting a new "wind-testing politician" to really change things you need to change the wind.
Essentially here is what I found interesting about this discussion:
1) It was a discussion and not a heated debate. Both Jim and Greg were civil and in many cases agreed with each other more than they disagreed. I think that is the wonderful thing about their discussion. Both men are Christians and after kingdom things. They go about it in different ways.
2) Jim focussed more on being an independent who considers all the issues and votes the way your faith guides you. Greg focussed more on digging deeper and being a compassionate Christ-centered individual.
3) Both detest the co-opting of one stance as "the Christian stance" and I have to agree. To question anyone's faith as a result of their politics is purely the work of evil.
4) Both think that we should look at all the issues behind being Christian and not just focus on the "big two." Most Christian's would place these issues as abortion and gay marriage and most people polarize their faith based on this. It is much much bigger than all that. Poverty is huge. Gobal warming is huge.
Now on to some general thoughts...
The real issue is that when a party claims Christ and calls another "Unchristian" we are judging. It is not our job to judge. The big two issues are deep down what many people just go with as being the only reason they vote on way or another and that pains me (Greg and Jim as well).
I think that ends most of my general thoughts. My favorite image tonigth came from Jim regarding what a politician looks like. They all look like pilots testing the wind with their finger in the air. They vote whatever way the wind blows them to. We cannot change things by selecting a new "wind-testing politician" to really change things you need to change the wind.
Live blogging Faith and Politics
So, I have gotten my blog set up for email posting just in time to try live blogging the Faith and Politics: Should they Mix? Presentation by Jim Wallis and Gregory Boyd at Bethel University. We shall see how this works. The center space of the auditorium is all Bethel students. Thomas (dydimustk) and Kim and I got here about half an hour early to try and get seats. I am hoping for some fun insights. Essentially Jim Wallis says faith should be a motivator of politics provided the entirity of faith is considered. Greg Boyd says faith and politics should be separate.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)