These are a few of my favorite things...

Songbird, Eva Cassidy
Celebrate! Music of the 60's, Turtle Creek Chorale
Frisco Jazz Band, Turk Murphy
My Best, John Denver
On the Rocks- Lounge Compilation
Lifted, Songs of the Spirit, Starbucks compilation CD
O Brother, Where Art Thou Soundtrack
Capitol Collections Series, Kay Starr
16 Most Requested Songs, Doris Day
Self-titled, Rufus Wainwright
Come Away with Me, Norah Jones

Okay, I realize some of these cd titles might embarrass you just reading them. But hey, its my music and I like them (and yes, John Denver really isn't that bad). It's wild how a fella can get attached to his music.

This summer, I was invited to spend a week of rest and relaxation with a bunch of friends at the Pines section out on Fire Island. Fire Island is an island with several communities and fancy homes on a strip of land on the southeast shore of Long Island. On the island, there are no streets (and cars aren't allowed on it), only miles and miles of boardwalks. And, the island is only accessible via a ferry boat. It's a schwanky vacation destination for those who are a) rich enough to own a summer beach house on the island, b) almost rich enough yet not yet and choose instead to buy a "summer share" out there, or c) have generous friends who enjoy your company. I am in the "C" category.

Anyways, when I was there, I overslept on the day I was to leave and almost missed my boat back to the mainland. Rushing frantically, I grabbed my duffle bag and left running for the boat. Making it at the last moment, I remember that I forgot my cds. Pulling out my cell phone, I called a couple of my friends who stayed behind at the house to say, "Could someone grab my cds and we'll meet up in the city later."

Well, later bacame one heck of a long time. As it happened, I finally got my cds back last night. And I am one happy fella. It's funny how you get used to familiar tunes- and I have been humming several of the songs I've been sorely missing. The one cd that I have missed the most is the 60's collection from the Turtle Creek Chorale. It is a fun assortment of some great folk music and happy music.

As a result of my temporary loss of music, I am contemplating the purchase of an iPod. I doubt I'd rush to a boat if I left it behind (I'd just take the next one in the harbor) and it seems like a great idea. But daaaaaaaaang, them iPods aren't cheap. Maybe I ought just buy a leash for my cd case and tie it around my neck. Sure, I'll look goofy but at least I won't forget my cds. And, if I am going to carry John Denver and Doris Day with me anyway, what does it really matter how goofy I am going to look?

Midtown New York City View

I went to a friend's birthday party yesterday and this is a view from his balcony overlooking midtown New York City. You can see the Empire State Building in the background on the left.
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Irrevocable Calling

Lately I've been talking with several guys who have been struggling ever so greatly with what they believe God would have them do--and more importantly, the fact that they haven't been doing what they think they should be doing in the first place.

I spoke with one of these guys a few Sundays ago and listened as he talked about what he always believed as God's call to ministry. Knodding in agreement with this man's struggle of discernment, I relayed the passage from Romans 11:29 that says, "The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable."

Sometimes it seems that God calls many of us to service and yet, so few respond right away. Perhaps the temptation to live beyond a meager salary is the cause. Perhaps the qualifications and lengthy education is another. Or, perhaps it is the negative social stigma attached to the clergy. And yet, there is another possibility that I relate to personally.

Sometimes a person can confuse God's call with a church's expectation. If that expectation is challenged, a person may then think that he or she misunderstood God's call to begin with. While I am a fervent supporter of the United Church of Christ and all its ministry--God called me to pastor first, it was only the church that confirmed that calling as well recognizing that my gifts for ministry is compatible with the United Church of Christ.

Discerning the inspiration of God is a challenging task that involves much prayer, wisdom, and faith. Often the faith that is required is also one that involves risk--jumping out when few believe you should. When I was rejected as a Southern Baptist minister for my fabulous sexual orientation, I thought my ministry was over--after all, wasn't the church's responsibility to confirm and discern what they believed God's call was for my life? Well, yes and no. Certainly the church confirms my gifts for ministry but it is up to me to discern God's call.

It took me a couple of years to feel confident that God's call upon me was irrevocable-- and it took me finding the United Church of Christ to realize a place in which I can serve. And yet, it was God who showed me the way all along. Answering God's call to service is the first step in understanding God's call, if only to say in prayer, "Okay God, I realize you want me to do something, now just show me what I should do and where I oughta go."

Once we answer the call, God directs our way into the ministry we oughta go. Perhaps you're in the wrong place to serve now? Well, if that is so, don't be surprised if you're pulled out of it-- especially if you say to God, "Show me where I oughta go."

As I talk with those struggling with their calling, a part of me remembers the joy (and struggle) about the faith that is needed in making such a drastic change. The faith they will need to respond to their call is huge because each one of these persons is not only over 40 years old but each one is also gay. In both cases, their willingness to revisit their calling and the faith they are employing is inspirational and exciting- at least, it is to me anyways.

All this just goes to show that what God begins, God completes in us.. even if and albeit long after we thought it was possible. I wonder if this belated acceptance to God's call is something akin to how Abraham and Sarah understood God's promise that they would have a child so late in life. I guess the moral to Abraham and Sarah, and those that I am talking with is that it's never too late in life to go about doing what God would have us do.

Can a fella actually read 'too much'?

I remember talking with a friend a few years ago shortly after he graduated from seminary. I had asked him what books he was currently reading and he responded matter-of-factly, "I don't read anymore. I read so much in seminary that if I look at one more book that is full of esoteric theology or some diatribe against Christian modernity, I am going to puke my guts out." Anyone who has survived seminary can attest to the insane amount of reading one has to endure- books written about books written critiquing the books about books.

While I sympathize with my friend, I am still a voracious reader. I enjoy reading books about so many different subjects- even at the same time. As you will notice, I have begun two new books. One is a light-hearted read recommended by my boyfriend (he loved it) and the other recommended by a very good friend. The two couldn't be more unlike the other.

I pretty much chunked the feng shui book I wrote about earlier. It was too silly to continue reading. I felt like Harry Potter having to sit through Sibyll Trelawney's Divination class at Hogwarts. Just as he felt she was off her rocker, so do I feel about all things feng shui.

I'll let you know how both books turn out. I've been reading them for about a day now. The book, The Men from the Boys, is turning out to be quite good. The story of the book is set in Provincetown and explains the life of three best friends, Lloyd, Jeff, and Javitz. I am at the point in the story where Jeff meets young Eduardo while Jeff's lover, Lloyd is away for the summer. It is funny and charming- and since my boyfriend is a bit like Eduardo, I can see why he recommended it to me (although I don't have a lover like Jeff has). Anyways, its a charming read so far.

The Cotton Patch book is a collection of sermons preached by Clarence Jordon. Jordon is the founder of Koinonia, a Christian commune near Americus, Georgia. Began in 1942, the commune is rather amazing in itself in that it is run like a farm but provides opportunities in which it helps create and build discipleship schools, builds houses and them sells them to poor families, and providing jobs for poor and rural families on the farm, in food processing, sewing, and craft industries.

Jordon, while running the farm was also an astute theologian and greek scholar. The book is a retelling of Jesus' parables in a modern context (or as modern as Jordon was, he died in the 1969). An African-American, he extrapolated the social justice and the plight of the disenfranchized from Jesus' parables and retells them in a very inspiring way. Even though the book is relatively short, I find myself reading only a chapter at a time- as I need time to assimilate his points and meditate on his wisdom. I'll let you know how this book turns out too.

You know, I just can't imagine thinking to myself that I have read enough books. There are so many out there- and so many from different genres that I doubt I'll have enough time in my paltry life to even stratch the literary surface. But heck, I am sure gonna try!

from my feng shui book...

"...if there is a big shower drain [in the wrong corner of your house], it may be undermining the support you need to prosper. To resolve this problem, tie a red ribbon or red tape around the outgoing pipe (see figure 29). If it is a shower or floor drain, either use a decorative drain stopper, or get red under the existing stopper (enamel paint sprayed in drain), or keep the drain closed when not in use... These little cures can make a big difference in the flow of ch'i in your home." -("Move your Stuff, Change your Life" by Karen Carter)

You just can't make up this stuff any better. Okay, so the feng shui book was a bad idea. Mostly, it breaks up your house into quadrants where you are to ensure that what you have in one quadrant compliments what you have in another one. All this, not meant as a decorative guide to your house, is like some sort of fortune telling way to help you achieve, health, wealth, and happiness.

The Bible says that there is a way which seems right to us but its end is the path of destruction. I doubt that feng shui is a path towards destruction- it does help a person think about ways in which to do something about their situation in life, and that is a good thing. The sad part is that it tells you to do things that don't really affect how life operates. A mirror in the corner of my apartment isn't going to affect how my friends treat me.. really!

It is similar to the popular notion of 'scapegoating'. When we blame others for our situation in life, we misplace what we really need to change. When we blame others for our own condition, we miss the opportunity to direct our energies toward the real solution. Of course, some people don't scapegoat on purpose, they really believe that allowing two women to marry in a county in upstate Washington really will cause them to stop loving their spouses and the spirituality of a nation will become bankrupt and God will allow America to be punished and terrorists will bomb our cities. But then, those people are probably the same ones who'd be inspired to read Move your Stuff, Change your Life: How to Use Feng Shui to get Love, Money, Respect, and Happiness. Both are misplaced. Both will never find the solution they're looking for. And both may create more problems than if they just sat down, prayed for discernment, and asked themselves, "What am I doing that is causing my life to be such a mess in the first place."

As for me, I am going to read a book I picked up in a sale rack awhile back, its called You'll Never Pay Full Price Again When You Learn How To...Shop Like A Coupon Queen by Michele Easter.

The Healing Touch of Christ

** Disclaimer: Religous joke ahead**


Three guys were fishing on a lake one day, when Jesus walked across the water and joined them in the boat.

When the three astonished men had settled down enough to speak, the first guy asked humbly, "Jesus, I've suffered from back pain ever since I took shrapnel inthe Viet Nam war. Could you help me?"

"Of course my son," Jesus said. When Jesus touched the man's back, the man felt relief for the first time in years.

The second man, who wore very thick glasses and had ahard time reading and driving, asked if Jesus could do anything about his eyesight. Jesus smiled, removed the man's glasses and tossed them in the lake. When the glasses hit the water, the man's eyes cleared and he could see everything distinctly.

When Jesus turned to heal the third man, the guy put his hands up and cried defensively, "Don't touch me! I'm on long-term disability!"

Neurotically persistent

Okay, so I know I can be neurotically persistent. I know this because I have had a few jobs in my life where I developed this trait to the highest level. I have worked in those tedious data-entry jobs where you are to type entries cataloging auction results, been a bookkeeper where tedious number entries and balancing took lots of time and patience, and typed out manuscripts based on taped conversations that take hours upon hours to complete.

I say this to point out my blogging woes this morning. From my home internet connection, I was unable to upload my blog entry about the Sermon on the Mount. I kept getting this, "failure to load" message. So, do you know what I did? I kept trying to load it. And load it. And load it. Each time, I got the same message. So, I continued. And continued. Finally, I stopped only because I needed to go into work.

So, I get to work and, having emailed the text of what I wanted to put in my blog, went to upload it from church. I get here, copy and paste the text and upload it to my blog. Checking my blog to make sure it was okay, I noticed 15 entries of the same entry (it seems I was successful uploading it at home after all). In any event, I had to go and delete all my entries and had the epiphany that I am still neurotically persistent, even as I approach my 39th birthday.

Some things never change I guess.. my only worry is that I'll become even worse. I can see myself as an old man, who, unable to open my can of "mush spam", slush prune juice, or super concentrated Metamucil, I'll stay up all night with a knife and hacksaw trying to open the can when I could've just used the new-fangled lazer can opener I mis-placed on the counter top.

[[shuddering at the thought of it all]]

A Wonderful Way to Look at Jesus

I found this interesting quote from Jordon Cooper, who is a pastor up in Canada. He was explaining how the Sermon on the Mount might be understood from a different perspective.

What if all of this [Christ's teaching in the Sermon] is not new and more stringent rules for us to observe but rather a picture of the way God is? Of course, we are forever getting confused into thinking the scripture is mainly about what we are supposed to dorather than a picture of who God is. If Jesus had put forth behavior like turning the other cheek when someone strikes you as a useful tactic for bringing out the best in other people, then Jesus could be justly accused of ethical naivete. But the basis for the ethics of Sermon on the Mount is not what works but rather the way God is. Cheek-turning, is not advocated as what works (itusually does not), but advocated because this is the way God is--God is kind tothe ungrateful and the selfish. This is not a stratagem for getting what we want but the only manner of life available, now that, in Jesus, we have seen what God wants. We seek reconciliation with the neighbor, not because we will feel so much better afterward, but because reconciliation is what God is doing in the world in the Christ.

Thinking about the impact of God's mercy is astounding to me. It is the mercy of God that continues to affect how God relates to you and I. In God's mercy, we find that God continually forgives, atones, makes right, pour out the Spirit- for each of us. Regardless if we're able to live up to the standard or not, God loves us anyway. And the Sermon on the Mount points us to other ways in which God relates to us- in the way Jesus tells us we ought to live.

Another way in which we can look into the mind and behavior of God is to look at the life of Jesus. Look at how he related to his friends, the strangers surrounding him, or in response to his critics, Jesus' always had a word of compassion or an insight into the mind of his oppressor (sometimes with a funny zinger included). Both Jesus' life and the words he spoke give us direct access into the mind and motivation of God. Is that special or what?

Figurines on my Desk

This is the Buddy Christ, from the movie Dogma. My brother, who knows how much I love the movie, gave me this figurine as a gift. I keep it on my desk at the church- just about everyone asks me, "What the heck is that all about?!"

This should come as no surprise...

You'll notice a couple of new books on my recommended reading list (on the right side of the screen). One of those books is about appreciating grace- a book I've read once but am reading again. It is amazing. The other book is about something so very different- it is about using feng shui to better organize my way of life. I have a couple of friends who are very big into feng shui. Part of me thinks its all a bunch of crap- but then, I am quite the clutter-dog, so maybe I oughta look more into it.

So, by looking into it, I went to a bookstore and bought the book with the coolest looking book cover. I'd've chosen something else but there were so many selections and choices. Admittedly, choosing the book by its bookcover goes against all preconceived logic (remember the addage, "Never judge a book by its cover")- and yet, how the heck am I supposed to make a decision when Barnes and Nobles has 852 other books about it? Okay, so shallowness aside, I got the book I now have. It is officially called, Move your Stuff, Change your Life: How to Use Feng Shui to get Love, Money, Respect, and Happiness by Karen Rauch Carter. Another reason I chose this book is that not only does it promise my room will be less cluttered but that I might also get some money in the process. How cool is that?! I'll let you know if the book is crappy or helpful.

It's been a busy week

I love being productive- its something I was ingrained with as a boy. However, part of that ingraining process included some interesting twists. For instance, my mother used to say (about my bedroom), "a cluttered bedroom is a cluttered mind." Given how my brain has always seemed to be cluttered with something, I reasoned that I couldn't ever do anything productive unless my bedroom was clean. Now, in my adulthood, I can't seem to do anything unless my whole apartment is tidy and clean.

So.. you'd think my apartment was extra clean- the thing is, it isn't. It's tidy for sure but not super-duper clean. So, whenever I have projects to do for church or sermons to write, I have to stop periodically and clean. So, I clean a little, and write a little. And this goes on all night. Part of me is thinking, if I got a maid, then I'd get more work done. But then, how would I know if my mind is cluttered if someone else does the cleaning in my apartment? Hmmm...

Anyways, I have had a busy week. I preached yesterday morning up at my former church in Scarsdale, NY. It was a great time and I loved seeing all my old friends there. Following the service, I came home, changed clothes (can you believe the church is Scarsdale doesn't have air conditioning?- my shirt and suit was drenched in sweat). I went back to my church (our services are at 5pm) and preached the same sermon I preached at Scarsdale (with only minor situational changes). Several people commented that they enjoyed how I interpreted the text based on the lectionary reading; they appreciated how I gave them something to really 'chew on'. Other folks enjoyed the references to the Broadway musical Rent that I used in the sermon. Click here to read the sermon. Following the service, we had communion (which is my favorite church liturgical experience). And, get this: we had a ton of visitors. And, we even had a few who came back! I love it when that happens.

On Saturday, I took folks from church up to our cabin at Lake Herriman State Park for a day of R & R. It was a nice trip and I had fun rowing across the lake as well as sleeping and catching up on a book I'd been reading.

This week will be somewhat busy but not as hectic as last week. I am sure I'll get all caught up in no time.

Oh, and I finally finished the book Dry, by Augusten Burroughs. Wow!! It was a great read. The book is a sequel to Burrough's Running with Scizzors. It is about his life as an adult and details his struggle with alcoholism. The book is funny and poignant. I'd definately recommend it- but first, read Running with Scizzors. That way, you'll understand the chronology better.

I'll write more this week- sorry for the absence of stuff last week.

What is Church to you?

I am reading this interesting, if not a bit "over the top" article at Bruderhof about a post-modern poetic waxing about what "true Church" is supposed to be. The article takes the noun of church and looks at it like a verb. Look at this point-

"Church is not about what gets proclaimed by a preacher or taught by an instructor. It’s not just songs, sacraments and ceremonies. The church is what gets lived out in daily life by a people who bind themselves together to live for God’s kingdom of unity, justice and peace."

It is hard to argue with this and its very thoughtful, however, much of the article is about why the modern church sucks though- and that is a shame (as well as being a bit judgmental- the author assumes his experiences of church are what everyone else experiences). I am a bit of a church-nerd. I love going to church as well as living as the church- I also love my experience with God as inspired through the Holy Spirit telling others about the life-changing experience of following Jesus.

My church life is about an inclusive love that allows as many people to come to the table of the Spirit as possible- where I serve, we'd rather 'err on the side of inclusion, than err on the side of exclusion' and we have a whole lot of Christians who weren't allowed to fellowship, worship, or practice their faith in the communities of faith they were raised in. We are a cornacopia of wackiness: social workers, teachers, intellectuals, spiritual humanists, doubters, lovers, burnt out but still aflame, hopeful yet realistic- in our church, we show our warts as well as live out our faith. We also have those kind of people that others tend to "roll their eyes" to when talking with a person that challenges their notions of sanity, optimism, or weirdness. It is a wonderful place for sure- but I doubt that every visitor would feel comfortable (although everyone is welcomed). We also tend to attract the kind of people like the author of this article- they come hating church but being invited by a friend, they thought they'd give it "one more shot". And in our congregation- they find a new "church" home.

I love the church where I am called to serve- both as a noun and a verb. It is one heck of a place!

One heck of an interesting fella

His name is Bill Conklin, a member of the congregation in which I serve. He lives up in Washington, DC but for a long time was an active-participant in my parish. An architect by trade, he is also a textile expert who examined and wrote about the finding of Juanita, the mumified remains of a child offered as a sacrifice in the Inca religion. He is also one of the collaborators of the Society of Religion, Arts and Contemporary Culture. The SRACC identifies itself this way,

"The Society's purpose and program are based on the belief that the roles of the arts and religion are decisive. They reflect the struggle to conserve and to recover depth and wholeness, to reaffirm personal responsibility in the face of dehumanization, to define the ground for human freedom and creativity in a culture which tends increasingly to impose impersonal tyrannies over mind and spirit. Religion in isolation from the arts is starved of concrete embodiment of its insights into the fullness of human life. Art gives religion the eyes to see ourselves in all our dimensions, the ears to hear the voice of our inner lives and the instruments with which to communicate with each other."

Okay, so Bill and I had lunch today over at The Mill, a great Korean restaurant on the Upper West side of Manhattan. Afterwards, we went out for coffee at a nearby Starbucks. Seeing how we really didn't know each other, we afforded ourselves with the time to get acquainted. During our conversation, we spoke about faith, religion, and the need to interpret and understand how it is we go about understanding God. I shared with him my moderate views (although some who read this blog may think I am just a big ol' liberal) about God and our relationship with one another (regardless of faith journeys). It was a fun time and Bill volunteered to get me information about the SRACC and Cross Currents, the magazine that highlights the scholarly work of those across religious lines.

I am pretty psyched about meeting Bill and feel blessed to have made his acquaintance. Who knew he'd be someone I could "name-drop" about. ;)

The Risks of Friendships

Okay, so I was having a late dinner the other night with another ministerial friend.  We had gone to witness and participate in an Ecclesastical Council of an ordination candidate in my care.  At the council, we reviewed her faith journey, her doctrine, and how she 'goes about doing ministry.'  After she presented and defended herself, she left the room and we talked about her (in a good way) and voted unanimously (did I spell that right?) to approve her for ordination.  She is one heck of a great lady who brings such a real and honest presentation to those with whom she ministers- she's gonna be a blessing to many in her ministry.

Anyways.. afterwards, me and my friend went out for dinner.  Sitting down to talk, we shared and laughed, and he gave me some great ministerial advice.  And I told my friend about my own fears and challenges about my life in ministry (and my future ministry, wherever that might eventually be).  And I was worried that I told my friend too much information.  But then, on my way home from dinner, I was feeling thankful for my friendship with my ministerial collegue. .  and that got me to thinking about the nature of friendships.  As adults, esp those of us who are clergy, tend to not have as many 'close friends' as we did when we were younger.  We tend to be more guarded and reveal less and less about ourselves, lest someone else be tempted with that greatest of all clergy-related sins, the sin of gossip.  We, the clergy, tend to put up with invisible wall and treat those around us with suspicion when it comes to knowing about our intimate lives.

I have been exploring my own sense of boundaries.  Being the good Oklahoma guy that I am, I tend to talk alot- and, if you stick around long enough, I've been one of those guys that'll eventually tell you what you want to know.. as I eventually get to it after talking and talking.  Having been burnt several times this last year, I've actually been talking a bit less- or at least, cutting myself off before I talk 'too much'. 

And yet.. those tried and true friendships we have with our peers and collegues involves a risk- that risk is about self-revelation and honesty.  It is about having someone you can share your crap with and still feel accepted.   And in that sharing, we find a connection that helps us realize we're all in this life together- and its those friendships that empower us.

I say all this only to point out that 'real friendships' are important to our well-being and those real friendships can only happen if we're honest and open.  Sure, we need to choose our friends wisely- oh mah gawd!  we need to be VERY wise- however, once we find someone we can trust, we really gotta take those risks of self-revelation.  It is in these risks that deep friendships are formed and our own personal lives are sustained.

 

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Cool balloon, eh?
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Today's the Day

Well, the day is here.. today is the last day of my pastor's employment at Broadway Church. She has taken another church just north of the city and today our church will celebrate her 20-year ministry. The Rev. Dr. Bonnie Rosborough has been a stalwart pastor who has been guiding the church is amazing ways. She has touched so many lives, mentoring so many future pastors, and nurturing so many disenfranchized men and women into the faith of God. She has got to be one of the most amazing people I've ever known- and to think that she's been teaching and mentoring me is both an honor and a joy. I am sooooooooooo going to miss her.

Starting on Monday, I'll be the acting-pastor once again. I filled this role a few years back when Bonnie went on her 9-month sabbatical. I've been well prepared for this particular function and am not worried. Our congregation has been well prepared too as well as preparing themselves for the changes we're going to face. Presently we're searching for an interim-pastor who'll help get us on track before we begin our search for a new senior pastor.

It's going to be a very interesting and adventurous time for a while. Please pray for us (and me) as we navigate these waters trusting in both God and one another to stay the course.

Indiana Woman Killed in Mistaken Rapture

By KIMBERLY HEFLING,
Associated Press Writer  
FREDERICKSBURG, Ind.
May 28, 2004 
 
A Blue River woman was killed yesterday after leaping through her moving car's sunroof during an incident best described as a "mistaken rapture" by dozens of eyewitnesses.
 
Thirteen other people were injured after a twenty-car pile-up resulted from people trying to avoid hitting the woman, who was apparently convinced that the rapture was occurring when she saw twelve people floating up into the air, and then passed a man on the side of the road who she believed was Jesus.  
 
"She started screaming ‘He’s back! He’s back!’ and climbed out through the sunroof and jumped off the roof of the car," said Everett Williams, husband of 28-year-old Georgann Williams, who was pronounced dead at the scene.  "I was slowing down but she wouldn't wait till I stopped," Williams said. She thought the rapture was happening and was convinced that Jesus was going to lift her up into the sky," he went on to say.
 
"This is the strangest thing I've seen since I've been on the force," said Paul Madison, first officer on the scene. Madison questioned the man, who looked like Jesus, and discovered that he was on his way to a toga costume party, when the tarp covering the bed of his pickup truck came loose and released twelve blow-up sex dolls filled with helium, which then floated up into the sky.
 
Ernie Jenkins, 32, of Fort Smith, who's been told by several of his friends that he looks like Jesus, pulled over and lifted his arms into the air in frustration and said "Come back," just as the Williams' car passed him, and Mrs. Williams was sure that it was Jesus lifting people up into heaven as they drove by him. "I think my wife loved Jesus more than she loved me," the widower said when asked why his wife would do such a thing.  When asked for comments about the twelve sex dolls, Jenkins replied, "This is all just too weird for me. I never expected anything like this to happen."

The Eight, by Katherine Neville

Holy Cow! The Eight, a book written by Katherin Neville was one heck of a fun and wonderful read (heck, even my mom liked it!). Its about a woman who is brought into a deadly game in search of the Montglane Chess Service, the mystical chess board given to Constantine by the Moors. She intwines history and historical figures around this 1000 year old chess board and its mystical pieces as it contains hidden in its pieces, a secret formula to rule the world.

The Book has its slow periods but all in all, once you pick it up, it'll be hard to put down. If you plan to read it or have already done so, please comment on it here. It'd be nice to hear what others think of this book.

Friends finding their own way

I have been talking with this really great friend of mine who is exploring his faith in a different way. As he continues on his faith journey, he is looking for expressions that meet his needs as well as answering a few of the questions that his former faith tradition either ignores, pretends doesn't exist, or is flatly hypocritical about- and he's sick of it (and for good reason).

As I look back over my spiritual "coming of age", I traveled a road that was bumpy, veering all over the road, and sometimes not on any recognizable map. I have worshipped with Baptists, Methodists, and charasmatics, participated in a deliverance ministry (casting out demons from people), I've worshipped in demonstratedly protestant churches (where you have no idea what the main message was), and ranted and supped with the best Calvinists rallying the Five Points of Calvinism (the doctrines of predestination). And then, later in life when I plunged into great despair that resulted in my spiritual life spiraling out of control, I spent many a day dazed and confused over this thing we call religion (seeing how I had such varied doses of it). With much prayer and support, I recovered from my spiritual disarray and found a spiritual home where my faith thrives and explores- it has the freedom to experience God in new ways as well as discovering God in surprising and unexpected times.

It is both through my own experiences and how I interpret the working of the Spirit that have shaped my wrestling with religion and faith- I, whether this is a good thing or not, have come to terms that my faith is separate from my religion. It should come as no surprise then when reading my posts, you may find a rant or two about the evils of religion (or, those beliefs one must adhere to in order to be 'considered a christian' by those who invent or interpret the rules). Honestly, religion can have its place, and its best place is helping people understand the work of God- its worst place, is when it only permits participation in ways its leaders deem appropriate.

Anyways, all that aside, my friend is exploring faith as it is interpreted by others who are exploring what religion means to them. He is also digging deeper into his own spirituality to find its meat. He is on an interesting faith journey, one that will turn out all right- and his journey will be filled with analysis, self-inspection, much discernment and a spirit-led pursuit. Pray for him that he might find the journey that blesses his soul- and that wherever he goes, God will precede him on his journey (making the way smoother and enlightening as he goes).

After all, it is God's promise to us that what God has begun in us, God will complete- regardless of where our journeys take us.