The weather of late has been phenomenal. July in the midwest is supposed to be sweltering, humid, uncomfortable at best - something with which to contend and put up with. However, we've been enjoying 70 degree days and pleasantly cool 60 degree evenings these last few days.
Such weather demands praise and respect. It should be expected that one not neglect such grace, or that you do so at your own risk. A sacrificial offering of a walk in the park, perhaps, or along a stream or by the riverside, lost in the loving shade of a grove of trees.
Donna and I worshiped at the park on Sunday. Hallelujah, what a glorious green day! The rabbits were all out, enjoying the day and refused to believe any harm could come their way, allowing me to approach within just a few feet of them before they scampered away.
The bird sanctuary was alive with song and praise and the trees all waved their branches with ecstatic whispered shouts.
My one complaint is that this was an urban park and I could still hear the sound of the Devil Automobeel. That constant growl and hiss is a cancer to my soul, scraping at my insides like an angry rust determined to eat me alive.
"Satan, get thee behind me!"
Nonetheless, Donna and I were able to enjoy the rhapsody of Creation on a short walk through Eden.
Enjoy cool summer days without fail, without delay. Such gifts are short-lived and soon-forgotten. The glory found is life-giving and certain to lead to resurrection for those with eyes to see and ears to hear.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
The Preservationist
I just finished reading a compelling novel by David Maine called, The Preservationist. It's a first novel for Maine and he has done a magnificent job in retelling the Noah story, filling in a lot of the dirty details that the job of building and filling an ark would entail. HOW does one get all those animals there? How does one keep the lions from eating the gazelles?
What's life like aboard a big floating zoo for months on end? How does it feel to see the world destroyed?
Little answers, big answers, sometimes no answers, as in real life.
The thing that mostly makes the book so well done, I think, is how Maine brings the characters to life. Maine uses an old 16th century Bible for quotes and for spellings, so the names aren't always the traditional spellings we're used to. We meet crusty old Noe, The Wife (all the name she's given), the Boys (Sem, Cham and Japheth) and their wonderful wives (Bera, Ilya and Mirn).
First of all, I should note that this is not traditional Children's Sunday School literature. Primarily because of the sometimes vivid descriptions of mating happening between the adults (vivid, not erotic or pornographic). And, at first, I found it a bit disgusting as the author described in fairly honest terms a patriarchal world, where women/girls are bought, sold, traded and handed off as chattel to be bedded down. It describes the world much as it likely was, in that regards. An unpleasant thought.
But the redemption (at least in this area) is how marvelously strong and smart these women are. They are the scientists, the reasonable ones, the deep, seasoned thinkers. They just have to be careful about letting on that they're smarter than their husbands!
Near the end, Noe's wife is talking with him. Noe - who used to commune with God and hear God's voice, setting him apart as special - no longer hears God's voice after they have completed their journey.
"Oh husband. The test doesn't end when the flood does. It's only the start." (Noe's wife speaking)
"Without Yahweh whispering in your ear you're no more nor less than anybody else. No special assurance that you're blessed or that God gives a rat's ass what happens to you."
Noe stares at the dirt floor. Such thoughts had crossed his mind, in slightly more refined terms...
Humorous, irreverent, delightful discussions such as this are what makes this book so fantastic and bright. As noted, Maine draws the women in incredibly powerful terms in quite a few lines (the dialog tends to be brief snatches of conversation).
The chapters are each written from different character's points of view, which is slightly unbalancing, but offers a nicely rounded view of the characters and situation. In one of Ilya's chapters, she ponders about the various types of rocks (she looks at things with a scientist's eye)...
Another mystery. I sighed - another explanation, I was certain, waiting only to be chanced upon. Like the meanings of the constellations, or the secret of how birds fly. Did Yahweh pepper the world with conundrums such has these for His own amusement, I wondered, or did He do it as a challenge to us?
Each character is unique and appealing in their own way, yet with all too human flaws. Serious Sem, the firstborn, who strives to be like Noah. Strong and opinionated Cham, who is a hard worker and a loving husband, but has a mean streak. Silly Japheth, the youngest who still acts the little boy to his wife, Mirn's little girl (wise beyond what anyone recognizes). Glorious human characters in which I was quickly and richly invested.
As long as you don't mind your biblical stories told with humor and irreverence, I highly recommend The Preservationist (even, or perhaps especially, if you're not normally the type to read Bible stories...)
What's life like aboard a big floating zoo for months on end? How does it feel to see the world destroyed?
Little answers, big answers, sometimes no answers, as in real life.
The thing that mostly makes the book so well done, I think, is how Maine brings the characters to life. Maine uses an old 16th century Bible for quotes and for spellings, so the names aren't always the traditional spellings we're used to. We meet crusty old Noe, The Wife (all the name she's given), the Boys (Sem, Cham and Japheth) and their wonderful wives (Bera, Ilya and Mirn).
First of all, I should note that this is not traditional Children's Sunday School literature. Primarily because of the sometimes vivid descriptions of mating happening between the adults (vivid, not erotic or pornographic). And, at first, I found it a bit disgusting as the author described in fairly honest terms a patriarchal world, where women/girls are bought, sold, traded and handed off as chattel to be bedded down. It describes the world much as it likely was, in that regards. An unpleasant thought.
But the redemption (at least in this area) is how marvelously strong and smart these women are. They are the scientists, the reasonable ones, the deep, seasoned thinkers. They just have to be careful about letting on that they're smarter than their husbands!
Near the end, Noe's wife is talking with him. Noe - who used to commune with God and hear God's voice, setting him apart as special - no longer hears God's voice after they have completed their journey.
"Oh husband. The test doesn't end when the flood does. It's only the start." (Noe's wife speaking)
"Without Yahweh whispering in your ear you're no more nor less than anybody else. No special assurance that you're blessed or that God gives a rat's ass what happens to you."
Noe stares at the dirt floor. Such thoughts had crossed his mind, in slightly more refined terms...
Humorous, irreverent, delightful discussions such as this are what makes this book so fantastic and bright. As noted, Maine draws the women in incredibly powerful terms in quite a few lines (the dialog tends to be brief snatches of conversation).
The chapters are each written from different character's points of view, which is slightly unbalancing, but offers a nicely rounded view of the characters and situation. In one of Ilya's chapters, she ponders about the various types of rocks (she looks at things with a scientist's eye)...
Another mystery. I sighed - another explanation, I was certain, waiting only to be chanced upon. Like the meanings of the constellations, or the secret of how birds fly. Did Yahweh pepper the world with conundrums such has these for His own amusement, I wondered, or did He do it as a challenge to us?
Each character is unique and appealing in their own way, yet with all too human flaws. Serious Sem, the firstborn, who strives to be like Noah. Strong and opinionated Cham, who is a hard worker and a loving husband, but has a mean streak. Silly Japheth, the youngest who still acts the little boy to his wife, Mirn's little girl (wise beyond what anyone recognizes). Glorious human characters in which I was quickly and richly invested.
As long as you don't mind your biblical stories told with humor and irreverence, I highly recommend The Preservationist (even, or perhaps especially, if you're not normally the type to read Bible stories...)
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
A Parable...
I posted this as a response at another blog and thought I'd bring it over here for consideration...
There were two fellas arguing one day over Aesop's Fables.
"Is!" shouted one.
"Isn't!" shouted the other.
A third fella happened along. "What are you arguing about?" he asked.
"Bob here thinks that Aesop's fables have factually incorrect information in them! Can you imagine!"
"Yes, what of it? Ralph here thinks that grasshopper and ants actually talk, like they did in Aesop's story! How ridiculous!"
On and on they argued. Ralph insisting that the facts in Aesop's stories are literally and factually true, while Bob rejecting such a scientifically implausible proposition.
"Tell me," said the third fella, "What is the point of the Ant and the Grasshopper story?"
"To save," said Ralph.
"To work hard," said Bob.
"To be prudent and wise," they both said together!
"So," the third fella asked, "what sort of stories ARE Aesop's Fables?"
"Stories of Wisdom," they answered.
"Does it matter to the Truth of the story, Ralph, whether the ant and grasshopper actually talked?" he asked.
"Yes!" Ralph insisted. At first. "Well, not to the larger Truths, no, but if the facts aren't right, how do we know the Truths are right??"
"Bob, if the ant and grasshopper DID talk, would that impact the Truth of the story?"
"Well, no," said Bob. "But it would defy the laws of science as we know them!"
"Wouldn't it be wiser, then, to consider the Fables to be stories of Truth, regardless of facts? In fact, isn't arguing about the little facts causing you to miss altogether the WHOLE POINT of the stories?"
======
Or, looking at it another way: We generally recognize that some of the books of the bible are poetry, some are proverbs, some tell history stories. And we further recognize that each type of book and story needs to be interpreted just a bit differently (maybe a lot differently), right?
Well, is it not true that the Bible as a whole is a book of Wisdom? It was not written as a science book to be read with an eye to empirical evidence so much, right? It was not written as a history book with a detailed eye on dates and names, yes?
It is a Wisdom Book, a Book of Truths. The reality that the world was NOT created in six days in no way diminishes the Truth of God's creation of the world, unless we allow it to diminish it for ourselves.
There were two fellas arguing one day over Aesop's Fables.
"Is!" shouted one.
"Isn't!" shouted the other.
A third fella happened along. "What are you arguing about?" he asked.
"Bob here thinks that Aesop's fables have factually incorrect information in them! Can you imagine!"
"Yes, what of it? Ralph here thinks that grasshopper and ants actually talk, like they did in Aesop's story! How ridiculous!"
On and on they argued. Ralph insisting that the facts in Aesop's stories are literally and factually true, while Bob rejecting such a scientifically implausible proposition.
"Tell me," said the third fella, "What is the point of the Ant and the Grasshopper story?"
"To save," said Ralph.
"To work hard," said Bob.
"To be prudent and wise," they both said together!
"So," the third fella asked, "what sort of stories ARE Aesop's Fables?"
"Stories of Wisdom," they answered.
"Does it matter to the Truth of the story, Ralph, whether the ant and grasshopper actually talked?" he asked.
"Yes!" Ralph insisted. At first. "Well, not to the larger Truths, no, but if the facts aren't right, how do we know the Truths are right??"
"Bob, if the ant and grasshopper DID talk, would that impact the Truth of the story?"
"Well, no," said Bob. "But it would defy the laws of science as we know them!"
"Wouldn't it be wiser, then, to consider the Fables to be stories of Truth, regardless of facts? In fact, isn't arguing about the little facts causing you to miss altogether the WHOLE POINT of the stories?"
======
Or, looking at it another way: We generally recognize that some of the books of the bible are poetry, some are proverbs, some tell history stories. And we further recognize that each type of book and story needs to be interpreted just a bit differently (maybe a lot differently), right?
Well, is it not true that the Bible as a whole is a book of Wisdom? It was not written as a science book to be read with an eye to empirical evidence so much, right? It was not written as a history book with a detailed eye on dates and names, yes?
It is a Wisdom Book, a Book of Truths. The reality that the world was NOT created in six days in no way diminishes the Truth of God's creation of the world, unless we allow it to diminish it for ourselves.
Monday, July 6, 2009
Open Season...
Okay, forgive me for this, but no new SNL this weekend, no Stewart or Colbert, yet. So tell me: What's your funniest Sarah Palin crack?
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The Dance...
We're fools whether we dance or not, so we might as well dance.
~Japanese Proverb
On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.
~George Gordon, Lord Byron
Do it in a circle or do it in a square
Do it in a tux or in your underwear
Nobody's watchin, nobody cares
Just get out there and dance
Do it with your feet, do it with your hands
Do it to a record, or do it to a band
What part of boogie don't you understand
Get out there and dance
~Tim O'Brien
~Japanese Proverb
On with the dance! let joy be unconfined;
No sleep till morn, when Youth and Pleasure meet
To chase the glowing hours with flying feet.
~George Gordon, Lord Byron
Do it in a circle or do it in a square
Do it in a tux or in your underwear
Nobody's watchin, nobody cares
Just get out there and dance
Do it with your feet, do it with your hands
Do it to a record, or do it to a band
What part of boogie don't you understand
Get out there and dance
~Tim O'Brien
Jordan at Bad Branch Falls
We sat on the bank and the river went by. As always, it was making sounds to itself, and now it made sounds to us.
It would be hard to find three men sitting side by side who knew better what a river was saying...
The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters...
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
~Norman Maclean (from A River Runs Through It)
On our vacation, Jordan and I had the chance to hike over to Bad Branch Falls, just the two of us, and it was a very good day.
It would be hard to find three men sitting side by side who knew better what a river was saying...
The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters...
Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it.
~Norman Maclean (from A River Runs Through It)
On our vacation, Jordan and I had the chance to hike over to Bad Branch Falls, just the two of us, and it was a very good day.
Red Mountain Flower
"It's beautiful the Summer month of June
When all of God's own wildflowers are in bloom
And sun shines brightly most part of the day
And butterflies o'er lush green meadows play.
Light hearted skylark songster of the wing
High o'er the quiet and lonely moorland sing
Above her nest cloaked by the tangled heath
Her charming song so exquisitely sweet.
So mellow the gentle breath of june day breeze
The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees
And dappled trout in pool bed of the stream
Bask in the sun their spotted skins agleam."
~Francis Duggan, June
When all of God's own wildflowers are in bloom
And sun shines brightly most part of the day
And butterflies o'er lush green meadows play.
Light hearted skylark songster of the wing
High o'er the quiet and lonely moorland sing
Above her nest cloaked by the tangled heath
Her charming song so exquisitely sweet.
So mellow the gentle breath of june day breeze
The birds rejoicing on the leafy trees
And dappled trout in pool bed of the stream
Bask in the sun their spotted skins agleam."
~Francis Duggan, June
Saturday, June 20, 2009
In the "News..."
The funny guys over at Wing Nut Daily have a "news story" that is making the rounds amongst some of the more gullible/paranoid on the Right-ish side of things. The "story" is...
A Louisiana driver was stopped and detained for having a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker on his vehicle and warned by a police officer about the "subversive" message it sent, according to the driver's relative.
The situation developed in the small town of Ball, La., where a receptionist at the police department told WND she knew nothing about the traffic stop, during which the "suspect" was investigated for "extremist" activities, the relative said.
Of course, WND (which really stands for "Whirled News Daily" but is only nominally a "news" organization - they are to "News" what the 'KKK' is to "Civic Organizations"), is suggesting and reporting that this Normal Law-Abiding Driver who happens to have a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker was a victim of profiling - suggesting he was pulled over because he fit the profile of a Right Wing Extremist.
And, of course, there is probably very little in terms of "Reality" attached to the story. If you're unfamiliar with them, WND - in my experience - tends to have SOME nugget of an actual story in their stories, but then they twist it and otherwise make up stuff.
In this case, there is probably a real driver who probably had this bumper sticker and he probably got pulled over, but that's probably the end of any actual reality in the story, at least "according to A Relative...". I don't know for sure since it wasn't reported by any other (real) news organization - although it's all over the interwebs, but mostly in the form of Right Wing blogs foaming at the mouth.
The upside of this is that perhaps some on the Right will begin to come out against profiling, now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Even though it is most likely an imaginary shoe.
A Louisiana driver was stopped and detained for having a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker on his vehicle and warned by a police officer about the "subversive" message it sent, according to the driver's relative.
The situation developed in the small town of Ball, La., where a receptionist at the police department told WND she knew nothing about the traffic stop, during which the "suspect" was investigated for "extremist" activities, the relative said.
Of course, WND (which really stands for "Whirled News Daily" but is only nominally a "news" organization - they are to "News" what the 'KKK' is to "Civic Organizations"), is suggesting and reporting that this Normal Law-Abiding Driver who happens to have a "Don't Tread on Me" bumper sticker was a victim of profiling - suggesting he was pulled over because he fit the profile of a Right Wing Extremist.
And, of course, there is probably very little in terms of "Reality" attached to the story. If you're unfamiliar with them, WND - in my experience - tends to have SOME nugget of an actual story in their stories, but then they twist it and otherwise make up stuff.
In this case, there is probably a real driver who probably had this bumper sticker and he probably got pulled over, but that's probably the end of any actual reality in the story, at least "according to A Relative...". I don't know for sure since it wasn't reported by any other (real) news organization - although it's all over the interwebs, but mostly in the form of Right Wing blogs foaming at the mouth.
The upside of this is that perhaps some on the Right will begin to come out against profiling, now that the shoe is on the other foot.
Even though it is most likely an imaginary shoe.
Friday, June 19, 2009
The Words
I just ran across a very interesting online project. It's called The Words: Jesus of Nazareth and takes the "red letter" Bible concept one step further. It's just the words of Jesus from the Bible.
You can see it at thewords.com
Beyond that, the editor of the book/website has placed Jesus' words in a topical arrangement, rather than in their order of appearance in the Bible.
Chapters include...
The Problem of Religion
The Light
The Living Word
Treasures in Heaven
Patience, Mercy, Forgiveness
Among others. All told, there are 32 chapters, all available to read online or purchased as a book.
While I certainly love the context offered within the pages of the Bible for Jesus' words, what a cool way of presenting Jesus' teachings! It appears this fella has offered his own paraphrase of the text, for what it's worth.
Does anyone know anything about this project and have an opinion on it?
You can see it at thewords.com
Beyond that, the editor of the book/website has placed Jesus' words in a topical arrangement, rather than in their order of appearance in the Bible.
Chapters include...
The Problem of Religion
The Light
The Living Word
Treasures in Heaven
Patience, Mercy, Forgiveness
Among others. All told, there are 32 chapters, all available to read online or purchased as a book.
While I certainly love the context offered within the pages of the Bible for Jesus' words, what a cool way of presenting Jesus' teachings! It appears this fella has offered his own paraphrase of the text, for what it's worth.
Does anyone know anything about this project and have an opinion on it?
Big Days
Sorry for the sparse posting of late. We've had a lot going on.
My beloved son is now a high school graduate, soon to be college bound! Woo Hoo!! I'm so very proud of him, he is such a wonderful, smart, groovy young man.
My beloved wife and I just celebrated our 24th anniversary! And, believe it or not (Donna, are you reading htis?), the 24th anniversary is the Musical Instrument anniversary! Woo Hoo! (You know, like the 25th is the Silver Anniversary and the 50th is the Golden Anniversary...?)
How cool is that? I'd MUCH rather have a Musical Instrument anniversary than a Silver one - what can you do with silver? Ya sure can't play it or sing along with it (with apologies to Yukon Cornelius).
(And along those lines of anniversaries, according to Wikipedia, the 50th is Gold, the 55th is Emerald, the 60th is Diamond (DANG! No wonder people don't stay married - who could afford this crap?), the 70th is Titanium (titanium? Really?) and then, if you make it ALL the way up to your 80th anniversary (it skips 75th!), do you know what that year is? Oak.
Oak?
Anyway, we celebrated Jordan's graduation and our anniversary by taking a vacation to the ocean, near Assateague Island (where wild ponies roam free and the deer and the antelope play, except for the antelope part...). All of that to say, I've been busy and am still busy.
Happy anniversary, sweetheart.
Congratulations, Jordan.
Love you, Sarah.
=======
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you.
~Desmond Tutu
It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are.
~Wendell Berry
And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our feet, and learn to be at home.
~Wendell Berry
My beloved son is now a high school graduate, soon to be college bound! Woo Hoo!! I'm so very proud of him, he is such a wonderful, smart, groovy young man.
My beloved wife and I just celebrated our 24th anniversary! And, believe it or not (Donna, are you reading htis?), the 24th anniversary is the Musical Instrument anniversary! Woo Hoo! (You know, like the 25th is the Silver Anniversary and the 50th is the Golden Anniversary...?)
How cool is that? I'd MUCH rather have a Musical Instrument anniversary than a Silver one - what can you do with silver? Ya sure can't play it or sing along with it (with apologies to Yukon Cornelius).
(And along those lines of anniversaries, according to Wikipedia, the 50th is Gold, the 55th is Emerald, the 60th is Diamond (DANG! No wonder people don't stay married - who could afford this crap?), the 70th is Titanium (titanium? Really?) and then, if you make it ALL the way up to your 80th anniversary (it skips 75th!), do you know what that year is? Oak.
Oak?
Anyway, we celebrated Jordan's graduation and our anniversary by taking a vacation to the ocean, near Assateague Island (where wild ponies roam free and the deer and the antelope play, except for the antelope part...). All of that to say, I've been busy and am still busy.
Happy anniversary, sweetheart.
Congratulations, Jordan.
Love you, Sarah.
=======
You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you.
~Desmond Tutu
It is not from ourselves that we learn to be better than we are.
~Wendell Berry
And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles, no matter how long, but only by a spiritual journey, a journey of one inch, very arduous and humbling and joyful, by which we arrive at the ground at our feet, and learn to be at home.
~Wendell Berry
Sunday, June 7, 2009
The Bible and Economics
Sorry, I've been a bit busy lately. Here is another entry in my ongoing collection of Bible passages dealing with economic matters. For the complete listing thus far, you can click on the "Bible and Economics" listing below on the left.
From Hebrews 13...
Let love of the community of believers continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for God has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you…”
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited…
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
~Hebrews 13: 1-5; 9; 16
From Hebrews 13...
Let love of the community of believers continue.
Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.
Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.
Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.
Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for God has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you…”
Do not be carried away by varied and strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by foods, through which those who were so occupied were not benefited…
And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
~Hebrews 13: 1-5; 9; 16
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)