When I was in Middle School, I was a big Monty Python’s Flying Circus watcher.  Every Sunday night, it would air on PBS and I had my dose of (now) classic British humor. 

On one epsiode, the guys did a skit called “The Show So Far”.  Here, one of the guys did a recap of the evening’s show.  Even after 30 years, that skit still stuck with me.   So I figure that would be my title as I pass the one-year mark of this site’s opening.

Contrary to popluar belief, I haven’t been kidnapped by space aliens, nor am I running for Presdient on the “Dangerous” platform (although it’d give ol’ McCain a run for his money).  No, I’ve been enjoying my gift from God- our new son, and being a new dad so I haven’t had the chance to fully post (thanks to evening feeds & diaper changes).

During the past year, I spoke of many things:  the Christian journey; politics; “fundagelicalism”; global warming; justice; Iraq/Afghanistan; the rich-poor gap in America; pop culture; and other things of interest.  Recently, I’ve been covering the mystical in the Christian journey as well.  But since my first post, a lot has been happening that calls for our immediate (and prayerful) attention:

• Last month, Citigroup posted a $5.1 billion loss with 9,000 jobs to be laid off (today’s New York Times).   JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch (with 4,000 jobs gone by year’s end) and Bank of America are reporting losses as well.   Lots of bloodletting on Wall Street.
• There’s a decrease in working hours for Americans-both overtime and regular.  This is causing businesses to slow up on production.  Retailers are suffering thanks to a loss in business.
• The housing market debacle is not just here in the good ol’ US of A, but has its grip in Ireland, England, Spain, parts of India, and parts of China.  Iceland’s boom times are now going bust.
• Food shortages and increasing food prices have sparked riots in Haiti and Senegal.  India, Egypt and Indonesia might not be that far behind.  Australia’s rice growing capabilities are shrinking, adding to the misery.
• Over 4,ooo US servicepeople and God knows how many civilians dead in Iraq.  Let’s not forget Afghanistan as well.
• Now that unleaded regular is hitting $3.75/gallon here in NJ with a march towards $4.00, I’m going to have to curb my driving habits.  By the time I see $5.00/gallon, I’m investing in a bike!  With oil now at over $130/barrel, we’re gonna have to make some serious changes in our energy usage.

I will address these above issues in upcoming posts-to be announced…

During this past Lenten season I have explored the mystical/inner-directed aspects of the Christian roadtrip, which is par for the course since I am mystic in my orientation (as well as non-literal and liberal).

I’ve started this season by reading A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God, followed by both The Way of A Pilgrim and St. John of the Cross’ Dark Night of the Soul.  Now, I’m reading Finding God by Ken Kaisch, PhD.  And don’t forget Derek Flood’s web piece “Intimacy with God” written by Derek Flood, on his site “The Rebel God” (http://sharktacos.com/God/index.shtml).  Oh, by the way, I also read an online printout of Brother Lawrence’s “Practicing the Presence of God”. 

You can say I’ve had quite an interesting Lent.  And it ain’t over yet!

In the meantime, I like to welcome three new blogs I have links to for your mystical growth: “Like a Monk in the Desert”; “Practical Christian Mysticism;” and “Seekers of Truth”.   Pay ‘em a visit!

Peace!

Lenten greetings and peace!

I’m currently reading The Way of A Pilgrim, which is a classic work written back in the 1850s.  This is the book where we find the [Jesus] prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me”.  It’s a classic that bears reading today in our 21st Century.  It deals with a travelling pilgrim in Russia, going about the land in his quest for a closer walk with God.  The people he met and the situations he encountered pattern the road trip call the Christian journey.  In fact, our hero is on one serious road trip.

The above prayer, “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me” may appear to be simplistic to the casual reader, but is very powerful.  It focuses one on Christ as Lord and as the source of all he/she needs and establishes who one is in relationship with God (through Christ).  The other part shows us that our shit does stink (collectively and individually) and we need that Divine mercy in our day to day.  We need Jesus to have mercy and invite Him into our mess and our needs-not as groveling worms, but as friends who need someone who can work with us and through us.  In turn, taking us to a higher level (transcendence).

The past Saturday I was at our library trying to find books on the inner life (of Christianity); things like contemplation, meditation, mysticism, intimacy with God, “inner” prayer - all that “deep” stuff.  I was only able to glean 3 books including the one above to check out.  Most of the other material was either on theology, or was on the “outer” aspects of x-tianity (how to have a better……).

I’m also reading a online piece called, “Intimacy with God” written by Derek Flood, on his site “The Rebel God” (http://sharktacos.com/God/index.shtml), which is very captivating and eye-opening.  One thing Derek mentioned in his piece’s intro is that the most recent literature on the subject were at least 50 years old. 

To me those last two paragraphs are a scary indictment of brand x-tianity.  Have we become so “outwardly-directed” that we’ve forgotten the “inner man” which the Apostle James spoke of in his writings (ref James 4:7)?  Are we so “performance driven” in our religious life that our relationship with God (on an intimate level through Christ) is starving to death?

Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on us!

Peace.

Today’s been an interesting day.  I’m just waiting for the upcoming snow starting tomorrow morning.  May be the first significant snowfall of note here in God’s Country.

I just got done reading an online version of A.W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God.  Talk about the spiritual equivalent of an exploratory procedure!  It seems as if God’s getting up all in my biz and how it all relates to our relationship.  Tozer’s words are very timely, even 60 years after their writing. 

This Lent season, God’s been rearranging my furniture, reshuffling my files, and doing His/Her version of “Feng Shui” in my house.  Only time will tell what lies ahead.

That’s all for today.

Peace!

I’m still in transit at this moment, kind of like everyone else at this moment: Kosovo, Cuba, Obama & McCain, etc…

I feel my spirit being tugged in a zillion directions as God is growing me up so to say.

Hopefully, He will direct me on this blog.  You see, I was ready to leave the blogosphere but God said “Not now”.

So, as they used to say in The Outer Limits, “please stand by…”

Peace!

Hi Family!

I’m still alive and doing well.  I’ve just been busy with work and a (soon to be) new arrival to my family.  Plus, I’m doing some good ol’ fashioned soul-searching during Lent.

Thanx to some funding (no not the “Faith Based Initiative” plan), we’re rennovating this blog during the Lenten season.  I hope to be back up & running soon enough.

Until then, God bless during the Lenten season and His/Her Peace upon you.

Happy New Year!

I hope all of you had a blessed Season, however you celebrated it. 

As we begin a new year, let us all pray and hope for better.  Let us pray:

• That Americans facing foreclosure can keep their homes, jobs and dignity.
• That the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan will cease and our troops can come home; and that peace will come to those troubled nations.
• That Pakistan will work out a democratic system of government for all Pakistanis-thus honoring Benazir Bhutto’s memory.
• That our leaders here at home start acting like leaders or else resign.
• The church starts to be the church that Christ called us to be and that the fundagelicals learn to be lead by the Spirit instead of sanctified egos.
• We pay more attention to our environment while we still have one.
• We pay more attention to our children since they will be our future leaders.
• That we learn to act with love, justice, tolerance, mercy and compassion like our Lord Jesus.
• We embrace all beliefs-even those that may differ than our own.
• We quit filling the pockets of CEOs with bonuses and pay raises, and start filling the bellies of our starving fellow with food and medicine.  And instead of building “McMansions” to cater to yuppie greed, to provide affordable and safe housing to those who need it.
• That we quit arming ourselves to death and begin enlightening ourselve to life.
• That we slow down to stop and smell the roses of life.
• That we laugh more and cry less.
• Love more and hate less.
• Live more and exist less.

A new year can be a year of new promises and potentials.  How will we pray in 2008?  We have 365 days, let’s make them work!

Peace!

Advent…

A time of waiting, of expectation, of longing…

If you were to ask me what is my favorite time of the Christmas season, it would be Advent.  Advent speaks of anticipation, a looking forward. 

Like those of long ago, we still look forward to the coming Christ of God.   Like those who waited in the midst of poverty, oppression and disenfranchisement; we too wait in the midst of war, econcomic uncertainty and global warming.  We wait for the unfolding of the Kingdom of God afresh and anew through the Christ: the Christ who strengthens us, who liberates us, who engages us right where we are.

We pray, “Come, Lord Jesus.”  But what how do we want Him to come?  As some “Rapture-esque” spectacle to whisk us away from our groaning world?  Or do we ask Him to come into our day-to-day so He, the Christ of God, can be manifest through us? 

And instead of escaping our groaning world, do what He did and heal it.

Come, Lord Jesus.  Come not just for Advent or for Christmas, but for every day of our lives.

Come, Lord Jesus.

 Although, like Jackie DeShannon, we could use more “love, sweet love”, but that’s not where I’m asking.  I’ll let Howard Thurman, 20th Century (African) American Prophet and Mystic answer:

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs.  Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”  (emphasis mine).

I first read this quote several years ago and wrote it on a card I keep in my wallet.  However, it was not until today these words are making their impact.

What makes one truly alive?   Is it trying to figure out what the world supposedly “needs”?  For the most part, I think many of us are trying to do just that.  We try to “reform” and “rescue” the world-expending our energies trying to fix things.  Or we try to please others by tending to needs that they want us to fix; needs that are superficial as compared to actual.

No.  I believe we first have to look within to our God-given power and see what in us makes us truly who we are (alive).  Then to take that power, become its channel, and transform ourselves first.  There’s too much reformation going on; and too much information (if you ask me).  We need to transform.  First ourselves so we can see beyond the superfical and peer into the Divine.  Then take that directed power to transform our world by our alive-ness.  For as more people become alive, they can act as agents of change and transform.

That’s what the world needs!

Peace!

I took a self-assessment survey online named, “What Archtypes Are Calling You?”.  You can find it at http://www.spiritualityhealth.com/newsh/items/selftest/item_8329.html.  It wasn’t the “what job is right for me” variety; but it was more spiritual in nature.  When my results were computed, three traits that (accurately) describe me caught my attention.  I feel these three tie into the title of tonight’s post.  I’ll give each trait and then my thoughts in italics.

1. “Revolutionary.  You are tired of playing by the rules.  In fact, you may be ready to take this job/relationship/habit/way of thinking and shove it.  Or, just find a way to express that wild child in you.”  I’ve been tired of playing by the rules since they’re not my rules.  To me change is the key.  I want to shake things up and rearrange the furniture.  It’s high time to break rules and live by the heart-the way God wants me to live.
2. “Magician.  You have a strong desire to heal or transform people or situations.  Now is the time to develop you power.  Explore the art of changing you own consciousness in order to influence others.  Be the future you want to see.”  Gandhi said, “You must be the change you want to see in the world.”  Through my art-and even with this blog-I want to be an agent of transformation: first for myself and then for others.  We all have the power to change our world for the better which God gave us.  We don’t need to wait for some “leader” to do this.  As God’s children, we each have this power.
3. “Creator.  You have a strong need now to express your creativity and imaginative potential.  Find an art form and practice getting good at it.  You may not be a Picasso, but you do have a vision.  Now is the time to encapsulate it in tangible form.”  This rings true in me as a photographer.  I must express my God-given gift.  I must shoot as a person needs food and drink for nourishment.  To me, not to create is worse than starvation.

We are all agents of change.  I believe that through expression in photography and words, God calls me to transform (not reform, but transform) myself and my world. 

More to come on this as time progresses.  Peace!