I came across these words on the blog of cognitive (atheist) mystic, Sabio Lanz. No wonder I am drawn to St. John of the Cross (above) and St. Theresa of Avila. Though I may differ with Mr. Lanz on the role of God in the world, I like what he has to say here. Religious mystics are generally despised by the orthodox in their home religion. The orthodox value creeds, doctrines and right thinking. The Mystic values relationships and being. The mystic’s first offense, a social one, is to deny the need the religious specialists or traditions to communicate to their god. The Mystic’s second offense, a philosophical one, is to hold doctrines as suspect — Mystics questions the power of language to capture that truth of the encounter with the divine. Sabio Lanz This video from Peter Rollins ties in quite nicely.

Interesting ad. I don't quite get what how it helps sell their product.

Trainer Struggles to Lose Weight @ Yahoo! Video This is encouraging and discouraging at the same time. I really appreciate his desire to empathize and the sacrifice of having to eat all that food and become addicted to sugar and fat. I wish him the best as he struggles to return to his former self. Six weeks of working out and he's only lost ten pounds (and he has a young man's metabolism.) The nipple piercing is a little gross though, but I'm old and certainly no gym rat.

Recycle Your Faith. Discussion fodder. And here is the rest of it.

The initial lyrics are: Lamb of God most holy. Who on the cross did suffer. Patient, still and lowly. Thy sins by Thee were... My tastes are a bit eccentric at times, but I love this. I would love to go to a worship service where Carolee Mayne was singing.

Are Violent Video Games Adequately Preparing Children For The Apocalypse? And here is the rest of it.

My new friend, Benjamin Ady, posted this video on his blog which is called, oxymoronredundancyparadoxtrap. (you really should go visit his blog) The video was created by Craig at recycleyourfaith.com. I think I had heard of that site, but don't remember ever visiting before. I'm going to go back and spend more time there too. Anyway, Benjamin shared a request from Craig on his blog, asking for a different story of friendship. Please take a look here. This is certainly a strong emotional issue. It has often led to vitriol on both sides of the issue, and murder by the "prolife" side on more than one occasion. This video presents a fresh perspective, one that I have not had the privilege of seeing before. And here is the rest of it.

That's not a request. It's a recommendation. A recommendation for a TV show. It's called, "Lie to me." It's a fascinating blend of science and story. Here's the official description: Dr. Cal Lightman is the world's leading deception expert who studies facial expressions and involuntary body language to discover not only if someone is lying, but why. When someone shrugs one shoulder, rotates a hand or raises the lower lip, Lightman knows he's lying. Based on the real-life scientific discoveries of Paul Ekman, the series follows Lightman and his team of deception experts as they assist law enforcement and government agencies to expose the truth behind the lies. I never watch it on tv, just online. You can do that HERE. Unfortunately, I can't find the early shows from this season. But it's not one of those shows where you have to watch all of the previous shows for things to make sense. Each one stands on its own. My wife has started watching the shows online with me last week. The thing she commented on last night after watching another episode was, "This is a show where people are accountable for their lies. In every other show people can lie and have all sorts of hidden agendas. Here they're exposed. It's refreshing." You may or may not like the results of the show in your own life. You may become more aware of the telltale signs in others. I've learned some things about myself watching the show. The trailer is below.

I recently found a video and comments on another blog. I've posted the video below. When I read the comments and watched that video, I once again strongly felt that I do not belong in the church. I do not fit. Perhaps I am too broken. I am genuinely happy that the people in this video have found the comfort and answers from Jesus that they needed in times of crisis. But as I watched I thought of all the people who might have been in the congregation that day who were thinking, "How come Jesus never showed up for me? Is there something wrong with my level of faith, something wrong with my prayers, or just something wrong with me?" Some of them might even be asking if perhaps there's something wrong with Jesus. To me, this video felt like American bumber-sticker Christianity. Of course, it was "cardboard sign Christianity". Perhaps very unfairly, in my mind I kept seeing a religious belief sytem with a Jesus who always shows up with an arm around the shoulder and a wink and an encouraging word when life gets tough. "You can do it! Come on, lift up that chin, take another step. Remember, what doesn't kill you makes you stronger." When I got to the part where the guy's sign referred to being washed in blood, I stopped. Yes, I am familiar with Revelation 7. But to me, it's Christianese, and I couldn't take it any longer. It made me think of my cousin's wedding. During the ceremony the pastor referred to the bride and groom being washed in a fountain of blood. I heard gasps around me. I saw looks of horror and disgust. Of course, not from the good evangelicals in the audience, but from non-believers who did not speak our secret language. I know from other commenters elsewhere that some people are moved to tears by this video. I don't mean to be critical of them. I'm glad that their faith works so well for them. But this video just made me feel very sad and very much on the outside. I guess that's why I so want to create a safe place for people who want to seek God ap

This is really intriguing to me. There's a conference in Seattle on the topic next November. I hope to go. And here is the rest of it.

Even though I have not attended a church in the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) denomination for a few years, I still think of myself as a "Covenanter". My wife grew up in the Covenant and she and I have been involved in church leadership in the Covenant for about 18 years. A good friend (a Covenant pastor) told me this morning that there's a new ECC church plant in Redmond, Washington. (I think there's a software company in Redmond. Microsomething . . . ) I just watched their video. A bit of a contrast to say, Church of the Apostles in the Freemond neighborhood of Seattle. Both are pastored by women, but Mission is in the burbs and appears to draw a more affluent crowd. Still, both churches seem to strongly desire an active, missional role in their communities. I have no agenda or point to make in showing this video. I just think it sounds like an interesting ministry. I thought some of my friends here might find it to be interesting and perhaps encouraging. Maybe somebody in the Pine Lake area might stumble across this blog, and be looking for a church. Stranger things have happened . . . Nothing more here.

This looks like a pretty interesting movie. Well, it could be. Or, it could just be really, really lame. At this point I have no idea how I would see this movie, but if I could, I would. Here's the website for the Road to Emmaus, PA. Movie synopsis: Three somewhat skeptical friends take a road trip in a haggard RV reenacting an ancient Biblical pilgrimage. In the gospel of Luke, the resurrected Jesus is said to appear to two travelers walking form Jerusalem to Emmaus in ancient Israel. This is the modern story of three travelers looking for Jesus between Jerusalem, Ohio and Emmaus, PA. What starts as an investigative experiment ends as a poignant story of post-modern pilgrimage and communal awakening. And here is the rest of it.

Click on photos to see larger image.

Space Invaders Tetris Pole Position And here is the rest of it.

And here is the rest of it.

God Help Me From the deep I cry I am needing change in my life I have let the cold creep in and lock my ability to feel (deeply) Just now a shaft of light shot through my soul Opening up the windows and the doors Reaching to the corners and my flaws Showing my need I’m running out of time to live Running out of love to give Running out of life within God help me I don’t care who stares Never want to be what I have been again Grace has taken over and drawn me in and I am embracing it ‘Cause now I se

See more funny videos at Funny or DieThis is not meant to advocate one position or another. I simply thought this was a very clever ad. nothing here today.

I thought of this video at church this morning. We visited a church of a few hundred, where all members have namebadge. At the beginning of the service the interim pastor scolded the congregation because not everyone was wearing their namebadge. He tried to be funny and said that there were only a few reasons why a member would not wear their namebadge. You were running late and did not have time to pickup a latte and your namebadge. You have an attitude problem and are too cool to wear a namebadge. You are

an oldie but goodie. And here is the rest of it.

Dear Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Our country, now more than ever, needs Your hand of gracious love and wisdom to quickly quell any animosity amongst our people, and to calm hearts of anxiety, fear, or even hatred, and to lay quiet any lingering words of viciousness and vitriol. Lord, heal our divisions and distrust, guide us and unite us, enable us to work together, give us courage, and build in us a common vision of the possibilities for America at this dawn of the 21st century. Please use th