While logging into my gmail today, a link popped up to a recipe for Spam and Vegetable Strudel that is supposed to come from Mastercook.
I haven't done any random cooking experiments since Dishwasher Lasagna and Tofu and Beetroot Burritos.
Who dares me to make it?????
Monday, April 07, 2008
Saturday, April 05, 2008
The Gifts of Uncertainty (Part 2)
I've been planning this post for a while (for Part One click here) but life has gotten in the way. I'm not sure how coherent my follow up ramblings will be, but here goes.
As I've been thinking more about Uncertainty, I've been wrestling with our very natural human desire to divide everything into right and wrong, into black and white. The world is a big complex place, and it is only natural that we categorize and order in an attempt to cope with how overwhelming it really is. If we stopped to think about every issue and every event we would become paralyzed with indecision. Consequently we all consciously or unconsciously create our own Paradigms that enable us to function.
We create Paradigms of Theology, Politics, Social Behavior, Health - in fact we create them about just about everything.
So where did this drive come from?
I'm reading 'Things Hidden -Scripture as Spirituality' by Richard Rohr at the moment. In it he makes a very interesting comment about the Garden of Eden. The tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to touch was 'The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil'. He refers to it in the book as 'The Tree of Moral Certainty'. Think about it for a moment - Adam and Eve were not created to know right and wrong, they didn't have the knowledge to make those kinds of judgements. It's only as a result of the Fall that they gain that knowledge.
Richard Rohr goes on to comment that it is interesting that many people in the church have made a career out of the consequences of the Fall - they issue loud declarations on Right and Wrong, Good and Evil. They create 'insiders' and 'outsiders'.
One of the largest parts of the Hebrew Scriptures is the 'Law' - exact descriptions of rules, violations and punishments. Everything you need to know so you can be certain of your standing within the Community and with God.
All of this writing, posturing and pontificating all because we ate of 'The Tree of Moral Certainty'.
Am I in danger of becoming a total moral relativist? No. There are some things I am always going to call wrong - consider it residual fruit from the Garden of Eden. But I do think some of the potential for divisiveness in the church today could be removed if we could just embrace a the fact that not everybodys' Christianity will look the same. See here for and earlier blog post on this.
I've heard the saying attributed to Augustine 'Love God, and do as you please'. Maybe we should focus more on helping people achieve the first, and less on moral judgements around the second. If somebody is actively pursuing the first then I think the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self-control etc) will take care of the second.
So what of these gifts of uncertainty? I've already written about Humility, Community and Introspection (Inner work).
Another gift of uncertainty, that is related to Humility is the gift of Learning. If I consider you 'wrong' then I will conclude that there is nothing you can teach me. If I am honest about uncertainty then suddenly everybody in the world becomes my teacher, and everybody in the world becomes my pupil. A quote I encountered on a friend's blog is helpful here:
“I think if more people were willing to treat beliefs as beliefs instead of facts, it would make talking with each other easier... I guess I’d just like Christians and church leaders to be more honest…with everyone. Stop treating faith as a fact. Call it hope. Call it confidence, not certainty.” Matt Casper, from the book 'Jim and Casper Go to Church'.
I sat up late talking with a friend last night who has a lot of uncertainty happening in his life right now - and I reflected on periods of uncertainty in my life. When I was unsure about whether I was moving to the U.S. or not I spent a lot of time in prayer and seeking counsel from others. My uncertainty led me to a deeper faith. Why does that kind of uncertainty drive people towards God, whereas theological uncertainty and differences of opinion become a barrier between people and lead to schisms and new denominations?
Is there a way the church can learn to use Uncertainty to unite them as they sit together in Tension?
I wish I knew.
As I've been thinking more about Uncertainty, I've been wrestling with our very natural human desire to divide everything into right and wrong, into black and white. The world is a big complex place, and it is only natural that we categorize and order in an attempt to cope with how overwhelming it really is. If we stopped to think about every issue and every event we would become paralyzed with indecision. Consequently we all consciously or unconsciously create our own Paradigms that enable us to function.
We create Paradigms of Theology, Politics, Social Behavior, Health - in fact we create them about just about everything.
So where did this drive come from?
I'm reading 'Things Hidden -Scripture as Spirituality' by Richard Rohr at the moment. In it he makes a very interesting comment about the Garden of Eden. The tree that Adam and Eve were forbidden to touch was 'The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil'. He refers to it in the book as 'The Tree of Moral Certainty'. Think about it for a moment - Adam and Eve were not created to know right and wrong, they didn't have the knowledge to make those kinds of judgements. It's only as a result of the Fall that they gain that knowledge.
Richard Rohr goes on to comment that it is interesting that many people in the church have made a career out of the consequences of the Fall - they issue loud declarations on Right and Wrong, Good and Evil. They create 'insiders' and 'outsiders'.
One of the largest parts of the Hebrew Scriptures is the 'Law' - exact descriptions of rules, violations and punishments. Everything you need to know so you can be certain of your standing within the Community and with God.
All of this writing, posturing and pontificating all because we ate of 'The Tree of Moral Certainty'.
Am I in danger of becoming a total moral relativist? No. There are some things I am always going to call wrong - consider it residual fruit from the Garden of Eden. But I do think some of the potential for divisiveness in the church today could be removed if we could just embrace a the fact that not everybodys' Christianity will look the same. See here for and earlier blog post on this.
I've heard the saying attributed to Augustine 'Love God, and do as you please'. Maybe we should focus more on helping people achieve the first, and less on moral judgements around the second. If somebody is actively pursuing the first then I think the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, self-control etc) will take care of the second.
So what of these gifts of uncertainty? I've already written about Humility, Community and Introspection (Inner work).
Another gift of uncertainty, that is related to Humility is the gift of Learning. If I consider you 'wrong' then I will conclude that there is nothing you can teach me. If I am honest about uncertainty then suddenly everybody in the world becomes my teacher, and everybody in the world becomes my pupil. A quote I encountered on a friend's blog is helpful here:
“I think if more people were willing to treat beliefs as beliefs instead of facts, it would make talking with each other easier... I guess I’d just like Christians and church leaders to be more honest…with everyone. Stop treating faith as a fact. Call it hope. Call it confidence, not certainty.” Matt Casper, from the book 'Jim and Casper Go to Church'.
I sat up late talking with a friend last night who has a lot of uncertainty happening in his life right now - and I reflected on periods of uncertainty in my life. When I was unsure about whether I was moving to the U.S. or not I spent a lot of time in prayer and seeking counsel from others. My uncertainty led me to a deeper faith. Why does that kind of uncertainty drive people towards God, whereas theological uncertainty and differences of opinion become a barrier between people and lead to schisms and new denominations?
Is there a way the church can learn to use Uncertainty to unite them as they sit together in Tension?
I wish I knew.
Thursday, April 03, 2008
So Peter....where are you from?
It's an interesting question, simply because their are more right answers than you might think:
a) The British Isles
b) The United Kingdom
c) Great Britain
d) England
Confused?
Here's how all the terms relate to one another geographically.
a) The British Isles
b) The United Kingdom
c) Great Britain
d) England
Confused?
Here's how all the terms relate to one another geographically.
I was born there, and I forget the differences at times!
Good Friends and Bad Teeth
I'm beginning to feel rather low about my teeth. Back in February I had a Crown and an Inlay done by my dentist. It was a remarkable pain free event - as are most of my trips to the dentist, but ever since then I've had problems :(
I've been back many times with sensitivity to heat and cold and a dull ache. I went back today for the 5th time and the dentist decided that we need to remove both the crown and the inlay and redo both of them as traditional crowns and fix them in temporarily and see if the problem fixes itself. And if it doesn't he will refer me to a special nerve tooth doctor a.k.a. an endodontist!!!
All I can say is ewwwww.
in other news, I had one of those wonderful conversations with a good friend. Someone who loves me enough to ask difficult questions in their quest for understanding and is willing to sit in the difficult tension that some of my answers give. It's wonderful to have friends who want to discuss the deep things of life and who I know have my 'back' when the chips are down.
I've been back many times with sensitivity to heat and cold and a dull ache. I went back today for the 5th time and the dentist decided that we need to remove both the crown and the inlay and redo both of them as traditional crowns and fix them in temporarily and see if the problem fixes itself. And if it doesn't he will refer me to a special nerve tooth doctor a.k.a. an endodontist!!!
All I can say is ewwwww.
in other news, I had one of those wonderful conversations with a good friend. Someone who loves me enough to ask difficult questions in their quest for understanding and is willing to sit in the difficult tension that some of my answers give. It's wonderful to have friends who want to discuss the deep things of life and who I know have my 'back' when the chips are down.
Monday, March 31, 2008
Rewriting the Bible
One of my favourite Psalms is 131.
I'm preparing to lead staff worship tomorrow morning, so I sat with the Psalm and paraphrased it to use in the worship time.
This is what I came up with.
Today, I am content with who I am
I am not looking down on others to make me feel o.k.
I am not imagining great schemes or far reaching plans.
I have told my soul to be still,
I am as peaceful as a baby resting in its mother’s arms
My soul is nestled in God like that babe.
People of God; put your hope in Him.
Hope in Him forever.
I'm preparing to lead staff worship tomorrow morning, so I sat with the Psalm and paraphrased it to use in the worship time.
This is what I came up with.
Today, I am content with who I am
I am not looking down on others to make me feel o.k.
I am not imagining great schemes or far reaching plans.
I have told my soul to be still,
I am as peaceful as a baby resting in its mother’s arms
My soul is nestled in God like that babe.
People of God; put your hope in Him.
Hope in Him forever.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Sketch Comedy from My Past
This sketch always makes me laugh every time I see it.
I've been to this restaurant!
I've been to this restaurant!
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Poem of the Day
He drew a circle that shut me out -
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
Edwin Markham
Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.
But Love and I had the wit to win:
We drew a circle that took him in!
Edwin Markham
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
I Can See The Floor
I gave away half my clothing to a Charity Shop this weekend and did a ton of cleaning and sorting - this is probably the first time in years you can walk in the door of my closet and make it to the back shelves without having to step over something!!!
Friday, March 21, 2008
Building the Labyrinth
Every Good Friday for the past 4 years I have laid out a Prayer Labyrinth for use on Holy Saturday. Here are some pics of this years endeavor.
When laying out a Labyrinth it's always good to eat a hearty breakfast before hand. This one was provided by Gini. Thanks - it was yummy!
We began by laying marker dots all over the carpet, enough to mark out 12 concentric circles all 18 inches apart.
Once they were all stuck down we began to connect them with masking tape.
It's quite rough on the back and the knees.
If you're not careful when crawling around the dots stick all over you.
We've nearly marked out all 12 circles - that's the easy part.
Next, mark out the 4 quadrants.
Then you very carefully remove certain pieces of tape and add a few others, and voila!!!
One Prayer Labyrinth ready to go.
Mentally it's quite exhausting to coordinate - and yes we did check it to make sure nobody will get lost in it.
Thanks to everyone who volunteered their time to make it happen.
Announcing the Death of Jesus of Nazareth - Aged 33
Died: 14th day of the month Nisan in Jerusalem.
Preceded in death by Jacob bar Joseph who raised him as his own son.
Survived by his mother, Mary; brothers James, Joses and Judas, and his sisters.
Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem of Judea.
His family fled to Egypt when he was two, seeking political asylum.
They returned to Nazareth in Galilee after the death of Herod the Great.
Jesus was apprenticed as a carpenter to Joseph, and worked in the family business until he turned 30.
He was baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John.
He spent the next 3 years living as an itinerant rabbi, with a small school of 12 disciples.
He devoted his life to serving the least, the last and the lost, wherever he found them.
Despite repeated warnings, his teaching, his work and those he chose to call "friend" drew unwanted attention from the authorities.
The family wish to make it clear that his arrest and immediate trial took place without due process. The charges of blasphemy and of being a threat to national security were not corroborated by a single witness.
He died as he lived: extending forgiveness to those responsible for his execution.
He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends-"the sinners" and by the poor.
The family extends gratitude to Joseph of Arimathea for covering the funeral expenses.
Preceded in death by Jacob bar Joseph who raised him as his own son.
Survived by his mother, Mary; brothers James, Joses and Judas, and his sisters.
Jesus of Nazareth was born in Bethlehem of Judea.
His family fled to Egypt when he was two, seeking political asylum.
They returned to Nazareth in Galilee after the death of Herod the Great.
Jesus was apprenticed as a carpenter to Joseph, and worked in the family business until he turned 30.
He was baptized in the Jordan River by his cousin John.
He spent the next 3 years living as an itinerant rabbi, with a small school of 12 disciples.
He devoted his life to serving the least, the last and the lost, wherever he found them.
Despite repeated warnings, his teaching, his work and those he chose to call "friend" drew unwanted attention from the authorities.
The family wish to make it clear that his arrest and immediate trial took place without due process. The charges of blasphemy and of being a threat to national security were not corroborated by a single witness.
He died as he lived: extending forgiveness to those responsible for his execution.
He will be greatly missed by his family, his friends-"the sinners" and by the poor.
The family extends gratitude to Joseph of Arimathea for covering the funeral expenses.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Every Day a Little Death
The title refers to Sondheim song that resonates with me when I'm feeling low.
Every day a little death
In the parlor, in the bed
In the curtains, in the silver
In the buttons, in the bread
Every day a little sting
In the heart and in the head
Every move and every breath
And you hardly feel a thing
Brings a perfect little death
(In it's original incarnation it is two women singing about how relationships die gradually over time. This is not one of my favorite renditions of the song but it was available on YouTube.)
I remember when I first heard this song, I had the Original British Cast Album of 'A Little Night Music' and I played this track over and over - I was a melodramatic 20 something (yes I know, I'm still melodramatic GRIN). Well whenever something happens that causes a little hope in me to die this song seems to float into the back of my mind.
Back in November I wrote about a Christmas Anthem that the choir here loved that everyone was telling me I should send off to the Publishers......read about that here
Well today I got a rejection letter:
Dear Mr. Johns:
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to review your choral arrangement Come See The Mystery. At our recent editorial session our editors had the privilege of review your manuscripts and although they are well done it appears that we won't be able to include them in our future publishing program.
We are sorry we could not be more encouraging. If you would like your manuscripts returned please supply me with your complete address.
Oh well - this is Holy Week, every little death brings me closer to a little Resurrection.
Every day a little death
In the parlor, in the bed
In the curtains, in the silver
In the buttons, in the bread
Every day a little sting
In the heart and in the head
Every move and every breath
And you hardly feel a thing
Brings a perfect little death
(In it's original incarnation it is two women singing about how relationships die gradually over time. This is not one of my favorite renditions of the song but it was available on YouTube.)
I remember when I first heard this song, I had the Original British Cast Album of 'A Little Night Music' and I played this track over and over - I was a melodramatic 20 something (yes I know, I'm still melodramatic GRIN). Well whenever something happens that causes a little hope in me to die this song seems to float into the back of my mind.
Back in November I wrote about a Christmas Anthem that the choir here loved that everyone was telling me I should send off to the Publishers......read about that here
Well today I got a rejection letter:
Dear Mr. Johns:
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to review your choral arrangement Come See The Mystery. At our recent editorial session our editors had the privilege of review your manuscripts and although they are well done it appears that we won't be able to include them in our future publishing program.
We are sorry we could not be more encouraging. If you would like your manuscripts returned please supply me with your complete address.
Oh well - this is Holy Week, every little death brings me closer to a little Resurrection.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Falafel!
I made Falafel last night for the first time - though I pan fried them rather than deep fried them to be healthy - I've also heard of baking them in the oven too! I used a mix of Pinto Beans, crushed tortilla chips, green onions, egg white, cilantro, basil and cumin.
Here I have just added it to the hot skillet.
Almost cooked through!
Served in pita bread with fresh tomato, arugula and avocado - yum!
Monday, March 17, 2008
Scrabulous / Scrabble
I've been introduced to Scrabulous this weekend. It's basically a Scrabble game that you can play over Facebook. I've never been very good at Scrabble so it's quite frustrating.
It reminded me of this vidlit story - enjoy.
It reminded me of this vidlit story - enjoy.
The Gifts of Uncertainty (part 1)
(This is a transcription of an old Blog from my previous site. In the past few weeks I've been contemplating writing a sequel, so I thought I would post the original text here.)
I've been thinking a lot the last few days about truth and uncertainty. I recently read a blog online where the writer was defending his right to his opinion on a subject by saying that what he was writing was the 'truth' and if you were offended by hearing the truth it wasn't his fault.
I saw echoes of my former self in his words. I can truly say that there are lots of things of which I used to be 100% right where now I have embraced the gift of uncertainty.
Truth is a difficult thing. We are taught at an early age that 2+2=4. We get a check mark for a correct answer and a cross for anything else. The problem is that truth isn't actually that exclusive. Consider the following:
2+2=4
2+2=11
2+2=10+10=100
For some of you it may appear that I have totally flipped at this moment, but bear with me. I would argue that all 3 equations are correct; you just need to look at them through a different paradigm.
2+2=4 is written in base 10 – the normal base we use for addition.
2+2=11 is written base 3 – 11 means 1 three and 1 unit.
2+2=10+10=100 written in binary – 100 means 1 four, 0 twos and 0 units.
(For those of you who are not math geeks just do some research on wikipedia)
All 3 equations are different and equally valid ways of expressing the 'truth' of 2+2=4.
Many of my former issues where I was convinced I was correct and everyone else could 'either agree with me or be wrong' are like this example. I couldn't agree with that persons answer because I didn't know the paradigm they were coming from. I've since discovered the danger of saying 'You can't possibly call yourself a Christian and believe ________________' (fill in the blank with whatever topic you want). Could it be that you can? Could it be that the other persons Christianity is just a different and equally valid way of expressing the truth that God loves us and longs for us to live for Him (or her)?
Jesus frequently exploded people's paradigms – he redefined the term 'Mother and Brothers' from a biological relationship to one of obedience (Luke 8: 19-21). He expanded the term 'Neighbor' from geographical to relational (Luke 10: 25-37) and he said the way to judge someone was not on their words but on how those words produce fruit in their lives (Matt 7: 15-19)
I once exasperated a friend by pointing out to him that for everyone who agreed with him I could find someone with far more years of study on the topic who would disagree. In frustration he threw up his hands and said 'Well how can you know anything??!'.
Maybe that is one of the gifts of uncertainty – humility.
If I am 100% convinced that I am right and you are wrong then there is a barrier between us. I don't have to be right all the time anymore. As I have become aware of my identity in God I have been able to surrender some of my need to have a narrow dogmatic definition of truth. I've heard it said that whenever we draw a line in the sand and say who is in and who is out, or who is right and who is wrong, that God steps over the line to be with the very people we have excluded.
Certainty erects barriers, but another gift of uncertainty is community.
Another gift of uncertainty is the gift of introspection. I'm slowly learning to ask myself why. Why do I believe this way? Why do I want to reject people who believe differently? What is it about me that needs the certainty?
Richard Rohr writes in 'Everything Belongs'
'There is a small "I" that has to let go so that the true "I" can be born…….The small "I" only knows itself by comparison, by image, by how we look. As long as we are comparing and differentiating from the other, we can't love the other. We judge it. As soon as we are in a judging mode (higher/lower, superior/inferior), we can't love. The small "I" does not permit a realm of freedom where love flourishes. What flourishes is control, comparison, and competition – which blind us to love.'
It tends to be the people who have a strict/judgmental image of God who are the most strict and judgmental in themselves – we become like the God we worship.
I guess that's why I'm escaping Fundamentalism and enjoying life, I'm discovering a God of delight, or surprises, of joy. A God who is deeply and passionately in love with me and delights in my uncertainty, because another gift of uncertainty is grace.
Sermon over!
I've been thinking a lot the last few days about truth and uncertainty. I recently read a blog online where the writer was defending his right to his opinion on a subject by saying that what he was writing was the 'truth' and if you were offended by hearing the truth it wasn't his fault.
I saw echoes of my former self in his words. I can truly say that there are lots of things of which I used to be 100% right where now I have embraced the gift of uncertainty.
Truth is a difficult thing. We are taught at an early age that 2+2=4. We get a check mark for a correct answer and a cross for anything else. The problem is that truth isn't actually that exclusive. Consider the following:
2+2=4
2+2=11
2+2=10+10=100
For some of you it may appear that I have totally flipped at this moment, but bear with me. I would argue that all 3 equations are correct; you just need to look at them through a different paradigm.
2+2=4 is written in base 10 – the normal base we use for addition.
2+2=11 is written base 3 – 11 means 1 three and 1 unit.
2+2=10+10=100 written in binary – 100 means 1 four, 0 twos and 0 units.
(For those of you who are not math geeks just do some research on wikipedia)
All 3 equations are different and equally valid ways of expressing the 'truth' of 2+2=4.
Many of my former issues where I was convinced I was correct and everyone else could 'either agree with me or be wrong' are like this example. I couldn't agree with that persons answer because I didn't know the paradigm they were coming from. I've since discovered the danger of saying 'You can't possibly call yourself a Christian and believe ________________' (fill in the blank with whatever topic you want). Could it be that you can? Could it be that the other persons Christianity is just a different and equally valid way of expressing the truth that God loves us and longs for us to live for Him (or her)?
Jesus frequently exploded people's paradigms – he redefined the term 'Mother and Brothers' from a biological relationship to one of obedience (Luke 8: 19-21). He expanded the term 'Neighbor' from geographical to relational (Luke 10: 25-37) and he said the way to judge someone was not on their words but on how those words produce fruit in their lives (Matt 7: 15-19)
I once exasperated a friend by pointing out to him that for everyone who agreed with him I could find someone with far more years of study on the topic who would disagree. In frustration he threw up his hands and said 'Well how can you know anything??!'.
Maybe that is one of the gifts of uncertainty – humility.
If I am 100% convinced that I am right and you are wrong then there is a barrier between us. I don't have to be right all the time anymore. As I have become aware of my identity in God I have been able to surrender some of my need to have a narrow dogmatic definition of truth. I've heard it said that whenever we draw a line in the sand and say who is in and who is out, or who is right and who is wrong, that God steps over the line to be with the very people we have excluded.
Certainty erects barriers, but another gift of uncertainty is community.
Another gift of uncertainty is the gift of introspection. I'm slowly learning to ask myself why. Why do I believe this way? Why do I want to reject people who believe differently? What is it about me that needs the certainty?
Richard Rohr writes in 'Everything Belongs'
'There is a small "I" that has to let go so that the true "I" can be born…….The small "I" only knows itself by comparison, by image, by how we look. As long as we are comparing and differentiating from the other, we can't love the other. We judge it. As soon as we are in a judging mode (higher/lower, superior/inferior), we can't love. The small "I" does not permit a realm of freedom where love flourishes. What flourishes is control, comparison, and competition – which blind us to love.'
It tends to be the people who have a strict/judgmental image of God who are the most strict and judgmental in themselves – we become like the God we worship.
I guess that's why I'm escaping Fundamentalism and enjoying life, I'm discovering a God of delight, or surprises, of joy. A God who is deeply and passionately in love with me and delights in my uncertainty, because another gift of uncertainty is grace.
Sermon over!
Monday, March 10, 2008
The Art Of Cheese
For some reason this commercial was deemed too 'Controversial' to air during the Superbowl.
I think it's hilarious :)
I think it's hilarious :)
Sunday, March 09, 2008
Spring Forward, Fall Over?
I hate the time change, losing the hour is always far more draining than it should be....so here's a solution!
Why doesn't the entire world just adjust the time by 30 minutes, and LEAVE IT THERE?
That way everyone would be happy.
IT'S CALLED COMPROMISE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!
Why doesn't the entire world just adjust the time by 30 minutes, and LEAVE IT THERE?
That way everyone would be happy.
IT'S CALLED COMPROMISE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, March 06, 2008
A Moment of Mitch
So, I haven't had time to blog much recently, but I want my loyal readers (all 3 of you) to keep coming back, so here's a clip of one of my favorite comedians.
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