(Originally written September 14, 2011 in the Journal)
I found three Latin phrases today that I'm rather fond of.
Crescentes in illo per omnia - Growing in Him through all things.
Ad maiorem Dei gloriam - For the greater glory of God.
Urbs antiqua fuit studiisque asperrima belli - There was an ancient city very fierce in the skills of war.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Notes on Peter
(Originally Written September 13, 2011 in the Journal)
St. Peter learned discipline through suffering.
God is opposed to the proud. When you put someone else down you are opposing God, not the other person.
God gives grace to the humble. Humble yourself and God gets on your side.
I need to work on this Lord. Forgive me of my pride.
Hebrews 12 - A word of encouragement: do not despair in the face of God's discipline for God disciplines those He loves.
St. Peter learned discipline through suffering.
God is opposed to the proud. When you put someone else down you are opposing God, not the other person.
God gives grace to the humble. Humble yourself and God gets on your side.
I need to work on this Lord. Forgive me of my pride.
Hebrews 12 - A word of encouragement: do not despair in the face of God's discipline for God disciplines those He loves.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Community and II John
(Originally written December 13, 2010 in the Journal)
The Book of II John is a nice short little letter that hits on a few things that I hope that this blog will emphasize. First, it hits on the rewards of following God's commands and second, it hits on the community aspect of Christianity - something I think we are sorely missing in today's Church.
John writes that Jesus Christ, the Father's son will be with us in truth and love. He connects truth and love in the person of Jesus Christ. These two are inseparable and inextricably connected. And as we have the indwelling of Jesus Christ in us as Christians then we too have truth and love.
He also writes that he is writing an old command, one that we have had since the beginning - to love one another. What is love? Walking in obedience to God's commands. God is truth and God is love. By following God's commands we are walking in truth. But what are God's commands? "Love the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, love you neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). If Jesus is the truth as John claims him to be in this short letter then his summary of the commandments to love God and to love one another is truth. We walk in truth and love when we obey God's commandments and what is our reward? Joy.
John writes also that seeing the dear lady's children walking in truth gives him great joy. Obviously as an apostle, John has walked with Jesus and spent his life dedicated to him. He receives joy through seeing others walk in truth. This leads me to point number two.
Christianity is about relationships, first to God and then to each other. What is the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart. What is the second commandment? Well, it is like the first, love your neighbor as yourself. The summary that Jesus gave points to the importance of community within Christianity. We need to love each other and establish a strong community of believers that exists aside from Sunday mornings. Love isn't a once a week type thing. Love permeates and spreads in us like yeast, causing us to rise. And then, what is the reward of loving one another? What is the reward of fostering this community that we are called to? Joy. The apostle John, one of the twelve men who walked with the living, breathing Jesus Christ was not done with joy when Jesus left. He got joy through seeing others, a new generation rising up in the name of Jesus Christ. Joy comes through community because Christ comes through community.
The Book of II John is a nice short little letter that hits on a few things that I hope that this blog will emphasize. First, it hits on the rewards of following God's commands and second, it hits on the community aspect of Christianity - something I think we are sorely missing in today's Church.
John writes that Jesus Christ, the Father's son will be with us in truth and love. He connects truth and love in the person of Jesus Christ. These two are inseparable and inextricably connected. And as we have the indwelling of Jesus Christ in us as Christians then we too have truth and love.
He also writes that he is writing an old command, one that we have had since the beginning - to love one another. What is love? Walking in obedience to God's commands. God is truth and God is love. By following God's commands we are walking in truth. But what are God's commands? "Love the Lord with all your heart and all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it, love you neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments" (Matthew 22:37-40). If Jesus is the truth as John claims him to be in this short letter then his summary of the commandments to love God and to love one another is truth. We walk in truth and love when we obey God's commandments and what is our reward? Joy.
John writes also that seeing the dear lady's children walking in truth gives him great joy. Obviously as an apostle, John has walked with Jesus and spent his life dedicated to him. He receives joy through seeing others walk in truth. This leads me to point number two.
Christianity is about relationships, first to God and then to each other. What is the greatest commandment? Love the Lord your God with all your heart. What is the second commandment? Well, it is like the first, love your neighbor as yourself. The summary that Jesus gave points to the importance of community within Christianity. We need to love each other and establish a strong community of believers that exists aside from Sunday mornings. Love isn't a once a week type thing. Love permeates and spreads in us like yeast, causing us to rise. And then, what is the reward of loving one another? What is the reward of fostering this community that we are called to? Joy. The apostle John, one of the twelve men who walked with the living, breathing Jesus Christ was not done with joy when Jesus left. He got joy through seeing others, a new generation rising up in the name of Jesus Christ. Joy comes through community because Christ comes through community.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
A mess of ideas. Maybe just a mess.
Originally written August 11, 2010
Chapter One of The Bulgogi
The Value of Self-Help
For Urtsiul
Polytheistic religion with a chief deity.
King had intimate relationship with chief deity.
Military Aristocracy
Priestly Aristocracy
The Priestly Aristocracy encroaches on king's power during weak times
Ate (Greek term) - "a strong if not actually irresistible impulse to crime" (Russell, 12). Study this.
Book Concept: Orphic
Man dies, soul wakes up in the tomb to find a book of instructions.
Question: What happened to the Buddha's son when he abandoned him?
For Upuk look to Rachel's giving birth to Benjamin and subsequent death.
Chapter One of The Bulgogi
The Value of Self-Help
For Urtsiul
Polytheistic religion with a chief deity.
King had intimate relationship with chief deity.
Military Aristocracy
Priestly Aristocracy
The Priestly Aristocracy encroaches on king's power during weak times
Ate (Greek term) - "a strong if not actually irresistible impulse to crime" (Russell, 12). Study this.
Book Concept: Orphic
Man dies, soul wakes up in the tomb to find a book of instructions.
Question: What happened to the Buddha's son when he abandoned him?
For Upuk look to Rachel's giving birth to Benjamin and subsequent death.
Friday, August 6, 2010
David Ignatow & Baha'i
Originally written August 6, 2010
Farcical short story idea: Based on the poem, The Bagel by David Ignatow
Good Anti-War Poem. All Quiet by David Ignatow
Baha'i Faith = Nine Manifestations of God.
The Nineness
The Oneness
Farcical short story idea: Based on the poem, The Bagel by David Ignatow
Good Anti-War Poem. All Quiet by David Ignatow
Baha'i Faith = Nine Manifestations of God.
The Nineness
The Oneness
Ideas for Urtsiul
Originally written August 6, 2010
Speeches for Urtsiul (prototypes)
Julius Caesar, The Conquest of Gaul
Pg. 24: Ariovistus' reply
pp. 33-35 Ariovistus' reply
Hoerth - Archaeology and the Old Testament
Description of city wall (pg. 83)
Description of Religion (pg. 87)
Sinshe story (pg. 89)
On pg. 90, use this when the son of Uslmli goes to Egypt.
Speeches for Urtsiul (prototypes)
Julius Caesar, The Conquest of Gaul
Pg. 24: Ariovistus' reply
pp. 33-35 Ariovistus' reply
Hoerth - Archaeology and the Old Testament
Description of city wall (pg. 83)
Description of Religion (pg. 87)
Sinshe story (pg. 89)
On pg. 90, use this when the son of Uslmli goes to Egypt.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
7 Vices of a Creative Person
Originally written August 3, 2010
7 Vices of a Creative Person
Article by D.A. Blyler
Salon.com
1) Be A Drinker
- alcohol is a tool to feed creativity and social discoure
- alcohol is a way to "lace the mind on a different plane"
- to drink is to be social
- "the occasional bender can be can be a rather helpful mystical experience"
- Sobriety diminishes, discriminates and says, NO while drunkenness expands, unites, and says yes! - Henry James
2) Begin with a smoke
- Fletcher Knebel: smoking is the leading cause of statistics
- Smoking has a relaxing influence and allows the mind to empty itself, enabling new thoughts to enter
3) Gamble
- "Gambling is at the heart of every worthwhile accomplishment in life"
- It is not until the end of life that we know whether we've won or lost.
4) Oysters
"The oyster is more beautiful than any religion. Nothing in Buddhism or Christianity matches its sympathetic unselfishness. - Saki.
- We don't eat for the good of living but for the enjoyment of it.
5) Fashion first then seek to be understood.
- Comfort for comfort's sake numbs the mind
- We eat to please ourselves but dress to please others - Ben Franklin
6) Sex
Omar Sharif: Sex is a communion with a woman. The bed is our holy table. There I find passion and purification.
Purification is extremely important because it is needed to begin anew.
7) Abuse the Card
Hunter S. Thompson: Abuse your credit for all it's worth.
7 Vices of a Creative Person
Article by D.A. Blyler
Salon.com
1) Be A Drinker
- alcohol is a tool to feed creativity and social discoure
- alcohol is a way to "lace the mind on a different plane"
- to drink is to be social
- "the occasional bender can be can be a rather helpful mystical experience"
- Sobriety diminishes, discriminates and says, NO while drunkenness expands, unites, and says yes! - Henry James
2) Begin with a smoke
- Fletcher Knebel: smoking is the leading cause of statistics
- Smoking has a relaxing influence and allows the mind to empty itself, enabling new thoughts to enter
3) Gamble
- "Gambling is at the heart of every worthwhile accomplishment in life"
- It is not until the end of life that we know whether we've won or lost.
4) Oysters
"The oyster is more beautiful than any religion. Nothing in Buddhism or Christianity matches its sympathetic unselfishness. - Saki.
- We don't eat for the good of living but for the enjoyment of it.
5) Fashion first then seek to be understood.
- Comfort for comfort's sake numbs the mind
- We eat to please ourselves but dress to please others - Ben Franklin
6) Sex
Omar Sharif: Sex is a communion with a woman. The bed is our holy table. There I find passion and purification.
Purification is extremely important because it is needed to begin anew.
7) Abuse the Card
Hunter S. Thompson: Abuse your credit for all it's worth.
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