Existential Punk

Something Beautiful Podcast, Part 1 Of 2

My good friend, Thomas AKA Heaphonaught, has interviewed me for the Something Beautiful Podcast. This week Part 1 is up and next week Part 2 will go up. Enjoy!

In Plain English

HT to my great friend, Thomas, who blogs at Heaphonaught's Nanolog, for these 'Plain English' explanations of Twitter and Podcasts:

Publisher's Weekly Review Of Pete Rollins' Upcoming Book

 Pete Rollins' newest book, "The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales", will be released this April by Paraclete Press. Publisher's Weekly recently reviewed "The Orthodox Heretic" in it's Religion section under Nonfiction Reviews.

The Orthodox Heretic: And Other Impossible Tales Peter Rollins. Paraclete, $19.99 (164p) ISBN 978-1-55725-634-8

Don't be fooled by the slender spine of this unusual book. Rollins, the Irish philosopher/po-mo theologian who has previously published How (Not) to Speak of God and The Fidelity of Betrayal, upends some of Christians' most cherished platitudes about God in his newest outing. He cautions readers that the book is not to be read quickly, for acquiring information, but to be savored slowly for possible transformation. Mostly, the book lives up to this billing. Rollins recasts some of the most familiar parables of and stories about Jesus, sometimes subversively—as when he proposes a version of feeding the 5,000 that shows Jesus and his disciples pigging out on meager resources while the multitudes look on, starving. His point? That Christians are the body of Christ, and when we oppress the poor and hoard scarce resources, we are saying that represents the kind of God we serve. Although not all of the parables work equally well—some could use further illumination—Rollins is a tremendously talented writer and thinker whose challenges to Christianity-as-usual should be well-received by the emergent church crowd, if not beyond. (Apr. 1)

A Hint Of Bergamot

My great friend, Thomas, aka Headphonaught, has invited me to join the photography blog he started the first of the year. i am really excited as i need a creative outlet and this will give me motivation! i will be carrying my little point and shoot with everywhere now! Keep checking back to see the great creativity going on over there! i have addes it on the side under 'COOL MEDIA SITES'. Thanks, Thomas! YOU RAWK!

It's called a hint of bergamot, which he describes below:

"I've started something new... and I am looking for folk to participate.

a hint of bergamot is a photoblog where I will post one pic per day... well that's the intention anyway... and I am looking for folk who would be willing to post their pics (one per day).

I'm not looking for amazing pieces of art [although that's kind of "in the eye of the beholder" and subjective anyway]... I want the blog to be a visually inspiring space... where we share our insights into the specialness of the ordinary. So if your photo is from your phone (even iPhone pics are allowed) or from your fancypants dSLR... it doesn't matter... its about the moment."

Here's my first photo posted today!

 

All The Holidays!

i want to wish everyone who stops by Existential Punk frequently, once in a lifetime, or every now and again a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY CHRISTMAS, HAPPY HOLIDAY, or ALL THE HOLIDAYS, depending on where you live on this big planet or your religious or non-religious affiliation!

i am so very grateful this holiday season to be blessed with a beautiful and generous wife, awesome friends and family close and far, in person and in cyberspace, and two loving dawgs i adore. Thank you ALL for enriching my life beyond belief! i am blown away by the beautiful community in my life.

May you all, despite any differences and similarities in thoughts and discussions over the past year have a very blessed and peace-filled day of being in the company of people and animals who love you!

Thanks to ALL of you who have made this space a great journey and space for interesting conversations. i am looking forward to seeing how 2009 comes together in the life of this blog. i look forward to more thought-provoking conversations and learning much from my readers.

Mucho Amore!

Existential Punk

Grace and Misfit Toys

Grace as defined by the dictionary on my mac's widget is as follows:

'The free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.'

Wikipedia defines grace this way:

'In Christianity, divine grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to salvation — irrespective of actions ("deeds"), earned worth, or proven goodness.

Grace is enabling power sufficient for progression. Grace divine is an indispensable gift from God for development, improvement, and character expansion. Without God's grace, there are certain limitations, weaknesses, flaws, impurities, and faults (i.e. carnality) humankind cannot overcome. Therefore, it is necessary to increase in God's grace for added perfection, completeness, and flawlessness.

More broadly, divine grace refers to God's gifts to humankind, including life, creation, and salvation. More narrowly but more commonly, grace describes the means by which humans are granted salvation (and to some, saved from original sin). Grace is of central importance in the theology of Christianity, as well as one of the most contentious issues in Christian sectarianism.

Grace is often distinguished from mercy in that mercy is seen as not receiving punishment that one deserves to receive, whereas grace is receiving a positive benefit that one does not deserve to receive. Divine Grace also can be defined as God's empowering presence in ones life enabling them to do and be what they were created to do and be.'

So, what i can ascertain from these definitions is that grace is extended to us from G-D even though we are undeserving. i guess i am to emulate this grace and through G-D's strength, extend it to my fellow human beings. You know what, i fuck up and fail at this more times than i get it right. For this i am sorry and saddened by my attitudes and actions that are not life affirming. i am grateful for the times i do get it right. i think the times i am wrong helps to keep me in a place of humility. i also struggle with the balance of being forthright in my comments and posts and speaking from a place of honesty for me without being bitchy. Oh, what a fine line it is to be a misfit toy and blog!

i started blogging before i came out as queer. It was a space for me to get back in the habit of writing again because at the time i was preparing to enter graduate school to pursue a D.Min in Emerging Church and postmodern studies. Due to my illness i had to withdraw from school but kept my blog up as a place to muse, think, and rant. i know when you write a blog that in a way it becomes part of the public domain, especially since i have the comments section enabled. My good friend, Peter Walker, recently said this about blogs:

'Meanwhile, I'd like to encourage readers and commentors (who are always welcome) to recognize the nature of most blogs: posts are not well-rounded treatises, but rather day-to-day "journaling" - at least for me and most of those blogs I frequent. You won't get a 10 page introduction, disclaimer and personal theological statement before each post, because that's not my purpose.'

This is something i resonated with after having a discouraging day of my knee-jerk reactions and un-gracefulness i extended today in response to some comments. In case you did not realize, i am a queer woman who tries, yet often fails miserably, to follow Christ in the context of Christianity. My queerness does not encompass my entire being as i have other things that encompass my life. i write and post articles pertaining to LGBTQ issues BUT also about my faith journey, Lyme Disease & health, pop culture such as films and music, travel, and whatever else comes my way i find interesting to rant about on any given day. But, no denying it, i am queer and i am tired of being beaten down by people who proclaim to know all truth about the Bible. i am not a seminarian graduate. i have come to believe what i do on this issue through private study and counsel with people in my life, like my friend who is an Episcopal priest. Do i claim to know all the answers? NO! Do i admit i could be wrong? YES! This is wear i am in my journey and it is no longer in a static place as it once was a long time ago.

Yet, some people insist i am intolerant and not really open-minded. If i were not open-minded i would not still be friends with people who disagree with me. i have religiously conservative friends who tell me they love me but do not condone my life of being queer. i don't really get that and i tell them so. We find other areas to find common ground and do agree about, including spiritual matters. This is something i said to a commenter yesterday:

'It's funny how people like yourself and others come to blogs like mine to ONLY comment on the gay posts when there are other types of posts you could comment on and maybe we would find more common ground to talk. All you seem interested in is coming and telling me how wrong i am. Do you feel the need to set me straight (no pun intended) and save me from myself? Seriously, i am just curious. God is the only one who can save and change anyone's heart including you. i am a human with flesh and never claim to have it all together. i screw up more than i get things right.'

Adam at pomomusings, and a straight ally, said something in a similar vein yesterday in his comments section that resonated with me and which i agree:

'While my post may not have allowed it to come across, I do find myself to be fairly open-minded. I have a very firm belief on this issue and know where I stand; while I acknowledge that I very well could be wrong, this is where I stand on this issue and I believe it is more important to be grace-filled, open and inclusive, than the opposite. But I still know - and am good friends with - some who completely disagree with me on this. If I were completely close-minded, I wouldn't have conversations or relationships with those people. It would be worthless. But I do - and I am open to differing opinions...just because I hope they come to have a wider vision of God's mercy doesn't mean I still can't be open to them.'

Peter posts a lot on the topic of homosexuality. He is a good friend and fellow traveler in the faith who is married and another straight ally. A comment was posted at his blog that really pissed me off and part which i do not understand:

'Why wouldnt you take on the debate from a theological persepective? IF you cant or dont want to take it on, why post about homosexuality to begin with?'

i don't get it because Peter does give a theological perspective as i have too with my posts and comments. i get so tired of people telling others what they ought to write about in their blogs and what they ought not write about. Where do these people get off? Why can't people say, 'i believe the Bible has this to say about X.' instead of saying, 'The Bible explicitly says this about X.'? Literalists accuse me of cherry picking Bible verses and contorting them to my 'perverted and sinful ways', but don't they do the same by NOT following the Bible literally in ALL the things written in it? i think it is an issue of irrationalaity. (More on this another time when i am finshed reading a book that brings this issue of irrational thinking up.)

Ok, i think i am finished musing and ranting. i'd just like to say, as Peter did, ALL LURKERS & COMMENTERS ARE WELCOME HERE at my blog, including dissenting views. Just recognize i am human, i am frail, and i will be an ass some times. If you hang arround long enough and get to know me, whether a lurker or a frequent commenter, you might even get to see the grace-ful side of me as it does exist and even shows up from time to time. You take risks to comment and i take risks to post. Life is full of risks, so why don't you come join me on this often frightening yet beautiful journey we call life. Let's agree to disagree where we are unable to find common ground, not be accusatory to one another, and find areas where we might have some common ground. Let's be grace-ful to one another, really listen to each other, and be respectful to all. Heck, we even may learn something from one another.  Thanks for reading!

Existential Punk

aka

Misfit Toy

"Rick Warren, Obama, & A Big Mess"

In response to my post here, my friend Pete at Emerging Christianity had this thoughtful response to add to the conversation:

I have some conflicting thoughts about it (which is easy, safe, and comfortable for me as a heterosexual). So I want to first-off acknowledge and affirm the frustration Adele and many from the gay community must be feeling over this recent announcement.

When I first heard the announcement, my initial response was: "Smart. Very smart. He's reaching out to the Evangelical base and showing them he cares and can relate to them." Then I thought, "Hmmm... Warren is pretty conservative, I wonder if that's going to piss anyone off." Then I thought, "You know, he is awfully progressive when it comes to AIDS and HIV issues, and Global Warming, maybe it will be ok..." and then I remembered: "Oh yeah, he was pretty much in favor of Proposition 8." And then I thought: "This is going to be a shit storm."

And so it goes.

I caught myself saying to Jen (my wife) when I first heard the news, "Well, he's conservative, but if conservative Christians in general were more like Rick Warren, there wouldn't be much of a problem with the American Christian Culture Wars of the past few decades." And Jen raised her eyebrows at me, which generally means: I might be wrong. And I was. Because supporting politics like Prop. 8, legislating morality, in my opinion, IS engaging in Culture Wars; the last thing the Christian church should be doing. Christianity was not meant to be a religion aligned with political (or military, for that matter) power. Forgive me for saying this: I have little personal interest in trying to change people's opinions about issues like homosexuality - I believe there will always be faithful Christians on both sides of that fence, who can be faithful on both sides of that fence. But I have a HUGE interest in changing people's opinions about how they should treat others. Missional Christianity (I don't use that term much, but I love it) is about the active outworking of the Kingdom of God. That is not a kingdom of rules, bullet-point-legality, or socio-political attacks - it is a Kindom of love, of justice, of freedom, of transcendence, good fruit and good news!

On one hand, I think Obama's pick was politically daring and even savvy. Perhaps he can prove himself to some of the naysayers calling him a "Secret Muslim." But do those paranoid folks deserve to be placated?

I also think Obama's pick is an important reflection of his own character: Obama doesn't see the world in black-and-white, and he is tirelessly committed to building bridges and finding common ground. I can always get behind that!

But I do understand why my friend Adele is hurt by this move. And so I am wounded with her. Warren's political stance on homosexuality (apart from his theological stance, which could be manifested much differently) is inappropriate for a so-called progressive, 21st Century evangelical who claims to care about human rights.

Let James Dobson and Pat Robertson fight their culture wars. I wish Warren had emerged as a clear alternative for conservative-leaning Christians, looking for a kinder way.

Instead, this is becoming the wrong kind of political fodder, at a time when American needs hope, unity and grace the most.

Six Pete Rollins Films

Six Pete Rollins films from The Work Of The People:

1. "The Singular Answer": Peter Rollins shares a parable to have us consider the reductionism of the Gospel.

2. "Set Apart": Peter Rollins talks about trying to grasp God to fit into our own boxes.

3. "$200 Conversion": Peter Rollins wonders if God creates the "God shaped hole" rather than filling it.

4. "Suspended Space": Peter Rollins considers the heart of church and the "liturgical hour."

5. "Reduce or Wrestle": Peter Rollins tells an ancient Jewish parable about wrestling with scripture.

6. "Refusing to Lead": Peter Rollins offers up thoughts on Christian leadership.

SO SORRY, BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE VIDEO IS NOT WORKING AND ONLY THE AUDIO IS WORKING! I HAVE CONTACTED THE WORK OF THE PEOPLE ABOUT THIS ISSUE. MAYBE IT IS A TYPEPAD ISSUE? I NEVER HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM BEFORE!

ENJOY these as much as i did! The filmmaker, Travis Reed, shot them in a parking garage under an Irish pub in Dallas, Texas!

"The Rapture"

My good friend Pete Rollins is working on a series of seven short books with the working title called 'Dis-Courses'. Each will offer an incisive discourse on a theological idea that is intended to send the reader off course and onto a new course.

Pete is also writing more parables and here is one he just wrote and shared on his blog. i asked him this question and i am waiting on his answer:

 "God would rather spend time with those who are depraved and selfish rather than the self-righteous? Is this the point you are making? If so, i LOVE it!"

——

Just as it was written by those prophets of old, the last days of the Earth overflowed with suffering and pain. In those dark days a huge pale horse rode through the Earth with Death upon its back and Hell in its wake. During this great tribulation the Earth was scorched with the fires of war, rivers ran red with blood, the soil withheld its fruit and disease descended like a mist. One by one all the nations of the Earth were brought to their knees.

Far from all the suffering, high up in the heavenly realm, God watched the events unfold with a heavy heart. An ominous silence had descended upon heaven as the angels witnessed the Earth being plunged into darkness and despair. But this could only continue for so long for, at the designated time, God stood upright, breathed deeply and addressed the angels,

“The time has now come for me to separate the sheep from the goats, the healthy wheat from the inedible chaff”

Having spoken these words God slowly turned to face the world and called forth to the church with a booming voice,

“Rise up and ascend to heaven all of you who have who have sought to escape the horrors of this world by sheltering beneath my wing. Come to me all who have turned from this suffering world by calling out ‘Lord, Lord’”.

In an instant millions where caught up in the clouds and ascended into the heavenly realm. Leaving the suffering world behind them.

Once this great rapture had taken place God paused for a moment and then addressed the angels, saying,

“It is done, I have separated the people born of my spirit from those who have turned from me. It is time now for us leave this place and take up residence in the Earth, for it is there that we shall find our people. The ones who would forsake heaven in order to embrace the earth. The few who would turn away from eternity itself to serve at the feet of a fragile, broken life that passes from existence in but an instant”.

And so it was that God and the heavenly host left that place to dwell among those who had rooted themselves upon the earth. Quietly supporting the ones who had forsaken God for the world and thus who bore the mark God. The few who had discovered heaven in the very act of forsaking it.

"Beware Of The Doghouse"

Thanks to my friend Alicia for this chuckle-inducing video. Even if you are not married or don't have a significant other, i think you will have a good laugh!