Panentheist that I am, I’ve long believed that the Spirit moves in spite of us at least as often as the Spirit moves because of us. So the preacher is (theoretically) off the hook when it comes to “being in the Spirit” in the pulpit. (You can hear me arguing with my former charismatic/Pentecostal self here.)
Click to continue reading “Reflecting on AKMA’s ‘Preaching & the Spirit’”
Reflecting on AKMA’s ‘Preaching & the Spirit’
Hymn to the god-silence
06.18.03 | Permalink | Comments Off on Hymn to the god-silence
A beautiful poem by Theodore Enslin on the god-silence. Strong Taoist threads throughout. (Hat tip to Mark Woods for the link.)
Pietist lies (or Why I do not believe in Original Sin)
06.18.03 | Permalink | 2 Comments
1) Every action has a meaning, every symbol a sign.
2) The past is never passed. It will always catch up with you.
3) You are not whole enough yet.
4) You should dig deeper.
5) Perfection is a noble goal.
6) The unexpected is a sign of (your) sin.
7) Anything not straight-forward is a sign of (your) sin.
8) You cannot help mask the depth of your sin in self-deception.
9) Because of compulsive self-deception, you can never know the depths of your sin.
10) Because perfection is a noble goal, you are responsible for knowing the depths of your sin.
11) You are always greedy.
12) Any action leading to your gain is sin.
13) Any action that is not completely selfless is sin.
14) You really should earn your own keep.
15) You really could do more to help.
16) You really should feel ashamed for not helping more.
17) The lack of shame is a sign of a deeper, hidden shame.
18) “Nice” is the crown of the virtues. Always be nice.
19) Someone else is perfect. He is nicer than you.
Don’t make me count to three…
06.18.03 | Permalink | Comments Off on Don’t make me count to three…
In a surprising move yesterday, Utah’s Senator Orrin Hatch proposed that the powers of the executive and judicial branches of the US government be handed over to the Recording Industry Association of America in all cases of computer-based copyright infringement. Speaking as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Hatch — a 2000 Republican presidential candidate — urged that technology be deployed that would remotely destroy computers downloading copyrighted files. Responding to concerns that the destruction of hundreds of thousands of computers for downloading MP3s is too severe, Hatch retorted that the RIAA would be asked to virtually count to three first.
Crime & punishment at Gitmo
Amendment VI: “In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the state and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.”
Human rights organizations have raised concerns about the conditions at Guantanamo Bay and the unclear legal status of the detainees. The American military has refused to consider them prisoners of war, even though a majority were captured on the battlefield, and does not allow them access to lawyers. No charges have yet been brought against any of the detainees, some of whom have been there for 18 months.
Amendment VII: “Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.”
The prisoners were taken out only once a week for a one-minute shower. “After four and a half months we complained and people stopped eating, so they said we could shower for five minutes and exercise once a week,” Mr. Shah said. After that, he said, prisoners got to exercise for 10 minutes a week, walking around the inside of a cage 30 feet long.
In the 18 months since the detention camp opened, there have been 28 suicide attempts by 18 individuals, with most of those attempts made this year, said Capt. Warren Neary, a spokesman at the detention camp. None of the prisoners have succeeded in killing themselves, but one man has suffered severe brain damage, according to his lawyer.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Please present coupons when ordering
06.14.03 | Permalink | 4 Comments
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