It's amazing what you can find on the internet. On a buddy of mine's MySpace page I found this following gem-of-a-picture. Here's me (at age SIXTEEN) playing guitar in my underwear (I'm the one sitting down) with a few of my bandmates. We were playing a gig and no one was paying attention, so we decided they'd probably start listening if we got naked.
So there you have it. A bunch o' skinny pale guys in their skivies.
[a continuation on Tuesday's post: Seasons - Gagging on God]
"A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master. While the master quietly served tea, the professor talked about Zen. The master poured the visitor's cup to the brim, and then kept pouring. The professor watched the overflowing cup until he could no longer restrain himself. "It's overfull! No more will go in!" the professor blurted. "You are like this cup," the master replied, "How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup."
I'm in the process of emptying my cup.
Introducing Trevor Hall (thanks to Tommy for introducing ME to this guy). Trevor is a musician who has recently been signed to White Balloon / Geffen. His music is marriage of GREAT songwriting and a very deep spirituality. Go to his myspace page to hear samples from his new album - and MAKE SURE to listen to "Under His Blanket." Here are the incredible lyrics:
cut my wings break me down
my faith is gone i've lost my crown
am i alive or is this a dream
because the illusions are breaking at the seams
what am i following why am i bothering
i fell a victim to the trick and now i'm sick of all of it
all i got is this box of strings
am i really bringing anything
why do i question love when it burns so deep inside my chest
why do i live in fear when i always know that i'm under his blanket
are you a saint or just a man in a blanket
can you please fess up because i can't fucking take it
i love you too much for it to be a lie
just give me proof say the news either way i'll cry and cry
if it's all a hoax i'll die
and if you're telling the truth i'll fly
all i want to do is just stay in your holy grace
let you wash me down lord and let you paint my face
[chorus]
feed people serve people
take them to the holy steeples
where the rascals manufacture love to show us that we're equal
constellations station meditation for the dying
kiss your wish to make it bliss and give it to the crying
children can't find shelter so they retreat to the drugs
give out both your hands man and swallow them with love
the clock is ticking way too fast
triggers are pulled and guns blast
while the mothers take their children to the kindergarten class
well i'm under the blanket we're gonna make it to that holy place
where we are united without violence every single race
look into eyes and you will find that we're all of the same
blood blood blood blood blood blood blood
well neem karoli baba well he taught me like a father
i'm a ramayana soldier fighting with his love and honor
holy mother tell your brothers
wrap them up in all your covers
this is the time to rise and shine and burn off all the thunder
feel it all in your blood blood
unify and become come
all of us on the run run
our revolution of love
all of the elements turn turn
fire and water they burn
Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani Padme Hum Om Mani hey
Today is the first official day of spring and it's snowing like crazy outside right now. What a weird metaphor, actually. I find it interesting the seasons we go through in life.
For the past few months, I have been gung-ho on my spiritual practices (daily meditation, readings, etc) and have felt like I've just been marinating in the things of God.
But over the past week I just want nothing to do with higher and nobler things like God and spirituality. I'm not having a bad week, nor am I unhappy, it's just that "all things spiritual" are kind of making me queasy right now. (Maybe I've been on overload?)
I think I may metaphysically vomit.
Anyway, what I'm realizing as I get older is that these times come and go. I'm not the least bit worried about it and don't wish it was any other way than it is. When the time comes (probably in the next week or two), the things of God will return to being my passion and life blood.
Until then, I'm reminded of that great line from the Matrix.... [Cypher]: "You know, I know this steak doesn't exist. I know that when I put it in my mouth, the Matrix is telling my brain that it is juicy and delicious. After nine years, you know what I realize? [Takes a bite of steak] Ignorance is bliss."
I've seen various bloggers do the "Name Your First 10 Songs to Come Up on an iPod/iTunes Random Shuffle" thing - so here's mine for this week. The "rule" is that you can't edit what songs come up, or try to front by just putting your good songs on. It's a totally random shuffle (in my case out of 4,280 tracks) ... so here we go:
I'm playing a 45-minute set at a local bar tonight - WITHOUT MY BAND!
The bottom has fallen out - the support has been removed - the crutch has crumbled.
We were asked to play, but when I told him my band was unavailable, he said "Well, we still need a spot if you want to play an acoustic, solo performance."
So here we are. It should be fine, I suppose, except when people go to a bar, they want to hear a rockin' band, not a dude with his guitar on a stool singing stripped down versions of his songs.
Ah, well. I'll give 'em hell anyway. Here goes nothin'...
We got a Webcam yesterday so that we can speak (and see) Amy's family who live far away from us... and mainly so they can see our daughter, Kalli.
But everytime I use it, I feel like Pee-Wee in his Picturephone... like I should have to hold a can up to my ear to hear my callers.
(BTW - I'm on "SKYPE" now, so if anyone else uses that program and wants to chat, hit me up for my ID)
Last week I ordered four - count 'em - four Thomas Merton books from Amazon. I've been dabbling in his writings for some time, but now I've just decided to go for it and actually dive in.
1.) New Seeds of Contemplation
2.) Contemplative Prayer
3.) Thoughts in Solitude
4.) Zen and the Birds of Appetite
"A man cannot enter into the deepest center of himself and pass through that center into God, unless he is able to pass entirely out of himself and empty himself and give himself to other people in the purity of a selfless love."
(Merton, "New Seeds of Contemplation")
In the last few months, I've really gotten into Podcasting - those delightful little radio/video shows that automatically update to my iPod/iTunes. If you're into it as well, here's a couple of Trev Diesel's fav's worth checking out:
1.) Ask a Ninja (video) - I just got into this one, but my sweet Lord... it's a freaking riot. For a sample, click here and scroll down to view the "Ninja Gifts" video. You'll love it.
2.) Best Week Ever (video) - The crazy cats at VH1 have podcasted segments of their weekly recap on all-things-pop-culture. Hilarity ensues.
3.) The Ricky Gervais Show - Of course, everyone's favorite podcast from the creator of the BBC's "The Office." I could eat a nob at night.
4.) Meditatio Talks - Although I haven't figured out how to "subscribe" to this podcast, I have downloaded all these talks on Christian Contemplation and Meditation by Father Freeman. A bit dry (what else would you expect?) but excellent, and unique, teachings. Check it out HERE.
5.) Dirty Little Secrets - The radio show by those two crazy pastors at xxxchurch.com.
Runners up...
a.) Daily Jeezit - Musings from Pastor Noel at Riverview church in Michigan where my web-buddy Dan leads music.
b.) Zencast - Excellent Zen talks, updated weekly.
c.) Strong Bad Emails - Homestarrunner's arch nemesis' emails are now avaiable in podcast format. Holy crap!
Check 'em out, yo....
There are very few things that I'm afraid of in life, but I am deathly afraid of Tornados. They say the actual name of the phobia is Lilapsophobia.
Living in the midwest, this is something I have to deal with every spring and summer. And like most phobias, my fear isn't all that rational, but it IS toxic and paralyzing. I flip back and forth between 4 news stations watching the huge super cells move towards my county and imagine hovering in our bathroom and having the terrible thing rip though our house - even though the probabilty of me getting in a terrible car accident on the road is exponentially higher than ever personally encountering a tornado.
I suppose that the majority of my fear is due to our house not having a basement and that just wigs me out.
And then to see the reports that just hours from us, people's homes were ripped apart and lives taken by these things over the weekend. My heart and prayers go out to these people this morning.
So, here we go, it's not even April yet and I'm starting to feel anxiety about the damn things. I know that my spirituality should provide some sort of peace and calm in this regard, but I just get really uptight when Watches/Warnings are issued.
It's something I need to work on...
1.) Tonight is the first, real Trev Diesel gig with the full band. I just hope I nail all the guitar runs in Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke." Gulp.
2.) This June, our church's pastor (and my boss) will be moving on to his next life stage and a replacement is coming in. We met with the new pastor today and I don't think a better one could've been chosen. I look forward to what lies ahead.
Our daughter, Kalli, is obsessed with this ridiculous DVD of Kids songs. When she starts looking at the TV and saying "Tat tick" - which translates as "Tap your sticks," one of the oh-so-lovely tunes on there - I know I'm doomed for 50 minutes of glorious baby songs.
I'm sitting here in the middle of the work day with one of the songs pounding in my brain.
It won't go away.
I'm gonna lose it.
Monday, Monday, reach and run day
Tuesday, Tuesday, tap your shoes day
Wednesday, Wednesday, stretch and bend day
Thursday, Thursday, twist and turn day
Friday, Friday, jump up high day
Saturday, Saturday, pat your body day
Sunday, Sunday, that's the one day
We can rest and do nothing at all
Even though I'm a huge Marcus Borg fan, I avioded this book for a long time because of it's title. It sounds like just another wishy-washy Christian non-fiction book, but I was very glad when I actually dove into it.
If you're looking for a way to understand how to be a follower of Jesus without subscribing to the traditional and rigid/limited American Christian views on the Bible, God, Jesus and other religions, this is worth checking out.
Most notably, Borg wisely points out that following Jesus is more about following the WAY of Jesus (compassion, death and resurrection, love) than it is about intellectually assenting to beliefs and doctrines.
It's fresh and right on the money.
Most holy and merciful:
We confess to you and to one another, and to the whole communion of saints in heaven and on earth, that we have [missed the mark] by our own fault in thought, word, and deed; by what we have done, and by what we have left undone.
We have not loved you with our whole heart, and mind, and strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We have not forgiven others, as we have been forgiven.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We have been deaf to your call to serve as Christ served us. We have not been true to the mind of Christ. We have grieved your Holy Spirit.
Have mercy on us, Lord.
We confess to you, Lord, all our past unfaithfulness. The pride, hypocrisy, and impatience in our lives,
...we confess to you, Lord.
Our self-indulgent appetites and ways, and our exploitation of other people,
...we confess to you, Lord.
Our anger at our own frustration, and our envy of those more fortunate than ourselves,
...we confess to you, Lord.
Our intemperate love of worldly goods and comforts, and our dishonesty in daily life and work,
...we confess to you, Lord.
Our negligence in prayer and worship, and our failure to commend the faith that is in us,
...we confess to you, Lord.
Accept our repentance, Lord, for the wrongs we have done. For our blindness to human need and suffering, and our indifference to injustice and cruelty,
...accept our repentance, Lord.
For all false judgments, for uncharitable thoughts toward our neighbors, and for our prejudice and contempt toward those who differ from us,
...accept our repentance, Lord.
For our waste and pollution of your creation, and our lack of concern for those who come after us,
...accept our repentance, Lord.
Hear us, Lord, for your mercy is great. Amen.
Most translations of the New Testament are made by committees; they interpret the original text through theological doctrines and dogmas which arose centuries after the books were written. In this translation, however, Andy Gaus presents the New Testament as it would have appeared to someone reading the original, unvarnished Greek--as though 2,000 years of Christian history had not occurred. The fresh approach taken by this gifted translator strips away the thick layers of convention and Biblical language that often clouds the meaning of the original words. The approach is simple and direct, portraying an ageless beauty which no earlier translation has captured. Unlike other versions of the New Testament, this edition is designed to be easily read. Gone are the double columns, small type and verse numbers common to other editions. By eliminating these obstacles, the reader can encounter the stunning directness of the words themselves.
In a Wisdom Reading group I'm a part of online, I asked everyone if they knew of any unusual or unorthodox translations of the Bible. Most of their suggestions I either owned or new of... everything except "The Unvarnished New Testament" as recommended by my friend Jon. So far it's exactly what I was hoping for and is a very interesting read. I'd like to share what is written on the back of the book:
A new, innovative translation of the New Testament, this book steps outside preconceptions and allows the reader to view these important Greek writings in an entirely different light. Based on a radical and startling premise, The Unvarnished New Testament presents the New Testament simply as it appears in the original Greek.
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