Random Comments on the Bible

"Love" by Alexandr Milov (2015 Burning Man ) Forgiveness demands three new simultaneous “seeings”: I must see God in the other; I must access God in myself; and I must experience God in a new way that is larger than an “Enforcer.” Richard Rohr

Lately I've seen a couple of things on Facebook to which I've had a predictable reaction given my worldview. http://www.refinery29.com/2017/03/144819/sexual-assault-mugging-video-parody-viral The above parody: a man comes into the police station after being mugged at knife point. The female officers intimate that maybe he was asking for it because he was dressed so well and he didn't scream. My thoughts/reaction: funny but a profoundly true comment of gender discrimination.  And then there was this floating around a few days ago: Short version of the above : a male employee accidentally -- then intentionally -- swaps email signatures with a female employee. Both are shocked at the worse/better treatment they receive based purely on gender. My thoughts/reaction. Wow. Sexism strikes in 2017. I recall a female co-worker's story of being bullied by a male boss. I remember thinking at the time,  he did what? He said what? He never treats me like that. Respon...

For those of you interested in church growth and change theory. How does this -- Richard Rohr on systems of this world -- fit into your paradigm? https://cac.org/the-body-of-christ-2017-03-09/ Trinity: Week 2 The Body of Christ Thursday, March 9, 2017 A Trinitarian person in formation is someone being freed of narcissism’s chains. A partner in the divine dance is someone who agrees to stand in the mutual relationship that  God is —the relationship that God has already and gratuitously drawn us into. As Lay Cistercian and teacher Carl McColman puts it: God is in us, because we are in Christ. As members of the mystical body, Christians actually partake in the divine nature of the Trinity. We do not merely  watch  the dance, we  dance  the dance. We join hands with Christ and the Spirit flows through us and between us and our feet move always in the loving embrace of the Father. In that we are members of the mystical body of Christ, we see the joyful...

Good evening everyone. As you know, I’m here before you, the members of Southridge, because I’m seeking to serve on the board of elders for another 3 years. As I reflect on the last six years and hopefully look forward to the next 3, several thoughts/feelings/convictions come to the forefront. As most of you know, 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with lymphoma. The short version is that I’m currently in remission, retired from work at 56 years of age -- yes, I know, I suck: please don’t hate me -- and feeling great. And very recently Doris and I became grandparents for the first time. In my re-up interview, I told those in attendance that because of my current reality, I have the time and mental space to serve like never before. For me, being thankful for everyday is no longer a cliche; it’s very real. The second thing I’d like to share is what I’d call transfer. In my former life both as a teacher and an educational consultant, we learned that if a student can transfer a concept...

What I learned through my obsession over the US election. Tell the story of the facebook fiasco that went on in my family and the call with Dan and Joe…  and I’m a 9 on the enneagram POSTURE & ACTION POSTURE - humility Richard Rohr [We need to grow] ... as... spiritual seekers [in qualities] such as love, charity, compassion, and respect for the otherness of others. the poster child in my head of the otherness of others Someone I know and American Tribal Christianity… It’s easy for me to dismiss, but I need to be reminded, as Greg Boyd pointed out in his podcast, that there were very intelligent, spiritual, God-seeking people on both sides 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Matthew 7:1-2 No labels. What all major religions have in common. Don’t judge. More commonly translated “Don’t label”... With people like… 2 dud...