Monthly Archives: November 2013
A deadline required me to go ahead and write something about The Bonhoeffer Reader, but I’m not yet finished with this collection of wisdom from one of the 20th century’s most influential theologians. I plan to continue reading, particularly his classics on Discipleship and Life Together. — Ellen Painter Dollar
* among the greatest theologians in history — majestic Jesus disciple Dietrich Bonhoeffer * * http://www.patheos.com/blogs/ellenpainterdollar/2013/11/stuck-in-the-middle-with-bonhoeffer/ * So, this arrived on my doorstep about two weeks ago. I agreed to read and write on The Bonhoeffer Reader for … Continue reading
The existence of cowards can be summed up: “The sum of the intelligence of the planet is a constant, and the population is increasing.”
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+afraid&qpvt=images+afraid&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=F5CBE3A5EB0F6FFD590CA19DEC1C4521BCDAEFE4&selectedIndex=210 * * http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/steven-kalas/live-take-risk * * * * https://curtisnarimatsu.wordpress.com/2012/07/13/energy-vamps-croix-and-george-brine/ * * Hilo’s self-anointed know-it-alls’ Croix Bertelmann St. Louis High ’70 and George Tidal Brine born September 10, 1965 reprise energy vamp[ires] time and again – * * Decent … Continue reading
empathy in Scripture — Benjamin L. Corey
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+galatians+6%3a2&qpvt=images+galatians+6%3a2&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=C894CC83620D5A9521981C09135B2FFB45F2185F&selectedIndex=12 * * http://www.patheos.com/blogs/formerlyfundie/10-reasons-why-reading-the-bible-makes-us-more-progressive/ * 1. The more I read my Bible, the more I realize that I don’t have it all together. Growing up I was frequently reminded that the Bible, through the Holy Spirit will convict … Continue reading
Gratitude is humbling. Or maybe it’s suffering that, if honestly and courageously faced, humbles us sufficiently to carve out a place for thanksgiving. Gratitude finds little welcome in the swell of entitlement, pride or petulant diatribes about “what I deserve.” I mean, good for you if you have worked hard and faithfully to earn or achieve something worth having! But, even “gooder” for you if you can celebrate and say thank you for that which you have not earned. Could not have earned. The joys of life beyond earning. — Steven Kalas
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+god’s+grace&qpvt=images+god%27s+grace&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=C9A5EF79D9F637B4DDDC1D8CEECAA7C2059C11C7&selectedIndex=33 * * http://www.reviewjournal.com/columns-blogs/steven-kalas/thank-god-giving-us-ways-express-gratitude * I’m convinced gratitude is the most constant and accurate measure of spiritual health and wholeness. I have this keen memory of my maternal great-grandmother, all talcum powder and wrinkles, squeaky chalk-on-a-chalkboard voice, singing, … Continue reading
“We’re asked to learn how to keep asking for what we need only to practice accepting what we’re given,” he says. “And that’s a paradox. But what’s so important about this, for me, is that asking for what we need doesn’t always lead to getting what we need. Sometimes it does, and that’s great. But the reward for asking for what we need is that we become intimate with our own nature. We learn who we are by standing in who we are.” — Mark Nepo
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+comfortable+in+your+own+skin&qpvt=images+comfortable+in+your+own+skin&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=2CFC7113E543877E0B51366589602035DBF0C2AB&selectedIndex=0 * * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/13/mark-nepo-cancer_n_4262569.html?utm_hp_ref=books&ir=Books * Nepo shares the biggest lessons he learned during his battle with cancer, explaining why openness and acceptance are the most important among them. “One of the biggest lessons,” Nepo says, “is that whatever … Continue reading
So, if Funes is accurately reflecting Catholic thinking, Earthly humans remain the favorite of God — although a strange kind of favorite who needs redeeming while the countless other intelligent life forms do not. — Victor Stenger
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+god+of+all+worlds&qpvt=images+god+of+all+worlds&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=A1AC2A503F6045B3F920DEB2CD498A7E6F39D946&selectedIndex=13 * * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/victor-stenger/redemption_3_b_4282044.html * The Kepler Space Observatory was launched on March 7, 2009 with the express purpose of searching for Earth-sized planets. As of November 2013 Kepler had confirmed the detection of 167 planets with another … Continue reading
James attacks the idea that one can be justified by faith apart from “works.” But what kind of works? Paul maintained that justification did not come from works of the law; that is, by observing the Torah. His concern involved Gentiles who might think they needed to convert to Judaism in order to follow Jesus. Paul never tells people to avoid good “works” in general, like looking after the poor and the vulnerable. — Greg Carey
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+bible+faith+works&qpvt=images+bible+faith+works&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=8CBEBB35F2C51A88513EF96A16F5101A8FA894EF&selectedIndex=59 * * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/greg-carey/james-and-paul_b_4263493.html?utm_hp_ref=religion * One common take on Christian origins pits James the brother of Jesus against the Apostle Paul. We find this view in Reza Aslan’s bestselling Zealot, which has led to my fielding a couple … Continue reading
Tribute to my musical Dad Toshi 1913-1998 — George Trice’s & Kozzy Iwakawa’s passion & personality analog my Dad
* my Dad Toshi 1913-1998 442nd Go For Broke all-Japanese American infantry unit WWII — here Dad is stepping up in convoy with left leg raised & left hand on side rail (National Archives have actual film/movie of this convoy) — Dad … Continue reading
Persecution for the expression of opinions seems to me perfectly logical. If you have no doubt of your premises or your power and want a certain result with all your heart you naturally express your wishes in law and sweep away all opposition…But when men have realized that time has upset many fighting faiths, they may come to believe even more than they believe the very foundations of their own conduct that the ultimate good desired is better reached by free trade in ideas. . . . The best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, and that truth is the only ground upon which their wishes safely can be carried out. — Oliver Wendell Holmes
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+freedom+of+speech&qpvt=images+freedom+of+speech&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=6F2A23F3EA3D83E2BB036880B3DDB4EA9A89C78E&selectedIndex=27 * * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abrams_v._United_States#Holmes.27_dissent * Holmes’ dissent is now accepted as the better statement of the law. Holmes’s passionate, indignant opinion above is often quoted. * * http://www.booktv.org/Program/14955/The+Great+Dissent+How+Oliver+Wendell+Holmes+Changed+His+Mind+and+Changed+the+History+of+Free+Speech+in+America.aspx * * http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oliver_Wendell_Holmes,_Jr#cite_note-6 * Profoundly influenced by his experience fighting … Continue reading
blood libel
* http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=images+blood+libel&qpvt=images+blood+libel&FORM=IGRE#view=detail&id=463059AA35C05A1114C5F9F3729C5586A1DC62AD&selectedIndex=39 * * http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bernard-starr/the-return-of-the-blood-l_b_4210258.html * Despite a reported Jewish revival in Hungary and a forthright statement by the Deputy Prime Minister of a commitment to fight anti-Semitism, the rise of the far right, with its anti-Semitic platform, is … Continue reading
Curtis Narimatsu 