I know I'm not supposed to be blogging, but I thought I should mention that *cino is going to be at Calvin's Festival of Faith and Music this Friday and Saturday. If you're going, stop by our table in the Fine Arts Center.
March 2005 Archives
i was just flipping through the most recent catalog from Alternatives for Simple Living and just wanted to point out their organization as a resource for anyone who's interested. they have a VBS curriculum that looks wonderful (and doesn't make me want to cringe because it's simplistic or cheesy) called "The Good Life," subtitled "5 Lessons to Nurture Simplicity Within Christian Communities." the five lessons are 1: Do Justice, 2: Cherish the Natural Order, 3: Learn from the World Community, 4: Nurture People and 5: Nonconform Freely.
in addition, they have dozens of other resources in the form of books, studies, bumper stickers, CDs, films, etc. that explore how we can live Kingdom lives in how we cook, consume, celebrate, marry, parent...even in how we die.
Unless Kirstin decides to post something, this blog will be on hiatus until May. I have a list of papers to do in the next month, so I should probably concentrate my writing efforts there instead of here. See you in May!
This past weekend, a friend graciously gave us a 3rd generation 20 GB iPod. We had already loaded about 430 albums (5,000 songs, including several audio books and radio programs) onto my laptop over the last year, so loading up the iPod with 300 albums only took about 20 minutes. I still can't believe it's possible to carry so much music on a device the size of a pack of cards. Amazing, really ...
Thanks again, Nate.
My last entry was a quote from Henri Nouwen, which Rob Hatch astutely recognized as a recent delivery from the Bruderhof's Daily Dig. They seem to be firing on all cylinders lately and I'm wanting to post nearly everything they send. For example ...
Soren Kierkegaard:
If you have any knowledge at all of human nature, you know that those who only admire the truth will, when danger appears, become traitors. The admirer is infatuated with the false security of greatness; but if there is any inconvenience or trouble, he pulls back. Admiring the truth, instead of following it, is just as dubious a fire as the fire of erotic love, which at the turn of the hand can be changed into exactly the opposite, to hate, jealousy, and revenge. Christ, however, never asked for admirers, worshippers, or adherents. He consistently spoke of "followers" and "disciples."
Annemarie W?chter:
What I am looking for?is a life lived in the spirit of the kingdom of God. And that kingdom is not a vague, faraway ideal; it must be lived and fulfilled now, today... There will never be social justice as long as we merely give up a small part of our possessions and keep the greater share for ourselves. Doesn?t every person have the right to such a life? Is there not in every one a longing for light, for God, however hidden?
Obviously it will demand a struggle against one?s selfish human nature; against the comforts of?self-satisfied tranquility. Such a life requires the readiness for sacrifice, privation, and even martyrdom. Christ died on a cross, and his death did not relieve us of the necessity of going the same way.? It was an example for us to follow.
I am so tired of today's sweetly gushing Christianity; of false enthusiasm and empty phrases! But I am also thankful to have found a knowledge of the burden and bitterness of Christ?s way. It is a way of conviction and faith and therefore of action, and that is what makes all the difference.
Always challenging, those Bruderhof folks; I recommend you sign up now for their Daily Dig.
Henri J. M. Nouwen, from an address at Yale Universtiy, March 30, 1995:
We are called to be fruitful - not successful, not productive, not accomplished. Success comes from strength, stress, and human effort. Fruitfulness comes from vulnerability and the admission of our own weakness.
We've arrived home after the most wonderful vacation I've experienced in several years. We actually rested, spending time with amazing people and touring a beautiful city.
Now I've got to catch up on life ...
Well, we made it to Boston last night, through a snowstorm that made the last two hours ... interesting. Due to the severity of the storm, our friend, Nate, has the day off from Berklee and we'll get to check out Harvard Square with him as guide. Nice, really.
