Crushed Leviathan

Do you know where you are?

2009-06-16T22:53:00.003+02:00

One of the things I've noticed about the people here is the concept of space and how it is different from mine. I knew coming in that personal space was much less in Europe than in America. It got a little getting used to, but after awhile I was more comfortable having people in "my space."

But what I've noticed is not an issue of personal space. It's a matter of people really not knowing where they are in space. So many times I'm in a store, and someone will just bump into me. Or someone will be walking and just walk right into my shoulder as if they couldn't judge the distance well enough to avoid a collision. I do not know if the personal space is so small that one person's space actually runs into the next. But personal space here is not like being at the top of the Eiffel Tower and literally having Japanese tourist push their way around you. It's more like people are just not sure where they are.

It carries over into parking lots and highways. How many times do you see scratch marks along the side of cars? Either they have gotten too close to the pillars in the underground parking or too close to another car on the highway. Obviously, one could blame that on the small parking areas and no merge lanes. But if the car is an extension of one's self, it might well could be an issue of misjudging space.

Run but do not cheat

2009-06-08T21:32:00.002+02:00

Being on the 11th floor gives us a certain point of view. This past Sunday I noticed a race happening right below on the street. As I observed the race, I noticed the police were stopping traffic and turning drivers around to the chagrin of several irate taxi and bus drivers. I also noticed race officials whose sole job was to ensure no runner cheated by cutting the corner. I must say they were not doing such a great job. Many runners rounded the corner and went on the inside of the red cone instead of the outside. Not really a huge blunder.

What amazed me more was that not a single person crossed the road until they came to the red cone. It would have been so easy to run down one side of the road and cross over and be ahead of a lot of people. So even though many cut inside the red cone (a really small gesture) no one dared "cheat," by crossing the road.

I was thinking...the runners had put a lot of effort to train for this race. There were so many who knew they had no chance of winning. They were running just to be running. But each runner decided to run the entire length of the circuit and not cheat. It meant something for them to run the entire distance.

In our sojourn on Earth, we run. We could cheat our way through with selfishness and arrogance, but when we cross the line, we'll know in our hearts that we really did not run well. We simply ran.

Lost vs Stolen

2009-06-04T18:40:00.003+02:00

Recently, a good friend of mine has his passports stolen.

Yesterday, another friend lost his cell phone in the back of my car.

Today, I lost my own cell phone and found it in my bag.

When something is stolen, it feels like a personal violation. Someone has taken our property. When we loose something, often we were negligent in some way. But no matter, there is within us a feeling of something "taken." When the item is recovered we are joyful and relieved.

We all hate loosing things or being the victim of a robbery. The Evil One is set on doing both. He steals, will kill, and basically wants to destroy our life. But even in the clutches of the Evil One, Jesus came to redeem lost and stolen people. Much has been taken, much can be redeemed. Oh the joy of finding lost and stolen objects.

Je leur ai dit la vérité

2009-06-01T20:04:00.004+02:00

Quoi? Qu'est-ce qui a dit par le président de la République aux familles des victimes du vol AF447 Rio à Paris?

L'avion a disparu après avoir entré dans une zone de turbulence au-dessus de l'Océan atlantique. Quand Sarkozy arrivait à l'aéroport Roissy, il a rencontré les familles qui étaient à une cellule de crise.

Sarkozy a dit <<Je leur ai dit la vérité, c'est-à-dire que les perspectives de trouver des survivants sont très faibles.>>

Vraiment! Et c'est une message "d'entretien?" Vraiment? Il leur a dit la vérité. Je veux la vérité mais assaisonnée de sel et dans l'amour.

Condoléances aux victimes. Que Dieu soit avec tous eux!

Pentecost Sunday

2009-05-31T16:16:00.006+02:00

10 days ago Christ ascended. What a great 40 days we had with him after his resurrection!!

He told us to wait for the Holy Spirit. Today, he came.

Not sure why Pentecost is not a bigger deal than it is. But I've taken this Pentecost to enjoy revisiting the Scripture on Pentecost. Of course Pentecost began as a Jewish festival 50 days after Passover. This day is also called the Festival of Weeks or Festival of the First Fruits.

When the Holy Spirit came 10 days after the Ascension of Christ, everyone who was gathered in Jerusalem could speak to each other and be understood (Acts 2:6). It was a matter of both speaking and understanding foreign languages never learned. (Acts 2:4,8,11) But let's not get too caught up with this. The reason the Holy Spirit allowed everyone to communicate with each other was to hear the message of Peter (v22 "listen to these words"), respond appropriately (v37 "what shall we do?"), and form a fellowship together through common initiation activity (v38 "repent and be baptised because of your sins being forgiven") and devotion to the apostles' teachings (v42). It wasn't the miracles of the Holy Spirit that was so important on that day, remember Jesus had performed many miracles and produced many signs and wonders too (v22). But like Jesus, the important thing would be the work of the Holy Spirit. That day He was poured forth to indwell the believers and gather them together like the grain used to be gathered into a bundle. This was also the first picking of the harvest that God is still reaping when one is united to His body by faith through the Spirit's work.

Facebook making Reunions obsolete?

2009-05-28T18:39:00.002+02:00

I am amazed at the social networking tools available today. I guess one of the most popular ones is Facebook. I've heard about Facebook for years and refused to join until about a year or so ago.

But what a tool. You fill out the information about yourself and then go searching for long lost friends from high school or college or even childhood. I've been surprised by whom I've found and also by those who have found me.

So, how will Facebook change (or has changed) society? Well, I'm no sociologist by any means. But I have a few observations. Facebook may bring back the the high school (or any time in our lives) cliques. For example, Popular Person A will only be friends with all his popular friends from high school. No harm there. Why would I want to be friends with Popular Person A now when s/he didn't even give me the time of day back in high school? But what if you thought you and Popular Person A were friends in high school and never get your friend-request accepted from PPA? As you wait and wait to be accepted, you start to wonder if you were in fact really friends. Was the other person just enduring you and really did not consider you a friend? Or could it be that the other person has actually forgotten about you? Or were you really friends, but for whatever reason s/he has not kept your memory alive so when they get the email saying they have a friend request from you, they either deny it or wait to see if something joggs their memory of you. One way to find out how this person may know you is by checking out yours and his mutal friends. That can put you in a context for them.

The other thing Facebook might do is put an end to high school reunions. If I find Lost Friend A from high school, we may send a couple of messages back and forth getting caught up. Usually this is no more than where the person is, to whom they've married, how many kids they have, and what their profession is. I've found that after that most Long Lost Friends (A, B, and C) really don't have that much to add, or either they are way too busy to give me more information than the basics. So, when the 25th high school reunion comes around, they may think to themselves, "I've already gotten caught up on Lost Friends X, Y, and Z, and I really could care less about Acquaintances M, N, and O, so I won't go to the reunion. Besides, if I really wanted to know about Acquaintances M, N, and O, I would accept their friend request, but I really didn't like them anyway." (see above paragraph). And can you blame them? I can get an update on what my friends are doing everytime I log in (provided they have updated). They change their status, post some pictures, write notes, and keep sending me invitations to join their little groups or games. So, if anyone does go to the high school reunions, no one will have anything to talk about. We've already got reunited.

Now, the death of the high school reunion could be based on other social conditions like being too busy, too far to travel, too young, etc., etc. But I imagine as communication increases through social networks like Facebook that taking the time to see each other again face to face will be a thing of the past. Besides, isn't it more convenient to catch up on everybody by logging in to Facebook rather than trying to plan and attend the reunion?!

A new change coming

2009-05-21T19:25:00.002+02:00

Life is always full of changes. And for me and Lady R our lives are about to change a whole lot. We are expecting!

Yesterday was the 15th week. We had our a normally scheduled doctor's appointment, and she said everything looked fine. This is good news, and we've waited to say something until we were past the first trimester because of a previous miscarriage.

Please pray for us as we become parents and for the protection of our little one. We should know if it is a boy or a girl just before we come back to the States in a few weeks for a little R&R.

Did you get His attention

2009-05-12T22:57:00.005+02:00

I just came back from one of the most famous pilgrimages in Europe. The pilgrimage to Fatima. I was there mostly as an observer. I didn't go there on foot but by car. I didn't do anything at Fatima but pray out loud for those around me.

My first impression was sadness. I couldn't believe people were on their knees walking around trying to get God's attention.

The next emotion was anger. Anger at the Catholic Church for letting this stuff go on. Now, I am not one to go around saying Catholics worship Mary and idols. But when I was in Fatima what I saw was pure paganism and idol worship, mainly of Mary.

What's my response to Fatima? I'm still thinking about it. Would you like to help contribute to my conclusion?

Additional words added May 31, 2009 in regards to above.

This is an open invitation to discuss ideas in regards to the above. But I am not asking for personal attacks on me or my readers. If you want to interact with the idea of Fatima, let's talk. If you wish to insult we have nothing else to say.

Questioning Evangelicalism

2009-04-30T21:20:00.003+02:00

I have never really liked the label "evangelical."

I just heard a conversation from one of these "evangelicals." They had all their talking points laid out, and they talked as if they were trying to convert anyone hearing them to their politics (their religion). But their arrogance (on any subject) repulsed me. I was angry.

My favorite was their critique on Catholicism. It was the usual. Catholicism is a works-based religion. They don't understand "grace." It is all about doing good deeds and praying certain prayers.

Whatever Catholicism is, can't we say Evangelicalism certainly looks a lot like their definition of "Catholicism," to which they are vehemently opposed?!

As Catholicism has involved herself in local (and global) politics throughout history so has Evangelicalism in American politics today. Aren't many Evangelicals clueless concerning "grace," when it has to do with people who are divorced, had a kid out of wedlock, or are struggling with homosexuality or pornography? Aren't certain Evangelicals more concerned with global warming, social justice, poverty and AIDS in Africa than getting their own life connected to God? And what is the thing one MUST do "to get saved?" It's pray a prayer!

If we are followers of Christ, our only mission is to make other followers. Exchanging one's thoughts on abortion for one's thoughts on the environment doesn't make you a better follower of Christ. Following Christ (still hard to define what that means) may change my outlook on some issues, but might it also change who I am at my core? Could this "learning Christ," be more than just changing my mind on a variety of topics (political, theological, and social et.al.)?

Church services

2009-04-24T19:26:00.005+02:00

I was eager to report on how the Easter service went a couple of Sundays ago. But since we had company come, and we picked up two late afternoon classes, I've not had time nor the energy to reflect and write.

Here is a quick rundown of what happened. We left Saturday late in the morning and arrived just after lunch at the place where we were staying. We were met by a super nice couple with whom we stayed the entire weekend. They took us around to see the beauty of the South and then to their favorite cafe and later, to their favorite restaurant for supper. The next day we got up around 5:30 AM for the sunrise at 6AM on the beach. It was a wonderful time celebrating the resurrection with Germans, Russians, South Africans, Welsh, Scottish, and Portuguese. Afterwards, we went to a breakfast and enjoyed pancakes from around the world. My favorite was the Russian pancake cake. Next, we went back to our host's home to get ready for their Easter lunch. I snuck in a nap, but I didn't sleep too long and was able to help in the kitchen. I got to cut fresh mint for a cup of fresh mint tea.

The guest having arrived we proceeded to eat lamb among other things. It was a nice mix of both believers and non-believers. I got to meet some really neat people. Around 5:30 PM or so, the host made the announcement that we were going to church for the Easter service.

It was a good time with special music and communion. I tried to deliver the message that I thought was appropiate, and then we all gathered for a coffee.

Nice group of people. But I left asking myself, "Why did we have to move the party to the church building?" Why couldn't we've had "church," at the host's house instead of making everyone go to the church? That way, the non-believers may have stayed around some and got to hear the good news and why the resurrection is so important. It certainly was a non-hostile environment for them to be at church without having to go to church.

Happy Easter

2009-04-12T06:33:00.000+02:00

Yes, this is it. The crux of the Christian faith.

The Empty Tomb.
Everything accomplished.
He is Risen
Why Search for the Living among the Dead!!!

Happy Easter. Reconciliation of the strayed sheep!!!

It's just Saturday

2009-04-11T11:32:00.002+02:00

Sermon finished. Now it must be delivered in the Spirit's power.

He's still dead...but it's not over.

Sorrowful Friday

2009-04-10T15:38:00.003+02:00

There is nothing new under the sun. I am sort of happy about that.

As I said yesterday blogging helps me to think through while I do the studying part of sermon preparation. Today, I've two angles about which I had thought about writing. But two people have already thought about it too. And It actually makes me happy that others are thinking the same thing at the same time.

The first was why is today called "Good," Friday? My friend Madge suggested we call it "sorrowful" Friday. And I would agree with her. The death of Christ was not good. It is not the good news. It's the honest news. We as humans screwed it all up and caused God to send Jesus, who also voluntarily came and gave up his life, to be crucified. The crucifixion will not be good news until 3 days later.

Jesus is dead.

Secondly, last night, unlike us he didn't sleep. When he saw the sunset last night, it was his last. He was upbeat as he met with his friends and ate with them and encouraged them. Soon, though, he was betrayed by one of these associates. He was arrested like a thug. Next, thrown into a kangaroo type court (or so it seems to me). And beat to a pulp. Then, because of mob rule sentenced to die. From about noon to three he was in the clutches of death, and a little after 3PM this afternoon he allowed life to leave his body. Joseph, one of the Council leaders who was not in favor of doing any of this to Jesus, has come and buried him and sealed the tomb.

He's dead.

There is nothing "good" about it. The blood frenzy is over and some people, a soldier even, are now realizing something bad has gone on. Don't think this is "good." It is sorrowful.

At this point the crucifixion of Jesus was just like any other crucifixion.

Two thugs on either side were sentenced to death with him. Professional soldiers took care to execute these three men. Let there be no doubt about it. He's dead. There is nothing to indicate the soldiers botched any of the three's execution. They are all three dead. The one in the middle is just as dead as the one on the right and the one on the left. Not a one of these "swooned," "fainted," "faked,"or "pretended" to die. NO. They are DEAD!!! This is what happens under normal circumstances. Soldiers, who've done this many times before, carried out their orders perfectly to slowly antagonize one to death.

There is nothing unusual here, Jesus is dead and buried. This is not good.

Maundy Thursday

2009-04-09T21:08:00.003+02:00

Ok, the answer is yes, today I have blogerrhea, a condition where you are constantly blogging. It is helping me think.

Maundy Thursday. A day to commemorate the institution of communion and a couple of other key practices for Christianity.

Jesus was celebrating the Jewish Passover, a day of remembering when the children of Israel were spared from death if they had had blood sprinkled over and on the side of their doors. He announced one of his disciples would betray him. It was that same night that he took the elements of Passover and used them symbolically to demonstrate his blood being poured out and his body being broken. It was the same night he took a towel and washed the disciple's feet and told them to do likewise. It was the same night he told them he was going away in order to prepare a place for them. It was that night he told the disciples he would come back for them and in his absence he would send them The Helper. It was a time for him to tell them that they knew the Way and to abide in him and he would abide in them. It was a night where Jesus prayed for all his disciples both those there and those future followers. It was the night where Judas betrayed him in front of his closest friends. That night began the process towards the Crucifixion and Death and Resurrection of Jesus Messiah.

Thank you for redemption. Thank you for showing us your blood being poured out and your body being broken. Thank you for enduring betrayal. Thank you for your example. Thank you for washing the feet of your disciples and telling us to do the same. Thank you for the encouragement you gave. Thank you for preparing a place and coming back to get us. Thank you for being the Vine. Thank you for being the way back to the Father. Thank you for the Helper. Thank you for praying for us. May we keep your commandment to love God first and each other second.

Easter Preparation

2009-04-09T18:46:00.005+02:00

I am sitting here reading the Gospel accounts of the events surrounding Easter along with John Stott's The Cross of Christ in preparation for a sermon I get to preach this Sunday (feeling a little rusty since it's been awhile since I've had to do sermon preparation).

It's neat being reminded of some of the small details related to the death and resurrection of Jesus. Like Pilate knowing Jesus was handed over because of envy. And all the former dead people walking around Jerusalem after the Resurrection (see Mt 27:52-53).

But my sermon thoughts are not the reason I decided to put aside sermon prep and write a blog post. As I was taking a break I read BiblePlaces Blog on the Tomb of Jesus and actually watched the video from Expedition Bible. I would suggest you watch it too, but if you are like me you ignore like 95% of videos posted on blogs. So, I'll tell you my viewpoint on it.

With the recent discovery of the inscription of "Jesus son of Joseph" on one of the ossuaries from Talpiot, I have had little interest in following the drama surrounding the so-called family of Jesus tomb. From the beginning I've noticed intellectual dishonesty surrounding the tombs and particularly the inscriptions. I knew the issue was that the bones of Jesus had been found thus evidence that we Christians are a bunch of idiots following a good man hoping for some fantasy land where like minded people go who have nothing else to do but have a simpleton belief in God. But beyond that it's one of those issues I frankly could care less about. Not just because it contradicts what I believe (for I often entertain many things that contradict what I believe) but mainly because it had little substance to its claims.

In my own words, here are the issues, if you believe I am in error, let's talk. In the 1980's a 1st century tomb was found containing about 10 ossuaries (a limestone box that contains bones) of which 6 had inscriptions. One of the inscriptions is "Jesus son of Joseph." This led a filmmaker and journalist to conclude that this was Jesus of Nazareth. Their argument is that this combination of Jesus as son of Joseph is probably and statistically refering to the Joseph and Jesus commonly known in the New Testament.

While there are other smaller issues, basically these two guys believe they have solid evidence that Jesus did not rise from the dead, but in fact his disciples stole the body and did something with it. So, for all it is worth and for all their creativity, they haven't come up with anything original. This was the exact lie and conspiracy forged days after the death of Jesus.

My first reaction is draw my sword and cut their ears off (or rather cut out their lying tongues) but I know those who live by the sword die by it. My second is to pray for these guys who so desperately want to believe a lie rather than truth. Are they really so far removed from the opponents of Jesus of his day?

May their journalism skills stay objective. May their creativity be used for good not bad. Draw them to the cross, the grave, the resurrection and the consequences thereof. In Jesus' name. Amen.

If Jesus did not come back to life after his death, the only honest and noble thing for me to do is to stop following him. But HE LIVES, HE LIVES, HE LIVES.

The lesson from a fellow fisherman

2009-03-23T16:26:00.004+01:00

The other day I was following someone to meet two nationals. We were about 2 hours outside the capital and were entering a nice size town. As we came into town a white truck was parked in my lane, the right lane, cater cornered towards the left. I had to swerve over into the left lane to avoid a collision. My first instinct was to blow my horn at him, but this time I didn't. And I am glad I didn't.

We met our friends and the person I was following suggested we go back and check to see if the man was OK. It was thought he may have been sick or having a heart attack or something. So, we turned around and found the truck empty. But soon the driver was found walking up the hill. His car had overheated.

No one had stopped to check on this man, or find out why his car was in the middle of the road. We pushed his car off the road and got him some water. One of nationals, a local pastor, started talking to the guy in a very nice and genuinely concerned manner. It turns out this man had had a tumor/aneurysm removed recently. So, when his truck overheated he was having a hard time dealing with the problem and really didn't know what to do next. The pastor also found out that this man was a fisherman and that he was on his way to deliver some sort of gourmand fish (looked like an eel or a snake to me) to a fancy restaurant in town. The fish had to be delivered alive in order to be prepared correctly. The pastor was able to phone the restaurant, and have someone come and pick up the fish. Then, he called someone to come help get the car going again.

I felt really bad that my first impulse was to blown my horn at this guy instead of even thinking to help or that something might be wrong. I am afraid that I would have been the two people who passed the Samaritan. Sometimes, it is just good to have a reality check about those who annoy us.

So many lessons I learned from this brief encounter with a fisherman. 1) Give people a break, you have no idea what might be going on behind the scenes. 2) Is my action really going to change the situation. If I had honked my horn would that have really gotten the man out of the way? 3) Being a good example speaks volumes. The pastor's example said more to me than the few Portuguese words I understood him to say on Sunday. 4) Be around those who are doing right will influence me to do right. I would not have thought twice about this guy, but being with others who are obviously more spiritual than I, showed me my errant ways.

Book Meme

2009-03-14T22:20:00.002+01:00

Don't worry no one is getting tagged. I got this from Stew, and he was saying he disagrees with the BBC report that most will only have read 6 of the 100. See the bottom for my results. If you tag yourself, let me know so I can see your results.

Instructions:

1. Look at the list and put an ‘x’ after those you have read ENTIRELY
2. Add a ‘+’ to the ones you LOVE.
3. Star (*) those you plan on reading.
4. Tally your total at the bottom.

My reading list:

1. Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
2. The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien
3. Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte *
4. Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
5. To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee X+
6. The Bible X+
7. Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
8. Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell *
9. His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
10. Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
11. Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
12. Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy X
13. Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
14. Complete Works of Shakespeare
15. Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier
16. The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien X
17. Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
18. Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger X
19. The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
20. Middlemarch - George Eliot
21. Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
22. The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald X+
23. Bleak House - Charles Dickens
24. War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
25. The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
26. Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
27. Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
28. Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck X
29. Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
30. The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame X+
31. Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
32. David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
33. Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis X+
34. Emma - Jane Austen
35. Persuasion - Jane Austen
36. The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis X
37. The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
38. Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
39. Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
40. Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
41. Animal Farm - George Orwell *
42. The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown X
43. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
44. A Prayer for Owen Meaney - John Irving
45. The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
46. Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
47. Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy *
48. The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
49. Lord of the Flies - William Golding X+
50. Atonement - Ian McEwan
51. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
52. Dune - Frank Herbert
53. Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
54. Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
55. A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
56. The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
57. A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
58. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
59. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
60. Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
61. Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
62. Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
63. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
64. The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
65. Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
66. On The Road - Jack Kerouac
67. Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy *
68. Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding
69. Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
70. Moby Dick - Herman Melville *
71. Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
72. Dracula - Bram Stoker
73. The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
74. Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
75. Ulysses - James Joyce
76. The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
77. Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
78. Germinal - Emile Zola
79. Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
80. Possession - AS Byatt
81. A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
82. Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
83. The Color Purple - Alice Walker
84. The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
85. Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
86. A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
87. Charlotte’s Web - EB White X
88. The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Alborn
89. Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
90. The Faraway Tree Collection - Enid Blyton
91. Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad *
92. The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery *
93. The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
94. Watership Down - Richard Adams
95. A Confederacy of Dunces - John Kennedy Toole
96. A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
97. The Three Musketeers - Alexandre Dumas
98. Hamlet - William Shakespeare X
99. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
100. Les Miserables - Victor Hugo

Total 14/100

Sadly, a lot of the classics I've read was not on the list. Then, there are those I've only partially read. I'd be familiar with even more.=(

What Penn Says is this

2009-03-10T21:46:00.003+01:00

The famous talker of the duo Penn and Teller gives us his impression of a gift given to him after a show.

And despite the title of this post I am not going to even try to speak for Penn. He is capable of speaking for himself. But he brings up a good question I'd like to ask. What is the role of religion in society? I think it does serve some function. But does religion make people good? I look around and see hard core atheists doing good deeds. Is it always that humans do good based on faith (or their religion)? I think clearly the answer is no. Religion does not serve society by making people better.

I can see some common outcomes of religion. Most, if not all, seem to make a society more cohesive, or form some sort of community. But when your society is not all the same religion, does religion serve the entire community? To a degree it serves everyone by separating them into like minded groups. Thus, in a particular society you may get Jews and Gentiles living within the same space and possibly even becoming friends who understand each others spiritual differences, but who are nonetheless separated by that same mentality. Then, inside each major religion you find smaller communities being formed around their particular emphasis of how things should be. In Christianity, this is how denominations come into existence.

Another outcome of religion that I see would be the shaping of worldview. Religion provides a way to explain the world in which we live; why things are the way they are and usually a solution of some sort to how things ought to be in the future (or the present).

But I'm digressing a bit. Penn is touched by the gift of this "good" man. It's almost as if whatever faith this man had could make everyone as good as he, then Penn might be open to further exploration and actual promotion of this faith. And although Penn still retains his atheism, he values "good."

I think we all do. But who (or what) is good? How do we explain the transformation of some people who've found "religion?" Then, how can we explain the goodness of the faithless? Could it be that the concept of goodness is relative? Even Jesus said no one is good except God, that would mean, according to him, even the most devout Muslim, Jew, Sikh, or whatever is not good, as well as the most well behaved atheist. Yet we value "good," and wish to experience it done to us and we to others.

Therefore, finding good (only found in God, according to Jesus) seems to be different than finding religion, as such.

All paths are not created equally

2009-03-04T13:50:00.004+01:00

I have been thinking about this subject for a few days. And I will continue to think about it. So, this post is not my final answer on the topic, but I wanted to at least start writing about it.

While in language school Lady R and I met this Japanese Buddhist monk. He was here to do a Christian pilgrimage. He said the Dalai Lama has encouraged the investigation of other world religions for the purpose of peace. So, he'd decided to do a Christian pilgrimage or two. He's already done several pilgrimages in China, Japan, and India.

We were talking the other day, and he said the goal of Buddhism is Enlightenment. I always thought it was to reach Nirvana, but what do I know? He said Enlightenment was like the peak of a mountain and all religious paths led to that peak. One simply chooses the path that best suits him. For some this is Christianity and others it's Buddhism or Shintoism or any religion. Buddhism, he claims, is an inclusive religion which morphs into the local traditions. They do not deny God or the gods, but accept whatever gods are around.

But if Buddhism is so inclusive why did they used to kill converts to Christianity? It seems that if Christianity is a legitimate path (and one that "suits" someone) , that one would have been able to convert without repercussions. Why is it only recently that Buddhism accepts a person converting to Christianity? Or is it really true that Buddhism now or ever has accepted other religions? Isn't it more true to say that you can convert to Christianity as long as you stay Buddhist? This means you must have some form of syncretism. In this revised system, you must maintain a Buddhist worldview but are allowed to pray to Jesus. Otherwise, you would have to completely give up the Buddhist understanding of the world for another.

I am well aware of how Christianity has meshed (never well) with many local traditions around the world. I am keenly aware of the exclusive position of Jesus Christ himself. I know that you can say that you can keep your Hinduism and apparently your Buddhism and take on a little Christianity without any spiritual dissonance (or cognitive dissonance even). And I know that it doesn't work the other way around. You can't be Christian and a Hindu or Buddhist at the same time. So, I ask, "Are all paths equal?"

How can they be? I know you can only stretch a metaphor so far. So, when one says that the peak of the mountain (whatever that is, heaven, nirvana, enlightenment, etc) is attained by many paths, one is saying something rather figuratively. But I know that all paths do not reach the top. Some paths lead nowhere. Some take you dangerously close to the edge where if you continue you will fall off. Therefore, can we really say all religions lead you to the same end? This is not a question of personal preference. I suspect if the goal is the top of the mountain that the path is hard and narrow and not many people find it nor attain the destination. But again, what do I know?

Carnival and Lent

2009-02-26T15:43:00.004+01:00

So what are you giving up for Lent?

I have never "done" a Lent, and do not anticipate doing one anytime soon.

Having lived in the birthplace of Mardi Gras celebration in the USA (not New Orleans either) for over 23 years, I am aware of the "party-it-up attitude," before the "giving-it-all-up attitude," of Lent.

Well, this year I was curious to see if a Portuguese Carnaval compared to a Mardi Gras. I would say it's just as lacking in dignity as any Mardi Gras but in a different way. My biggest question is what possesses a majority male population of those in attendance at Carnaval to desire to dress up as women? Sociological, what question is this begging to ask? What needs are there to become someone else of a different sex and act out? Enlighten me, please.

Transportation

2009-02-13T21:56:00.004+01:00

Somehow some way you have to get around. You can go by foot, by car, by train, by boat, by plane, on horseback, and a variety of other means, but if you travel you will use some kind of transportation.

In Paris I think the public transportation is really good (as well as in London). You can get almost anywhere by metro plus walking a few minutes. My observation is that the London underground is a lot cleaner than the Paris metro, but the Paris system seems to be more efficient (except during the times of strikes or demonstrations).

The metro in Lisbon is clean and efficient (unless you need to get from the red line to the yellow, but they are working on it). However, I do have a complaint. If you are one of the poor souls that have to stand up during your trek across town, you have to hold on to these grips above you, that is if there is anything to hold on at all. This makes it ideal for pickpockets and hard to keep your balance.

The public buses are a little better with poles to hang on to. But some of the buses are old (as they are in Paris too) and the ride is rough. I think it is more the streets than the actual buses themselves. I think Lisbon must have the most cobble stone roads in Europe.

And speaking of roads, today we drove around to get a feel for the city. We've noticed that paint is in short supply. You can have a road with three lanes and nothing to distinguish one lane from another. You end up driving somewhere in the middle of any lane. Or you might have a lane change without warning. All of sudden you are in a turn lane but wanting to go straight. And road signs are no better. In that way, living in Dallas has helped me not to rely totally on signs to direct me in the way I should go. Today, we were driving on a road separated by a train track. We knew we needed to get over the tracks, but there was no way to. Finally, we saw a ramp, but trying to find how to get on it took a little bit of luck and skill. Then, you had to watch out so as not to be swallowed by the massive potholes. We could have easily lost an axle if we had ran full fledged into one, which we almost did a time or two.

And one last thing. What ever made Ford so great? I grew up, influenced by dad, to have a strong dislike for Fords. He's had a Chevrolet ever since I was born, and it was a known fact in our household that Ford was not all that. Later on, something happened and he bought my mom a Ford, and so I thought to myself, "Well, if my dad had a change of heart maybe they aren't so bad." It prepared me for Europe where we've had a Ford the whole time. And I am not complaining in the least. I am tickled pink just to have a vehicle (and a nice one at that). I am very thankful to be able to drive anything. But I'll tell you, old or new, every Ford I've ever driven is hard to get going in the beginning. They all have the same feel, and it's like you really have to manhandle them to get 'em to go. I stalled out so many times today. But in a little while I'll have it down! Or at least I hope to have it down.

About a month ago

2009-02-04T11:29:00.003+01:00

This is a SHORT run down of all that has been going on since we left France on Dec 16.

Our pictures were in the local paper and an article written about our language project there.
Drove to Paris to sell our car and spent a couple of days seeing the city for the last time at least for a year.
Visited some friends in Germany for Christmas.
While there heard a wonderful Christmas Eve sermon and I bought some walking shoes
Left Germany on Dec 30; arrived in Lisbon in PM
Woke up the next morning seeing the Tejo River.
Started driving immediately. WHAT?!! but survived
Spent New Year's Eve watching fireworks with some friends and made new ones.
Visited Palacio da Ajuda and Torre de Belem
Eaten tons of local pastries and drank more coffee than I ever have in my life.
Asked to help assist coach for an American football team (of all things)
Started job teaching English on Monday, 5th.
Visited Vasco da Gama's tomb and have eaten at Chilis (WHOOOHOOO American food)
Seen some of the surfing beaches around town (Cascais, Parede, Carcavelos et al.)
Went to Mafra, Cabo da Roca and Boco do Inferno
Signed up for a gym (what a novel idea)
Got my haircut (really did not like it)
Got my prescription for my glasses filled. They are way too strong
We've taken a two week intensive Portuguese class.
Have had the time of my life so far. Lady R has been doing great with culture stress. I, on the other hand, have felt it a bit more, but have been able to deal with it!

Lisboa

2009-01-09T12:44:00.002+01:00

I thought I would try to write a quick update. I have not died nor fallen off the planet. I am in Lisboa, been here for a little over a week, have started my job, and so far love mostly everything about our new place.

I wish I could go into more details but I am at an internet cafe at the mall because I still do not have internet at our place. We are trying to resolve the issues.

It´s supper cold here. In fact it is as cold here as it was when we left France. We have gotten to see a lot of neat stuff and even had diner at Chili´s.

When there is more time I will give more of the juicy details.

What I'll Miss in France

2008-12-13T23:43:00.000+01:00

10. The slower pace of life here.

9. Dark Chocolate Options.

8. Our relationships we've developed with those in our language classes and in our community at large.

7. Bisous. It's nice; those air kisses you do when you meet someone for the first time during the day.

6. Fly Overs by military jets. We live in the flight path of the Navy's training courses.

5. Sunsets over the "Mountain" that can be seen from our living room window

4. Rocky Beaches

3. The Monks (B&P) and Nuns (ML & Y)

2. Cleaning the rivers with the locals

1. Vanilla Coke. Supposedly it is longer made in the USA

Our first couple of lessons

2008-12-04T22:17:00.003+01:00

In the midst of packing we try to listen to our Pimsleur's Portugal. It's a great way of learning to speak before "seeing" the language.

Here's what we've learned so far. I have no idea how these phrases are suppose to be written. I'm only writing how it sounds to me. I do not know how to indicate the nasal sounds, it's just there.

/Desh kulp/- Excuse me
/mina Señora/- ma'am
/eSeñora fala inglesh/- Do you(f) speak English?
/por tu gesh/-Portuguese
/oSeñor eh americanoo/- Are you(m) American?
/Faloo uhn pok d por tu gesh/ - I speak a little Portuguese.
/Now so americana/- I'm not American (f)
/Now faloo por tu gesh muy to bane/- I do not speak Portuguese very well.
/Per se bo por tu gesh/ - I understand Portuguese.
/oSeñor per se bah inglesh/- Do you(m) understand Portuguese?
/bon dia/- Good morning
/boa tard/- Good afternoon
/Komoo shta/- How are you?
/Muy to bane/- Very well
/ee eSeñora/- And you (f)?
/Di ondah eSeñora/- Where are you from (to a woman)?
/Soda Amerika/- I am from America.
/Soduh Lish boa/- I am from Lisbon.
/Ay Di oosh/- Good bye.

As you can see, Portuguese is distinctive in that it has a certain "sh" sound. If an "s" is between a vowel and a consonant, it is pronounced /sh/ (as in Lisboa /lish boa/ ) or if an "s" comes at the end of a word like in /por tu gesh/.

You will also note that a very formal way of saying "you" is literally "the Lady," and "the Mister." Thus, we have /eSeñora fala inglesh/ - Do you (f) speak English?