Mamet The Faithful

I may be wrong, but I think I heard David Mamet in an interview with Bill Maher say that religious faith is a good thing and this country was founded as as a religious country. A man who wrote some of the most course and foul mouthed dialogue in film believes faith is good! I am trying to find the video, but have had no luck.

Pissed Off Christians

Am I wrong or are there a lot of pissed off Christians around? They aren't pissed off at sin, or injustice, or the lack of health care they are pissed at other Christians. They are pissed because Christians are following the wrong teachers, or reading the wrong books, or for some past hurt they may have been subject to. The latter is unfortunate, but that is a risk we as Christians take in being a part of a body. I know, because it happened to me on at least two seperate occassions. Fortunately, the person who is discipling me had enough spiritual maturity to ask, "what are you so worried about? if they seek Jesus then it'll work out in the end." I became a pharisee. For the past year or so I frequented a blog called Stupid Church People and I can safely say that I understand their anger. Are there bad teachers out there? Yep, I followed them gladly. Are there bad books out there? Yep, I read those as well. I gave my tithe hoping to be blessed by God and worshipped at the political alter. In the end I am spiritually mature in some areas while being weak in others. In other words, I am a typical Christian. So for all you people out there who are bitter at the church and spend your time being pissed off at churches that won't even notice your anger.... lighten up:



I don't think this bitter separation is what God wanted.

I appologize for this rare rant. But I am getting tired of watching the church act like spoiled little kids over things that ultimately won't matter.

Am I Going To Hell? Plus Other Good Reads

The Dante's Inferno Test has sent you to Purgatory!
Here is how you matched up against all the levels:

Level	Score
Purgatory (Repenting Believers)	Very High
Level 1 - Limbo (Virtuous Non-Believers)	Low
Level 2 (Lustful)	High
Level 3 (Gluttonous)	Moderate
Level 4 (Prodigal and Avaricious)	Very Low
Level 5 (Wrathful and Gloomy)	Low
Level 6 - The City of Dis (Heretics)	Very Low
Level 7 (Violent)	Low
Level 8- the Malebolge (Fraudulent, Malicious, Panderers)	Moderate
Level 9 - Cocytus (Treacherous)	Low

Take the Dante's Inferno Test

Purgatory

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You have escaped damnation and made it to Purgatory, a place where the dew of repentance washes off the stain of sin and girds the spirit with humility. Through contrition, confession, and satisfaction by works of righteousness, you must make your way up the mountain. As the sins are cleansed from your soul, you will be illuminated by the Sun of Divine Grace, and you will join other souls, smiling and happy, upon the summit of this mountain. Before long you will know the joys of Paradise as you ascend to the ethereal realm of Heaven.

Whew, close one. I am glad this test has assured me of my salvation. At least, to go to purgatory. Hat tip to Slacker, this was fun.

The very gay Chad Allen is doing another very Christian movie. Is this strange? Looking Closer thinks we should keep an open mind.

Far Country Tell looks at Mediafiction.

Southcon looks at the Grammy's.

And Left Cheek asks, Are we too Christian?

Written On The Eve Of Execution

My prime of youth is but a frost of cares,

My feast of joy is but a dish of pain,

My crop of corn is but a field of tares,

And all my good is but vain hope of gain;

The day is past, and yet I saw no sun,

And now I live, and now my life is done.

My tale was heard and yet it was not told,

My fruit is fallen, and yet my leaves are green,

My youth is spent and yet I am not old,

I saw the world and yet I was not seen;

My thread is cut and yet it is not spun,

And now I live, and now my life is done.

I sought my death and found it in my womb,

I looked for life and saw it was a shade,

I trod the earth and knew it was my tomb,

And now I die, and now I was but made;

My glass is full, and now my glass is run,

And now I live, and now my life is done.

I love finding old poetry anthologies at used book sales. In them you find who was considered the hot commodity at the time. Whose voices were worthy to be sustained for a time. Usually they are common names found in many other anthologies, such as: Coleridge, Keats, Elliot, or Bronte. Digging deeper are the names of poets who have been forgotten. Anyone of you heard of Sir John Suckling? A few days ago I found a single poem written by Chidiock Tichborne. Besides having an unusual name I was struck by the title of his poem, "Written On The Eve Of Execution". The poem is dark, but has such stunning imagery was this poem written by someone who was about to die? Yes he did. Catholics during the time of Queen Elizabeth were persecuted for their beliefs as were the protestants during other parts of English history. Chidiock and some others plotted to have the queen assassinated. They were found out, but only the author was captured and executed. Before he was about to die he wrote a letter which contained this short poem. As far as can be told this was his only poem. Granted his reason for execution, but I wonder if I were in a situation where I knew I was going to be executed for my faith what would I write? I've been going through a lot of my old journals to find which ones I want to keep and which to throw away.... man I was a weepy little wuss back in the day. Is that what I'd want people to find? If you had the opportunity what would you lave behind?

Christian Poets

Out of curiosity I did a google search on Christian poets to see what I'd find. Besides a lot of people attempting to re-write the psalms I found a list that was quite interesting. It is a list of the faitfhul or formerly faithful rounding out with a lot of the major heavy hitters of poetic thought including Auden and Berryman. I wonder if people any of us realize how influential Christianity is whether we mean it to or not?

Snickers Commercial

I know people are upset at this commercial both gay and straight.... I still think it's funny.

You guys had the rennaisance!

While working in a book store a friend of mine asked me, "How can you guys go from writing Dante's Inferno to The Left Behind Series? What happened? You guys had the rennaisance!" Good question. It's one I think more believers are starting to ask themselves. According to Chuck Colson there is a modern rennaisance in literature going on. Is this a good thing? I haven't read any of the books mentioned in the article, but going through Chronicles Of Narnia for Sunday School it is making me wonder what role art, literature, and music plays in the life of a believer. I thought I was pretty secure in my belief as the best way to use art for God's glory. Now I am no longer too sure.

Who Influenced Lewis?

We are watching Lion, Witch, and the Wardrobe at church. The person teaching the class had a few of Lewis' books set up for people to thumb through with one exception. At the end was a beaten up old book called Phantastes by George Macdonald. According to the teacher Lewis was taking a long train ride and picked the book up at the station. The book is still in print, but if you don't want to shell out the $13 to buy it there is a free down loadable version. The book was written in the 1800's so there aren't any copyright laws to worry about. Enjoy. I wonder how people reacted to a minister using fairy tales and fantasy to get the message of Christ across?

UPDATE:
Just for the record, some wisenheimers got a little confused. It's CS Lewis.