Lorine Niedecker

I am long over due pulling Lorine Niedecker's collected poems off the shelf. The fact there is a new documentary about this wonderful poet only makes me all the more learn about her. Though her works stand for themselves and she had powerful friends like Cid Corman and William Carlos Williams she remained an outsider. While most authors these days go right from graduate school into various teaching programs she lived a life as an outsider in the poetry world. Heck, she was an outsider in the real world as well. She hid from academia, for whatever reason, and lived in poverty on a small island making a living as a maid. That seems almost incongruous to the literary life. If someone were to try that today they would die in obscurity. To be a poet (or any other sort of writer or artist for that matter) and pretty much avoid readings, writing seminars, and awards is a form of publishing suicide which most publishers won't stand for. Yet, it's one that sounds very attractive to me. As I figure out my role as a Christian and a poet I almost shun that typical literary life. Perhaps someday I'll get my MFA and settle in to some university job teaching kids about rhyme and meter and how our experiences can help us to shape humanity and seek out the truth in life we are aching to touch. My desire to seek God in such a silly and little way seems to override that desire to have people come up to me at a reading to get an autograph.

I knew a clean man

but he was not for me.

Now I sew green aprons

over covered seats. He

wades the muddy water fishing,

fall in, dries his last pay-check

in the sun, smooths it out

in Leaves Of Grass.

He'sthe one for me.

*

The death of my poor father

leaves debts

and two small houses.

To settle this estate

a thousand fees arise—

I enrich the law.

Before my own death is certified,

recorded, final judgement

judged

taxes taxed

I shall own a book

of old Chinese poems
and binoculars

to probe the river

trees.

Hipster Jesus

A friend of mine sent me an article about New Calvinist uber-pastor Mark Driscoll. I have to admit my knowledge of Mark is very limited. In fact I got him confused with the emergent movement, but after reading the article I remembered he was part of New Calvinism which, for some reason, is attracting 20-somethings like mad. I attend a Calvinist church so it does suprise me that in a world of relativism to see young heads going to a church that has certain ideas and theology that can be hard to grasp or to wrap your mind around. It seems to work so good for him. I know when I was their age I would have loved to go to a church like Mars Hill where you are likely to find people who bought the newest Tom Waits album and can quote "Clerks". When you are young who wouldn't want to be with like minded people that you share a lot in common with? At my current church if I try to bring up my giddy joy that Over The Rhine is coming to a local theater most people's eyes glaze over, but they know what they believe and why they believe it. I can't tell you how many times when I made a statement people much smarter than I have asked, "So that's what you believe? Why?" Why do I have the feeling I wouldn't get such a challenge from Mars Hill? And to be around so many fellow hipsters sounds kind of annoying to me. I do not think I could handle week after week being around so many people who are just like me. I'd miss out on the encouragement, ribbings, and fun that I have with the men and women of my church who are, thank God, not like me in the least. Plus, I am tired of people trying to be controversial just for the sake of being controversial. I am no longer impressed by people trying to shake the tree to create a cult of personality. The best pastors and teachers I have ever experienced weren't particularly dynamic they just love the Lord and desire to equip and edify the body through scripture. Lastly, he has way too much power. To have one person be in so much control of a church that they can tell you to shun somebody just because they question some of your ideas is ridiculous. That is how the PC(USA) went from being a church steeped in scripture to the liberal mess it is today. In fact, a church I attended imploded for that very reason. Too much power given to a few who forgot the needs of the church. Perhaps Mark offers a lot of good things to the Christian buffet? I do not know. I am curious to read his blog and see what he has to say.

Mug Shots

I love The Smoking Gun's mug shots of celebrities. They just compiled a list of some of their favorites.

R.I.P. Alexander Solzhenitsyn

Farewell Alex
You lived as an exiled from Russia for writing honestly about the hardships of life in the Soviet Union. Looks like you got the last laugh by being able to finish out your last days in the home country. I'd like to commemorate your passing by reading one of my favorite books. But I cannot find it. I'll have to settle to read "The Cancer Ward" until I can get a new copy. Darn it all!

Missing Nature

I remember as a kid waking up early on a saturday morning and riding my bike to the local pond to fish all day. My parents never freaked out because they knew where I was and more than likely I'd be home by dinner time. Or meeting with some friends at the ravine after school to climb around rocks and jump across the little stream. My father would take me to Indian Guide camp to fish and take nature hikes and even shoot air rifles. Or I'd come home from school, drop my books off at home and leave a note for my parents telling them where I'd be and not coming home until dinner time. And my parents never worried. At least, they never let on that they worried. After listenign to Richard Louv on more than one occassion it makes me feel sorry for the kids of this generation for they are spending more time in front of one type of screen or another than they are outside getting fresh air. I work part-time at a video game store (I hate to say this) where a majority of the kids who come in there are seriously overweight. And it doesn't come from the parents, because the parents tended to be of a normal weight. This is why I think I am going to do what I can to support this orginization.

Father Brown

I am a sucker for lists. Whenever someone puts out a top 100 anything I always make it a try to listen to, read, or watch everything that is one the list. Admittedly I tend to skip the ones I already know or just have no interest with. When I came upon the Top 50 Crime Writers To Read Before You Die I was pretty intrigued. I am a total mystery fan. The first novel I read on my own was Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None" and have been hooked ever since. I have to admit I was suprised to see the first writer listed was G.K. Chesterton. Not so much for his talent or genious, he was an Inkling after all, but for the fact he is very overtly religious in his writing. He doesn't mince words nor try to hide below ground his ethic. In fact, it wouldn't suprise me if his most well known character, Father Brown, weren't his alter ego like Kilgore Trout is to Kurt Vonnegut. Very often this kindly priest uses faith, wisdom, and an uncanny understanding of the fallen nature of man to solve his crimes. Many times within a few minutes of the crime being committed, but for the sake of narrative they allow the search for the criminal continue. Primarily Chesterton wrote short stories so you won't even begin to get a good idea as to who this character is until after reading several stories. They are written more like a person telling annecdotes of an old friend which at times I found tiresome. I also notice how much like many crime writers they tend to cheat by not revealing information until the end that you'd have no way of ever knowing. Other times he followed a typical formula that made easy for me to figure out who did it. I am curious to read more of his stories to get a bigger picture not only of the little priest and Chesterton as well. A man of wit and intelligience that influenced C.S. Lewis. Also, I noticed that the priest never actually does any real work. He's always on vacation or travelling somewhere.

The Complete Father Brown Stories

Angry White Man

Have you ever felt like there wasn't a candidate who spoke for people like you? Do you feel like your voice is lost in the crowd? Ever wish someone would say "Enough!"? More than likely you are an Angry White Man. With a few exceptions I'd say that was me. With the election season coming upon us and a whole bunch of people promising change (seriously, I counted at least 30 or 40 times in one day the candidates used the term change) yet I still pay a butt load of property taxes. I can't seem to save enough money to go back to school. And it took me over three years to find regular work. I'm not going to lie. I am very ambivalent about all the choices.

What The...?

It is very rare to find a few noteworthy pieces about Christianity on the NPR website. Not this time. Oh boy, I hit the mother load not with one story, but two stories.

First up is a story about a group of faithful Christians who have taken a step beyond See You At The Flagpole. Believe it or not, I find this a bit encouraging. So many people talk a good talk about getting involved and doing something. These people actually are.

And is there such a thing as a "Sin Free Sex Toy"? One Christian woman thinks so and she has a company to prove it. I am not so bold as to check out her sight. If any of you have the nerve to check it out please e-mail me and let me know what you find at cubicle.reverend@gmail.com.

Is There Meaning? What Not To Bring. And Other Goodies

Thanks to Millinerd for finding this neat little tid-bit. Who'd have thought that so many great minds would have such a wide range of ideas?

Pomomusings looks at what's allowed and what's not allowed at Bob Jones University. Suprisingly one of the items includes Michael W. Smith CD's.

Slacker digs Petrarch!

Book Lists

Jim Wallis offers a list of good books. Any there you think worth reading?

Hat tip to Ken.

Church of the Uncool

One thing I miss about visiting churches are the uncool things we did. While most people were going out and getting drunk we were having a square dance. We watched corny little church Christmas shows. Ate numerous pot luck dinners and played many many games of kick ball or pick up soft ball. We weren't so conscious of whether the world saw us as hip or not. I am fortunate that though we try to reach our neighborhoods we are a very un-hip place. I appreciate what this article has to say because I am starting to see that I am not alone in feeling this way.

Miscellany

I wish I could remember who it was that first point out to me The Bible Fight game, but apparently there are some Christians who enjoy it as well. I wasn't too interested in the game myself. I'd much rather protect villagers from being carried off.

***

After reading Christopher Hitchens' book God Is Not Great and hearing his comments on Jerry Falwell I have come to the conclusion that Hitchens is the atheists Jerry Falwell. Think about it: 1) Both make outrageous claims 2) Both claim to speak for the whole of the people the represent 3) Both enjoy imensely grabbing as much as the spotlight as they possibly can. Hat tip to Slacker for first bringing this video to my attention. Though I do not think Falwell ever flipped off an audience for hissing him.

Added points if you can guess what picture came up when I did a google image search of Hitchens book by title. Even I was surprised.

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What do you value? I have to admit this video choked me up a bit. Hat tip to Pulpit Pimps.

***

Though Millinerd assures me it is no big deal he does make it sound so attractive to be visiting Greece, Constantinople, and Turkey. OF course I wouldn't know if it wasn't a big deal or not since I haven't been outside of New Jersey for more than a weekend in a few years.

***

I happened to catch the tale end of this interview with local religious guru Shane Claiborne. It is a good interview and at the very least he is trying to practice what he preaches. He conveniently skates around the issue of salvation in a much more poetic and less straight forward fashion than most people I have heard. I still liked some of the things he had to say and what he is trying to do.

***

After hearing this Pod cast with Jersey boy John Shelby Spong and having read a few of his books I have come to the conclusion that the God and Jesus Spong wants us all to follow and believe in is not a God I'd like to know. All the mystery, pageantry, wonder, and awe of the most powerful and beautiful God are stripped away to reveal one of nice stories who may or may not have done the things he says he done. At least Spong was nice enough to drop the price of joining his website from $35 a year to $25. Am I being too snarky again?

Wisdom Comes With Age

There are many older men and women around me in my daily life. I think I'm long over due to spend some time with them.

Thinking Blog Awards

Much appreciation to Art for choosing me for the thinking blog awards. It feels good to make the cut. I have to admit I am having the same problem he did. Who do you chose? I read many blogs for many different reasons. I read one because he's a good friend and it gives me added insight into him as a person. Others because I can't help, but violently disagree with them which forces me to think outside of the box. Plus the bugger chose one I would have chosen. Thanks a lot Art! So here they are, in no particular order:

Millinerd: Matt and I go way back to highschool. We got back in touch with each other a few years back and he encouraged me to start blogging as well as helped guide it along a little bit. Since I am not a theologian and his knowledge about art greatly goes further than my own I am finding new things to learn and discover. My faith expands from knowing him.

Looking Closer: Faith and Art, too thinks I wished were looked at more by the general church family. I never knew how many other Christians are also interested in seeing faith and art meld until I discovered his blog.

Pomomusings: He's one I greatly disagree with, but I can't help checking his blog daily. I can't take his intellect lightly. It'd be foolish and I'd wind up loosing big time. I appreciate his youth and enthusiasm.

Art: At the risk of sounding like a butt kisser I chose Art because he's another blog I check out on a daily basis. He always leaves thought provoking comments here. So take that as a lesson to you non-commenters out there. You too can win a thinking blog award from the Cube Rev if you let us know what you think here.

Ron Silliman: I chose him mostly because of the shop talk. Poetics, language, etc.

Here are the rules:

1. If, and only if, you get tagged, write a post with links to 5 blogs that make you think,
2. Link to this post so that people can easily find the exact origin of the meme,
3. Optional: Proudly display the ‘Thinking Blogger Award’ with a link to the post that you wrote

Read Any Good Books Lately?

Considering the glut of Christian books out there, much of which is bad (I'm trying to be nice and not call it crap. Oops, I just did.). When I was a wee lad my mother worked in the local sewage treatment plant testing water for heavy metals like lead, mercury, and Metallica. Every so often she'd have to go out to the sludge pile to get a sample. At the pile there were workers who'd go out for her sinking up to their knees in all sorts of vile waste to get her sample. My mother, being barely 5'1" would have sunk up to her neck. I see the Christian writing community in much the same light as that pile of sludge. Sometimes you have to get waste deep in it in order to find what you need and you hope to God you don't sink up to your neck before you do! Few in the publishing world are taking notice. I for the most part have greatly reduced the amount of Christian books I read. I almost never read Christian fiction. My pastor introduced me to CCEL where I gladly spend most of my time combing through the great minds of our Christian fathers. I am reading a very well known Christian book right now (being a bit of a Johnny come lately and will comment more on that at another time), but am wondering: Who do you guys read? Who do you think is worth a salt and why do you think so? I need to consider my own library. I'll spare you m poetry collection which more than over runs my shelves far more than books on Christianity. Here is a good introduction of what I usually read.

Timothy Leary's Not Dead

Millinerd has this uncanny ability to wind up in the middle of these discussions that really defy the imagination. What is amazing is that this time around the person he was commenting on actually comments several times on his blog! There is a lot of dialogue going on. Make sure to check it out.

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?

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?

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.