Canticles of the Unhomed
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
Lord Vader's Performance Review
Found this on Ryeshy's blog, and had to put it up here.
Lord Vader's Performance Review.
Frigging brilliant.
Lord Vader's Performance Review.
Frigging brilliant.
Monday, May 30, 2005
The House Blog
So MacKenzie started the House Blog. Check it out here. It should be pretty cool, since a bunch of us are all contributing. Check it often to keep a thumb on the pulse of the House.
She's Got the Look
So in case you haven't noticed, the look of my blog has changed.
Big, monsta, old-school props out to Estelle, who single handedly created this vision of lovliness. When i was in Saskatoon, I asked her if she could help me pimp out my blog, and she just went for IT! Oh, I'm goin'!
I just feel sorry for all you suckas out there, since I now have the flyest blog on the strip. Expect for Estelle's of course. Check her's here.
No, I don't know where all the gangsta-esque slang came from. Probably better not to ask.
It must be nice to have skills... :)
Big, monsta, old-school props out to Estelle, who single handedly created this vision of lovliness. When i was in Saskatoon, I asked her if she could help me pimp out my blog, and she just went for IT! Oh, I'm goin'!
I just feel sorry for all you suckas out there, since I now have the flyest blog on the strip. Expect for Estelle's of course. Check her's here.
No, I don't know where all the gangsta-esque slang came from. Probably better not to ask.
It must be nice to have skills... :)
Wednesday, May 25, 2005
A Kindred Spirit
Hey, you should all check out Paul Seburn's blog. He's kind of a kindred spirit that has meant alot to me during the journey to and in the House.
Monday, May 23, 2005
And So I Wait
So I'm back.
Whenever you get back from being away like I just did, the question that you are always asked is, "what did you learn?" At least, that is the question that you should be asked. Thankfully, I had the pleasure of spending time with Jay and his wonderful wife Estelle. I have said it before, and I will say it again, but God Almighty do these people know how to minister to me. Rarely have I met such selfless servants of God who simply LOVE me; indiscriminately and ruthlessly. I see much of Christ in these people, both individually and as a couple. I don't know what it is about these people - okay maybe I do - but they have the ability to create such healing in me just by loving. It is a powerful testimony.
Some random memories from Saskatoon:
1. Quesadilla. 'Nuff said. Getting hungry...
2. Cruising down 8th singing the Neverending Story song with JB.
3. No limit Texas Hold'Em. In Denny's. In a pub. Last game I DOMINATED.
4. Sweet, sweet wings at the Double Deuce.
5. Nursing at the teat of wisdom...
6. Ginger Beef in the smallest town in Saskatchewan.
7. Falling in the tub - for the third time.
8. Dirty watermelon.
9. Arguing the doctrine of hell with an intractable heretic.
Overall, I return feeling rested, healed, exhausted and reoriented. I think I could have used another week with Jay and Estelle, but what are you going to do? Came back to some troubling news. The Evangelical Free Trust that we were hoping to use for funding for our building purchase has delayed our application until we can become a full fledged member of the Evangelical Free denomination. This happens in October, but does little for the little real estate deal that is affecting SO many lives.
This past week I have been giving a lot of thought to anger. We have spent alot of time in the past week looking at past hurts and helping eachother move toward some kind of healing. Those of you that know me know that I have been through in the last six or nine months. Nuff said. On the other side of that pain, I stand here and wonder if I should feel angry or not. I don't; I honestly don't, though I feel the potentiality in me to do so.
In fact I feel that potential so strongly that it scares me. I don't want to be angry; but at the same time I think that nothing would be better. As it sits, I feel hurt, but that pain does not control me; I don't get the impression that it is impairing either my judgement or my ability to laugh and enjoy life, and I know that it has not weakened my relationship with God. In fact, the opposite is true. Most importantly, that pain does not give way to anger. I feel anger toward myself for the role my own actions played in the events, but I do not yet feel anger toward other people. But I could. I feel it inside me, and it wants to get out, it wants to lash out and yell, and hurt and wound and damage. It wants to say horrible things and it wants to destroy relationships that I once held more closely than my own life. It wants to wish for only the worst things for people and it wants to take joy in the hurt of others. Frankly, it disgusts me.
But God is good... so good. He has preserved me, and he has given me strength to discipline myself against such horrors. So, the Cerberus of my anger is chained. It gives me time to find a solution and find healing. Perhaps the lessons of mythology can help me. Heracles calmed Cerberus by showing him kindness; Orpheus lulled him to sleep with sweet music; Aeneas put him to sleep with drugged honeycakes.
But my real concern is not for my own emotional constipation, but rather how I be a leader in the midst of it. It seems trite and insulting to say, "use it." I get the sense that brokeness is a characteristic of our generation. But I know that God is good, and that love brings healing. So I will love, and surround myself with love. If this process has done anything it has softened my heart to love others. I refuse to give in to anger, hate and destruction. Of course, I am human, and I am given to failure. It is reassuring that I do not suffer alone. This past week has taught me that as I heard story after story of God's love in the face of terrible pain.
"It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." - Jeremiah in Lamentations.
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." - Habakkuk
And so I wait.
Whenever you get back from being away like I just did, the question that you are always asked is, "what did you learn?" At least, that is the question that you should be asked. Thankfully, I had the pleasure of spending time with Jay and his wonderful wife Estelle. I have said it before, and I will say it again, but God Almighty do these people know how to minister to me. Rarely have I met such selfless servants of God who simply LOVE me; indiscriminately and ruthlessly. I see much of Christ in these people, both individually and as a couple. I don't know what it is about these people - okay maybe I do - but they have the ability to create such healing in me just by loving. It is a powerful testimony.
Some random memories from Saskatoon:
1. Quesadilla. 'Nuff said. Getting hungry...
2. Cruising down 8th singing the Neverending Story song with JB.
3. No limit Texas Hold'Em. In Denny's. In a pub. Last game I DOMINATED.
4. Sweet, sweet wings at the Double Deuce.
5. Nursing at the teat of wisdom...
6. Ginger Beef in the smallest town in Saskatchewan.
7. Falling in the tub - for the third time.
8. Dirty watermelon.
9. Arguing the doctrine of hell with an intractable heretic.
Overall, I return feeling rested, healed, exhausted and reoriented. I think I could have used another week with Jay and Estelle, but what are you going to do? Came back to some troubling news. The Evangelical Free Trust that we were hoping to use for funding for our building purchase has delayed our application until we can become a full fledged member of the Evangelical Free denomination. This happens in October, but does little for the little real estate deal that is affecting SO many lives.
This past week I have been giving a lot of thought to anger. We have spent alot of time in the past week looking at past hurts and helping eachother move toward some kind of healing. Those of you that know me know that I have been through in the last six or nine months. Nuff said. On the other side of that pain, I stand here and wonder if I should feel angry or not. I don't; I honestly don't, though I feel the potentiality in me to do so.
In fact I feel that potential so strongly that it scares me. I don't want to be angry; but at the same time I think that nothing would be better. As it sits, I feel hurt, but that pain does not control me; I don't get the impression that it is impairing either my judgement or my ability to laugh and enjoy life, and I know that it has not weakened my relationship with God. In fact, the opposite is true. Most importantly, that pain does not give way to anger. I feel anger toward myself for the role my own actions played in the events, but I do not yet feel anger toward other people. But I could. I feel it inside me, and it wants to get out, it wants to lash out and yell, and hurt and wound and damage. It wants to say horrible things and it wants to destroy relationships that I once held more closely than my own life. It wants to wish for only the worst things for people and it wants to take joy in the hurt of others. Frankly, it disgusts me.
But God is good... so good. He has preserved me, and he has given me strength to discipline myself against such horrors. So, the Cerberus of my anger is chained. It gives me time to find a solution and find healing. Perhaps the lessons of mythology can help me. Heracles calmed Cerberus by showing him kindness; Orpheus lulled him to sleep with sweet music; Aeneas put him to sleep with drugged honeycakes.
But my real concern is not for my own emotional constipation, but rather how I be a leader in the midst of it. It seems trite and insulting to say, "use it." I get the sense that brokeness is a characteristic of our generation. But I know that God is good, and that love brings healing. So I will love, and surround myself with love. If this process has done anything it has softened my heart to love others. I refuse to give in to anger, hate and destruction. Of course, I am human, and I am given to failure. It is reassuring that I do not suffer alone. This past week has taught me that as I heard story after story of God's love in the face of terrible pain.
"It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD." - Jeremiah in Lamentations.
"For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end--it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay." - Habakkuk
And so I wait.
Tuesday, May 10, 2005
So Its Another Post on My Blog
So its done. Yesterday the House Community Evangelical Free Church officially put down an offer on the house of our dreams. Also, by the virtue of the nature of our deal, we are also now the proud owners of a large dining room table and chairs, and a pool table and various billiard-related paraphenelia. It is an odd feeling, as a pastor, when your church purchases its first common-held equipment.
Now, it is just a matter of getting our financing arranged in the two weeks alotted to us. Props out to Jeff who has pretty much single-handedly done (and is doing) this.
There's a strangely euphoric panic at the fact that now its all so official, grown up, and there's no turning back now.
Its a good thing that I feel so good about the direction the House is taking, and the state of our community. I feel as though we are asking the right questions and are walking the right path.
Yeah, because if I didn't, man, I would be scared poopless.
There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the world of Matt this day. A while ago, while nursing a Red Robin's Royal burger (that's the one with a fried egg on it - aww yeah, that's the money) and having a rather stimulating conversation on the nature of communion with Chuck, Derek, Erika and Rachel, I rather violently discovered that I have - somehow; I don't know how - become rather distressingly Consubstantialist. And Luther's construction of the idea - over, above, under, in, etc, as representing Christ's physical presence with the church, seems to disturbingly appeal to me.
As a dyed in the wool mystic, I have always tended toward the symbolic approach of interpretation, except where heretical. The idea that Christ is present physically in the elements without transforming their character or structure always seemed kind of... I don't know... trite? Why bother with such a fantastic, convoluted and contrived explanation when it is so much more elegant to look at communion and the elements as symbols for powerful spiritual abstracts?
Now, however, the concept of Christ being physically present in the elements, and that communion becoming the celebration of Christ's physical presence with us every week has come to be very meaningful for me. It is quite a powerful mystic experience. I think that it adds a powerful significance to our communal gatherings.
So I am leaving for a week. I am looking forward to getting away.
Now, it is just a matter of getting our financing arranged in the two weeks alotted to us. Props out to Jeff who has pretty much single-handedly done (and is doing) this.
There's a strangely euphoric panic at the fact that now its all so official, grown up, and there's no turning back now.
Its a good thing that I feel so good about the direction the House is taking, and the state of our community. I feel as though we are asking the right questions and are walking the right path.
Yeah, because if I didn't, man, I would be scared poopless.
There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the world of Matt this day. A while ago, while nursing a Red Robin's Royal burger (that's the one with a fried egg on it - aww yeah, that's the money) and having a rather stimulating conversation on the nature of communion with Chuck, Derek, Erika and Rachel, I rather violently discovered that I have - somehow; I don't know how - become rather distressingly Consubstantialist. And Luther's construction of the idea - over, above, under, in, etc, as representing Christ's physical presence with the church, seems to disturbingly appeal to me.
As a dyed in the wool mystic, I have always tended toward the symbolic approach of interpretation, except where heretical. The idea that Christ is present physically in the elements without transforming their character or structure always seemed kind of... I don't know... trite? Why bother with such a fantastic, convoluted and contrived explanation when it is so much more elegant to look at communion and the elements as symbols for powerful spiritual abstracts?
Now, however, the concept of Christ being physically present in the elements, and that communion becoming the celebration of Christ's physical presence with us every week has come to be very meaningful for me. It is quite a powerful mystic experience. I think that it adds a powerful significance to our communal gatherings.
So I am leaving for a week. I am looking forward to getting away.
Monday, May 02, 2005
Jayson's Gonna Hate Me For This...
Yeah, JB is gonna hate me for this. Found this on my old buddy Jason Wall's blog. There was some controversy, but I love this for its aburdity, and if you can read it with the Sir Mixalot song running in your head, and laugh at it for a funny Christian spoof, you will enjoy it.
Sorry, Jay.
Baby Got Book
by: Dan Smith
Intro
Oh my goodness, Becky, look at her Bible
It is so big
She looks like one of those preacher guys girlfriends
But... you know... Who understands those preacher boys
They only talk to her because she looks like Mother Teresa, ok?
I mean her Bible... it's just so big
I can't believe it's so huge
Ugh! It gross!
Look, she's just so... righteous
Verse 1
I like big Bibles and I can not lie
You Christian brothers can't deny
That when a girl walks in with a KJV
And a book mark in Proverbs
You get stoked
Got her name engraved
So you know that girl is saved
It looks like one of those large ones
With plenty o' space in the margins
Oh baby, I wanna read witcha
Cause your Bible's got pictures
My minister tried to console me
But that Book you got makes ("M-m-me so holy")
Ooh, momma-mia
You say you want koinonia
Well, bless me, bless me
And teach me about John Wesley
I saw her praying
While I was DJing
She got grace...pretty face
She ain't goin' down to the bad place
I'm tired of heathen guys
Sayin' they like pocket-size
Ask the average Christian to take a look
She's gotta pack much Book
So...Fellas (Yeah), fellas (Yeah)
Has your girlfriend got the Book (Oh yeah!)
Well, read it (Read it!), read it (Read it!), read that Holy Book
Baby got Book
Verse 2
I like 'em leather and bound
It's 50 pounds
I just can't understand
How it is, some weenie
Wants the Bible on CD
She wanna get you saved
Amen! Double up! A-men!
I ain't talkin' about a paraphrase
Cuz Paul wouldn't use those anyways
I like 'em real thick and red-lettered
You can't find nothin' better
Southpaw's in love
Bibles that big are unheard of
So I'm sittin' here thinkin' "What if...
I find me a girl that shows midriff?"
You can have those bimbos
I'll keep those chicks that do devos
A word to the Christian sistas
I can't resist ya
I'll do God's time witcha
But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna pray
Til the break of day
Baby, got it goin' on
Like the wife in Pro-verbs 31
We just might get engaged
When we finish reading this page
Cuz it's worn and it's torn
And I know this girl's reborn
So ladies (yeah), ladies (yeah)
Do you wanna save people from Hades (yeah)
Then read it...'til the pages fall out
Even white preachers got to shout
Baby got Book
Yeah baby
When it comes to a good book
Stephen King's resume just can't compare
39 + 27 = 66 books
And if you're Catholic...there's even more
Verse 3
So your girlfriend quotes Bill Hybels
But does she got a big Bible?
Cuz that little things she's got won't start a revival
My Bible study don't want none,
Unless you got Book, hun
...You can read Clancy or Grisham
But please don't loose this Book
Some brothers wanna play that hard role
And tell you that Book's too old
So they toss it and burn it
And I pull up quick to just learn it
So your girl likes paperback?
Well I ain't down with that
Cuz my girlfriend's hot her Bible's rockin'
And she's got good doctrine
To the atheist chicks who try to dis
You ain't it Miss Priss
Give me a Christian, I'm insistin'
And I'll greet her with some holy kissin'
Some pervert tried to chase
But he didn't make it past first base
She's quick to resist temptation
And she loves a new translation
So ladies who were lost and found
If you want the triple-six thrown down
Dial 1-800-READS-A-LOT
And teach me about those Psalms
Baby got Book
Baby Got Book
Copyright 2004, Dan Smith
Sorry, Jay.
Baby Got Book
by: Dan Smith
Intro
Oh my goodness, Becky, look at her Bible
It is so big
She looks like one of those preacher guys girlfriends
But... you know... Who understands those preacher boys
They only talk to her because she looks like Mother Teresa, ok?
I mean her Bible... it's just so big
I can't believe it's so huge
Ugh! It gross!
Look, she's just so... righteous
Verse 1
I like big Bibles and I can not lie
You Christian brothers can't deny
That when a girl walks in with a KJV
And a book mark in Proverbs
You get stoked
Got her name engraved
So you know that girl is saved
It looks like one of those large ones
With plenty o' space in the margins
Oh baby, I wanna read witcha
Cause your Bible's got pictures
My minister tried to console me
But that Book you got makes ("M-m-me so holy")
Ooh, momma-mia
You say you want koinonia
Well, bless me, bless me
And teach me about John Wesley
I saw her praying
While I was DJing
She got grace...pretty face
She ain't goin' down to the bad place
I'm tired of heathen guys
Sayin' they like pocket-size
Ask the average Christian to take a look
She's gotta pack much Book
So...Fellas (Yeah), fellas (Yeah)
Has your girlfriend got the Book (Oh yeah!)
Well, read it (Read it!), read it (Read it!), read that Holy Book
Baby got Book
Verse 2
I like 'em leather and bound
It's 50 pounds
I just can't understand
How it is, some weenie
Wants the Bible on CD
She wanna get you saved
Amen! Double up! A-men!
I ain't talkin' about a paraphrase
Cuz Paul wouldn't use those anyways
I like 'em real thick and red-lettered
You can't find nothin' better
Southpaw's in love
Bibles that big are unheard of
So I'm sittin' here thinkin' "What if...
I find me a girl that shows midriff?"
You can have those bimbos
I'll keep those chicks that do devos
A word to the Christian sistas
I can't resist ya
I'll do God's time witcha
But I gotta be straight when I say I wanna pray
Til the break of day
Baby, got it goin' on
Like the wife in Pro-verbs 31
We just might get engaged
When we finish reading this page
Cuz it's worn and it's torn
And I know this girl's reborn
So ladies (yeah), ladies (yeah)
Do you wanna save people from Hades (yeah)
Then read it...'til the pages fall out
Even white preachers got to shout
Baby got Book
Yeah baby
When it comes to a good book
Stephen King's resume just can't compare
39 + 27 = 66 books
And if you're Catholic...there's even more
Verse 3
So your girlfriend quotes Bill Hybels
But does she got a big Bible?
Cuz that little things she's got won't start a revival
My Bible study don't want none,
Unless you got Book, hun
...You can read Clancy or Grisham
But please don't loose this Book
Some brothers wanna play that hard role
And tell you that Book's too old
So they toss it and burn it
And I pull up quick to just learn it
So your girl likes paperback?
Well I ain't down with that
Cuz my girlfriend's hot her Bible's rockin'
And she's got good doctrine
To the atheist chicks who try to dis
You ain't it Miss Priss
Give me a Christian, I'm insistin'
And I'll greet her with some holy kissin'
Some pervert tried to chase
But he didn't make it past first base
She's quick to resist temptation
And she loves a new translation
So ladies who were lost and found
If you want the triple-six thrown down
Dial 1-800-READS-A-LOT
And teach me about those Psalms
Baby got Book
Baby Got Book
Copyright 2004, Dan Smith
