Announcing a New Blog

Come check out what I am doing over here:
http://livethedangerousjourney.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dangerous-Journey/467683099909149
@DangerJourney

It's all a new creation and is under construction, but enjoy the building of it with me!

Levon Helm, RIP

One by one the folks I listened to growing up are passing away.  I had "The Basement Tapes" on LP as a kid and I spun that sucker many a time.  I still have it in a box around here somewhere.  I'm going to imbed a song here that probably won't be one you will hear many other places as Levon is eulogized.  Enjoy the Gospel feel of this number and let's pray that someone showed Levon the way.

From outside the open window
How the faithful was gathered to sing
As the tears swelled up inside me
Still down in a mournful rain.

And all sands of time stood still
As the procession climbed the hill
And off in the distance it's a mother run away
The father turned to say

Somebody shine a light, show me the way
Take me through the night to the break of day.
Won't you shine a light so I can see,
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Lookin' through the open window
I can see where I went wrong.
I quit searching for the rainbow,
I forgot where I belong.

Then the darkness dips around me
And I have no strength to fight
Though I'll search for those who love me
I'll search for the one above me
Just like I said

Somebody shine a light, show me the way,
Take me through the night to the break of day.
Won't you shine a light so I can see,
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

And all sands of time stood still
As the echo crossed my window sill.
I heard it plain as day, I could hear 'em sing,
I'm trying to find the way,

Somebody shine a light, show me the way
Make it through the night to the break of day.
Won't you shine a light so I can see,
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Shine a light, show me the way
Take me through the night to the break of day.
Shine a light so I can see
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Shine a light so I can see
Lift up these chains of darkness and set me free.

Where Y'all From?

I saw this on another blog today, I thought it was interesting the way they evaluated for outcome.  Is my accent "Midland"?  I don't know.  I was born in the deep south, grew up in Kansas, lived in Colorado and have now lived in Wisconsin for quite a while.  I guess I'm moving from south to north.  I guarantee you that I'm not going on north to Canada, and I sho' aint from Southn Indiana or Mo-zuri!  

Click on the link and let me know what your accent is!

What American accent do you have? Your Result: The Midland   "You have a Midland accent" is just another way of saying "you don't have an accent." You probably are from the Midland (Pennsylvania, southern Ohio, southern Indiana, southern Illinois, and Missouri) but then for all we know you could be from Florida or Charleston or one of those big southern cities like Atlanta or Dallas. You have a good voice for TV and radio.
The West	 
North Central	 
The South	 
Boston	 
The Inland North	 
Philadelphia	 
The Northeast	 
What American accent do you have? Quiz Created on GoToQuiz

Party Like It's Around the 12th -15th Century BC

I've been reading in Deuteronomy lately.  This morning as I read chapter 14, I was struck by this section:

Be sure to set aside a tenth of all that your fields produce each year.  Eat the tithe of your grain, new wine and oil, and the firstborn of your herds and flocks in the presence of the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your God always.  But if that place is too distant and you have been blessed by the Lord your God and cannot carry your tithe (because the place where the Lord will choose to put his Name is so far away), then exchange your tithe for silver, and take the silver with you and go to the place the Lord your God will choose.  Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.

Now, when we modern Christians consider the tithe, we think about a felt obligation to make out checks totaling up to 10% of our income (net or gross, oh dear, what is one to do?).  We then make our checks out to the Christian charity or church of our choice, claim our tax deduction, and consider our love obligation to God to be met.

But here in Deuteronomy, I see something a bit different, something that feels like it is missing from our modern act of tithing.    Now, I may be on shaky interpretative ground here, I don't know, but I'm going to go with this idea.  I see here that the people are to bring a tenth of what they have produced and enjoy it in the presence of the Lord!  It commands them to eat the tithe!  Why?  So that they "may learn to revere the Lord".  Much of what Moses writes has to do with remembering that it was the Lord who set them free from bondage in Egypt.  It was the Lord who provided for them while they were wandering in the desert.  It is the Lord who has promised and will provide for them a land of plenty.  It is the Lord who blesses and provides.  Moses is attempting to provide an antidote to what happens when God blesses us -- we forget that he is the source and we wander away from Him and no longer revere His name.

So what is the antidote?  A party!  Now for many of us, the concept of a party with God may be anathema, but maybe that is just our baggage doing the talking.  Moses says to bring a tenth of what the fields produce as well as the firstborn of the herds and flocks to the place he has chosen.  Then the people are instructed to Eat!  And rejoice!  And they are to do this in the presence of the Lord!

I'm trying to imagine what this must be like.  All of these families coming together at the place of worship that God has chosen, eating and rejoicing together as they celebrate the provision of the Lord! 

Perhaps one of the reasons we often feel distant from God, is we forget to party!  What if we intentionally had a giant party where we celebrated the fact that all we have comes from God?  Of course, the party needs to be focused on the Lord and be conducted in such a way that it furthers our reverence of Him, but wouldn't that be amazing?  (Note to all the marketing, mega-church types, this party is about God.  No rock walls, movie clips, giant video screens, rock bands, etc, etc.). 

So what do you think?  Rather than seeing tithing as a painful act that separates us from our money, how can we return it to the joyful celebration that Moses describes that leads us to revere the Lord more and more each time?  I think I feel a party coming on!

Notification of Name Change

Ok I'm not really changing my name, but I am changing my "username."  I have changed my online identity from "Zarathustra" to "Pilgrim in Progress."  I found that most folks were confused by both the meaning of "Zarathustra" and why I would choose that name as representative for what I was doing.  The ensuing conversation was inevitably too complex and too confusing.  Therefore, I borrowed Ockham's razor and lopped the name off.  For now, I shall present myself as a "Pilgrim in Progress."  That should prove easier to understand and explain!

I also have a secondary  motivation - I plan on creating another blog where I will delve into difficult and perhaps somewhat controversial topics from time to time.  Stay tuned for details on that one! 

Boys Always Get the Blame

"They" want us to believe that "they" never do this.  "They" want everyone to believe that this is only an issue for the crass male species.  Apparently the process of inculcating this mindset into the young male starts earlier than I realized.  Or maybe my daughter is just creative in her writing and has the mindset of a junior high boy!

At least she did it in love 

Hope of Brighter Days!

Hope arrived today on the Frozen Tundra in the form of a flower.  

Winter, get the behind me!

Spring, we welcome your entrance!

Domestic Dad

There has been a definite shift in our home life patterns since my company gave me the proverbial "pink slip."  Fracture Girl is putting in more hours at work, and I have become Domesticated Dad.  I have always helped around the house, spending my youthful years as a bachelor affected that mindset.  However, when it came to shopping and cooking, Fracture Girl handled that arena.  Why not?  She is a really great cook/baker while I just make "grub."  

But change has arrived!  I made my first trip to Costco last week to buy vast quantities of food.  I ventured into Pick N Save (with two little ones in tow, even!) to finish filling our cabinets.  I even looked up some recipes and had meal plans!  Yikes!  What has happened!  

So here I present to you a couple of recent forays into my new domestic frontier!

Here we have the beginning of the Pioneer Woman's Perfect Pot Roast

But it looks even better after a few hours on the stove!

But the best is when you pair it with a tasty salad

 (dried cherries, blue cheese, toasted nuts, carrots, home made vinaigrette)

And put it in your tummy!

Here is one from the good folks who supply that most wonderful commodity -- butter!  

Stay away, Michelle  Obama, don't even think of taking my butter away!  

Good health starts with butter.  

I know.  

I live in Wisconsin.

 

Here it is getting ready to slow cook for 7 hours.  I forgot to take an after picture, but just imagine  - it was delightful!  Notice the furry feline friend in the background hoping to get a piece of the action - no luck for him!  Go catch a mouse and cook it yourself, buddy!

Last, but not least is the Pioneer Woman Chile that I whipped up yesterday afternoon.  I would link it up for you, but it came out of her cook book.  I guess you'll have to go the bookstore and surreptitiously copy it onto a notecard when the clerk is not looking!  Or come over to our house and see for yourself!  I'll pretend not to watch while you make a copy.  See the bits of green in that picture?  Fresh Jalapeno peppers.

 YUM! YUM! YUM!

Of course, chile would not be complete without some of Fracture Girl's cornbread to go along with it!

It just goes to show that dark clouds have silver linings, even here on the frozen tundra.

Oh So Predictable

I did it again.  I do it all the time.  I can't help myself.  I started another book while I am still reading two others.  This one came from the library, though.  That's code for "I can't mark up the pages with a pen."  That's killing me!  N.T. Wright recently published "Simply Jesus" and I started reading it this morning while sitting at the Solid Gold McDonalds drinking a $1 coffee.  

I love reading Tom Wright.  I find that he often challenges my Weltanschauung (worldview).  I realize that some folks have been taught to flee from anything that causes them to question, but I find myself attracted to that very thing.  I find that great writers who challenge my views ultimately make me stronger.  One of my professors used to say "All truth is God's truth" and I agree completely.  It does not matter where one finds that truth, true truth is a gift from God.  To declare that something is not true merely because we do not like where it comes from is to commit the "genetic fallacy."  

When we allow our beliefs to be challenged we are really in the process of building a stronger foundation.  Perhaps we will find that our belief system needs a bit of adjustment - this is good!  And strengthens our understanding and our faith.  Perhaps we will find that our belief system is correct - this is good too!   Now we have faced an argument, found our understanding to be valid and have strengthened our understanding and our faith!  We have in both cases also increased our ability to dialogue with others regarding matters of truth and faith ("always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect" (I Peter 3:15))

All that is to say that I came across the most marvelous quote in Tom Wright's book today.  Without its surrounding context, it might be a bit opaque at first, but with a bit of reflection, I'm guessing you will correctly ascertain its meaning. 

"It's a dialogue of the deaf."

                                 -N. T. Wright

The dialogue of the deaf.  It takes place around us every day.  Perhaps you or I were even one of the involved parties this very day.  At work, at home, at church - anywhere that people meet this dialogue occurs on a daily basis.  But think deep here.  I'm not just describing tonight's conversation with the 7 year old gymnast who wasn't listening to her dad.  I am talking about that polysyllabic profundity in the first paragraph.  The Weltanschauung.  Think it over.  Then tell me what you think. 

Looks Like He Caught that Train

Davey Jones, dead at 66

Funny how time gets away, isn't it?  Just this past week I was chatting with my cousin and he asked me "So what do you want written on your tombstone?"  Each of us must ask and answer that question as God has directed and called us in our lives.  However, I am reminded of the following classic poem:

Only One Life
By C.T. Studd (1860-1931)

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life's busy way;
Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done;
Then, in 'that day' my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgment seat;
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, the still small voice, Gently pleads for a better choice
Bidding me selfish aims to leave, And to God's holy will to cleave;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, a few brief years, Each with its burdens, hopes, and fears;
Each with its days I must fulfill, living for self or in His will;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

When this bright world would tempt me sore, When Satan would a victory score;
When self would seek to have its way, Then help me Lord with joy to say;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Give me Father, a purpose deep, In joy or sorrow Thy word to keep;
Faithful and true what e'er the strife, Pleasing Thee in my daily life;
Only one life, 'twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Oh let my love with fervor burn, And from the world now let me turn;
Living for Thee, and Thee alone, Bringing Thee pleasure on Thy throne;
Only one life, "twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, "Thy will be done";
And when at last I'll hear the call, I know I'll say 'twas worth it all";
Only one life,' twill soon be past, Only what's done for Christ will last.

Are Your Ears "Itchy"?

I was thinking about my post from a couple days ago, specifically the aspect of "doctrine."  What is "good doctrine?"  What is it that makes doctrine "good?"  In II Timothy Paul warns Timothy that:

"the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.  They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths." II Timothy 4:3-4

 We have a number of Paul's writings available to us in the New Testament and we can readily discern much of what Paul must have meant by "sound doctrine."  

But what do we mean when we speak of doctrine?  Could we sit down and write our own version of a doctrinal statement?  How would our doctrinal statement square up the whole of the Scriptures?  Would our doctrine reflect what we want to believe or would it reflect what God has revealed?  Would  it reveal that we exercised a proper hermeneutic in coming to our doctrinal understanding, our would it reveal that we exercised a hermeneutic used to validate a predetermined  position?  Does our doctrine accurately and properly reflect who God is, or is it a position statement that stakes out who I am. 

Is it about you?  Or is it about God?

 What do your "ears" tell you?

A Word to the Wise

I read I Timothy this morning.  There is a lot to like, but today these are the words I wanted to hang on to:

"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."  I Timothy 4:16 

I like the fact that when counseling Timothy, Paul focuses in on life and doctrine.  We often get caught up in one or the other and lose sight of the fact that a Christian life well lived must contain both elements.  In addition, we must also keep sight of the importance of perseverance in a culture that glorifies instant gratification!

Where Do I Look?

Now that my career options are wide open, where do I look? I'm finding that it can be a bit overwhelming. Today I just had to stop for a few minutes and make sure I turned to where I really belong. 

Lifestyle Change

Recently my employer notified me that my services were no longer needed.  I have been thinking about how to cope with this recent life change and have come up with a few ideas.  Perhaps you can let me know which of these might be the most effective:

(Please note emaciated skeleton on T-shirt)

As I have observed others who have pursued this line of "employment" I noticed that it is important to always attach "God Bless" at the end of every sign.  I have chosen to heed their guidance on my signs as well.

So, if you see me around town, maybe you could spare a dime.

For now, I think it might be time to listen to a little music and then get some rest.