lost in perspective

He (Edward Slingerland) argues that postmodern theory has swept through the Academy, leaving us suspicious of any truth-claim and with "a conviction that the distinguishing mark of sophisticated scholarship is an ability to engage with a prescribed pantheon of theorists" rather than serious study of primary texts. What was fun at first "has left us with an intellectual hangover" (2008, 1), luxuriating in language for language's sake.

the forbidden gospels blog

i wouldn't say that the authors i read have been prescribed to me, but i definitely agree that while its fun to learn about everybody's perspective on things, it'd most likely be a lot more personally useful to get to the core texts. three or four commentaries on the gospel of mary magdalene is all well and good, but i still need to read and study it for myself...

On Watchfulness and Holiness 02

The great lawgiver Moses - or, rather, the Holy Spirit - indicates the pure, comprehensive, and ennobling character of this virtue, and teaches us how to acquire and perfect it, when he says: "Be attentive to yourself, lest there arise in your heart a secret thing which is an iniquity" (Deut. 15:9. LXX) Here the phrase 'a secret thing' refers to the first appearance of an evil thought. This the Fathers call a provocation introduced into the heart by the devil. As soon as this thought appears in our intellect, our own thoughts chase after it and enter into impassioned intercourse with it.

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 161

 how easily my mind races towards thoughts unbidden.

a few books

i've got a few books to be read these days, so i thought i'd put them up here to remind myself which ones i'd like to focus on and prioritize...

Practicing Resurrection
Cris Rogers

this book has been recommended to me by a friend, and will say that this isn't my normal cup of tea. the cover design of a sticky-tape cross and a 'vote 4 jesus' sticker would make me pass it up before even reading the description on the back cover... lols, as would the mention of shane claiborne, who wrote the foreword :)... not that i have anything against shane claiborne, but a book of his was left behind (on purpose??) after a parental visit, and though deb and others have enjoyed it, it wasn't something that i had the slightest interest in.
however, back to this book. its always good to get another perspective in, and this is definitely one that i mayn't have. from the introduction, i do agree with his stand, but it'll be the rest of the book that hopefully will tell me something worthwhile...
what do i hope to get from reading this book? hopefully not even more cynicism towards todays christian activists...

The Curious Incident of the
Dog in the Night-time
Mark Haddon

this should be a fun one. ida just gave us this one, before she left, and it looks like a great fun read. i haven't heard of it, or the author, before, but ida thought it was good fun, and that's enough for me, so far...

The Older Testament
Margaret Barker

Margaret Barker has been very much at the center of my Christian redirection, and this is her first book. very dense, it makes me stop after every few pages and take a deep breath. over christmas i read her 'Christmas: the Original Story', and it was full of ideas and thoughts that i'd never had before. i've been trying to finish 'the Older Testament' for a few years now, and i do hope to get there this year, as i've got her next three books, as well as her latest, 'Creation', waiting for me on the shelf.
i'm finding the temple themes that she pulls out very clarifying, and that leads me onto a few more of the books i have waiting...

Dwelling in the
Household of God
Mary Coloe

i don't remember how i came across this book, but i think it had something to do with Father Tim Mansfield. mmm, can't remember how, though...
either way, Johannine spirituality has been interesting me more and more, as i read various books and blogs, and visit sites such as the Apostolic Johannite Church...
what do i want from this book? a deeper understanding of living as a member of a johannite community...

the Corpus Hermeticum

lastly, the Corpus Hermeticum. this book is on the toolkit list at johannite.org, so i thought i'd pick it up. also, Jordan Stratford issued a challenge to read this little book, so here we go...
what do i want from this book? i really don't know :), but its very interesting so far...

the Philokalia

the Philokalia is a long term one. there are four volumes, and each is so densely packed with ancient Christian wisdom that its going to take forever to get through. i'm going to try and post some extracts as i go through, too, so i hope that'll help it all sink in better.










phew, this could take awhile :)

another break?

most likely no more updates until thursday or friday. we have a guest in, our lovely friend, Ida, from Sweden. and, she is staying in the study... also, the boys are buzzed from the excitement of having her around all the time :)...

the lovely Ida

good friends are hard to find, and even harder to lose :)

does naming GOD 'spirit' limit GOD?

Minor Arcana: Cups (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

International Pipe Smoking Day 2011

www.ipsd.eu

taken during our holiday to Sweden, June 2009

On Watchfulness and Holiness 01

Watchfulness is a spiritual method which, if practiced over a long period, completely frees us with God's help from impassioned thoughts, impassioned words and evil actions. It leads, in so far as this is possible, to a sure knowledge of the inapprehensible God, and helps us to penetrate the divine and hidden mysteries. It enables us to fulfill every divine commandment in the Old and New Testaments and bestows upon us every blessing of the age to come. It is, in the true sense, purity of heart, a state blessed by Christ when He says: 'Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.' (Matt. 5:8); and one which, because of its spiritual nobility and beauty - or, rather, because of our negligence - is now extremely rare among monks. Because this is its nature, watchfulness is to be bought only at a great price. But once established in us, it guides us to a true and holy way of life. It teaches us how to activate the three aspects of our soul correctly, and how to keep a firm guard over the senses. It promotes the daily growth of the four principle virtues, and is the basis of our contemplation. 

St Hesychios the Priest, On Watchfulness and Holiness, Vol. 1 pg. 161

Major Arcana: The Fool (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

watchfulness is hard to maintain. there are so many distractions, to keep me from creating the worship life i want to have. new ideas & perspectives, family, friends, books to read, blogposts to keep track of, movies and tv to watch... St Hesychios says that watchfulness comes at a great price. what will my price be? could all the plans i have collapse into nothing as i form my life into something new, by keeping a steady, unwavering watch on  (1) what goes on in my mind, (2) what my daily actions are, (3) what my reasons are, and reasoning is, for doing this?

like the little dog in the card above, warning the fool to watch where he's going, i need the sharp reminders to keep me coming back to the path i want to be on...

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of GOD, have mercy on me, a sinner.

change

so, soon after my post on becoming committed i post on making changes.

what do i need to do to make change? i need to do. i need to not be concerned with what others think of the changes i'm making in my life. i need to not think and re-think the reasons i'm making changes. i have changes that need to be made, and they don't need to be gone over and over.

what changes do i want to make?
- i want to start praying regularly, praying liturgically regularly. i want to get up in the morning, and spend at least a quarter hour praying. i want to do the same thing at night, before bed. i want to utilize scent, sight, sound, and touch in worship.
- i want to be able to enjoy the time i spend with the boys without being distracted by the call of the  computer.
- i want to read the books i have but have not yet read. so many... i want to focus my reading.
- i want to enjoy the wines i have in the cellar with friends, and take it slowly... i want to try more wines, from all over the world, but focussing on the local wines around lake thun. i want to get connected with local wine people.
- i want to smoke my pipes. i want to buy more pipes. i want to try many varieties of tobaccos. i want to hang out in the smoking room in my local pipe shop.
- i want to cut down on all the baggage in my head. i want to lose the voice that says i shouldn't do things because people are watching and judging me. i want to be free.

let's start now.

Major Arcana: Death (Labyrinth Tarot)

Luis Royo

committed

i need to commit.

growing up, moving around, it was easier to not commit to anything. every few months, i'd return to the station. every few years, i'd move back to Australia for a few months. friends would leave the field and new ones would arrive. my social group would switch from Makki friends to Sentani friends to family and Oz friends to Ukarumpa friends and now to Swiss friends.

its time to commit. commit to this life, here in Switzerland. commit to the friends i have here. commit to the family i have here. commit to the life that i want to live. commit to the spiritual walk i want to follow.

"Remember, be here now." - Ram Dass

a man

thinking today: my personal definition of a man is he who lives up to his potential every day.
i've been wondering for ages why i've never felt comfortable calling myself a man, and now i know. naturally, at 32, i am an adult male, considered a man; but i think now that i have a personal definition, something i can aim for, maybe i can feel a bit more comfortable...

now, to become a man.

The Hanged Man/ Potential Energy