March, 2007

I'm cutting loose with a new site, dotLove.net. It's going to be eclectic, about love, faith, hope, the arts, media, culture, therapy, maybe health and wellbeing. I'm not one to wait till I've got a big bang to open a web site. This one has two pieces of content so far. One a little piece of mine about George Bailey, hero of "It's a Wonderful Life", "The Richest Man in Town". T

continue reading "New Site: dotLove.net"

I'm cutting loose with a new site, dotLove.net. It's going to be eclectic, about love, faith, hope, the arts, media, culture, therapy, maybe health and wellbeing. I'm not one to wait till I've got a big bang to open a web site. This one has two pieces of content so far. One a little piece of mine about George Bailey, hero of "It's a Wonderful Life", "The Richest Man in Town". T

continue reading "New Site: dotLove.net"

I'm cutting loose with a new site, dotLove.net. It's going to be eclectic, about love, faith, hope, the arts, media, culture, therapy, maybe health and wellbeing. I'm not one to wait till I've got a big bang to open a web site. This one has two pieces of content so far. One a little piece of mine about George Bailey, hero of "It's a Wonderful Life", "The Richest Man in Town". T

continue reading "New Site: dotLove.net"

I'm cutting loose with a new site, dotLove.net. It's going to be eclectic, about love, faith, hope, the arts, media, culture, therapy, maybe health and wellbeing.
I'm not one to wait till I've got a big bang to open a web site. This one has two pieces of content so far. One a little piece of mine about George Bailey, hero of "It's a Wonderful Life", "The Richest Man in Town".

continue reading "New Site: dotLove.net"

An Unofficial History of the Jesus-Rock Era By Steve Morley

Rock and roll, when it’s doing its job, is going to cause controversy. The same can be said of Christianity, especially in these days when political and religious crossfire could, from a distance, be mistaken for Ford-versus-Chevy fightin’ words. If you steadfastly believe in the power of either of these cultural monuments, you’d best be prepared for a skirmish. Should you combine music and faith in the same conversation, you’re likely in for a lengthy debate. The historically segregated worlds of Christian-themed music and secular pop/rock have flirted for decades, each eyeing the other’s wardrobes in search of new accoutrements, if not total makeovers. Ideologically, though, the two spheres remain at odds, leading puzzled observers and offense-prone outsiders to perceive the advocates of artistic segregation either as intolerant, tongue-clucking prudes or communion wafer-thin hypocrites who watch VH-1 with their curtains drawn. While neither image is entirely fictional, it is ungracious – and inaccurate – to arbitrarily assign such labels to the many who walk a reasonable middle ground.

continue reading "Unearthing the Rock of Ages"

An Unofficial History of the Jesus-Rock Era By Steve Morley

Rock and roll, when it’s doing its job, is going to cause controversy. The same can be said of Christianity, especially in these days when political and religious crossfire could, from a distance, be mistaken for Ford-versus-Chevy fightin’ words. If you steadfastly believe in the power of either of these cultural monuments, you’d best be prepared for a skirmish. Should you combine music and faith in the same conversation, you’re likely in for a lengthy debate. The historically segregated worlds of Christian-themed music and secular pop/rock have flirted for decades, each eyeing the other’s wardrobes in search of new accoutrements, if not total makeovers. Ideologically, though, the two spheres remain at odds, leading puzzled observers and offense-prone outsiders to perceive the advocates of artistic segregation either as intolerant, tongue-clucking prudes or communion wafer-thin hypocrites who watch VH-1 with their curtains drawn. While neither image is entirely fictional, it is ungracious – and inaccurate – to arbitrarily assign such labels to the many who walk a reasonable middle ground.

continue reading "Unearthing the Rock of Ages"

An Unofficial History of the Jesus-Rock Era By Steve Morley

Rock and roll, when it’s doing its job, is going to cause controversy. The same can be said of Christianity, especially in these days when political and religious crossfire could, from a distance, be mistaken for Ford-versus-Chevy fightin’ words. If you steadfastly believe in the power of either of these cultural monuments, you’d best be prepared for a skirmish. Should you combine music and faith in the same conversation, you’re likely in for a lengthy debate. The historically segregated worlds of Christian-themed music and secular pop/rock have flirted for decades, each eyeing the other’s wardrobes in search of new accoutrements, if not total makeovers. Ideologically, though, the two spheres remain at odds, leading puzzled observers and offense-prone outsiders to perceive the advocates of artistic segregation either as intolerant, tongue-clucking prudes or communion wafer-thin hypocrites who watch VH-1 with their curtains drawn. While neither image is entirely fictional, it is ungracious – and inaccurate – to arbitrarily assign such labels to the many who walk a reasonable middle ground.

continue reading "Unearthing the Rock of Ages"

An Unofficial History of the Jesus-Rock Era By Steve Morley

Rock and roll, when it’s doing its job, is going to cause controversy. The same can be said of Christianity, especially in these days when political and religious crossfire could, from a distance, be mistaken for Ford-versus-Chevy fightin’ words. If you steadfastly believe in the power of either of these cultural monuments, you’d best be prepared for a skirmish. Should you combine music and faith in the same conversation, you’re likely in for a lengthy debate. The historically segregated worlds of Christian-themed music and secular pop/rock have flirted for decades, each eyeing the other’s wardrobes in search of new accoutrements, if not total makeovers. Ideologically, though, the two spheres remain at odds, leading puzzled observers and offense-prone outsiders to perceive the advocates of artistic segregation either as intolerant, tongue-clucking prudes or communion wafer-thin hypocrites who watch VH-1 with their curtains drawn. While neither image is entirely fictional, it is ungracious – and inaccurate – to arbitrarily assign such labels to the many who walk a reasonable middle ground.

continue reading "Unearthing the Rock of Ages"

An Unofficial History of the Jesus-Rock Era By Steve Morley

Rock and roll, when it’s doing its job, is going to cause controversy. The same can be said of Christianity, especially in these days when political and religious crossfire could, from a distance, be mistaken for Ford-versus-Chevy fightin’ words. If you steadfastly believe in the power of either of these cultural monuments, you’d best be prepared for a skirmish. Should you combine music and faith in the same conversation, you’re likely in for a lengthy debate. The historically segregated worlds of Christian-themed music and secular pop/rock have flirted for decades, each eyeing the other’s wardrobes in search of new accoutrements, if not total makeovers. Ideologically, though, the two spheres remain at odds, leading puzzled observers and offense-prone outsiders to perceive the advocates of artistic segregation either as intolerant, tongue-clucking prudes or communion wafer-thin hypocrites who watch VH-1 with their curtains drawn. While neither image is entirely fictional, it is ungracious – and inaccurate – to arbitrarily assign such labels to the many who walk a reasonable middle ground.

continue reading "Unearthing the Rock of Ages"

An Unofficial History of the Jesus-Rock Era By Steve Morley

Rock and roll, when it’s doing its job, is going to cause controversy. The same can be said of Christianity, especially in these days when political and religious crossfire could, from a distance, be mistaken for Ford-versus-Chevy fightin’ words. If you steadfastly believe in the power of either of these cultural monuments, you’d best be prepared for a skirmish. Should you combine music and faith in the same conversation, you’re likely in for a lengthy debate. The historically segregated worlds of Christian-themed music and secular pop/rock have flirted for decades, each eyeing the other’s wardrobes in search of new accoutrements, if not total makeovers. Ideologically, though, the two spheres remain at odds, leading puzzled observers and offense-prone outsiders to perceive the advocates of artistic segregation either as intolerant, tongue-clucking prudes or communion wafer-thin hypocrites who watch VH-1 with their curtains drawn. While neither image is entirely fictional, it is ungracious – and inaccurate – to arbitrarily assign such labels to the many who walk a reasonable middle ground.

continue reading "Unearthing the Rock of Ages"

In the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers—to his great joy—that he really is the richest man in town. He didn't, of course, arrive at this realization quickly or easily but through great pain and confusion. Truth be told, that is where we are most of the time ...fighting for meaning and significance like George.

continue reading "The Richest Man in Town"

In the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers—to his great joy—that he really is the richest man in town. He didn't, of course, arrive at this realization quickly or easily but through great pain and confusion. Truth be told, that is where we are most of the time ...fighting for meaning and significance like George.

continue reading "The Richest Man in Town"

In the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers—to his great joy—that he really is the richest man in town. He didn't, of course, arrive at this realization quickly or easily but through great pain and confusion. Truth be told, that is where we are most of the time ...fighting for meaning and significance like George.

continue reading "The Richest Man in Town"

In the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers—to his great joy—that he really is the richest man in town. He didn't, of course, arrive at this realization quickly or easily but through great pain and confusion. Truth be told, that is where we are most of the time ...fighting for meaning and significance like George.

continue reading "The Richest Man in Town"

In the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers—to his great joy—that he really is the richest man in town. He didn't, of course, arrive at this realization quickly or easily but through great pain and confusion. Truth be told, that is where we are most of the time ...fighting for meaning and significance like George.

continue reading "The Richest Man in Town"

In the classic film, It's a Wonderful Life, George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) discovers—to his great joy—that he really is the richest man in town. He didn't, of course, arrive at this realization quickly or easily but through great pain and confusion. Truth be told, that is where we are most of the time ...fighting for meaning and significance like George.

continue reading "The Richest Man in Town"

Motivation. Where is motivation?

Several weeks ago I was motivated to write and lead the writing of an online book that would define Faith as a Commons open to all, subject to none, for the good of all. But now I feel like a faithless loser.

continue reading "Motivation. Where is Motivation?"

Rahab the harlot lived in the mighty city of Jericho in the Promised Land.

Buddhism teaches peace as an individual practice and towards global peace. The word is engulfed in turmoil, greed and hatred that have become common traits of human behavior. It is essential to understand what causes peace. Then only, we can direct efforts towards achieving peace. Imagine some one wants to cool hot soup being boiled in a pot. As long as the pot remains on the fire, the soup would be boiling. First thing to do is to move the pot away from the fire. Stirring would aid in cooling the soup. In this case, cooling the soup is the aim and the first thing to do is to isolate the pot from the fire. Similarly, if violence has to be removed, the reasons that cause and lead to violence should be identified. In our example, isolating boiling soup in a pot from fire was the first action identified. Unless we direct our efforts at the correct causes and fundamental issues, all other actions would be futile. It must be remembered that peaceful minds lead to peaceful actions. If the minds of living beings are at peace, the world also will be at peace. Most of us live in disturbed state and live in peace for a short while. How many of us are at peace? If all the people in the world are sages does peace exist in the world? (1)

continue reading "Buddhism and World Peace"

Several of my Wiccan friends place a lot of emphasis on the stories about King Arthur and his times. Is there anything of any importance in these stories to someone who doesn’t think Arthur was real, or are they true?

The Early Christians knew what consummate allegory in their tradition was, and what was historically true. The later pack of scoundrels took out anything that decreased their power and insisted that the allegories were historical facts. Since the so-called history was spurious the spiritual reality of Christianity was obscured because faith was required of the devotees instead of knowledge that came from experience.

continue reading "King Arthur question transcript from a Q/A"

There was a recent post on my high school alumni web site discussing our daily bus ride. We lived on an Air Force base in West Germany in the late 70's, back in the Cold War when there was an East and a West. The American High School was on the neighboring Air Force Base 10 miles away. Approximately 200 high school kids rode one of several buses from our base to the school. We all gathered at one bus stop in the center of our housing area. So, what is the natural thing for high schoolers to do? Everyone sorted themselves into distinct groups, and each group had its own bus. The jocks and cheerleaders had their own bus. The blacks had their own bus. The average joes had their bus, and the "freaks" had their bus. It didn't take long for a new kid to figure out where he/ she belonged.

continue reading "Riding the Freak Bus"

Here are some MORE things you may not know about God:
When God goes swimming he doesn't get wet, the water gets God.
 
When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for God.
 
God counted to infinity - twice.
 
God invented every colour. Except pink. Tom Cruise invented pink.
 
When God does a pushup, he isn't lifting himself up, he's pushing the Earth down.
 
God’s hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.
 
God gave Mona Lisa that smile.
 
God can slam a revolving door.
 
God's calendar goes straight from March 31st to April 2nd; no one fools God.
 
God can speak Braille.
   
Superman owns a pair of God’s pyjamas.
 
God owns the greatest Poker Face of all-time. It helped him win the 1983 World Series of Poker despite him holding just a Joker, a Get out of Jail Free Monopoly card, a 2 of clubs, 7 of spades and a green #4 card from the game Uno.
 
God sleeps with a night light. Not because God is afraid of the dark, but the dark is afraid of God.
 
Once a cobra bit God's leg. After five days of excruciating pain, the cobra died.
 
God divides by zero.
 
When God exercises, the machine gets stronger.
 
God doesn't give orders, he simply says, "Now."
   
God can kill two stones with one bird.
 
The only time God was wrong was when he thought he had made a mistake. He gave rocks legs and called them turtles; He thought that may have been a bad idea. 

The last time God laughed, the universe was created. The last time He smiled, man was created.

continue reading "A little humor - Some things you may not have known about God"

[This is a republish of a piece I wrote a couple years ago on another web site.] Sunday morning between the first and second services I met my friend Randy in the usual place in front of the church. After talking some about his troubles and and some about mine, I "blessed" him with one of my cryptic comments. I said, "Randy, I know you believe other people don't love you very much,

continue reading "The Spirit of Love Presupposes Love in the Heart of the Other"

[This is a republish of a piece I wrote a couple years ago on another web site.] Sunday morning between the first and second services I met my friend Randy in the usual place in front of the church. After talking some about his troubles and and some about mine, I "blessed" him with one of my cryptic comments. I said, "Randy, I know you believe other people don't love you very much,

continue reading "The Spirit of Love Presupposes Love in the Heart of the Other"

[This is a republish of a piece I wrote a couple years ago on another web site.] Sunday morning between the first and second services I met my friend Randy in the usual place in front of the church. After talking some about his troubles and and some about mine, I "blessed" him with one of my cryptic comments. I said, "Randy, I know you believe other people don't love you very much,

continue reading "The Spirit of Love Presupposes Love in the Heart of the Other"