A couple poems - Adelia Prado & Maurice Manning

Here is a poem and an excerpt from a poem that I came across yesterday.  I think I like both of them...

Before Names 
by Adelia Prado
I don’t care about the word, that commonplace.
What I want is the grand chaos that spins out syntax,
the obscure birthplace of "of," "otherwise,"
"nevertheless," and "how," all those inscrutable
crutches I walk on.
Who understands language understands God,
Whose Son is the Word. It kills you to understand.
Words only hide something deeper, deaf and dumb,
something invented to be silenced.
In moments of grace, rare as they are,
you'll be able to snatch it out: a live fish
in your bare hand.
Pure terror.

----------
The Nature of Things
by Maurice Manning
...Do Lord, O, do you remember?
I've asked and asked again, and Yes
has always been the answer, Yes
unsaid, but even the unsaid says;
the answer needs the question...

The Coach Who Never Punts | Grantland Features

Across the Border - Springsteen quote

This is more Twitter-esque, but I was reminded today of this Springsteen lyric:

"For what are we without hope in our hearts that someday we’ll drink from God’s blessed waters...?"

From "Across the Border"...




Across the Border

Tonight my bag is packed
Tomorrow I'll walk these tracks
That will lead me across the border

Tomorrow my love and I
Will sleep 'neath auburn skies
Somewhere across the border

We'll leave behind my dear
The pain and sadness we found here
And we'll drink from the Bravo's muddy waters

Where the sky grows grey and white
We'll meet on the other side
There across the border

For you I'll build a house
High up on a grassy hill
Somewhere across the border

Where pain and memory
Pain and memory have been stilled
There across the border

And sweet blossoms fills the air
Pastures of gold and green
Roll down into cool clear waters

And in your arms 'neath the open skies
I'll kiss the sorrow from your eyes
There across the border

Tonight we'll sing the songs
I'll dream of you my corazon
And tomorrow my heart will be strong

And may the saints' blessing and grace
Carry me safely into your arms
There across the border

For what are we
Without hope in our hearts
That someday we'll drink from God's blessed waters

And eat the fruit from the vine
I know love and fortune will be mine
Somewhere across the border

Elephants

Living on a Prayer

Breast Cancer - Angelo & Jennifer Merendino

Makes me want to give my wife a hug when she gets home....

http://www.upworthy.com/a-husband-took-these-photos-of-his-wife-and-captured-love-and-loss-beautifully

Raiders of the Lost Ark - The Adaptation

There's something in me that is quite glad that this exists...



More on the topic, if you are interested...
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Raiders-Lost-Ark-Shot-Shot-Fanmade-Remake-Getting-Its-Own-Feature-39840.html

The Permanent Endurance of Art - Joseph Conrad

"The artist appeals to that part of our being which...is a gift and not an acquisition...and, therefore, more permanently enduring."

...good stuff.  I especially like thinking about the difference between gift and acquisition, and, how to touch the 'gift' side of the spectrum with art.

"The changing wisdom of successive generations discards ideas, questions facts, demolishes theories. But the artist appeals to that part of our being which is not dependent on wisdom; to that in us which is a gift and not an acquisition--and, therefore, more permanently enduring. He speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of mystery surrounding our lives; to our sense of pity, and beauty, and pain; to the latent feeling of fellowship with all creation--and to the subtle but invincible conviction of solidarity that knits together the loneliness of innumerable hearts, to the solidarity in dreams, in joy, in sorrow, in aspirations, in illusions, in hope, in fear, which binds men to each other, which binds together all humanity--the dead to the living and the living to the unborn." - Joseph Conrad

Disney movie pitch...

"Let's make a children's movie where we get the kids emotionally attached to some puppies.  Then, we steal the puppies from the parents...put them in a situation where a crazy lady wants to kill them and skin them...and, make a coat out of them."

"Yeah, that sounds like a great idea!  It will become a classic."

- Possible sales pitch for 101 Dalmatians

Primer - Good Time Travel Movie

Primer is a movie in which I couldn't understand pretty much anything the characters were talking about, they could have been speaking in another language.  I couldn't really understand the chronology of the plot.  Basically, in general, I couldn't understand much of anything that was going on in the movie.  But, I loved it.  And, I keep thinking about it.  If you like short, brain-teaser movies, this is one for you.

And, after you're done, here are info-graphics for you:

Best one:  http://qubitrot.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/primer.png

Also good: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/84/Time_Travel_Method-2.svg

Here's the movie's webpage:  Primer

Here's a blog all about Primer: The Primer Universe

From This Valley - The Civil Wars

From This Valley

Oh the desert dreams of a river
That will run down to the sea
Like my heart longs for an ocean
To wash down over me

Oh won't you take me from this valley
To that mountain high above
Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face
I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love


Oh the outcast dreams of acceptance
Just to find pure love's embrace
Like an orphan longs for its mother
May you hold me in your grace


Oh won't you take me from this valley
To that mountain high above
Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face
I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love


Oh the caged bird dreams of a strong wind
That will flow beneath her wings
Like a voice longs for a melody
Oh Jesus, carry me


Oh won't you take me from this valley
To that mountain high above
Oh I will pray, pray, pray till I see your smiling face
I will pray, pray, pray to the one that I love

Want to Go To Mars?

If you want to go to Mars, I have two options for you:

1. Short(er) trip - www.inspirationmars.org

2. Long trip - applicants.mars-one.com

Let me know if you end up going.

On the Overratedness of Being Rational

Here's a paragraph from Stanley Hauerwas defending the irrationality of faith in God.  He's not claiming that Christianity will make sense to everyone.  He's also not claiming that it will always make the world run more smoothly.  He is claiming Christianity is true...and, that there's a bit of arrogance to believing that we can discover on our own power what is right or wrong or true about the world. 

"An ethic claiming to be 'rational' and universally valid for all thinking people everywhere is incipiently demonic because it has no means of explaining why there are still people who disagree with its prescriptions of behavior, except that these people must be 'irrational' and, therefore (since 'rationality' is said to be our most important human characteristic), subhuman."  - Resident Aliens, 101

Favorite Scene from The Cosby Show

To all the 'regular people' reading this blog post,

My favorite episode of The Cosby Show is the very first episode.

The clip below is my favorite scene.

Enjoy...

Bill Hybels - "This is Church"

There is a simple concept (axiom) that I heard from Bill Hybels called "This is church".  I think of often, almost every week.  "This is church" means that you and I don't define what it means to 'do church'...there's an element of trusting that the situations we come into every day are God determining what the "job" actually looks like.  Church life as a pastor (or, a church member) is not simply important projects, lesson planning, etc.  It's the interruptions as well. I think this principle is true for anyone in any career.

I think this link may take you to that chapter in Google books:
http://books.google.com/books?id=hSn4DcOav-MC&pg=PT60&dq=bill+hybels+%22This+is+Church%22+axiom&hl=en&sa=X&ei=FqcGUbm5AorgyQGpx4HYDw&ved=0CEAQ6AEwAA

Here's an older blog post that covers the same principle.  It's short and worth your time...

http://lp.willowcreek.com/WCA-Blog/December-2012/Our-most-valuable-asset-sits-63-feet-ahead

Going to Disney...See you soon...

Alterra > Colectivo? This seems an April Fool's joke

For the Milwaukee reader(s)...

Long Week? ...Use your "rest"

The Pulley
By George Herbert

   When God at first made man,

Having a glass of blessings standing by,

“Let us,” said he, “pour on him all we can.

Let the world’s riches, which dispersèd lie,

   Contract into a span.”

   So strength first made a way;

Then beauty flowed, then wisdom, honour, pleasure.

When almost all was out, God made a stay,

Perceiving that, alone of all his treasure,

   Rest in the bottom lay.

   “For if I should,” said he,

“Bestow this jewel also on my creature,

He would adore my gifts instead of me,

And rest in Nature, not the God of Nature;

   So both should losers be.

   “Yet let him keep the rest,

But keep them with repining restlessness;

Let him be rich and weary, that at least,

If goodness lead him not, yet weariness

   May toss him to my breast.”

When God Becomes the Monster...

"If one is oneself one's god, then God himself, the will of God, the power that would destroy one's egocentric system, becomes a monster.

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
     I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
     Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears
I hid from Him, and under running laughter."

- Joseph Campbell, The Hero With A Thousand Faces

Who has 5 fixed years ahead of them?

"If a man had a fixed five years to live, he could not possibly think at all without intending to make the best use of them all...  Who but a madman can reckon that he has five certain years to come?  ...again if we were to add twenty years to the five...what a small thing this is." - William Law