Shall we try again?

Oh lovers of knowledge--for too long have we let this site lay fallow. Shall we now sew and reap--plant and preach?

Fill in the blank

From the Intro to Benedicts Rule

Monks: “Refusing to be the slave of the material universe, he becomes its master. As a result, he moved in serenity. A leisure of spirit marked all he did with the sign of freedom and peace.”

20th century man: “He is swept from the security of a firm place in an ordered universe to the chill dark of an isolated, meaningless existence.”

So I kinda think this prognosis of “modern man” isn’t grounded firmly in reality. Admittedly I end up feeling like his description after I read something by Herman Hesse, or Fyodor Dostoyevsky, and in fact this merciless emptiness, elicited by these kind of romantic individualist books, has a certain appeal. Yet, I’m slowly realizing we aren’t in the 20th century any more, the paradigms of existence have changed. There is talk of a post-secular world, talk of renewed progressivism (which might be a really bad thing if history be the judge), etc.
So my question to the Gnostic community in Exile is this; what kind of quote would you add to the title 21st century person?
Peace,
Chris

Thought's on geo-politics anyone?

Anyone have any thoughts about where we are and where we are going in a global sense?
Here's my lastest take on things.Peace,
Chris

Quote of the Day: Albert Schweitzer

Everything deep is also simple and can be reproduced simply as long as its reference to the whole truth is maintained. But what matters is not what is witty but what is true. -Albert Schweitzer

A Patient’s prayer

Good Surgeon, Balm of Gilead. Free me from the fear of pain, impermanence, and uncertainty. Return my rib and renew my heart, that I might live in a resurrection way, spreading life.
Amen.

Restraint

I also posted this over at Luthermatrix. What'd you fellow Gnostics think?
Peace,
Chris

Restraint
You likely remember the recent ruling about homosexuality at the ELCA General Assembly that urged leaders to “refrain from or demonstrate restraint in disciplining” people and congregations who call qualified leaders on the professional rosters of the ELCA "who are in a mutual, chaste and faithful, committed, same-gender relationship." Some may also have heard that the Episcopalian church, to keep the Anglican commune from schisming has pledged to “exercise restraint” in approving gay bishops.
Both groups are urging restraint, but different kinds. The former involves restraint of an authority and a law; the latter involves restraint by an authority figure and a use of a law. Those that have moved the Episcopalians to act as they have did so because they understand law derived from canon to be immutable. Those that brought the ELCA to its decision did so because they believe law to be a means to an end, not an end in itself. One quotes Jesus, “I did not come to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it.” The other, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”
Yet, notice this is not necessarily a “conservative” “liberal” distinction, at least not in our narrow Red State/Blue State sense of these words. After all the Episcopalians hold a much more “liberal” position than the ELCA. Instead, the question of restraint, literally, “to restrict or limit,” becomes a question of whose power should people who try to follow Jesus limit? Do we limit the power of absolutes over humans, or try and enforce the power of absolutes in order to limit humans? There is a good case to be made for both.
We attempt to limit the power of absolutes because absolutes become idols, often masks like the Great Oz, hiding behind them the idiosyncrasies of little men. We often become so enthralled by their power that we do not hear the Spirit blowing.
We enforce the power of absolutes because we are sinners; we fall short of the mark and see only a minute fraction of reality, and will defend that little patch of “truth” to the death. If the rule of God seem strange to us the problem is likely on our end.
Is it any wonder Matthew writes about a “narrow gate”? On one side is a post made of bellybutton gazers, on the other is those who make an ideal their god. “Make straight the path.”

And on a lighter note

Paul, Christoph and I are playing Hackie-sack. Anonymous New Testament Professor walks up, she watches us for a while.... continues to watch us.
Then she says, "I haven't seen once of those since we protested the Vietnam war." And then she promptly walks off.
Peace,
Chris