The Questions for tonight

The Questions
1. What do we do with the military language within our religious traditions (eg “LORD of Hosts,” etc)? Does its existence advocate for war?
2. Is worship/belief of God for the sake of getting into heaven worship/belief? If not why is it people worship God? For God’s sake alone? How does our intentions play into this?
3. Is the organization of religion the problem with religion? How else can we experience God in community? Is that the problem, is community over rated?
4. Would Jesus be a Reagan Democrat?
5. Is there any reasonable (logical) way to make people believe in God?
6. Is resurrection/life after death necessary for Justice? Is Justice necessary?

Sitcoms... do they reflect reality?

Check out this article. Long short sitcoms today involve sexy competent women and fat childish men. The reason they are entertaining is because the woman says, "Yup, that's me, I'm perfect, and yes my husband is an ass." The guys on the other hand get to say, "I don't have to do jack and I can be married to a super model."
Peace,
Chris

A Gnostic quote (not to be confused with the Eugene Gnostics)

The Gnostic Theodotus once summarized the content of gnosis as: "Who we were, what we have become; Where we were, whither we were thrown; Whither we are hastening, from what we are redeemed; What birth is, and what is rebirth?"

Here are my mother's Christmas pics

Cheyenne, my home town, is in flames

Check it out!

And in movie rumors "Choose again!!!"

Dan Simon's amazing Hyperium series is going to be made into a movie! Very good news for we Simons fans!
Peace,
Chris

Mr. Missouri Synod knows something about quakes

Check out his Q+A session about the quake. Also, seeing as China and Russia are going to be doing joint war games next year around January or so I think I'll release my 10 broad based plans of how to keep America on top with China breathing down our necks.
Peace,
Chris
PS the waves are going to hit Kenya where I might be going next year.

In light of the waves let's talk about the Israel Palestine issue

Well, I was going to unveil my 10 possible plans as to how America can stay as the only Super Power even with an emerging Asia, but as Asia has recently been hit with deadly waves I feel it would be in poor taste to do so. Luckly for you folks reading my blog I recieved an email from Kyla Knutson, the Gnostic who doesn't have a blog (as far as I know). It is about the new Geneva Accord for Israeli-Palestinian peace. If you feel like signing the petition here is the address.

As for me I need to research it further. There are things I still need to look up when I get back to Eugene were I recently found that the University of Oregon library has all the UN records from it's inseption.
Anyways, briefly here are the things I don't feel informed enough about to support.

1."Affirming their deep belief that the logic of peace requires
compromise, and that the only viable solution is a two-state solution based on
UNSC Resolution 242 and 338;
-I think a 2 state solution is the only way to keep Israel from becoming undemocratic and give the Palestinian people a voice, but I don't know the specifics of Res. 242 and 338.

2. "Declaring that this Agreement marks the historic reconciliation
between the Palestinians and Israelis, and paves the way to reconciliation
between the Arab World and Israel and the establishment of normal,
peaceful relations between the Arab states and Israel in accordance with the
relevant clauses of the Beirut Arab League Resolution of March 28,
2002;..."
-once again, I don't know what Res. March 28 is about.

3.* Israel will create a corridor for travel between the West Bank and
Gaza, which will remain under Israeli sovereignty and under Palestinian
administration and run in accord with Palestinian law
-This seems a bit messy, Israeli sovereignty but administered by the Palestinians.

4.* Jerusalem will become capital of both states. The Temple Mount and
East Jerusalem will be under Palestinian control and the Wall and West
Jerusalem under Israeli control. The Old City will be open, weapons
forbidden, free travel inside to all sectors guaranteed.
-I just wanted to mention that Tom Clancy advocates this in one of his military pornos (I'm demeaning his work in case you couldn't guess, like calling starwars a "space opera").

Anyways, if there is anyone out there with a strong opinion about this issue be sure to post away.
Peace,
Chris

Merry Christmas

The Christ child is born, the resurrection story begins, the world's salvation is set into motion.
The peace of the birth,
Chris

Our new Fearless leader! and brief update

Here is the best quote of the piece.
"And here's another story from Reid's tenure as chairman of the gaming commission: A man named Jack Gordon, who later married LaToya Jackson, tried to give Reid a $12,000 bribe. Reid let the FBI videotape Gordon offering him the bribe, and then, according to a Las Vegas Review-Journal account, he "put his hands around Gordon's neck and said, 'You son of a bitch, you tried to bribe me.'" That's right, Senate Democrats are being led by a man who once tried to strangle LaToya Jackson's future husband-manager. You call that boring?"

Also, I'm in Hayseville NC now,finally re-united with Baby, my lovable 8lb Yorky-poodle mutt! What can I say, a boy and his dog.
Peace,
Chris

I was at Jimmy's house!

Jimmy Carter that is! Man, Plains Georgia is a kickin' town, well, at least their number one resident is pretty kicking. I checked out his house, his school, and his campeign headquarters! It felt really good. I ended up buying a button and a T-shirt, yeah, I'm a politics dork, but after this last election I needed to go "back to bam, back to who I am" so to speak. Jimmy was a really good Democrat!
Peace,
Chris

PS Look what's out on Video!!!

Forgot to mention

I saw Hemingway's house in Key West! It was pretty cool, he raised 6 toed cats, and there are still about 60 of them on his property. Oh, and I didn't mean to make Goldwater's relitive out to be fanatical anti-Clinton, he was a Philosophy teacher and seemed really bright.
Peace,
Chris

Back from the Ship

Well, road around the Atlantic for the last 7 or so days, talked with Barry Goldwater's Nephew (he was kind of fixated on Clinton's failure in Rwanda), the owner of some expensive handbag company and so on. Found out Champeign isn't my friend. Saw Mexico, the Bahammas, and a bunch of Mayan Ruins. Now I'm in Daytona Beach, going to see JIMMY CARTER's place sometime this week! Then going to my aunts in South Carolina. I checked out my grades, got an A- in Islamic Mysticism, an A in Jacksonian History as well as Creative Writing, and got a B in the Cultural History of the Enlightenment. Finished Last Temptation of Christ, Amazing book. Reading Living Jesus, by Luke Timothy Johnson (he spoke about Paul at Central a while ago), basicly it is a defense of traditional Christianity against the Historical Jesus movement. Long short of the argument is that because Jesus is raised and present in the church Jesus is still revealing his will, and therefore the "historical" thing is not a closed book yet. Very interesting, I'm liking it.
Peace,
Chris

Well, I'm off at 6AM, I'll blog after Christmas

I'm flying out at 6AM in the morning to Orlando Florida, my parents are already there. I'll leave you with an online Christmas quiz.

You are 'Hark! The Herald Angels Sing'. You take
Christmas very seriously. For you, it is a
religious festival, celebrating the birth of
the Saviour, and its current secularisation
really irritates you. You enjoy the period of
Advent leading up to Christmas, and attend any
local carol services you can find, as well as
the more contemplative Advent church services
each Sunday. You may be involved in Christmas
food collections or similar charity work. The
midnight service at your church, with candles
and carols, is one you look forward to all
year, and you also look forward to the family
get together on Christmas Day.


What Christmas Carol are you?
brought to you by Quizilla


Merry Christmas to all. May our Lord's birth be good to you all.
Peace,
Chris

The best Lutheran comedy magazine ever

Finished my interview final for Islamic Mysticism, did pretty well, though I ended up biffing a question about Al-Arabi. I think I'll end up with an A in that class.
Peace,
Chris