Christian Carnival #82
9th August 2005
Well, here it is at last! The 82nd Almost Weekly (or As-Far-As-We-Can-Manage-It-Weekly) Christian Carnival where participating bloggers submit a post they have penned during the past week to showcase to the blog-reading public. Each week, a host arranges these submissions in some way or around a theme to present to the awaiting Blog-o-public.
This week, I have the honor and privilege to serve you in this manner. I have enjoyed this task immensely. Reading each post has enriched me and I thank all those who participated. You may need to bookmark this page and read it in several sittings. When you do, put up your feet, top up that cuppa, (and to my beloved Reformed Brother–you know who you are–stuff up that pipe of yours!), and explore the best of the week culled from the so-called “Christian Blogosphere!” Enjoy!
Prelude: Lessons in the Practice of Spirituality
As we begin this week’s showcase of posts, I would like to introduce to you an ancient Chinese Christian text. It was found among scrolls discovered hidden in the caves of Dunhuang and were subsequently known as the Jesus Sutras. Very little is known about their origins, but the stories that have come to us from those who have researched them are facinating. At the very least, it has confirmed how seriously the early church took Jesus’ words to take the gospel to the ends of the earth, and it sheds light in how they have interacted with peoples of remote areas and distant cultures. It also gives us hope of reaching the world with the gospel of the peace that passes all understanding. And it provides us with a glimpse of the gospel through different perspectives, thus hopefully helping us to fresher insights to the meaning of following our Lord in this world.
Within these texts is this passage which begins with the question: “What are the Four Essential Laws of Dharma?” Dharma literally means “what holds together” and can refer to teachings, principles, or precepts. The Jesus Sutras answers the question with the following four dharmas: “no wanting” (or “no desire”), “no doing” (or “no action” or “no effort”), “no piousness” (or “no virtue”), and “no truth”. As you read this week’s Christican Carnival, I invite you to do so with an attitude of learning with a view of catching a fresh glimpse of your life in the Spirit as a Christ follower.
The First Dharma: “No Wanting”
Spirit Life in the Physical Realm
If your heart is obsessed with something
It manifests in all kinds of distorted ways.
Distorted thoughts are the roots of negative behavior.
It’s like a plant: if the roots however deep are damaged
Then this will come out on its leaves and how it grows
And so it is with people - if there is wanting
It will come out in your body and everything you do.
And all the body’s openings will become clouded.
Losing their energy and brightness. This is the Law of No Desire.
From The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Religion of Taoist Christianity
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”
“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Starting us off this week, is a succinct statement about what it means to live out our spiritual lives in the midst of a noisy, distracting world, is this post, God-Shaped Hole, from Chad of Eternal Revolution.
Katy Raymond of Fallible provides a personal insight to the wisdom of stopping to smell the flowers, with a difference. Her post has little to do with the sense of smell nor with flowers, although it is probably as pretty and as aromatic as the most fragrant rose. Sometimes life in the slow lane has its advantages
With a provocative title like “Lets Talk About Sex“, John Bambenek of The Ravings of John C. A. Bambenek attempts to win the SEO battle while at the same time attempting to unpack what he understands to be Kate Hudson’s view that “monogamy is unrealistic” by offering his own take on monogamy, marriage and keeping sex within the exclusivity of the marital relationship.
My blog-friend Julie of www.fidlerontheroof.blogspot.com in her characteristic shoot-from-the-hip style has a thing or three to say to Mommy Wives and Spineless Husbands, giving them a couple pieces of her mind, on the one hand to Mommy Wives to put a cork in it and on the other, for Spineless Husbands to grow up and be a man! Julie says she is not prejudiced and abuse everybody equally so these two posts are appropriately combined as a presentation to this week’s Carnival even though typically the Carnival asks bloggers to submit only one post, so if you are inclined to complain please send your complains to me, and not to Julie, okay?
From Lori Seaborg of Keeping the Home is a practical suggestion, born out of her own personal experience for teaching scriptures to our children in Write It Down Where They Can See It.
Ron Stewart of Northern ‘burbs blog continuing his series on marriage in The purposes of Marriage: Part III - Completion writes about how spouses complete and complement each other.
Jeff Weddle of Anti-Itch Meditation has a novel idea in Free Money! Free Money!
James Jordan of Points of Light provides us with some stunning visual reminders that “God does some of His best work in the early part of the day” in Up Early, comparing these images to the many Scriptural references about meeting God in the morning.
Jami Leigh makes her declaration of faith against an unknown disease in this simple, yet evocatory expression of her trust in her Lord to overcome the ravages of disease, pain and uncertainty.
The Second Dharma: No Doing
Spirit Life in the Personal and Moral Realm
The second is no doing. Don’t put on a mask
And pretend to be what you’re not. Be your most natural.
And don’t run after fantasies and illusion!
It’s as if you’re on a boat on the broad ocean–
The winds drive you this way and that, you have no control,
And all the time you are scared of drowning, and you have no rest.
In fact there’s no peace at all! This is just like people –
That which appears on the outside is not the truth.
The effort to hold a distinction is abadoned–
And there is simply action and reaction. So walk the Way of No Action.
From The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Religion of Taoist Christianity
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Opening this section on “No Doing”, we have a post from Dunmoose the Ageless that is a brief commentary on John wesley’s Mother on Sin with a truistic remark at the close.
Robin of Write Thinking: Miscellaneous Musings of a Christian Novelist has provides us with a personal reflection on the question of who or what we rely upon as the source for our sense of security, intertwining her own thoughts Biblical references and themes from her own writing.
rev-ed of Attention Span asks what God mean when He tells us He is a jealous God and how he could be more jealous like God is jealous in The Jealous God.
In Kim of Ramble Strip points to a post at Stand to Reason blog regarding the contrast that U2’s Bono draws between grace and karma in I choose grace! Bono does too from the sounds of things. Thank you Jesus.
From a Penitent Blogger we have a lesson from Moses’ experience of facing the uncertainties of life and death with calm faith and trust in God’s grace and mercy in Helplessness and Anxiety.
UPDATE: Here is an entry that was missed out because I couldn’t find a link earlier: John Wilkerson of Double-Minded Man has this post: Why I’m Double Minded.
And here is one that I missed simply because I forgot to add it in! Sorry! Bob James of CrosSwords has a few thoughts about hypocrisy which was spurred by the controversy stirred up at another site.
The Third Dharma: No Piousness
Spirit Life in Public and Private Devotion
The third is no piousness. And what that means
is not wanting to have your good deeds broadcast to the nation
Do what’s right to bring people to the truth
But not for your own reputation’s sake.
It is like the Great Earth herself
Giving food to each according to their needs:
The blessings that are given are countless.
So anyone who teaches the Triumphant Law
Practicing the Way of Light to bring life to the truth
Will know Peace and Happiness in company
But don’t talk it away–this is the way of No Virtue
From The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Religion of Taoist Christianity
“Be careful not to do your ‘acts of righteousness’ before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
Starting with a personal reflection on his own journey of faith, Dadmanly posting at Gladmanly, examines the second part of Romans chapter 2, focusing on the initiative and priority of God’s rich love and mercy when He wrote His law onto our hearts.
Scott Nichols of Random REsponses has a post entitled “Empty” which is his “devotional journey following the footsteps of Jesus based on [his] trips to Israel. “Empty” deals with the Garden Tomb and the implications of the truth that Jesus is not there.”
Sue of Sisters’ Weblog: It Bloggles the Mind! shares her reflection on what it means for a Christian to live a transparent life in Transparency.
Shannon Woodward of Wind Scraps writes a poignant personal account of her journey through the highs and lows in the life in the ministry and “the healing one simple letter can bring to a hurting heart.”
Paula of Listen In provides this reflection on how mentorship has been important to her journey as a Christ follower by sharing her experience of a harrowing bike ride and comparing that to the story of Christian and Hopeful from Pilgrim’s Progress.
In Judge Not Is For Cowards, William Meisheid of Beyond the Rim… opines that most people misunderstands what Jesus really meant in the injunction not to judge in the Sermon on the Mount injunction of “Judge not, less you be judged.”
Monika of Monika’s Message shares from her heart in I wish I knew her name about her desire to befriend someone who “don’t look like me” and missed opportunities.
At callmeteem, blogger Tim Plett mused about what he perceives to be the cultural prohibition against consumption of alcohol in light of grace and friendship in A beer for the gospel.
Messy Christian writes passionately and honestly about her inner conflict about being a Christian artist, describing her struggle to balance her need for self-expression and creativity and the censorious attitudes that some Christians have towards art.
Also along the same notes, Mark Olson at Psuedo-Polymath offers some thoughts on the struggle between modesty, spirituality, art and worship in A Good Beginning.
Another Update! Promise this is the last one! This time it is a post from Karen Marie Knapp of From the Anchor Hold entitled, August Ninth: the martyrs, confessors, and innocents of World War II providing us an insight to the horific devastation of war.
The Fourth Dharma: No Truth
Spirit Life in the Mind and Faith
The fourth is no truth. Don’t try to control everything.
Don’t take sides in arguments about right and wrong.
Treat everyone equally, and live from day to day.
It’s like a clear mirror which reflects everything anyway
Green or yellow or in any comination –
It shows everything as well as the smallest of details.
What does the mirror do? It reflects without judgment.
And you–you should do likewise.
Then True Peace and Happiness will flow from your heart.
And others will join you in the quest for the True Way
While you will not claim credit for being virtuous. This is No Truth.
From The Jesus Sutras: Rediscovering the Lost Religion of Taoist Christianity
“Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” He also told them this parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit? A student is not above his teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like his teacher. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
Phil Threten of PhilThreten - Finitum non capax infinitum has some advice for those who would like to use one of Spurgeon’s quote to “contend for the faith” when they get together with others within God’s family in What Does God’s Family Get Together Look Like? linking the attitudes some Christians have with the contentious attitudes displayed at some family get-togethers.
Angry in T.O. of Angry in the Great White North summarizes an on-going debate between two factions within the Catholic Church regarding the role of science (or perhaps more aptly, a particular, namely, “materialistic” use of scientific theories) and theology in understanding aspects about our universe, such as creation and evolution.
Phil Wade of BrandywineBooks opens his review of Think Biblically, edited by John MacArthur, a collection of essays by the faculty of the Master’s College in Southern California, with some observations that in order to follow in the steps of our Lord who came to serve, we must think Biblically.
Blogger Matthew Self of The Gad(d)about reflects on the story of Jonah and applies that to the American Church of today, impeaching it for running away, swallowed up in the belly of the whale instead of carrying out its mandate to preach to the ” the cities that encompass them.” He has some interesting insights to share about the parallels between Jonah’s story and what his view of the malaise of the contemporary American Church.
Parableman Jeremy Pierce joins his wife Sam in attempting to answer why God sometimes allow bad things to happen to us. He asks questions that sometimes we fail to ask and he proposes some ways in which we ought to respond in times of trouble, on a national, corporate as well as personal level.
Sam of Uncle Sam’s Cabin (Parableman’s “better half”) presents her own thoughts on the matter in this post, Why ask why?
In dokeo kago grapho soi kratistos theophilus - dedicated to the writings of Saint Luke, we have a post from Richard H. Anderson on what he calls Josephus’ Theology of Prayer.
Gullyborg at Resistance is futile! has a few words to say about public schools and the quality of its education compared to the fictitious Hogwarts School (of Harry Potter fame) in Schools: fantasy v. reality.
Stacey L. Harp would like to draw your attention to an entry in her blog warning about the movie The Beast.
Funky Dung of Ales Rarus attempts to wade through the minefield of Senator Arlen Specter’s comments regarding stem cells and cloning by offering an opinion from a medical school buddy on the issue.
Robin Bayne of Between Sundays offers some thoughts about God as creator in Intelligent Design.
Experiencing a real life challenge of having to engaging others about the truth, Kim Bloomer of Sharing Spirit shares from her own personal experience and finds solace in the community of faith through other Christian bloggers in I Am Not An Island or What Does God Have to Do With Animals?
In a post regarding the readability of the ESV Bible, Wayne Leman of Better Bible Blog provides us with some insights about the Flesch-Kincaid readability index and its effectiveness in testing the true readability levels of the ESV. There are also two follow-up posts in the blog.
Kevin the TechnoGypsy reflects on what he calls “our choice, the sunlamp or the blowtorch” using thoughts on the on the mount of Transfiguration as a springboard to his discussions on knowing God.
To close off this week’s Christian Carnival, I would like to present to you my own entry, which can be found here, in which I raised some questions about some aspects of the debates in philosophical theology.
Next week’s Carnival will be hosted by David of all kinds of time… Be sure to submit your entries to ChristianCarnival@gmail.com
UPDATE: Now! Also listed in the Truth Laid Bear UberCarnival Page!
August 10th, 2005 at 12:57 am
Christian Carnival is Up!
The Bloke in the Outer hosts this week’s Christinan Carnival. The Bloke organized the Carnival in a very unusual and creative way, and one that will teach most of us something we did not know.
August 10th, 2005 at 1:12 am
Christian Carnival is Up!
The Bloke in the Outer hosts this week’s Christinan Carnival. The Bloke organized the Carnival in a very unusual and creative way, and one that will teach most of us something we did not know.
August 10th, 2005 at 4:10 am
christian carnival #82
More links to some great Christian thought, both lighthearted and serious, hosted by the Bloke in the Outer. Come have a look.
August 10th, 2005 at 5:32 am
You’ve done a fabulous job here! I was suprised to see it already up, thanks for all the hard work.
August 10th, 2005 at 5:47 am
[...] In addition, today’s 82nd Christian Carnival at In The Outer uses an ancient Chinese Christian text as the framework for presenting this week’s postings. The text uses the classic Eastern view of negation (presenting truths by stating what to avoid) to interpret four fundamental Christian concepts (called dharmas to the Eastern mind): no wanting, no doing, no piousness, and no truth. The Bloke, as the author calls himself, created a unique, interesting, and instructive approach to presenting the Carnival. [...]
August 10th, 2005 at 7:27 am
Christian Carnival #82
The Bloke fromin the outer is hosting this weeks Christian Carnival. He writes:
Well, here it is at last! The 82nd Almost Weekly (or As-Far-As-We-Can-Manage-It-Weekly) Christian Carnival where participating bloggers submit a post they have penned dur…
August 10th, 2005 at 7:28 am
[...] [...]
August 10th, 2005 at 8:06 am
[...] The Christian Carnival is up at …in the outer…! [...]
August 10th, 2005 at 8:09 am
Christian Carnival LXXXII
Wednesday means that the Christian Carnival is up for the week, this time courtesy of The Bloke at In the Outer. The posts that caught my eye:
August 10th, 2005 at 4:11 pm
Wednesday Linky Stuff
No Filthy Lie Assignment due this week. Instead, we’re celebrating the 2nd anniversary of the declartion of the BlogWar by posting the collected quotes of Glenn Reynolds as gathered from all the Alliance blogs by the Alliance HQ Editorial Staff.
August 11th, 2005 at 3:53 am
[...] The Bloke, at “…in the Outer…” has posted this week’s Christian Carnival. One thing I like about the Carnival is that it allows for many different perspectives on how Christians think and believe. Too often, as Christians, we get locked into our own mindset and think that all Christians believe the way that “I believe.” While the truth of the matter is that I am always right, of course, the Carnival gives you a wide ranging perspective on what Christians think. (PS I’m just kidding about the “I am always right” line. ) You will want to bookmark the above site, and read the wonderful posts there at your leisure. Roll the posts over your tongue and savor how God is working in His people around the world. [...]
August 11th, 2005 at 11:52 am
Christian Carnival 82
This week’s Christian Carnival is hosted by … In The Outer blog.
August 11th, 2005 at 11:55 am
G’day Bloke. Thanks for your work on putting up this week’s Christian Carnival.
August 11th, 2005 at 12:11 pm
Trippin’ ‘Round the ‘Sphere - 8/11 Edition
Christian Carnival is up at …In the Outer…. So far I haven’t found one that discusses C.S. Lewis, but there are some good posts nonetheless. In the spirit of my series on marriage, early favorites include: