“We all got up to dance, Oh, but we never got the chance, For as the players tried to take the field, The marching band refused to yield. […] And in the streets, the children screamed, The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed, But not a word was spoken; The church bells all were broken.”Continue reading “2013: Just a Box of Rain?”
Tag Archives: religion
Counter-Culture Christ: Interview with Evangelical Pastor Geoff DeFranca Part II
This is the second part of a two-part discussion conducted via e-mail and in person with evangelical Nazarene pastor Geoff DeFranca as part of our ongoing Wizard of Monadnock interfaith series. You can read part one here. It had been nearly 800 years since the patriotic prophet Isaiah, living in the small and feeble nationContinue reading “Counter-Culture Christ: Interview with Evangelical Pastor Geoff DeFranca Part II”
Journey of a Sane Evangelical: Interview with Pastor Geoff DeFranca, Part I
It’s a little more than 700 years BCE, in the tiny tribal nation of Judah. Resting in what is now the southern part of Palestine, Judah comprised slightly less than half of the Promised Land – the land, according to the Hebrew Bible, once known as Canaan and promised by god (known as YHWH, correctContinue reading “Journey of a Sane Evangelical: Interview with Pastor Geoff DeFranca, Part I”
There Are No Cowards In Heaven: Exploring Life with Quaker John Redman (Part II)
(UPDATE 9/29: Small edits and additions have been made thanks to clarifications helpfully provided by Redman subsequent to the original publication of this piece.) “Won’t see the golden of the sun when I’m gone, And the evenings and the mornings will be one when I’m gone, Can’t be singing louder than the guns when I’mContinue reading “There Are No Cowards In Heaven: Exploring Life with Quaker John Redman (Part II)”
Opposition to Tyranny is Obedience to God: Exploring Life with Quaker John Redman (Part I)
(UPDATE 9/29: Small edits have been made in accordance with clarifications helpfully provided me by Redman subsequent to the article’s initial publication.) “’A Mighty Fortress is our God’, especially verse four.” That was Quaker minister John Redman’s first response when I asked him what songs most inspire him. Written by Martin Luther himself sometime aroundContinue reading “Opposition to Tyranny is Obedience to God: Exploring Life with Quaker John Redman (Part I)”
It is a Holiday and I Don’t Like It
Actually, the title here is a little bit misleading. If I were truly a good professional wizard, I would have warned you at least two weeks ago that August 1 was Lammas, one of the eight holiest days of the solar calendar. In fact, I would have devised an entire scheme of celebration and ritualContinue reading “It is a Holiday and I Don’t Like It”
XXII. The Importance of Beards
One strange way to approach the 22nd Hexagram (properly titled “Grace”, by the way) is to say simply that a beard is a very fine thing, but should never be confused with the chin. Really, it actually says this. A beard is a cool decoration, but a chin is an important part of your face.Continue reading “XXII. The Importance of Beards”
Which way to the Banquet? Midsummer’s Day Six
Way back in December, I posted this crazy rambling rant exploring ways to cope with eternity even though our brains can never quite grasp it and even though random effects of eternity sometimes intrude into our daily lives and thoughts and dreams. Even as solstices themselves are made to look arbitrary in the face of theContinue reading “Which way to the Banquet? Midsummer’s Day Six”
Standing Sun, Standing Man
Given that it’s Midsummer’s Afternoon, I am not going to take up very much of your time with talk. This isn’t the time for talk – or for reading and writing, really. This is the time to stand beneath the standing sun, feel the fire, and prepare yourself to carry that fire onward into theContinue reading “Standing Sun, Standing Man”
You Already Have It! (Special Unity Tuesday Post)
“The valley spirit never dies; It is the woman, primal mother. Her gateway is the root of heaven and earth. It is like a veil barely seen. Use it; it will never fail.” -Lao Tsu, Tao Te Ching (Sixth Verse) Ahh, Unity Tuesday again. I sincerely hope you’ve at least considered doing this wholeContinue reading “You Already Have It! (Special Unity Tuesday Post)”
Christopher J. DiLoreto 