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Whole-y Pray-ers
[aka Hegelian Prayer: Asking for God’s synthesis, not just our thesis] God wants whole-y pray-ers
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Redeeming Ares, Part 1: Apollo’s Creed
O mighty Apollo, I confess how little I know of true manhood, and often settle for shallow counterfeits. What must I do to receive the fullness of your gift?
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Redeeming Ares, Part 0
Continued from Redeeming Aphrodite Ernie: You again? I thought Hades replaced you! Ares: Dream on. Even Haphaestus wants me back. Needs me, even. E. But you’re the personification of rape, sadism, and uncontrolled violence! A. So?
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Hale’s Accusation (Alternate Ending of The Crucible)
Our Christian high school just put on a “fearless” production of Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, which continued to haunt me after leaving the theater. I identified deeply with many of the characters, whose seemingly minor flaws led to tragic results. I am writing this in hopes it will help me…
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Dream: Impostor
Our family is staying at a tropical casino.The kids are getting bored, so we start wandering towards the outside. The casino is having their grand evening religious ritual.The main hallway and staircase are lined with formally-dressed staff holding candles.I am never sure if they are genuinely devout, or just putting…
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Dream: Guidebook
It is our group’s last day in this beach townWe have all packed our bagsAnd checked out We are storing our thingsIn some sort of common roomWhile we each wait to depart I realize I have no more obligationsThis is the perfect timeTo doSome serious drinking!
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Dream: Unmasked
We are standing in a long line Outside, waiting to exchange money Everyone else seems poor laborers Ethnic minorities Reminds me of the lines When we were applying For my wife’s green card
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Dream: Discrepancy
Just like I use Being clever and charming To compensate for a lack Of being emotionally available In my closest relationships
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Dream: Wild Thing
I am holding a monster in my hands Round and furry, mostly head Like a Furby But evil, like a gremlin Yellow eyes, snarling teeth Rabid
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Dream: Swordfighter’s Puzzle
A group of us Decided to learn sword fighting Mostly on a whim But recently Something happened That made a couple of us Take it more seriously
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Redeeming Aphrodite: Freeing Minerva (Part 12 of 12)
Continued from Part 11 Prologue All of us turn South, seeking the Voice which interrupted our tableau, here in the Box of Hades: We gaze toward the far horizon, where Eve’s Multitude had wreaked their vengeance upon Adam.I am sure it is not his Voice we just heard.I cannot place…
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Core Grace Training
Core Graceis the abilityto hold the tensionbetween affirmingmy own individualityand acknowledging the legitimacyof other’s needslong enoughfor Jesus to crucifymy self-centered false identityand revealHis greater redemptionfor all of us. In other words,(by analogy with core strength training)it is what enable usto substitute Christ-like Responsesfor selfish Reactions Backstory
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Being Human: A Curriculum (reposted)
Over on my “technical” blog, I propose rethinking spirituality as a “job to be done,” against which various religious traditions and rituals can be measured. Feedback welcome! Reframing spirituality as the culturally-neutral, teachable practice of becoming more human, as expressed in: 3 Capabilities, 4 Attributes, 12 Learning Outcomes Being Human:…
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Dream: Gun Control
Owen Wilson and Ben Affleck are cops on a stakeoutThis floor of the buildingIs one giant roomFull of desks and bookshelvesProbably a college library Ben is on administrative leaveBecause he supposedly shot someoneFor no good reasonOwen, his partner, is helping him prove his innocenceBen’s fragmented memoriesAnd other cluesHave led them…
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Leaving Adam’s Arms
Escaping conflicted comfort… It is naturalTo seek comfortIn the arms of Adam Falling backOn the familiar patternsAnd role models of culture
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Dream: Hospital Escape
“Ms. Clairborne, please remain seated. Do not leave your room. All hospital personnel have been alerted to your presence. Do not make this harder on yourself than necessary.” Liz ignored the voice from speaker on the desk and finished getting dressed. She stepped over the male orderly who was sleeping…
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Dream: The Agony of Hope
“We have forgotten — or perhaps never really understood — what it means to trust that God is in control. Politics matters. But we have forgotten that good political leaders were supposed to be our gift to the world. Now we think they are something the world has to give us, so we…
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My Quest: Incarnating SOC-Awareness
aka The Practice of ImPresenceor How to Escape Enframing The (hopeful) resolution of lessons learned during my years spent in the Valley of Achor.