Cynthia

I'm fond of the Heffalump, myself.

I've never noticed it....

Health Information Privacy Protection Act straight from Orwell. Y'know the papers you have to sign at your Dr, dentist, pharmacy, etc saying you understand your privacy rights? The 8000 notices from each bank, account, etc??? That's HIPPA

Thanks Flow. The knowledge is threatening, but in a "true" way. It does much what AR and I had mentioned about CS Lewis... basically makes you take a good hard look at the little behaviors of yourself and others... and realize that the little things do count and inflluence. A push towards living more mindfully. Valuable but uncomfortable. I'm planning to reread The Road Less Traveled next!!! C

Ok Flow - I'd love to know your reactions to People of the Lie. Honestly, it's kind of freaking me out. He's basically making a case that evil is a subset of narcissistic personality disorder - that I can buy... but now I'm sensitized and hear all self-serving statements as possible evil. Yeesh! Cracked! As we all know, people tend towards self-involvement!!!

He, Lewis not Screwtape, has a way of putting things that make me feel so guilty (in a good way). I had the same experience! I found it to be a very humbling book. Try The Great Divorce next... perhaps your mind will join my twistedness in finding it hilarious and humbling. The first chapter is about people in line for a bus to heaven. I can't read it (or even think about it) without laughing out loud!!! Have you seen Narnia yet? Pretty good. Can't, of course, compare with the book, but a good show overall. With the current zeitgeist the Christian points are emphasized!

Christians don't gossip.... they just have prayer requests. I agree, many won't find the appropriate boundaries, but legally they're probably safe. Unless they know through their job or make slanderous comments... While many think HIPPA increased the security of private records..... well, preaching to the choir here

Don't you think that's what tends to aggravate us?????? Make it (your faith life) look pretty and important, but don't actually go out of your way. An outer change, not the inner compelling one. Showing up at church every Sunday is just a habit to get into and sets you with the group in many places... but on Christmas?!? Very inconvenient. Of course, I've read lots of CS Lewis and now am in the middle of People Of the Lie by Scott Peck.... perhaps my view is colored Ok, on the less cynical side - pastors and church staff serve all year, have probably had crazy schedules over the holidays and deserve to get to celebrate their savior's birth with their families??? Eh, I'm not buying it life altering faith is inconvenient by nature.

Des - LOL!!! Flow- "Thanks for the information. I thought that it might have something to do with the head wizard. The secrecy of the name thing is interesting though considering the ancient Hebrews' prohibition on the use of the name of G-d. " Really more of a Beetlejuice or Lord of the Rings type prohibition - avoid summoning someone or drawing their unholy attention to you by using their name. The books really are good... except #5... but I love sharing them with my kids. It's a neat age now - we can all enjoy series together!

I often talk about ideas and perhaps preface with a "while a more fundamentalist approach would be... a more progressive approach would emphasize....". It seems to leave people more able to hear. Kind of a compare and contrast with no value judgement... I try to emphasize the commonalities and scriptural base of both - assuming good intentions.

Beach - I just skimmed, but I'll speak for Altheia (I think ) and myself saying again - read Brian McLaren's book "A Generous Orthodoxy" I think it will answer your questions. Sojourners.com will likely answer any others!!!

I'll quote the venerable Michael Jackson - "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways..."

Another beautiful happy baby! mazel tov!

Darby - I totally agree. I think that at the heart of it we are each responsible for our own behavior. Someone else's behavior has nothing to do with mine except as an excuse. It is easy (and common) to say something along the lines of, "I did X because he did Y", but I am accountable for my behavior and no one can force me to act outside my own standards. It's freeing and threatening to see this. In the end, if we are accountable to God for our behavior, He's not going to ask you about me or me about you... He already knows anyway. It's about intent, IMO. I also agree about minimizing hate. Words are frequently ruined - we've had other discussions on this board about this - but hate is a strong word. Just for the record, I didn't perceive you as absolving people of hate and abuse.

Cute happy baby!!! Clearly brilliant with superior parenting.

"Have you read "Skinny Legs and All" by Tom Robbins? Nope - another to the list!!

I'll look for it! I loved "Lamb - The Gospel of Biff" (a childhood friend of Jesus - his name derives from the sound made by stiking someone backhanded on the head. It's hilarious!!!

I hear more about exclusivism than the trinity. Just fyi.

I read it in college when it first came out... oops, dating. It was fascinating and illuminating then, but I thought chaos theory was "out of vogue"???? I haven't been sure (or apparently interested enough to research) whether it was "disproven" or replaced, or just old hat. Anybody know?

Thanks again Jasn! That one will take some reading time - it looks wonderful. This is such a neat time in our family - very much on the cusp of "put your money where your mouth is"!!! Kids and, especially teens are so eternally vigilant in seeking out hypocrisy... especially in those who set all those arbitrary rules over their lives. If only they knew how much we, as parents, agonize over where those lines should be drawn!!! I actually wish they could make some big decisions now. They are intelligent, grounded, spiritual, and ever so logical about drugs, smoking, sex, school, God, honesty, friendships, compassion, etc! The next few years of "brain maturity" promise much more gray. sigh. "Good luck. Mine are only 4 and 2 so I have a little time to get ready." Don't blink!!! Mine were that age a few minutes ago!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I checked the home page on this site and found a search engine for affiliates - churches or organizations that subscribe to the 8 Points. Here's the list for the UK: City Organization Cambridge Parish of St. James Leeds, West Yorkshire All Hallows Church London Charterhouse, St. Hugh's London St. Faith's Church, North Dulwich London St. James's Church, Piccadilly North Dulwich, London Progressive Christianity Network, Britain Sheffield St. Mark's Church Perhaps the Progressive Christianity Network can be of help. Meanwhile, join us! Read, Marcus Borg - The Heart of Christianity; Brian McLaren - A Generous Orthodoxy; Jim Wallis - God's Politics and on and on and on!!! Welcome!

Hey Des - check out The Great Divorce by CS Lewis - he has an interesting and, I think, more fitting idea of hell as a state/place people choose by being caught up in what they want vs what God wants for them which, while they can't see it, is a much grander, richer existence. Enough of a run on sentence for ya??? :> Anyway, the book is hilarious and humbling. He hits all the little things we all do all the time as choices that drive us from God. Most people don't see it as being as funny as I do, but I think most of the people here would understand!!!

Whoa Dad - Great new orange mohawk! Or.... had you just told him about the other John and his slightly younger cousin??? He's adorable! Such a fun age as they start to interact so much more!

just a little creepy that the grocery store with a savings card records your purchases and then could conceivably (so far not-- mostly they want to sell me junk food that I never buy) individualize the kind of "deals" it offers you? The future is here - our grocery chain has been doing this for years. The creepy one to me is the GPS in cell phones... plans to sell your routes to advertisers to customize billboards that you see on your commute. 911 coverage my %^&@! As for the cynicism/paranoia level here... sadly it fits well and is nice to have a place where other people see the obvious. Otherwise - off to the funny farm where life is beautiful all the time (can you hear the singsong tune???) - I think it's based in Texas now. :>

LOL!