Selaphiel

If I read you right, you're missing the [donkey]. :chuckle:

I already respected you for your intelligence and insight, now I'll have to add a sharp wit to that list.

The jury's still out on your beer discrimination, I haven't figured that out yet.

part 2/final....

A couple things off the top of my head that I did think were particularly interesting.....his section on how we complicate obedience by coming up with "moral difficulties", such as the lawyer's question to Jesus about who his neighbor is. Instead of simply obeying as best we can we ask questions on what exactly the commandments mean. Adam and Eve simply obeyed until the serpent inserted a moral difficulty, "hath God said?"

And one I just read last night was about oaths and truthfulness. How oaths only exist because lying does and people have to add weight to their words by swearing on God, but Christians shouldn't even permit or acknowledge lying enough to make an oath. I don't know if I've ever thought about it that way. I began thinking about how oaths are used in courtrooms, particularly in "Christian" nations.

:e4e:

Part 1...

On Bonhoeffer...

I'd agree with your concern. I was thinking about the same thing and was wondering if he addresses it later in the book. How do we know what exactly Christ has called us to? Coming from my background in pentecostalism, God having a definite call and discerning and finding God's will in your life is a very common theme but I think finding what that would be, if there is one, is not an exact science. I think it would often be an extension of the person's interests and desires and can be a projection of themselves (but isn't necessarily bad or mean that it isn't God's will, wouldn't a loving Father call His children to something they naturally enjoy?). If I say that Christ simply hasn't called me to anything extreme, would Bonhoeffer say, "ok", or would he say that I wasn't sincerely responding to Christ? :idunno: It all seems very vague at this point.

http://www.bing.com/

Have you driven that road in Norway? :D

I want to go there. :noid:


I should be able to get back to you on the rest later today.

:e4e:

Kind of. But I need to start reading more and buying less.

I've made some decent progress. I'm through chapter 10. It's kind of funny because at times I feel like he's saying that to be a true disciple you have to leave daily life, home, job, and family to go walk the streets and find out people in need that you can help. :shocked: But then at times he seems to say that discipleship doesn't necessarily mean that, it depends on what Christ calls you to do. But you won't know that until you are committed to do whatever he asks. For example, Abraham went back to his life with all his possessions, but it was only after he was willing to sacrifice Isaac. So it's been an up and down read so far. :chuckle: I'm in a section where he's going through Matt 5. I like some of his thoughts, not so sure about others.

:e4e:

:chuckle: Yes, more time would be nice.

I was just at the used bookstore that I occasionally shot at. Picked up a few books. "Jesus - God and Man" by Pannenberg, "Jesus of Nazareth: King of the Jews" by Paula Fredricksen, and a random book on early American history that covers the time between Columbus's arrival in 1492 and the pilgrims' arrival in 1620.

Sorry, the devil made me do it. :chuckle:

Thank you for the translation though, I'm actually glad to know that.

And thank you.

I started The Cost of Discipleship last night, read the first chapter. It's a pretty good start. I thought his thoughts about monasticism and grace being the sum instead of data in the calculation were interesting.

Yes it can be. I think it'd be nice to have jazz services like I just had on a regular basis.

No rush on the PM. :e4e:

You might appreciate an article I recently read about animal homes, nests, etc.. It talked about a type of ant that makes the tunnel holes just big enough for them to plug it with their heads and prevent intruders from coming in. I wonder how they pick the sucker who gets that job. :chuckle:

Haandbryggeriet Bestefar.

I think you may have spilled some beer in your keyboard.

I watched the documentary about the Church of Saint Coltrane. It was interesting. Reminds me of a pentecostal church, which the video did mention. It does seem a bit odd to give so much devotion to Coltrane, but I bet I'd enjoy one of the services. :chuckle: If I'm ever out in San Fran I'll have to search them out.

Listening to an album Coltrane did with Ellington. :tunes:

A while back you send me a link about a church that focuses on Coltrane, or a church of Coltrane, right? I need to find that. :think:

Thanks. They printed the poem in the bulletin but I don't think they had that first section. I'll check it out.

:chuckle: Just a bit. There is a place near me where you can create your own 4/6-packs of beer and they have a pretty wide selection of good beers. Next time I'm in there I'll look for that name.

:e4e:

Yep it was the Episcopal church. I hadn't known much about Coltrane's life. It's interesting that that album was done after he came to God.

That sounds nice. It seems a bit early for Christmas ales though. :chuckle:

:e4e:

You may have liked what my church did tonight. They had a service based on John Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' album. It was a different type of service. All the music was from that album and it was in two chunks, each about 14 minutes long. I enjoyed it a lot.

:e4e:

Sorry. I have read it but I haven't taken serious time to put a response together yet. I have this week off work so I should be able to get something written. Or maybe even tomorrow. Not today though. I was helping do renovations at a building today and I'm too exhausted to think about anything serious. :chuckle:

Other than that, things are alright. Looking forward to this week off from work. :cloud9: We are going through a major project right now so I've been working more hours than usual. I hope to get a bunch of reading done and a few things done at my house. Maybe start Bonhoeffer.

How are you doing?

:e4e:

Thanks. I can get into his stuff. He has a very interesting voice. I struggle to catch all the lyrics. :chuckle: I really enjoy the music, I would probably enjoy instrumentals of his songs too. I also listened to some tracks off his anthology. 'The Piano Has Been Drinking (not me)' is a funny one. :chuckle:

:chuckle: I've never heard that one, but I like it.

They....absurd. Shame on them unto the third generation of music lovers...something like that. :chuckle: It was a great show, of course. The theater he performed in is an old, ornate and intimate one. We've had a few national acts stumble through as a quick money pick up in route and fall in love with it and the crowd and return whenever possible. Lyle Lovett now goes out of his way with any tour to play it, by way of.

Back to Tom. The evolution of his writing and even his styling has been great fun to watch and being in close quarters with him atop his game was an experience I won't be likely to let go of. Exceeded expectations. He's the rare bird who is even better live than recorded. I hope you get the chance to experience that. :cheers:

Sorry to step in, but I was going to nudge kmo and saw your note about Tom. Long time fan. He actually came to Mobile, to the old Sanger theater a few years back before going overseas. His son was playing with him. I sat dead center, second row and talked to both of them later. He played many of my favorites that night and as things were winding down I turned to my wife and said, "It would be perfect if he'd sing Johnsburg, Illinois...a moment later he did.

Again, I didn't mean to read over your or kmo's shoulder, but I saw the name and had to chime in. Great, great songwriter/entertainer. And his son was very good in support.