Yes.

"the reality of my written work echoes the harsh reality of life: there is but one draft."
-SBG on 'The Thesis'

this quote means a lot to me right now considering the state of my own thesis and its immanent due date.

The Crucifixtion (1880, Thomas Eakins)

I find this painting conveys the weight of the Crucifixion particularly well. "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God". I'm not really even sure what that means, but when I imagine Jesus becoming sin, I see him shrouded in shadow. As God's face is too bright, Jesus' face on the cross is too dark - God himself turned His back, hence, 'Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani'. To look on Jesus in that moment is to look on death itself - a sight too terrible for men. Yet, this terrible sight is the site of redemption. To look upon him is to die with him and in doing so find life

Welcome to the Stalk Market

My compulsion to read others blogs is getting out of control - help.

In other news, Ted Haggard has been on my radar ever since his disturbing behavior in the movie Jesus Camp; needless to say, I wasn't surprised when I heard about his scandal. Here's a video from before he was caught; can you feel that something's a little off? (btw. he was denounced by a male prostitute for having sex with him and doing crystal meth)



I was curious how this would turn out in the end. Peoples histories are case studies for the way life works; pay attention and you'll learn a lot. Anyway, today I found this (the whole interview can be found in five parts on youtube, but these guys did a good job at picking out two of the most interesting clips):



and than this,



All in all, I feel there's a lot to be learned from TH's story. If you have time, you should look at some of the other interviews on youtube.

Contemplation of profane objects is a rich exercise - try it. Is it not true that Jesus' is most radiant as an object of derision, or that the cross is more at home in the bottom of a urinal, then in a ornate chapel? [I lifted these provocative pictures here]

Great Monologue

"I was sheriff of this county when I was twenty-five years old. Hard to believe. My grandfather was a lawman; father too. Me and him was sheriffs at the same time; him up in Plano and me out here. I think he's pretty proud of that. I know I was. Some of the old time sheriffs never even wore a gun. A lotta folks find that hard to believe. Jim Scarborough'd never carry one; that's the younger Jim. Gaston Boykins wouldn't wear one up in Camanche County. I always liked to hear about the oldtimers. Never missed a chance to do so. You can't help but compare yourself against the oldtimers. Can't help but wonder how theyd've operated these times.

There was this boy I sent to the 'lectric chair at Huntsville Hill here a while back. My arrest and my testimony. He killt a fourteen-year-old girl. Papers said it was a crime of passion but he told me there wasn't any passion to it. Told me that he'd been planning to kill somebody for about as long as he could remember. Said that if they turned him out he'd do it again. Said he knew he was going to hell. "Be there in about fifteen minutes". I don't know what to make of that. I sure don't. The crime you see now, it's hard to even take its measure. It's not that I'm afraid of it. I always knew you had to be willing to die to even do this job. But, I don't want to push my chips forward and go out and meet something I don't understand. A man would have to put his soul at hazard. He'd have to say, "O.K., I'll be part of this world."

- Opening monologue of No Country for Old Men.

Didn't agree with everything, but a good reminder/exhortation

unposted draft from 4/21/08 (no energy to write something new)

"When grace descends, the world falls silent before it"

-Philip Yancey

Likewise, when grace descends upon me, a find myself speechless: neither are their words of excuse, a reception of grace is an admission of guilt, nor words of confesssion, all is known.

How hard it is to put to death that which is not of Him, but how much more wonderful to recieve that which is of Him. Lord, daily, but to death that which is not of You, and, in its place, build upon the foundation you have laid within me - Your son, crucified and buried, raised again to newness of life. How blessed are those that are built into a spiritual dwelling; we long for you to indwell us as a community.

Prayers

Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris,
Qui tolis peccata mundi,
misere nobis.

dona nobis pacem.