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Chasing Francis | ★★★★★★★

Ever wonder what a religious outsider thinks about Evangelicalism? This book, written by Episcopal priest Ian Cron, came across that way to me. The book is a fictionalized account of the pastor of an evangelical mega-church as he loses his way then finds it again with a group of Roman Catholic monks in Italy. The story presents a somewhat idolized account of St Francis of Assisi and an equally dumbed-down version of Evangelicalism. I like much of the ideas presented in it but felt a bit insulted by the narrative as it presented Evangelicals as mainly superficial and materialistic. And, in contrast, it showcased Francis, and his followers, as the real deal.

All that said, I did enjoy reading a bit about the namesake of the current Pope. It gave me a sense of his identity as a Christian and why he is such a winsome leader. Like the man of Assisi, Pope Francis tends to work within the constraints of Roman Catholicism choosing to lead more by example than by religious words and dogma.

Overall, I liked this "Pilgrim's Tale" and, on a scale of ten, give it ★★★★★★★.

Sometimes there are no words ...

... but these words seems appropriate: Awesome. Inspiring. Amazing. Challenging.

What words might you add to my list?

You're not going fast enough. ツ

"If everything seems under control, you're not going fast enough" -Mario Andretti

I love this quote. It reminds me of the few times that life is "under control" - when we are asleep and when we are dead. I think that a full life always involves losing control. You cannot control love because you really cannot control people. The older I get, the more that I am confronted with the uncontrollable nature of our health. And we certainly cannot control the future or the time of our death. So why not say it out loud. Go ahead. Say it. I am not in control! There. Do you feel better. I hope not. Life can be scary. It can also be wonderful when we let go of the little control that we try to exert over things that are not meant to be controlled. ツ

Wounds into Wings

We would rather live challenged than bored. We would rather live raw than numb. We would rather experience things that force us to be brave than to never need courage.

The words of this image so reminds me of my friend Kelli Standish ... the author of the above quote ... one of my very first friends in the Blogosphere ... a young spiritual warrior (one of the very few people I would characterize that way) that continues to overcome so many obstacles. I admire Kelli so much and I am in good company. Following are a few clips from an article (read it here) that a friend wrote about her.

They are stories that wring my heart until it literally hurts when I think of them. In the past two years alone, Kelli has faced multiple hospitalizations for surgery and frighteningly serious complications. She has continued to battle a rare rheumatic disease and endured periods of blindness and great pain as a result. Kelli has moved four times in a period of ten months under stressful circumstances—including across the world to Bahrain and back. Her husband deployed to the Middle East, and during his absence they suffered the loss of a beloved pet that had seen them through so very much. And this is barely scratching the surface of the things the past years have brought Kelli. It’s been wave after wave of deep-cutting battles.

And yet… these stories, the ones I’ve mentioned, and the ones that run deeper still—they don’t shackle her. She places her heart in the Master’s hands, and He turns her wounds into wings. She has scars, but she’ll be the first to say they’ve equipped her for a life of outpouring.

And oh, does her life pour.

Kelli mounts up on those wings, battling to give hope. To summon joy and sow hope in barren lands. When good is elusive, she hunts it relentlessly, makes space for it to grow. She invites the multitude to come, see that the Author of Life and Good is alive and moving!

The Gratuitus Life

"You can't live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you." -John Wooden

Love this quote from the legendary NCAA coach. It reminds me of how I need to live selflessly. Also makes me think of the terms 'quid pro quo' and 'gratuitus'. Consider this:

Gratuitus is the opposite of 'quid pro quo'. The phrase 'quid pro quo' means 'that for which' or 'which for which'. It therefore means getting something for doing something else. In contrast, 'gratuitus' means 'for free'.

I want to live the gratuitus life. Daily giving with no thought of repayment. How about you?

Son of God | ★★★★★★★★☆☆

I cannot remember a movie about Jesus that I really did not like - I did not see "The Last Temptation of Christ". And I liked the work that these folks did on "The Bible" miniseries on the History channel. So I think that I was predisposed to like this movie.

I think that some will not enjoy the movie that much if they do not enjoy a reimagining of the gospel story. If it upsets you to see Jesus enter Lazarus' tomb and wake him with a kiss then you might want to stay away from this movie. But if you want to share the story of Jesus with folks that need God then this movie might be for you.

I cried and was moved by many scenes. The love of Christ seemed to bleed through the movie and communicated his compassion with great imagery. I loved the way that Diogo Morgado played Jesus. Not the dour Messiah of the "Jesus of Nazareth" miniseries but a friendly smiling savior that seemed to genuinely enjoy being alive.

I really liked the movie and, on a scale of ten, give it ★★★★★★★★.

Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

Vacation Packing Tips

Interesting checklist - things like chargers are so important to us. Here are a few items from 18 Things You Forget On Your Packing List For Vacation:

    •  Prescriptions – Bring enough for your entire stay plus a day or two.

    •  Sunglasses and Sunscreen - Never know when you might want to tan.

    •  Bandages - It's better to be safe than sorry.

    •  Snacks – Cheaper than having to buy at the airport.

    •  Reading materials - I use my tablet or phone for reading these days.

What items do you always have on your packing checklist?

Happy Independence Day

In remembrance of this day back in 1776 I offer a few moving excerpts from the beginning and end of the Declaration of Independence:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness."

"And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

I am always impressed when I think of those who drafted and signed the Declaration of Independence. That pledge at the end of the document speaks volumes.. it seems to reflects an impassioned determination to be free. May God continue to have mercy on our country.

The most important adjective in all of history.

The word self-evident. The most important adjective in all of history. All men are created equal, and they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights, and among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, and to secure these rights governments are instituted among men deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. And that is self-evident.

Excerpted from Esquire.

Jersey Boys | ★★★★★★★★☆☆

I walked into the theater last week wondering if the singing of John Lloyd Young would cut it for me. I was a huge Frankie Valli fan when I was a teen and wondered if Young would pull it off. In my opinion he did. And in the end that was all that mattered for me.

Yes, I did love the story of the Four Seasons. I really liked how it felt like a Broadway play without the limitations of that venue. But in the end I loved the singing. I loved the songs. Hearing those old Four Seasons' songs carried me back to a simpler time. My days with Johnny, Tommy, Ray and Albert back on Summerfield Place in Staten Island.

That said, I do wonder if non-Baby-Boomers will like it. Will the Rap generation enjoy listening to Frankie Valli? Not sure they will. I think that the movie may only appeal to folks like me who grew up on the their music. Even so, on a scale of ten, I give it ★★★★★★★★.

Catch my other mini-reviews by selecting the Movies link in the menu bar above.

Religious Schism

A funny word, schism is. The dictionary says that it is a split or division between strongly opposed sections or parties, caused by differences in opinion or belief. Some in the United Methodist denomination (I go to a UM church) want to split off because of issues like the marriage and ordination of gay church members. Some want to stay together being united as followers of Jesus Christ. The issue is complex and hotly debated. It points to how hard it is to find a way to agree to disagree that works for people of strong opinions.

I wish this were a new phenomenon among religious folks. Sadly, it is not. Each day we see evidence in the news about age old schisms between people who supposedly follow the same God. Sunni Muslims cannot live alongside of Shia Muslims. Christians of one church see heresy in other churches. And Jews are divided along differing lines of orthodoxy.

At this point I want to offer some sort of win-win cliché. I want to quote John Wesley about finding a way to love each other even though we differ in opinion. Or speak about not majoring on the minors. Sadly, I no longer embrace such rhetoric. The sad truth is that people do not find much value in unity. Many prefer schism over finding common ground.

I guess that is the real truth. Schism is a preference. For sure it is a distasteful one for many. A necessary evil for some. A capitulation of sorts to a so-called greater truth - whatever that means. Yet religious schism is a hard reality in our world of low road winners and losers. And for sure, there are no real winners when we choose to divide.

But perhaps there is a better way? I would be interested to hear your thoughts concerning religious schism.

Legacy

"Someone's sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago."

This Warren Buffett quote reminds me of the trees that I have sat under.

My parents planted many trees. I still sit in the shade of their love for me.
Taxpayers in New York City planted trees that gave me an excellent education.
A company planted a pension tree and I enjoy a comfortable retirement.
Our nation's founders planted trees that provide shade to those who long to be free.
A man once planted a tree of eternal life for me as he hung on a cross.

My prayer is to be a tree planter. A man who thinks past today. One who is concerned more about providing shade than sitting under it. Someone who wants to leave a legacy of love and compassion. It is my prayer for you too.

The Greatest Gift

The only way love can last a lifetime is if it's unconditional. The truth is this: love is not determined by the one being loved but rather by the one choosing to love. -Stephen Kendrick

Unconditional love is an illogical notion, but such a great and powerful one. -A.J. Jacobs

Truly loving another means letting go of all expectations. It means full acceptance, even celebration of another’s personhood. -Karen Casey

The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of unconditional love and acceptance. -Brian Tracy

I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection of ourselves we find in them. -Thomas Merton

Happy Summer Solstice Day

Goodbye to Spring (my favorite season) and hello to Summer. I am not a fan of hot weather but like it better than cold. It is almost hitting 90 around here but promises to settle back down to around 80 in the coming days as a few rain showers move in. That said, I am enjoying it anyways. How is it where you are? What is your favorite season?

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