a visualization of what goes through my mind when hearing about Jon and Kate G

The following images express what enters my mind whenever I see or hear anything about those 2 people all over the news that have 8 kids and apparently hate on each other while the public watches.

torturous television

"It is way worse than I thought it would be, and that's no joke," Mancow told listeners. "It is such an odd feeling to have water poured down your nose with your head back...It was instantaneous...and I don't want to say this: absolutely torture."

"Absolutely. I mean that's drowning," he added later. "It is the feeling of drowning."

"If I knew it was gonna be this bad, I would not have done it," he said.

While I was away this weekend I missed something you may have caught. If so, please forgive the redundancy.

Self described Right Wing radio host Erich Muller from Chicago subjected himself to what Sean Hannity has refused to, waterboarding. He participated in the stunt to prove once and for all that waterboarding is not torture, and not that big a deal. Like torture supporter Christopher Hitchens, he came to the conclusion that... (surprise) Waterboarding is torture. You know Hannity won't do it, not because he is scared to try it, but because he knows what the outcome will be. It is easier to condone a behavior such as the torturous waterboarding if you have never experienced it.

So, all you waterboarders, join the fun and give it a try. The summer will be hot and dry so you could use a cup of cold water poured over your face. I am sure it will be refreshing.

Here is the article about Muller's experience, plus video. By the way, the water pouring lasted only 6 seconds before he gave up (or 5 seconds longer than Hannity or I would last).

bands I love, part 1- Devotchka

Some would call me a music snob, but I do not think that is true. My love of all genres and lack of prejudice regarding popularity, "street cred" or labels prove my position. I mean, I like Hanson, Cheap Trick, Michael Jackson, The Electric Light Orchestra, Madonna, U2 and Huey Lewis. You cannot be a snob and like those artists. Sure, I am picky. I have high standards. But, I am not a snob.

As said by Bill Pullman to Alan Rickman in Bottle Shock, "you're a snob. It limits you." I don't want to be limited by being snobbish towards country, rap, gospel, doo wop or pop. I believe good music, good writing, good music and good beer can be found anywhere (my favorite Tampa eateries are cheap and fast, but special).

Sure, I don't like American idol, but that because I hate musicians and art held up as a popularity contests and competition based upon who "does better" on an individual week, forcing them to jump through hoops to garner ratings and see who can "wow" people the most and get the most votes. Voting on music sickens me and cheapens art. There, I said it.

I mention this because I take my recommendations for artists I think others should listen to seriously. I am not interested in promoting the next big thing or someone cool only because you have never heard of them. While I listen to a lot of music, I filter everything and let only a few artists through because they fit the criteria I look for (see this). Once I find an artist, I want to share them, no matter the genre, the popularity/ obscurity or what the Indie Police (Pitchfork and the like) say. I am not interested in being the first on the block to mention a band (I call these people Immedianistas- they have to be the first to comment on anything). I am interested in above average music.

That said, I want to share a few bands that have been striking me as of late, some of which have new albums out and some don't. However, for some reason they have not hit the mainstream at a level that should accompany their sound.

The first such band I mention is Devotchka, from Denver, Colorado. Their last album came out in 2008 and made my top 10 list.

Like many, I discovered Devotchka when they did the Little Miss Sunshine soundtrack. After garnering a Grammy nomination for that music and good press from Rolling Stone, I thought their next album would be huge. However, it flew under the radar. While critics and bloggers were extolling the pleasures of similar world music influenced bands like Firewater, Beirut, Gogol Bordello and Andrew Bird (all of whom I like, but pale in comparison) . Somehow Devotchka's brand of Eastern European influenced gypsy rock with Gothic dark undertones and a beat you can dance to has not caught on in America (violins, trombone, accordion, etc.). There are flourishes of Ennio Morriconi (the composer), Morrissey and the Smiths, Arcade Fire and Tom Waits along with polka, circus music and Cabaret tunes. It is great stuff, sounding like nothing in your record collection or on the radio, yet surprisingly accessible and fun. Somehow, with all that happening, it never sounds forced, contrived or hokey. It sounds like great theatrical rock and roll, albeit with different instruments and sensibilities.

If you listen to world music, or just like good Indie Rock, I would recommend their last album, A Mad and a Faithful Telling, along with their work on Little Miss Sunshine. How it Ends is also quite good. If it does not strike you at first, keep listening. They are one of those bands that get better with each listen, that I never grow tired of.

listen to them here or at their website.

Here are a couple of videos: Til The End of Time from Little Miss Sunshine

How It Ends

Here is a link to a radio show introducing their music.

Let me know what you think.

the risks of being unconventional (a rant)

The grief has ramped up lately.

"Rick does not like the new Star Trek. Why can't he just let go?"

"Rick hates American Idol. He is a wierdo."

"Rick does not drink at Starbucks. He must not understand coffee or America."

"Rick is not enamoured with 24, Lost or Heroes. He just isn't cool."

"Rick does not like Christian music. He must be going to hell."

"Rick would rather drink water than Bud Light. What is wrong with him?"

As a supervisor in CPE said to me one day, hoping to get a rise out of me, "how much energy do you put into not fitting in?" My answer surprised him. I told him, "None whatsoever. I expend most of my energy trying to fit in." In fact, I want to like all the pablum and mind numbing entertainment that Hollywood sells us. I just cannot. Seriously. I am unable.

When I find those with multiple tattoos and piercing, dressing boldly and declaring their difference with the world, I sometimes think to myself... "poser." Why? Because when I talk to them, especially those of the Christian variety, I usually find myself in the company of someone with very conventional ways of thinking (overstating to make point). They want to rebel from the pack, which I can appreciate. They want to be noticed for their differences. But, at the end of the day, they are pretty mainstream thinkers (which is fine). As for me, my brain operates so differently (I am told), that I want to blend in just a little bit.

You see, I want to be the guy enjoying Adam Sandler comedies, living in the suburbs, driving an SUV, eating whatever is thrown in front of me and drinking cheap beer. I want to be the guy listening to Hannity or Olbermann, voting for whomever I am sold, caring deeply about American Idol with my pure bred dog sitting on my lap. I want to attend First Baptist Church, sing the simplistic, overly emotional songs, while reading the Bible in the proscribed manner and buy into the myth of American Christianity and exceptionalism. I want to live happy and without thought about the consequences of my every action. I want to be Jude Law's character from I (Heart) Huckabees before his revelation. Instead I am Mark Wahlberg's fire fighter. Trust me, I don't want that. I don't want to question everything.

Or maybe I do. In fact, I am very comfortable within my skin as a contrarian that looks at life quite differently (it is all I know). I do not go out of my way to be a strange guy that sees the other side of the coin always. It is just me... and I wish people would accept people that are not inside the mainstream, especially the ones with conventional haircuts and clothing, that look like everyone else. It seems easier to accept those that LOOK different than those that THINK different (and this goes on all sides of the political/ religious and social spectrum- they are all the same).

Let me be comfortable as someone that does not just let go at Star Trek and let the inanity of the plot overshadow the wonderful characterization. Let me think John Mayer is a sellout and Coldplay rewrites the same song over and over (so does Dave Matthews). You see, I quite enjoy being someone that demands of our culture that they shoot high, whether it is food, politics, religion, beer, film, television or music. I think we should demand better than what they feed us. Why is that so bad? Why should I just accept whatever THEY are selling us?

Is it a threat to others and their deeply held feelings and beliefs that I do not agree with them? I went through this in 94-95 with Friends. The fact that I thought the show was stupid on so many levels was a threat to others that liked it. Who cares? It is just one guy's opinion.

If you like a stupid sappy show, so be it. Just don't expect me to like it because it is the cool thing and everybody likes it. If you like something I think is bad, stand up for it. Don't justify. Show me its intrinsic value for you. I don't care what your line of reasoning is. In fact, I will think highly if you can show me you have thought about it. You are thinking for yourself, which is all I want, even if you just like movies where guys and girls meet at the airport when all hope is supposedly lost (it worked for me in I Love You Man).

But let me hold onto my idea that (usually) when everybody likes it, it may appeal to the lowest common denominator. Just face it. That does not make you a bad person because you like the following (and it does not make me a freak because I do not like this stuff):

American Idol (I don't like oversinging. I like subtlety. I am not impressed by power alone)

Starbucks (Again, I like subtly. I am not impressed by strength at the expense of taste)

Walmart (never liked it, even before the labor stuff. It always stressed me out)

McDonalds (did not grow up on fast food, never been a fan of the stuff. Blame my parents)

Coldplay (one good album, many mediocre ones. It all sounds the same, like midtempo worship songs)

Lost (went there with superior X Files. Not heading down rabbit hole again)

Titanic (it made my butt hurt and I had to pee)

24 (I will gear myself up to sit down in front of the TV to be stressed out for an hour, oh, and watch people tortured)

Chili's, Applebee's and all fern bars or chains (man cannot live on chicken fingers alone)

Ron Howard flicks (see Coldplay)

Adam Sandler, Will Ferrell or (there are exceptions, usually dramas)

Dan Brown novels

Dallas Cowboys, LA Lakers, Lebron James, Michael Jordan, NY Yankees, Tiger Woods (I like a little competition and I hate extreme cockiness)

NASCAR (not a snobby southern thing though)

Dancing with the Stars, So you think you can Dance, Extreme Home Makeover, etc....

Reality Television and soap opera type dramas, most medical dramas (OK, most television)

Romantic Comedies

Hugh Jackman, Patrick Swayze, Keanu Reeves, Mel Gibson

Michael Bay

Wild at Heart or anything by Eldridge (actually pretty much anything popular that Christians read)

John Mayer, Norah Jones, James Taylor and most of the artistic pop singers

So what if I think Braveheart, Shawshank Redemption, Saving Private Ryan, Silence of the Lambs and Forrest Gump were overrated. I think that most big hits are.

By the way, there are plenty of popular things I like, including:

Sportscenter, The Daily Show, Seinfeld, MASH, fried chicken (I just don't eat it), Green Day (even if they sound like the superior Ted Leo), U2, Radiohead, The freakin Beatles, the freakin Beach Boys, the freakin Stones, Batman: The Dark Knight (the 2nd biggest film of all time), 5 Guys, In & Out Burger, Michael Jackson (the musician), Madonna, Prince, Harry Potter, Iron Man movie, Boston Celtics, Sweet tea, Google, football, baseball, basketball, The Office, Brian Williams and NBC News, 30 Rock, Judd Apatow comedies, Seth Rogan, The Shack, Pulp Fiction, Star Wars, Alfred Hitchcock, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Slumdog Millionaire and Jesus. I could go on and on and on. See. I am just like you.

Rant... done

A Soundtrack for Clinical Pastoral Education

I may have mentioned that I have been part of Clinical Pastoral Education during the past few months. It is a class that you can take during seminary or serve in a residency for an entire year. It is much more intense than a regular class with weekly personal/ theological reflections, as well as regularly shared pastoral encounters, in which a student shares a pastoral dialogue between student and patient/ parishioner which is torn apart by the class. This allows the student to see his or her deficiencies as a pastor/ chaplain so he or she can provide better care in the future. While it is usually tied to medical chaplaincy, it should be part of any seminary education process because it makes better pastors and ministers. Sadly, only a few seminaries and denominations require it. I wanted it in seminary but was unable to take it. I am now finishing up a unit related to my job responsibilities.

Part of my own discipline in the class is to intersect music which speaks directly to my soul and is the lens through which I see life and my theological/ personal reflections. I pick a song each week as a soundtrack to my reflection, sometimes using it in class (sometimes just sharing its lyrics). In the midst of this I have created a nice little mixtape of my own spirituality as expressed in this class, a soundtrack for Rick Bennett at this moment in his life. Here are some of the selections (I wish muxtape was still around so I could create it to be listened to).

Some of these songs are deeply reflective and personal and some will make no sense without context or familiarity. Such is the aim of CPE. Its desire is to force its participants to dig deep into their own psyche and spirit to better deal with those things which hold us back from caring for others. Yes, it is cheaper than therapy, especially if someone else is paying.

When I began this class I made a list of probable songs, most of which I have not used. Of course, maybe I will use some of them for a second unit of CPE. But it does strike me that what I thought I would use and talk about did not come to pass. Some of the assumed, but unused songs include: Windowsill/ My Body is a Cage / No Cars Go/ (antichrist television blues) by Arcade Fire, Fake Empire by The National, Best Imitation of Myself / You've Got to Live with Who you are by Ben Folds, Could be Worse by Eef Barzelay, I Might Be Wrong / Jigsaw Falling Into Place by Radiohead and The War Criminal Stands to Speak / Our Life is not a Movie by Okkervil River.

Here is the list of what was used weekly, with a lyrical taste:

Constructive Summer by The Hold Steady ("I heard your gospel, it moved me to tears, but I couldn't find the hate and I couldn't find the fear")

The Charging Sky by Jenny Lewis ("and it's a surefire bet I'm gonna die, so I'm taking up praying on Sunday nights... as insurance or bail")

Static on the Radio by Jim White ("Everything I think I know is just static on the radio")

When Angels Fall and All This Time by Sting ("2 priests came round our house tonight to offer prayers for the dying, to serve the final rite")

Both of Us'll Feel the Blast by Waterdeep ("I hope we sit together when Jesus serves the wine, so I can look into your eyes when I taste it the first time")

Furr by Blitzen Trapper ("and now my fur has turned to skin/ and I've been quickly ushered in/ to a world that I confess I do not know/ But I still dream of running carelessly through the snow)

Still Fighting It by Ben Folds ("everybody knows it hurts to grow up/ and everybody does/ Let me tell you what/ The years go by/ and We're still fighting it")

I Saw the Light by Hank Williams, Sr. ("Then Jesus came in like a stranger in the night/ Praise the Lord, I saw the light")

Sympathy for Jesus by Don Chaffer and the Khrusty Brothers ("I'm saddled with a job you know of interpreting my Dad, to a bunch of frightened people/ frightened or just mad")

Throw it All Away by Toad the Wet Sprocket ("with the time I waste on the life I never had, I could have turned myself into a better man")

Bastards of Young by The Replacements ("those who love us best are the ones we' lay to rest, and visit their graves on holidays at best/ those who love us least are the one's we'll die to please...")

Intervention by Arcade Fire ("working for the church while your family dies")

Righteous Path by The Drive By Truckers ("I don't know God, but I fear his wrath, I'm trying to keep focused on the righteous path")

What are some of the songs on your soundtrack?

Eugene Peterson on the contemplative life, quote #8

final entry:

Doing the right thing (reading scripture) but doing it in the wrong way (reading it impersonally for information or for principles that I can use to get ahead). Using impersonal ways and means will never bring about any congruence between the text and our lives and, of course, nothing remotely contemplative.

The contemplative life, growing toward congruence, is slow work. It cannot be hurried. It is also urgent work and cannot be put off. Life is deteriorating around us at a rapid pace, and the life at the center, the gospel life—with the elements of congregation and scripture as major pieces—is being compromised, distorted, degraded at an alarming rate. In the American way, slow and urgent are not compatible. They cancel one another out.

But in the Christian way, they are joined together. Urgent as this is, there is no hurry. Impatience cancels out contemplation. Patience is prerequisite. Formation of spirit, cultivation of soul, developing a contemplative life, realizing congruence between the way and truth—all this is slow, slow work requiring endless patience. Human life is endlessly complex, intricate and serious. There are no shortcuts to becoming the persons we're created to be. We can't pump contemplation on steroids.

Unfortunately, patience is not held in high regard in American society. We get faster and faster and we become less and less; our speed diminishes us.

read the entire essay here. It is adapted from a Christian Centure lecture.

my thoughts on the Blue Like Jazz screenplay

A dear friend of mine is one of the producers of the Blue Like Jazz film project so I may seem more important than I really am. There is no other reason that a person of my stature with only a few hundred readers would get his hands on the screenplay that many are talking about. The only other thing I have read is from Gabe Lyons, and I am not Gabe Lyons. He produces big conferences and writes books. I write a blog and have better hair and music taste. Plus, I did not love the book. I merely liked the book, but I was not its main audience (too old and cynical).

To be Hollywood-y, I will tell you to think The Graduate meets Fight Club, without the sex, violence and multiple personalities. It is not your preacher's Christian film. In fact, it is light years away from and ahead of what normally passes for "Christian" entertainment (Fireproof, etc). The reason for this is a different agenda. Imagine getting a bunch of talented people together (that just happen to be Christians). Imagine that they have one goal and that goal is not to make a Christian film, or evangelize. Imagine that goal is simply to make a very good film that entertains, but the main character happens to have a Christian background which he is struggling with. 

This friend wanted my honest assessment and I can tell you this… it is quite good. It is funny, edgy (but not too edgy), honest, brash and humble. Yes, the comparisons to Garden State, Good Will Hunting, All the Real Girls, Juno and Little Miss Sunshine, and any other coming of age story are warranted. It is a Christian Indie flick, and it works. It is reasonably Sundance-y and will be embraced by a similar audience, unless the audience is prejudiced.

They have started with the thing any film must have to be good... a very good script. Now it is up to the filmmakers to make the movie the screenplay deserves. 

It is not as witty as Juno (which is not a bad thing- Juno may have been too witty), but is much more realistic than Garden State and its ending does not make you suspend any disbelief (unlike GS), which you have to do in Elizabethtown and any other hackneyed romantic dramedy masquerading as a personal growth flicks. No airport reunions here. Thank God. I start with the ending because it has broken many good movies in the past (you know, guy gets resolution to all his problems and the girl in the last 5 minutes).

Luckily, this ending gives you just what you need to be satisfied (and maybe shed a real tear) without resorting to the tricks of most Hollywood films. That is a credit to the filmmakers. In fact, the ending of this film is its strength. It is nice to see such a strong pay off and I hope the filmmakers keep it. Test audiences be damned if they don’t like it! Plus, the redemptive spirit of the final act is powerful and I connected with it because of similar experiences in college, mostly due to the grace of friends after I was broken by my own stupidity. I connected with that and the writer's disdain for Christianeze like "Bro" which I also despise.

Don't get me wrong, the screenplay is not perfect. There are a few flourishes I appreciate, but am skeptical of seeing done on screen. However, seldom have I seen a screenplay (or film for that matter) which does make me say, "I may have done that differently," or "is that really the best option?"

That said, Blue Like Jazz will be a Rorschach test for its viewers, with each of their own prejudices brought to bear. It mines Christian and secular Left stereotypes (both of which I find in myself), finding something in each to laugh at, but moves beyond these to find the humanity in "the other" each audience member has dismissed in the past. This happens if that audience member chooses to let go and become enraptured by this painfully funny tale based upon Don Miller’s own life, but fictionalized. It is not for the closed minded, no matter what their stripe, but neither was the book. The first scenes will find audiences not embracing the “Christian” label squirming because of the insider church language. However, the setup is needed and without this the pathos of the central character would be unexplained and the growth would be non-existent. And trust me, Christians will find plenty to make them squirm after the insider beginning.

My only concern for the film project is that an audience will be hard to find. Too many conservative Christians will find the reality, the honesty and the rawness disconcerting, realizing they are more comfortable laughing at those they disagree with instead of embracing them as friends and truth-tellers, while some of the more reasonable and progressive critics will come with their own agendas, looking for an evil proselytizer under the director’s slate board, not realizing that every protagonist in a coming of age film has a “born again” or epiphany moment, whether it is Zach Braff discontinuing the use of psychotropic drugs in Garden State or Seth Rogan realizing that he must find gainful employment in Knocked Up. It is basic to the plot of such a film. Just because Jesus is in the midst, does not change the basic arch of a story. I hope the “open minded” see that, unlike the writers of Pitchfork which dismiss most albums by religious musicians (see reviews of Cold War Kids and Manchester Orchestra). Of course, Miller’s books have found a large audience, so I think it has a very good chance.

I am very impressed and cannot wait for the soundtrack, if they get the rights. Hopefully it will be filled with Coltrane, Monk, Modest Mouse, Sufjan Stevens, Arcade Fire, Ani DiFranco, Cold War Kids, Welcome Wagon and other Indie Rockers from Asthmatic Kitty and Kill Rock Stars.

So, spread the word. Get the buzz started. This movie has the potential to make you proud. It has the potential to be the film most of us have been waiting for, an entertaining and truthful story with Christian and redemptive themes that makes us laugh and we can show our friends without embarrassment. It is about time.

btw, the filmmakers are looking for funding right now. If you are interested, or know others interested in investing in such a project with a very good business plan, let me know. I will put you in touch with the right people (and I have nothing to personally gain from any of this, beyond a movie I can proudly own- and maybe they will send me a nice t-shirt).

Eugene Peterson on the Contemplative Life, quote 7

American spirituality has an indiscriminating love of technology. We like getting things done, no matter how. Use the fastest and most efficient means at hand, but get it done. Fastest and most efficient almost always means impersonal. People ask questions, act stubborn, make mistakes and get in the way—so bypass the personal. Under the influence of technology, we have acquired the habit of reading the scriptures technologically, scripture depersonalized into information used to get things done more quickly.

Does twitter make us lazy? (some limits of social networking)

is it just me, or does the social networking cause relational passivity?

I am speaking as a user, not an outside critic but as a user so slow that I just realized something the critic probably complain about all the time.

I know... we think that, because it brings us into connection with hundreds of people, social networking ties us together (which it does on a certain level, especially if I have something to promote). However, I have noticed on facebook, the blogs and especially through twitter, an allowance for relational passivity. No longer do we (the Imperial we?) call a friend to see how they are doing and tell them something important. Heck, we no longer even email people. Instead we update each other via twitter, which is fine for those following us, but not for deep friendship. I like knowing what Billy Joe in NYC that I read daily is up to and he should not email me (or even DM me) about his impending marriage.

However, there are some things my former roommate from college and best man in my wedding needs to tell me in person (or via phone/ email). Yes, we can use twitter and fb for personal messaging, but I don't want to tell the world in general that I have a disease or someone close to me died (neither of which have happened) before sharing it with those whom I value for their personal connections, those I am loyal to and are loyal to me. they deserve personal attention.

Along these same lines, people think that a mention of you in a posting is as good as a personal thank you, apology, phone call or email. This is relational laziness. Eventually people notice (kinda like the open letter).

However, my biggest issue as a twitter user for a while is this. It makes us passive and lazy relationally when we are in need of help, advice or support. Too many times I have seen on twitter a need/ want just laid out there with no context (how can we give context in 140 characters? I know this).

Her is how it works: I need an answer to a simple question, so I tweet and someone gives me the answer. Awesome for me.

or, I want to know how to solve a problem, so I tweet and someone give me an answer. Awesome for me.

or, I need a ride to the airport, so I tweet and someone says, "I will take you." Awesome for me.

But, all of this makes me passive and lazy. I have a need, desire or want and I do nothing relational. I put it out there and wait for you to contact me with an answer or salvation for my problem. You, as the one with the help have to do the work and I get all the benefit.

I must say, I do not like this equation, especially as a follower of Christ. It is not good for personal relationships.

Does this mean I will no longer tweet? No. But, it may mean I will pick up the phone or email someone when I need something, before I get passive and let everyone else come to me with the answer... and I may not fall into the trap of affirming and enabling such relational passivity. It may also mean that I don't just use social networking when I have a need, or when I want something done. I may try to connect with people for the purposes of getting to know them, not just using them.

But, probably not.

Eugene Peterson on the contemplative life, quote #6

I know it is a pain to see an entire essay or address in such bite size morsels, but I think each little bit needs to be contemplated separately to be properly digested and considered. Here is quote #6:

Scripture is not about us, either. It is about God. God has revealed God's self to us in scripture so that we might know and respond to God, understand where we are in God's creation, what it means to be called into a life of God's salvation. We do not primarily read scripture in order to develop a better self-image, or to discover the hidden treasures in our lives. Scripture is not about us. Basically, we are listening to God revealing God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

We do, in fact, find ourselves included. We are addressed, we are invited, we are commanded, we are promised, we are immersed in a world where God rules and saves and blesses—us. But there are no secrets here on how we can rule and save and bless. We are not the subject and we do not supply the action.

Eugene Peterson on the Contemplative Life, quote 5

"The major American innovation in the congregation is to turn it into a consumer enterprise. Americans have developed a culture of acquisition, an economy that is dependent on wanting and requiring more. We have a huge advertising industry designed to stir up appetites we didn't even know we had. We are insatiable. It didn't take long for some of our colleagues to develop consumer congregations. If we have a nation of consumers, obviously the quickest and most effective way to get them into our churches is to identify what they want and offer it to them. Satisfy their fantasies, promise them the moon, recast the gospel into consumer terms—entertainment, satisfaction, excitement and adventure, problem-solving, whatever. We are the world's champion consumers, so why shouldn't we have state-of-the-art consumer churches?

Given the conditions prevailing in our culture, we have the best and most effective way ever devised for gathering large and prosperous congregations. Americans lead the world in showing how to do it. There's only one thing wrong. This is not the way that God brings us into conformity with the life of Christ. This is not the way that we become less and Jesus becomes more. This is not the way in which our lives become available to others in justice and service. The cultivation of consumer spirituality is the antithesis of a sacrificial, "denying yourself" congregation. A consumer church is an anti-Christ church. It's doing the right thing—gathering a congregation—but doing it in the wrong way. This is not the way to develop a contemplative life, a life in which the Jesus way and the Jesus truth are congruent."

Eugene Peterson on the Contemplative Life, quote 4

Peterson on the second way the Christian life is contrary to most things American;

We cannot participate in God's work but then insist on doing it in our own way. We cannot participate in the building of God's kingdom but then use the devil's tools and nails. Christ is the way as well as the truth and the life. When we don't do it his way, we mess up the truth and we miss out on the life.

Eugene Peterson on the Contemplative Life, quote 3

"Two things that are basic to the Christian life are unfortunately counter to most things American. First, Christian spirituality, the contemplative life, is not about us. It is about God. The great weakness of American spirituality is that it is all about us: fulfilling our potential, getting the blessings of God, expanding our influence, finding our gifts, getting a handle on principles by which we can get an edge over the competition. The more there is of us, the less there is of God.

Christian spirituality is not a life-project for becoming a better person. It is not about developing a so-called deeper life. We are in on it, to be sure, but we are not the subject. Nor are we the action. We get included by means of a few prepositions: God with us (Matt. 1:23), Christ in me (Gal. 2:20), God for us (Rom. 8:31). With, in, for: They are powerful, connecting, relation-forming words, but none of them makes us either the subject or the predicate. We are the tag-end of a prepositional phrase."

good cheap music for you

in my continuing quest to introduce you to good music at good prices, I am grateful to the folks at Amazon. Every Friday, they give us 5 albums for $5 each, plus daily specials. They even have random huge sales periodically.

Right now, there is one of those sales. There are 50 albums for $5 each with many good choices, including Neko Case's latest alt country gem (not her best but close) and American Beauty by the Grateful Dead (the one album everyone should own), along with TV on the Radio, Culture Club, Ornette Coleman, Kanye West, Marvin Gaye's #1 songs, Michael Franti and The Knux. You can also get one of the best albums so far in 2009, Metric's Fantasies (do you like powerful girl music?),

But the deal of the day is quite simply the best deal Amazon can give on a mp3. One of the greatest albums of all time (I am partial to it above Abbey Road and anything else) is only $1.99 today. If you do not own Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys, shame on you and repent right now. As penance head over to Amazon and by this morsel of pop perfection. While I do not think the remasters from 1996 are the best available, you will not notice, unless you worship this album like some I know.

While you should own the album and the CD, this is a no brainer for anyone that does not already have it on their iPod. Believe the hype! Listen to it over and over and over and over. It gets better on each listen and never gets old.