TweetFiction Experience

One of my dreams, since I was in 5th grade, has been to write science fiction and I have dabbled here and there over the years with my most creative spurt in the mid 1990's at UNC Greensboro where I took two Fiction Writing courses and a course in Science Fiction as well as learning about hyperfiction at the ACM European Conference on Hypermedia Technology in Edinburgh.  My friend Joe has been encouraging me to pick up my writing over the years through the odd email, comment or media reference.  One of the more creative attempts was his response to a discussion group in which someone was looking for stories in which the Artificial Intelligence had a little more depth of character than is traditional. He cited The Turing Horse, story I had written while a student at UNCG, as a reference even though it had not been published!

At the beginning of this year, I resolved to pick up my writing again, in part inspired by the success of one of my dear friends who is working on a sequel to her wonderful book Myrtle Takes Tea.  Stacey, and her husband, Nick, shared with me their experiences in writing and integration of social media forms such as Twitter and Facebook.  The discussion brought back to mind The Turing Horse. I had been struggling with this one; it had originally been written as an email epistolary (a story told in letters), but the ending never quite worked.   All this discussion about twitter, blogging and social media got me thinking, "perhaps the next incarnation of The Turing Horse could be in the blogosphere, as a form of hypermedia fiction!"

On my way back to Manchester from their home in London, I sent out a lone tweet that would change everything: Is anyone using twitter as a medium for short fiction? #shortshortstory   I didn't get much response back and pretty much left it there, but about a month later one of my writer friends from UNCG days, Chris C., had received the tweet and asked me if I was going to be entering the TweetFiction Twitter stream contest.  Contest, what contest?


The British Science Fiction Association was founded "to encourage science fiction in every form" and during Olympus Eastercon 2012 they challenged writers to tweet good short science fiction or fantasy in 134 characters or less through their TweetFiction Twitterstream #TBSFA contest.  I took up to the challenge on two fronts!

The first front was to tell The Turing Horse as a series of stand alone tweets, but I didn't want to just leave it there.  2012 is the centennial celebration of 100 years since the birth of Alan Turing, whose Turing Test concept had been inspiration for the original short story.  I could not pass up this opportunity to launch The Turing Horse as a hypermedia fiction blog, tying in real world stories and events into the work of fiction, and I really enjoyed setting it up!!!!

The second happened in the course of writing and reading the fiction of the TBSFA TweetFiction contest; I had more stories to tell! I began converting other short stories or story concepts from over the years into TweetFiction shorts.  Here they are:

TweetFiction	Background
Know how fast you're going? Speedometer. Check. Know where you are? GPS. Check. So, when do you want to go to in #Schrodinger's car? #TBSFA	Schrodinger's Car - draft short story
The 5th Atheist Crusade killed 99% of true believers, a few prayed giving thanks 4 all. One final Crusade & the sun never rose again. #TBSFA	The Last Sunset - draft short story
The first signs of the deadly black hole cluster devouring galaxies came from afar, as the stars in the sky shifted from red to blue. #TBSFA	Brand new
Werewolf grooms for her / She plans . . . he'll join her tonight! / Surprise! Vampire pups. #TBSFA #haiku	Nuzzles and Bites, No Howling - short story combined with my friend's sequel The Dog Catcher   retold as tweet and haiku
Travel to the alternate universe was impossible, but data was easy & once the alternet was setup the movie downloads were to die for. #TBSFA	Story Concept inspired by desire to view episodes for TV shows cancelled or great films that were ruined (e.g., Firefly, the fifth season of Babylon 5 that would have been produced if JMS's notes on 5th season hadn't been lost at hotel during convention, Alien Ressurrection with the ending filmed as Joss Whedon' had intended, and many others)
Earl breathed, tucked his tail & sprinted, Tires screached & cheers chattered down from the trees and telephone wires. #RiteOfPassage #TBSFA	Squirrel Rite of Passage Story Concept
Timemachine connects to iPad, launches chron app, quick check of 2morrow's stocks & he's rich! iOS 9 installs...update failed. Retry? #TBSFA	Chrond Geek Fiction Short Story Concept inspired by the notion of alternative uses of the crond unix process
The dark elf pulled the jack of the smart gun from his temple No way! he yelled at the producer That dragon's real, princess can burn #TBSFA	Merging two role playing games in consecutive years of StellarCon: Drow Quest, an AD&D game in which dark elves are on a quest to save the evil princess from the good dragon, and Drow Quest II: Sweet Home, Seattle a Shadowrun game in which the dark elves from the original Drow Quest are transported to a cyberpunk world in which magic and technology coexist, provided new technology and are sent on missions as part of a reality TV show: "ratings are high"

A culmination of encounters and events inspired me to pick up my dream to write science fiction again; You have to pay attention to see how God works in our lives; sometimes, on reflection, you can see His fingerprints in serendipitous events that only become apparent on later reflection and I think that is why we are called to meditate on these things.  I'm grateful to my friends and family for continuing to encourage me.  I hope it makes for some fun reading along the way.

Next, I need to figure out how I can get some of those short stories published as eBooks . . . .

---

Update 07 May 2012:   

Chris. has won two tickets to Beyond the Border - Wales International Storytelling Festival for his entry in their Twitter contest:  "Eyesight. Wits. Tongue. Sword. All should be sharp." Way to go Chris!!!!  

BSFA has advised they will be announcing the winners of their TweetFiction contest on 9th of June 2012 at something called the AGM.
 

The Passover Season

When I look out my window, I see the dead and dark tree limbs returning to life with budding green leaves as we shift from the death and despair of winter to the hope and new life of spring. It is a seasonal shift, reflected in the season of Passover and Easter.

In The Selfless Way of Christ, Henri Nouwen describes how tied our lives are to the Christ-event,

What is truly taking place in our lives is not determined by random ups and downs of our personal and communal lives, but rather by the events of Christ's life being realized among us in and through the church.

It is Advent, Christ is coming;
it is Christmas, Christ is being born;
it is Lent, Christ is suffering;
it is Holy Week, Christ is dying;
it is Easter, Christ is risen;
it is Pentecost, Christ is sending his Spirit.

That is what is truly happening! All other events -- personal, social, or political -- derive their meaning from the Christ-event.

Nowhere in the Coptic Orthodox tradition is this experienced more fully than during Holy Week (Holy Pascha) following the Great Lent which ends today.  We follow the events that happened during this week in real time:

On Palm Sunday, we follow the Lord Christ on His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. We then follow the Lord Christ on His way to the Cross through the Passover or Holy Pascha, the Passover that the children of Israel were commnded to keep in remembrance of the Lord passing them over in the last plague against the Egyptians . . . passing them over because of the lamb's blood on their doors. It is the Passover that foretells of the sacrifice of the Lord Christ on the Cross, that we may be passed over in the final judgement. 

The Holy Pascha readings follow the older reckoning of days. On what we would normally term as Sunday evening, we find the beginning of Monday with Monday Evening. Mornings and evenings throughout Holy Week are steaped in prayer and worship. The path of Christ to the Cross is experienced through prophetic readings from the Old Testament, interpretations and meditations from the early Christian fathers, and readings from the New Testament in which the prophecies are fulfilled. 

On Holy Thursday we learn of the betrayal kiss of Judas, who was one of the disciples, performed miracles, and, yet, he fell, setting the Lord on the path to the Cross. Oh Lord, that You would give us the strength to be firm in our faith and not betray You! Thursday is also the day in which the Lord washes the feet of the Apostles, teaching them that true leadership is to serve with a heart of humility. Holy Thursday is sometimes referred to as Covenant Thursday, as it is when the Lord declared the new covenant with the Last Supper, the Passover meal that declares the new Passover.

On Good Friday, we follow the Lord as he is tortured and crucified, those same voices who heralded His entry into Jerusalem, now condemn Him to death. The services end as Joseph of Arimathea takes Christ's body down from the Cross to bind in linens and spices and place in Joseph's tomb (see John 19:38-41). 

On Bright Saturday, we sit outside Christ's tomb from midnight to early Saturday morning readings from prophecies, the New Testament and all of the Book of Revelations, culminating in an early morning Liturgy. 

Then later on Saturday, Sunday evening by the old reckoning, a lovely Liturgical service from 7pm to midnight during the peak of which the lights are dimmed and with a loud noise, the seal of the Tomb is broken and Christ is Risen!!! , Death is defeated and the Feast of the Ressurrection on Easter Sunday is celebrated!!!

If you want to learn more about how the Coptic Church celebrates Easter,  Premier Christian Media has produced a wonderful presentation called A Very Coptic Easter or follow the Coptic experience as they trend #CopticPascha on Twitter.

For my Western Christian friends, I mourn the passing of Christ with you this Good Friday, for my Jewish friends, I wish you a blessed Passover, for my Orthodox friends, well you know, Thok, te ti gom . . .

---

References:

1. The Selfless Way of Christ: Downward Mobility and the Spiritual Life by Henri Nouwen (UK)
2. Holy Pascha Readings on Amazon (US, UK) - also available on Kindle in both countries!!
3. A Guide to Holy Pascha

The Jesus Prayer or The Prayer of the Heart

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thess 5:16-18

What does it mean to pray without ceasing?  Well, obviously, it means praying all of the time,

• Not just at church
• Not just after we wake up or before we go to bed
• Not just before a meal
• Not just when we need help
• Not just when something terrible happens

It means, praying when you are playing, when you are eating, studying, laughing, crying, talking, reading, writing, bathing, sleeping,  How can we pray all the time?

The Jesus Prayer, also called the Arrow Prayer or the Prayer of the Heart, is an answer to this question.

Let's look at some sample prayers in the Holy Bible

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Luke 8:10-14

The tax collector prayed in humility with a spirit of repentance, the Pharisee, who had the outward appearance of a man of prayer, prayed out of pride, but not from his heart.

Then it happened, as He was coming near Jericho, that a certain blind man sat by the road begging. 36 And hearing a multitude passing by, he asked what it meant. So they told him that Jesus of Nazareth was passing by. And he cried out, saying, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”  Then those who went before warned him that he should be quiet; but he cried out all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” So Jesus stood still and commanded him to be brought to Him. And when he had come near, He asked him, saying, “What do you want Me to do for you?”

He said, “Lord, that I may receive my sight.”Then Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has made you well.” And immediately he received his sight, and followed Him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.

Luke 18:35-43 (and Mark 10:46-5)

What a powerful prayer!  This humble prayer stopped Jesus in his tracks and his prayer was answered.
From these two, we have the Jesus Prayer in its most common form:

Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.

A shorter form is one we hear throughout the Divine Liturgy, especially when we are called to pray . .  . . . 

Lord Have Mercy (Kýrie, eléison,)

How does the Jesus Prayer help us to pray without ceasing? Are you familiar with The Tetris Effect?  Tetris is a very addictive game in which you repeatedly focus on aligning shapes that are falling with matching forms.  After playing for a long time, you begin to see Tetris everywhere.  I've had a similar experience when playing chess over and over again for an extended period of time to the extent that, when placing my coffee cup on a table, I placed it just so in order to arrive at checkmate!  Through repetition, the Jesus Prayer will enter your heart and you will begin to see the Lord everywhere.

There are three stages of repetition:

1. Prayer of the Lips (body) - say the words
2. Focused Prayer (mind) - the meaning
3. Prayer of the Heart  - not something we do, but something we are

Repeating the prayer brings us closer to God and to repentance and to shift away from sin. When it rests in our heart, we even pray while we are sleeping . . .

I sleep, but my heart is awake;

Song of Solomon 5:2

Try it, repeat the Jesus Prayer over and over and over again, following the rhythm of another activity that we do without ceasing:

(breathe in) Lord, Jesus Christ, son of God, 
(breathe out) have mercy on me, a sinner.

Just try it, and see if it doesn't make a difference in your life!

What Christmas is All About

We can be inspired by the example and courage of this young boy reminding the viewers what Christmas is all about, directly from the Holy Gospel! OK, so it is a cartoon, then we can be inspired by Charles Schulz' courage in the presentation, many artists these days could learn from his example!  

always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you
- 1 Peter 3:15 NKJV

Stand up and listen to the Holy Gospel, a reading from the Holy Gospel according to our teacher Saint Luke (as read by Linus) . . .

Luke 2:8-14 (KJV)


From  Charlie Brown Christmas

An Insight on Nationalism in the Church

As an American/Egyptian convert to the Coptic Orthodox Church, I am constantly seeking insight into the balance between living as a Christian in balance with national identity. This is a balance, that I find in my personal experience, is often a challenge in Orthodox Christian communities. In attending St. Barbara's Church in Chester, I was encouraged by the insights from Saint Paul found in the below sermon on the Epistle Reading (Romans 10:1-10) for the day, in which Saint Paul balances his love for his own Jewish heritage with his love for the Roman gentiles in the context of the Gospel.

Sermon on the Epistle Reading
From today's apostolic reading we learn, on the one hand, about St. Paul's love for his own Jewish people and followers of the old Law; and on the other, we hear explicitly that our salvation comes not through the Law but from Christ, whose followers we are in our capacity as Christians. There are two sets of distinct moral teachings resulting from today's first reading:

1. As Christians and therefore as followers of Christ, we need to respect and love the nation through which we came into the world with a true and healthy sense of patriotism which must never degenerate into a nationalistic approach. St. Paul himself loved his own people and sho should we, each one of us, in our double capacity as children of the Church and also as children of our own nation. But as Christians we are obliged at the same time to love all people, because all people, irrespective of skin colour or language are our brothers and sisters in Christ, being made in the same image of God as we are ourselves. This is why St. Paul, while praying for his own Jewish people, nevertheless calls 'brothers' all Christian gentiles of Rome whom he wants to bring into the light and truth of God. The Apostle's example is therefore vividly clear: on the one hand love for his own people while on the other brotherhood to all peoples.



2. Today's reading reminds us all that we all have, at our own disposal the means for personal salvation as well as for moral Christian conduct: the Church with its hierarchy, whereby we receive the necessary Divine and uncreated Grace of God, the Holy Scriptures, the Holy Tradition of the Church containing its own living memory of all that the Lord has done and said for our salvation, and the teachings of our Arch-Pastors who teach us the word of the Truth, i.e., Christ Crucified and Risen from the dead, Who lives and remains with us in the Holy Spirit to the end of the ages. Amen.

27 June 2010, Bulletin of Spiritual Edification
Ecumenical Patriarchate Archdiocese of Thyatereira & Great Britain
Greek Orthodox Church of Saint Barbara the Great Martyr
Chester, UK

Your Calling - A Gift for You and Others

I was struck by some of the dialogue in Krista Tippet's interview with the late Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donahue on Speaking of Faith - The Inner Lanscape of Beauty. Here are some notes I took while listening to the program.

We spend so much time at work, and the loneliest scenario is when you find someone who is in the wrong type of work and they do not have the courage to move on to work that is more in line with what is in their heart and demonstrates the strength and gifts within that person. In Greek, beauty is calling. Beauty is not a neutral thing, but something that is actually calling you. This calling is the heart of our creativity. A person following their calling is a gift to those around him. Such a person's work is an expression of their inner gift and provides an incredible service to us all.

The struggles that we have, the suffering, are things that we push against towards manifesting beauty in our lives. There is a tendency to think that growth should be delivered when it is actually struggled towards as we push against the negativity that surrounds us. The negativity is an impetus that spurs us onward. Following our calling can help us to transfigure what has hardened or been wounded within us.

Good wise leadership is leveraging this kind of imagination in the workplace, usually practical imagination, but the real fruit comes when you stand back and see that the spirit and soul dimensions are not luxury items, but are the source for enabling everything to flow and unfold in a new way. The invisible world can be leveraged for spirit and guidance in areas of ourselves that have been forgotten.

Key Questions:

• When is the last time you had a great conversation in which you overheard yourself things that you never knew you knew, or you received something that filled a space within you that was empty?
• What are you reading? Why do we read books? That is where the wisdom is. Go back to the sources and trust your own encounter with them.

The Dangers Before Us

Our Biotech Future by Freeman Dyson

I came across the above article by one of my favorite scientists, Freeman Dyson.
He talks about the approaching possibilities around the domestication of
biotechnology and being able to apply genetic engineering at home (pets,
gardening, etc).

What are the implications here for a Christian who is participating in the redemption of the creation?

Discussion (audio) of Wendell Berry's Life is a Miracle - An Essay Against Modern Superstition.

The Key to Success!

4th Sunday of Pentecost

May 25, 2008

St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church - Washington D.C.

from the sermon given by Father Bishoy Andrawes

after the Gospel Reading for the 4th Sunday of Pentecost

the sermon and handout are available online at orthodoxsermons.org

Light is the Word of God (Holy Bible)

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path
- Psalms 119:105

Walking is practicing (living) the Word of God

The key to success: Walking in the Light = Living the Word of God

This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
- Joshua 1:8

Therefore, whowever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
- Matthew 7:24

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?
- Mark 8:36

Why do we have the bible? To live by it EVERY single day of my life.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.
- James 1:22

How to live by God's Word (Walk in the Light)?

1. I have to HEAR the Word of God and KEEP it.
KEEP it . . . take it with you and apply it in your entire life. It doesn't stop in the Church, KEEPing the Word of God with you as you go out into the world is when your real worship really starts.

Jesus . . . said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word."
- John 14:23

"And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. you shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
- Deuteronomy 6:6-9

"While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." These things jesus spoke, and departed, and was hidden from them.
- John 12:36

2. Always understand the " Personal Message " (in every reading)

My relationship with God, my relationship with myself, my relationship with other people.

The message has to be:

• Personal - specific to me
• Practical - can practically be acted upon
• Possible - not too high, step by step, reachable, acheivable
• Provable - can see results, that it is done, that we can be encouraged by its accomplishment

Practical Application:

I will .

If you know these things, blessed (happy) are you if you do them. - John 13:17

Personal Comments:

Personal comments and notes from the sermon are included in italics.

Never start your day without turning the Light on. Start and end each day by turning on the Light.

Decorate your room with scriptures contained herein as a reminder of what must be done and share what I have learned here with others.

The key is to act on what has been heard and read.

If you know these things, blessed are you if you DO them. - John 13:17

Making Hope Happen - Four Principles

Making Hope Happen series @ NeXus Church
My personal notes from Pastor Jeff Park's sermon
March 16, 2008 (evening service)

Frogs and the power of Hope.

Two sets of frogs were tested and the test demonstrates the power of hope. The first set of grogs were placed in a tank of water and forced to swim to stay alive. They swam for about 5 hours before giving up and drowning. The second group of frogs was left to swim until just before they gave up. They were then removed from the tank, fed, cared for and given a chance to rest and recupperate. Then, they were placed again in the tank. They held out for 30 hours before giving up. Holding out on the hope that they would be saved as they had been before. That is the power of HOPE.

The word hope as used in scripture is translated from the greek elpis which means "confident expectation."

For we were saved in this hope (in God),
but hope that is seen is not hope;
for why does one still hope for what he sees?
Romans 8:24

When we begin to hope, we see a destination, then we have hope that enables us to see the PROCESS, the PATH, to get to that destination and we can then begin to take steps to make it happen. This is a living hope in which you can see the destination and the steps you need to take (action). But sometimes, circumstances beyond our control intervene.

Hope Empowers, Failed Hope Deflates

Hope deferred makes the heart sick."
Proverbs 13:12

The Enemy focuses our attention on the negative, stirring in us worry and anxiety, using FEAR to take away our hope . . . "the thing I feared came upon me." Job ??:?? verify

Four Principles for Making Hope Happen

1. Realize hope is a CHOICE, an act of will

Why are you cast down, O my soul, hope in God.
Psalm 42:5

They set their hope in God
and forgot not the works of God.
Psalm 78:7

David told himself to hope in God, to stop worrying and being depressed, to exercise hope in God. David also encouraged all people of God to hope in God and not forget what God has done.

2. Do not base hope in circumstances

Circumstances change . . . . this is akin to building on sand!

You have moved my soul far from peace,
I have forgotten prosperity . . .
My sould still remembers . . .
. . . therefore I have hope.
Lamentations 3:17:21

3. Our Hope is based on God's Character and Presence

I am persuaded that God is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that day.
2 Timothy 1:12

May the eyes of your understanding be enlightened to know the hope of His calling.
Ephesians 1:18

Christ in you, the hope of glory."
Colossians 1:27

Ask God to show you His purpose.

4. Receive the hope of those who care for you

Our hope for you is steadfast
2 Corinthians 1:7

Without counsel, purposes are disappointed.
Proverbs 15:22

Tossed Salads, Melting Pots, or Integration

As a living example of the "Melting Pot," I've often struggled with conflicts between the different cultural heritages that I have inherited and adopted. Although early in my life, I tended to reject one and embrace the other, when I moved to Egypt, we were given orientation as new students at Cairo American College and I was first introduced to the notion of culture shock and that there were steps I could take to integrate the two cultures that were colliding. They actually called us third-culture kids for the 3rd culture that was formed out of what parts we chose to integrate from the two we were bringing together through the experience of originating from one culture and then being planted in the middle of another. Since that time, I've strived more and more towards integration.

When a friend of mine introduced me to the following quote from Thomas Merton, it resonated with me as articulating the path I've been trying to navigate since I first began to realize that I have a choice in how I confront the different and sometimes conflicting cultures that I have encountered and embraced.

The one who has attained final integration is no longer limited by the culture
in which he has grown up. He has embraced all of life. He passes beyond all
these limiting forms, while retaining all that is best and most universal in
them, finally giving birth to a fully comprehensive self. He accepts not only
his own community, his own society, his own friends, his own culture, but all
humanity. He does not remain bound to one limited set of values in such a way
that he opposes them aggressively and defensively to others. He is fully
"Catholic" in the best sense of the word. He has a unified wisdom and experience
of the one truth shining out in all its various manifestations, some clearer
than others, some more definite and more certain than others. He does not set
these partial views up in opposition to each other, but unifies them in a
dialectic or an insight of complementarity. With this view of life he is able to
bring perspective, liberty and spontaneity into the lives of others. The finally
integrated person is a peacemaker, and that is why there is such a desperate
need for our leaders to become such persons of insight.

Thomas Merton
Final Integration -- Toward a "Monastic Therapy"
Contemplation In A World of Action

Peacemaker is one way that I have been told my name translates to English, and when I'm in the best frame of mind, I can certainly relate to it. The different perspectives provide a place from which, as a third party, alternate views can be perceived objectively and there is more clarity towards how the two views can find common ground.

The Refiner and the Refined

The Foundry, Men's group at Forest Hill Church, Charlotte, NC on March 19, 2007

During Hard Times, you are in one of three places:

1. coming out of Hard Times
2. in the middle of Hard Times
3. concerned about entering Hard Times

"But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand
when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire. And like a launderer's
soap. He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver, He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness. "Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasant to the LORD, as in the days of old, As in former years.
- Malachi 3:2-4

Likens every Hard Time to the Refiner's furnace, like silver and gold. Proverbs, time refines / Lord tests heart What he can be, sees His reflection. Meanwhile, on the sea of Galilee John 21 ;

Our first reaction when we find ourselves in trouble is to run for a comfort
zone. Peter says, I'm going fishing. The rest follow him and go with
him. BE CAREFUL, when you run for your comfort zone you will influence those
around you and convince them to step away from God's will as well!

Jesus cries out, Have you caught anything? (if they caught anything, no one
would need to ask)

Find him by a fire, Peter denied Christ by a fire, now he will be told he is loved by Christ at breakfast by a fire. Fire is a symbol of the foundry, restored by fire, in the middle of the time of trials/troubles/tribulations.

God is the Ultimate Refiner

1. REFINER Breaks rock of our life intentionally.
   
   James 1 / Encouraged in trials, boxed canyons, they are used to prepare us for life. Our natural response is to avoid the fire and thus we are not prepared for life.
   
   
   
   1. INADEQUECY : BREAKING DESIRE FOR SECURITY
      Peter walking on water Matt 14, breaking desire for security
      Inadequecy is the greatest fear of a man.
   2. CONTROL : Matt 16
      Want to be a person who controls circumstances.
      Philipi, center of all ???boods? symbol the lower???
      Who do they say I am?
      Who do you say I am?
      Peters example here is from the pinnacle heights (on this rock) to the pit (get behind me Satan). The Refiner breaks the rocks intentionally
   3. SURVIVAL : LUKE 22 sitting by the fire
      Peter followed at a distance.
      
      
      
      1. I am not
      2. You have not
      3. I do not now Him
      
      Denied 3 times and cock crows and Jesus turned and looked to him.
      What kind of look? disappointment
      

      We are focused on survival (cya). First thing we ask each other, what do you do for a living? Do not realize is that your significance is in the One who created you, not in WHAT you do.
      

      Our significance is only in Christ.

2. REFINER Heats the Crucible
   

   God knows where the heat needs to be put, he has exerts absolute control over:

   
   
   • TARGET
   • TIMING
   • TEMPERATURE
   
   The only item we have some control over is the TERM
   

   1 Peter 1:~16 you are of greater worth than silver and gold
   strong until the last day We only extend the term when we ask Why? questions:
   

   • Why me?
   • Why not him/her?
   • Why now?
   • etc.
   
   When the heat is on, there are two questions we can ask of the LORD that can reduce the TERM quickly, when taken seriously:
   
   
   
   1. God, what is it that you want to change in me through this?
   2. God, what is it that you want me to learn through this?

3. REFINER Removes the Impurities
   

   The most unread book in this country is the Car Owner's Manual. Usually only picked up after you something in the car has broken, but the purpose of the Owner's manual is to prevent problems in the car and maximize the efficiency and life of the vehicle.
   
   Use our Owner's Manual, the Holy Bible, to be set apart and to let our life stand out. BE HOLY and as you follow me, others will say, what is with him?
   What is the reason for the joy in his heart?

   The story of the 2 cd's for $1.99 instead of $9.99. Pastor gave a sermon on integrity and clerk tested him by charging him only $1.99 for each of the CD's and he returned them. She wanted to see if his faith was something he only put on at Church or if he took it with him into the world . . . and despite his hurry, in the small things he was found faithful and she received Christ as her Lord and Savior. There are teachings that I may know, but have not put into practice. Am I not living the life I know I should be living?
   
   The REFINER:
   

   1. Breaks rock
   2. Heats crucible
   3. Removes impurities
      
   4. pours pure molten self into Christ shaped mold, Romans 8:28-29 (Conformed)
      
   Proverbs 15:14 or was it 14:15?
   2 Cor 12
   He wants to see His Son reflected in us. ISAIAH 43:1-3
   

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madetocount.com
Beneath the Surface, - read the letter from the 19 year old daughter

Upcoming Events:

Sat. May 19 at Central Church of God - Iron Sharpens Iron (keynote)
Sept 10, 2007 - The Foundry (dinner again)
November 9,10,11, 2007 - Men's Retreat

American Koshari (siami)

1 can Progresso Lentil Soup
1 box Rice-A-Roni Spanish
1 package ramen noodles

• Prepare Lentil soup and rice separately per packaged instructions.
• Prepare ramen noodles, discard or save flavor package for use after Lent.
• Mix all together and serve.

Please don't mistake this for real Koshari; it is not even close!

Lentil Koftah (siami / vegan)

1 cup red lentils, rinsed
3 cups water
2 tsp. salt
1 cup cracked wheat, fine
1 med. onion, chopped fine
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp. paprika
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper

Garnish: chopped parsley, scallions, and red or green peppers

Place lentils in 6-qt. pot, add water and bring to boil slowly. Lower flame so it continues to boil gently. In a few minutes, a thick foam will rise to surface. Remove the foam with large spoon.

Simmer 5 minutes or until lentils turn a deep yellow, stirring occasionally.

Add salt and continue to simmer approximately 20-30 minutes (on low flame). When mixture is quite thick and barely bubbling, lentils should be done.

Spoon the cooked lentils into wide bowl, add cracked wheat and half the chopped onion and mix with spoon carefully.

Set aside for 5 minutes.

Heat oil and quickly stir in remaining onion, sauteing until brown.

Add to lentil mixture.

Add paprika and cayenne pepper and knead with hands for 2 minutes until well-blended. Taste to adjust seasoning!

Moisten hands and shape mixture into finger patties.

Serve on large platter with garnish of chopped parsley, scallions and red or green
pepper.

Serves. 6 or more

Enjoy!! It should last for a while in the fridge, but not too long.
3-5 days maximum. Otherwise, it gets a little gummy.

Recipe courtesy of Maro Telfeyan. Thanks Maro!

Stuffed Green Peppers - Vegan (Filfil Mahshi Siami)

4-6 medium sized Green Peppers
1 cup rice
3 cups tomato sauce
1 grated yellow onion
1/2 grated red onion
1/2 cup olive oil
1-2 finely chopped garlic cloves
1/2 cup finely chopped dill
1/2 cup finely chopped parsley
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon cumin
sea salt & pepper

• Blanch peppers, then remove stems and seeds.
  
• Mix stuffing ingredients together.
  
• Loosely fill the peppers with the stuffing.
  
• Arrange the peppers in pot upright.
  
• Half-cover with salted water.
  
• Cook over very low heat for 30 minutes.
  

Stuffing can be augmented with soy grounds or soy chorizo.

NPR : Experiencing Other Faiths to Find Ones Own

NPR : Experiencing Other Faiths to Find Ones Own

When I listened to this one, I asked questions about how we can experience other faiths to understand their language and what the essentials are. So much of Orthodoxy has become tied up with the cultural context in which it was formed. Greek Orthodox, Russian Orthodox, Coptic Orthodox, etc.

Bono - Recent Musings

As I try to find work in Egypt, northeastern-most Africa, I wonder if there isn't a place for me in these hopes for Africa. The themes of unity in this speach and of the true call for the Christian in the world strike a common chord in my heart.

Bono draws on holy writings from the three major Abrahamic religions of the world to direct us to getting up off our knees and getting involved in what God is doing as it is already blessed, to work with the poor.

Watch the CNN coverage of Bono's address to the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington D.C. on Feb. 2, 2006, or read it the Sojourners transcript: Bono's best sermon yet: Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.

Another recent article was in BusinessWeek Online (Jan. 27, 2006): For Bono, Star Power with Purpose.

A Journey through Aesthetic Realms

A Journey through Aesthetic Realms, saw this program on Channel 16 in Greensboro - June 26, 2005. The program touched upon a couple of themes that I have been struggling with:

1. Biblically Based Vegetarian Diets, which I first began to commit to after going to Rev. Dr. Malkmus free seminar at Hallelujah Acres on June 4, 2005.
   

   
   

2. Being a Christian in the Kingdom of God vs. Being a Christian in the Hierarchical Church
   

This is the best I can do to articulate this for now, it may also be something along the lines of reconciling the people's church and the liturgicl church (see the Lectures entry)

What Fundamentalists Need by David James Duncan >

What Fundamentalists Need by David James Duncan >> Orion > Orion Magazine > July | August 2005 . . . an article that draws a clear distinction between evangelism and fundamentalism, coining the phrase AVENGElism. Describes how the "Christian" leadership of the nation is only skin deep and leans more towards blasphemy than Christianity.

Independence Day 2004

I treaure the time spent with my son. Mena, last summer. We were right under the fireworks in uptown Charlotte and Mena wasn't too thrilled with all of that 'big boy stuff.'

Lectures of Interest

The Teaching Company produces a lecture series by Luke Timothy Johnson on Early Christianity and the Experience of the Divine, which discusses the community of tradition and the community of the vestibule of the Church community. There is a good chance this series is available at the local library.

Calvin College's January Series includes a lecture on Narrative by Marilynne Robinson, in which she presents an explanation for why she will not use the King James Bible. They also have an excellent lecture by Marva Dawn on Reclaiming Corrupted Words. Brian Green presents a lecture on String Theory.

Regent College hosts streaming lectures by radio that often feature lecture series that include Marva Dawn. They have a catalog and a schedule that can be reviewed.