The Creativity of God: World, Eucharist, Reason

I'm reading a book by Oliver Davies and he is smart....like really smart...so smart I've had to read paragraphs 2 and 3 times to get the jist of what the heck he is saying.  And what he is saying is really interesting...I just wish he weren't so smart that I can barely grasp what he is saying without reading it 3 times.
But we can grow through the struggle, I suppose.  So what he's saying is that although Christians like to claim that God created this world, we leave a lot of the implications of this reality 'on the table' so to speak.  We have definite ways of talking about the world, but we've in large part, allowed the conversation about the world to be played in the materialist's playground and therefore when we talk about the world as created by God, the terms get fuzzy and mystical and probably confusing.  Which, when we talk about something where God plays a large part (like Him creating the world and stuff) we have to allow for some mystery because God, from what we know of Him, does not submit to being put under a microscope or pinned next to a butterfly on one of those things that butterflys get pinned to.

I'm surprised that I'm familiar with some of the ideas that the author is writing about, but I've just never heard them put in such a learn-ed way before - I'm also surprised I haven't given up on it in favor of something easier.. but I suppose the challenge is attractive... tho making it all the way to page 8 in the last 2 weeks is not so inspiring.  hmmmm... I better buckle down and get on the stick so I can have chapter 1 under my belt before my birthday! lol

Another theme that the book is going to be exploring is Jesus as the creative Word.  The Bible says that all things were created through Him and will be summed up in Him (among other things).  Big ideas, but I've never been able to even come close to making sense out of them, tho to be honest, I've never tried that hard. I'm hoping that Davies will be helpful in this (once I find the key to deciphering his academic-speak).

God created us to give and receive...

"Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.   Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live."
-Psalm 55

what is this 'wine and milk' that you can buy without money?  And when I see 'without price' why do I get the feeling that whatever King David is talking about is priceless?
Miroslav Volf posted something on FB the other day about how God created humans to give and receive, but we have downgraded that to buying and selling.

It makes me wonder whether we will use money in God's New World...

Food for thought, offered free of charge  :)

Taming of the Shrew

I just started this Shakespearean classic and got to ACT 2, where Petruchio, the 'gentleman of Verona' is about to meet and commence his 'taming' of Katherina the shrew... its a crazy comedy and actually presented to the audience as a play-within-a-play.  The opening scene has a rich nobleman run across Christopher Sly, a down-on-his-luck, drunken peddler, who is passed out under a tree.  The nobleman decides to play a trick on him and orders his servants to take him back to his house and pretend (when Sly wakes up) that he has been out of his mind these past 15 yrs and is actually a nobleman...
So effect the practical joke with good effect and Sly comes to believe them and they ask if he wants to have a play put on for him.  He grudgingly puts off amorous relations with his 'wife' (who is actually a boy servant playing his wife) to watch the play...
that is when the actual Taming of the Shrew starts... its kind of a cool story within a story deal.  I wonder if that was cutting edge for that period...? anyone? anyone??? Bueller??

another great story, in its own right...
ok, back to your regularly scheduled program....

dag...i'm really out of shape!

I'm actually STILL a little sore from that crazy workout I did on Tuesday...3 days ago!! but I'm gonna muscle my way thru it again today.
keep on swimming...
keep on swimming...

lol
I love 'Finding Nemo'...tho I haven't seen it in ages.
I suppose the fact that I'm still sore means its a good workout.  The very nice lady from 24hr fitness called me to see how my 3 day free pass was going and I told her I found the perfect workout for me.  She was like 'what is it?' and i was like 'I don't know the name, but its on my blog! I can send it to you!!!'.  I don't think she was really interested tho, cuz she didn't give me her email address. I felt kind of bad to disappoint her, cuz I imagine they get an incentive to sign people up, but this workout is soop'r-doop'r bomb...i'm gonna look like this in NO TIME!!


this test blog is turning into a real blog... maybe I'll keep this one, cuz i'm having fun with it and then just start a NEW one for the 500 mile walk to Santiago de Compostela blog...
yeah, that's the ticket!

Jenny & Tyler

what a treat! I got to see this young married couple singer/songwriter duo tonight. They travelled out from TN to do a mini Phoenix tour...
Jenny & Tyler...here is one of their videos

beautiful sound...

180 movie...I know a lot of people who'd disagree...

with Ray Comforts position on, well, anything....but I find his logic on abortion airtite...

leave your thoughts if you get a chance to watch it...

No more gyms!

My body is sore all over from the awesome workout that doesn't require going to the gym that I posted about the other day. Moving is like 'ouch...ouch....ouch...' but I feel great too!!
No more gyms!

btw, and this is TOTALLY off the subject, but Survival tip #356:
When you're out in the deep bush, with nary a mirror in sight, and feel the irresistible urge for an emergency booger check...