Jesus Manifesto by Leonard Sweet and Frank Viola

like a scratch on a record, being played at 35

 rotations a second; irritating at best

This book motivated me to think hard about what I consider my Christian Faith; especially the role of Christ in the body of the Church.

One part of the book was a yes, amen, y'all are telling truth. But the weeds of the book kept me from accepting their gospel.

At other times I felt like the book had something like a scratch on a record being played at 35 rotations a second; irritating at best."The Jesus he presented makes one's brain cells smoke in the efforts to grasp him." (Page 31). I was frustrated that Sweet and Viola did not tell the reader to search the scriptures and find the truth about our relationship with God there. Sweet and Viola seem to want to lead seekers into a large field far from the mind of God, replacing the truth in the bible to the truth of the Volk. The truth of the Volk is now named Jesus and must be accepted. This is dangerous and denies the laws of logic. I wanted to put the needle back past the errors presented. I wanted to yell, "What about the bible? What about the Catechism? What about the historical church?

A book like this motivates you to sharpen your truth stance in your Christian Walk. It also motivates you to track heretics and martyrs historical battle. Slightly chuck this into your garden and hope that it will grow amongst the weeds.  I am hoping to read this again though after reading more C.S. Lewis, Francis A Schaffer and David Wells (No Place for Truth).



Sorry its a Chuck It!




I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

Plain Yummy Vodka Float

Bend me Over Crater Lake Vodka Float

2 oz Cofia Hazelnut Espresso Vodka
1 oz Crater Lake Vodka
2 oz half & half or cream

One Scoop of French-Vanilla Ice-cream

Serve and Smile

http://bendistillery.com/aboutBEND.html

Freaks on Parade

(Dream 108) Walking the streets of an imagined Havana; there is hardly any room.

I either bump into people or cars refurbished from the dustbin of the 1950's. People dress in finer clothes than today; most of the men are wearing straw hats. The few women present wear baskets on their heads full of fruit; they walk briskly. There are a few elderly men playing dominos on old telephone wire drums and they sit on rickety discarded chairs.

I am looking for Dan Medena. I need to find Dan Medena.

I get accosted by a street vendor saying, "Cigar Mister! Cigar Mister!"

I wave the vendor off. I must find Dan Medena. I pull out a Kodak instant picture from my suit jacket, a picture of Dan Medena. I ask in English, Have you seen this man?"

Tension of transitions fills the air.

Fidel Castro has just died, and Raul has been slain by a military coup. No one knows for certain what to do.

From Wikipedia Article on William S. Burroughs on Criticism:

Critics constantly complain that writers are lacking in standards, yet they themselves seem to have no standards other than personal prejudice for literary criticism. (...) such standards do exist. Matthew Arnold set up three criteria for criticism: 1. What is the writer trying to do? 2. How well does he succeed in doing it? (...) 3. Does the work exhibit "high seriousness"? That is, does it touch on basic issues of good and evil, life and death and the human condition. I would also apply a fourth criterion (...) Write about what you know. More writers fail because they try to write about things they don't know than for any other reason.

– William S. Burroughs, 'A Review of the Reviewers

50 States of Reading

Currently Reading

 Mississippi: William Faulkner-Short Story "the Bear"

Movie Tie Ins: The Long Hot Summer

Note from Human Resources, one should update their Read Across the United States Map:  William Faulkner  is from the state of Mississippi.  One should color in the state of Mississippi now.   

Reprint of Poem

I watched last night, before me,

a duckling become an elegant swan.

She stood upright in her sack cloth dress,

Her voice tightened amongst cat calls,

Salivating critics licked their chops,

Thinking, "Oh -Yeah?!

Another: klutzy, untalented, tone deaf, chump!

She opened her mouth in triumph,

her voice flew out fluttering.

With gossamer wings,

wiping tears that appeared in front of my eyes,

Wings wrapped around me and

Whipped the dirt from my frame,

I had seen an ugly duckling,

but now I saw beauty take flight.

Poem by Gregorio Roth

My Wife Said:

My Wife Jessica said: 
Atomic Ranchero sounds like a new brand of Potato Chips made by Frito Lay, or something you might find at Taco Bell.   

Atomic Ranchero Creed

  "What might be an atomic Ranchero?" 


Well I am glad you asked!"



Join the Atomic Ranchero movement, here is a top ten check list to see if you are an Atomic Ranchero:

1. An Atomic Ranchero owns a cowboy hat but not necessarily owns a horse.
   
2. Loves classic trucks, but does not believe in Car Washes. Dirt shows you have been somewhere.
   
3. Is a guy up for adventure especially if it is road-trips, anything to get out of this suburban nightmare.
   
4. Has lived in Colorado, Eastern Oregon, Eastern California, Eastern Washington, Eastern Utah, Southern Wyoming along I-80, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, parts of Hawaii, or Texas.  (Not sure of states: Utah, Idaho).
   
5. Tries not to give a shit. And pictures himself as Johnny Cash giving the middle finger.
   
6. Owns a Jackalope Head mounted on the wall.
   
7. Loves the Mythic Space of High lonesome Clouds
   
8. Thinks South Park is about his early years.
9. Loves the 1950's with a twist. Imagine the 50's only dirtier and more real.
10. Loves Fat Tire Beer because it washes away all the dusty trails explored during the back roads trips.

Y'all Atomic Ranchero's enjoy the video:

Y'all Atomic Ranchero's enjoy the video:

Catcher in the Rye

Currently the Book Sandwiched In Group is reading the Catcher in the Rye.  Here are a number of parodies, I found on You Tube.  Enjoy!








Spoiler Alert: 

Cluck or Chuck: Wild at Heart John Eldredge a Review

Rock Climbing is difficult, not because of the rock but the lack of faith that rests inside ones heart. We cannot see the next step properly without a faith that the next step will hold us above the ground. We are continually battling a war against the little voice that tries to speak up and say, "Heck! That's an impossible step." "You can't do that!" "You are going to fall!" "Just give up!" Wild at Heart shares that this little voice is a common voice shared by all men. The voice will eventually wear a man down and hallow him out. A hallowed man will either grow violent and be consumed by anger. Or become a man that has checked out and is absent from his family.

Eldredge does a good job of outlining manhood in today's current age. He equips men with stories that enable them to better serve their wives and family. One area that was lacking was a series of author notes in the back; he makes up for the lack of author notes by having a very useful prayer index. I also had difficulty getting hooked into the story. (This may have been just the May blahs or the writing, I am not sure.)

All in all a decent read, one I would hesitantly cluck about. 7.9/10








I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their [...] book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255 [...] : "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."  

120 Minutes Archive.

Do y'all remember 120 minutes?

 Do you remember a time, when MTV attempted to play interesting music? 

When MTV did not become another teen reality network? 

 When MTV mattered? 

 Do you remember these times: then head to the 120 Minutes Archive put together by Tyler C..  

Happy Mother's Day

To my mom thank you for sheltering me under your wings.   

Reprint:

Toy Publix truck on mantle,
Van Gogh Flowers Poster
Flogging Molly Banner
Mountain Riders Maui Poster 242-9739
White (the hero's color) Cowboy hat from Ocala
Cologne: Burburry London for Men
Obsession Silken Body Lotion C.K.
Compass pointing out Due North
Date Jar full of Dimes
Wind in the Willows Poster from London's National Theater
My bedroom lies cramped with so much character.   

Mayfair by the Lake: Haikus

Dad and I hike up

through dewy laid state park, 

gray slug crawls on moss.

                        - Gregorio Roth

Up way too early, 

have to put up the Artwork,

I need coffee now!

                 - Jessica Baylor Rothbard 

These Haiku were written by my wife and I, the morning of Mayfair by the Lake. The influence for Gregorio Roth's poem is a recollection of a hike my dad and I took at Ecola State Park, Oregon.   It was a rainy day and we witnessed a Slug slurping up a leaf; it was amazing to see something so slow, yet progressing steadily consuming a whole leaf.    I hope you enjoyed them.
Mayfair by the Lake

Fan Note:

I appreciate all of you that might be reading my blog, here is one note from Edie:

Thank you for your avid Googling of quotations from the deli counter; I somehow get these alerts every time someone posts something about anything, and yours was one of the most enjoyable, thoughtful, witty web sites I have seen. 

Sending you good thoughts in Florida,

Edie (Meidav)

On a Train in Yellow Stone:

Aboard, yellow train/ 
Grand Tour amongst big black bison/ 
Sulfite spews faithful

Rules of the Red Rubber Ball by Kevin Karroll

The Red Rubber Ball is a book that will serve as a catalyst. You will find yourself re-reading the book multiple times; no matter what position or tribe you currently are serving. My copy is weathered, as it has journeyed in my back pocket for a number of skunk-ape expositions.


 

Reading Plan Revised 2.0

January

Books from the Holy Land and Middle East

February

Florida

March

Celtic Month: Irish and Scottish Writers United

April

Treasure Islands of the Atlantic!

May

Southern United States Writers

June

Crime and Detective Novels

July

Douglas Adam's Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

August

Philip K. Dick and Philip K Dick Award Winners

September

Classic Books of the West

October

Edgar Allen Poe Month: Classic Gothic/Horror Novels

November

Biographies

December

The Kindlings (CS Lewis (Narnia)

JRR Tolkien (The Lord of the Rings), and friends of the two)

Revision of LOST by Chris Seay

The tide rises,

the day returns,

but nevermore,

returns the traveler to the shore,

And the tide rises,

the tide falls.

                                                                                          - Long Fellow

                

I love the television series Lost. Lost offers twisting plots; Lost also offers well formed characters, and interesting links into philosophy.   The tale offers a good study on the effect of the Gospel on the LOST sheep amongst hungry wolves





I read this book as if I was hunting for emergent(s) amongst the Cloud Monsters that inhabit the Island.  Chris Seay struggles with the gospel and often barely grasps it; because the gospel is weak it undermines the usefulness of the book.   Chris does do a good job on bringing in philosophical ideas that are not Christian.   This book is a good view into the Emergent World that Chris inhabits.  Seay has an ability to grab readers, and he knows his audience (between the ages of eighteen and twenty-five).   .  Chris shows the probing question on Lost is: "What does it means to build up a culture from the ground up?"





Also now we see the comparison of the Children of Light and the Children of Darkness; and the battle that is being waged for the balance of the Island.  I hope Chris writes a revised edition with all that is learned in LOST the final season.   The book would need at least a couple more chapters.  



 I would recommend this book to Christians who want to hold LOST parties, but I would have reservations because of a translucent Gospel.

Revised: Scratch and Sniff Nativity Postcards....

Stuff I would like to see:
Scratch and Sniff Nativity Christmas cards.... breathe in the smells of Small Town - Old Bethlehem:
Christ was born amongst pee, pooh, and mud. The scent that wafts is one that can be compared to a stock show. When visiting the stock show I need to hold my nose for the first thirty minutes, in order to endure the obnoxious odors. One should not have life's smell bleached out, sometimes the scat of our lives is something to behold!

An Army of Ordinary People

The book is a go getter... To my chagrin the book was received  yesterday and am excited to read it.  

An Army of Ordinary People 

Book Stats:

Available: May 2010

Binding: Softcover

Pages:224

Price: $14.99

ISBN: 978-1-4143-2279-7

History of the Tomato-Excerpt from: Tomatoes How to Use... from What's Cooking in America

Excerpt From What's Cooking IN America:

1820 or 1830? - In September of either 1820 or 1830 (the year varies with different accounts), legend has it that Colonel Robert Gibbon Johnson (1771-1850) purportedly introduced the tomato to Salem County, New Jersey. Despite warnings that the tomato's poison would turn his blood to acid, he told the cheering spectators that he planned to eat the entire basket and survive. The story goes that thousands of eager spectators turned out to watch Johnson die after eating the poisonous fruits, and were shocked when he lived. Supposedly Colonel Johnson recited this speech:

The time will come when this luscious, scarlet apple...will form the foundation of a great garden industry, and will be ... eaten, and enjoyed as an edible food...and to help speed that enlightened day, to prove that it will not strike you dead - I am going to eat one right now!

Colonel Johnson's physician, Dr. James Van Meter, supposedly warned that:

The foolish colonel will foam and froth at the mouth and double over with appendicitis. All that oxalic acid, in one dose, and you're dead. If the Wolf Peach [tomato] is too ripe and warmed by the sun, he'll be exposing himself to brain fever. Should he, by some unlikely chance, survive, I must warn him that the skin...will stick to his stomach and cause cancer.

False Memories: The Invention of Culinary Fakelore and Food Fallacies, Proceedings of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery 2000, by Andrew F. Smith:

Robert Gibbon Johnson was a prominent Salemite and much was written about him. Unfortunately, I found no evidence connecting him to the tomato. The first version of the story appeared in print 86 years after the purported event. All it said was the Johnson ate a tomato in 1820. Subsequent authors embellished the story adding extraneous information and the purported event was dramatized on national radio in 1949. Subsequently versions have appeared in numerous professional and scholarly journals, newspapers, and popular magazines.