At KR Spinning

I am spinning some Electronica today. Aptcore 2... and sharing some reflections on Proverbs 24.

A response to Dry Bones April 25, 2004

Watchout dear friend... you might be on the edge of a Hebrews 11 ride. Faith is a futurama full of hope in a twisted world... and you know me... I mean faith that doesn't run away or hide from these LA Streets... The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love --
Gal. 5:6b, II Peter 1:3-11.


Is that too much high context Bible thumping for you???

Than try this thought...

Quiet confidence is at the root of real inner strength.

And

Even a child can not learn to tie his or her shoes without the confidence that says I can do this...

I am more than the events arround me and the preasures of the world that try to shape me -- I can choose to love somebody today anyway... And this somebody includes loving myself.

Poem of the Month

Serving Love
must be patient at the roots

to Come
to Hear
to Care
to Serve
to Love

It all takes time.

It takes time to Come and follow Jesus
It takes time to Listen to a friend, a neighbor, or a stranger
It takes time to Care from the heart
It takes time to Serve with Love.

It all takes time.

Remember those who have loved and served you...
They gave
a part of their life
away to you.

Serving Love
must be patient at the roots

to Come
to Hear
to Care
to Serve
to be present.... enough to Love

It all takes time.

by JAW 4/04

It is amazing what a few days of real rest and reflection can do.

I spent a few days at my brother in-laws house.

Proverbs 24 became a very important text for reflection for me.

I have been challenged to pay attention to the flow of knowledge, Understanding, and wisdom...
Intergenerational thinking requires knowing clearly what you are passing on to other... where it is coming from and where it needs to go. This is all of our responsibility... but for me it is my life work. To continue in the tradition of the witness given for generations through those faithful to God -- I John 1.

There are particular truths. There are particular people who have shaped me. Their wisdom, understanding, and knowledge needs to be not just thought about but imbodied in a life -- my life. I am responsible to carry "my load" of life's work in my generation. Pray for me... I will write more about this another time.

Play List for Today! A KRS ONE Feature

Tuesday on my internet radio show I hope to spin a lot of KRS One and reflect on "Conscious HIPHOP". And make the Challenge that we need to go futher than that to a total redemption of culture / Sub-Culture... towards what I would call "Holy HIPHOP".



Tues. 4/20/04 Hyperesthesia Show JAW1

1. Tears 5:46 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
2. Track 01 0:14 KRS ONE Kristyles
3. Track 10 4:13 KRS ONE Kristyles
4. Good Bye 3:31 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
5. Believe It 3:59 KRS ONE Prophets Vs. Profits
6. Track 20 5:39 KRS ONE
7. Never Give Up 3:17 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
8. T-Bone Speaks 0:32 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
9. The Struggle Continues 5:47 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
10. The Conscious Rapper 4:12 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
11. You Really Don't Want It 3:29 KRS ONE Prophets Vs. Profits
12. Track 03 3:44 KRS ONE Kristyles
13. Womanology 2:01 KRS ONE Prophets Vs. Profits
14. Track 08 1:31 KRS ONE Kristyles
15. Take Your Tyme 3:15 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
16. Track 07 2:28 KRS ONE Kristyles
17. Trust 2:57 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
18. Know Thy Self 5:07 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded

What Today has been about.

I had a great mentoring time with Rikkell. We both find II Peter 1:3-11 nourishing to the soul.

Willie is working on trying to get a job through Chrysalis. Anyone have some job leads here in LA let me know. I have friends who are looking for work.

It is a hard reality to see... but Willie and I have been witness to the fact that 5 years of street living here in LA has been harder on many people that we know than 5 years of Prison in a State Prison.

My friend Joe is on a mission to relocate to Las Vegas Nevada and he asks for prayer in this big jump... "That God will help him settle and stay on 'Channel Real'"

I will be doing some toutoring latter today.

I also hope to hang out with some of the next crop of jr. high guys in my neighborhood tonight.

Tuesday on my internet radio show I hope to spin a lot of KRS One and reflect on conscious HIPHOP. And make the Challenge that we need to go futher than that to a total redemption of culture... towards what I would call "Holy HIPHOP".

Friday LA Street Productions had a very important meeting. It was a landmark in my mind about our journey together. We recommitted ourselves to both encouraging each other to grow and acknowledged that God has been a significant part of the journey for all of us. It also looks like we will be doing a new mural this summer.

And so it goes...

Musings from the bottom floor.

Today I went with a friend to check out Chrysalis. An agency that is all about seeking to connect folks with a job and the dignity of work. We all need to contribute to life somehow... and deserve respect for doing so...

In my short walk from their office 4 blocks to our subway I witnessed:

A crack addict craddling in his hands a few pieces of crack.
3 people with items that could be used as weapons in their hands.
Over 15 people limping, using a walker, crutches, or a wheel Chair.
Cigerettes by the box for sale.

...Plenty expressions of struggle and too few people smiling.

This past Friday the LA Mission had their Bi-annual foot washing and foot-care for the homeless. I am glad that it continues without me. I had my hands full with other responsibilities. Foot care is a great basis to meet and connect with those out on the streets and struggling. I have friends on the streets who remember me for doing something as simple as providing them with a pair of clean socks... (not as a hand out, but as a friend).

This is what's Up with me. What's Up with You?

LA California is a hard place to return to when you have been down for time in a state prison. I just brought a friend home from Avanol State prison. We have found a spot to rent weekly while he looks for work. The job market is competitive. So it is hard to feel like one is not scraping the bottom of the barrell... Courage for some starts with just trying again and again and not giving up.

I have a young friend that has just transfered to Virgil middle School. In 7th grade he was a straight A student. He called me and expressed very articulately why he found the school depressing and unmotivating in every way imaginable. He wants to learn and says that he feels that the way things are set up at the school creates failure. "My teachers -- unlike the other school -- are not teaching me anything John". How does someone get to the place where he can learn... in a bad learning environment??? And what is my role in this journey???

I am on a new growth curve that is pushing me to pray and journal or more. I have to plow for more depth. There is no putting this off until latter without consequences. Keep me in your prayers.

Where I am at...

Besides being Crazy busy.

I get the privelege of bringing a friend home from prison tommorrow. I roll out today with a lot on my mind. I have more than one friend who needs a job. Looking for housing has also become a challenge these days... In this process grace seems to be thin and the room for new chances for new beginnings in our current society feels thin. Any help with networking is greatly appreciated.

The cat for me is out of the bag. A friend a long time ago noticed that I never appear angry. I learned a long time ago to wall out such powerful emotional feelings. Every once and a while I would withdraw with some depression -- I have learned now to call that frozen anger. Even more rarely I would explode in my own unique way... Just recently hurt a friend in this kind of explosion only to withdraw into depression. Here is the secrete root of some of my own compulsiveness... now exposed to the light. It is time to grow time. Time to look and revisit life. Time to learn a wider range of healthy emotions. Mel Gipson's film helped crack the shell. Jesus shows an amazing capacity to stay present and to love in the midst of the pain. I see the same truth in scripture... and his death is equally for me as for any of us...

"Be angry and Sin not"... Comfort at this point and escapism is a threat to personal depth of character. To move from being reactive to being proactive. Fatih functions with eyes to lean into the future (Hebrews 11). If much of my life is reactive... some of that part of my life is yet to be brought under the "Way of Peace" that is found in Christ. What I know in my heart needs time to be worked through in my heart. Like Paul said... "I do not want to have preached to others and find myself disqualified."

Some who know me may say I am being too hard on myself. Thank you for your concern. I know that I have tasted the fruit of faith and I am hungry and thirsty for more. It takes a time of shaking and getting rid of every hinderance...(Hebrews 12) sometimes in a radical way to progress in faith. Love is the goal and the reward... to find in one's heart a genuine love for every neighbor... and this kind of love also is free enough from attatchments not to "keep any records of wrongs" -- I Corinthians 13.

I am not saying that we should not confront or challenge. It is the motive and the method that I am looking to grow in... we work to help love grow... this means working for justice for example... to work for justice being motivated by the wrong doing leads to burn out. To work for justcie being motivated out of love and compassion leads to freedom. I have smelt the fire burning up the twists in my motives... the sifting has just arrived on a public stage of life. "God is determined that if anyone is going to do 'God's work' that it will be done in 'God's Way'".

Leasons in humility are waiting and are in line for me... and maybe some of you as well.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdome of God".

Play List for Tommorrow Pluss...

I had a lot of fun with this show. If you aren't hearing my shows on the net... I could at the requst of some who emial me send out a copy CD of one of my shows just to give you a flavor of what's up. It is one way I get space to reflect and then share some of my reflections with others. And so it goes... email me ; )

1. Track 03 2:26 Blackalicious Arrow 2.8 MB
2. Track 01 3:52 Stained 4.5 MB
3. Track 13 3:51 Matthew 6 4.5 MB
4. Light 3:12 Apt Core #2 3.7 MB
5. Track 20 5:39 KRS ONE 6.5 MB
6. peacemaker 4:28 Marie Brennan Whisper to the Wild Water 5.2 MB
7. Zombie 5:07 Cranberries Best Of
8. Intro a 3:25 Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities Excerpts Books & Spoken
9. intro b 2:37 Charles Dickens A Tale of Two Cities Excerpts Books & Spoken
10. I'm Gonna Live the Life 2:37 Mahalia Jackson The Greatest Gospel singer In the World
11. Track 11 3:00 Daniel Amos
12. Resplendent 5:02 Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love Audible Sigh
13. Track 03 3:24 5 Blind Boys of Alabama
14. Mercy Rains 5:31 Barry Taylor Love Songs for Underdogs
15. Cantan Los Ninos 5:55 Giovani Aniversaio
16. Track 02 0:46 Scratch

Working through it All

Today I am reading and reflecting on the life of Oscar Romero. He is a very significant man of Peace and Faith from El Salvador -- Killed for his witness... I find much of what he has to say compelling and worth reflecting on inour times.

Sunday I had the responsibility of pulling together some quotes for an evening of reflection with LA InnerChange. We were all enriched and challenged by it.

I choose to read some of these quotes on KR.
And played Ruth Naomi Floyd's Album Fan into Flame & Walk and Not Be Faint

I am also Reading The Holy Longing. The author starts from the world of "Sprituality" and works towards his own world view. (He belongs to the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate who feel called to serve the poor as their main charism.) I do not land where he does... but it is so far a good read. Good enough to encourage others to take a look... Insight into the times we are living in.

I am a little sick today. A little feverish. I had a cold just last week. Back to prayer, Robitussin & Niquill.

Yesterday like most Mondays recently... I spent 2 hours toutoring a neighbor. A couple of youth came by interested in learning how to play chess. My experience is that we are all healthier when we are growing and learning something. Chess is a game that hinges on the power and permanence of choice. A great game to help at risk youth who have the patience to learn the realities of choice and consequence -- Oh...and it's only a game.

Jenga is the most inclusive game that I have found out there... great for all ages together.

And so it Goes...

Wrestle Mix Again on KR

Wrestle Mix


1. This Present Darkness 2:40 Deliverance Live in the Studio
2. When I Flow 4:18 Cross Movement
3. The Hurricane 8:34 Bob Dylan
4. Track 06 3:14 KRS ONE Kristyles
5. The Trouble with Normal 3:37 Bruce Cockburn
6. Track 01 3:52 Stained
7. They All Fall Down 5:23 Grits
8. Thank You For the Cross 4:48
9. Never Give Up 3:17 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
10. Track 03 2:26 Blackalicious Arrow
11. Track 08 2:36 Larea Raine Garretson
12. Burn Hollywood Burn 2:47 Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet
13. Resplendent 5:02 Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love Audible Sigh
14. Track 03 3:24 5 Blind Boys of Alabama
15. peacemaker 4:28 Marie Brennan Whisper to the Wild Water
16. Alienated 2:17 Rez XX
17. Mommentum 3:23 Tobby Mac
18. I'm Gonna Live the Life 2:37 Mahalia Jackson The Greatest Gospel singer In the World
19. Track 02 0:46 Scratch

The Poison Tree by William Blake sent to me by Boy1

Boy I agree with you. Blake is often an insightful and powerful artist. Thanks for sending this out to me.

A Poison Tree

I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears,
Night and morning with my tears;
And I sunnèd it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Til it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,

And into my garden stole,
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning glad I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.


William Blake
From “Songs of Experience”

Some of my reflections conected to this poem:
* Anger is a result of knowing good and evil... by being responsible to make and keep the boundries of "fairness", "justice", etc.... The symbol of the tree of knowledge of good and evil is borrowed here. I wonder what life would have been like if like sex we ate of the tree of the knowledge of "Good and Evil" at a more age appropriate time. I don't think God created the "Tree" to tempt us. Yet Blakes tree is rather a diffferent kind of tree. It's fruit tempted one's enemy into becoming a victim. It is grown as our creation and not God's.

*Scripture (book chapter:verses) has a lot to say about anger: Matthew 5:21-26, Eph. 4:25-32, James 1:19-20 are just a few examples. We are to be real with our negative emotions and yet not necessarily be guided by them.

Streaming on KR

Today I am playing some:

Cross Movement
The Blind Boys of Alabama
and excerpts from The Online Prayer Guide (See Link)

I am also going to be reading some quotes by Dr. Richard Peace's book Meditative Prayer: Entering God's Presence.

It is interesting where and how streams of ideas flow. The phrase of "Each One Teach One" is Frank Laubach. He wasn't rocking the MIC ... He was determined to walk day in and out with God. He sought to promote literacy and succeeded a big way at this... with much respect!!!

Had a lot of fun today on KR.

Other goings on today.

Worked through Dr. Richard Peace's book Meditative Prayer: Entering God's Presence. today as part of my homework for his class. I liked it alot. Good practical wisdom.

Had lunch with Mariam and took her picture with her school books to promote our Multi-level mentoring community project.

Spent time in the office with small stuff... but it all has to get done sometime.

Yesterday I had a blast from 4-6:30pm toutoring a Danny and Becky in our neighborhood. I love those two kids and their family.

InnerChange leadership meetings have occupied Jude and I over the last 8 days and they are finally done for now. Got some complements for my cooking. I like to cook it is one of my hobbies.

Last Friday I got to share my love for II Peter 1:3-11 with 4 of our neighborhood mentors. Got some good positive feedback on the talk and some very good advice about improving it. It is sooo good to serve and work as a community!!!

I started this morning in prayer at the chapel in Good Samaritan Hospital. I really was moved in a special way today. Still on the grow because of it... Mostly praying in response to Isaiah 53.

A Prayer for Every Day Life

A Prayer While Paying Bills

May I extend Blessing and Life
to all who receive these resources

Resources entrusted to me
Resources entrusted through me
Resources entrusted to serve

May God Bless those who serve us
at the phone companies...
Please cause us to cherish our communication.
May these resources be used wisely.

May God bless my land lord who serves us...
Please cause us to cherish our homes.
May these resources be used wisely.

May God bless our Power & Water Company...
Please cause us to care for and cherish the Earth.
May these resources be used wisely.

May God bless the use of these taxes paid grudgingly
to the state and federal government.
Please cause us to care and cherish the impact on the content and qualities of our lives.
May these resources be used wisely.

May wisdom be the mark of my choices.
May wisdom be the mark of my home.
May wisdom be the mark of my neighborhood.
May wisdom be the mark of my city, state, and nation.

Increase our wisdom O 'Lord
May our resources be used wisely.
Deepen the meaning in our use of all things.

jaw1

Prayers for Every Day activities

A Prayer Before Reading

Open my eyes to see you O' Lord
Be the light to my eyes
Be the verbs and the nouns
Be the Marks on each page

May I Remember Every word that is of you O' Lord
-- Every Word of Truth.
May I Forget Anything that is not of you O' Lord
-- Every Deceptive Word.

May I in my Reading...
In my Seeing...
In my Speaking...
In my hearing...

May I be filled with YOU the Living Word
YOU the Word of Truth
YOU the Eternal Word.

Be Light to my eyes O' Lord
Open my eyes to see
All that is good in this book.

jaw1

Thanks and keep praying for Mr. Tiersma.

My father in-law is in recovery from surgery that Removed cancerous Kidney.

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jaw reads A Hym of St. Patric's Breast Plate

audio post powered by audblog

I find celtic forms of prayers helpful. It affirms our creaturehood, our connection with creation, and our connection to God.

Spinning... Daniel Amos... Again...

There are a few likes that have been with me thorugh the years. the Music of Terry Scott Taylor and the Group Daniel Amos. They feed my poetic essoteric side of my soul. I know it is not for everyone...

It is More Blessed to give...

The dominant theme of the last few weeks for me is the privelege and responsibility of distributing some small scholarships for school books to a number of college students who are willing and able to be mentors to younger youth in our neighborhood. This is by far high on the fun factor. It multiplies the freedom to love when people are both honored and encouraged to love all in the same motion as long as they maintain the vision for the big picture. It is never just about me, myself, and I. Love God with heart, soul, mind, and strength... and neighbor as self is soooo much biggerrrrr!!!! Thanks to all that help make my life an extended blessing to others.

Friday Spiritual Retreat with Fuller Class & LA InnerChange Team

We arrived at the Mater Dolorosa Passionate Retreat center about 8:45am. The whole grounds visually resonated with the story of the Passion of Christ. Their Mission Statement being:

We are a Passionist Retreat Center,
Preaching the Passion of Jesus Christ. We
Seek to welcome all who wish to hear the
Message of the Passion, through our
Traditions of preaching, hospitality, and
Compassion. We resolve to place our
Focus on the Passion of Jesus Christ and
Its relevance to the lives of people today.
We also resolve to foster and promote
Spiritual growth and renewal through
Passionist retreat programs and by
Providing a peaceful environment of
Prayer and reflection.

I am usually more tuned into the resurrection than the crucifixion. I brought to the retreat the intention of facing my inner sorrow over the twenty plus deaths of people I have known. (Only 2 of these deaths are because of violence.) This retreat context was more than appropriate for processing this sorrow. The first sense I got during the retreat after the morning prayers was the sense that this was just a beginning for me and that this is going to be an important season to pay attention to lent -- the death and resurection of Jesus Christ. I also think that Mel Gipson’s Passion of Christ is going to play a large role in this journey. Being thirsty the first opportunity we got I sought and found a coffee dispenser. All while my mind was rushing to how I could pursue using this film to reach out to others. It became clear that I was facing the first of several walls in my soul to being still.

I paced around the outside of the main building. Soon I found a strange sort of comfort on the back steps that led to the main buildings cooling & heating system. There was an empty cross, worked into the masonry. I was happier with a more "Protestant" Cross. I also found comfort in the concrete steps and the white noise made by the mechanical systems. I started to pray and the call to “Be still and acknowledge God as God” was still burning in my chest. I could not be still so I got up to wander again. Arriving at the Northwest corner of the building I was reminded again of my intention by a Raven who started cawing and would not stop.

I literally retreated to the room where we were going to have the centering prayer exercise. I got myself a second and third cup of coffee. Then I finally settled down into praying my expanded version of the Jesus, "Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, Have mercy on me a sinner. Father I ask for strength, Jesus I ask for your heart, Holy Spirit I ask for power and inspiration. This focused on for about 30 minutes calmed me down to begin to be still. I was surprised by my desire to read which has been numbed out for several months began to come back to me with surprising force. Also I was glad to discover that I could read academic material. My concentration for reading has been so disrupted that I have been listening to scripture more often than reading it. I brought with me Wendy Beckett's book, "The Mystical Now Art and The Sacred". Its pages nourished my heart and mind.

I joined the optional centering prayer exercise. The image of letting any ideas, other than my prayer focused on Christ himself, flow down river like a drifting boat was freeing and liberating. Soon I began to be still and the twenty minutes set aside for this was over.

I was drawn outside and found the fifteenth station of the cross -- the empty tomb. I found comfort in this affirmation that Christ is raised for the Passionists as well as for us Protestants. Then I wandered to the station of Mary holding the dead body of Christ. It drew me. I was temporarily distracted by some coins that someone had placed in the hands of Jesus. Then it hit me. I did not get to see the body of Barbara Brown, or Dr. Loder. There were others that I did not get to say good by to. I want to grow in my capacity to acknowledge the lives that I have loved that are now gone from us. The statue proclaimed engagement. I somehow had grown detached. I am reminded that God wants to meet me in the realities that I want to distance myself from the most. I rested in this space resonating with the symbols of loss and realizing God’s kindness to me in this time. Then I noticed that a stone in the base of the statue setting was cracked and loose. I followed an impulse to touch it. Part of it fell off and landed in my hands. There I sat next to “Mary holding Jesus” while holding a piece of their statue in my hands. I am still trying to understand the power of this moment for me. All I can say is that I took a piece of that stone home and it was as if I could both embrace and accept that the body of my friend Dr. James Loder has been committed to the ground.

The results of this retreat are still in process for me. I have learned that silence can help me make the transition into academic work and study. This is a timely insight for me. I have not had such concentration for a couple years now because of some issues with Post Traumatic Stress. I will see if this is a more permanent closure to this chapter in my life. For now I can read again; if I take some time for silence. We also decided as a team to set 1 Friday morning a month for a similar time of prayer and retreat. I am looking forward to all this season of lent will offer. I am thankful for the gift of the space, time, and intentional silence.

What's been up...

Monday late afternoons at our pad, Monday Evenings at Cambria, and Wednesday late afternoons at Kathy's pad, we have toutoring for some of the youth in our neighborhhod going on. What is exciting to us is that some of the college age folks from our neighborhood are toutoring and mentoring some of the younger youth in our neighborhood.

"Each one Teach one," a saying adopted by the HipHop community was started by the famous Christain educator Frank Laubach.

This past Friday I went with the LA InnerChange team and my Christian Spirituality class to the retreat center Mater Dolorosa. We enjoyed a 6 hour silent retreat... (well actually 3 hours and then lunch and then 2 hours). The retreat center is about the passion of Christ... a good context to prepare for lent and for Mel Gipson's film
The Passion of Christ. God spoke to my heart that this lent will be another step towards understanding that "Even death rightly understood and embraced can become a form of grace" (the late Dr. James Loder). I hope to write more about this time later.

Saturday I felt compelled to stay and work while Jude went to celebrate her dad's 80th birthday with Roxy. This was a very difficult decision. There were numerous happenings that came together that confirmed that maybe I was hearing from God on this one. Jude's dad goes into surgery on Febuary 24th to have one of his kidney's removed because of cancer...

Lunch became an oportunity to gather Kathy, Miriam, and three other teens from the neighborhood for lunch. One guy who had been depressed for about a month came out of his depression. One guy who longs to belong now feels included. Afterwards we went to the public library... and the downtown LA Public library has now become a destination for us -- Cool.

Sunday I spent a significant amount of time with Miriam and Norma. Two compassionate souls that have lived the struggle of the imigrant journey so common to my neighborhood. I am glad to participate and encourage with their desire to share their faith and all that they have learned from their journey.

Monday I had a significant mentoring time with Rikkell. Then had the privelege of toutoring Chris, Tony's brother and helping them move towards knowing how to help Chris grow in his reading capacity.

Poem for the month ; ) "A jaw Psalm... to the Lord"

Hidden are your wonders
Deep within the sea
deep within the quazars
Dancing in a million snowflakes -- All of them are different.

Loving, Wrestless, Creative beauty -- are you.

I am struck in silence
So far beyound my comprehension
are your works O' Lord.

I have heard the rumour of Angels
I have heard the praises of heaven
I have been told that without your grace...
No one can see your face and live.

I long to see your face -- and live...

How long O' Lord will we foolishly imagine that this is just for us and our use.

Awaken my soul
Awaken my soul to awe
Awaken my soul to wonder

Shudder in the beauty of our Holy God
and anounce His Claim on all creation.

JAW1 '04

A Paper written by Jorge Meza for a Religion class

Jorge Meza

1-16-04

Catholic Christianity

Resurrection of the body of Jesus Christ





What do we mean by the resurrection of Christ? Jesus Christ came into this world to die as our replacement for our sins. The sinless Son of God came to give his life as a payoff for many. On that first Good Friday, Jesus was crucified. We know he died because one of the Roman soldiers pierced Jesus' side with a spear to ensure his death. Some of his disciples then buried his body in a new tomb.

While Jesus was alive, he had predicted that he would rise from the dead. He challenged his enemies: "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days. He was speaking about his body. Jesus also told his disciples many times that he would be killed by the leaders in Jerusalem, but be raised to life on the third day. The leaders who killed Jesus were aware of this prediction that he would rise from the dead. Although they did not believe it, they wanted to ensure that it would not happen, so they set a guard around the tomb. Pilot gave the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body, and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.' 'Take a guard,' Pilate answered. 'Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.' So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

The strategy of the chief priests and Pharisees did not succeed. Even with their efforts, Jesus rose from the dead. Jesus brought a number of people to life from the dead, including Martha's brother Lazarus, who had been dead for four days. But the resurrection of Jesus Christ was different. It was not just revival, as was the case with Lazarus, who later died again. On the third day Jesus was raised from the dead with a transformed body that was clothed with immortality and glory. His resurrection body could appear and disappear, go through material objects, and ascend to and descend from heaven.

On Easter morning some women and apostles went to Jesus' tomb expecting to find his body. But the tomb was empty, and the angel at the tomb told them, "He is not here he has risen!" Later they saw their risen Lord face to face.

Because of the miracle of Christ's resurrection, Jesus' depressed and disappointed disciples were instantly transformed. They began to preach the gospel with power. Without the resurrection, there is no Christianity. These disciples of Jesus willingly suffered for their faith. They could not produce the body of Jesus Christ and put a stop to Christianity. The Jewish believers, meanwhile, were so impressed by this miracle that they began to worship on the day of Christ's resurrection, Sunday.

My references The Bible, and the Resurrection Stories by Jerome Neyrey

I do believe in the resurrection of the body. Jesus is my savior.

My role in this was simply a trip to the library and the encouragemnet that the resurection of Christ might be a good doctrine to explore. Influence for the good is so often about just being there for others.

My Mix for this Tues. on KR

Wrestle Mix


1. This Present Darkness 2:40 Deliverance Live in the Studio
2. When I Flow 4:18 Cross Movement
3. The Hurricane 8:34 Bob Dylan
4. Track 06 3:14 KRS ONE Kristyles
5. The Trouble with Normal 3:37 Bruce Cockburn
6. Track 01 3:52 Stained
7. They All Fall Down 5:23 Grits
8. Thank You For the Cross 4:48
9. Never Give Up 3:17 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
10. Track 03 2:26 Blackalicious Arrow
11. Track 08 2:36 Larea Raine Garretson
12. Burn Hollywood Burn 2:47 Public Enemy Fear of a Black Planet
13. Resplendent 5:02 Bill Mallonee & Vigilantes of Love Audible Sigh
14. Track 03 3:24 5 Blind Boys of Alabama
15. peacemaker 4:28 Marie Brennan Whisper to the Wild Water
16. Alienated 2:17 Rez XX
17. Mommentum 3:23 Tobby Mac
18. I'm Gonna Live the Life 2:37 Mahalia Jackson The Greatest Gospel singer In the World
19. Track 02 0:46 Scratch

Memory Fragments from the last week

I went to visit Tribe this past weekend with Christy of Drybonesdance Blog. A neat home Church that meets at Rev. Rverstraten - Mcsparran's house. At first it was a stretch for me... but in time I kind of like having a drummer lead worship...and being able to beat my own drum at the same time... The reflective sharing integrated into the sermon, communion, Lectio Davina reading of scripture, and pot-luck dinner... all this helps build quite an intimate time of fellowship. If you could reproduce the depth of leadership and commitment of the leaders quickly enough... you could have the beginnings of a new house church movement.

Class last night featured Richard Fosters book on Prayer. We also wrote our own psalm.

Today I am going with Roxy to pick up her dad from the hospital in the PM...

Yesterday I referred a friend to Chrysalis... a group that helps people become more employable... Other stressors are making it hard for my friend to stay out of the madness mix... without mentioning any names can you say a prayer.

This Monday we are stating a new initiative of getting some of our college age friends from the neighborhood to mentor younger youth in our neighborhood.

Monday One of our neighboring families dropped in for dinner. I got to share my first attempt at cooking Collard Greens. It was received with mixed reviews. Either you like them greens or you don't.

Finished listening to Genesis and Matthew on CD... I am listening to the whole Bible on CD as a way of getting a sense of the big picture.

A BIG SHOUT OUT TO "WIL" WHO JUST BECAME A CITIZEN OF THE USA

I got to witness the ceremony with over 3,000 people taking that big step at one time together... He already is teacher here in LA... but the wheels of inclusion turn slowly... I am glad and grateful that they do turn.

A Recomended resource list for folks who met Jude and I at Urbana

Urban Mission -- A Brief Bibliography from Jude & John Tiersma Watson

See Tuesday, February 03, 2004 on John's other Blog

Happy Birthday to My Dad

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Show Mix Feb. 3, 2003

This show is going to get some public air time at Wheaton College. Thanks to Darren P.

1. Zombie 5:06 Cranberries No Need To Argue
2. Track 01 3:52 Stained
3. All the Lonely People 2:38 Aretha Franklin Best of Aretha Franklin
4. Track 16 3:10 JAW Poetry
5. Track 03 2:26 Blackalicious Arrow
6. Big Brother 4:12 AD - SEG
7. Fatherless Child 5:44 Mystic Cuts for Love Scars for Freedom
8. They All Fall Down 5:23 Grits
9. Track 10 3:15 Isaiah 58
10. Track 03 3:24 5 Blind Boys of Alabama
11. Never Give Up 3:17 KRS ONE Spiritual Minded
12. He Don't Mind 4:00 Barry Taylor Love Songs for Underdogs
13. Hero 3:25 SuperChic[k] Last One Picked
14. Believe It 3:59 KRS ONE Prophets Vs. Profits
15. God Nos Llama 3:51 Zehnder Breathing
16. Track 03 4:12
17. Track 02 0:46 Scratch

One of the realities that I wrestle with daily is how the human condition presses us either to God or towards despair. The more honest and truthful we can be about life... The more amazing love, joy, forgiveness and grace can be... living out of the center of this joy is one of the most attractive witness of faith I have encountered and seek to immitate (Thank you Dr. Loder)... don't just argue "Truth"... Be a demonstration of it...

A copy post from Dry Bones.

Many discussions seem more like political battles for power than spiritual searches for truth. - Henri Nouwen

My thought to add to this... us humans tend to vote for and debate about politicians, but we tend to kill or follow prophets.

Martin Luther King's Rule of Life

I am studying Christian Spirituality at Fuller & It is Black history month. I just put out my rule of life... I thought it a joy and a source of humility to reflect on MLK's rule of life. Let me know if you develop a sense of what God might be calling you to.

MLK's Rule:

Meditate Daily on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

Remember always that the nonviolent movement in Birmingham seeks justice and reconciliation.

Walk and talk in the manner of love, for God is love.

Pray daily to be used by God in order that all might be free.

Sacrifice personal wishes in order that all might be free.

Observe with both friend and foe the ordinary rules of courtesy.

Seek to perform regular service for others and the world.

Refrain from violence of fist, tongue, or heart.

Strive to be in good spiritual and bodily health.

Follow the directions of the movement and the captains of a demonstration.

SOUL FEAST: an invitation to the Christian Spiritual Life by Marjorie J. Thompson p.140