33

Today, I reach the mystical age of Christ. I never had thought much about it until my friend, my twin, reminded me of such an auspicious occasion. That is a lot of pressure and a lot of expectations. This age seems to capture the imaginations of a good many folks.

Five for Fighting, in 100 Years sings:
"I'm 33 for a moment. Still the man, but you see I'm a they. A kid on the way. A family on my mind"

David Wilcox, in Glory sings:
"In the big boring middle of my long book of life after the twist has been told. If you don't die in glory at the age of Christ then your story is just getting old ...
Through the big boring middle of His long book of life after He passed thirty-two. If you don't die in glory at the age of Christ then your story is still coming true. Still coming true, still coming true."

So far, 33 has been uneventful. When you're working, the birthday loses much of the elementary significance ... I do not advertise the day, and I have had no well wishes from colleagues. Just another day. But one cannot help but find reflection on these days that seem to come more often than before. I can say with relative confidence that the next 365 days will determine the rest of my life. When I again broach the subject of turning the calendar of my life, such a life will have been placed on the path that will guide it until the end.

Until then, goodnight and God bless.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The candidacy of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination brings the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - or Mormonism - into the spotlight like it has not been in a while. I would like to hear what other folks think regarding this popular faith. It seems several years ago many fundamentalist Baptists went on a "convert Mormons" crusade in conjunction with the SBC's Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.

I am no expert in LDS theology. I have a book of Mormon somewhere in the garage, and I have been looking for it and hoping to read it. Mormons have a strange relationship with Christianity - Mormonism:Christianity::Christianity:Judaism. Clearly, Mormons are not Christians in the orthodox sense although they purport to worship Jesus and Elohim, the name the E source uses for God in the Pentateuch. My professors indicated - and it makes sense - that Mormonism is a latter-day expression of Christian Gnosticism. All of its theology points to that ancient sect.

While Mormons' orthodoxy needs much to be desired, I admire their orthopraxy. Most Mormons are disciplined, faithful practitioners of their faith. They demonstrate remarkable control abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, etc. Mainline Christianity could learn a great deal from the LDS regarding ecclessiology and evangelism. How many Christians in our pop-star megachurches would spend two years doing mission work? How many would tithe? How many would abstain from Starbucks?

I have had the pleasure to have three Mormon friends. All were nice, faithful people even if misguided in their religious beliefs. I worked for a Mormon gentleman a few years ago ... he was nuts. I do have three, strange unscientific anecdotes from my experience! All the Mormons I know are 1. wealthy and 2. attractive. Interesting.

The Romney candidacy is an interesting one. By all accounts, he is the perfect Religious Right candidate; but his religion is keeping many fundamentalist Christians from supporting him. Based on the little I know about all the candidates, he seems like the best.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

The candidacy of former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for the GOP presidential nomination brings the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints - or Mormonism - into the spotlight like it has not been in a while. I would like to hear what other folks think regarding this popular faith. It seems several years ago many fundamentalist Baptists went on a "convert Mormons" crusade in conjunction with the SBC's Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City.

I am no expert in LDS theology. I have a book of Mormon somewhere in the garage, and I have been looking for it and hoping to read it. Mormons have a strange relationship with Christianity - Mormonism:Christianity::Christianity:Judaism. Clearly, Mormons are not Christians in the orthodox sense although they purport to worship Jesus and Elohim, the name the E source uses for God in the Pentateuch. My professors indicated - and it makes sense - that Mormonism is a latter-day expression of Christian Gnosticism. All of its theology points to that ancient sect.

While Mormons' orthodoxy needs much to be desired, I admire their orthopraxy. Most Mormons are disciplined, faithful practitioners of their faith. They demonstrate remarkable control abstaining from caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, etc. Mainline Christianity could learn a great deal from the LDS regarding ecclessiology and evangelism. How many Christians in our pop-star megachurches would spend two years doing mission work? How many would tithe? How many would abstain from Starbucks?

I have had the pleasure to have three Mormon friends. All were nice, faithful people even if misguided in their religious beliefs.

Interesting Article on Tradition

The de facto Dallas Morning News religion columnist wrote an interesting article on the reinstatement of the Latin Mass by Pope Benny as well as the growing (albeit small %) of traditional, high church in the face of worshitainment. While I appreciate high church, I fear this is one of those cyclical things. High church will be trendy for awhile among the religious cognoscenti, but most folks with prefer the feel good cheap grace of American evangelicalism.

It is challenging to find a good mix between dead orthodoxy and pump-em-up pietism. Orthodoxy without orthopraxy is meaningless, and feel-good Jesus talk without transformation is worthless. Why cannot there be a church community with evangelical sensibility and Christian Tradition?

I have just not had the energy to blog, but I have to type ...

Is Rosie O'Donnell just one of the worst people on television? There is nothing worse than a loud, close-minded bully whose lacking intellect.

Back

China was great. I will post when I get reorganized and re-assimilated.