Remembering Mom

3 years ago this past weekend, my mother passed away. This is what I read at her memorial service.
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My mother had the great misfortune of losing her mother twice. She first lost her to Alzheimer’s, and then after 10 years of her slowly slipping away, she lost her finally to death. Those ten years tore her heart apart, with her mother physically with her but not really "with her."

But I am here to tell you that right up to the end, Marilyn was, well, Marilyn.

I spoke to her on Saturday, and yes, she was tired and the conversation was not long, but we talked about what we always talked about, and we joked about what we always joked about. I let her know how our new home construction was going. We talked about whether Dana would ever get out of last place in the family football-picking competition.

She was all there, right to the end: her joy of living was there, her sense of humor, her love for friends and family. All of those things that she taught me, those things I hope I've learned from her, those character traits I want to manifest in my life. I hope to bring honor to her memory, for as long as I walk out my life, on this side of the veil.

Podcast Review

Spirit Blade Underground

This is a weekly 30-minute podcst focusing on geekiness from a Christian point of view, and Christianity from a geeky point of view. It is produced by Paeter Frandsen, who is both a geek and a Christian.

The podcast follows a 3-part structure. Paeter begins by updating listeners on the progress he has made in producing audio dramas, which he defines as "Christian Sci Fi and Fantasy that is unsafe, unsterilized ... and unleashed upon your ears and imaginations." His first effort, the 3-hour Spirit Blade, is available free in the podcast archives. His latest project, "Dark Ritual," is available for purchase on http://www.spiritblade.net/, the first 40 minutes of which are available free as a preview. Note that these are not for the faint of heart, but if you find that prairie romances are not your cup of tree, check it out.

The second part of the podcast is Paeter's take on geek culture -- TVs, movies, games, books, and comics. Every now and then an interview with a Christian in the geeky arts is included. Paeter's reviews are interesting in that they rate works on both "quality" and "veracity," allowing him to separate out the spiritual aspects of a work from its artistic merit.

The third part of the podcast is a Bible Study, ususally following a chapter-by-chapter format. I find these studies well-researched and well-reasoned, and after listening to more than 60 podcasts, I could not guess where he fits into the theological or denominational spectrum. And that's a good thing.

I enjoy the Spirit Blade Underground podcast and recommend it to culture-savvy, modern Christians. It is one of the best-produced podcsats I've run across, and I personally find the content enjoyable.

Book Review

Leaper, by Geoffrey Wood.


This is a surprising read coming from a CBA publisher. Well, technically, WaterBrook Press is a division of Random House, so maybe that gives them a little more freedom. Hmmmm.

Anyway, Leaper tells the story of James, a recently-divorced slacker who finds one day that he has the ability to teleport himself. Or as James views it, the ability to leap from one place to another. But to paraphrase Spider-Man, with great power comes great pressure, great stress, and great disappointment. And in James' case, it also comes with great soul-searching, seeking out of God's will, and the occasional run-in with the police.

I enjoyed the light tone of the novel, the sense of humor that Wood brings to James and his predicament. As a writer, I know that ideas are a dime-a-dozen, execution is a little tougher, and ending a novel well is quite difficult. Ienjoyed the ending, as it actually wrapped up the story -- there is a temptation in super-hero stories to set up the character situation for ongoing adventures. Wood avoids this temptation, which I appreciated.

There are two distinct ways that this novel does not fit into the CBA model -- again, as a writer, I appreciate this, and it gives me hope for some of my more unusual ideas. First, there is not a salvation scene anywhere in the story. And second, James is a (moderately faithful) Catholic, and gains much wisdom from his priest. Both of these traits I found refreshing.

the great cloud of witnesses ...

Yesterday was for remembering the great heroes of the faith. Today is for remembering the nameless, the anonymous, the unknown.

All Souls Day is to recall all of those that have gone on before us, the body of Christ across space and time, who led the way in faith and practice, in holiness and forgiveness, in prayer and service, in life and death.

They are rightly called The Church Triumphant.

To those who've gone before ....

November 1 has been the day historically that the church specifically remembers those giants of the faith who have gone to their eternal reward. Thay serve as examples for us in their faith, their holiness, their service, their teachings, and for some their martyrdom.

Among those officially designated by the organized church as "Saints" whose lives and works have particularly impacted me this last year include Jerome, Thomas More, Father Damien of Molokai, and Maximilian Kolbe.

"Unofficial" saints whose lives and works touch me are Dietrich Bonhoeffer, C.S. Lewis, and John Wimber.

Lord, thank you for including us in such a large and diverse body, and for giving us so many examples of so many different ways to live out a relationship with You.

October Reading List

84. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
85. Dawn's Light, by Terri Blackstock
86. Green Lantern: The Sinestro Corps War, by Geoff Johns, et. al.
87. The Prodigal Comes Home, by Michael English
88. Artemis Fowl: The Time Paradox, by Eoin Colfer
89. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, by Jeff Lindsay
90. A Cat under the Mistletoe, by Lydia Adamson
91. The Elves of Cintra, by Terry Brooks
92. The Tide is Turning, by David J. Hartline

From St. Bonaventure

From his The Journey of the Mind to God. The theological writings of this 13th Century saint were so sound and influential that he is one of only 33 men and women in church history to be named a Doctor of the Church.

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Seek the answer in God's grace, not in doctrine; in the longing of the will, not in the understanding; in the sighs of prayer, not in research ... Look not to the light but rather to the raging fire that carries to soul to God with intense fervor and glowing love. The fire is God, and the furnace is Jerusalem, fired by Christ in the ardor of his loving passion. Only he understood this who said: My soul chose hanging and my bones chose death.

Book Review

The Prodigal Comes Home, by Michael English with Lynn Vincent.


First, let me say that I never liked his music -- I doubt that I have ever heard a single song of his all the way through. That being said, I was interested in reading his book -- I am a sucker for redemption stories.

In the introduction, he states that this is not an "I'm sorry I had an affair; now please buy my records" book. True enough. But it does at times read like an "I'm sorry I was addicted to prescription painkillers much of my life; now please buy my records" book. He actually covers the affair only briefly. I actually wanted to know more. He spent much more time on his family upbringing, drug addictions, rehabs, arrests, etc ...

I found the book maddening at points. Two specifc times, he uses a one-sentence explanation where I was wanting much more detail. But other parts were terrific, giving insight as to how the christian music industry could make a superstar out of someone whose faith was (by his admission) so shallow.

I don't know what to make of English himself, either. I appreciate the candor he put into parts of the book, but didn't find it candid straight through. And he spends as much time whining about being cut out of the gospel music world as he does admtting to not living right while trying to make various comebacks in that world. Hypocrite? Naive? Maybe just the addictions and insecurities talking? Hard to tell.

The book was frustrating, and the story itself was frustrating. Then again, living the story was more frustrating for English than reading it was for me.

brokenness

This one popped up today on my i-Pod. Had forgotten what a terrific song it is.

Restore My Soul
by Steve Hindalong
as performed by The Choir

I call to you with one lung exploded
From breathing the dust of the earth
With my tongue eroded
From licking the crust of the earth
A tear away from reconciled
A prayer away from whole
Restore my soul

I cry to you with two eardrums blistered
From laughing with preachers of night
With my vertebrae twisted
From dancing with creatures of night
A day away from sanctified
A breath away from whole
Restore my soul

I crawl to you with ten fingers smoking
From turning the pages of sin
With my spirit choking
From earning the wages of sin
A bridge away from justified
A step away from whole
Restore my soul

St. Francis of Assisi

782 years ago today, St. Francis of Assisi passed away. Known mostly for his practice of charity/poverty and love of God's natural world (he is the patron saint of animals and the environment), I appreciate this quote of his on holy living.

"While you are proclaiming peace with your lips, be careful to have it even more fully in your heart. Nobody should ever be roused to wrath or insult on your account. Everyone should rather be moved to peace, goodwill, and mercy because of your restraint. For we have been called to the purpose of healing the wounded, binding up those who are bruised, and reclaming the erring."

Lord, let it be so in me.