CUBA.

I was reading through the book of Isaiah today. Starting in Chapter 1, couldn't help but think of Cuba.

In this chapter, God admonishes Israel. I've taken the liberty of extracting some of the verses I feel are relevant to the current political and spiritual situation in Cuba.


4 Ah, sinful nation,
a people loaded with guilt,
a brood of evildoers,
children given to corruption!
They have forsaken the LORD;
they have spurned the Holy One of Israel
and turned their backs on him.

5 Why should you be beaten anymore?
Why do you persist in rebellion?
Your whole head is injured,
your whole heart afflicted.













Castro interrogating a farmer, who was later executed without trial



6 From the sole of your foot to the top of your head
there is no soundness—
only wounds and welts
and open sores,
not cleansed or bandaged
or soothed with oil.















Cuban children


7 Your country is desolate,
your cities burned with fire;
your fields are being stripped by foreigners
right before you,
laid waste as when overthrown by strangers.























"Ruin" in Havana



13 Stop bringing meaningless offerings!
Your incense is detestable to me.
New Moons, Sabbaths and convocations—
I cannot bear your evil assemblies.

14 Your New Moon festivals and your appointed feasts
my soul hates.
They have become a burden to me;
I am weary of bearing them.

15 When you spread out your hands in prayer,
I will hide my eyes from you;
even if you offer many prayers,
I will not listen.


























Santeria Priestess in Cuba


Your hands are full of blood;

16 wash and make yourselves clean.
Take your evil deeds
out of my sight!
Stop doing wrong,

17 learn to do right!
Seek justice,
encourage the oppressed. [a]
Defend the cause of the fatherless,
plead the case of the widow.




















A Cuban man receiving last rites from a priest prior to
being executed, without trail



18 "Come now, let us reason together,"
says the LORD.
"Though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red as crimson,
they shall be like wool.


Happiness exists on earth, and it is won through prudent exercise of reason, knowledge of the harmony of the universe, and constant practice of generosity. He who seeks it elsewhere will not find it for, having drunk from all the glasses of life, he will find satisfaction only in those. - Jose Marti

Man is not an image engraved on a silver dollar, with covetous eyes, licking lips and a diamond pin on a silver dickey. Man is a living duty, a depository of powers that he must not leave in a brute state. Man is a wing. - Jose Marti

Photos on this page are taken from The Real Cuba website. I encourage you to visit it.

The Hearts of Men...

As we ponder what just happened and the nuttiness that is and will continue to follow, G.K. Chesterton sheds some light on the subject:

"Idolatry is committed, not merely by setting up false gods, but also by setting up false devils; by making men afraid of war or alcohol, or economic law, when they should be afraid of spiritual corruption and cowardice." - Chesterton, ILN 9/11/09

"America has a genius for the encouragement of fame." - Chesterton, The Father Brown Omnibus

Nostalgia

My friend Frank reminded me today of a horrible time in my childhood. The day
"The Great Space-Coaster" went on the air.

More on that later.

The conversation brought to my memory some of the great kids show I grew up watching in the 70's. Some of these shows were great! Some of them sucked... badly. But, they all merit being on my list, if only for the memories they bring:



Zoom - 1972 - 1978

A weird show I don't really remember. Every time I turned it on there was a "rainbow" of greasy-haired kids (sorry... an engrained image in my brain of 1970's youth) running around, some times in and out of big cut-out letters spelling ZOOM. I never really liked the show, but only because I didn't know what was going on. (What's up with that girl in front... the one with the greasy hair?)




3-2-1 Contact - 1980 - 1992

I only remember the early years of this show, and had no idea it ran as long as it did. I remember I loved listening to the theme song, then I'd change the channel.




The Electric Company - 1971-1977

It was like a variety show for kids. Some of the regulars on the show were Morgan Freeman, Rita Moreno (my first love), Mel Brooks, Joan Rivers and Gene Wilder. And Spider-Man even showed up from time to time! It was awesome. I also remember seeing George of the Jungle, and the "your driving me up the wall" cartoon. (You gotta love the 'fro on Freeman)















The New Zoo Revue - 1972

This was my "Barney". I remember really liking this show, but I don't remember why. I remember a tree-house, where an owl lived. And of course, Henrietta Hippo (not my first love). I also remember reaching into my stocking one Christmas and finding small rubber New Zoo Revue toy characters. (notice how the frogs mouth is askew. They never fixed that during the entire run of the show.)





Mr. Roger's Neighborhood

I liked Eddy Murphy's Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood better. With Mr. Rogers, I was ready for nap time.









The Great Space Coaster

This abomination of a kids "educational" show came on the air in 1981 (I was 11 years old).

If you never heard of this show, Wikipedia describes it as follows:

"The show is about three young singers (Francine, Danny, and Roy) who are brought to a habitable asteroid in space by a puppet clown character named Baxter who pilots the "space coaster", a rollercoaster-like spaceship. The asteroid is populated by strange-looking, wise-cracking puppet characters like Goriddle Gorilla, Knock-Knock the bird, Edison the Elephant and Gary Gnu, who hosts the "Gnus of the Week"."

LAME!

The Great Space Coaster initiated what I like to call, The Dark Ages of Children's Programming. This dark period in human history began with the final season of The Electric Company in 1977, and ended around the time Barney came along, and we grew tired of the colorful yet deceitful feminization of our culture. At that time, children's television entered a type of renaissance, which... oh, whatever... I just wanted to bring back some memories.

Have a great weekend!

Abba's Child

I finally picked up Abba's Child by Brennan Manning. My pastor has been telling me for years that I need to read this. He was right. It's a great read.

In the book, Manning asks the question "Is an imposter robbing you of God's love?". As you read the book, you find the "imposter" in question is not a little red devil with a pitchfork. The imposter is the mask we all create to cover who we really are; the person we want nobody to see for fear of being exposed. Who is that person? The REAL you, beaten up by life's many twist and turns. The person who decided at some point could not be good enough for anyone; let alone a loving God. Manning challenges the reader to remove the mask; to destroy the imposter. Until we do, we cannot experience God's love to the fullest.

This book is a great read, and I highly recommend it. Too many books today are "self-help" books, prescribing steps or methods to live a better life. This book goes right to the heart of the problem; the battered heart, and the masks of our own design we use to cover it.

Easter.

Beautiful Scandalous Night

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified
Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flowed
For you and for me and for all

(Chorus)
At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

On the hillside, you were delivered
At the foot of the cross justified
And Your spirit restored
By the river that poured
From our blessed Savior's side

(Chorus)

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

-Hindalong/ Daugherty-

Cool Video

I actually found this on a website supporting Biscet as a candidate for the presidency of Cuba. This is a Gospel music group called Naturally Seven. This video was recorded on the Paris metro. Enjoy.

Chocolate Jesus

Okay, if Matt Stone and Trey Parker aren't busy working up a script for next weeks South Park on this one, they're missing the boat.

Cosimo Cavallaro, a Canadian (Matt, Trey... c'mon!!) "artist" has designed a chocoloate sculpture in the image of what he considers to be Jesus. It's 6' tall, hung as if on a cross, and is naked with all genitalia on display. The Roman Catholic church is in an uproar. I have one thing to say to my Catholic brothers; go ahead and protest, but keep away from this Cavallaro guy. If there's anything to that whole God's wrath with lightning thing, this guy's a prime candidate to become a little pile of black ash on a New York sidewalk.

Briefly, I Googled this "artist" and came across his website. Here are a few of the artistic pieces this guy has done:

"Cheese" - one of his most inspired pieces. An armchair covered in Cheez-Whiz.

"Fish" - a piece obviously inspired by Akroyd's "Bass-o-matic '76". A white porcelain toilet, with pureed goldfish inside.

'Kiddie" - a child-size coffin installed on one of those machines outside supermarkets where children usually ride a horse for a quarter. On this one, you can have your child, post-mortem, ride through the funeral service before being interred; as long as the mourners keep popping in quarters.

"Shit" - Another favorite. 3 turds (probably Cosimo's) shaped to form the acronym "V.I.P."

"Burning Piano" - On this one Cosimo really went to uncharted territories of art. He set a baby grand piano on fire. Outdoors. On a snowy plain. It's a video clip. Utter genius.

Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights had this to say:

"It's an all-out war on Christianity. They wouldn't show a depiction of Martin Luther King Jr. with genitals exposed on Martin Luther King Day, and they wouldn't show Muhammed depicted this way during Ramadan. It's always Christians, and the timing is deliberate."

I agree. It is deliberate. My opinion; people like Cosimo hate beauty. He hates God, because God loves beauty. He hates art because God loves beautiful artistic expression.

And no, we would not see an image of Muhammed this way, or at all for that matter. Just ask the South Park guys.


















I just wanted to put things into perspective. Consider the hands that sculpted this 6' statue of Jesus. They seem to be the hands of a sad, bitter and slighty derranged man.

Life imitates "art"; and chocolate melts.

Yell Out On The Move

My buddy Rick posted here on a new book called On The Move; a speech given by Bono (of U2 fame) at the National Prayer Breakfast in 2006.

For those of you who are disinterested, religious, hypocritical, highly opinionated and aloof "church brats", this speech is a wake up call that yes, God lives and works outside of our comfortable church walls, petty arguments, and fruitless strivings.

For those of you who are disinterested, humanistic, hypocritical, highly opinionated and aloof "skeptics", this speech is a wake up call that God exists inside and outside of uncomfortable church walls, petty arguments, and fruitless strivings.

I highly recommend you read the speech.

"Am I buggin' you? Don't mean to bug you." -Bono

Brilliant!

Last night, some friends and I were studying the Bible. At the end of the evening, we were tired, and wanted to go home. But in our time of study, we encountered a God who loves us despite our disobedience and helps us even when we don't deserve His help.

I found these 2 quotes from 2 brilliant men.

“I do not believe in the God of theology who rewards good and punishes evil.” – Albert Einstein

“I gave in, and admitted that God was God.” – C.S. Lewis

I don't think anyone would question the genius of one, and the philosophical depth of the latter. The funny thing is, the first guy could split an atom but had a childish, uninformed view of God. Maybe he was just too scientific in his approach. Maybe his genius made him think in too many different directions, making it difficult to really think through the subject of faith. But really, to say something about God being about "rewards good and punishes evil" makes me think he really didn't give much thought to the God I know. He was looking for a god who could fit his scientific world. Actually, anyone who thinks about God in those terms really hasn't thought about God at all. God has become an instrument to them; someone to be used for comfort, or when things go really bad, for blame.

I like what Lewis says. It's a good place to be when you can stop running and trying to come up with your own answers, and just say "God is God". It's your Moses moment; when you can just accept the great "I AM" is just that. No assembly, or invention, required. No assumptions to be made. No one to blame, because you find there is no blame. Only forgiveness.

But you can only get there by honestly searching Him out. Sometimes it's tiresome. There are so many other things to think about. There is so much to do. But when you finally get into the searching; when you give Him some time, you will find the answers.

"It's so easy....

...even a caveman can do it."

I love these ads. Best line ever, "That is so condescending." Click on the picture to see the Apology commercial.

This ad series is my favorite ever. I laugh like a crazy every time I see it.

Now, the cavemen are getting a chance at a TV series on ABC. For more on the story click here.

Rage.

It has to start somewhere It has to start sometime
What better place than here, what better time than now?

All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now
All hell can't stop us now

-Guerilla Radio-

It's no wonder why groups like Rage Against The Machine resonate with Christian youth.

Rage has different meanings, one being to react with violence. However, my favorite definition is:

Rage - A violent desire or passion.

I listened to Guerilla Radio today, and the inspiration kicked in. It made me think about the word rage, and how, as Christians, we should use this powerful word:

Rage against mediocrity.
Rage against injustice.
Rage against poverty.
Rage against hypocrisy.
Rage against relativism.
Rage against hate.
Rage against ignorance.
Rage against religion.
Rage against evil.


Any other suggestions?

Faith

Living a life of faith means never knowing where you are being led. But it does mean loving and knowing the One who is leading. It is literally a life of faith, not of understanding and reason— a life of knowing Him who calls us to go. Faith is rooted in the knowledge of a Person, and one of the biggest traps we fall into is the belief that if we have faith, God will surely lead us to success in the world.

A life of faith is not a life of one glorious mountaintop experience after another, like soaring on eagles’ wings, but is a life of day-in and day-out consistency; a life of walking without fainting.

Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest

Why?

Many questions have come up in my mind these past 2 weeks. I've been surrounded also by questions from those around me.

Why Josh? Why did God allow all that pain to come into his life? If God was using such a great man to do such great and wonderful things in people's lives, then why would He allow him to die so soon? He was only 32 years old.

Yesterday, we celebrated Josh's life, and buried him in the ground. Many people came; this was probably one of the largest funerals I have attended (Edwards' was probably just as big; he was 38 when he was struck by lightning last year).

Josh was taken too early, and right on time. Josh's illness was a long and hurtful ordeal, and exactly what God planned. His death at the age of 32 is painful for his mother and father, his family and friends; and occurred precisely as scheduled.

And we all, even those who love and trust God to the best of our ability, are hurting and at a loss. We miss him, and we will always wonder in our darkest times, "Why God?"

A few years ago, I was reading The Chronicles of Narnia: A Horse and His Boy to my daughter. The story revolves around a little boy named Shasta who, having grown tired of being mistreated by the fisherman who raised him, runs off with a Narnian horse (a talking horse) and sets off on all manner of adventure. Along the way, this small boy also suffers all manner of pain and suffering. His friend, Aravis, almost dies as they are being chased by a pack of ferocious lions. At one point in the book he is alone in the wild, in the dark, on a horse. He is hungry, alone and frightened. He is resentful; angry. He is asking 'Why?' .

As he rides his horse with no one to talk to (he is not riding the Narnian horse now; this one does not speak), in the dark, he senses he is not alone. Someone or something is walking in the dark next to him:

"Who are you?", he said, scarcely above a whisper.
"One who has waited long for you to speak," said the Thing. It's voice was not loud, but very large and deep...
"Oh please -- please do go away. What harm have I ever done you? Oh, I am the unluckiest person in the whole world!"
Once more he felt the breath of the Thing on his hand and face.
"There", it said. "that is not the breath of a ghost. Tell me your sorrows."
Shasta was a little reassured by the breath: so he told how he had never known his real father or mother, and had been brought up sternly by the fisherman. And then he told the story of his escape and how they were chased by lions and forced to swim for their lives; and of all their dangers... and how they were almost to their goal when another lion chased them and wounded Aravis...
"I do not call you unfortunate" said the Large Voice.
"Don't you think it was bad luck to meet so many lions?" said Shasta.
"There was only one lion" said the Voice.
"What on earth do you mean? I've just told you there were at least two the first night, and..." "There was only one; but he was swift of foot."
"How do you know?"
"I was the lion."
And as Shasta gaped with open mouth and said nothing, the Voice continued.
"I was the lion who forced you to join with Aravis. I was the cat who comforted you among the houses of the dead. I was the lion who drove the jackals from you while you slept. I was the lion who gave the Horses the new strength of fear for the last mile so that you should reach King Lune in time. And I was the lion you do not remember who pushed the boat in which you lay, a child near death, so that it came to shore where a man sat, wakeful at midnight, to receive you."
"Then it was you who wounded Aravis?"
"It was I."
"But what for?"
"Child," said the Voice, "I am telling you your story, not hers."

You will never answer the questions, "Why?", until you realize that you are not walking alone in the wilderness. You will never answer the questions, "Why?", until you start concerning yourself with your own story instead of everyone elses story.

And don't be so foolish and trite as to consider this being as just some beast or ghost, or a knight in shining armor, or a beared and robed guru, or some other creation of your assumed enlightenment.

He has a name. He only waits for us to acknowledge Him. He holds the answers to our deepest questions.

Who am I kidding?

I'm just not politically minded, so I deleted that last entry on the Liberal mind. Not because I disagree with it, but because that stuff has no real substantive place in my heart, or my blog.

Lead of Love

Christ of the Abyss - Key Largo, Florida

Lead of Love
Caedmon's Call

Looking back at the road so far
The journey's left its share of scars
Mostly from leaving the narrow and straight

Looking back it is clear to me
That a man is more than the sum of his deeds
And how You've made good of this mess I've made
Is a profound mystery

Looking back You know You had to bring me through
All that I was so afraid of
Though I questioned the sky, now I see why
Had to walk the rocks to see the mountain view
Looking back I see the lead of love

Looking back I can finally see (I'd rather have wisdom)
How failures bring humility (than be)
Brings me to my knees (a comfortable fool)
Helps me see my need for Thee

Ataque Al Palacio

50 years ago today, the presidential palace in Cuba was attacked by a revolutionary group, made up mostly of university students. For more on this story click here.

50 years ago today, my grandfather, Jose Mora, was involved in the firefight. The truck you see pictured above was used by the rebel group. Some of the bullet holes in the truck may well have been shot by my grandfather.

He served as a military officer for the Cuban government and was at the palace that day. According to stories my mother has told me, my grandfather was about to cover the shift of another officer, manning the front of the palace. That officer died. Had the attack occurred 15 minutes later, I might have never met my grandfather.

Too Much... Too Soon?

I'm having a Josh moment. The mornings are pretty bad.

I just went to his myspace page. Like me, Josh didn't do a whole lot with his myspace. But he did set it up, added some friends, and checked it out every once in a while.

The title he gave his myspace was "too much... too soon?" I never asked him what that meant (I didn't know if that was appropriate hetero myspace behavior). I don't think it was meant in a negative conotation, ala this is too much for me to handle too young in my life. Maybe he meant too much to think about, way early in my life. Too much wisdom to ponder. Too much knowledge to impart. Too much understanding of life, love and grace, too early in my life.

I'm still not comfortable with myspace. I'm also not comfortable leaving a message for someone who can't respond. I'm not knocking those who did; I just can't do it. I want a response.

Josh has once again challenged me. This time, he has challenged me to think about eternity, and how it begins here on earth.

Or does it have a beginning? If it's eternal; if we are eternal, then is there a beginning?

There certainly is no end. Josh is alive. I can't speak of him in past tense terms. It's not denial or a psychological trigger meant to bring comfort. It's a fact. It's just true.

Grace.

I feel like rambling like a lunatic. I've felt like this since Josh went home. There is an urgency. There is a need.

I want to shout it out... WE CANNOT FUNCTION IN THIS WORLD UNTIL WE GRASP THE CONCEPT OF GRACE!!!!

But you can't. You can't shout it out. If you do, you are a religious nut. You are a smelly man wearing animal skins, crying out in the desert; a lonely baptizer.

Last night, we watched an interview with Bono of U2. He wasn't wearing animal skins. I don't know if he smelled.

In the interview, Bono spoke of his faith; His love of Christ. He was sincere on how he felt about the church. He never liked church people. I could relate to that. As he has matured and thought things through, he has grown to know the concept of "the body of Christ", and can now love his brothers and sisters a little more.

I can relate to that, too.

In the interview, Bono calls out Christians on their inability to grasp the concept of grace. He is absolutely right.

In fact, the whole conversation got me thinking.

Because we cannot grasp the concept of Grace:

- The church is full of believers who live in bondage to a "works for works sake" mentality. They do not understand the concept of obedience in response to grace and love.

- The church is full of believers who live as if they have to control grace; that somehow God designed a kind of love that the average person can't responsibly manage. They believe they have to constantly remind people that "works are important, too."

- The church is full of believers who live in fear of grace and freedom.

- The church has cheapened faith and reduced it to rules, "feel good" theology, or wide-spread acceptance of sin.

- The church is irelevant to the world. "If church is about being good, giving money and singing songs on Sunday, I'd rather go to the beach".

- People on the outside misunderstand the call of the Gospel; that it is not about taking away freedom, but giving a new concept of freedom beyond their imagination.

Unfortunately, very few are the people who will listen.

The vast majority of those who believe will continue to live their faith out by looking for the latest "Purpose Driven Life" or "Your Best Life Now" trend offering tips on how to live a fulfilled life.

Conversely, the vast majority of those who don't believe will continue to hide behind excuses from their list of "reasons why I believe in God my own way" booklet, which they keep close to their hearts, lest they should be captivated by Truth.

In the end, grace is an irrefutable concept. You cannot oppose it, because it will always come back to you with overwhelming love. Grace cannot be defeated, because it has already won. Grace cannot be limited, because it will always get bigger than your grip can stand.

All you can do is not understand it. In that lack of understanding, grace waits patiently, lovingly, for you to "get it".

It saddens me that so many turn away from grace, finding it unbelievable. But what saddens me the most is how many Christians fear the reckless nature of grace.

"What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God!"
-Bono, during U2 concert in an intro to "Where the Streets Have No Name"-

Mozart

My friend Frank sent me the following in an e-mail. I thought it was so beautiful, I wanted to post it. I had never read this. Enjoy.

Mozart's last and unfinished work. A death mass. Some (myself included) have speculated that he wrote it for himself. For a time Mozart became involved with Freemasonry. He was lured into it by the outward appearance of their so called philanthropy. As time passed he began to realize that the masons served a much different god than the one he knew. He left the masons, and exposed many of their rituals, beliefs, and agendas in his opera 'The Magic Flute.' As he neared death, he began to believe that someone had been poisioning him. I believe that the masons had him killed. I also believe that the Requiem Mass was his own personal prayer for forgivness and repentance.

I. Introitus
Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.

You shall have praise in Zion, O God,
and homage shall be paid to you in Jerusalem.

Hear my prayer.
All flesh shall come before you.
Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.


II. Kyrie
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.


III. Sequenz

Dies Irae
This day, this day of wrath
shall consume the world in ashes,
as foretold by David and the Sybil.

What trembling there shall be
when the judge shall come
to weigh everything strictly.


Tuba Mirum
The trumpet, scattering its awful sound
across the graves of all lands,
summons all before the throne.

Death and nature shall be stunned
when mankind arises
to render account before the judge.
The written book shall be brought
in which all is contained
whereby the world shall be judged.

When the judge takes his seat
all that is hidden shall appear,
nothing shall remain unavenged.

What shall I, a wretch, say then?
To which protector shall I appeal
when even the just man is barely safe?


Rex Tremendae
King of awful majesty,
you freely save those worthy of salvation, save me!
Save me, fount of piety.


Recordare
Remember, gentle Jesus,
that I am the reason for your time on earth, do not cast me out on that day.

Seeking me, you sank down wearily,
you have saved me by enduring the cross, such travail must not be in vain.

Righteous judge of vengeance,
award the gift of forgiveness
before the day of reckoning.

I groan, like the sinner that I am,
guilt reddens my face.
O God, spare the supplicant.
You, who pardoned Mary
and heeded the thief,
have given me hope as well.

My prayers are unworthy,
but you, who are good, in pity
do not let me burn in the eternal fire.

Give me a place among the sheep
and separate me from the goats,
let me stand at your right hand.


Confutatis
When the damned are cast away,
and consigned to the searing flames,
call me to be with the blessed.

When the damned are cast away,
and consigned to the searing flames,

Bowed down in supplication I beg you,
my heart as though ground to ashes,
help me in my last hour.


Lacrimosa
This day full of tears
when from the ashes arises
guilty man, to be judged:

Lord, have mercy upon him.
Gentle Lord Jesus,
grant them rest.
Amen.


IV. Offertorium
Domine Jesu
Lord Jesus Christ,
King of glory,
Deliver the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the depths of the pit.
Deliver them from the mouth of the lion,

lest hell engulf them,
lest they fall into darkness;
but let the holy standard-bearer Michael bring them into the holy light, as once you promised to Abraham and to his seed.


Hostias
Lord, in praise we offer you
sacrifices and prayers:
accept them on behalf of those souls
whom we remember this day:

Lord, make them pass from death to life, as once you promised to Abraham and to his seed.


V. Sanctus
Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of hosts!
Heaven and earth are full of your glory.
Hosanna in the highest!


VI. Benedictus
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
Hosanna in the highest!


VII. Agnus Dei
Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
grant them rest.

Lamb of God,
you take away the sins of the world,
grant them eternal rest.


VIII. Communio
May eternal light shine upon them,
with your saints for ever: for you are compassionate.

May eternal light shine upon them,
with your saints for ever,
for you are compassionate.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
and may eternal light shine upon them,
with your saints for ever,
for you are compassionate.

Cuba

I ripped this off of Babalublog.com who ripped it off of Trek Earth:

Maria de la Gorda Beach, Pinar del Rio, Cuba.

What Does it Mean to be Human?

I found this weird song by Rich Mullins I had not heard before. The song is lame (very 80's INXS wanna-be with heavy usage of sax), but this is the intro to the song, which is spoken.

I don't know if Rich got this from someone else, or if he wrote it, but I like it.

"What does it mean to be human? What does it mean to be human?

I cannot help but suspect that at one time in the history of thinking
that people believed that it meant that we were spiritual and that we
could make choices and were capable of aspiring to higher ideals...
like maybe loyalty or maybe faith... or maybe even love.

But now we are told by people who think they know, that we vary from
amoeba only in the complexity of our makeup and not in what we
essentially are. They would have us think as Dysart said that we are
forever bound up in certain genetic reigns - that we are merely products
of the way things are and not free - not free to be the people who make
them that way. They would have us see ourselves as products so that
we could believe that we were something to be made - something to
be used and then something to be disposed of. Used in their wars -
used for their gains and then set aside when we get in their way.

Well, who are they? They are the few who sit at the top of the heap -
dung heap though it is - and who say it is better to reign in Hell than
to serve in Heaven. Well, I do not know that we can have a Heaven
here on earth, but I am sure we need not have a Hell either.

What does it mean to be human? I cannot help but believe that it means
we are spiritual - that we are responsible and that we are free - that
we are responsible to be free."

Cigar Pal and Co-Conspirator

Today, another friend of mine went home to be with Dad.

I can do nothing but stare at my PC; productivity has been stifled for today. So, I'll just write about Josh.

I've known Josh for about 4 years now. I wish I had known him longer. We smoked a lot of cigars together, and conquered many issues concerning the world, society and the church. In the talking and listening, I found a brother in Josh. Our minds were in sync. We had the same views on most things, so we could talk for hours on end.

Josh has a love for the body of Christ. The thing about that is it's not a cliche; his love for the church is deep, and brutal. He had a way giving it to the church; going for the jugular, in a graceful way. His passion exceeded that of most people I know. He was not into playing games when it came to his faith. He didn't want to preach inside a safe church building; his pulpit could be found in a pub, at a Burger King, Jake's Bar, or at a friend's house.

His faith had no walls.

Josh was an innovator. In a city where church leaders are working out "marketing strategies", he was figuring out people. What makes Miami tick? How can I tell all these lonely and confused people living in this seemingly forsaken city about Jesus, without totally freaking them out?

Most importantly, Josh understood grace. He knew that at the end of the day, there is nothing more. He understood what nakedness meant, more than I ever will; to be stripped bare, a sinful man with nothing to hide, before an awesome, loving and forgiving God.

The saddest thing about Josh dying is not his death. He was in a lot of pain and distress towards the end (...though he only told me once. A week ago, he told me he would be home again by the end of the week, and was making plans to get better and start writing his book/journal. For 3 years, he went for dialysis 3 times a week, never once complaining.)

The saddest thing about his death is that he won't be here to beat knuckle-heads over the head with God's grace. He won't be here to show those he prayed for and spoke of to me on so many occasions, that God loves them despite their shallow self-centered Miami complexes. He loved and cared for so many people; guys and girls who felt the draw of Josh's authentic and transparent nature.

I thank God for the honor having Josh as a friend. Few people had the kind of impact on my life as he did. I will miss him; more than anyone could imagine I will miss him. He summed up the definition of the word "brother".

Now, as I am a fan of C.S. Lewis, Josh was a fan of Blaise Pascal. He would even correct me when I pronounced his name wrong ("no, no, it's {fag-french accent} Pascal, you stupid Cuban"). So in honor of Josh, one of my favorite quotes from Pascal:

Jesus is the God whom we can approach without pride and before whom we can humble ourselves without despair.


Love ya brother.

Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

"Look!", said John the Baptizer. "Look at Him; don't look at me! He's the one you've been waiting for!"

I need to stop and listen. I need to take a step back, and breath.

Picture this moment. The Savior of the World walking towards you. A mass of people gathered; each person thinking about their problems.

"My wife hates me."

"Why is my child sick?"

"How am I going to get my bills paid?"

"What is wrong with these terrorists?"

"Why is the world so full of hate?"

"My husband doesn't love me anymore."

"I can't seem to get out of this rut."

"Why does it hurt so much?"

So much despair. So much pain; anger. So many people making gods of their own fashion. So many making gods out of themselves.

Everyone worships something, or someone.

The Lamb of God approaches. Sin is His only enemy. He has come to defeat it; brutally. He will annihilate it. The Lamb will be slaughtered, only to return in 3 days; and change the world. His sacrifice will be our freedom. We won't have to be held prisoners by sin ever again.

He has freed us.

Many will continue to walk in their despair, unaware He is in their midst. They can't see Him; too busy staring their problems in the face.

Behold! Don't you see Him? He's right there; ready to free you!

It's so hard for me to see Him sometimes. It gets so busy here. My life is full of temptations, work, and guilt. Pain is all around me. I'm not blind.

But deep inside, John calls out, "Behold!". I always hear that voice. Sooner or later, but I hear it.

My Father calls out to this chief of sinners; His love is overwhelming. I can't pull away from Him. He draws me in. It doesn't matter where I've been or what I'm doing, He calls me in and patiently waits for me. He always welcomes me with a smile and a warm hug. His love overwhelms because He never says "you have failed me." He never condemns me.

He takes away my sin.

People see me as a part-time preacher. They think I'm always focused on God (I wish I was!). In Spanish, they use condescending terms like que lindo (how cute), tilting their heads slightly.

It doesn't bother me anymore. My heart has turned a different corner of late.

I see them, and I hurt for them. I feel like saying "BEHOLD!", but who talks like that these days?

It is a great word though. Behold! He's right there! Hello? Can't you see Him? Would you stop focusing on yourself and look around? He's right there and wants to bring you comfort and freedom! Look! You don't have to be shackled by your pain, sin, doubts and heartache. You can actually be free! You're not enlightened; you're entombed! He's here to free you!

"Que lindo" they respond. "He's always talking about God. That's so sweet."

Sorry; it's difficult for me to be subtle sometimes. Sometimes, you just have to cry out.



"Is there anybody out there?" - Pink Floyd

Comfort Zone

I came across this article on The Real Cuba website. Reading through it made me think even more about all the stuff we get worked up.

It really is embarrassing. It's not to say all Christians need to be imprisoned to be effective disciples. I just wonder if I would have the cojones to be the kind of man Dr. Biscet is.

A letter from Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet

One of Cuba’s most prominent Christian prisoners, Dr. Oscar Elias Biscet, has said he has been forced to watch abuses "that threaten the decorous behavior of a civilized society" but stressed he trusts God to one day end his "unjust sentence," in a letter published by BosNewsLife Saturday, March 3.

Dr. Biscet, a Christian pro-life activist and medical doctor who opposes abortion and the death penalty as well as the Communist regime, was sentenced to 25 years on April 7, 2003, in a massive crackdown on human rights activists across the island. He earlier received a three-year jail term on charges of "disrespecting patriotic symbols" including hanging a Cuban flag upside down during a news conference.

Human rights group Amnesty International and other organizations consider Dr. Biscet, who also heads the Lawton Foundation for Human Rights, a prisoner of conscience.

In a letter to his wife obtained by BosNewsLife, Biscet, 46, said it has been "very difficult for common prisoners to serve a prison sentence, all the more so for a man of peace confined for exercising his right to freedom of thought."

He explained that during "all these years in prison : he witnessed "ignominious things" he was unable to describe "due to their perversity; acts that threaten the decorous behavior of a civilized society."

However despite the apparent difficult situation in the in the maximum security Prison Combinado del Este in Havana, Dr. Biscet stressed he was not giving up his Christian faith. "I am not frightened nor will I go back a step in regards to my ideas. I am here by my own free will to condemn and not to retract myself and will serve this unjust sentence until God in the Highest puts an end to it," said Dr Biscet who has been pressured by authorities to give up his Christian faith and human rights views.

Time After Time

My friend Rick sent an email; one of those "you know you grew up in 80's if..." things. It got me to thinking about something I recently realized.

Growing up in 80's, any music from the 70's was considered pretty recent. If it was from the 60's, it was considered "classic". If it was from the 50's, well these were "oldies".

The "oldies" were 30 years or older.

It is now 2007. 30 years ago was 1977...

...3 years shy of the 80's.

Holy crap.

The New World

"The Christians met on the way many people who were going to their towns, women and men, with a firebrand in the hand, and certain weeds whose smoke they inhale which are dry weeds stuffed into a certain dry leaf in the form of a muset made of paper, like the ones the children make on the day of the Holy Ghost; and burning a part of it, from the other part they suck or absorb or admit the smoke with breathing."
-- Christopher Columbus, from his Navigation diary

Dissecting Ajiaco

Ajiaco

Click on the above link for a great blog entry on Cuban Ajiaco at BABALUBLOG.COM, and enjoy!

Worship

I met last night with a friend who helps lead worship at our church. We talked for about an hour and change about our worship service; all the negatives and positives about it, and how the negatives far out-weigh the positives.

It's funny how worked up we (Christians) get over worship. I find myself getting worked up all the time. Most people get worked up because they want to know why the worship at their church isn't like the worship at that other church where the service was "deeper" because people were dancing in the aisles. Or they get worked up because they want only traditional hymns. Some people get worked up because they want to know why their worship band doesn't sound like Michael W. Smith's band.

Mostly, I get worked up because it hurts me to see people arguing over things that have nothing to do with actual worship.

Last night, we didn't talk about bringing in new songs. We didn't talk about adding instruments. We didn't talk about who's better; Chris Tomlin or Matt Reddman. We didn't talk about rocking out the service more to make it "seeker" friendly.

Instead we talked about the beauty of the older hymns. We talked about the very few new songs that have the kind of depth those older hymns have, that have made them endure for centuries. We talked about how great our worship would be if it wasn't so concentrated on musical styles, and more on praising God through music, prayer, and reading of scripture. We talked about removing instruments; how if people want to go to a rock concert, they'll buy tickets to see U2, not go to church on Sunday. We spoke of meditation, reflection and contemplation.

Most importantly, we spoke of Sunday morning being a time where people can come and worship their Father; not a time where we play the right or "cool" music to attract people to come to church.

Worship should be a beautiful and excellent offering made to a living and gracious God; not a "we're trying to be cool/relevant/real production selling God to increase membership in a church. And I know that the latter is not the intent of most sincere believers and worship leaders. But, it sure does come across like that sometimes.

Can we simplify worship? Can we make it so the true seeker comes to church and is drawn in by the authenticity of the worship in this place on a Sunday morning, and not the "peppy" music? Can we worship God in such a way that a person who has been attending church for 20 years can suddenly realize that he/she is standing before the Throne of God? Can we strip away the dead arguments of hymns vs. contemporary, raise your hands or kneel, dance or sit?

Can we worship, in spite of our pettiness?

Recognizing Nothingness

“How difficult it is to be honest, to accept that I am unacceptable, to renounce self-justification, to give up the pretense that my prayers, spiritual insight, tithing, and successes in ministry have made me pleasing to God! No antecedent beauty enamors me in His eyes. I am lovable only because He loves me.” - Brennan Manning

What a hard pill to swallow. Christ loves us, and there is nothing more to do about it. All my perceived pride, brilliance and accomplishments, laid at His feet.

This idea never ceases to leave me breathless; speechless. You can't escape it and it consumes you when you acknowledge it let it envelop you. Like a flame sucking the oxygen out of the air as it envelops you.

Nothing else matters. You realize all those things that seemed important to you become insignificant.

There's a new realization; God is love, and that is all.

I Want to Be A Clone

I went to church today and for different reasons I was reminded of an old and brilliant Steve Taylor song:

I'd gone through so much other stuff
that walking down the aisle was tough
but now I know it's not enough
I want to be a clone

I asked the Lord into my heart
they said that was the way to start
but now you've got to play the part

I want to be a clone

chorus:
Be a clone and kiss conviction goodnight
cloneliness is next to Godliness, right?
I'm grateful that they show the way
'cause I could never know the way
to serve him on my own
I want to be a clone

They told me that I'd fall away
unless I followed what they say
who needs the Bible anyway?
I want to be a clone

Their language it was new to me
but Christianese got through to me
now I can speak it fluently

I want to be a clone

(chorus)

Send in the clones
Ah, I kind of wanted to tell my friends and people about it, you know

What?

You're still a babe! you have to grow! give it twenty years or so
'cause if you want to be one of his got to act like one of us

Be Careful What You Say, or Think...

We had someone visiting our house yesterday for a bit. She is an educator; nice lady, and mother of my daughter's friend. We talked about the Miami-Dade County Public School system.

The topic then segued naturally into the decline of western civilization (i.e., public schools + indoctrination = decline). She told us how the high school she works in is overflowing with children who consider themselves to be homosexuals, and how it is prevalent in middle schools as well. It's openly practiced, it's accepted, and the schools themselves, in an attempt to be "inclusive", strive to bring "understanding" on the subject.

I then gave my opinion on the subject, which was that as far as these kids go, I see their behavior to be akin to the Goth kids syndrome. In other words, homosexuality is the new cool social outcast group; the underdogs who can speak with a lisp, but without the dark eye-liner and black lipstick. It's more about identifying with a group (and freaking out their parents) then it is about gender identification or confusion.

This teacher then opened her eyes really wide, and with a look that almost resembled fear quickly gave the generic response to get her out of having to discuss this topic further, "well I don't care what people do behind closed doors...". She said it almost as if someone might be recording the conversation.

It's amazing to me how people react to this topic of conversation. Seinfeld masterfully gave an example of this in his show, when he coined the phrase "...not that there's anything wrong with that..." whenever being gay was talked about in that episode.

In fact, I can't think of any other behavior (I'm sorry, "lifestyle") that is more widely protected. You can't talk about it, unless you're using words like "lifestyle", or "life-partner". The way people broach the subject, you'd think we were living under a communist regime and we had to speak in codes, and quietly whisper your opinion, for fear that you may be arrested for speaking ill of the Party.

In fact, if you have read up to this point, how do you feel right now? Read what I said again. I made a comment of how kids find identity in homosexuality; I didn't say anything about the behavior. I made a comment about "lisps", but only because, hey, it's an identifying factor (just watch Bird Cage, La Cage Au Foles... and that guy's character on Will and Grace in the above photograph). I didn't say anything about the behavior being wrong or right, sin or not; nothing about being born with it or not.

But I bet at this point you're either angry, offended, feeling suspect, not wanting to say anything, even to yourself; maybe even fearful of your own thoughts, lest you find yourself being judgemental (the greatest sin in today's society, by the way).

I really am not impressed, phased or influenced by how the world thinks. I believe most people live the way they want and I really don't want to get involved. Why? Because I've learned that people will do what they want even to their own detriment, and there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. I refuse to spin my wheels trying to convince others of anything. Someone wants to be in a serious relationship with his goldfish, that's fine with me too. I like to get involved when someone finds they need help. When they are in it too deep; they have reached the end of their rope. Only then can God start to mold and help that person. Up until that point, I can just be their friend; let them see who I am, and hopefuly they'll see that I'm a child of God -- a guy who found food for life and wants to show them where to get it.

What is amazing to me is watching how easily people are swayed one way or another. The Bible is right when it says we are sheep in a pasture, easily led astray.

I must say the homosexual movement and lobby has done an impressive job of swaying opinions on the subject of gender. Maybe we as Christians could take some lessons from them when it comes to preaching the gospel.

Oh, wait. I forgot. The Gospel, as taught to us in the Scriptures, is spread by the power of the Holy Spirit; not by human manipulation, propaganda, cash and indoctrination ala Nazi Germany or Communist Cuba.

Silly me.

Friggin Hilarious

Click on "Friggin Hilarious" to be directed to a funny yet disturbing blog from Rick Hunter.

I NEVER heard of Stryken, and thankfully never saw this album cover. I think if I did, it would have led me into a life of unbelief.

Just Thinking Out Loud

I made some new friends on my trip to Tennessee. They are Roman Catholics, they're good people, and they love Jesus. We shared some good cigars, drank some Lucky Number 7, good Port, and shared our thoughts on faith, family, movies and various other issues, all in an effort to solve the worlds problems.

5 Cubans and a Chilean in the Smokey Mountains solving world issues... HA!

We talked about the differences and similarities being from Roman Catholic background, and Protestant background. We each quietly noted differences which keep us content to be where we are. We also noted similarities which drew us to a realization that we are children of a great and mighty God, who laughs at our differences and loves us in spite of them.

I'm not sure where we left off; was everyone comfortable, or were there doubts that still lingered? I don't know. It doesn't really matter.

One of my heroes, philosopher, writer, and Roman Catholic, G.K. Chesterton, once said this about the Catholic church, "The moment men cease to pull against it they feel a tug towards it. The moment they cease to shout it down they begin to listen to it with pleasure. The moment they try to be fair to it they begin to be fond of it . . ."

To my friends who are grabbing for their guns ready to bring up works, praying to Saints, the Inquisition, child-molesting priests, etc..., put your guns back in your holsters. Relax. Take a deep, non-Pharisaical breath. Your utterances will not change anyone's opinion. Also, if you look at the failings of the Catholic church, you will be forced to acknowledge the failings of the 100's of thousands of Protestant churches and various denominations with their many hypocricies, marketing plans, false theology and various other misgivings.

Relax.

I'm not changing my membership to a Catholic church. I love my heritage on the Protestant side of the fence. I am also fond of the history and mystic nature of the Catholic faith. As Protestants, we are deprived of some wonderful tradition going back over thousands of years. At the same time, I am so thankful for my understanding of God's grace. I am thankful for the teachings of Luther and Calvin, who helped nurture that.

I am also aware that much of my understanding of God's Grace came from people like St. Augustine, St. Francis, Thomas Merton, Chesterton, and St. Manning (HI AL!!)... all Catholics.

I guess what I was reminded of on this trip was that I'm not so interested in being right anymore. It's important to have conviction, but it is also important to listen. There is one way of Salvation, being Christ, but it is important to be loving and gracious; not combative and defensive.

I don't want to be right. I want to share what Christ has done in my life. I want to tell people of His Grace and mercy. I want to tell people that Jesus loves them, without having to be right. I want to trust that Christ, not I, will do a work in peoples live.

As the body of Christ, we need less bickering and more love. It sounds idealistic. It scares the pants off of the "non-ecumenical" crowd. I'm not talking about being ecumenical. We just need to be a people that live what we believe, and stop talking about what we believe.

We need to stop trying to be right.

So we finally saw some snow in Tennessee.

Take Me To Another Place

We're on our way to Tennessee. Our mission? This Cuban wants to see snow.

That's right. This 36 year old Cubanaso has never seen snow. I've seen it at the top of the Andes mountains, but never within reach.

Tonight our road trip brings us to Savannah, GA, exhausted. The weather is cool, in the upper 50's. The men (there are 3 families on this trip) will go out and hunt for food (not Paula Deans... more like Sticky Fingers Ribs or something of that nature). In the morning, we plan on grabbing breakfast in old Savannah, take a look around then head for Gatlinburg.

Let's hope for snow before Wednesday!

Yes, I Speak Good. Thanks, yo.

Click on the blog title to read a great entry by Fayola (Elsita, you HAVE to read it.)

Oye Fayola, the new banner esta... buenisimo!

Kool-Aide Anyone? - A Look At Grace

I recently heard that a well known cult leader who began his career as the reincarnation of the Apostle Paul and later said, "Okay... I'm actually Jesus..." has NOW declared himself the anti-Christ.

Kool-Aid anyone?

I know very little about the subject, so I'm keeping information on this to a minimum. This guy gets enough press; he doesn't need the help of bloggers.

But the whole thing got me thinking; thinking about the thousands of people who follow this guy. What kind of person gets sucked into this ideal based on such a shaky foundation? What makes say, an East-Berliner give all of his worldly possessions to a Puerto Rican, based solely on a nice Italian suit and a smile? There's obviously more to it than that. But I'm just trying to figure out -- what kind of thinking is that? What's going on in your head?

It's the attraction of the cult mentality, which to me is similar to the mentality of a lot of Christians.

Cults offer different things; sense of belonging, sense of purpose, a charismatic leader, etc... Many people go to church for the same reasons. There they find community. They find love and acceptance. They also find a reason to live; a reason for existence. They also find a Savior; Christ. They are told, "believe in Jesus as your Savior, His promise that He fullfilled the debt you owed on the cross, and your sins are forgiven. You have eternal life."

And they say, "Yes. I believe.... now what?"

Here's where some churches go wrong. But the blame can't fall squarely on the church. Our nature tells us, "there's gotta be a catch. I mean, it can't just be 'believe' and that's it. I gotta be a good person, right? I have to be Baptized, don't I?" or "I have to change the way I live, don't I ?" or "I have to quit smoking, don't I?" or "I have to be Baptized by the Holy Spirit, don't I" or "I have to stop sinning, right?"

The answer to all of those questions is, no.

Unfortunately, many church "leaders" who should not be leading, proceed to add lists of rules and regulations; follow-up for the Biblically challenged.

Salvation is by faith alone. There is nothing to add to that. It is all about God's grace.

But our nature can't handle a free gift. We have to add stuff to it.

I just heard a song by Derek Webb called, A New Law.

don’t teach me about moderation and liberty
i prefer a shot of grape juice

don’t teach me about loving my enemies

don’t teach me how to listen to the Spirit
just give me a new law

Great song. Makes sense. There is nothing to add to God's promises. It's all about His promise and our response in faith. There is nothing we can do or not do that will change that. We believe, and that's it.

But someone cries out, "Yes, but...." and it all goes to hell.

It's the same mentality of the cultist. "Sacrifice is required. We must work hard. There is much to do. We must live rightly. We are the only ones who are right. Everyone else is wrong."

"We ARE the new law."

If Christ came to liberate us from bondage, why are we so bent on staying imprisoned?

A Cuban in St. Augustine...

... is like a lechon asado on Christmas Eve... for a Cuban. They go hand in hand.

Unfortunately Cuban, even Spanish presence in the old city is minimal.

I love going to the Old City, and just spent 2 days there with my father. We went to sight-see and check out things that only history nerds like us could get into.

St. Augustine is the oldest European established city in the USA. It was established by the Spanish in the 1500's. The Spanish would trade and use the shipping lanes from Spain, through the Caribbean and up to St. Augustine. Many Cubans were educated in St. Augustine (including Padre Felix Varela, who also spent the last years of his life and passed away in the Old City).

Unfortunately, it seem that most of the Spanish and Cuban presence has been whittled down to re-constructed Spanish colonial homes, and white Anglo Americans dressed in Spanish garb to commemorate the early days of the city.

Don't get me wrong. I am so grateful for the people of St. Augustine, and their love for the history of the place and the people who founded it. They have really done an incredible job at keeping the history alive. I'm just saying it would be nice to see some REAL Spanish restaurants, and REAL cigar shops (Columbia Restaurant is a tourist trap pretending to be Spanish, and the cigar shops have over-priced, low quality cigars).Speaking of cigars, I took one of my own from Miami and happily smoked it outside Cafe Hidalgo. A Torano Exodus 1959. First one I smoked was at Berkley Boricua's going away BBQ (yes Rick... the night I fell back on the rocking chair and you laughed as my cool points drifted off with the smoke from my cigar). This is an AMAZINGLY smooth cigar, but not for the novice smoker.

The demitasse you see photographed is from Cafe Hidalgo. One thing that St. Augustine does not have a shortage of is cafes, most of them with EXCELLENT espresso. So if you're Cuban, don't worry about packing up the cafetera for your trip. St. Augustine's got you covered. Cafe Hidalgo also had great gelatto and tiramisu.

One of the tourist things we did was take a ghost tour. We took the walking tour in the evening. I had never been on a ghost tour so I thought I'd check it out. The neat thing about a ghost tour is you hear stories you might not hear otherwise, because they are usually based on real people who had some sort of tragedy befall them, but are minor characters in history. They lost me when they started talking about "orbs" and "sensitivity" and little girls hanging around city gates 100 years after they died. Can you imagine how horrific that would be? For a child's soul to be trapped for eternity on a busy street corner on AIA, waving at people? I don't know how many in the group actually believed it, but one guy was going nuts taking pictures with his flash, trying to catch the ghosts on film. The guide was very entertaining though, and it was a good way to end the evening.

One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the Mision Nombre de Dios at the crack of dawn. I took this picture by the altar built on the location where the first Catholic Mass was held on mainland North America. It's such a peaceful place. You get a real sense of history, but also of the beauty of creation. Not to mention, the beauty of the Cross.


Finally, one of the cooler moments of the trip was in the re-built home of a Spanish soldier. My dad saw the kitchen, and was really taken aback because it was almost identical to the one in his house in Santiago de Las Vegas a suburb of Havana. His childhood home was a Spanish colonial home, and still had the original concrete coal oven. He recalls how his grandmother (my great grandmother) would heat up the coal and make amazing dishes. He remembered that they would stick a boniato (sweet potato) wrapped, directly on the coals, and how it would come out completely cooked through, almost syrupy. He could smell the sweet potato, the memory was so vivid.


We really had a great time in the Old City. Thanks Papi, for sharing this time with me. It meant a lot.

Woahhh!

In an attempt to hide my last post (people see what they want to see), a totally "And now for something completely different" moment to distract you.

The following quote comes from South Park, my favorite TV series (next to 24):

Mr. Garrison (teacher at South Park Elementary): Hey, guess what everybody? I'm gay!
Principal Victoria: Mr. Garrison?
Mr. Mackey: What?
Mr. Garrison: I'm as gay as a gymnast on shore leave!
Principal Victoria: You admit it? You admit it!!!
Mr. Mackey: Oh, that's great, Mr. Garrison. You've finally come to terms with yourself!
Mr. Garrison: Yeah, it feels really good!
Principal Victoria: Well, congratulations!
Mr. Mackey: Yeah, congratulations!
Mr. Garrison: You know, I feel like I can start anew. If it's alright with you, I'd like to go back to teaching the third grade.
Principal Victoria: Oh. I'm sorry, we don't hire gay people.

Masochists

I recently started a Bible study that will meet weekly at my parents house. It's been going great. We have a good turn out and people seem to be responding well to the material. I'm learning a lot in the process, which is one of the main reasons I like to lead Bible studies.

There is an interesting thing that happens every time I start a Bible study. There are certain people I pray for and personally invite, who never attend. In fact, they avoid it like the plague.

Now you need to know I am fully aware of the possibility that I suck as a teacher, and that's why they don't come. However, I don't think that is relevant to this topic. Usually, those I am referring to here are people who have never attended my Bible studies, so I don't think they avoid them for that reason. I also don't believe that, if they come to my Bible study, God will reveal Himself to them, their lives will change, and we will all walk into the sunset hand in hand.

I'm also not talking about people who come off and on. Life gets complicated, there's Sunday football games, or season premiere of 24 (yessssss!).

Specifically, these are people I know, who have opened up to me about problems in their lives. They are hurting. They are crying out for help. Their lives are unravelling. Some have literally told me, "Mark... I need God. I need help."

Mention a Bible study, and they react one of 3 ways:

(Eyebrows high in the air, make sure to smirk ever so slyly) "Well... I'll ummm, see if I can make it. Thanks for the invite, 'k?

(No direct eye contact) "Sure. I'll be there. Thanks."

(After reading an email invite) ....cricket...cricket...cricket...

I don't get upset about it. It just bothers me that the Bible is so right, all the time.

Proverbs 26
11 As a dog returns to its vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly.
12 Do you see a man wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.

Someone asked me once why I believe the Bible. There are many reasons why I believe it. But at that moment, my answer was "because we humans prove it right every time by our thoughts and actions".

It saddens me how trite; how small we are. It saddens me that we would cry for help, and continue making excuses for running from God, the One individual who can give us the answers to our problems. It saddens me even more that the number of people in the world who respond in this way to Him is staggering.

I can only conclude that they are content in their misery. They are comfortable in their stupor. They feel safe in their own vomit.

Exposing oneself to truth can be painful. It's exactly that; exposure.

A few years ago, I gave up trying to "lead people to Christ". I didn't give up one people, or on sharing what God has done in my life. I just don't actively go out there being a cheerleader for God. I think God does it in His own time. I think people respond to God when He makes Himself present to them; when they are ready to listen to Him on His terms, not theirs.

I guess I'll do what Cesar (one of my friends) said to me at last nights Bible study, "Pray for them. Pray for them."

That's all I can do.

Pigeon John & The Summertime Pool Party

Okay, honestly, I am NOT getting paid by Urge, Eldridge or this guy:

























This is a new hip-hop album, with lots of old-school flavor and smart lyrics. A good album to listen to all the way through in one sitting.