Below is a typical translation/understanding of the Mary/Martha story, compared to my revised translation. I feel my revision is self-explanatory. I think too, that this fits in in an interesting way into the gender role topic. No, it isn’t the main focus of the story, but in Jesus’ day, those gender roles were much more strict. Mary should not have been sitting there when there was company to be serving! I find this story interesting because Jesus (in my revision) is not con

A baby, a baby, nursing on bathwater, invigorated thus by the shadowy plotter. “Toss the water” is the common encouragement, from eyes that are blind to its nature of nourishment. Thus is the advice offered by clones, whose own baby long ago dwindled to bones. The chaff must be separated from the wheat, but dare we say this baby “is what it eats”? No matter how badly or oft the water is soiled, the baby never becomes the culprit embroiled. That baby unwillingly, on a pedestal

As Chuang-tzu was fishing in the river P’u, two high officials arrived from the king of Ch’u and said, “Sir, the king requests that you come to the capital and serve as his prime minister.” Without turning his head, Chuang-tzu answered, “I have heard that in Ch’u there is a sacred tortoise that died three thousand years ago. The king keeps its shell in the temple, wrapped in silk and encased in a golden box. Now if you were this tortoise, would you prefer to be venerated in s

Acts of pity prevent real compassion from arising within the heart. Why? Because pity stems from judgement and superiority, and compassion can never flow from these sources. Why? Because “compassion”, com(with) passion(feeling), means to “feel with”, not to “feel for”. When we “feel for” we have already separated ourselves from the target of our pity. We “feel bad for” them, and we act from this place of superiority, this prevents com-passion “feeling with”. To pity, to “feel

We tend to get caught up by self-focus, to see our choices and actions as playing the crucial role in obtaining a good life. As we get busier and busier in making our "good life" we tend to forget that "...He's got the whole wor-uld, in-his-hands", and the that the complexity of this world's inner workings are far beyond our ability to comprehend. If we take the time to look around us, we can see just how complex and truly awe-inspiring this world system we inhabit is. "Letti

This is what Buddhadharma (the guy who brought "Zen" Buddhism to China from India in the 1100s) said about his path: A special transmission outside the scriptures, Not founded upon words and letters By pointing directly to [one's] mind, It lets one see into [one's own true] nature and [thus] attain Buddhahood. -Buddhadharma- This is what I believe Jesus did with parables, and also why I believe that he never, ever, interpreted his parables for anyone. I believe that Marcion’s

Because of the eating habits and challenges with my guys at work, I make a lot of stews and things with some kind of gravy or sauce to help the stuff go down easier. It got me thinking: Seeking the presence of God is like thickening a stew. -First you realize that there is not enough substance to that which surrounds the pieces. -Then you add something that is reputed (by knowledgeable sources) to thicken that which surrounds the pieces. -Then you must constantly stir in that

Conformity kills one's ability to fully express their unique purpose in life. With religion, too often people are urged to conform to what is considered the norm, or the traditionally defined boundaries of acceptable thoughts, feelings or behaviours. Even outside of religion- family, career, and social conformity dull the highlights of individual expression. Tell me, on which of these streets you would prefer to go for a walk?: or, Conformity, in human behaviour as well as i

Something that went unsaid in that first part was "how" Curly came to recognize that one voice. What was the distinguishing characteristic of that voice. This clip below gets into that idea more: Finding our true path in life, allowing the voice of God (Reign of God) to bring us into our true purpose, is just like this clip above. How did this man know how to make the right choice? Does it even sound like there was a choice to be made? Not really. There was a deep joy that wa

Curly says the "one thing" is something you need to figure out. Neither did Jesus come to tell people what that "one thing" was, no, he had the same message as Curly here. Each individual needs to seek out that "one thing", or maybe I shouldn't say "seek out" but "seek in" because it isn't something you can find "out there", you must seek the answer inside yourself. You must find that "one thing" like Curly did. It is clear that Curly found his "one thing" by listening to the

When Jesus criticized the religious leaders of his day, it wasn't the specific form of their religion that he criticized, but the general way they practiced it. What is contained within this general practice? -outward shows of religiousness are important -"take my word for it" type instruction -approval of the club equals God's approval -using tradition to evade simple obedience to God's will. -using education to twist the scriptures -preventing others from seeking the truth

One of Jesus' best known parables is of the Good Samaritan. The concept of the Good Samaritan is well known in our culture. But I would argue, not very clearly. The concept is understood in our culture as a kind selfless person who helps out others simply because others are in need. A "do-gooder" as we say. That actually is not the point of the parable at all and I think Christianity downplays the real meaning of the parable because it makes an anti-exclusivist statement. For

A couple summers ago, while visiting some friends, grandparents, parents, and children were all present. After a long day of children running around and playing, grandpa was getting a little tuckered out. It was now late and dark outside. One of the grandchildren was all wound up and wanted to go outside again to play. He wasn't in listening mode. Grandpa said no, grandchild (while disobediently opening the door) said, "why not?" Grandpa, tired as he was, said off the cuff:

Joh 9:39-41  Jesus said, “ I pass throughout this world to set the record straight, that those who do not see may see, and those who see...

Luk 7:31-35  “To what then shall I compare the people of this generation, and what are they like?  (32)  They are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another, “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a funeral song, and you did not weep.’  (33)  For John the Baptist has come eating no bread and drinking no wine, and you say, ‘He has a demon.’  (34)  The Son of Man has come eating and drinking, and you say, ‘Look at him! A glutton a

"...I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." -John 14:6- This, almost certainly, is the most often misquoted saying of Jesus. Christendom uses these words as a catchphrase when defending it's exclusivist religious views. First of all, this quote above is not a statement, it is an answer to a question. In context, Jesus is telling his disciples that he must go away, but that they know where he is going, and they know the way to

"If someone slaps you one the one cheek, turn the other towards him as well." -Jesus- This saying is not far from the core of Jesus' teachings. The core being: "love your enemies", this saying is part and parcel of that core. How many Christians have thrown up their hands in frustration crying out: "This is impossible, this cannot be done in the real world!". This has been the mainstream Christian sentiment for 2000 years. As such, society in general has remained silent about