I am curious if anyone knows who designed this crucifix which I have featured over on my right sidebar above the Daily Office. Figure it out and give me the name and some history on it and give you some shameless promotion. Yep, that's right, you will have your picture and a little bit about you here, on mikenoakes.com. Do it.

1) I just got back from Boise. Lynlea and I are pretty much the most amazing people on the planet. We took a bunch of pictures earlier today. They are fantastic. (Note: I just woke up from my nap. I refuse to sleep with a shirt on. It's my inner-Idahoan expressing itself) Check them out here.

2) I have decided that money/possessions/wealth/etc. are neither evil nor good. They are neutral things that can be used either for God or for "self." This is something I am coming to terms with, all of you who know me personally. I still maintain simplicity is better than complexity but, hey, different strokes...

3) I am reading Dante's Inferno. I can't help but interpret his "comedy" as allegorical in my own personal life. Descending into hell/depravity/perversion and working through it seem to me the very essence of "sanctification." Maybe I'm off on this one but it makes sense and works for me.

4) I have been messing with my template here on mikenoakes.com. I think it's going well. I changed links around. New quotes on the left sidebar. New colors. I'm trying to make it more "autumny." Haha! Let me know what you think.

5) Baptism. I promise I'll get around to it. It's taking me some time... I'm a bit busy. I will aim for a 3 part series (if discussion is good) and hopefully we'll all come away from it unscathed and maybe even a bit more understanding.

Well, that's all for tonight. I know you were looking for more but this is all I could really give to you... I love you. Please don't be angry!

As you can see I am playing with things on my profile. I decided to just stay with blogger. Yep. Pretty much. Well, I'm trying to change up my links, pictures, sidebars, colors, etc. It's gonna look like a whole new profile on Monday! Well, if you want to be added either email me or leave a comment. I will do that. Because I'm nice.

:)

I was told to start controversy. I am not really sure how to do that anymore... haha! I am going to try but don't expect much...

Hmm, I dunno what I could say. I could start with what I dislike: baptists (some of 'em), pentecostals (all of 'em), calvinism, SBC, radical conservativism, radical liberalism, blonde hair and blue eyes girls, complementarianism, Joh Piper, etc. and so on. I could also write about something I think is fine that others may not: the democrat party, TEC, catholicism, sexuality stuff, bicycles, the church fathers, mary mother of god, hippies, etc. and so forth. I dunno. I should really let Kyle pick b/c he's the one bitching about my dull life. Hmm...

But, here, you pick. Or throw out a suggestion. Whatever.

Hey all! I'm thinking of changing a few things over here. I might be changing my blog from a blogger template to a wordpress. Yes, Wordpress isn't as amazing.... but I'm really considering it. Something simple and clean. Maybe a badass banner or something...

Also, I'm starting a new links section. I'm going to lay it out a bit better so that everyone can have an idea of who I read and what they're about. I hope to do that by tonight sometime. If you want to be added to my blogroll, let me know.

Taking a cue from Adam, I'm going to shamelessly promote Mike's MySpace. Click the banner below to be taken to a world of social networking glory.

Found this link from Ben Askew. Watch this. I have been thinking a lot lately (to the detriment of my schooling, among other things) about poverty. What causes it? Why is the US the richest nation in the world yet we also do very little (in comparison to our wealth) to aid others int he world... what is the proper christian response to stuff like this?

How do we kill our apathy?

I am really ready for school to be over for the semester. Midterms are here and I'm not exactly ready for all of it... I'm struggling a bit pulling off high grades. I'm passing, no one worry, but I'm not gonna pull all "A"s. That's fine, I guess but I was hoping to maybe get my GPA up to a 3.8-3.9. I think I"m just stressing out a bit right now. I'll be better soon. I want to finish this chapter but there's been so much school this week I don't have time to complete it. How upsetting.

:I

Stolen from Dan at On Journeying with those in Exile.

Let us begin by asserting that:

(1) Jesus saves us from hell in the same way that he saves us from death.

This can then be rephrased in a more provocative manner:

(2) Jesus does not save us from hell any more than he saves us from death.

Yet:

(3) Our salvation from death does not prevent us from dying. Rather, our salvation from death is a salvation that leads us through death.

Consequently:

(4) Our salvation from hell does not prevent us from "descending into hell." Rather, our salvation from hell is a salvation that leads us through hell.

If this is the case then:

(5) What we mean by the word "hell" must be reconsidered.

As we do this we must note that:

(6) The references to hell in the early creeds (the Apostles' Creed and the Athanasian Creed) occur within the domain of Christology (and they are not a part of the assertions about the final end state of humanity -- which only speak of the "resurrection of the dead" and the "life everlasting").

Therefore:

(7) "Hell" must be understood within the framework of Jesus' mission.

When this occurs:

(8) "Hell" is best understood as the place where Jesus' ultimate, and salvific, solidarity with "sinners," with the god-forsaken, and with those who experience the utter extremes of exile comes to its fullest expression.

Furthermore, it must be remembered that:

(9) Christians are called to participate in the mission of Jesus, not because Jesus' victory was incomplete, but so that Jesus' victory can be implemented in the present.

Therefore:

(10) Christian's are not saved from hell, if that is taken to mean a complete escape from hell. Rather, Christians are saved so that they can participate in Jesus' descent into hell, and share in his mission of salvific solidarity with the god-forsaken.

Yes everyone, I didn't score as a socialist this time. Aren;t you all pleased? I actually scored as a leftist-libertarian. I'm happy with that. It doesn't sounds as aweful as socialist. Take the quiz here and let me know what you scored.

Authoritarian
Left		Right
Libertarian

Yes, I know. This is monumental. I have FINALLY gone through all those icky books I added just for some substance and added books I would really like to own. It took me some time and hard thought but I have arrived at a beautiful destination. Go, look at my list and desire it. It is beauty.

I mean, there's all sorts of oppurtunities for you people to buy me things. Engagement gifts, Thanksgiving presents, Halloween (I know, you don't give things on halloween but you could always start a new tradition!) Christmas, New Years, Easter, Wedding gifts, moving to Kentucky gifts, etc and so forth. I know you want to.

;)

Again, here's my list: Mike's Wishlist!

Hey, you wanna come to my wedding? If you are willing to fly out and see us do that whole bit then you are absolutely welcome. I am especially thinking of you Kentucky-land people who I'll be making my new life around. Yes, you already know who you all are. Come, damnit. I want you here. It will be June 2nd in Wendell, Idaho. Yes, I know, Wendell is lame... but that's where it's gonna be, ALRIGHT!!!

I was a bit upset earlier today. I take the time to write you all a beautiful post on reading Richard Foster and all anyone seems to want to talk about was the suprise ending. Thoroughly disappointing, I promise you... I was hoping for some feedback. Interaction. Damnit, maybe even a little bloodshed! Well, since everyone didn't feel like cooperating and playing by the rules I am going to leave you a post on that particular subject. A certain Ms. Lynlea Jayo has already done so (with a terribley clever post title, I must say)

Yes, I am engaged. For some of you that is a horribley depressing thought, "Why would someone want to marry him, he's a HERETIC!" although I'm hoping we can set aside certian nit-picky theological and social differences to celebrate this (and you're still wrong, btw)

:P

Right now it's all a bit surreal. I'm not exactly sure what to think. I'm excited. Apprehensive. Happy. Nervous. But most of all I think I am Content. I think that's what really matters, in the end.

I would fill you in on the details but my lovely fiancee has already done so, quite well I might add. Basically, we're getting married in 8 months and then moving to Kentucky. We'll live in Lexington and both of us work. One year off to establish residency then we'll see from there where that goes.

I'm escaping Idaho. And I don't have to go alone.

I'm very happy about it all :) The wedding is going to be small and sweet (if you really feel like flying out to see us, then you're invited by default) and the reception will be pretty much the most gigantic thing to have happened in the history of humans living in North America. Pretty much.

Well, that's all the update you get. I am tired and Lynlea has already said much of what I would cover. Yep.

Night, kids.

I'm sitting here at my desk reading some for this collaborative book project (which is due sooner than I may have it done... ugh) It's a bit stressful, I won't lie but it's good for me, I think, to be pushed. I need to reduce what I want to write into a small 20 page segment of what I need to write. Hopefully I'll pull it off, no problem. I am reading some Richard Foster so I can try to keep things in perspective. Here's a quote I'm trying to keep in mind while doing my writing. He wrote it in regards to the various forms of liturgical expression throughout the church (which takes on a special meaning as he is anabaptist)

"To say that forms are secondary is not to say that they are irrelevant. As long as we are finite human beings we must have forms. We must have "wineskins" that will embody our experience of worship. But the forms are not the worship; they only lead us into worship. We are free in Christ to use whatever forms will enhance our worship, and if any form hinders us from experiencing the living Christ - too bad for the form."

(Foster, Richard J. Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth. San Fransisco: HarperCollins, 1978. 159.)

"Too bad for the form." I'm not entirely sure what he meant by that but you're all going to get my reading of it here. I know you're excited. Hell, I would be too if I didn't already know what I was going to say!!

Liturgy is important. That's an incredibley vague statement and could have a thousand different readings. It's fun to apply some creativity in figuring out what I mean by that but odds are you'll get it wrong. I think we can all agree with the statement, even the Mennonites do! It is the very basis of our worship: The skeleton of what we do.

Liturgy is rhythmic. It moves with the common worship of the whole church catholic (fairly consistently) and defines the experience of most of the world's christians. In it we connect to the heart of God. In this act, we are in the presence of the immanent trinity. Depsite however we may feel in a particular circumstance our worship always points us towards the redemption of all things (for particularly depressive times) as well as humankind's need for redemption (for those days we're being a bit cocky)

Liturgy is being re-discovered by those of us who may identify as being post-protestant... I think after so many succesive generations seperated from the rest of the church many of us are leaving our family traditions of individualistic worship. We want genuine and true community. Not this silly social-networking myspace stuff but true friendships with honest, real, and seriously flawed (but recovering) people who we can journey with. Liturgy promotes that healing.

Having said all that, what does any of this have to do with the quote? Well, I think that although liturgy is the skeleton of our being, it's "fleshing out" will vary according to the circumstance. There is a place for solemn ceremonial rites with the whole "bells and smells" bit and there is a time to get dirty and bless some animals! Some communities worship will be laid back and chill while others will be far different. Some meet in living rooms. Others meet in Cathedrals. To ask who's the greatest is a silly question...

I'm sure Foster meant something slightly different by that phrase but this is what I think about it. Anyways, just some thoughts along the way.

(BTW, I'm getting married)