Women

"Worldwide women grow about half of the world's food, but own only 1% of the world's property and receive only 10% of the world's income."

Mustard Seed Associates

How (Not) to Speak of God, 6 of 23

"The [shift] from 'right belief' to 'believing in the right way' is in no way a move to some binary opposite of the first (for the opposite of right belief is simply wrong belief)." p.3

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

Illustration from work

Not my greatest design, or my greatest illustration, but some recent illustration, nonetheless.

Magilla Gorilla

How (Not) to Speak of God, 5 of 23

"Naming God is never really naming God but only naming our understanding of God. To take our ideas of the divine and hold them as if they corresponded to the reality of God is thus to construct a conceptual idol..." p.2

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

Birth Mom

Katelynn's birthmom emailed us today. We haven't heard much from her since Katelynn was placed with us. We agreed to monthly visits and monthly letters/photos, but haven't had a visit yet. She sounds like she's working hard at getting things back in order in her life, and we've scheduled our first visit with her (and her mom) in 2 weeks. It feels exciting to finally have a date lined up. I want so badly for Katelynn to know her birth mom, and not have a blank spot there. But it's a little scary too. So much loss.

How (Not) to Speak of God, 4 of 23

"Christian faith, it could be said, is born in the aftermath of God... Christians testify to having been caught up in and engulfed by that which utterly transcends them." p.1

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

Bizarro

How (Not) to Speak of God, 3 of 23

"We must embrace an a/theological approach that acknowledges the extent to which our supposed God-talk fails to define who or what God is..." p.xiii

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

Bad Dream

I think I've been quick to point out that I have my fair share of anxiety about public nudity, clothing, modesty, and the host of issues that surround our bodies, clothing, and public space. Within that swirling array of questions, fears, and hopes, I still found this video delightful for reasons I'm not quite sure of. I don't know that I'm to the point that I would wish participation in this event on anyone I care about, but I'm intrigued by the thesis here.

Part of what tips the scale for me, I think, is that streakers demystify their actions by being so heavy-handed, where this project leaves tons of room for the average person in the crowd to be truly confused by what's happening.

(Potentially not workplace | school appropriate)

Brought to you by an organization called Improv Everywhere.

How (Not) to Speak of God, 2 of 23

"Such thinking critiques the idea of theology as that which speaks of God in favour of the idea that theology is the place where God speaks." p.xiii

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

Adoption Finalized

We went before the judge Friday morning and finalized Katelynn's adoption. Lots of friends (and Jen's brother JT) there, and even more at the party Friday night. Check out our family blog (ourfitzgeraldfamily.blogspot.com) for more pics.

How (Not) to Speak of God, 12 of 23

"The emerging church is thus able to accept the fact that what is important is that we are embraced by the beloved rather than finding agreement concerning how we ought to understand this beloved (as if a baby can only really love her mother if she understands her)."

p.18

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

How (Not) to Speak of God, 1 of 23

"I found myself drawn to the mystics (such as Meister Eckhart), for while they did not embrace total silence, they balked at the presumption of those who would seek to colonize the name 'God' with concepts... they wrote elegantly concerning the limits of writing and spoke eloquently about the brutality of words... a loving response to God rather than a way of defining God." - p. xii

-Peter Rollins, How (Not) to Speak of God

My new site is up... sort of

My new website is up for Mars Hill Graduate School. Basically. It's almost what I wanted it to be. They took my templates and rebuilt them pretty well, and then just sort of never really finished up with any of the details.

Rock Stardom

My brother (Zach Westphal)'s band J. Roddy Walston and the Business (www.jroddy.net) is playing a huge festival in Brooklyn this summer, featuring acts like M.I.A., Deathcab, and DEVO. And, best of all, they'll get to open for The Hold Steady.

Download a song by them on iTunes.

Sabbaths 1998, "1"

Whatever happens,
those who have learned
to love one another
have made their way
to the lasting world
and will not leave,
whatever happens.

-Wendell Berry
(from his collection of poems, in Given)

Jen Grabarczyk brought this poem to our gathering this Thursday.

wall-painted animation

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU.

Came to my attention from Phil Nellis' blog (elnellis.blogspot.com). Which, I might add, is full of kick ass content.

Famous

Two people from ZERA (Jen Grabarczyk and David Rice) made it into the papers recently. Admittedly, it was the Belltown Messenger, and, admittedly, it had nothing to do with ZERA, but nevertheless, I can't shake the feelings we're well on our way to global renown. Or, at least, we're in good company.

Actually, a kick ass article on Mars Hill Graduate School. http://www.belltownmessenger.com/062008/062008-044-feature.html

Weightless by Erika Janunger

Ran across this while while checking out Blaine Hogan's site (BlaineHogan.com) to see if he had posted his graduation speech. No speech, but a great video.