Archive for 'Life'
Part One: Knowing that you are at war
Posted on 06. Jan, 2010 by Tim Stoner.
The most offensive stance you can take today is to believe that you are a part of a spiritually militant band of warriors. Many today believe that all of that noisy, sweaty, battle rhetoric was brought to a sudden halt by the violence of the cross. This view interprets the death of Jesus as this massive back fire that burned off everything that fueled spiritual conflict. Any residual warfare rhetoric that emphasizes dueling antagonists is antiquated or destructive. The problem? That is precisely how Jesus, the apostles and church fathers (and mothers) taught us to talk.
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Feasting in an age of Fasting
Posted on 25. Nov, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
Why on this wonderfully solemn and happy day is there such an abundance of food? Why always much more than can be eaten in one sitting? While there is such a sin as conspicuous–or immoderate–consumption, (once known as the sin of gluttony), the occasional and regular feast days do not seem to fall under that prohibition. There is something about these celebrations that we intuitively recognize as not only acceptable but appropriate and, somehow, almost holy. These occasions are more than permissible, they are, seemingly, essential. Why?
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“Spiritual–but NOT Religious!”
Posted on 14. Nov, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
To say “I am spiritual but not religious”, is like asserting, “I believe in sex but not marriage.” Marriage tames the wild, undisciplined (ultimately selfish), free-spirit and provides beneficial boundaries which help direct the flow of life-energy in a strong, focused, and societally healthy direction. (Or at least it is meant to.) Its legal and moral constraints place restrictions (rules, if you will) around the irresponsible sexual drive that runs amok in pursuit of personal pleasure rather than committed love. Religion serves spirituality in much the same way. It helps the savage become a saint.
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When the World Lost Its Story
Posted on 17. Aug, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
Postmodernity, the period in which we are living, has been aptly described as “the story of how the world lost its story”. There are no longer any Big Stories, all that is left are disconnected, formless fragments, incapable of disclosing truth. Meaning has vanished leaving behind the detritus of empty, hollowed out narratives and unbearably weightless, disoriented people. This is a perfect opportunity for storytellers who believe in the Biblical Epic–the Greatest Story Ever Told–that makes sense of every other story.
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Shouting into the Quiet
Posted on 21. Jul, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
From a talk given to Christian radio broadcasters: “Should our worldview be that of war or peace? Is the message of the Gospel, “you can come home now the war is over”? or is it “if you surrender you will be safe”? And why it matters that those called to speak (or write) get the message right. And why shouting may not be inappropriate.
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Confession of an Anti-Capitalist
Posted on 16. Jul, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
When I was asked to embark on a seven-country excursion to interview successful business owners for a book on business as mission I did not realize that I would need to repent. Nor did I expect that I would discover how secret judgments and suspicion (my own and that of others) had been used to prevent the rich from blessing the poor and helping to set them free.
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Death is a Terrible Price to Pay
Posted on 29. Jun, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
This past week two popular icons died, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett. Two newspaper pictures of them prompted this rumination on death. In both there is death even while there is life. Michael’s face over the years became more a mask than a face. And it bore uncanny resemblance to a skull. Farrah’s picture shows a once-lovely woman with a taut semi-smile and eyes that are not smiling at all. There is no emotion, no sparkle, there is this bleak sorrow, and a terrible emptiness.
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Joy is the Meaning of Life
Posted on 17. Jun, 2009 by Tim Stoner.
The bottom line is not despair or dutiful struggle, or even battle against the powers–it is joy. And despite the idolatrous reduction of life to sex or death and, most currently, ironic despair, there is great ground for hope for as Peter Kreeft observes “decadently apocalyptic ages elicit saints. Suffering elicits courage, compassion, heroism, and martyrdom.”
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Tim Stoner: send me your address you get a book...
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Emory Hermie: So little done, a lot to accomplish. One's mind h...
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Sara Schimmer: I couldn't agree with him more. The Falls Church ...
