Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ 31,000 Flavors

Greetings Dear Reader,

I would eat ice cream every day if I could.  There are flavors that are my favorite like coffee, fudge ripple, and home churned peach.  At Christmas time I always seek out spumoni ice cream.  I always keep some vanilla ice cream in my freezer.  You never know when the Grandsons are going to turn up and desperately need a treat. 

The point is that there are many flavors of ice cream and for those who enjoy it there are many choices.  Some of those choices seem absurd to me.  I think that it is ridiculous to put some things in ice cream.  That, however, is my opinion.    

Before I delve into this part of the discussion I want to set a foundation.  I do not want you to think that I have disrespect for those who practice more extreme forms of faith.  I may not understand it but that does not mean that I am free to mock or ridicule.  What I am after is to clear some of the fog that extremes generate that masks the Gospel.

Whether it is rolling in the isles or forbidding the watching of television there are extremes in the Christian faith.  Each practitioner of these things will give you reasons why it is necessary to following Christ.  They will explain that it is outward evidence of your inner commitment to Christ.

What is intolerable is when they make doing odd things necessary to following Christ.  There is no ritual that is necessary.  No amount of abstinence or participation earns us favor with God.  What is worse is when they use signs and wonders to ask for money or loyalty.  What is intolerable is when they use ritual or odd things to cause emotional damage or control the lives of people.  These things are always wrong; always unacceptable.  They are the opposite of what the Gospel intends. 

What I do need to remember is that “speaking in tongues” or being “slain in the spirit” does not make me a better follower of Christ.  It earns me nothing from God.  If I require others to do anything to prove they are spiritual then I am violating the very foundation of faith. 

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm - Crash Test Dummies

Once there was this kid who

Got into an accident and couldn't come to school

But when he finally came back

His hair had turned from black into bright white

He said that it was from when

The cars had smashed him so hard

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Once there was this girl who

Wouldn't go and change with the girls in the change room

But when they finally made her

They saw birthmarks all over her body

She couldn't quite explain it

They'd always just been there

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

But both the girl and boy were glad

'Cause one kid had it worse than that

'Cause then there was this boy whose

Parents made him come directly home right after school

And when they went to their church

They shook and lurched all over the church floor

He couldn't quite explain it

They'd always just gone there

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Mmm Mmm Mmm Mmm

Oh oh

Oh oh

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ Orthodoxy

Greetings Dear Reader,

Orthodoxy is not wrong.  There is something sublime about that kind of ritual.  I have been in the midst of ten thousand voices all intoning the Apostles’ Creed.  I have been a part of those same voices singing great hymns of the faith. 

I used that venue to heal during one of my greatest time of pain.  The ritual of the communal service allowed me to be part of something and to remain anonymous all at once.  It gave a needed sense of belonging when I was solitary and alone.  I could join the river of faith that is the liturgical service and wash my spirit in its flow.  It is not the right long-term fit for me but orthodoxy is not wrong.

Dead orthodoxy, however, is dangerous.  Being a part of an inherited practice that is devoid of living faith is a sure way to kill participation in the practice.  I have been in that same crowd of thousands where I saw teenagers forced to participate in the liturgy when they did not see its purpose or even worse, share in the faith of it. 

I have seen a woman refuse to eat meat on a Friday during Lent whilst running down the character of her neighbor to her husband between bites.  The practice of orthodoxy without the love of Christ is devoid of value.  Worse it may be a very subtle evil.

The rituals of orthodoxy without faith are empty gestures. As I recite the words to liturgy I do it with my heart and faith.  When it is done without these it as rote as the ABC song.  It is empty and devoid of the life that it is intended to sustain. 

I can recite and ritualize but I must never mouth empty words without faith.  I must engage my spirit in the common union, communion of the moment.  I must follow in faith even when I am joining in the rituals that have value.  “Whatever is not done in faith is sin.”

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ False Prophets

Greetings Dear Reader,

I want to make you a promise.  I will never tell you how things are going to end.  I can paint a very broad stroke and tell you that things will get back to good, they will be better, and that God wins.  Anything beyond that from me is conjecture.  Do not mistake my intent.  I know there are a few more specifics beyond that but you can read those for yourself and do not need me to tell you what to do about them.

Further, if you ever come hear me speak (you can invite me to do that [just email me and ask]), I will not tell you how to live your life or what you have to do to get rich.  I will not be selling you anything but my books.  I do not propose that there are not better ways to live but I do not know what is best for you.

There are very many people who will gladly tell you the “secret” to success in life.  They do this just after they take up a collection and without a money-back guarantee.  It is done without the speaker really knowing you.  It is one of the many forms of false prophets we find in the world. 

The ones who are after your money are not the worst ones, however.  The worst ones are the ones who convince you that you need to in some way earn God’s favor.  If I could tell every human on the planet one thing it is this.  You do not have to earn favor with God.  He loves you just as you are.  He already has favor for you and wants to make your life beautiful. 

You do not have to pay, buy, obey, or earn to obtain the love of God.  You cannot obtain that which you already have.  All that God wants from you is faith.  He wants you to use a little faith to love him with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.  

As I have had little else for some time it becomes clear why the Father does things this way.  I worry less when I believe.  I put my energy toward good things.  I am kinder to those around me.  I have a deeper heart to give.  Do not listen to those who want to manipulate you.  It is much more reasonable that you should already be loved than to have to earn it.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ Talking to God

Greetings Dear Reader,

Let me be very clear.  There is no ritual or incantation necessary when talking to God.  It does not require the right kind of faith, using the right words, or standing in the right place.  It is not necessary for you to be a “good person” for God to hear you. 

We are supposed to talk to God.  We are supposed to have conversations with him.  It is in this that we are free to express how we feel.  If we look through the Psalms they express the gamut of emotions.  The writers even direct those feelings at God.  By example we see Psalm 13.  David, a man “after God’s own heart” writes the following:

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? 

How long will you hide your face from me?

How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart?

How long will my enemy triumph over me?

Look on me and answer, Lord my God.

Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” and my foes will rejoice when I fall.

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation.

I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.

There are times when the right thing to do is to cry out our hurt and anger to the Father.  He will not be angered at us over it.  He already knew we would do it.  It is always allowable to question the Father.  I make sure that I do so with as much faith and love as possible.

Sometimes, however, I am just angry.  At times I am simply overwhelmed and all I can do is cry out ask God to show himself.  He always comes through.  When I am hurting, angry, or feel my hope is draining I must be genuine about how I feel and trust that the Father loves me and has all in his care.  It is always allowable to ask the Father to reveal himself further.  That is where we are headed anyway.

How Long? – Michael Card

How long will you forget, O Lord? (How long? How long?)

How I long to see your face, O Lord? (How long will you hide?)

How I struggle with my thoughts, O Lord! (How long? How long?)

Suffer sorrow in my heart, O Lord! (How long will you hide?)

How Long?    How Long?

Look on me and give an answer, Lord! (How long? How long?)

Give me light or I can live no more! (How long will you hide?)

My foes rejoice when they see me fall! (How long? How long?)

We have overcome and now they call! (How long will you hide?)

How Long? (Will you hide from me?) How Long?

How Long? (Till you set me free?) How Long?

Still, O Lord, You are so good to me! (How long? How long?)

My heart rejoices how you set me free! (How long will you hide?)

You're the savior that I'm hoping on! (How long? How long?)

How I trust in your unfailing love! (How long will you hide?)

How Long? (How long?) How Long?

How Long? (Will you wait forever?) How Long?

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ An Easy Life Guaranteed

Greetings Dear Reader,

We have all seen those ads and web sites that promise we can get rich, earn extra income, or be our own boss.  They go on and on about the secret method or unknown government program they have discovered.  At the end you only need pay a small amount or join their team to reap all the benefits.

These become obvious after a bit.  The more subtle ones can fool us.  There are those who will tell you that life is supposed to be perfect.  The journey is supposed be free of troubles if you only live it right.

This is not true.  Life will have pain, challenges, and tragedies even if we do everything right.  By the way, we do not do everything right.  None of us do.  There is no secret to avoiding the trials that occur in life.  There is no secret to weathering them either.

Since I am in a place where I can only depend on my faith I am learning that I can only depend on my faith.  Even when everything is right I need to ignore my own successes and focus on faith.  We are promised that if we do so we will have what we need.  I have just this week been reminded how real that is.  That story will have to wait, however.

For today, I need to remember that there is no way to make life easier by typing “amen”, sharing a post, or praying just the right prayer.  There is no incantation or ritual that will keep trouble out of our lives.  We can find grace to help in time of need.  We are required to have faith to do so.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Incantations and Secret Rituals ~ Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

There is not one right way to do many things.  Rather, if you only need the result there may be many “right” ways to do a thing.  This is not to say that the end justifies the means.  There are wrong ways to do a right thing.

We often fill faith with incantations and rituals.  We put a hedge around faith to make it look and feel the way that makes us comfortable.  We demand conformity to our rituals in order to be accepted or fit in to our norm. 

As I have been so dependent upon my faith of late, it causes me to ponder what are the things necessary for it to be real.  It causes me look at what is proper faith and practice and what is useless ritual.  What feeds my following?  What is merely empty orthodoxy? 

I am going to work through this as I watch my faith take on hands and feet to keep me moving.  I do not want to take too much baggage on my journey.  I need to unpack this and leave behind the extra weight.  Please keep me company Dear Reader.  I value your companionship and counsel.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)