tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86959535822283105922024-03-13T23:40:14.009-04:00Bellaire unTappedconversation | questions | pubwatchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.comBlogger119125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-61998761993199929502012-09-11T03:56:00.002-04:002012-09-11T03:59:21.371-04:00Faith and FreedomIn 2007, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was running for president for the first time and addressed the importance of his faith and the importance of faith in the United States' political system. In his <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7238.html" target="_blank">speech on the subject</a> he stated the following:<br />
<span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599;"><br />
</span><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="line-height: 18.866666793823242px;"><span style="background-color: black; color: #ffe599; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom. Freedom opens the windows of the soul so that man can discover his most profound beliefs and commune with God. Freedom and religion endure together, or perish alone.</span></span></blockquote>
<br />
You can read Gov. <a href="http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1207/7238.html" target="_blank">Romney's entire speech here</a>.<br />
<br />
Mr. Romney's opponent during the current election, is President Obama, who has also said much on the subject. While hosting a Muslim Iftar at the White House, President Obama said the following:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: black;"><br />
<span style="line-height: 21px;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Of all the freedoms we cherish as Americans, of all the rights that we hold sacred, foremost among them is freedom of religion, the right to worship as we choose. It’s enshrined in the First Amendment of our Constitution -- the law of the land, always and forever. It beats in our heart -- in the soul of the people who know that our liberty and our equality is endowed by our Creator.</span></span></span></blockquote>
<span style="background-color: black;"><br /></span>
The entirety of his remarks<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/10/president-obamas-remarks-_n_1766576.html" target="_blank"> may be found here</a>.<br />
<br />
Certainly, their views are not opposed to one another, but during this election year, it would do us well to discuss the intersection of faith and freedom. How do these two things coincide for you? Do you believe that your right to freed om of religion was given to you by God? Do you believe that it is something that government must protect? Do you believe that one cannot exist without the other?<br />
<br />
Join us this Wednesday, 6:30pm, at Short's Brewing Company for a conversation about faith and freedom.<br />
<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-41553940801034607392012-09-04T09:50:00.000-04:002012-09-04T09:51:03.516-04:00Back to School<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs6/i/2005/028/b/6/school_bus_by_D70ers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://fc04.deviantart.net/fs6/i/2005/028/b/6/school_bus_by_D70ers.jpg" width="160" /></a></div>
unTapped is back. After a Summer off, unTapped will be back at Short's brewing company this Wednesday at 6:30pm. Notice the new time - 6:30.<br />
<br />
This week we will be taking a trip on a time machine. Think back - way back - to your last year in high school. What kind of person were you? What if you met that person today? What would they be like? What sort of things would be interesting about them? How do they treat other people? What do they believe in?<br />
<br />
Now, let's compare that high-schooler to the person you are today. How are they different? How are they alike? What do the similarities and the differences say about you and your life?<br />
<br />
I hope you can join us for our conversation this Wednesday and on subsequent Wednesday nights for another season of unTapped!<br />
<br />
<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-114265399569137692012-08-28T09:39:00.000-04:002012-08-28T09:39:58.997-04:00Another BeginingHow was your Summer? Have you missed our weekly conversations? Well, good news! We are almost ready to restart our regular Wednesday discussions. Wednesday, September 5th, will be our first unTapped of the new season. We will be gathering, as usual, at Shorts, and I, for one, am certainly looking forward to seeing everyone again.<br />
<br />
But, before we begin unTapped, David Ramage has invited us to his place for a time to hang out and reflect on the closing Summer. So, if you're not busy THIS WEDNESDAY (8/29), why don't you bring a few brews over to David's place and enjoy watching the sun set over Torch Lake?<br />
<br />
David's home is located at 5882 Schweigen Dr. which just off of Steiner Rd (near the Dockside). Below is a link to a Google Map of the location.<br />
<br />
Google Map - <a href="http://goo.gl/maps/iw5EX">http://goo.gl/maps/iw5EX</a><br />
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I hope that you can join us tomorrow (Wednesday) for the sunset. If not, I hope you plan on rejoining the unTapped conversations in September. <br />
<br />
Cheers.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-22981720866066915762012-06-19T21:58:00.001-04:002012-06-19T21:58:49.713-04:00Ethics and Poverty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kUu0WfB8Z7I/SW-XXELresI/AAAAAAAAAZY/Qs6y8tpLfi4/s400/beggar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kUu0WfB8Z7I/SW-XXELresI/AAAAAAAAAZY/Qs6y8tpLfi4/s320/beggar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
As we continue through yet another year of American recession, people continue to struggle, and many are even losing homes and livelihoods. Help agencies are struggling to meet the many needs. In an election year, politicians are utilizing the stumbling economy to blame political rivals. <br />
<br />
But, what about people faith? What responsibility do people of faith have toward those who are struggling<br />
and in need?<br />
<br />
The difficulty of this problem is illustrated well by <a href="http://www.basicbuddhism.org/index.cfm?GPID=29" target="_blank">a Buddhist story</a> about a new king who, at the beginning of his reign was told by a wise man to rule his land with great justice. The wise man advised him to alleviate poverty by giving property to the poor.<br />
<br />
But, the King forgot this advice after a while and there was great suffering with many poor people. Some people became so poor that they started to steal. One of these poor people was caught and dragged before the King for judgement. The King demanded to know why the man had stole. The man said that his family was starving and there was nothing else he could do to avoid starvation.<br />
<br />
In response, the King remembered the wise man's counsel and gave the thief a plot of land to cultivate and survive from its fruits. When poor people heard of the King's charity, some started stealing just to gain such a piece of property. The frustrated King dragged one such real estate speculator before him and made an example by having the thief decapitated. <br />
<br />
Seeing the power of the sword, all the people of the land took up weapons. They started robbing and killing and the world became a hellish place of violence and greed.<br />
<br />
The story illustrated well the troubles faced by governments and leaders. But, what should be done?<br />
<br />
Here are some thoughts from religious texts:<br />
<blockquote>
<i>“He who sleeps on a full stomach whilst his neighbour goes hungry is not one of us.”(</i>Prophet Muhammad)</blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>"The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want" (</i>Jesus of Nazareth<i>)</i></blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>There can be no peace as long as there is grinding poverty, social injustice, inequality, oppression, environmental degradation, and as long as the weak and small continue to be trodden by the mighty and powerful. (</i>Dalai Lama<i>)</i></blockquote>
<br />
Who is supposed to help the poor? Are they required only to help themselves? Is this the role of government, faith institutions, or something else? What personal responsibilities do we have?<br />
<br />
Join us for a conversation about ethics and poverty this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company, 7pm.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">picture credit: <a href="http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/2009/01/give-and-take.html">http://thehomelessguy.blogspot.com/2009/01/give-and-take.html</a></span></div>watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-2631147500832562192012-06-13T22:21:00.002-04:002012-06-13T22:21:54.932-04:00Surprise Guest At unTappedWe had a surprise guest show up at unTapped tonight!<br />
<br />
THE D E V I L, It turns out he sits on Dan's left shoulder! :<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5StYFT61eKc/T9lHGGxYi0I/AAAAAAAAAcM/_AkR9ZSGunI/s1600/unTapped+Devil.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5StYFT61eKc/T9lHGGxYi0I/AAAAAAAAAcM/_AkR9ZSGunI/s320/unTapped+Devil.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
Of course, this got Ron to observe how contemplative the Devil appeared:<br />
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<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-73233420131019213652012-06-13T10:46:00.000-04:002012-06-13T10:46:06.643-04:00The Devil Made Me Do ItMost religious people in the Western world have a concept of the Devil (or Satan). Some people see Satan as a tempter - an actual person or spirit that tries to trip us up in life. Others see the devil as God's adversary - somebody that is trying to dethrone God and place himself in charge. Others see Satan as a metaphorical concept, or a character that represents the evil of the world.<br />
<br />
So, what do you think? Is Satan a concept? Is the Devil a cartoon that sits on your left shoulder and whispers nasty thoughts? Perhaps there is no such thing as the Devil or Satan.<br />
<br />
Join us tonight for our conversation at Short's Brewing Company. 7pm in Bellaire!<br />
<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-14263893792050393682012-06-05T15:40:00.002-04:002012-06-05T15:41:42.286-04:00Are We Free? Are Our Neighbors?Christian theologian JRD Kirk <a href="http://www.jrdkirk.com/2012/06/05/free-to-say-no/" target="_blank">wonders whether we are playing double standards with our theology</a>. He offers a challenge:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><i> If we truly believe in the freedom that we say we value so highly. If we believe that God does not want to force compliance or love (for then it would not be love!) then why do we so often see ourselves charged with enforcing compliance to the will, law, or theology of God as we understand it?</i></span></blockquote>
Are we free to say 'no or 'yes' to God? Many people seem to believe our free will is an important part of belief. (Without freedom to say 'no', there is no choice, right?) So, this brings up a question: if we feel that it is important to have a choice in our faith, is it equally important that our friends and neighbors have a choice? A more challenging question is this: How can we say that we value others' freedom if it is not an option for them to reject our perspective?<br />
<br />
Has anyone ever rejected your perspective on faith? Was it okay that they rejected it or were you genuinely disturbed by their rejection. How about vice-versa? Have you ever rejected someone else's perspective? What was that experience like?<br />
<br />
I hope you can join us this Wednesday night at Short's Brewing!<br />
<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-5156028437388223592012-05-22T10:51:00.002-04:002012-05-22T10:51:48.486-04:00It's the End of the World!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxmhuzL_5MQ/TqGKPhjzT6I/AAAAAAAABKY/EYNjJo-JfvA/s1600/End+of+World+the+end+is+near+sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XxmhuzL_5MQ/TqGKPhjzT6I/AAAAAAAABKY/EYNjJo-JfvA/s320/End+of+World+the+end+is+near+sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Are you planning on the world ending this December? If you are not really buying all this 2012 stuff, then when is the world going to end and how?<br />
<br />
There are various religious perspectives about the end of the world:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>Western religions tend to focus on the end as being a Judgement Day when God renders his judgement upon humanity. </li>
<li>Eastern religions tend to look at history as cyclical. When this cycle of time closes, another will begin and it may look something like our past. </li>
</ul>
<div>
All this talk of the end of the world brings up another question. What is history? Is it a narrative with a beginning and an end? Or is 'The End' a more illusive concept? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company for a conversation about the End of the World!</div>watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-66658445474083721922012-05-15T12:47:00.002-04:002012-05-15T12:47:43.325-04:00Spiritual Role ModelsWho is the most spiritual person you have ever known?<br />
<br />
Many of us have had a person in our lives that exemplified the word 'spiritual.' They may or may not have been religious. They may or may not have been educated. There is just something about them. They seem to have a deeper awareness of the mysteries of the world. They are insightful and full of truth.<br />
<br />
'Spiritual' means different things to different people. Whatever it means to you, bring an example of that kind of person to Short's this Wednesday. Grab a drink and pull up a chair for a conversation about spiritual mentors and role models.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-30426062736582330972012-04-24T10:51:00.000-04:002012-04-24T10:58:48.854-04:00Faith and Ecology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N42ltZ7dUps/Td8c3uK9Q2I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/C6Ee4svGJKY/s1600/dream-landscape-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N42ltZ7dUps/Td8c3uK9Q2I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/C6Ee4svGJKY/s320/dream-landscape-01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="text-align: right;">"</span><i style="text-align: right;">Any error about creation also leads to an error about God.</i><span style="text-align: right;">” – Thomas Aquinas</span></blockquote>
<br />
Last Sunday was Earth Day. People celebrated in different ways all over the country. Some people stopped to reflect on the state of the Environment and our human impact on that state. Others feel that focusing on environmental issues is an overreaction invented by political leftists.<br />
<br />
People of faith are also polarized on this issue. Some people feel that God has called upon human beings to care for the environment. For such people, it is a matter of their faith to act responsibly toward the Earth. We should respect the Earth and care for it accordingly.<br />
<br />
For other people, the Environment is not a <i>part </i>of their faith, it is the <i>object </i>of their faith. For them, transcendence and deity are found by looking to the beauty and hope found in nature. We should care for the earth as a deep spiritual experience.<br />
<br />
Finally, there are some that believe that human beings were given "dominion" over the Earth. To them, this means we are to use the world as a means toward our own ends. When this dominion is limited by governments, or other forces, they feel that their God-given dominion is being infringed upon. We should utilize the Earth as God's gift to us.<br />
<br />
Do you maintain one of the perspectives above, or do you take a different view of ecology? How does your faith inform your view and your ecological ethics? What are our responsibilities personally and as a culture? How do you live out your ethics on a daily basis? <br />
<br />
Join us for our conversation this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company. We will meet at about 7pm. See you then!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">image source: <a href="http://www.google.com/imgres?start=122&hl=en&safe=off&sa=X&biw=1078&bih=715&tbm=isch&prmd=imvns&tbnid=gLtJjbo3lOrm6M:&imgrefurl=http://sfgirl-thealiennextdoor.blogspot.com/2011/05/spiritual-ecology-and-lesson-of-crete.html&docid=wUAdi9wHcnFzvM&imgurl=http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-N42ltZ7dUps/Td8c3uK9Q2I/AAAAAAAAEUQ/C6Ee4svGJKY/s1600/dream-landscape-01.jpg&w=750&h=556&ei=7L2WT__VEYqo8gTqx9yyDg&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=550&vpy=27&dur=620&hovh=193&hovw=261&tx=207&ty=163&sig=115212008115013129977&page=7&tbnh=176&tbnw=240&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:122,i:110" target="_blank">Google Image Search</a></span></div>watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-76463609488218821442012-04-17T10:41:00.003-04:002012-04-17T10:41:59.023-04:00Walking Out or Walking Back?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
Author Rachel Held Evans posted an interesting discussion on her blog. She listed the 15reasons she left the church several years ago. Please <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/15-reasons-i-left-church" target="_blank">click on this link, read her reasons for leaving</a>, and then come back and give us your thoughts.<br />
<br />
The conversation for Rachel did not end with leaving the Church. She went back. As a follow up, she posted <a href="http://rachelheldevans.com/15-reasons-i-returned-church" target="_blank">15 reasons that she returned to the Church</a>.<br />
<br />
So, where are you at in your faith journey? Are you a leaver? Are you a stayer - and always will be? Are you someone who has returned? This discussion is not limited to Christian church experiences. Organized religion across America is losing younger generations. Why do you think this is?<br />
<br />
Join us this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company for our conversation. We will get started at about 7:00pm.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
<span style="color: #666666; font-size: xx-small;">Image Credit: Google Image Search</span></div>watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-87013412256753925932012-04-10T09:42:00.001-04:002012-04-10T09:42:06.570-04:00Zombie FaithFrom Corey:<br />
<br />
The other day, my kids and I were on our way to town, I realized I forgot something, and decided to turn around. Where I turned just happened to be Lakeview Cemetery. As strange as it sounds, Lakeview is a beautiful place, so I decided to extend the turnaround and enjoy the view.<br />
<br />
My son (4) was fascinated not by the view of Lake Bellaire, but by the tombstones.<br />
<br />
'Daddy, what is this place?'<br />
<br />
'This is a cemetery.'<br />
<br />
'What is "<i>senitary</i>"?' he asked.<br />
<br />
'A cemetery is the place where we bury people's bodies after they die.' I explained.<br />
<br />
He was fascinated and concerned. He is a very sensitive and observant little thing and he tends to fixate on the morbid. In the past several weeks he has told his mother on occasion 'Mommy, I don't want to die.' So, I should have known that a graveyard detour would set his mind to whirling.<br />
<br />
'What happens to people when they are buried in the ground, Daddy?'<br />
<br />
'Well,' I slowly answered, trying to avoid any future zombie nightmares, 'some people believe that dead people's bodies stay in the ground until Jesus comes back and rescues everybody that has died. That is called the "Resurrection."'<br />
<br />
DadFAIL! I basically taught him that Jesus was some great corpse thief.<br />
<br />
'No more questions! Daddy is driving.'<br />
<br />
Oh well.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://s1.favim.com/orig/25/cemetery-lake-nature-photography-Favim.com-225473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://s1.favim.com/orig/25/cemetery-lake-nature-photography-Favim.com-225473.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The whole conversation did bring to mind a particular challenge to me: What do I believe about resurrection, death, and the fate of my loved ones - body and soul?<br />
<br />
Some people believe in resurrection. Some people believe in reincarnation. Some people believe that death is a mere annihilation.<br />
<br />
What do you believe? Is death the end of a chapter, or is it the end of a story?<br />
<br />
Join us this Wednesday night at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire. We'll start a conversation about the hereafter at about 7pm. See you then!watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-1423978859977661312012-04-03T10:31:00.001-04:002012-04-03T10:31:37.631-04:00If I Had A[Five Hundred] Million Dollars...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.lifesip.com/images/money-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.lifesip.com/images/money-5.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>
Recently 3 different tickets in 3 different states matched the correct numbers to win $656,000,000. The winners will all split the winnings. <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/04/03/no-mega-million-winners-identified-yet-mcdonalds-maryland-mystery-continues/" target="_blank">Click here for news coverage</a>.<br />
<br />
There is anecdotal evidence that lottery winners tend to have a rough time of life after winning. There are numerous stories, and you<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/14-lottery-winners-who-blew-it-all-2012-3?op=1" target="_blank"> can click here for a few of them</a>. It is easy to look down at people who got every chance at happiness but were unable to find it, but would we do any better.<br />
<br />
So, what would you do with $500M? Is there something about money that changes people intrinsically? Would you be the same person? Would you be more generous or less generous?<br />
<br />
Join us this Wednesday night for a conversation about money and spirituality! We'll get started around 7pm at Short's Brewing in downtown Bellaire.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-658637783422787112012-03-27T17:18:00.002-04:002012-03-27T17:18:42.037-04:00Anger and FearMarch Madness has worked its way down to the Final Four for 2012. One of those final four teams is the University of Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky's coach, John Calipari, was asked about one tournament game which was a rematch of the only game they had lost during the regular season. He was asked if he was seeking revenge and emphasizing that with his team. He had <a href="http://news.bostonherald.com/sports/college/basketball/view/20120321kentuckys_john_calipari_says_revenge_is_not_the_motive_against_indiana/" target="_blank">an interesting response</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"I don’t ever teach anger," the Kentucky coach told reporters Tuesday. "Because the physiology of that is really close to fear. So if you try to make your team angry, and things don’t go right, it turns to fear within their bodies. So I don’t do it."</blockquote>
While anger and fear may not work for basketball, it certainly seems to be a popular motivator among religions. The news is often littered with storied of some Imam riling up his followers, or some preacher sounding an alarm for the faithful to heed.<br />
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Are anger and fear effective ways to explore spirituality and faith? Or, like basketball, is it counter-productive? Join us for the discussion about faith, anger, and fear.<br />
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We will meet, Wednesday 7pm at Short's Brewing Company.<br />
<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-84642887604614154172012-03-20T09:11:00.000-04:002012-03-20T09:11:58.960-04:00Faith OriginsNo matter what perspective you have of faith and spirituality, it came from somewhere. Where did you faith perspective come from?<br />
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Some people have a perspective that is an echo of their parents' faith. Other people's faith is actually a departure from the faith system within which they were raised. Perhaps you are not a person of faith at all.<br />
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From whatever place you are coming from, what was the path that led you to where you are now?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday for a conversation about our perspectives' origins. We meet every Wednesday, 7pm at <a href="http://www.shortsbrewing.com/" target="_blank">Short's Brewing Company</a>.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-74112514970997506262012-02-07T11:33:00.002-05:002012-02-07T13:46:57.323-05:00What's in a name?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="color: #f3f3f3;">What does your name mean? Do you draw your identity from what your name is, where you work, or what your ethnicity is? What makes us who we are?</span></span>
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Recently, Christopher Paolini released the final book of his <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Inheritance_Cycle&oldid=475399963" target="_blank"><i>Inheritance Cycle</i></a>. The books chronicle the adventures of a boy who is chosen to be a Dragon Rider. The story essentially serves as a homage to classic fantasy themes. One of the themes that the author explores in his final installment is the oft-used notion of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/True_name" target="_blank">true names</a>.<br />
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In fantasy literature, the true name of an object or a person gives the wielder of that knowledge absolute power over the object of the name. A true name is not o much a name as it is an accurate description of something's truest nature. In the fantasy genre, finding one's true name can be a lifelong quest. True names are illusive and represent the greatest challenge for a hero to overcome.<br />
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While the notion of true names may make for compelling reading in adventure stories, but we live far outside the realm of fantasy fiction. So, how do we corral our true meaning, our identities? Is the secret to knowing who we <i>really</i> are stuck deep inside of us somewhere, just waiting to be discovered? Or is the secret to our identity right there in our name? What did our parents expect from us when they gave us the title that we will forever carry with us?<br />
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Join us at Short's Brewing Company for a conversation about meaning and identity.<br />
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<i style="background-color: white; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">nosce te ipsum</i>
</div>watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com1Short's Brewing Company Bellaire, MI 49615, USA44.9762745137323 -85.21019697189331144.9748705137323 -85.2126644718933 44.9776785137323 -85.207729471893316tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-68697127396851950562012-02-01T08:13:00.000-05:002012-02-01T08:13:30.021-05:00Improvement PlanWhat is one thing that you can do to make your life better?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's for a conversation about self-improvement.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-85549249561173434512012-01-24T16:57:00.000-05:002012-01-24T16:57:43.425-05:00The Conquered DilemmaA hypothetical dilemma...<br />
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<a href="http://images.zap2it.com/images/movie-35756/kingdom-of-heaven-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://images.zap2it.com/images/movie-35756/kingdom-of-heaven-32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The City held out as long as it could. The citizens endured unspeakable privations and pushed themselves to startling extremes. Yet, in the end, the beleaguered City fell to the pressure of the conqueror.<br />
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After the surrender, the great conquering general led a procession of fierce and victorious soldiers through the city directly to the now-vacant throne. One of the general's first supplicants was the City's high priest. The priest had come to beg that the City's temple be spared, so the rituals and customs might continue uninterrupted under the new regime.<br />
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'Tell me of your religion, priest.' ordered the general.<br />
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So, the priest told the conqueror about the faith of the City. He spoke about the importance of prayer, worship, and the great teachings of their holy scriptures. The priest described the hope people found in their faith, and he extolled the benefits the faith brought to the people and the City.<br />
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The general pondered the priest's request for several long minutes.<br />
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'I have no use for religion, oh priest. I believe in the law and order,' the general finally responded. 'But, I am no monster.'<br />
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'Of course not, General' agreed the priest.<br />
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'Though I care for the plight of your people,' said the General, 'I cannot ignore the fact that your religion sustained the rebellion for too long. Only a fool would ignore a smoldering fire.'<br />
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'Can we not have both at once, my Lord.'<br />
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'No.' Then, the general offered a proposal to the priest. 'You must consider, priest, whether your religion is more concerned with the good of your people or with the worship of your god. Now, you must choose. If you choose to relinquish your religion, I will use my Empire's vast resources and guarantee that the hungry will be fed, the naked will be clothed, and justice for all will wash over the City. However, if you choose to retain your religion, I will enslave every citizen to the service of the Empire. You can have your religion, but you will worship as oppressed slaves that survive on the crumbs and scraps of the imperial table. Many of the City's children will starve and the people will constantly know the constant feel of my boot on their throat.'<br />
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The priest considered his options, staring at the ground between his feet.<br />
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'What say you, priest?' demanded the General, <br />
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The priest wet his lips, looked up, and staring directly into the conquerors eyes he expressed his decision.<br />
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How did the priest answer? How would <i>you</i> answer? What is or should be a religion's central concern? The social good? Religious tradition? Theology?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company, 7pm. We will discuss the religious dilemma.<br />
<br />watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-12097152801251126492012-01-18T14:46:00.001-05:002012-01-18T14:53:18.079-05:00Matchmaker GodInternet dating has blown up the past several years and is now one of the most popular ways to find a date (and possibly a mate). Among the websites that offer to help in the matchmaking process are religious themed sites like Christian Mingle (<a href="http://www.christianmingle.com/">http://www.christianmingle.com/</a>) that advertises as a means of finding 'God's match for you.'<br />
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You can read more about matchmaking and faith <a href="http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/01/07/is-god-going-to-hook-me-up-online-assessing-christian-mingle-and-soul-mates/" target="_blank">on CNN's Belief Blog here</a>.<br />
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Tonight, we're going to explore this topic. Is there such a thing as a soul mate? Does God have a <i>perfect</i> match for you? How exactly would a person determine the soul mate status of a potential partner?<br />
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Love, dating, and faith - all this week at unTapped.<br />
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See you at 7pm at Short's Brewing Company in downtown Bellaire, MI.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-82362827219723698152012-01-10T10:48:00.003-05:002012-01-10T10:48:36.950-05:00Time Machine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://endtimeinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/back-to-the-future.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://endtimeinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/back-to-the-future.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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It has been a favorite subject for hundreds of years among wacky fiction writers and equally wacky philosophers - time travel. Nobody is sure how to time travel, but most cosmologists are sure that it is possible.<br />
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Einstein figured out how to travel forward in time - go really fast. But, going backwards is a different ballgame all together. The late Carl Sagan explained some of the issues <a href="http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/physics/Sagan-Time-Travel.html" target="_blank">in a PBS interview</a>. From reading Sagan's interview, it is easy to see that time travel has all sorts of boring philosophical and scientific issues connected to it and it is nowhere near as fun as the fictional versions we are accustomed to. In books like H.G. Wells' <i>Time Machine</i>, Michael Crichton's <i>Timeline</i>, or even Sagan's own <i>Contact</i>, the characters all have to navigate difficult scientific terrain, but it all comes together in an entertaining way. Sometimes, fictional time machines create humorous ethical dilemmas. In the film <i>Back to the Future</i> Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) accidentally attracts the romantic intentions of his own mother (yikes). <br />
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Whether or not time travel will be possible one day is a fun conversation, but generally irrelevant to most of our daily lives. The notion of time travel does bring up a personal challenge: if you <i>could </i>travel backwards in time, what is one thing that you would change? Why would you change that particular incident? If you indeed did change the incident how would that affect your present self? Would you be a better or worse person?<br />
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This also conjures a spiritual challenge for us to consider: was that one event <i>supposed</i> to occur as it occurred and when it occurred? Is our time line set in stone by God or the universe? When we wish to change the past are we wishing to change something that was placed in our lives intentionally and for a purpose?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday at Short's Brewing Company as we play time machine! We'll grab a pint and climb into our Delorean. Wheels up at 7pm! watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-58497519008555408372012-01-03T14:01:00.005-05:002012-01-03T14:01:43.475-05:00Perfect Children?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://palscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Genetically-Engineered-Baby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="http://palscience.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/Genetically-Engineered-Baby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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With the advances in technology that has happened over the last 20, 10, 5 or even last year, parents are able to find out so much about their children before they are even born. Within a few years it seems that it is going to be possible to be able to genetically engineer a baby. Scientist are saying that they will be able to determine all sorts of traits. <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89655637" style="color: #1155cc;" target="_blank">(Listen to a NPR report here.)</a><br />
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What do you think about designing your child or grandchild? What ethical concerns do you have genetically engineering a baby? How would it affect humanity if we could eliminate handicapped babies from being born? How does your spirituality affect the way that you view this issue?
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<span style="color: #999999; font-size: xx-small;">image <a href="http://palscience.com/health-medicine/genetically-engineered-babies/">source</a>: Google image search</span></div>watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-27688261054713902742011-12-20T11:32:00.001-05:002011-12-20T11:32:19.600-05:00Holiday MemoriesThis week we will share stories from our experiences with the Holiday season. Examining past experiences may tell us a bit about our spiritual perspective or our families' ethics. So, bring along a few memories both good and bad to Shorts this Wednesday.<br />
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What is your favorite memory of the holidays? What is your worst memory of the Holidays?watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-20458687266957061752011-12-06T11:19:00.001-05:002011-12-06T11:50:20.642-05:00The True Meaning of the HolidaysIts the holiday season and in the midst of all the celebrations and trappings, there is real conversation about what exactly we're celebrating. The Holidays (Chanukah, Christmas, etc.) seem to encompass more than just religious people. For instance, <a href="http://www.gallup.com/poll/113566/us-christmas-not-just-christians.aspx">a Gallop survey</a> found that 93% of Americans celebrate the Christian holiday of Christmas, yet only about 81% of those respondents identified themselves as 'Christian.'<br />
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So, what are the Holidays all about? Have they become a secular experience, or are the Holidays still a religious phenomenon?<br />
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This holiday season, will you emphasize the religious elements of the season, or are you going to attempt to avoid religious trappings? A little bit of both, perhaps?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company as we attempt to learn from one another about the Holiday season!watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-46413574948517544222011-11-22T09:55:00.001-05:002011-11-22T09:56:40.455-05:00Moral HumilityBelow is a video from TED. It features psychologist Jonathon Haidt presenting evidence of five morals that we all share to differing degrees. The difference in the importance we place on these morals defines many of the great social, political, and religious debates of our time.<br />
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Take a few minutes to explore your morality. Check out Haidt's site at <a href="http://www.yourmorals.org/">http://www.yourmorals.org/</a> Where do you fall on the moral scale? Do you think of yourself that way?<br />
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What do you think of his concept of 'moral humility'? Aren't morals supposed to be fiercely defended? Isn't moral humility just another form of apathy?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday, 7pm at Short's Brewing Company as we explore morals!watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8695953582228310592.post-9371552716271063822011-11-15T10:17:00.001-05:002011-11-15T10:21:54.680-05:00Spiritual LeadersIn your faith journey, do you require a leader?<br />
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Certainly most people have family and friends that help them explore spirituality in a vibrant, dynamic way. However, these people are more like peers than leaders. So, what does it mean to be a spiritual leader and what affect do spiritual leaders have that are different than peers?<br />
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As culture continues to change, younger generations are more skeptical of those presenting themselves as leaders. Some of this is due to generational cynicism, but some of it is also due to a philosophical mindset. Leaders have less of a role. Pastors, rabbis, and other leaders are not automatically respected or obeyed by younger generations just because those people are proclaimed leaders.<br />
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So, what about you? What role do leaders play in your life? Are they integral?<br />
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Join us this Wednesday, 7pm for a conversation about leaders, peers and the role of spiritual guides.watchman146http://www.blogger.com/profile/13461199522582102513noreply@blogger.com0