Click below to see a new 8x10 oil painting painted for Lisa Dickman.
New Still Life Painting: December 2012
New Still Life Painting: December 2012
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
1000 Gnats Flitter
In the flickering of the sun beneath the cedars
1000 gnats flit
and the little boy in his red shirt
flashing in the vacant lot
I have never known more of paradise.
Leaning back to gaze through the heavy laden apple branches
and I have never been more there than now
(so much simpler than widely imagined).
The gossamer filaments radiate in rainbow light
and the spiral web beneath the cedar limbs
so-well equipped to capture evening’s flutter
from the green grass to the sunken limbs
the golden light splashes upon.
Two squirrels romance and game in luxuriance
while July’s poet contemplates the ‘be’
and ‘to be’
of the birds’ persistent whistle.
Thursday, November 08, 2012
Reflections on the Beauty of this Day
I am so very thankful for this day! Its crisp, cold wind, its solar radiation, the last flickering of autumn leaves upon the breeze. The greatest gift is not the tree or the, dazzling blue sky, or the big brown dog---it is that I can see these things, I can hear her speaking. This gift surpasses every other miracle.
Here is a wonderful quote from Thomas Merton that I read today in his book, No Man is an Island: "If you go into solitude with a silent heart, the silence of creation will speak louder than the tongues of men and angels."
Here is a wonderful quote from Thomas Merton that I read today in his book, No Man is an Island: "If you go into solitude with a silent heart, the silence of creation will speak louder than the tongues of men and angels."
Friday, November 02, 2012
Prayer of a Frog
Today Most Blessed of Days
Today is blessed---today, of all days, the one dipped into the river of eternal presence--the holy Now!
Let your mind be still now! Truth everywhere shines, and everywhere my open eyes bathe in its glory. God is not far away in a distant time or land, God is this Presence---here and now.
The Kingdom of Heaven, like a seed grows into the smallest leaves and into the depths of the sky. It grows in the warm soil of my heart. I see God, I hear God!
There is nothing to separate me from God, no mountain, no sea.
Today is blessed---today, of all days, the one dipped into the river of eternal presence--the holy Now!
Let your mind be still now! Truth everywhere shines, and everywhere my open eyes bathe in its glory. God is not far away in a distant time or land, God is this Presence---here and now.
The Kingdom of Heaven, like a seed grows into the smallest leaves and into the depths of the sky. It grows in the warm soil of my heart. I see God, I hear God!
There is nothing to separate me from God, no mountain, no sea.
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Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Ian Anderson interviews Ian Anderson!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XFO6Z0HqMaA
In this funny and provocative interview with himnself, Ian Andersdon discusses his new album, Thick as A Brick 2 and its upcoming tour. Brilliant!
In this funny and provocative interview with himnself, Ian Andersdon discusses his new album, Thick as A Brick 2 and its upcoming tour. Brilliant!
Ian Anderson: Life's a Long Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QE8YLPHZImw
Ian Anderson resurrects the Baroque string quartet, with drums, piano and flute.
He is the musical 'avatar' of this age, no one even in his league. Also great to see, in these days of corporate 'music' and pseudo-pop stars performing non-acoustically to cowering audiences, a true musical champion!
Ian Anderson resurrects the Baroque string quartet, with drums, piano and flute.
He is the musical 'avatar' of this age, no one even in his league. Also great to see, in these days of corporate 'music' and pseudo-pop stars performing non-acoustically to cowering audiences, a true musical champion!
Saturday, July 07, 2012
Friday, July 06, 2012
Monday, June 04, 2012
The 'Foolishness" of the Cross
It occurred to me that to be a "christian" is synonymous with being a fool in the contemporary scene, particularly in the "brain belts" such as Cambridge-Boston or Palo Alto or the research triangle. Frankly, I prefer ''disciple of Christ'' to the name 'christian'. I realize that the term meant a lot to St. Paul but like so many other terms today it has become dilute---far too many come in that name who are not truly devout, who moreover do not have the "mind of Christ. There are many other terms which have lost their potency in today's public discourse---for example, 'democracy'---whatever it may have meant back in the day to the founding fathers or even Lincoln, it has become so dilute as to be meaningless. Another analogous disconnection of term and essential signification is 'war' and 'peace'. The Orwellian doublespeak that Ronald Reagan ushered in with the term 'peacekeeper' is a case in point. It reminds me of James Joyce's line in Ulysses: "Love--I mean the opposite of hate."
Well, back to the foolishness of Christ's cross. As history 'advances' and more things are 'known' (history does not advance ---progress is a belief system; and knowledge is not equivocal with amassing and manipulating information) be that as it may in worldly terms or in the mind of someone who has no indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for example, someone like Bill Gates appears to be 'smart', whereas someone who echoes Paul in saying that all earthly knowledge is indeed foolishness compared to the knowledge of Christ. Further this knowledge of Christ is of a different order than earthly knowledge or what might be called 'science'. Science asserts so-called finite certainties like 2+2=4 or E=mc2, whereas knowledge of Christ testifies to a relationship with a person best characterized by the word love.
Indeed in this climate the one who loves Christ is "dumb and dumber" getting dumber everyday compared to the world that gets "smart and smarter". This reveals a curious inversion of values---at least in the milieu where I was brought up intelligence was considered to be a good thing, a value to be sought for. However, as I go on now with new eyes that see with Christ's mind, I see that what I considered to be intelligence was not good but was a very subtle conditioning via education within my cultural milieu. To quote Dylan" "I was so much older then I'm younger than that now..." I was so much smarter then, etc...
Personally I thank God today for my growing ignorance of worldly affairs. The world powers that be that put The Holy One to death on the cross are still the same---there is nothing new under the sun! And we are still mocked for being enlightened in Christ, and the smug religious leaders and politicians, and peacekeepers go on reviling, cursing and murdering the innocent (very often in the name of Christ---but this is obviously antichrist). Everything is upside down.
The mind that was in Him, that is in me penetrates with understanding to the core of reality. It is the primary 'word' from which the material world is born (genesis). Hence to be enlightened in Christ's mind is to penetrate all understanding and grasp true knowledge. Paradoxically this enlightened grasp of truth which goes far beyond philosophy is by worldly standards 'foolishness' actually a more pithy term would be 'idiot', 'insane', or colloquially 'loser'. Yes, by this world's standards I am a loser, and so is Jesus Christ!
Consider the Beatitudes---worldy teachers and preachers cannot communicate anything meaningful about Jesus' teaching because the teaching is idiotic, backwards, stupid, insane. Parents cannot teach their children to imitate Jesus because he was uncool, stupid, demonstrated zero ability to defend himself in front of the court---and did not seek money, fame, ambition or a wife and kids. If a kid acts like Jesus in America he or she gets punished because Jesus teaching is the antithesis of American virtues, ethics and values. The term Christian Nation makes as much sense as 'peace keeper'---it is perfect double speak. To be honest a Christian nation would also lay down its life for its friends, would turn the other cheek, would never kill, etc...
The paradox that Apostle Paul reveals is that to be in Christ is loss for world but gain for the Kingdom. And the kingdom is not a purified American picnic or whatever materialistic fantasy is promulgated. The kingdom is present, yet hidden, is infra and yet beyond, timeless, neither large nor small, true, full of life---both within and without.
Well, back to the foolishness of Christ's cross. As history 'advances' and more things are 'known' (history does not advance ---progress is a belief system; and knowledge is not equivocal with amassing and manipulating information) be that as it may in worldly terms or in the mind of someone who has no indwelling of the Holy Spirit, for example, someone like Bill Gates appears to be 'smart', whereas someone who echoes Paul in saying that all earthly knowledge is indeed foolishness compared to the knowledge of Christ. Further this knowledge of Christ is of a different order than earthly knowledge or what might be called 'science'. Science asserts so-called finite certainties like 2+2=4 or E=mc2, whereas knowledge of Christ testifies to a relationship with a person best characterized by the word love.
Indeed in this climate the one who loves Christ is "dumb and dumber" getting dumber everyday compared to the world that gets "smart and smarter". This reveals a curious inversion of values---at least in the milieu where I was brought up intelligence was considered to be a good thing, a value to be sought for. However, as I go on now with new eyes that see with Christ's mind, I see that what I considered to be intelligence was not good but was a very subtle conditioning via education within my cultural milieu. To quote Dylan" "I was so much older then I'm younger than that now..." I was so much smarter then, etc...
Personally I thank God today for my growing ignorance of worldly affairs. The world powers that be that put The Holy One to death on the cross are still the same---there is nothing new under the sun! And we are still mocked for being enlightened in Christ, and the smug religious leaders and politicians, and peacekeepers go on reviling, cursing and murdering the innocent (very often in the name of Christ---but this is obviously antichrist). Everything is upside down.
The mind that was in Him, that is in me penetrates with understanding to the core of reality. It is the primary 'word' from which the material world is born (genesis). Hence to be enlightened in Christ's mind is to penetrate all understanding and grasp true knowledge. Paradoxically this enlightened grasp of truth which goes far beyond philosophy is by worldly standards 'foolishness' actually a more pithy term would be 'idiot', 'insane', or colloquially 'loser'. Yes, by this world's standards I am a loser, and so is Jesus Christ!
Consider the Beatitudes---worldy teachers and preachers cannot communicate anything meaningful about Jesus' teaching because the teaching is idiotic, backwards, stupid, insane. Parents cannot teach their children to imitate Jesus because he was uncool, stupid, demonstrated zero ability to defend himself in front of the court---and did not seek money, fame, ambition or a wife and kids. If a kid acts like Jesus in America he or she gets punished because Jesus teaching is the antithesis of American virtues, ethics and values. The term Christian Nation makes as much sense as 'peace keeper'---it is perfect double speak. To be honest a Christian nation would also lay down its life for its friends, would turn the other cheek, would never kill, etc...
The paradox that Apostle Paul reveals is that to be in Christ is loss for world but gain for the Kingdom. And the kingdom is not a purified American picnic or whatever materialistic fantasy is promulgated. The kingdom is present, yet hidden, is infra and yet beyond, timeless, neither large nor small, true, full of life---both within and without.
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Belgian Sketch circa 1990
Here is a sketch I recently discovered in an old book from the days in Belgium, and I added some color to it!
Sunday, May 06, 2012
Forest Song
Late Spring’s tributaries are muddy encasements
joining into a larger stream,
following its source
the forest song
murky stream murmuring
the sharp whistle of wood thrush
diaphanous light filtering into the canopy
lime-yellow shining!
I am listening to the forest song
and all that it tells me is ancient and perduring.
Kneeling on the rusty yellow Winter mosses
shielding new red sprouts and tendrils;
lone hanging oak limb
pale buds silhouette the setting sun,
mist on steely grey Glendale.
The song of ripples and wavelets
soothes me in rhythmic caresses.
Giving praise to God in all things,
worshipping the beauty of the Lord
in this Springtime kingdom;
shining and opening before me
envelops my musing
gives me a sweet new song.
Monday, February 06, 2012
Stalker: by Andrei Tarkovsky
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Rob E. Rooster
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Glendale-Gopala Krishna
Muskrat Beach-Glendale
I returned today to Glendale to find that the water level has been restored to its pre-autumn level. There was ice today and a biting wind, a feeling of vitality, the cold wind biting...
I returned today to Glendale to find that the water level has been restored to its pre-autumn level. There was ice today and a biting wind, a feeling of vitality, the cold wind biting...
Monday, January 23, 2012
We Miss You JoePa! 1926-2012
As Megan states in this video Joe Paterno was a "class act"---and in a total sense. The tragic end of this great man full of virtue was fouled upon by the Penn State Board of Trustees.
Monday, January 09, 2012
Thursday, January 05, 2012
Happy New Year 2012--- Delve into Twelve!
Friday, December 30, 2011
Portlandia
I discovered my Portlandia files written in the '90s: poetry et al. and I will type a section here:
Hornblowing squealing out of rhythm/ warm breeze blowing over. A drunk lays on top of his radio, passed out not a half block from the parade.
Everett is the beginning/ fat sticked snare drummers/ electric bassplayers with their amps on rollers---Nerf footballs in the air. Energy building in the last few minutes before the parade begins.
We got casualties and statistics/we got flowersellers and ice cream vendors and Burger King overflowing. We got authorities on the streets and in cars/ we got pillow-lined curbs and runners/we got skaters and fags and dragqueens/we got streetpeople, bag ladies and young families. There are little ones and fat ones and old ones and lovers. There are flagwavin' balloon wavin' color bedecked plastic toys wavin'. There's walking down the middle of streets, walking on sidewalks, steppin' on toes and walkin' between... There's folks on trucks propped up/there's music players in costume---red and white and black all shiny and new. They were drinking coffee and coke, and beer and fruit drinks---eatin' fruit bars and candy---everybody getting ready for the parade. Leaning on walls crazy bastards screaming..too many runners running. Sure as hell if I ain't part of it....
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Thursday, November 03, 2011
Like a Rolling Stone Jam Session
This video includes Al Stewart on vocals, and Dave Nachmanoff on keys, and others.
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
How I Think: Debate with Richard Dawkins
Here is a photo of Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and well known proponent of atheism.I agree with Dawkins on so many things---natural selection, the preponderance of religious myth and its destructive role in American intellectual life, particularly with Christianity. It is simply anti-intellectual.
I am also anti-religious and I agree with Christopher Hitchens as well as Dawkins that the world would be a much saner and safer place without religion, especially Christianity. However, I am still a theist in that I understand that the entire universe is based upon a 'god' particle, if you will.
I say 'god particle' because I do not want to mythologize 'god' as the great religions have done. To my way of thinking, the essential point about god is that god is incommunicable, ineffable and radically mysterious in a natural sense. That is to say of all the natural species, there is a species which is not natural which makes possible for the coming to into being of other species---it resembles Aristotle's 'unmoved mover(s)'.
This god species or particle is entirely simple and underlies every complexity in the universe---for example if a physicist discovered the most simple particle that composes the material universe, this is the direction we are looking in. Even though the universe may have begun in a simple unified singularity and then moved in a direction of complexity, this point is unchanging, always the same. As in music, a wonderful chord from which all complexity (nature) springs forth and into which all nature falls home. Further this integral is continuously present to every point in the universe as its origin.
There is more to write but I leave it for another day...
Friday, September 23, 2011
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Justin Hayward Solo VH1
I find this performance (two songs) to be truly inspired music:
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Wednesday, March 02, 2011
Al Stewart Show in Harrisburg-Whitaker Center: 2-01-11
Al Stewart (with Dave Nachminoff) surpassed my expectations. I had seen Al Stewart back in the day with his band in Seattle. After the Seattle show, I actually met Al Stewart and Dave Mason (who was touring with Al Stewart and His band. It was not as early as "Year of the Cat"---No, this concert must have been in the early '80s, perhaps 1983. I recall all of this in detail. There are many stories to relate concerning that show, however, let us not linger too far from last night's show!
The last time I saw the rhyme master, Al Stewart, was in a much smaller club though still in Seattle. He may have done "Roads to Moscow" at that show, though my memory be soft (pints of strong british beer!!). And he did not do "Roads " in Harrisburg, but he truly mesmerized my musical sense. A reward of last night's show at the Sunoco Performance theatre was the mystical Scotsman's verbal genius. In between songs Mr. Stewart often spoke of historical figures, battles, as if he were a gifted schoolteacher.
Have a look at the poster I bought last night----it is quite a work of art. The poster is called "Sgt. Al" as a spoof on Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Here we are above the Columbia River Gorge!Having an excellent year so far. Much planned for the New Year.
Hopefully more incredible, magic trips like the one Mary Frances and I made out to see Tee (in picture) and all of my Portland family which was a total blast--Hi Tai, Hey Donald!)
The news is bizarre as of late---"bombs away but we're OK."
Wish everyone a great Year and remember: HAVE A BLAST.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Saturday, May 15, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
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