Joe's Journey

I found myself in a quandary upon receiving an invitation to participate in a shamanic drumming session. I didn't have a clue what it was about besides hearing the word "Shaman" in the name. Shaman...like witch doctor. I did a google search and after reading a few websites discovered in essence it is a journey you take into the spirit world to receive some sort of healing. Part of the process is discovering your spirit animal. I hope mine is an otter. In fact, I looked up what the otter animal symbolizes and it was striking.  So a little background before I explain otter. I have been spending a lot of time reading and listening to podcasts...probably too much.  But I am trying to understand the universe, reality, myself .  Are we alone, am I alone, what does life mean if we just die and that's it? Is there spirit? Does consciousness come from matter or does matter come from some all-pervasive consciousness? Is religion man made foolishness? Or is it a source of de...

Yesterday I was listening to a person's testimony who had endured an abusive hellish life but has since found peace and healing. I'm glad for said person but must admit that I choked at some of the conceptions the individual had of how God was working in their life. I'll stick to discussing one. The lady shared how her husband became abusive and beat her and God saved her from dying from the violence. And on top of that, even though her car was stolen at the same time, God protected the car from getting "even a scratch" on it. So her god let her get beat  but intervened to make sure the perpetrator didn't fully kill her. And God made sure the car that got stolen didn't get any scratches or dents. The stereo equipment was stolen but that gave the woman silence which helped her grow closer to God. Sorry but that strikes me as a really weird god.  I tell my kids all the time, I don't care if your toy breaks or gets muddy, I can always get a new to...

I've heard the story of Mary for decades but that thought had never crossed my mind! I was attending an advent service at Christ Episcopal church this morning where the pastor was preaching on Luke's account of Mary.  He was artfully making the point that Mary "Meek and lowly," was truly an amazing and powerful woman.   As his discourse on Mary unfolded, he highlighted Mary's cooperation with God in Operation World-Salvation. Specifically, he referred to the fact that Mary consented to Gabriel's briefing of God's plan.  What struck my mind immediately was the counter point.   Wait a minute?  Did she consent?  Was this Mary's   #me too  moment? What was the nature of Mary's consent? " Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.” In my job, we teach the CERTS model of healthy sexual relationships.  Does Mary's encounter with the divine pass the test? Consensual:   The e...

Why does a guy who has lost his Christian faith go to three different churches on one Sunday?  For good reasons: 1. Christ Episcopal Church in Williamsport        I have been to this church once before for a Wednesday Eucharist service. I came because I know Veronica (Rector) and Kyle (Lay pastor).  I worked with them on a community mission/service project in Jersey Shore. I shared my faith transition with them and they get it and they accept me where I'm at. I came because the sanctuary is beautiful. Stone on the outside. Gold, brass, high vaulted cielings point your soul upwards. I came for the liturgy...it believes for you when you don't believe. I came for the choral singing...how I miss singing, how beautifully they shared their sacred sounds. I came because I needed to be an an affirming community, okay with doubts, questions, okay with homosexuals, okay with not worshiping the Bible. 2. City Alliance Church in Williamsport      ...

I didn't think I wanted to keep listening but I challenged myself and finished the podcast.  I don't want to believe it but I am not sure I can't nor sure that I can. It left me asking, "what kind of universe do we live in?" The episode was called "Deliver Us From Evil", #60 on the Deconstructionist podcast.  Father Gary Thomas opened a window into the world of spiritual conflict resolution including intervention prayers and formal exorcism rites. He is certified by the Vatican to perform the rite of exorcism. The challenge for me is Thomas' "both/and" view of reality. By that I mean he acknowledges that mental illness is a thing. Depression, disassociation, multiple personalities can exist apart from demonic activity. But once those causes have been ruled out as probable cause for presenting disturbed behavior he considers demonic possession a real possibility. He has cast demons out, seem victims spit vast balls of foamy saliva, de...

In church today, the sermon touched on Matthew 7:13-14, 21-23 and I find it to be a dismal passage. 13  “Enter through the narrow gate.  For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.   14  But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.  21  “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’  will enter the kingdom of heaven,  but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.   22  Many will say to me on that day,  ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’   23  Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ For Christians, it is supposed to be a powerful reminder to make sure your faith is genuine and not just hypocrisy. This may in fact remind a saint to not be a spiritual jerk and perhaps we're all the be...