Home of DJ and technophile Jonathan Puddle (aka J Puddy)
Christianity
Naked on the road to healing
Nov 22nd
Over the last 2 years, my attitudes towards nakedness and nudity have undergone some fundamental changes. When I speak of nakedness, I am primarily talking about the the emotional and soul state of nakedness, that of hiding nothing from someone, of being fully vulnerable. I think nakedness has deep meanings, so I’ll also use the word nude to talk more about the state of being physically nude (unclothed).
A couple of years ago you couldn’t have told me I would find myself sitting in a small wooden shack, thigh-to-thigh with 10 sweaty nude men who I had met the day before, More >
Jesus and the Canaanite woman
Nov 6th
There’s a great discussion going on over one of nakedpastor’s recent posts, about Jesus talking to the woman who’s daughter was tormented by a demon (Matthew 15: 21-28). Check it out, you might enjoy the conversation.
Persistent Truths | nakedpastor.
Nakedpastor:
I think this sheds light on Jesus learning obedience (Hebrews 5:8). The story begins with him possessing a rather fundamentalist mindset, but ends with him perhaps surprised that faith can be found in other than the people of God as he understood it (”Woman, great is your faith!“). I love this story because it exhibits his humanity… a man forced to More >
Shortcuts to Maturity
May 3rd
A short piece by NackedPastor resonated with me this morning:
There are no shortcuts to maturity. Someone has an intense spiritual experience, insight, or revelation, and the impression is that this person suddenly will be more mature, responsible and exemplary. This is often not the case. How many men and women have we seen who set themselves up or are set up by others as spiritually advanced or insightful only to find, in due time, that they are just as human and fallible as the rest of us?
Take Ken Wilber’s article on “The Strange Case of Adi Da”, the Fiji guru who More >
nakedpastor
Apr 17th
I’ve just added nakedpastor.com to my feeds. I read a few of his recent posts and very much enjoy his perspectives. Here’s some of his artwork that I find particularly brilliant:
And a book review:
I just finished studying Frank Viola’s and George Barna’s recent book, Pagan Christianity: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices. I want to start to say what I appreciate about the book and finish with what I think are some concerns.
Reading this book reminded me of the hours of ambitious dreaming and passionate debates that occurred during my bible college and seminary days with other visionary young More >
Leading worship for the School of Ministry, redux
Mar 27th
Ed “The Watchman” King and I had the pleasure of leading worship again for TACF’s School of Ministry again this morning. In contrast to last time, it seemed as if everyone was really into it today.
I had a few conversations with people about it later in the day, as some of the staff members had heard the pounding bass coming through the walls, and had come over to take a look. I think I struck a really great balance this time, regarding knowing when to speak and when to let God work through the music alone. I had prayed this More >
North Country
Mar 1st
Maija and I just finished watching North Country, with Charlize Theron and Sissy Spacek. Man… very powerful movie. Maija’s still wiping the tears from her cheeks, but at least they’re smiling cheeks (due in part to my kisses, naturally).
For those who don’t know, the film is set in Minnesota in the 1970s, and is the story (based on true events) of women mine workers and their struggle against sexual harassment. It’s directed by Niki Caro, the New Zealand born director of Whale Rider (if you haven’t seen Whale Rider, rent it soon time). Also staring is the ever excellent Sean Bean (who More >
Restrospective Perspective
Nov 20th
I just downloaded Free Download Manager. I downloaded it using my current download manager, Download Accelerator Plus, which I have been loyal to for many years ever since I stopped using Getright back in the 90′s. (Hehe, that sounds funny.) I wonder how DAP feels – if it knows that I just used it to download it’s replacement. Given that knowledge, I wonder if it would have behaved differently: downloaded faster, used less advertising. Who knows? Truth be told I just wanted a smaller footprint.
On a vaguely similar note (which is actually what this post is about) my wife and I More >
Some notes from the master
May 10th
“You can get a large audience together for a strip-tease act – that is, to watch a girl undress on stage. Now suppose you come to a country where you could fill a theatre by simply bringing a covered plate on to the stage and then slowely lifting the cover so as to let every one see, just before the lights went out, that it contained a mutton chop, or a bit of bacon, would you not think that in that country something had gone wrong with the appetite for food?”
…
“After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try More >
Nuggets
May 5th
I will give your life to you as a prize in all places, wherever you go —Jeremiah 45:5
“This is the firm and immovable secret of the Lord to those who trust Him— “I will give your life to you . . . .” What more does a man want than his life? It is the essential thing. “. . . your life . . . as a prize . . .” means that wherever you may go, even if it is into hell, you will come out with your life and nothing can harm it. So many of us More >
Illumination
Apr 9th
Wednesday I had an absolutely crap-tastic day at work. Thursday was fine, but I developed a death-strength headache. Yesterday was sunny and beautiful. Today is sunny and beautiful. Somehow all my worries and frustrations have dematerialized.
I finished reading Hey Nostradamus. I highly recommend it. It’s a tale told by four people, revolving around how their lives are changed by a high school shooting. Some parts are beautiful, some are heart-wrenching. It’s an amazing look into the human condition, and how we can feel so lost and like God has forsaken us all. But as we look back over things, we More >
Thought for the day
Feb 23rd
Here’s one to make you ponder. Taken from Every Man’s Marriage, added to by me so that the context makes sense.
“In our role as spiritual leaders, when it comes to the bedroom we’ll find no other place in our marriage where it’s more important for us to think Christianly – for her sake. Yet there’s no place where we’re more willing to stretch Scripture for our sake.”- Every Man’s Marriage, Arterburn and Stoeker.
Highly, highly recommended.
Customer Service in Church
Jan 22nd
I’ve been reading some interesting posts on Customer Service. My job in the Mailroom primarily involves service to other departments, but on occasion I do jobs for people outside of TACF. I regularly meet with suppliers though, and I’ve been thinking a lot about Customer Service lately, based on how I am treated by people.
I have one photocopier supplier who goes over my head and tries to woo my boss, all the time telling me his propaganda which he has clearly memorized from a booklet.
Or the shipping supplier who asked me on his first visit if I had something against More >