St. Patrick's Breastplate

[via apirecords]

Fukushima by Magnetic North (and Taiyo Na)

- TAIYO -
i remember 9-11 how my city cried for heaven
how people perished no matter what style of reverence
i remember tribeca buildings falling all day
missing people everywhere all the years of mourning
what made it worse was our leaders '05 you could see it
with katrina they didn't feel it they were just greedy greedy
just like fukushima good bad made clearer
it's salt to the wound when your leaders just leave ya
but that's when the lion's roar that's when you fight for more
that's when you figure out there're things worth dying for
it's only when the days dark you discover brave hearts
i know a girl from haiti motherless who has the same heart
my heart goes out to each and every one of you
children of the future will be greater because of you
i don't write songs for the fortune or a buzz or two
i write for my people hope you feel me love for you

- CHORUS -
i'll cross a stormy river
dig the deepest tunnel
build a bridge over
any length to love you
i'll bear any fate
carry it double
however much the stretch
i'll go any length to you

- THERESA -
i don't even know the half only seen the photographs
reporters telling stories from the view inside their cul de sacs
so i sat eyes glued thinking of your loneliness
choking back the tears and blinking back condolences
a lowly gift cuz your world is rearranging
on the train sat beside a girl with paper cranes and
she feels so ashamed cuz she'd rather send a benjamin
but maybe hope's the better currency for this millennium
life is but a dream but a dream is all we hope for
like the light you cannot stifle shining behind closed doors
like the song you shouldn't sing you sing until your throat's sore
like the love that never dies though life itself is so short
and your beauty is resilience
holding on to nothing but the fact you will rebuild again
and I know you will rebuild my friend
we'll go to any length no distance is too significant

[CHORUS]

- DEREK -
rebuilding is a struggle i feel it you feeling crumbled
your spirit's still recovering conflicted with god above us
have we been punished why what justifies suffering nothing
i see no reason for people to lose their homes from right under
maybe it's mother nature's way of saying we need a change
crusades of war and terrorism synonyms of the same
so filled with hate in our veins and racist youtube tirades
still makes me sick hot 97 played the tune on the waves
but i can't sit here in shame just hoping and praying
this ain't no dream within a dream there ain't no totem to save 'em
it's as real as it gets when you realize death
cuz when you lose someone you truly redefine strength
so i'll utilize this pen
my arms don't reach across the seas but songs move any length
any length to love you
rest and peace to all the fallen your strength is eternal

Of Things Unseen, Not Of Fears Unknown



[via Jesus Needs New PR]

"All God's Children Are Not Beautiful"



{the poem "Homogeneous" by Ladonna Witmer)

After Sending A "Christ" Mas(s) Letter:

To the religious right Christmas culture warriors{read more than the title...}

[via Bene Diction Blogs On]

The Star Wars Holiday Special "Changed" Christmas forever (enjoy it here, if you dare!) Will it do it to Hannukah?

"No one's ever said that to me before."



[via biscotti brain. Thanks Erin!]

Faith, not Just Good Works, Needed in Africa–according to an Atheist

[via Prof. John Stackhouse's Weblog]

Being Warm in the Cold

(also on Twitter: salvationarmysk)

Salvation Army Community Centre: It's cold outside

How we handle the extreme cold at the Centre

[via Weblog: News from the Salvation Army Community Centre, HT: Jordon Cooper]

Related:

Since we are now thigh deep in the giving season, I feel it is pertinent to share my complete and total disgust with the fact that shoppers trampled a man to death on Black Friday. If you're not familiar with the story, and don't mind having your faith in humanity tested, read more here. A few onlookers even stopped shopping long enough to make jokes about how overweight the person was that they had just killed in their haste to save five bucks on a panini maker....

In order to maintain my giving spirit in the face of such a dreadful story, I've decided to give you five good reasons to do your shopping at your local Deseret Industries, Salvation Army or other community thrift store: {full post}

[via East Coast Frost]

“Heaven is where love is no longer linked to loss.”

[via VanderMeander]

OVERSOLD: Pastor David Cowan, Hosea and Gomer, and the Story of Crissy Moran

[via Grace and Truth to You]

Liberty Easy, Equality Harder

As a white American, who has never tasted discrimination, it is hard to imagine what it must have been like for African Americans to grow up assuming that to reach highest office, one must be white. Remember that at this time Barack Obama is the only African American in the U.S. Senate. Last night's celebrations weren't just for Barack. They were celebrations of a milestone that spoke loudly to every person of color.

My friend and fellow Disciple historian, Mark Toulouse, has written an insightful piece for PBS's Religion & Ethics Newsweekly entitled "The Economy of Equality," which explores the difference between liberty and equality. Liberty can be achieved much more easily through legislation than equality. The Voting Rights Act was enacted 43 years ago. It took that long to elect an African American President. For women, it shall be even longer. But someday, they will also see one of their own reach this pinnacle. {whole post}

[via Ponderings on a Faith Journey]

Self-Interest and Sacrifice in The Dark Knight

[via C. Orthodoxy]

Fishing For Substance

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day….
Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."

On an international scale, this poignant proverb has moved hearts, opened wallets and enjoyed widespread popularity in relief and development literature. It correctly identifies the temporal quality of much aid work and demonstrates the need for development beyond the limits of most projects in relief situations.

However, this little proverb carries with it inherent assumptions that need to be examined more closely: {continue...}

[via Ministry To The Homeless, HT: The Link Between]

A setback is a set up for a comeback.

[via Hope From Ashes]

...each of us will stare out into the unknown and long for a weapon that just isn’t there.

[via Stuff Christians Like]

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance, the wise grows it under his feet -- James Oppenheim {read the rest}

[via Hope From Ashes]

These Moments We Have

The hope is what gets me. The hope that there is something better. That our limited expressions of love — because of both time and our imperfect nature — can actually be enough. That’s what overwhelms me. These moments we have to love each other are always limited and restrained. And often only when we become devastatingly aware of their transient nature, do we fully experience them. There is such hurt and hope, loss and gain, joy and pain, and they all mix together in one big, overpowering mess that what can we do but cry?

Cry over brokenness. Cry over our fears. Our failings. Past failings and future failings. Cry over these indescribable feelings of love that we experience towards others. And from others — which make us feel unworthy....

And maybe when we have these moments of weeping from deep within ourselves, maybe it is more about the hope than the hopelessness. That despite all of the pain and loss that life ultimately makes sense and is good and is worth living. And that we’re worth it. And others are too. And all of this loving and the losing that goes along with it — well, that’s the best part. And sometimes a good cry and a few moments with someone you’re about to lose can mean more than a month of Sundays and a pat on the back.

[via VanderMeander]

Through the Great Three Days

It was a gift from God that we had the divine service that day, for without that, I don’t know what I would have been doing. My pastor stayed with me as much as possible. I was a zombie, barely conscious, yet fully believing that there was no way I could get out of this, no way I could recover from such a blow. If I didn’t have the time and space I needed to heal, then I would only get worse. What was the point?

But God is merciful.

I lived. Somehow our Lord got me through the Great Three Days.{the rest...}

[via I Trust When Dark MY Road]

Author Tony Campolo’s most famous message declares, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s Comin’.” But what happens when it’s Sunday and we’re still facing death and despair? {continue...}

[via ThinkChristian.NET]