Phil Letizia

Monday, February 26, 2007

San Diego Serenade

I never saw the morning til I stayed up all night
I never saw the sunshine til you turned out the light
I never saw my hometown until I stayed away too long
I never heard the melody, until I needed a song.

I never saw the white line, til I was leaving you behind
I never knew I needed you til I was caught up in a bind
I never spoke i love you til I cursed you in vain,
I never felt my heartstrings until I nearly went insane.


I never saw the east coast til I move to the west
I never saw the moonlight until it shone off your breast
I never saw your heart til someone tried to steal,
Tried to steal it away
I never saw your tears until they rolled down your face.

-- Tom Waits

Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Just a Bit of Coloured Paper?

Below is a blog post I came across in class: It's certainly interesting, discussing the relationship between "relationship" and theological forms, doctrines, or ideas. Below this post is a selection from C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity.

Enjoy.

Blog Post
Relationship, not Religion

Over the past year and a half, I've enjoyed a running email conversation with Tamara Cissna, a friend in Portland who's trying to wrap her soul around postmodern faith like Susan and I are trying to do. Early in our conversation, she said she was struggling to grasp a Christianity that "works", but she had trouble articulating exactly what she meant.

Last Friday, she sent a link to a news report about a Leonard Sweet-visit to Baylor University. Leonard is one of the revolutionary evangelical thinkers and writers regarding Christianity, the Church, and postmodernism. In the report, Sweet said...

...The Roman governor Pilate was the first postmodernist because he asked Jesus a "fundamental postmodernist" question: "What is truth?"

All of Christianity hinges on the answer, {Sweet} suggested.

"Truth is Jesus," Sweet said. "This is the uniqueness of Christianity in all of the religions of the world. Every other religion defines truth in propositional terms."

All other prophets and spiritual leaders told adherents to follow their teachings to find the way to enlightenment, Sweet said, but Jesus was the "only one who had chutzpah to announce to the whole world 'I am the way.' Truth is a relationship."

"Truth is a relationship." That's what Tamara meant by a faith that "works."

I love this, and the article it came from. I think Tamara's exactly right, and what Sweet says resonates deeply with most postmodern Christians I know. Susan and I were raised and indoctrinated into thinking that Christianity was propositional truths, systematic theology, proof-texts, and outlines with fancy alliterations.

But now I think we got kind of a cheated. We missed the grand narrative of God's story and the fact that we're living in the midst of a big love story -- it's about a love relationship, not bullet points and Bible Studies. And that's a faith I find a lot sexier than learning a bunch of stuff about God. I'd rather live an adventure with God - and to me, that's the heart of this thing we call Christianity.

Ok, this is Phil again. A couple of thoughts:
1. "it's about a love relationship, not bullet points and Bible Studies..." - It shouldn't be a choice. We should never have to make a choice for or against relationship or studying about God. In fact, studying about God affects our heart, moves our emotions and grows our relationship with God.
2. It is inescapable that God chose to reveal himself in propositional terms, i.e. the Bible. That is the only way we can learn about an infinite, eternal being, as finite and fallen creatures.
3. He uses modernistic forms of argument to justify his postmodern view of a relationship with Christ.

Alright, in our class we came acros this selection from Mere Christianity from the great C.S. Lewis. For me, it's the greatest answer to this whole, relationship vs. propositional truth. He words it perfectly:

I remember once when I had been giving a talk to the R.A.F. (Royal Air Force), an old, hard-bitten officer got up and said, "I've no use for all that stuff. But, mind you, I'm a religious man too. I know there's a God. I've felt Him: out alone in the desert at night: the tremendous mystery. And that's just why I don't believe all your neat little dogmas and formulas about Him. To anyone who's met the real thing they all seem so petty and pedantic and unreal!"
Now in a sense I quite agreed with that man. I think he had probably had a real experience of God in the desert. And when he turned from that experience to the Christian creeds, I think he really was turning from something real to something less real. In the same way, if a man has once looked at the Atlantic from the beach, and then goes and looks at a map of the Atlantic , he also will be turning from something real to something less real: turning from real waves to a bit of coloured paper. But here comes the point. The map is admittedly only coloured paper, but there are two things you have to remember about it. In the first place, it is based on what hundreds and thousands of people have found out by sailing the real Atlantic. In that way it has behind it masses of experience just as real as the one you could have from the beach; only, while yours would be a single glimpse, the map fits all those different experiences together. In the second place, if you want to go anywhere, the map is absolutely necessary. As long as you are content with walks on the beach, your own glimpses are far more fun than looking at a map. But the map is going to be more use than walks on the beach if you want to go to America.

Friday, February 16, 2007

Prayer

20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one:

23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

John 17

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Bum's Son

Through the duration of this post I will not refer to the new Head coach of the Dallas Cowboys by his proper name, but instead by "Bum's Son," due to his father's name being Bum, which is ridiculous, and well, it's just funny.

The proud and storied franchise known best by their self-dubbed title, "America's Team", has seem to go through coaches in this past decade like the Miami Dolphins go through good ideas.

Still, it seems as though this could be a good move for the boys. Bum's son's father was the inventor of the 3-4 defense, and this team is ready to win now. At least they think they are. The question remains, how long will Tony Romo remember how the playoffs literally slipped right through his fingers.

So here I raise my glass to America's team. Here's being hopeful for you. I'm a big T.O. fan, and how can you not love watching Dr. 90210 play general manager? It's a comedy, but a comedy always ends with a happy ending. This may in fact be a looming Shakespearean tragedy. And we all know, that if it follows that course, the only one falling on his sword will be Bum's Son himself.

Below is a hilarious article from thespoof.com on The Dallas Cowboys hiring situation. Check it out.

The question on everyone's lips at the Jerry Jones surprise press conference was who was to be announced as the new head coach of America's team, the NFL Dallas Cowboys. Speculation has been rampant in Dallas and all of Texas about the identify of the new coach. Las Vegas bookmakers have even been laying odds as to the identity of this mysterious person.
Wade Phillips? No. Dan Reeves? Try again. Lovie Smith? Nope. Urban Meyer? Still not right. Dennis Green? You're kidding. Charlie Weiss? Wrong.

After firing Jimmy Johnson after winning two consecutive Super Bowls, Jones stated that any one of 500 coaches could lead the group of players he has assembled to another NFL championship. He has only won one since, and has not been back since that victory. In fact, his team has not won a playoff game in over 10 years.

In typical flair and fashion, Jones stepped to the speaker and announced his choice. Said the team owner, "The new coach of the Dallas Cowboys will be Bobby Knight. He is right here in Texas, coaching only a few hundred miles away in Lubbock. He has won more games than any other coach in men's division one. He has several championships under his belt. He has led teams to undefeated seasons and through the college playoffs to win it all. He is a no nonsense kind of guy and the disciplinarian that players like Terrell Owens need."
When it was pointed out the Jones that Knight was a college basketball coach and had no football experience, he disagreed. "He is a coach and a leader of men. Knight is a winner. The Dallas Cowboys are winners. It is a great marriage."

Another reporter pointed out that Knight was famous for his tirades, such as throwing chairs across the basketball court. "We have no chairs on our sidelines, and most of our benches have multiple 350 pound linemen sitting on them. He won't be throwing any chairs in this league."

"If he could throw Larry Allen or Flozell Adams, that would be a different story!"

Oakland Raiders' owner Al Davis was upset by the announcement. "Yesterday, I hire this 31 year old kid just barely out of his pampers, expecting to get all the headlines. Today, Jerry takes it away by hiring a basketball guy. How does he come up with this crap?"

Knight will continue to coach the Texas Tech University Red Raiders basketball team through the end of the NCAA season (and possibly NCAA tournament) before beginning his duties with the Cowboys. He has encouraged his school to hire former baseball great Pete Rose as his replacement.

Saturday, February 10, 2007

SAVE DARFUR

Tonight at Brew Urban Cafe in Downtown Ft. Lauderdale, we'll be holding an Open Forum called "Save Darfur", featuring Simon Ole Masi (Director of World Vision Sudan). He will have fresh direct news from Sudan and the plight of the people of Darfur. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and learn how to actually do something - even right there on the spot. Learn how to support humanitarian efforts in Sudan or how to get the government more involved, etc.

Come out if you can make it.

Below is a post I wrote last summer on Darfur.

  • Darfur Post
  • Wednesday, February 07, 2007

    Sweet Patty


    Today is a special day. One of my favorite artists released her new album yesterday and today I bought it. If you've never been introduced to Patty Griffin, do yourself a favor and buy whatever you can. If you're into real country, real folk, and incredible song writing, check her out. I first heard her song "rain" in a coffeeshop and was hooked and moved from then on.




    Children Running Through.

    Happy Patty Griffin Day.

    Monday, February 05, 2007

    Friday Rant (Monday Version)

    Congratulations to the Indianapolis Colts, Tony Dungy, and Peyton Manning. I'm a big Dungy fan. Class act, stand up guy whose been through hell and back in the last year. Enjoy it.

    A little over a week ago I saw John Mayer live in concert for the first time. Incredible. Whether you still harbor ill feelings towards Mayer for his "wonderland" days, his new stuff, his new presence on stage is something to take in. Highlights of the night included his acoustic version of "Stop this Train", the intro and awesome vibe of "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room". Mayer won points throughout the night by referring to his old stuff as in the past, commenting, "sometimes you look back and wonder why you worried so much", in reference to the first song he wrote, "Why Georgia". During his encore he introduced the monkey on his back, "Your body is a Wonderand", perfectly by saying, "before this song was a punchline, I used to think it was a good tune." Well handled sir. Best part of the night however was the very first intro and song, "Vultures". Check it out on Continuum.

    I feel bad for Rex Grossman today. That's all I'll say.

    For all of my South Fla readers, can you ever remember a day like yesterday that wasn't a hurricane day? Too bad it was Super Bowl Sunday. A day I still believe should be made a national holiday by our federal government.

    Something cool to think about. Before she became the 2nd richest woman in the world, J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series was homeless, living with her daughter, unemployed and living on state benefits.

    In case any of you care, the famed "Back in Black" softball team that I play for that now wears Maroon jerseys is off to a resounding 0-2 start. It's ok, we'll bounce back. Updates along the way, and yes I've become a weekend warrior.

    I love you Cooper City.