Paul Johnson... for a short while: June 2004 Archives

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June 29, 2004

The Artificial Horizon

Playing quietly through the fir tree and eking through the dirty pane
Patchy sunlight dapples the stained carpeting

Cackle and squeak, the discord of the birds
They must have missed their song lessons

Dark and bitter is my brew
Pulling moisture from my hungry mouth even as is sates with its warmth

An ancient text lies before me common words, uncommon truth
It is my manna from heaven

The clock looks like an artificial horizon
Telling me that I’m flying straight

Posted by paul at 09:44 AM | Comments (4)

June 27, 2004

Blog-Spam Central

So I am still fighting off the blog-spammers. They come in here and post comments about dirty websites and unatural medical procedures. So, I sincerily apologize for anything that you might come across while browsing, especially in the archives since I don't usually check their comments.

Posted by paul at 05:01 PM | Comments (2)

June 26, 2004

Ploy

Here is my latest greatest idea for engaging my audience: Normality. .. . ...

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I know pretty deep huh?
Everyone thinks that they are abnormal. Except a roommate that I had once that considered himself the axis of normality (good band name) anyway he was weird.
.........................................But the theory is that if everyone thinks that they are abnormal then there is really no “normal”. Normal just becomes this nebulous standard out there by which to put others done by.
..............................
“Wow, you’re weird.” Well, aren’t we all? If everyone is uniquely created then how can I say that my unusually large head and long torso that makes me look like a four foot twenty seven inch overgrown dwarf is “weird”.

So let’s pitch this ridiculous standard of .........normalcy and return to abnormal life.

Posted by paul at 11:30 PM | Comments (2)

June 25, 2004

The Things that Dreams are Made of

I made a not so surprising discovery this afternoon when discussing dreams with my dear wife. (Strange, I haven’t really mentioned my wife yet on this blog since the marriage. So, BTW my wife is wonderful and I love her.)

I was recounting a lengthy dream that I “received” the night before. No it wasn’t anything prophetic or even remotely special. In fact it was a dream about attempting to trade my cell phone in for a new one. But, anyway, it hit me that as to why dreams can seem so long but when you try and explain the events of the dream I at least always find myself disappointed and unable to explain the crux of the experience, which is always the very real quality that the dream takes on.

Dreams (for me and I assume that they are this way for everyone) are an espresso shot of emotion and as a man I am almost always confused by any and all emotion that I have. Dreams are an emotion wrapped up in a vivid picture. I think that the reason why the experience seems to last so long is that emotionally you are experiencing time. So that when I am attempting to convey the dream to someone all I am able to do is communicate the events of the dream which in themselves are benign of the intense feeling and context if you will in which they were originally “composed”.

Anyway that is all I have for now on Dream Theory. I really don’t know what anyone important would say on the subject. For that ask the Psychology Major Mat.

Posted by paul at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)

June 23, 2004

Identity #4

So a reoccurring theme in my study and writing is my identity.

A thought that I have been working on for awhile (I am sure that someone else mentioned it first and started me on this train o' thought) is the culmination of our change in identity into full communion with Christ in Heaven. There to the people that overcome he will give a white stone. And on it will be written a new name that will only be known to those who recieve it.

We are Christ's bride and we see a change in our identity by taking a new name that he gives us. We also share a secret with him that is not known to anyone else thereby increasing the intimacy in our relationship.

Truly this is a terrifying and incredible thing to be joined to God in this way. I will continue my quest...

Posted by paul at 11:01 AM | Comments (4)

June 21, 2004

Ancestors – Honor of our Fathers

Our culture has grown up with a distain for or elders. “Gray hair is a crown of splendor” has given way to “Question Authority” “Don’t Trust anyone over 30” and “If its too loud then you’re too old”.

In recent years our culture has seen a small swing back into at least a mild interest in the ancient and mystical. I have read that stained glass and organs are making a comeback but I haven’t seen much to convince me yet.

Mainstream society has its retro fits but it all comes repackaged. They take a 1960’s style, mirror it, and sell it as the latest fad to hit our pop culture. It is as if designers have realized that there is nothing new under the sun and to eke more money out of consumers they tell you that retro is cool.

Anyway, I am getting off topic. What I really want to say is that a healthy appreciation of those who have gone before us would greatly aid many in our society. I am thinking mostly in terms of personally and religiously though this reflection can be implied in multiple aspects of life.

Personally I think that we would do well to imitate the work ethic and community efforts of our forefathers. Such an emphasis was placed on family relationship and working within the family and local community that it fostered a continual breeding (no pun intended) and multiplication of street and relational wisdom that cannot be matched by our fun new global community. Personal relationships have changed. It will be interesting to see what the Internet revolution will do to the future of interpersonal communication and relationships in general.

Religion has taken a turn as well. Tradition and rigor has been seen as stale and boring, while in the past decade “hip” “culturally relevant” churches have sprung up with their supposed innovations in music and sermonizing while the creeds and hymns that are so rich in culture and doctrine have been left in the large print King James Bible with the gilded pages and stamped leather cover.

I am not advocating a puritan mindset only an appreciation of the spirit of tradition. Much can be learned and I have only begun to see what has been laid in the foundations of our modern world. I will continue my quest...

Posted by paul at 11:33 AM | Comments (3)

June 18, 2004

Cool/Damp

So after reading in Daniel this morning I was in a very Sigur Ros mood. Their soothing dissonance always sparks my imagination.

So to find their music I turn to the web and what do I find? Well, first I watch a video of theirs that features happy children and strange but rather cool cinematography. But then the video switches over and focuses on some people running around in gas masks so that kinda weirded me out.

Then I found an appearance that they made on the Craig Kilborn show. They are a bunch of emo looking kids. I guess that wasn’t too much of a surprise. But then the lead singer/guitarist pulls a Jimmy Page and picks up a violin bow and gentle makes his guitar hum. I must admit that after I got over the cheesiness that it did sound cool.

Anyway that’s my Sigur-morning.

Posted by paul at 10:40 AM | Comments (6)

June 16, 2004

Zeal and Pride

Chances are that we will end our lives with the same obscurity in which we started it. Can we dare pray for anything more? Run the race to win huh? For what prize are we competing that has not been held in reserve for us?

Paul Johnson... for a short while