Postmodern Pastoral

11 December 2021 Manhood. What is the measuring stick we use to judge a man? What traits are considered manly? Who do we look to as an example of how to be a man? Western religions have a man as the literal creator of everything. Advertising plays to our insecurities so hard. Media most often centers a man as the main character. Our fathers and brothers influence our perception of masculinity. Men have more political and financial power than women. Manhood is just a shifting idea though, and I go through times where I love it, and other times where I'm repulsed by it. Maybe that's just how I was raised, let me know of you feel similarly. Genesis 2:24 "Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh." Adam seems like a no-brainer example of manhood. Leaving his family to start a new family, while the lady waits for suitors to come knocking at her door. The man showed some initiative there. Adam named al...

 30 November 2021 "Stopped into a church, I passed along the way. Well I got down on my knees and I..."  I've had a few coworkers ask me about my 'beliefs' lately. I always think that's funny. First off, why do you care what my beliefs are? I don't even care what my beliefs are. And what does 'beliefs' even mean? Like would it be more accurate to ask "is your ability to perceive the world congruent with reality or do you live in accordance to a fantasy you built in your head?" Or when talking about God, "is the way you conceptualize an abstract concept like 'God' the same way I conceptualize the same abstract concept?" When my friends ask me the feelings of my heart I usually deflect and blame the limitations of language, or limitations of an ego-centric mind and the limitations of living in an animated meat sack. I've been feeling lately that motivations and beliefs don't really matter. What you do is way more r...

20 November 2021 Your boy tested positive. Let's talk about the coronavirus. And uh, I'm a little drama but I swear I'm deeply happy. I got sent home from work because I was too dizzy to be productive. I love my job and they were very accommodating so that was nice, but it does mean I'm out of work. I used up all my PTO. I'm one of those American citizens that can't miss a few paychecks without it being a personal disaster. I feel comfortable enough living that way because I have a few safety nets. One of those safety nets is the generosity of my friends and neighbors so if you wanna slip me 5 or 20 or 80 bucks my venmo is @birdpaul or ask me for my zelle address. I promise I will pay it forward, and I will give you a big hug and a sloppy kiss (after I get well), and I promise I will be financially stable soon.  Being alone laying on my floor I feel so lazy and unproductive. But I'm sick. It wears on you. I like being productive, I like work and I like volun...