North Shore Narrative

After a late night attempt to read a dense philosophical text-- only to have distracted myself away from reading with video clips of SNL's skit 'Celebrity Jeopardy' posted on You Tube--I fell asleep on the couch. About two hours into my sleep an atomic sound and volcanic explosion shook my wall and couch, startling me into an adrenal state. I thought perhaps there was a gas explosion on the first floor, and that there may be a fire. I threw my clothes on and expected the worst, only to find that there was only the still of the night. I was too startled to fall back asleep, and my mind was puzzled as to what the hell just happened.

Old

I moved out of Mike's place this past week. I have enjoyed living there, and am satisfied with the decision to have moved there first instead of the dorm. It was a pretty chill pad, and i will miss its space, crimson color and hardwood floors; and the fact it was a 'stone's throw' from the Beverly Depot.

Here is the view out the window of my new crib-

Gentry, his dad and Cade unhesitantingly gave a helping hand. Thank you guys so much.

I am happy about my new place. It is in a great location, being just blocks from good coffee and good beer. I am now a tenant to a sweet and generous lady; a roommate to a video gamer and beer connoisseur; and a housemate to Gentry, the Pixie and Dizzle, whose kitchen has become somewhat of an Ivory Tower for me. Thanks again.

I caught Placebo at the Roxy this past week. The show sold out at ticketmaster, so i thought i would go to the Roxy box office and see if there was still a chance. The man in the box said 'Sold Out'. I stepped aside with my friend Travis (who already owned a ticket), and began to make plans to catch the train back home. At that moment a European chic interjected 'Did you say you needed a ticket ?'. I looked at it as she held it in the air. '30 bucks' she said, the exact price as on the ticketmaster. She wasn't going to make a profit off me, and I got to see a great show by a band that doesn't come to the U.S often.

'By spirituality we intend to point to personal life in union with Christ - a relationship with the incarnate and risen Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit, where His death is our death, His resurrection our resurrection. This life expresses itself in praise to the Triune God through loving service to the neighbor.

Spirituality in the New Testament sense is not a moral program, not a set of rules, not a level of ethical achievement, not a philosophy, not a rhetoric, not an idea, not a strategy, not a theory of meditation, but rather simply life lived in Christ'
- Thomas C. Oden

On Halloween, and the few weeks which precede it, Salem becomes the hub for celebration, striking similarities of a Mardi Gras or New Years at Time Square. After all, it's Salem, with its enigmatic history of witch trial and current communities of neo-paganism.The Gathering, a church with a influential presence in the city, engages in a multifaceted ministry during this time.Because of their hard work at establishing true relationships and social work, they are well received in the city by it's officials and the surrounding communities, including the covens. Yesterday's Wall Street Journal reveals more of their story.

I was able to participate in their ministry this season, alongside Jeff and James. We operated the Confession Booth, an idea we took from Donald Miller's Blue Like Jazz. We set up a tent with chairs and a table within, lit some incense, and placed the Pantocrator and the Scriptures on the table. We all threw on Monk robes, and grabbed our pipes. We then send a couple of monks to call all who want to Confess. However, the spin is that when someone arrives to confess, we begin by confessing the sins of the church. As stated in Blue Like Jazz, "We are going to confess to them. We are going to confess that, as followers of Jesus, we have not been very loving; we have been bitter, and for that we are sorry. We will apologize for the Crusades, we will apologize for televangelists, we will apologize for neglecting the poor and the lonely, we will ask them to forgive us, and we will tell them that in our selfishness, we have misrepresented Jesus on this campus. We will tell people who come into the booth that Jesus loves them."

The reactions from the crowds were mixed. Some were confused. Some were angered. Some bitterly mocked. Yet some asked for prayer, some revealed abuse they had recieved from priests, and some went and got friends to come in. One commented that 'there is something you guys have. you guys actually believe in this.'

Probably the most opposition we received was the people who drove in from out of state to wave banners of repentance. Scriptural, perhaps proofed text, but nevertheless, suffused with the presentation of Turn and Burn. They mocked our robes, and called us liars and vipers. They became rowdy when the Gathering requested them to stop their bullhorn blows in front of their doors. They videotaped Jeff who came under one of their inquisitions, probably to make a video of what intellectual confrontation to expect next year. who knows. maybe someone listened to them. maybe many more were turned away.