Nathan Daniel Blake

Thomas Merton said, "Our idea of God says more about ourselves than it does of him."

I find that to be true in no place more than online theological discussions.

a man with a beard wearing glasses and a blue jacket ALT: a man with a beard wearing glasses and a blue jacket

Just so much bad theology in so few characters.

When a person under scrutiny insists that their deposition be a public hearing instead of being behind closed doors, it is normally not good for the accuser.

The Clintons will be dragging more from the shadows than merely their own sins and want to make sure that none of it can be buried.

I am in full agreement.

I agree. If anything, that is the strength and weakness of the more progressive wide of American politics. Those on the left barely get along with each other enough to beat a untied conservative front.

Progressives eat their own.

It certainly appears that way. Perhaps the most telling is how many of them will say something like, "What are you going to do when Clinton and a bunch of democrats are in those files?"

...

"We'll send them to jail. Because that's what you do."

This culture of "winning" and "owning" must end.

I'm alarmed by the pockets of conservative christians who shouted from roof tops that they were protecting children from an evil liberal cabal only a few years ago to now making apologies for unrepentant men in power as merely sinners in need of grace.

Grace doesn't free us from consequence.

I agree. We've never learned the lessons of the garden. We still believe we can improve on what God is wanting to do by becoming the center of the universe.

So many of my protestant brothers and sisters claim "sola scriptura" but only practice a monthly/quarterly nod to the Eucharist (or Lord's Supper depending on your tradition).

One of the worst mistakes we made in protestantism was moving the emphasis of our gatherings from altar to pulpit.

Long time listener, first time caller.

Speaking from the vantage point of both a born-and-raised Appalachian as well as a writer, believing that Jelly Roll's country album is more culturally impactful or artfully crafted than Tyler Childers' project is an abomination to both rural culture and art.

I'm not sure if it is a green or red flag, but when times like these get hard and tumultuous, I begin to hope that the universe's cat distribution network brings me another cat.

For reference, we already have six.

It's a particular form of gas lighting to go from an aggressive support for a political cult to suddenly being passionately and militantly apolitical.

Happy Birthday to Thomas Merton, the man I consider to be the patron saint of Appalachia as well as my own.

No, he’s not canonized, but that seems perfectly fitting for Appalachia, doesn’t it?

He is, by far, the most influential writer & theologian on my spiritual thinking & practice.

Don Lemon, a journalist, was arrested for a non-violent protest in a church while a masked agent who murdered an unarmed man was whisked away to safety and preserved anonymity.

This is the America we live in.
This is the America of Western Evangelicalism.

Christ haver mercy on us. (+)

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(no particular order & not sponsored)

This is who I use and trust.

Gossamer Gear
Durston
ULA Equipment
Zpacks
Outdoor Vitals

I call my mom each morning on the way to work. For the last week, the cold has dominated discussion.

Today she said, "It's supposed to warm up next week."

"Really?" I asked. "What's it supposed to get up to?"

"Oh," she said. "I think it's supposed to get into the 20s."

"Damn. The balmy 20s."

I carried my old handle "storyofndblake" for years ... but it began to like it was no longer who I was.

When I created it I wanted to write my story as I saw fit. I was the storyteller and the actor. But I am no longer that man.

So, today, I changed my handle to reflect who and what I've become.

This is a fair point.

Seems to me the only laws we wish scripture to inform are "pelvic sins" which scripture spends significantly less time talking about than matters concerning the way we systematically oppress & "other" individuals & groups for our own gain & feelings of self-righteousness.

via @brcremer.bsky.social

What's the book? Also ... keep going.

The issue I have with the church is the same the Celtic monastics had with Rome. I want the connection. I want the theological history. I even want accountability.

But I'm not willing to sign a spiritual blank check to an institution that has historically desired compliance over contemplation.

Peaceful, prayerful protests are now cause for arrest. This is ACTUALLY religious persecution if you're someone on the right who likes to claim persecution for getting pushback on your ideas.

Real persecution means arrest and oppression of your religious practices by the ruling political empire.

All I can think of Phish's song about the lizard people.

When you hire sycophants of a lizard brain ideology, you get lizard brain talent.

When the ends are oppressive, the means become irrelevant to the oppressor.

If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were fastened around your neck and you were drowned in the depth of the sea. (Matt 18:6)

If you feel that a misinterpretation, look up how early childhood trauma works.

I would agree with you.

God never asked us to prove God exists.

What God asks us to do from the beginning is to forego our own ideas of rightness by participating in the divine nature.

I wonder if our obsession with apologetics are just another form of ego rebellion -- a way to keep our selves at the center.