Practice Resurrection: Look forward to a resurrected body!

Photographer Takes A Boy With Muscular Dystrophy On An Imaginary Adventure
Matej Peljhan
source

The body, glorified

To see Christ as God and man is probably no more difficult today than it has always been, even if today there seem to be more reasons to doubt. For you it may be a matter of not being able to accept what you call a suspension of the laws of the flesh and the physical, but for my part I think that when I know what the laws of the flesh and the physical really are, then I will know what God is. We know them as we see them, not as God sees them. For me it is the virgin birth, the Incarnation, the resurrection which are the true laws of the flesh and the physical. Death, decay, destruction are the suspension of these laws. I am always astonished at the emphasis the Church puts on the body. It is not the soul she says that will rise but the body, glorified. I have always thought that purity was the most mysterious of the virtues, but it occurs to me that it would never have entered the human consciousness to conceive of purity if we were not to look forward to a resurrection of the body, which will be flesh and spirit united in peace, in the way they were in Christ. The resurrection of Christ seems the high point in the law of nature.

Flannery O’Connor"Letter to 'A' (Sep. 6, 1955)" in The Habit of Being

via Topology magazine

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What are YOU looking forward to when you think of a resurrected body (for you or for someone else)?

A theology of billboards, sharing today at Think Christian

Three years ago my family moved to Austin, Texas. Our very first spring we got a front row seat to the effects of theHighway Beautification Act of 1965, a legacy of former first lady Lady Bird Johnson. In a place known for heat and drought, springtime in Texas kicks off a wildflower parade up and down the state’s medians and roadways. Johnson’s concern about the increasing number of billboards crowding out the natural beauty of her home state energized her to become the first president’s wife to actively campaign for legislative action. 

A recent NPR story described the new battle Texans are fighting against the billboard lobby’s request to heighten signs. It makes sense for political figures to discuss the use of public spaces, but what if it also became a Christian conversation?    

read the whole article at Think Christian

Bonus feature:

one of the billboards we managed to catch on the camera on our trip to Texas, 2011.  

This is somewhere in the middle of Ohio, in case you were wondering.

Monday Mixtape: [shout-outs for artist friends edition]

It's time for a new look here on Mondays.  Tracks are loosely related by theme and very much influenced by whim.  This week I'm thinking a lot about friends who are making art while at the same time trying to make a living.  

Here's my contribution to your week,  a small taste of Goethe's daily prescription of little songs, good poems, fine pictures and reasonable words.  Enjoy!

track 1: altered book collage by Shannon Newby

                                                                               Source: newbyart.com via Tamara on Pinterest

I've mentioned Shannon Newby here several times (see here & here), but am mentioning her again because the works she's been making lately are topping my list of favorites.  Combine old books and art and I'm a goner!

You can see Shannon's portfolio of work at her website.  Make sure you visit her Etsy shop and pick up something for yourself while you're there! This Robinson Crusoe piece is currently for sale ($250).  You can direct any inquires directly to Shannon through the contact page at her website.

track 2:  new album from Jason Harrod

I've definitely talked about Jason Harrod lots of times around here..  We're so excited for the release of his new album, and it's been fun watching his Kickstarter campaign take off.  Watch the video to get to know this songwriter a bit (and, if you love NYC like we do, to get really homesick!) Plus, we're all in in luck - there's still time to contribute!

In Jason's words:

Wow. We raised $7,095 in 8 days on kickstarter , surpassing my goal of $7,000 for mastering, artwork/layout, and CD manufacturing. That means this record's going to happen! I'm really blown away and grateful for your generous support. Thank you!

There are still 22 days left in the campaign, and I could still use your help if you'd like to help me expand my budget in the following ways: For $1500 I can press vinyl copies of the album. For $3000 I can hire a publicist for three months to help the album reach a wider audience. So my new goal is $11,500. Thanks again to the many of you who donated, and for everyone else, thanks for considering donating and spreading the word about the continuing campaign.
There are still 22 days left in the campaign, and I could still use your help if you'd like to help me expand my budget in the following ways: For $1500 I can press vinyl copies of the album. For $3000 I can hire a publicist for three months to help the album reach a wider audience. So my new goal is $11,500. Thanks again to the many of you who donated, and for everyone else, thanks for considering donating and spreading the word about the continuing campaign.

Go here to be part of making this album happen.

track 3:  book release from Andrea Palpant Dilley

Source: andreapalpantdilley.com via Sarah on Pinterest

If anyone out there pays attention to the Shelfari widget on my sidebar you may have noticed this title sitting on the shelf for a couple of weeks. Andrea and I attend Christ Church together and it's been a privilege getting to know her and her story in real life at the same time I'm reading her new book. 

I've just completed reading a round of memoirs -- including this title -- and I hope to write some of my impressions in a book post later this week.  In the meantime, why don't you go here and buy yourself a copy of Faith and Other Flat Tires: Searching for God on the Rough Road of Doubt. That way we could have a conversation back and forth -- fun, right?!?

Andrea's book signing at Austin's Book People

By the way, Andrea is the leader of a Christ Church writer's group to which I belong.  I'm so grateful for her investment in my writing life and am hoping to make her proud someday!

track 4:  gaming concept artist Ryan Dening

So maybe your purchase of recently launched Star Wars: The Old Republic provides a living for more than just one artist, but we think we're pretty lucky to be friends with at least one of the concept artists behind the scenes.  We've been getting to know Ryan and his beautiful family slowly so it took awhile for us to even know what he did for a living.  Honestly, I'm almost completely illiterate when it comes to the gaming universe but I have a lot of good friends quite fluent in the language, including my two sons.

And just when they thought this guy had the ultimate dream job, Ryan told us that in August of this year LEGO plans to release a ship that he designed. Right about then,  I'm pretty sure I saw a tear welling up in my both my boys' eyes.  

Star Wars - 9500 Sith Fury-class Interceptor

Source: flickr.com via Tamara on Pinterest

Check out Ryan's website to see more of his projects.  While you're there, make sure you stop by his blog!

track 5:  arts center Executive Director Jenny White

Jenny White would be the first person to tell you that she's no artist.  I know this because I had lunch with her at a retreat for ministers to artists and it's one of the first things she told me about herself.  I sort of think it all depends on how you define the word.  Let's not get bogged down in semantics, let's call her a primo cultivator instead.  From what I can tell she has crafted a beautiful community of artists and art-appreciators -- following closely in the footsteps of her mentors Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth.  

Now Art House Dallas is ready to renovate a space for their very own.  And Jenny is telling us the story in this campaign video.  Inviting us to get excited with her about a very good work that is making something exist that at one time did not exist.  

Tell me again the definition of artist?

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Before I go, I should tell you that I love to hear what poems, pictures, songs and reasonable words you are enjoying.  Please do stop by the comment box and

 share a bit with me.  

Have a great week!