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Name: Johnny
Metro: Seattle
Gender: Male
Interests: SJ, tennis, travel, Nouwen, the least of these, zoos, U2, ecumenism, listening, kindred spirits, learning (esp from differences), inculturation, news, parks, substantive or fun movies, Sting, reading, journaling, Rohlheiser, spiritual formation, mentoring, JM Talbot, creation, 1:1, Mexico, PRC, Malaysia, Argentina, Turkey, intentional community, summers abroad, the whole glad tidings, racquetball, San Miguel de Allende, R Foster, D Willard, silent retreats, San Gimignano
Expertise: bridging, lifesaving (WSI), Malay/Indonesian, composition, Spanish, bio labs,
Occupation: Int'l Student Specialist
Industry: Nonprofit,
Message: message me
Member Since:
4/20/2005
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| Desiring the Kingdom: Worship, Worldview, and Cultural Formation (Cultural Liturgies) “Rather than affirming worldview as a path to sophistication, Smith contends that it is a symbol of capitulation: to the very enlightened, rationalistic conception of human beings, a continued understanding of human beings as primarily rational creatures moved and animated mainly by ideas, coming from a particular form of education that elevates the classroom and privileges facts, argument and belief. Smith asks: ‘What if education wasn’t first and foremost about what we know, but about what we LOVE.’ If so, then formation" [of the whole person] "rather than information should be the primary end of our institutions, to get to the heart rather than cultivating detachment, ‘objectivity’, and ‘thought’ which requires freedom from emotion: the modern creed. 'But what has it turned out? Several generations of students-turned professionals who have learned to love success and excellence, who climb corporate ladders with ease, and who are very good at shopping (of all kinds).' These are the kinds of loves that direct us away from our deepest ends; this is mis-education---missed education. It is not the cognitive processing of information that fundamentally shapes our identities, but rather what and whom we worship. “Humans are not primarily or for the most part thinkers, or even believers. Instead, human persons—fundamentally and primarily—are lovers.... ‘Could it be that living a Christian perspective doesn’t actually touch my desire, and that while I might be able to think about the world from a Christian perspective (worldview), at the end of the day I love not the kingdom of God but the kingdom of the market?’ " A CT review of: http://www.amazon.com/Desiring-Kingdom-Worldview-Formation-Liturgies/dp/0801035775
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| "There is the irrational season,
when love blooms bright and wild ,
Had Mary been filled with reason,
There'd been no room for the child." ~T. Ware
"Come to the edge. We might fall. Come to the edge. It's too high!
COME TO THE EDGE!
And they came. And he pushed. And they flew." ~ C. Logue Solidarity, bridging, peacemaking, immersion, incarnation, inculturation, their blessings and risks:
http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A18513
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2009-09-18-ramadan-christians_N.htm?csp=usat.me
He "is not contented by a merely superficial or formal belonging: an initial and enthusiastic adhesion is not enough for him. On the contrary, we must take part in 'his thinking and his will' throughout our entire life...Man can not bring about his own progress unaided, because by himself he can not establish an authentic humanism. Only if we are aware of our calling will we be able to generate a new one that enkindles charity (love) and takes its lead from truth,...the greatest service to development, then, is [one] that enkindles a humanism which can guide us in the vision and muster new energy in the service of a truly integrated humanism...the promotion and building of forms of social and civic life without exposing us to the risk of becoming ensnared by the fashions of the moment, the philosophies and ideologies and ways of thinking and acting that extol the freedom of man as the only principle." Benedict XVI
Genuine Humanism: "every individual life is infinitely important, that our humanity is in fact an image of divinity, and that the culture-making capacity of humankind is the key way in which we both understand and express our sense of transcendent mystery." G. Wolfe, http://gregorywolfe.com/incarnation.html http://gregorywolfe.com/pdfs/a_faith_for_all_seasons_weter_passions_incarnation.pdf
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| "We do not choose JOY as an act for the sake of something beyond joy. You do not enjoy your spouse so that she will make you a dinner. You do not enjoy playing ball with your son so that he will wash the car. You do not enjoy a sunrise so that you can become a poet. It is the very nature of JOY to be a spontaneous response to what you value. It rises spontaneously as witness to what you treasure. And therefore, it reveals more authentically than anything else what your treasure is." J. Piper "For where your treasure is, there will also be your heart." "O Theo, O Theo, I am a stranger in a strange land. Absent are all the subtleties of custom and language and sight and smell and taste which normally give me my bearings. Jesse, ever living Teacher, use my out of placeness to remind me again of my alien status in this world. I belong to another kingdom and live out of another reality. May I always be ultimately concerned to learn the nuances of this eternal reality so that when it becomes my permanent residence I will not find it strange in the least. In the name of him who entered a foreign land so that whosoever will might come home to that for which they were created." "...not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were sojourners and exiles on the earth, they desire a better country." | | |
| Tried to extend so many times, but could not. Tethered deep inside from these 46 days--six wks plus empat hari:
Photos at http://smhuang.winkflash.com password: malaysia
and at Facebook: Johnny Mettlach
- Your deliberate Way of life, much more than a choice, though made of conscious ones that lead to life that far too "few find, because the gate is small and the way is narrow".
- Nails, postholes, two by fours--sacraments used as we helped the local community men extend the mosque awning; 6 hours later Din says elatedly: "Everyone speaks so well of you in the village! I am sure if you came here, even though I was gone, you would have families take you into their homes now."
- Such alluring offset eyes: warm and tender, speaking of a consummate sacrifice for family, a deeply imbedded dignity, a wholehearted service to others, and maybe an unconscious need of appreciation by my host mom.
- Din's sheer delight to have all 5 of us stay only in his tiny home for as long as possible; such glee, thrill, childlikeness, unqualified generosity, devout reverence. Our mutual affection multiplied.
- The little angel Ali followed often throughout the school yard and days; his smile & physical limitations tugged at Abba's heart "for such as these".
- A literally royal fiesta thrown for 5 strangers with so much lavish, warm welcome, dance, songs, food, CELEBRATION and gifted performers from far and wide, a la The Marriage Feast.
- Ben and his mother who passed awaydespite his resolute devotion & care--a loss of words, a call to many pleas with the one acquainted intimately w/ his griefs
- The heartfelt request of an ill young man, his letter asking for alms at the Bandaraya KTM overwalk--how much his need to know the healer's touch burned inside. The tract, some RM and a brief prayer seemed insufficient.
- Stories of Favor: many with so little being fed, cared for, dozens healed instantly, delivered, meeting the lover of their soul;...12+ single mothers = one of 3 new rare mbb assemblies, but still millions with no access to good news, rice, staples.
- The heavy breathing of Din's asthmatic father reflected a deeper hunger for life beyond the belabored efforts of lungs; barely able to contain myself.
- Dan's Water- filled eyes for their Mauritian live-in teen's encounter with Aslan, for the Afghan & Iranian women who rose with wonder at your words about casting stones first, or Omar's head buried in his mom's chest at our farewell, just as pacik gripped handku and drops almost fell ...and then others' liquid prayers' freedom forged in surrender, brokenness and relinquishment.
- Their huge, full smiles emanating from a JOY founded in grateful contentment and making people central to meaning, purpose and happiness...[decompressing from such an Eden plus jet lag]
- Taib, Ali, Din, Halid, Mohammad, Fadli, Rosali, Samson, others asking burning questions re rare topics there, seeking the one in dogged pursuit they know not yet fully---surely Orchestrated weavings of the master artisan longing to breath life into these vessels made for full worship, ever drawing them into the story, its author, the word: enfleshed and written. http://www.urbantulsa.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A18513
- My host brother's timely echoing question less than a week ago in Kg Banggol: "So when are you going to settle down here?" Plus the ultra-real dream, its literal message board:"embrace", and then JY's stunning email about her, but a duplicate of saya.
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| "A mysterious pull of grace that seems to fit with their inner life and sp journey, one that often makes no sense even to themselves, let alone to family and friends. It is a PULL--like iron drawn by a magnet--because it is not neccesarily at the beginning of their choice. It is an 'existential inability to do otherwise' linked to the welfare and betterment of others...at peace with oneself, welcomed others w acceptance, radiated ease, and a consistent spirit of reverence to all of life, a spirit of gratitude, sensing the hidden drama, an unconditional hospitality, centered simplicity; passionate, a full thirst for life, a frustration w the unreal and superficial; a grace unfolding in both the ordinary moments of life as well as the life-changing events, a calm trust that their darkness of soul will pass." | | |
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