green and red and spicy and compelling

I've always laughed at this establishment. Nothing personal, but I watched the space be four different things before it became Madam Mam's. So when the ugly green and red paint came out a few years ago - it was laughable, at best. Having established themselves as an excellent Thai restaurant in just a few years and after numberable recommendations from reputable sources, I finally made the trek down the drag to dine there with some friends.

Though Thai isn't necessarily my favorite, the food was noodly and spicy, which seems to be the goal of Thai cuisine. The atmostphere laid-back in typical Austin fashion. The company was by far what made the two hour dining experience worth it though.

This was the second meeting of our "No Book Book Club." We discussed Ken Wilbur's amalgam of Eastern and Western thought as it relates to evolution and spirituality. We come from similar middle-class backgrounds (though each with our own baggage), but the conversation remains compelling because we respect one another's views and desire. I mostly asked a lot of questions. Not sure how to synthesize anything yet, but it was abstractly intriguing, nonetheless.

Can't wait til next week.

over the river and through the woods...

The river’s a dividing line. Going south on Congress, Lamar, or Guadalupe from central Austin; you cross a border. Little did you know this when crossing it. There are no “Welcome to South Austin” signs or visitors centers. But it is a different place. The hippies pretty much “kept Austin weird” there until just recently when the hipsters and businessmen moved in. Yet, the fact remains that though many parts of Austin are cool, the South Austin vibe rings loud and clear when you cross Town Lake.

I felt like Paul this week when I crossed this river and made my way down a small street lined with cars. Little league baseball parks on the north side of the street and little shops and trees on the other. Amongst the trees lies a microbiotic, meditational, schooling hub of mystical activity. This little Zenly manicured, rustic spot undergirds Austin spirituality. Though there’s no specific idol “to an unknown god,” we truly entered an Austin Areopagus. The place was great. It had a wonderfully simplistic and honest feel to it. Nothing seemed trendy or cool. Winding past the Japanese tea hut, playground and various shrubberies, Mel and I made our way to Casa de Luz, the microbiotic restaurant at the back of the property. Ambient lighting and music. Quiet people, chewing their food up to 100 times so as not to disrupt their digestive system. Teal walls and large windows soothing the soul. A little corner of yoga/diet/meditational books.

Beneath one of the large windows, we found our small crowd – the beginnings a book club with some friends at CM. We were certainly the loudest ones in the place, but we had a good time. Though only one guy in the group had read the book (and many other books by the same author), we discussed our future-read together A Brief History of Everything by Ken Wilbur. Ken is a New-Age philosopher and mystic who has systematically synthesized the all of the material and spiritual world into a four-part grid. Seems like a natural choice to chat about in the Austinopagus.

After hearing a little bit more about some folks spiritual background, we parted ways. Mel hugged everyone goodbye (I could write more about this wonderful sentiment, but I’ll let her). In a world where what you do is good for you as long as it helps you and where your way can’t be my way, I must admit that I don’t expect to preach as Paul did or even defend the faith as many before me have done. My hope is that Mel and I will be the potent fragrance of the loving Christ amidst a culture “incensed” on the individual spiritual quest.

Looking forward to next week. I’ll let you know how the book develops.

who cares about nightline, this was interesting...

found these words from stephen colbert on some blogs. thought it was provocative.

you heard any buzz?

Nightline gets it, so why don't "we"

Arthur Neibur’s Christ and culture had nothing to do with making Jesus a part of culture as much as how Jesus speaks into the culture.

When will Christian’s stop being consumers and start being exiles? When will we make the shift from consuming culture to transforming/critiquing (not simply criticizing) the American bent towards technology as power? Ryan gave an interesting prod at how and why we use tools (like cell phones – which I do own). So I wonder, at what point do America Christians begin to fashion new ways of life as opposed to optioning for “Christian” lifestyles? There seems to be a divide between those “conservative” (read technologically adaptive and morally choosy) Christians and the “liberal” (read eco-friendly and morally choosy) Christians as opposed to a Christ-centered medium that speaks into a culture proclaiming the true Kingdom of God.

Who will redraw the lines and realize that religion is a dime a dozen and Jesus is a marketing campaign (for Christian and non)? Who will reform the current welfare system of free “religion” to any Sunday attender while at the same time offering them the loving Jesus of reconciliation and joy? Who will revolutionize the way people spend their time and money, not by buying Jesus products but by showing people that consumption is not the answer to the American Dream?

Screw it. I’ll do it. I don’t know exactly how, but I’m damn sure not going to buy a Joy to the World ring tone!

On the next Nightline: “Christian Comedian”

Sounds fun.

(and this was written directly after the show. thus it is partially edited raw emotion. thank you.)

been a while since i posted a poem

On this foot a golden lace
Ties up all loose ends
And makes haste to see
Fragility overlooked

On this foot a strapless sandal
Flops down the monthly calendar
Awaiting the envelopes
Where prizes lie

The servants foot treads trails
Divergent yellow woods
Attempt to break
Stand strong, speak

for my wife, who struggles to maintain footing in different worlds

an essay [read confession] that i didn't intend to write.

I’m inclined to write an essay entitled why I don’t belong in community.

One that highlights my procrastination, especially where it pertains to yard work, chores and the like… Or my strange obsessions with how certain things are arranged on shelves or walls… Or how I like the pillows to be arranged in a particular way… Or how I walk on the sides closest to the walls of the stairs so as not to wear down (even more) the already worn down carpet in the middle of said stair… Or how any little crack in the house (like the new one where the base board is coming apart from the wall) grinds pulls on my brain like the San Andreas pulls California farther away from America… Or my great lack of cooking prowess that doesn't seem to bother me when I try to boss others around the communal kitchen... not to mention how these little OCD spurts cause my wife to smile at me sweetly no matter what she's really thinking... not to mention how my housemates (past, present and future) simply shake their head at my ridiculousness… and beyond the "small things," my inability to put others feelings and needs before my own, my recurring foot in mouth, my inability to comfront people, my inherently introverted nature, my shoes constantly left lying around, my saying my so much that you're probably sick of it...

Not to mention how many people don’t need to know these little things about me. I mean, I’d rather they didn’t... but they just come out.

Oh well, I suppose I just wrote my "essay" (at least part of it). And it’s for all those reasons that I’m not inclined to live in community that makes me need (and love) it all the more.