Where are you taking me?

Much like a rich deeply flavored stew, a good work of art as it simmers brings up to the surface flavors, and bits of ingredients which may have remained in the bottom of the stock pot. The documentary, Chris & Don, is a fine rich stew which works on many different levels. It is a story of two individuals, and how these two individuals met on a beach in Southern California during a summer in the 1950’s. It is a story of a complex writer (Isherwood) who by this stage in his life was comfortable with his own formed psyche, and a very young man of 18 (Don Bachardy) who was not yet fully formed, and like most people of this age today, seeking to find out who he was in his public life, as well as the emerging person from the inside.

Through the use of home movies, the documentary speaks on a particular sociological level, a microcosm of life in Hollywood, it speaks of two men out of the closet in a point in the entertainment industry when homophobia was clearly a byproduct of well paid public figures living dual lives. This duality was a way of life (Pre-Stonewall), yet here was Isherwood taking his 19 year old lover on location of Dr. John Ford, known as a director of films which spewed heterosexual testosterone. Don & Chris exposes their intimacy of a couple who’s 33 year relationship was not without its ups and downs yet were able to remain committed to one another by the use of their pet name persona; the younger man as a cat, and Isherwood being the old horse. What they would not share as humans, they were able to communicate as their favorite pet - their alter egos. Read More »

This is a first in an on-going series of what I will call

Yard[D]og Pictorum non sequiuntur *

* Non Sequiuntur is the Latin plural for more than one non sequitur. I say plural because I have been getting these out of the blue cell phone pictures from Yard[D]og for some time; the first being a picture of a half eaten pizza. I thought it was time to share them….why…..who the hell knows.

I recently attended a lecture by Ishwerwood and literary scholar, James Berg who shared insights into the formation of his current book, Christopher Ishwerwood on Writing. The book is a reconstruction of notes taken from lectures Isherwood had given at various institutions of higher learning in Santa Barbara, Los Angeles, and UCLA.

I enjoyed listening to someone discuss Isherwood as I went through my Isherwood period during my mid twenties slowly making my way through almost everything I could find in print. One my my pleasant memories was meeting Isherwood, in the early 80’s, at the now gone A Different Light bookstore in Silverlake in which I was able to have him sign his masterpiece, A Single Man, and his current book, “October”, a series of diary excerpts from the month of October interspersed with drawings by his long time life partner, Don Bachardy.

What sparked my interest, outside of basic information Dr. Berg offered; a sketch of the famed creator of the Berlin Stories (which eventually became the musical Cabaret) was that a new documentary had been created to share the love story of Chris & Don. Read More »

Don’t you think its time for a new stained glass window?

Sermon given June 29, 2008 at St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church, Huntington Beach, CA

Based on the readings found in the Revised Common Lectionary

For the audio of the sermon, click here

Each evening with my nano I listen to meditative music as I walk a path.

I brought my camera.

I call this picture:

Shadow Walk

A representation of our journey

Last Sunday I was asked to preach three services at my sponsoring parish, St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church in Huntington Beach, CA. I had never preached three services before, and I can honestly say, that by the end of the day, especially after getting out of bed at 4:30 am to get there, was quite challenging. Of the three readings offered from the Revised Common Lectionary I choose to preach about the famous story from Genesis of the Binding of Isaac. Once the website posts the audio version of my sermon I’ll link it here, but I wanted to share something which was one of those God Moments which ran parallel with my experience of sharing with the people of St. Wilfrids.

As I prepared the sermon, as stated in my spiritual direction moment, I pondered the text in which Abraham calls the top of the mountain, “The Lord will provide.” I had mentioned in my sermon that Karl Barth said that the Latin root for provide means “before.” I was able to point out that the fascinating thing about that passage was that God provides before we know it, or can see it; as best displayed in the story by the ram caught in the thicket which Abraham does not see until after the angel stops him from sacrificing his son, Isaac. Read More »

We know that Paul, when he entered a new city, opened up a shop. He worked with his hands, more than likely working in leather. In the course of his dealings with the public, he would share his faith. Out of these conversations little gatherings grew and eventually became the nucleus of early home groups; the beginning of what we call churches.

Almost any morning I can be found at my local Starbucks. This past Wednesday I was sitting with one of my coffee buddies, this 23 year old art student from the college across the street. She knows I’m going to seminary, and we have some nice conversations; she has been fascinated with how the New Testament grew, and how it is analyzed using text criticism. Later, a friend of her’s stopped by and sat down, a young rather fem male friend studying interior design. Add to this mix a young married guy sitting at another out door table. Read More »

I normally don’t share on line things which happen during a spiritual direction moment, it’s personal, and part of me working things out with a paid professional, but I thought in this instance, it might be a good thing to share, specially for those who don’t understand what happens during a session.

This Saturday I met with my director, the second I’ve had in 6 years, and during our conversation I mentioned I would be preaching at my sponsoring parish next Sunday. He asked what reading I’d be using, and I said that I was going to primarily preach on the story of the “Binding of Issac.” Read More »

From Father Jake Stops the World:

Jerusalem Pride will take place on Thursday June 26th…

In June the gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual community and our supporters will again struggle for our freedom of expression and civil rights in Jerusalem. The violence and Intimidation surrounding Pride 2005 and 2006 only serves as proof that we must assure that our rights as citizens of Jerusalem are defended.

June will put Jerusalem, Israel and our leaders to the true test of democracy and civil rights. Though we expect the struggle to be tough, we will not let the threats of violence silence us or challenge Israeli democracy. Our struggle to march this summer will require us to unite as a community and pool our resources and personal strength- for this historic battle on the forefront of human rights in Jerusalem.

I was amused by a comment attached to the post which said:

“Huh, GAF(fe)CON in Jerusalem at the same time as Jerusalem Pride. Oh, God does exist, and she has a wicked sense of humor.”