What the Bible Means to Me

The Bible is perhaps the greatest compilation of religious books every written. The three powerful monolithic traditions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) all draw from the Bible in some shape or form. In this paper I will narrow the topic question down to a personal level showing how I view the Bible as a spiritual toolbox used to refresh and renew my life through the spiritual tools of meditation, liturgy and literary criticism.
Before coming to seminary my meditation practice was very elementary. I would find a soothing psalm, proverb or verse from the lectionary to start my meditation. The words were read and contemplated on as written. Now, after a semester of theology school behind me, when I am reflecting on a book I studied in my Old Testament class, I contemplate not only the words but also on the possible reasons why a particular verse was written. Once concentrated on the possible reason behind the verse a deeper understanding of the words come alive that lead to more questions and a deeper contemplative session. The Bible, through meditation on its chapters and verses, becomes a questioning exercise. Questions lead to more questions and not having the right answer or any answer is of no concern to me. Before seminary, I would want to know the answers to my contemplative questions. Now, I understand the Bible as more abstract and more like a work of art or piece of music that cannot be totally explained away.
The Bible becomes mystical in the liturgy. Traditional Episcopalians such as myself bow when the Bible passes by the pew in which one sits. The reading of the scripture is followed by a hearty, “Thanks Be to God”. When one of the four Gospels is being read, great reverence is felt throughout large cathedrals and smaller parishes. While in the congregation, I feel the Bible is the object of my affection. It is mighty and powerful like the God of the Old Testament. I imagine that if the building would suddenly collapse or burn that the Bible would still remain intact. These feelings of awe are what the Bible is to me while in church. Maybe it is because the Bible is far away and not close to me, or I desire it more because I cannot touch and feel it (like I can in my meditation or contemplative practices). My feelings toward the Bible have not changed while in seminary when it is seen, read and proclaimed in the liturgy and Eucharist on Sunday mornings.
Lastly, the Bible is spiritually important to me in the practice of literary criticism. Before seminary, a study on the Bible would entail reading a particular story and using a study Bible for extra reference. This gets one pointed in the right direction for literary criticism, but falls short after experiencing Biblical commentary from three different sources while in seminary. My Old Testament class has taught me to look beyond the text and to explore not only other viewpoints of the text, but the history behind the story and studying what was going on that causes the author to write in a certain way. This kind of study fills my spirit because I feel I love God more with my mind whereas before, not enough thought was given to the scriptures and the different meanings and interpretations between the words.
The Bible remains a spiritual toolbox used for meditation, liturgy, and literary criticism. While at seminary, I find these three tools enhanced while studying and listening to scripture. Questions, and forming the appropriate questions, become increasingly important in the presence of the Bible. I am forever fascinated by the Bible (like the religions mentioned above) and hope to grow in my understanding of what it means in my spiritual life.

Starting Tomorrow

As of August 14th, I am once again jobless. This is well intended; however, because I will return to the world as a student. I will be pursuing my Masters of Divinity Degree from Emory University's Candler School of Theology.

Starting tomorrow, I will be in pre-orientation mode (i.e. getting parking permits, books, checking in w/registrar's office). Then on Thursday, I will have a formal orientataion both at the school and my new intern site (Wesley Woods).

I'm sure I'll have a lot to talk about then, so until that time....

Vacation at Martha's Vineyard

Ann & I had a wonderful time at Martha's Vineyard. Her family (on her Mom's side) rents a beautiful home every year and have a quasi-family reunion. It is very informal (a sort of come as you please attitude). The schedule is basically what you want it to be, with the exception of "Happy Hour" that starts promptly at 4PM. Jenny's whiskey sours were brillant.

We made the usual rounds that anyone visiting the Vineyard should do (Breakfast at The Black Dog, Coastal drives around the island, and shopping at Vineyard Vines). I think my favorite thing to do was waking up every morning with the ocean outside my window and the sound of waves crashing along the shoreline.

After Martha's Vineyard, Ann & I spend about a day and a half in Boston. We celebrated the 4th of July there last year so we had pretty much seen the sites. This time, we shopped 'till we dropped at Filene's Basement and did a scenic tour of a local park in the Swan Boats.

All-in-all it was a lovely vacation. There is nothing better in the world than to have a family around you that loves you and a beautiful girl by yourside to share it with.

Uncle Sam is Creepy

Don't you find it amazing that Paris was released from jail for health reasons? There are men and women in our jails and prisons with mental disorders, HIV, AIDS, TB, sexually transmitted diseases, ect. that must remain behind bars and pay their debt to society. They don't get to go home to a house with a movie theater and a bowling alley to serve their time. With news like this, it makes me ask several questions.

Do we truly live in a Democracy? Are the people in the United States really in charge of our government? Is it right that any person off the street gets the book thrown at them if a crime is committed; meanwhile, a person with celebrity status (something that is worshipped like a Greek god in this country) gets a slap on the wrist or sent to rehab? No wonder kids either want to be a professional sports player, or an actor/singer/model. For their 15 minutes of fame, one can get 15 days or 15 years knocked off a prison sentence or better yet 15 months in therapy.

On another note, what’s this talk on erroneous pension plans for ex-senators, missile defense systems in the Czech Republic, and the CIA torturing people? Is this my tax money going to work for Uncle Sam? The whole idea of a red/white/blue tall & skinny old uncle always gave me the creeps. Can I disown my own Uncle, or at least stop giving him money? While he was creepy when I was young, he seems more like a James Bond villain to me now that I’m older.

I guess the lesson for the day is to become rich and famous or have a glorified title to your name and you can do whatever you want in this country while you walk all over the rest of your fellow humans and their silly laws that you are entitled to be above.

American Idol

I am sad to say I did not see the American Idol finale last night. This is the first year my wife and I actually sat down and watched most of the episodes. Oh believe me, we had planned on watching; however, Comcast (our local cable company) was down. We have cable/phone/internet through them, and all three were down.

Luckily, we have a life besides television, and had dinner with one of our friends. So, we got to catch up, laugh, drink a little, and (of course) complain about Comcast.

My Confirmation Story/History

I was confirmed into the Episcopal Church on Sunday, December 10th at 4PM at the Cathedral of St. Philip.

A little background about my decision: I have been baptized into the church. I received Christ when I was 9 years old and was baptized on April 12, 1989 at the First Baptist Church in Kilgore, TX by Rev. O.D. Oliver. I grew up Baptist and still stay true to my upbringing in the faith that my parents and grandparents taught me. I will forever love the hymns, and the lessons that the church instilled in me.

In College, I started singing sacred music at a local Episcopal (Anglican) church. I fell in love with the worship style, the feeling of GOD around me while in His holy place, and soon started accompanying my friend to a Catholic Church. The past few years I have struggled with staying true to my Baptist roots or branching off into either Catholicism or Anglicanism.

I believe I got the best of both worlds with the Episcopal Church. It is considered half Protestant and half Catholic; therefore, we sing many of the hymns I grew up with but worship closer to the way a Catholic Church would.

Last year, I took my confirmation class to learn more about the church, the different styles of worship, and why we do what we do. After someone takes this class, you may then join the church as an official Episcopalian and participate in a confirmation ceremony which only happens a couple of times a year.

I invite each of you to learn more about the service by reading about the sacramental rite of Confirmation at: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/19625_14080_ENG_HTM.htm

To learn more about the Episcopal Church please go to the Visitors Center at: http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/visitors.htm

Episcopal Churches Main Website: http://www.ecusa.anglican.org/

A Memo to My Employer: The American Arbitration Association

Corporate Cultures

I’ve always been amazed with corporate cultures. Working for one company, you might find that their culture and mission is structured around service, while another company focuses more on the quality of a product. Living in America, one can just say a company’s name and certain ideas (usually about the culture and atmosphere) come to mind. Ones that come to my mind are FORD for tradition, Nordstrom for customer service, and Wal-Mart for low prices. Some companies even define themselves in their slogans. NIKE proclaims to “Just Do It”, Subway informs us to “Eat Fresh”, and The Home Depot encourages “You can do it, We can help”.

This got me thinking about the culture of the AAA. Do the majority of our employees enjoy and have pride in the work they do everyday? Do our customers automatically pick up the phone and dial us first-knowing that they will get good service? Do lawyers and judges recommend us? Does Forbes magazine want to do a report on us for one of the “Best Companies to Work for in America”?

In my opinion, and because I work for AAA, I want all of the above questions to be answered with a definite “Yes”. I want college students to study us in business school, and knock on our doors for a summer internship. I want magazines to interview us because we are innovative and rise above the competition. I want the benefits, pay, and moral of the company to be at an all-time high.

In the below memo, I tell a story that prompted me thinking on culture, and then I propose an idea that can take us into the future and have everybody looking to our company as an American business leader.

The Digital Doctor

A couple of months ago, I wasn’t feeling well. It was the weekend and unfortunately a Sunday; therefore, my doctor’s offices were closed. Luckily, I live near an emergency care place that takes my insurance, so I decided to go. Once I got there, I noticed something different. Usually, in doctors’ offices one notices filing cabinets and many receptionists. It is generally a busy place to work and sometimes a little stuffy and crowded out in the waiting area. This place had a television and loads of space and I got a laid-back kind of vibe from it all. Also, I noticed that there were not any files to be seen.

After I had signed in, the doctor took me back to his office where they started a digital file on me. He took my picture from a web-cam and asked the general doctor questions, only he entered them into a computer. Even the agreement was on the computer and I made a digital signature that immediately showed up on the computer screen. There was one screen he was entering information on, and another screen in front of me that showed me what he was doing. After all of this, he took my blood pressure and asked me to breath. This was entered into the computer as well.

After the doctor examined me and wrote me a prescription, we went back out to the receptionist’s desk and he printed out a receipt for the service he had provided. Behind the desk were simply a phone/computer and a printer/fax/scanner machine. No filing cabinets. I was amazed by the process and asked him about the filing system. He explained to me that he works in a very small space and has no room for physically storing hundreds of patient files; therefore, he has a Microsoft based program that does everything for him. All he has to do is enter it in and save it, and you are good to go.

I thought to myself, is this the doctors’ office of the future? Can this be the future of business; could this be the future of AAA?

Truthfully, AAA is gaining ground on the cutting-edge. With marketing tools like our new website and customer programs like Webfile and Cybersettle we are staying a step ahead of the game. To the outside world, we continue and I hope we will always continue to be viewed as a leader in ADR. I want to challenge the company to always look ahead for our users’ sake, but to also look ahead for the great employees of the AAA as well. Having the latest technology that is fast and efficient in every regional office and in every case management center is important. Designing the workplace of the future in every office with a competitive salary and a knowledgeable staff is what will make great people stay and will attract new employees to our offices. With new technologies being offered for the customer, it is my main challenge to develop the same for the AAAs great employees.

The digital revolution is now taking off. CD sales are at an all-time low, while digital sales from companies like I-Tunes, Burnlounge, and Amazon are at an all-time high. The music and entertainment industry is realizing this new technology change. Even my Doctor sees it. In order for this company to survive, it must always be an innovator, a leader. It must never rest for its people, mission and customers.

Today, dream up your AAA idea and ask yourself what the future of the American Arbitration Association is.

The Peaceful Religions

I was listening to an AM Talk Show the other day when the subject of the Mohammad Cartoons was brought up. The guest was a teacher of Islam and his comment was, “Islam is a peaceful religion and he disagrees with what is going on with the violent protests.” I then substituted the word Islam with two other religions, Christianity and Judaism, so the statement would read, “[Christianity] is a peaceful religion OR “[Judaism] is a peaceful religion. I then stated each of these three statements out loud and came to this conclusion: Islam, Christianity, and Judaism are not peaceful religions. The correct word to use instead of religion would be philosophy. So, the sentence would read Islam is a peaceful philosophy, Judaism is a peaceful philosophy, ect.

The philosophy of something is the core or heart of the matter. One could say that the philosophy or even the teachings of Islam, Christianity, or Judaism is at their very core, peaceful; however, the religion of the three is in fact violent. Religion used in this way can be described as a cult. The religious believe so much that they are right, that they would kill, they would wage war, they would put others in harm just to get their point across.

Christianity had its history of violence during the “Holy Wars”, and Islam is getting more press in relation to violence these days. One could argue that Jesus, Mohammad, or Moses never wanted a religion named after them. They taught what they believed God wanted the world to hear; however, it was a philosophy, or a way of life that was taught- not a religion.

If religious people in the above three religions mentioned around the world would start thinking and acting on the philosophies of their various teachers, this would bring about a peace that is indeed “beyond our understanding.”

Songwriting & Music Producing

I got my start as a songwriter and music producer writing music and lyrics for local filmmakers in Atlanta, GA. I was always given specific assignments for the songs based on the film. My primary job was to make the music work with the story line of the films I wrote for. A couple of the films I have written songs for have gone on to win some awards such as:

A Song For Robbie Miller won a Golden Rooster for Best Short at the Southern Fried Flicks Film Festival in Augusta, GA. It is also screening this summer at the Atlanta Film Festival. I wrote and sang the opening credits song for the film.

EpicopAliens won Best Sound Design at the Atlanta 48-Hour Film Festival. This movie was a musical and I wrote two songs and co-wrote 2 others with the director of the film.

Lovely Rita won Best Short Feature at the Highway 5 Film Festival in Atlanta, GA. I wrote a song for a montage scene and the ending credits song.
NOTE: (To view all three of these movies, click here)

With the above credits behind me, I decided to start writing music for myself. Instead of others giving me assignments, I pulled from my life experiences as well as stories I had always wanted to write down and started making music on my own.

I write for all types of genres. By myself, I create country, rock/pop songs. With the help of a music partner I have even written hip-hop, r&b songs. I hope to sell some of my songs this year and land a publishing/producing contract with a major publishing house so that I may write songs on a full-time basis.

MARTA Is Not So Bad

My wife and I recently moved from Chamblee to the Druid Hills area. Since then (and living within walking distance from downtown Decatur) we automatically shifted from moderate conservatives to moderate liberals. There must be something in the water, or maybe it’s in the clean air of the Fernbank Forest, who knows? But since our move, we are now converting our yard to indigenous plants only, buying antiques to go with our 1950s ranch house, and buying art from only “local” or “southern” artists.

I have taken it a bit further this week. Yesterday, while filling up my gas tank (we don’t have a hybrid yet) I noticed all the cars, trucks, SUVs that were passing me only had one person per car. As I traveled to work, I noticed the same pattern, quickly did some math and realized why our roads are so congested. Well, me, the living and working in the city tree hugging, protesting liberal person, had to take action. I went to the Clean Air Campaign website and signed up for a carpool or vanpool. Unfortunately, I wasn’t matched with anyone but the system did match me up with a MARTA station 1 mile down the road from me. I had the choice to bike to the Decatur station, or drive a mile through the neighborhood and get free, security watched parking. Because we are getting into the summer months, I opted for the short drive to the East Lake station to hop on the train and transfer to the Brookhaven station where I caught my bus to the Century Center on Clairmont Road. An hour and a half later, I walked into my office a very happy and satisfied man. An hour and a half, you say; that is a waist of time. You’d rather be in control, sit in traffic, and get to work faster. You see, sometimes being in control can be very stressful. You drive to work by yourself, you get to listen to whatever station you want, but your drive to your destination doesn’t look like the car advertisements on television. Look closer at the fine print next time you’re watching T.V. Notice it says, “Driver is on a closed course.” You get to waste gas by sitting in traffic by yourself behind someone else who is “in control” of their drive and their life.

Let me paint you a picture of letting go. Drive/Bike/Walk to a local train or bus station and let someone else drive for you. In the old days, and in some circles today having someone else drive you around town is a sign of riches, power and prestige. They drive and you listen to music, catch up on a book, or meet a stranger who shares the same values you do. My parents always taught me to not waste time, so when you are “waiting” on the bus or train, don’t wait. Use your time wisely and catch up on that report or presentation for work, buy a paper and see what’s going on in the world, or just simply be still and quiet listening to the city live and breath around you.

I wouldn’t give you advice if I didn’t try it and agree with it myself. So, if you’ve been thinking about taking public transportation to work or to play, try it out and see what it’s like to let go a little, but still be in control, because after all…it’s your choices in life that make you who you are.

Random Print Job Audition

I got a call from my agent the other day letting me know there was a client interested in me for a print job, but that there was one other actor they were considering. The client made this determination based on our headshots; however, they wanted to make a final decision with an updated photo. I, unfortunately, do not have a digital camera, was at work, and had a nice new zit on my forhead but I told her I would e-mail them a pic. I took out my phone, posed a couple of times (deleted several pics) and then took a shot that was faily good but still showed my hair was a mess and yes indeed, I am sporting a nice zit on the forhead (nothing a little stage make-up can't clear up).
I didn't get the job, but it was a cool experience. As actors, we love those calls where it is down to one or two people and they just need an updated photo. What we love even better is getting a call from someone who know our work, and we don't even need an audition but we are hired then and there on the spot. This has only happened to me a couple of times, and I wasn't paid for the gigs, but it is nice to know someone respects what I do.