from my friend <a href="http://maypopmusic.com">Keith</a>: dunno what it is about life that keeps me bending and not breaking, my friend. yes. 77221394daniel millerSaturday, June 01, 2002publishMy main concern with any such thing is that, as someone very passionate about change, both within the church and within individual believers, I have a hard time in places where any status quo is defended simply because it's the status quo. I am exploring faith completely outside of either the church or any faith-tradition assumptions. I keep reading the reports from these "postmodern" conferences where they say things like "we need our own vocabulary" and "the people we're talking about don't have, and won't have any part of, anything to do with 'the church' (as we know it)" and I'm thinking "you're just now figuring that one out?" It's ironic because I do speak a new vocabulary and people get offended by it! (And I don't just mean writing a story with the F-bomb in it.) For a few years I was interested in changing the church from the inside, but I've changed since then and only approach it from the outside. Alot of peps have a hard time understanding me as someone of a growing faith outside of the church or its faith traditions and vocabulary. The other thing is that, after checking out your venue, we realized that no-one in my group of co-conspiritors, could ever possibly afford to stay there. This changes the practicality of our participation in that we would need full subsidizing; or we could camp out nearby or something. I'm also a little concerned that your demographic *could* afford to stay there. I thought you had a pretty young demo. What can I say? Money sucks. Not that this is limited to your conference. I haven't been able to go to any of the big conferences because of the cost. I may never be in a place where I have that kind of disposable income, and I have no big evangelical organization flying me all over the world like some of the "gurus." Our efforts will always be simple, low-budget, often times low-tech (although we are facinated by, and use frequently, technology), and grassroots. 77221229daniel millerpublishIt's June already? Whatthe? 77220242daniel millerpublishWhen I called brother, he was understandably unamused. �What the fuck are you thinking?� I think were his exact words. My brother never minces words. He then went on to go off about how stupid it was for me to leave home in the first place, going to New York to be poor and deformed, taken advantage of, and desperate; all of which culminated with the scheme I had just described to him, imploring him to help me by participating. You see, Rob required brothers. I told him in no uncertain terms which part I would play, and the benefits he would gain, the treatment he would receive. He told me I was crazy. I told him this was my calling. I told him I would do nothing else with my life but this. I told him he would either help me be in this play or I would kill myself. He told me I had become one of those New York fatalists. All the terror threats had gone to my head. I was too ready to bet it all. I told him it was my destiny. I told him I would be famous. I told him he would be rich. He mumbled something. I said nothing. He said �Ok. What the hell. If that�s what you want. I can�t stop you.� I said �Great. �Now, we need to make plans. You need to be here for the audition. This is the only thing you�ll have to pay for, I promise.� �Ok. No problem. I�ll be there in two days.� 77220177daniel millerpublishI�m actually not allowed to tell you any of this stuff about the casting call and the auditions and the practices and the accommodations. I�m actually in breach of my contract right now. But what the hell. I�m about to go on. They can�t fire me now. 77194068daniel millerFriday, May 31, 2002publish<img src="http://danielsjourney.com/images/PhotographerandModel_small.jpg"> photo by a friend of mine, Kirill; a russian living in NYC and making some damn good images too 77180198daniel millerpublishgot mad props today on <a href="http://www.johnheronproject.btinternet.co.uk">john heron project</a>. 77154956daniel millerThursday, May 30, 2002publishBut these �entry points,� as they called them, are just the beginning. What happened after is the real story. 77154812daniel millerpublish<img src="http://www.danielsjourney.com/advert1/i-advertisement0.jpg" align="left"> It was such a strange advert to begin with! So obviously doctored--not even trying to hide it. And such strange language�it really didn�t make any sense at all to me, but I decided to pursue it anyway. I figured I�d noticed it, might as well. Turns out they paid a team of psychologists big bucks to create these things to draw in the �right� kind of people. Little did I know how it would pay off. Of course, the entire process has changed so much, the way I initially found it is probably no good anymore, and there are probably new secret passageways to the inside. Oh, we're really out of order now! -Ed. 77129656daniel millerpublishok... here's the thing with Rob: i had a little online hunt/mystery planned out, and i've been waiting for something that is out of my control to happen; and i'm not sure it's going to happen. i tried my best to make it happen but....how obtuse is that? BEsides, i'm thinking NOone got the puzzle thing from Micha, so this might be asking too much. SO SO SO i'm going to continue posting like nothing happened, and if you see this funny Rob post with a funny link in it....keep following....a treasure chest of extra information will await you should you find it. If you have read this post this far you will probly know when that post comes, too. i have to get cracking on that treasure now, but today i wrote most of the rest of Rob, so here goes.... 77129554daniel millerpublishHad a little church tonight. <a href="http://onelinedrawing.com/">onlinedrawing</a> concert. really suggest checking this guy out. he also has this band new end original. here are <a href="http://www.jadetree.com/mp3/New_End_Orig-Lukewarm.mp3">lukewarm</a>, an amazing song! and <a href="http://www.jadetree.com/mp3/New_End_Orig-Number_1.mp3">#1 defender</a> mp3's off of his label <a href="http://jadetree.com">jadetree's</a> site. His new onelinedrawing record is on there 2. jadetree is actually one of the culest labels out there. anyway. church. yeah. needed that. needed to feed just a little bit. line of the night: "I dunno what religion bjork is, but i want to join." 77129420daniel millerpublish<img src="http://danielsjourney.com/images/dwmworshipproj1.jpg"> <img src="http://danielsjourney.com/images/dwmworshipproj2.jpg"> 77085295daniel millerTuesday, May 28, 2002publish<a href="http://www.eff.org/">EFF Homepage</a> 77084489daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.christianpornmachine.com/"><img src="http://christianpornmachine.com/images/cpm2.gif" border="0"> CPM: hide your mothers and daughters</a> 77079657daniel millerpublish<a href="http://web.ukonline.co.uk/epicentre/meditation/2000/sanctuary/sanctuary-images.htm"><img src="http://web.ukonline.co.uk/epicentre/meditation/2000/sanctuary/image030.gif" border="0"></a> 77073511daniel millerpublishjust got an encouraging email from my friend <a href="http://www.smallritual.org">steve</a>. thanks steve! you did it!! well done. the reactions of the baal-kissers are always amusing. me and <a href="http://jonnybaker.blogspot.com/">jonny</a> would have helped out if we'd been there. --steve 77062262daniel millerpublishGot a load of questions from someone and thought I'd share some of my answers with you here. I'm still not done responding to all of his Q's, but the rest wouldn't interest you as much, me don't think: I will try to answer your numerous questions as best i can: > I am certainly intrigued by your on-line personality. I'm also interested > in knowing about your faith...what do you believe in? how did you come to > this? Do you attend church regularly somewhere...if so, where? Why do you > go > there...or not go anywhere? I believe in Jesus. Full stop. I actually told my story recently online. Although it got a pretty bad response. No church. No excuses. Would love to connect again with one, but just haven't been able to. Met someone online this week who does a church down here, was quite surprised to find him, actually. Could be a cul thing... Anyway, here is the story thusfar: http://personal.atl.bellsouth.net/mia/m/i/mill6858/story_1.htm > What are you trying to accomplish by tagging > SUV's...and do you think tagging is the best way? (I can't guarantee that > there won't be SUV drivers at the Vine, and I'd hate for them to come out > and find their vehicles tagged...that would not be in the spirit of the > Vine...but, I would absolutely suggest that you be put on a panel with an > SUV owner and give everybody the opportunity to hear each of you and to > engage each other face-to-face around the issues...hmmm, I'd be there for > sure...) It's funny you should bring this up. You're not the first and I can only guess at this point you won't be the last. You can catch up on all the tagging thoughts starting here and going on up for the rest of today (monday 27 may): http://dealingwith.blogspot.com/2002_05_01_dealingwith_archive.html#76992684 I'll reserve my moral right to stick bumber stickers on SUV's and SUV owners can reserve their moral right to press charges against me. Bottom line: Most Christians fight the fight against abortionists, homosexuals, intellectuals, athiests, humanists and agnostics. I fight against the blind consumers, the environment-destroyers, the non-thinkers, the prejudiced, those that would make war, pollute, and gain personally at the expense--intentions aside--of others. Most of the time I'm fighting alongside all the favorite targets of Christians, and defending them (the aformentioned abortionists, homosexuals, etc.). This makes me very unpopular. As does my stance against the institutional church (referencing first link). > What is worship? That's the question. > What is a worship installation? What does it do? We have adopted the word installation because we need new vocabulary. We need new words to describe our journey. An art installation usually connotates a three dimentional, multi sensory experience. We also believe they are to convey meaning, or help seekers connect with meaning. > Can you give me a little more context around your comment on your site > that > Danielsjourney is not a "Christian group, church, or alt.worship service," > that you are "seeker-insensitive" and "anti-evangelical"? Exactly that. Is that not blunt enough? Church too often tries to compete. They try to be, or they literally include, Starbucks, Coke, the Gap, or the Ford SUV line, when that's not what church was supposed to be about, last time I checked. We don't think like most churchgoers and we don't want most churchgoers to show up and try to muck things up. The people we're interested in will never be interested in the church. So we're not that anymore. > Where do you see > yourselves in 10 years? Again, I find it somewhat funny that you ask the same question that has been recently asked of me, also by the same people who questioned the SUV thing. God willing I could be with Her in 10 years. 77062140daniel millerpublishthe only authority any of us really has is relational. command-based authority always undermines itself at some point. those who practice command-based authority end up destroying the very thing that could have brought them the authority they sought to inflict rather than enact. 77061929daniel millerpublish<a href="http://theyblinked.blogspot.com/">TheyBlinked</a> we just left the theatre and emerged into a quiet darkness much like the still, lush twilight of recollected times past--Skardu, Singapore, the Pacific Northwest, Katmandu... the hint of wetness, the slight breeze only noticeable by the understated movement of the leaves, the blanket of clouds that seem more securing than ominous. these make up the brooding, creative, soul-filled darkness that moves through me as i move through it. believing ourselves to be something solid and autonomous, something that can encounter the world as it is--dominating and subduing it without ourselves being impacted, something other than a unique and powerful emergence from a unique collection of conditions is to inhabit a linguistic tradition of self-centeredness and despair, and, i would submit, is to lose something of what it is to be human--perhaps at an even deeper level what it means to be a part of our unique planetary existence. the rain, the clouds, the thunder over the horizon, the quiet movement of the wind through my shirt, the deep impact of ayesha's hand in mine, eyes to look back at me offering love without possession--the commitment of freedom, the cycle of joy in preparing and sharing food, the all too natural pathologies of power in protecting and extending the lives and dreams of those we love, these, the powers inherent in what it is to truly live a human life, these powers that rip through us as if from afar all the while no more distant than our next breath, these we are given by design and they are ours to enact with love, with faith, with hope. ...and yes he's been to all those places... 77061830daniel millerpublishAnd all this over some bumber stickers. I think it's quite funny actually. 77031386daniel millerMonday, May 27, 2002publishWe've also been informed twice now about the illegality of our activites. So here you go: Destruction of property: <a href="http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=JOHN 2:15&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on">John 2:15</a> So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. <a href="http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?search=arrest&SearchType=AND&version=NIV&restrict=Gospels&StartRestrict=&EndRestrict=&rpp=25&language=english&searchpage=0&x=8&y=12">On being arrested</a> Or how about another great historical figure? Try and count how many times arrested/how much time spent in jail: <a href="http://www.mahatma.org.in/timeline/showtimeline.jsp?link=tl&timeline=tm0002&category=Mahatma">timeline of Mahatma 1896-1912</a> <a href="http://www.mahatma.org.in/timeline/showtimeline.jsp?link=tl&timeline=tm0003&category=Mahatma">1913-1923</a> <a href="http://www.mahatma.org.in/timeline/showtimeline.jsp?link=tl&timeline=tm0004&category=Mahatma">1924-1935</a> <a href="http://www.mahatma.org.in/timeline/showtimeline.jsp?link=tl&timeline=tm0005&category=Mahatma">1936-1948</a> "The test of friendship is assistance in adversity, and that too, unconditional assistance. Co-operation which needs consideration is a commercial contract and not friendship. Conditional co-operation is like adulterated cement which does not bind." "There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supercedes all other courts." And just in case you were wondering, I was, so I searched and searched for info about what would happen if we had been busted while tagging SUV's. Well, I couldn't find it. Although I'm sure some of you law-abiding <a href="http://gs_citizen.blogspot.com/">c</a>itizens might be able to find it for me. So <a href="mailto:daniel@danielsjourney.com">send it me</a> when you do. I even did a search for <a href="http://www.google.com/search?num=50&hl=en&lr=&q=penalty+for+destruction+of+property+in+florida&spell=1">penalty for destruction of property in florida</a> with no luck, although that did bring up some interesting links, including federal cases against civil rights protestors in the 40's. Undoubtably the law abiding citizens would have been all for the charges against african-americans for sitting at the front of the bus. It was the law, after all. 77031331daniel millerpublishI was also told that it/I was "of the devil." So now for something a bit different: <a href="http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=MATT 5&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on">Matthew 5</a> The Beatitudes Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, and he began to teach them saying: "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you." <a href="http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=1KGS+19&language=english&version=NIV&showfn=on&showxref=on">1 Kings 19</a> Elijah Flees to Horeb Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, "May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them." Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, Lord ," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. There he went into a cave and spent the night. The Lord Appears to Elijah And the word of the Lord came to him: "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord , for the Lord is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord , but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?" He replied, "I have been very zealous for the Lord God Almighty. The Israelites have rejected your covenant, broken down your altars, and put your prophets to death with the sword. I am the only one left, and now they are trying to kill me too." The Lord said to him, "Go back the way you came, and go to the Desert of Damascus. When you get there, anoint Hazael king over Aram. Also, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed you as prophet. 17 Jehu will put to death any who escape the sword of Hazael, and Elisha will put to death any who escape the sword of Jehu. Yet I reserve seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal and all whose mouths have not kissed him." The Call of Elisha So Elijah went from there and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen, and he himself was driving the twelfth pair. Elijah went up to him and threw his cloak around him. Elisha then left his oxen and ran after Elijah. "Let me kiss my father and mother good-by," he said, "and then I will come with you." "Go back," Elijah replied. "What have I done to you?" So Elisha left him and went back. He took his yoke of oxen and slaughtered them. He burned the plowing equipment to cook the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow Elijah and became his attendant. 77028626daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&querytime=KQMXjB&q=global warming">Google Search: global warming</a> and for the rest....too numerous to count 77026278daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/warming/">Union of Concerned Scientists</a> 77026265daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www4.nas.edu/onpi/webextra.nsf/web/climate">A Closer Look at Global Warming</a> 77026259daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/globalwarming/what.html">NOAA Paleoclimatology Global Warming - The Story</a> 77026248daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/paleo.html">NOAA Paleoclimatology Program - Homepage</a> 77026240daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/paleo/globalwarming/home.html">NOAA Paleo Global Warming Home</a> 77026233daniel millerpublish<a href="http://globalwarming.enviroweb.org/ishappening/earthatnight_frameset.html">Global Warming Is Happening</a> 77026205daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.globalwarming.org/">Global Warming -- The Cooler Heads Coalition</a> 77026031daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/25/science/26CLIM.html">Ancient Coral May Hold Hint of Worsening Weather Cycle</a> 77026016daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A30706-2001Jan22.html">Scientists Issue Dire Prediction On Warming (washingtonpost.com)</a> 77026009daniel millerpublish<a href="http://poseur.4x4.org/reasons1.html">Reasons to buy an SUV / SUV Alternatives</a> <a href="http://poseur.4x4.org/reasons2.html">Reasons not to buy an SUV</a> 77025966daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.nrdc.org/default.asp">NRDC: Natural Resources Defense Council</a> 77025552daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.epa.gov/OMSWWW/05-autos.htm">Automobile Emissions: An Overview</a> 77025520daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/transportation/trucks.airpoll.html">Light Trucks and Air Pollution</a> 77025466daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.greenercars.com/">Welcome to GreenerCars.com: The online home of ACEEE's Green Book</a> 77025459daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.ucsusa.org/transportation/greener.SUVs.html">Greener SUVs: A Blueprint for Cleaner, More Efficient Light Trucks</a> 77025430daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.baaction.org/SUVticket/">[ Bay Area Action | SUV Ticket ]</a> 77025358daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.suv.org/environ.html">SUV Environmental Concerns</a> 77025349daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/climate/index.html">EPA Global Warming Site: Climate</a> 77025324daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/">EPA Global Warming Site</a> 77025312daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/">Global Warming Main - Sierra Club</a> 77025266daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.sierraclub.org/globalwarming/suvreport/">SUV Report - Global Warming - Sierra Club</a> So one of the comments was that global warming has yet to be proved. So here we go.... 77025253daniel millerpublishwell.this.is.interesting got a hate call last night. our second hate receipt since the inception of this little project. except this time it was from someone very close to me. /well.this.is.interesting 77024926daniel millerpublish<a href="http://www.lifeisajoke.com/worknleisure_html.htm">How to Communicate with your co-workers</a> 76993210daniel millerSunday, May 26, 2002publish<a href="http://tallskinnykiwi.blogspot.com/">talliskinnikiwiwee</a> <a href="http://www.theooze.com/articles/read.cfm?ID=398&CATID=4">Gripes about home churches</a> House Church: <table><tr><td width="50%">What's Cool ? Seating - comfortable Bathroom Proximity - always close Music - if its a multi-room party No sermon - teaching is interactive DIY Potential - anyone can do it Size - small is intimate Cuisine - bring on the love feast Freedom of Movement - room-floating encouraged Security - less likely a bomb target Speed - It could happen tonight </td> <td> What's Lame ? Seating - no back pew to hide on Bathroom Proximity - everyone notices Music - if its an attempt at Kum-By-Ya No sermon - if you're are a preacher DIY Potential - if you want to be a paid professional Size - small is bad for babe-scouting Cuisine - No more pot-lucks in the church hall Freedom of Movement - expect to be interrupted by the dog Security - who took my CD's? Speed - it could happen tonight in your house </td></tr></table> Doesn't this look better side by side? Gosh HTML is easy. My commentary: Backwash happens. Yeah. What about sloppy seconds? The church's sperm all in there screwing (sic) your every effort to be fertile. Lets not spill any wine. Yeah. I think the Choir already mentioned this one. You might want to check it out. <a href="http://play.mp3.com/cgi-bin/play/play.cgi/AAIAQhNoCwDABG5vcm1QBAAAAFJywgAAUQEAAABDQ4DMPMh70KiVZ0Ce4XrE9xrR6yA-/Shiny_Floor.mp3">deep link of "Shiny Floor" mp3</a> Update: seems to work if you right click and go "save target as" ,,,but i'm not sure mp3.com allows deep linking so <a href="http://artists.mp3s.com/artists/49/the_choir.html">here's their mp3 page</a> scroll waaaay down and look for "Shiny Floor." Cheers, Johnny 76992494daniel millerpublish