Weblog Archive 

July 18 - July 22, 2002

Monday 22nd July, 2002

Bene Diction posts:

Blog Watch

The Leaderboard has been updated.

If you are discouraged about blogging this short little post may lift your spirits.

CROSStian looks at the AIDS crisis and the compassionate response.

Fragments from Floyd has had some contemplative posts lately and some great pics.

Life on Wheels has a new look and a new slogan.

Touchstone on the basketball priest and the personality cult.

TallSkinnyKiwi is still looking for wheels after the RV gave out on the mission trip.

Hailstorm

Hailstorms the size of eggs have killed 22 and injured over 200 in the Chinese province of Henen.

Catholic Youth

About 3000 volunteers for World Youth Day gathered for mass in Toronto.

Sudan

There is a tiny glimmer of hope in the 19-year-old Sudanese war as both sides agree to a framework of negotiation.

WorldCom Woes

Will WorldCom’s mismanagement shut down parts of the web?

Blogging

Three popular war bloggers are interviewed in this San Francisco article on the phenomena of blogs. Link via Instapundit

The Rudest Tourists

The British? Canadians don’t be pleased with their rating.

Email

Although this email study findings are obvious, it bears repeating.

-posted 8:30am, by Bene Diction

Saturday 20th July, 2002

Bene Diction posts:

Blog Watch

G’day and bonjour to the new kids on the blog!

Looking back…looking forward

Blessed are the Hungry

Petals on a wet black bough

Wayne’s Corner

The Journey

This is the type of email Martin gets from bloggers wanting to be on the Semi-Definitive List of Christian blogs.

Would you please list my blog Greatest Jeneration on your list of Christian blogs? I am so glad to find you - for a while it seemed like every blog, except mine, was being written by atheists! Thanks for all your hard work getting the cyber "church" and the Community of Christians online together! God bless you,

No, you are not alone, and God bless you too. It is our joy to help you connect. Instead of me writing a blog watch today, I suggest you link to our new kids and older kids on the blog and get to know them.

Iran

David Warren says Iran has reached a boiling point.

North Korea

More truths are reaching westerners about atrocities in North Korea.

Blogging

Here is a weblog 101 for journalists.

Roll Up TV

Manufacturers are getting ready to launch TV’s so thin you can roll them up and tuck them under your arm.

Why God Enjoys Baseball

Christianity Today reviews Richard Mouw’s book that helps us think of all the good things that happen through unsaved people.

Tour de France

Lance Armstrong is still going strong.

Don’t have a Cow

Homer Simpson is Canadian.

-posted 9:50am, by Bene Diction

Friday 19th July, 2002

Martin Roth Christian Commentary

A Conversation with Michael Graham

Michael Graham spent 28 years at the heart of Indian religions before becoming a Christian, about five years ago. Exceedingly articulate about his experiences, he has spoken widely at churches throughout his native Australia. Now, with a book just published about his journey, he is off to the United States for a period of teaching and lecturing.

Here is what I wrote a couple of years ago when I interviewed him:

Many of the young Western spiritual seekers who flocked to Indian religions during the idealistic 1960s and 1970s became familiar with a mild-mannered Australian named Michael Graham. For Michael, who had embarked on an intense and far-reaching spiritual journey from the time of his graduation from elite Geelong Grammar School in the mid-1960s, came to find himself at the forefront of the great migration to the West of Indian religious teachings and practices.

As one of the first Western disciples of Swami Muktananda Paramanansa, who was to become a leading figure in America and elsewhere with his teachings of Siddha (perfect being) yoga, Michael helped manage his ashram (spiritual centre) in India, with up to 2,600 Westerners there at one time. He also became deeply involved in Muktananda’s American activities and energetically promoted his teachings in Australia and elsewhere.

Yet today Michael is on a different mission. In 1997 he became a Christian, after being convicted with the realisation that his 28 years of spiritual practices and experiences amounted to, in his own words, “a big fat zero” - and he is now working to persuade other idealistic spiritual seekers that their needs are simply met by the figure of Jesus, “the fulfilment of all spiritual paths”.

On the eve of his departure for the United States I asked him for some further reflections.

“A feature of the American culture is that people tend to be more engaged and interested in spiritual possibilities than in Australia,” he said. “There is a natural curiosity. I hope to get as many chances as possible to talk of my 28-year odyssey, and the renewal and rest I found in Christ. It was so unexpected. It would have been the last place I’d have looked if Christ had not sought me out.”

How does he compare today’s New Age spiritual seekers with those of his youth?

“There is not so much interest in Indian religion now,” he commented. “There is a lot of dilettantism, but not much rigour or discipline. Today you get pop Buddhism through the Dalai Lama, mixed up with astrology, psychic readings and so on. It’s Marie Claire spirituality now.”

In his talks to church gatherings Michael finds widespread interest in his experiences, coupled with concerns about the inroads that New Age spiritualities seem to be making, even among some Christians.

“People often ask me of the dangers involved in alternative spiritualities,” he said. “For example, they ask if it is okay to meditate. People need to be reminded that in Jesus we have our sufficiency. We don’t need ‘Jesus plus some kind of supplementation’. We need to rely on Him intellectually, emotionally and functionally.

“But it seems that many people don’t get this. And that stands in the way of their getting what they might from God’s grace.”

Many Christians are discovering meditation. What does Michael think about this?

“Eastern meditation and Christian meditation are quite different,” he said. “Most forms of Eastern meditation have to do with creating conditions for stopping mental processes. Christian meditation, by contrast, penetrates the meaning of scriptural verses through deliberate contemplation that can also lead to peace.”

* Michael is available to talk to church and other groups in North America, and can be contacted here. You can read more about him at my website.

Thursday 18th July, 2002

Bene Diction posts:

Blog Watch

Mark Byron’s second post on managing our modest abundance is up. Culture Curve and Spudlets weigh in.

Junk Yard Blog - I like the new graphic. Good post on Al Qaeda’s perception management.

HealYourChurchWebsite comments on the Gallop poll I mentioned yesterday.

G’day and bonjour to the latest new kid on the blog!  Krazy Celtic’s Hideout.

Christianity Today’s weblog has lots to link to today.

Steven Den Beste and Redwood Dragon have had another interesting and fruitful exchange. Joyful Christian also weighs in.

Blocking Internet Access

Israeli troops have shut down a Palestinian ISP.

IVF

A British judge is going to need the wisdom of Solomon.

I Kings 3:16-28.

Pope John Paul 11

Canadians put the finishing touches on preparations for the visit of the Pontiff. For those of you unfamiliar with Canada, Toronto is on Lake Ontario, and is the capital of the province, not the country. For great links to a Canadian view of the Popes visit, head to Relapsed Catholic.

Wouldn’t Budge

I have no idea how to comment on this story.

Crazy Christian Record Covers

Ookaay. There are even some sound clips.

-posted 2:35pm, by Bene Diction