The Occasional Newsletter
The Greek Games, Culture Wars and the Renaissance & A Theology of Hope & Getting Saucy & Black Swallowtails & Books & Untwisted Scripture
The Greek Games, Culture Wars and the RenaissanceĀ
The origin of the Olympics is, well, totally pagan. There were gods, goddesses, naked peopleānekkidā(iykyk), gorging, drunkenness, etc. Todayās Olympics are part of that tradition, but the PG version. The completely ostentatious opening ceremonies are there for you to watch or not. If we choose to watch, let us not expect a church service. The art, the images, the extravagance are a reflection of culture that is.
If a recent artistic display resembles any piece of art, then that is what it is. If artistic display is an attempt to recreate a religious depiction of a biblical scene, then that is what it is.Ā Da Vinciās Last Supper is an iconic image, and so is the White Jesus Head of Christ by Warner Sallman. Neither one is holy. They are both two mensā depiction of a subject they choose to represent. I adore Giottosā frescoes in the Scrovegni Chapel. I have stood in that chapel enraptured with the beauty and stark message of Christās last days,Ā but if it is destroyed, my faith remains intact.Ā
Christian, whether or not that performative art represented the last supper or something else, have peace. Do not be surprised if Christ is ever mocked. Be sad if he is. But our love, and our energy should flow to those in need of his love. It is up to us to display the ways and mind of our gentle savior.
People may mock representations,Ā but they cannot touch what is eternal.
Be at peace.
First Fruits: A Theology of Hope| by Courtney Dunkerton | Medium
And speaking of renaissance, it is a French word meaning rebirth. The place in history that was designated as such is seen by some as a movement out of the dark ages into the age of light, discovery, exploration, and an explosion of curiosity about, and returning to, the art and literature of antiquity.Ā
Rebirth is a sacred idea of what the Kingdom of God is all about. The New Humanity rejects the tools of conquest, war and oppression. This blog is one of my very favorite pieces Iāve ever written. Iād be honored if you read it:Ā
The created world is a mission field deserving of preservation, renewal, and collective acts of mercy, reflecting the God who sends his rain on the just and the unjust. Therefore, acts of mercy are acts of resistance against sin, death and decay. They are acts of resistance against the ruler of this world who came to seek, kill, and destroy. They are acts of renewal, of reversing the curse, by transforming communities through the radical love and shalom of Jesus Christ. --First Fruits: A Theology of Hope| by Courtney Dunkerton | Medium
Getting Saucy
Itās āMater season! Iām growing Romas and an heirloom variety Cherokee Purple, both started from seed. My next door neighbor shared a way to make some quick and yummy tomato sauce which works well with my daily 5-10 Romas I harvest every other day or so.Ā
The recipe: cut the tomato in half longways and place in a roasting pan, enough to cover it with one layer. Add a quartered onion and 3 peeled garlic cloves. Drizzle with olive oil and add salt and pepper qb. Toss and arrange the Romas cut side down and roast at 375o for 30 minutes or till the skins begin to turn black. As it cools I toss in a generous handful of fresh basil from my neighborās garden. When itās cooled enough, pour it into a pot and process with an immersion blender and youāve got a tasty sauce for yourself and maybe a little bit to share!
I plant dill in my garden for the very purpose of feeding the Black Swallowtail butterflies by feeding the larvae and caterpillars. This above photo is one out of 12 plump caterpillars on one dill plant, or what was left of the dill plant.Ā
You can learn more about the several Swallowtail butterfly species in this handy-dandy field guide: Butterflies of North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia | Harry E. LeGrand Jr. | University of North Carolina Press You can also learn fancy science names like: Papilio polyxenes.
Fun facts about Black Swallowtail defense tactics: 1) Their larvae mimics bird poop! and 2) THEY HAVE ANGRY EYES!
All swallowtail larvae have an eversible horn-like organ behind the head known as the osmeterium (osmeteria, plural) that looks like a forked snake tongue. It is a bright yellow-orange color on the black swallowtail. When the caterpillar is disturbed it rears up and the organ is extended for a short period of time. When everted it releases a chemical repellent with a foul smell to repel predators. Black swallowtail, Papilio polyxenes ā Wisconsin Horticulture.
Book Recommendations in Photos
Untwisted Scripture
On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, āLet anyone who is thirsty come to me, and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, āOut of the believerās heart shall flow rivers of living water.āā John 7:37-38