The Awesome Beauty of Liturgical Dance

One of the things we like, here at the Compound, is Liturgical Dance. And while we're at it, why not accompany the Dance with a patriarchy-busting version of the Lord's Prayer. Like this one:

O Divine Womb,
birthing forth the river of blessing which runs through all,
Soften the ground of our being,
and hallow in us a space for the planting of thy presence.

In our depths,
sow thy seed with its greening-power
that we might be midwives to thy Reign.

Then, let each of our actions
bear fruit in accordance with thy desire.

Impart to us the wisdom to bring forth the gifts of the earth
and share them daily according to the needs of each being,

And restore that which has been usurped
by injustice to its rightful owners,
as we restore to others that which is not our own.

Do not let us be seduced
by that which would divert us from our purpose,
but make us sensitive to the moment at hand.

For from thy fertile soil is born the creativity,
the life-energy, and the dance,
from birthing to birthing. Ameyn.

How very, very beautiful. And awesome.

Ameyn.

LSP

Houses of the Holy

Don't get me wrong, country life is great, but I decided to drive to Dallas this evening with Blue Zeppelin, to grill out with GWB and his old pal CB. CB sells Old Masters; who knew there were any left to sell? Well, there are, but it's a "niche market." A good one to be in too, I'd imagine.

With that in mind, I made the drive to the frozen metrosprawl of Northern Texas in 45 minutes. I35 was apocalyptically deserted, which made for the good time. Of course some EOTW/SHTF scenarios would leave the highways impassible, choked with the wrecks of cars and trucks.

A good off-road vehicle might be helpful in that situation, or even better, the presence of mind to have a place in the country and the forethought to be there on time.

Be prepared,

LSP

Hillary Clinton for President?

Despite being enmeshed in a never-ending stream of scandal, Hillary Clinton is running for President because she wants to be the most powerful person in the world. What qualities will she take to the job? 

Ambitious

Calculating

Secretive

Entitled

Harridan

Good luck, America.

LSP

Low Sunday

Today is Low Sunday and the air is filled with the smell of slow cooking pork, which my neighbors have put on their fire pit, and with the sound of chickens, which have escaped the grill. The peacock is strangely silent.

Rain is falling and I reflect on Thomas, who touched the wounds of Christ. "My Lord and my God," he said. My dog, Blue Anselm, doesn't seem too struck by this and dozes on the kitchen floor. He is a natural theologian.

God bless,

LSP

Gun Rights, Don't Retreat.

Libs think that you're safer if you're disarmed. Or to put it another way, if you can't defend yourself, you won't get hurt. That's why they want to ban guns and give them all to the Government, which will protect you. History argues otherwise, and so does Texas. 

"In Texas if a person is present in any place where they have a right to be, they have no duty to retreat and have the right to use force, including deadly force, if they reasonably believe that it is necessary to prevent death or serious bodily injury to themselves or to prevent the commission of murder, aggravated kidnapping, sexual assault, aggravated sexual assault, robbery or aggravated robbery."

No duty to retreat. I like that.

Gun rights,

LSP

Scientists Predict Discovery of Alien Life in 20 Years!

Brainiac boffins at NASA predict that alien life will be found in twenty or thirty years. 

“I think we’re going to have strong indications of life beyond Earth within a decade, and I think we’re going to have definitive evidence within 20 to 30 years,” said NASA chief scientist Ellen Stofan.

Stofan believes the extraterrestrials will be discovered because NASA "knows where to look" and has the technology to find ET lifeforms.

“We know where to look. We know how to look,” she said. “In most cases, we have the technology, and we’re on a path to implementing it. And so I think we’re definitely on the road.”

But what will alien life look like? Will it be humanoid, or something else?

And are they hiding, here, in plain sight?

LSP

So I Drove To Clifton

I drove out of Dallas for Clifton this morning, along an eerily deserted southbound I35. Northwards was a different story, as endless cars jammed into the metrosprawl.

Soon enough, I was heading down 219 into Clifton and I like that drive. The road winds along and then the ground dips away to reveal a westwards vista. My pictures never do it justice, but still, it's dramatic, especially if you're used to the endless flatness of significant parts of Texas. Everything looks weirdly lush and green at the moment; that will change soon enough.

Clifton is a well put together little town and worth the visit, if you're in the area. It has a decent Western Store, an excellent feed/tack store, and several restaurants and shops. It's not boarded up and reverting to nature, unlike other towns, which I won't name. 

But I didn't knock about the town, I just went to the funeral and paid my respects. The service was led by a young Lutheran pastor, who seemed a pleasant clergyman, although he kept saying, "Christ is Risen! Alleluia!" apparently in the hope that the mourners would respond, joyously, with, "He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!" I know, it's Eastertide, but I could have done without that.

I drove back to Dallas and discovered that a rifle barrel had arrived, which was pleasing. My friends, who had been hunting in Clifton as I was at the funeral, managed to shoot a pig and some rabbits. Well done!

God bless,

LSP

Mad Mitch

Some of you may have noticed that there's a scrap going on in Aden. It's important, because of oil, and who knows how it will all pan out. Will our Iranian allies win, or will our Saudi/Qatari allies win? Maybe ISIS will win. Do we back them? With guns and ammo and PR spin? (propaganda) Who knows.

But we do know that Lt. Col. "Mad Mitch" of the Argyll and Southern Highlanders, had the temerity to retake the Crater in Aden, in 1967.

He was hated for that.

I'm a big fan of Mad Mitch, ever since I was a kid. His Highlanders took care of business.

LSP

Easter Holiday!

I thought I'd take a couple of days off in Dallas after Easter. You know, just do nothing, apart from browse the gun shops, idly read Sci-Fi novels, and make the odd foray to the pub. Good plan, eh?

So far this has meant driving to Waco to visit a person in hospital and then, tomorrow, driving to Clifton for a funeral.

Some friends will be hog hunting in Clifton at the very moment I will be at the graveside. I hope they shoot something; we can grill it up later that evening in Dallas, if they do. Failing that, there's always hamburgers.

If you meet the Buddha on the road, shoot it.

LSP

A Mixed Grille

Easter dinner meant rib eye steak, more rare than medium, and lamb chops. They were pretty rare too, and I guess that made the paschal feast a bit of a mixed grill.

The aging Queen of Pop has a grill.

So does super-star songstress Rhianna.

And Nicki Minaj, and many, many more.

They say the Vatican's recent Exorcist training conference was sold out.

Kick out the Jams,

LSP

Happy Easter!

I wish you all a joyous and blessed Easter. Here's St. John Chrysostom:

Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hell when He descended into it.
He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh.

Isaiah foretold this when he said,
"You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below."
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with.
It was in an uproar because it is mocked.
It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed.
It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated.
It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive.

Hell took a body, and discovered God.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.

O death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?

Christ is Risen, and you, o death, are annihilated!
Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down!
Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice!
Christ is Risen, and life is liberated!

Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead;
for Christ having risen from the dead,
is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.

To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

God bless,

LSP

Consumatum Est

The Altars are stripped, Christ lays in the tomb, and death, apparently, has won. Now is the judgement of this world, and its redemption.

Consumatum Est.

LSP