The Parable of “Java Man Evolutionary Filters”

© Glenn Gardner

Metal was first of course.                                                 Things ground away.
White paper was finer.                                          Things ground away.
Brown was greener.                                  Things ground away.
Metal foil bonded to plastic frames survived well.
A    c o m p a c t    plastic    cup
with    synthetic    filter
beneath  foil  seal
holding  grounds
all  disposable
is  better
how?

Filter evolution midst a green revolution yields little clarification.

Parable of the “Comment Of Great Price”

There once was a person in possession of much individuality.
This person possessed a unique appearance.
This person possessed a distinguishing tone of voice.
This person possessed a distinctive temperament.
This person possessed a discreet thought life.
This person possessed a special way to express themselves.
This person possessed a claim on their comfort zone.
This person possessed a novel creativity.
This person possessed a particular sense of humour.
This person possessed a periodic degree of “me time”.
This person possessed a personal sense of person.
This person possessed a person.
This person possessed a self.
This person possessed many possessions.
This person went on a journey.
This person is every person that ever lived or ever will live.
This person found a “one” thing.
This person is not every person that ever lived or ever will live.
This person sold all personal possessions.
This person bought it.

Thinking about occasions when on the internet I really brought it.

Thinking about occasions when on the internet I really bought it.

Thinking about a “Comment of Great Price“.

Am I really willing to sell my self over the internet as I sit here ?

Am I really willing to sell my self on the street as I walk there ?

Standing On The Sidelines No More

Back in the early days of the internet “Big Bang” , in the mid 90’s daze of Windows 3.1 and dial-up snaily-mail, I made connections with real people via this medium and some of those connections are strong and vibrant to this day.
One of those connections was with a use-net group of budding songwriters that  posted original lyrics for critique and discussion. The group is still active although I do not participate now. Occasionally someone would post a challenge “Write a song lyric about *       *“, a time limit was posted, participants would post their original lyrics, and members would evaluate the lyrics. In response to the challenge to write a  “Do Gooder lyric in need of a tune, from someone else’s perspective” I wrote:

********************************************
STANDING ON THE SIDELINES
by Glenn Gardner ©1998

V1
I’m standin’ on the sidelines
With an empty hat
On the sidelines with an empty heart
That bears a heavy load.
I’m lookin’ for a signal
From you lookin’ back at me
I’m standin’ on the sidelines
In the middle of the road
Chorus
Vacant stare that’s full of questions
Empty heart that bears a load
Standin’ on the sidelines
In the middle of the road.
V2
I think I’m going somewhere
But I don’t remember why
Won’t you help me get there , brother ?
Don’t you have some change to spare ?
I’m needin’ just a hand up
Just a quick touch from you, brother
Just please help me get away from here
I really don’t know where.
Repeat Chorus
Bridge
Just a quick touch – I don’t bite –
Just a quick touch -don’t decline-
I’ll let you get back to your journey
And I’ll get back to mine.
Repeat Chorus and fade repeating last 2 lines
****************************************

Today I was provoked to think about a comment I had posted as a preface to those lyrics:

“I’m tossin’ my hat in the ring with the following lyrics-written
using the nouveau choix – “METHOD WRITING”- where I wrote from the
perspective of the panhandlers I encounter so often in the city.”

Writing those lyrics was a crude attempt to walk a mile in another man’s shoes. In the years since then I’ve had the privilege to count some of those panhandlers as good friends, especially when I WAS walking in their shoes. I thank God that, although I’ve never walked the median of King Edward Avenue in the middle of 6 lanes of traffic, panhandling, I’ve had the privilege to walk close by and have experienced God’s everlasting faithfulness in so many ways.

As I toss my hat in the blogosphere ring I am soberly reminded that the words I can so easily tap out on the keyboard in front of me are out there forever once I click “Send”. We can cut, copy,  edit, and paste the words before we click “Send”, but once we click “Send” there’s only one way back . 
As we interact with persons let us be mindful that we are doing something that will last forever. I am reminded also that my actions and in-actions  are out there forever.

(BTW – the lyric still needs a tune)

Now –
“I’ll let you get back to your journey
And I’ll get back to mine.”

1 Peter 4:11

The Parable of “Making Rent On The Internet”

My adult life has been occupied with fixing things.

Oft times people actually pay me to fix things and I’m able to make rent.

Jesus spoke of “Making Rent” in a parable
and if you are familiar with Jesus’ parables
you may know which one I am referring to.
I’ll give you three guesses:

1. Parable of the Talents
2. Parable of the Hidden Treasure
3. Parable of the New Cloth Patch

and I’ll give you three clues:

1. Internet discussion is often about contentious issues.
2. Discussion involves at least two people connecting.
3. People use words to engage in internet discussion.

Need another clue? OK – here it is: