so…

yesterday I picked-up on s story about Pope Francis and his decidedly un-traditional approach to the Papacy, and offered-up a quick post: Pope Francis is a “Love Kat”. while I don’t feel that qualifies him as a contrarian (other than within the Catholic Church), it was enough to get me thinking about other lines drawn in the “proverbial” sand.

NOTE: just to be chosen for his role he had to appeal to a majority, some how. that has to say, if not indicate something meaningful about what people want, or think they want, or maybe what God wants. but, we’ll investigate that later.

meanwhile, what I decided to pick-up on was the references to the “traditional Catholics” that had their collective backs up. they evidently have blogs. reference: Rorate Caeli, one of the most-read traditionalist efforts. they reacted to the Pope Francis foot-washing ceremony by declaring the death of the prior Pope Benedict’s eight-year project to correct what he considered, “the botched interpretations of the Second Vatican Council’s modernizing reforms”.

“The official end of the reform of the reform — by example,” ”Rorate Caeli” lamented in its report on Francis’ Holy Thursday ritual.

I think to keep things balanced, within reason, I’ll need to include Muslims because they appear to be a growing organization /1 - kind of like the way Samsung Android devices outnumber the iPhone. …what… in fact, there are evidently seventy three (73) different types of Muslims that include . sunni, shia, bahi, sufi, mirzai, wahabi, and, alawites.

are traditional Catholics to the Catholic Church what the Orthodox are to the Jews (is that the correct way to reference those fascinating people, “the Jews”?), and Extreme is to Muslims?

while we (assuming you are tracking with me, here) are at this, are “traditional”, “orthodox”, and “extreme” qualifiers along the lines of “evangelical” in terms of Christians? if things got heated enough could some describe Evangelicals as Extreme? I’m thinking the Holy Wars funded by the English nobility that riled Muslims so much that they decided to promote the idea of Jihad. but, I digress.

there must be a significant difference amongst the groups because they all get heated-up about their positions, roles, view points, stances, and ability to dance.

is there a point system?

and, why don’t they have sports teams? I’m certain they all have blogs. and we know they have schools. and, if they do, can they all throw a baseball well, or kick a soccer ball effectively?

well… many of them actually do have sports teams and athletic clubs. the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, for example. there are probably many others, just as there are secret societies. but, I don’t care about any of that, for the moment.

all the major religions (referenced in this blog post) are centered on God. and, they all have very similar rules of conduct with the focus cast on Old Testament, which I find very comforting, mind you (the common foundation more so than the confusing, albeit epic, story-arc nature of the Old Testament).

I’m making less of a point, here, than I am setting-the-stage. I’m a ponderous thinker. so, more later. I’m probably just getting started.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

1/

• The largest religion (Christianity) is aprox. 68% larger than the second largest religion (Islam) and 246% larger than the third largest religion (Hinduism).

• The nine smallest religions combined have fewer adherents than the third largest (Hinduism).

• And the eight smallest religions combined have fewer adherents than the fourth largest (Buddhism).

• The combined adherents of the three primary Abrahamic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, makes up approximately 52.8% (3,202,240,666 persons) of the total population – more than half. Some times also Sikhism and the Bahá’í faith are counted as Abrahamic religions, in which case that number will be slightly higher.

• Non-religious people and people belonging to religions not part of the 12 world religions makes up slightly less than 27%. A smaller number than the largest religion, Christianity, but larger than the second largest religion, Islam.

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yesterday I wrote about the “Living Dead”, adding some thoughts about Christ and how He might be a solution for something like that with His own manner of rising to the challenge, as it were. I may not have made that point precisely, I really just thought of that now.

tomorrow I’ll take a break from most everything except maybe a good run, and also Emma Jo. her big “sissy” Haley Anne is at Seaside with her buddy Alex, and her family. I’m in the dog house with Joanne. so, I’ll work on that as well.

in any event, I saw this story and I simply must marvel. Pope Francis is the real deal. while I don’t qualify as Catholic, I know a Thought Leader and change agent, when I spot one.

Brian Patrick Cork: Perfect. Thats leadership. The dude is a “Love Kat”.

Pope’s foot-wash a final straw for traditionalists - news.yahoo.com

“VATICAN CITY (AP) – Pope Francis has won over many hearts and minds with his simple style and focus on serving the world’s poorest, but he has devastated traditionalist Catholics who adored his predecessor, Benedict XVI,…”

Happy Easter, everyone.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

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you have the option to listen to this blog post via the following audio link: brian cork is not Nehemiah

so…

one promising day back in September Chip Brackley looked at me, square in the eyes, and said, “I think you should write about Nehemiah“.

to prepare for this post I had to go back and ask Chip to remind me why he wants me to focus on Nehemiah. he came back with:

Because it’s my favorite book of the Bible. Because he had a vision and he executed it with leadership and skill like no one else since or before.  Because God is tugging at you and wants you to write about what is important to him.

although, to be fair, I think Andy Stanley started this through one of his books, Visioneering: God’s Blueprint for Developing and Maintaining Personal Vision, and that was followed by a series of sermons known as Catalyst. however, I’ll submit it was God that is the root of this.

…I suppose that’s rather obvious if we look around ourselves. but, we can’t always see what we need to, or should.

it’s just about discernment. we all have a destiny. a purpose. we like the stories of Robin Hood, King Arthur, even Don Quixote because the sense of purpose, that Raison d’être speaks to something deep within our souls.

perhaps the very question of, “why am I here”, is where God was formed and always forged. man and those better around him will always say, “iron sharpens iron”.

we’ll safely assume that God put Nehemiah on the planet to set an example. I’d trust God to do that. causing a remarkable text book or parable reference book on the global market in the manner God did was fairly impressive./1 so, creating a figure (of Biblical proportions) that we might want to emulate, is probably well within His skill-set.

where do I get these ideas?

the inspiration, here, as you must recall, is Chip. but, that conversation started around correlative topics that include “transactional transparency”, “the authentic life”, “best practices”, and many other lines-of-thought that might define a philosophy that drives my life. so, if Chip see’s Nehemiah in-and-amongst that, I find myself compelled to discuss this and possibly strive to be like Nehemiah (except for the eunuch part).

mind you, I’ve just tapped the words, “possibly strive to be like Nehemiah” into existence. and, I may commit this post to audio, so I’ll also breathe the words into life (with no promethean intent, mind you). so, does that carry arrogance with it? or, have I challenged myself and now must hope better men than me like Chip and Andy will hold me accountable?

well… that’s the point, eh. years ago I started writing about, “Living Like Christ” (go find those pieces if you choose). and, all that was part of me avoiding a covenant of my own with Christ (or, God, or however the Christian’s try to define Him, or confuse others). I would say things like, “I don’t know if Christ actually rose from the dead”. and, “does it matter as long as I live my life ‘like Christ’. I also talked a lot about being Heterodox (in short that means appreciating the tradition but always questioning the foundation with an understanding that the truth of the day changes based on circumstances). I suspect I remain that, for the most part. but, I also know I both want to live my life like Christ, and some how find a way to believe what I need to. does that find you? or, do you find it?

so, can I be like Nehemiah if I am still “searching” as the Christians refer to that un-quixote-like quest? is it possible that in realizing my inner Nehemiah I’ll see that man in the mirror thus reflecting Christs’ example because He has somehow found his way into me?

bring it on, I say.

meanwhile, what is God’s commission of me? upon what stepping stone do I find my foot on today’s path?

I hang out all day helping my friends make better decisions. I use my super powers for good. I believe that good can and will always, if only eventually, over-come evil. and, I sincerely believe that I can or should some how be an example for all of that. or, is it more than that? something deeper.

oh hell… this is not going anything like I had mapped-out in my head.

it’s about vision, I think. a personal vision, and the other we must needs have in our minds-eye for the world around us.

however, vision is more than simply what could be. after all, what could be is simply an idea or a dream. vision also carries with it a sense of conviction.

vision always stands in contrast to the world as it is. vision demands change. but a vision also always requires someone to champion the cause. it takes someone who is willing to put his or her neck on the line. someone who has the courage to act on an idea.

its not only something that could be done, but what should be done. it’s something that must happen. it moves you from passive concern to action.

then there is that conviction. that sense of purposeful conviction that gives vision a sense of urgency.

this finally brings us to the story of Nehemiah who heard about the deplorable condition of his homeland from some of the exiles who had returned from Persia. just go find the Book of Nehemiah, and read verse 1-4). do it!

today the one (because there are others with different context) thing I find most encouraging about the story of Nehemiah is that he was just a regular guy who caught a divine glimpse of what could and should be. and, then went after it with all his heart.

years ago, Aubrey Nelson wrote of me:

“Brian Patrick Cork is a beautiful man BECAUSE of his many imperfections. They fuel his boundless optimism because he is convinced that he and every thing around him can, and will, always improve.

I have known Brian for over 20 years. A gifted athlete, I first saw him emerging from the mist charging up a daunting hill during a Cross Country race in Virginia, and stood amazed as he ran down the Kenyans for victory. He is all heart, this one.

Brian Cork has made and lost fortunes. He has never had to think twice about giving away the very shirt from his back. He has lost businesses to predators and buried children. He has been lauded as a hero for being a volunteer firefighter; and wrongfully vilified as a stock swindler (I was one of his many investors, and he did brilliant work). Men of great stature and influence seek his counsel. Most simply enjoy being around him. Brian will say “we are all tied together by threads of continuity. So, we can and must make a difference in one another’s lives. It’s not only an obligation… the connection makes our lives richer and meaningful”. Every day he strengthens the very fabric of the business community – one thread at a time.

What I marvel at, what gives me such hope for a generation led by Brian Cork and his people, is that this man could overcome depression, self-doubt and other constraints of biology and not only act decisively, but retain his humanity. Like a figure from the Old Testament, Brian has wandered the earth, making mistakes, loving his family but causing them pain, despairing over the course of events, trying to divine God’s will. He could not know how things would turn out, but he has always done his best and maintained an unwavering faith in GOD, himself and people. He has always kept his moral compass pointed firm and true. And, now he helps other men find balance and success in their own lives.”

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that’s Mr. Bernstein, to you.

Harry left us this past Friday at the age of one hundred-and-one years of age (Harry, not the rest of us, yet). that’s hard to do, as are writing books, and good books, at that.

I never met Harry. and, I don’t why. but, I’ve read his books. The Invisible Wall, and possibly The Dream. you may argue for his, The Golden Willow, as would likely Harry himself (it was a focus on Ruby, his wife of seventy years) will likely be the most notable. he wrote several dozen others. however, he destroyed the majority of his work when they failed to be published. I suspect that after you can’t put down What Happened to Rose you will find yourself comparing Harry to the likes of Frank McCourt and his own Angela’s Ashes, D.H. Lawrence and even Isaac Singer. you’ll need to investigate those. do it!

The Invisible Wall was a love story, of sorts. in some respects his books were about religion as viewed through life, as a lens.

from his Wikipedia profile:

“You’ve got to be taught to hate. You’ve got to be taught from the time you’re six or seven or eight. It’s put in your mind. It’s handed down, almost like an heirloom, among Christians. They didn’t know why they hated us.”

all that said, as I was pondering Harry, and what he will eventually mean to us all, I came across the following quote from him that dated back to his ninety-seventh year:

“When you get into your 90s like I am, there’s nowhere else to think except the past. There’s no future to think about. There’s very little present,” Bernstein told the AP in 2007, when “The Invisible Wall” was published.

I’ll keep this post short. rather like a nod towards Harry, if you will. his life was long although his notoriety was not. yet, he has offered us all something of a legacy with vital lessons around tolerance, love and perspective. that will certainly endure.

so all that has Harry finishing well with us all reminded we can always contribute, and always.

peace be to my Brothers and Sisters.

brian patrick cork

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