Tuesday, December 23, 2008

All this attention is going to my head! http://ping.fm/5fUrl

Monday, December 22, 2008

One is the Holiest Number

I am going to talk about my spirituality, which is something I rarely do. I do so because these are Holy days and I am feeling prayerful. Apropos, I will be discussing prayer.

I love Aimee Mann’s rendition of Three Dog Night’s “One is the Loneliest Number” from the memorable movie Magnolia. As I returned on my bike from a night of going away that my friends John and Claudia threw for me, I was listening to a podcast download of Speaking of Faith about prayer, Approaching Prayer and Anoushka Shankar and Krista Tippett were discussing prayer and they both agreed that prayer is probably the most important part of the spirituality of any faith, and probably the hardest to endure over the course of ones spiritual life.

I agree. Though it is more than worth it.

Back to Aimee Mann and “One is the Loneliest Number.” The lyrics of the song go, “one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.” I object. I think that one is the Holiest number. I believe that in concert, prayer can be amazingly powerful; however, a prayerful life solo is rare indeed.

Prayer, Mano-a-mano, is indeed a marathon. A prayerful life requires constant contact, constant Faith, indefatigable devotion, and the endurance of the niggling fear that you’re wasting your time by simply mumbling to yourself.

According to the New Testament, prayer should not be a public act with the single-minded goal of being perceived as being Holy; rather, “when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly.” (Matthew 6.6). To me, anyway, one is the Holiest number that you’ll ever do.

And please don’t limit your experience to the traditional prayerful acts of kneeling before a candle or bed. Prayer can be done while on the city bus, during a morning run in the frost, while in the corpse pose on a yoga mat; at an Ashram, Mosque, Temple, Church or Monastery; while swimming laps or doing reps — it really isn’t important.

You don’t even need to call it prayer — you can call it meditation, visualization, self-hypnosis, centering, or wishing — you don’t need even ask for world peace or feeding the hungry (though you really should consider it) — you can, and are encouraged, to pray for the health, wealth, and happiness of your own family and even for your very own health, wealth, and happiness! (why not?)

Here’s a simple warning that prayer is powerful and not limited only to well-wishing. Prayer is an energy, a force, an intention. Prayer taps Godhead. Even so, it can be used for anything in the short run. But don’t be lured. It really isn’t worth it. Another hint: Good, God, Prosperity, Happiness and Love are not limited resources with finite supplies. For some reason, someone has been able to spin that there is Peak Love.

Unlike peak oil, there is no limit to the benefit of blessings on any one person — there is no reason at all for competition, quarreling, or self-denial. Currently, there is a false scarcity for prosperity and blessings. Like diamonds (and probably oil), there is a limitless supply of blessing and prosperity that one can tap through prayer — not simply for you, yourself, but for all of those around you. Even better, like the electrical grid, any prayer that is not used by you or those for whom prayed is fed back into the grind for everyone’s benefit and blessings.

OK, I think I have tapped myself out, spiritually, for 2008. We’ll see how this goes over — maybe I will continue revealing a completely different side of myself into 2009. Please feel free to comment and let me know if I have either contributed to your life or have encouraged you, rather, to backup slowly towards the door — exit, stage left!

And, to conclude, I wish happy Holy days to you and yours.

One is the Holiest Number

I am going to talk about my spirituality, which is something I rarely do. I do so because these are Holy days and I am feeling prayerful. Apropos, I will be discussing prayer.

I love Aimee Mann’s rendition of Three Dog Night’s “One is the Loneliest Number” from the memorable movie Magnolia. As I returned on my bike from a night of going away that my friends John and Claudia threw for me, I was listening to a podcast download of Speaking of Faith about prayer, Approaching Prayer and Anoushka Shankar and Krista Tippett were discussing prayer and they both agreed that prayer is probably the most important part of the spirituality of any faith, and probably the hardest to endure over the course of ones spiritual life.

I agree. Though it is more than worth it.

Back to Aimee Mann and “One is the Loneliest Number.” The lyrics of the song go, “one is the loneliest number that you’ll ever do.” I object. I think that one is the Holiest number. I believe that in concert, prayer can be amazingly powerful; however, a prayerful life solo is rare indeed.

Prayer, Mano-a-mano, is indeed a marathon. A prayerful life requires constant contact, constant Faith, indefatigable devotion, and the endurance of the niggling fear that you’re wasting your time by simply mumbling to yourself.

According to the New Testament, prayer should not be a public act with the single-minded goal of being perceived as being Holy; rather, “when you pray, go away by yourself, all alone, and shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father secretly.” (Matthew 6.6). To me, anyway, one is the Holiest number that you’ll ever do.

And please don’t limit your experience to the traditional prayerful acts of kneeling before a candle or bed. Prayer can be done while on the city bus, during a morning run in the frost, while in the corpse pose on a yoga mat; at an Ashram, Mosque, Temple, Church or Monastery; while swimming laps or doing reps — it really isn’t important.

You don’t even need to call it prayer — you can call it meditation, visualization, self-hypnosis, centering, or wishing — you don’t need even ask for world peace or feeding the hungry (though you really should consider it) — you can, and are encouraged, to pray for the health, wealth, and happiness of your own family and even for your very own health, wealth, and happiness! (why not?)

Here’s a simple warning that prayer is powerful and not limited only to well-wishing. Prayer is an energy, a force, an intention. Prayer taps Godhead. Even so, it can be used for anything in the short run. But don’t be lured. It really isn’t worth it. Another hint: Good, God, Prosperity, Happiness and Love are not limited resources with finite supplies. For some reason, someone has been able to spin that there is Peak Love.

Unlike peak oil, there is no limit to the benefit of blessings on any one person — there is no reason at all for competition, quarreling, or self-denial. Currently, there is a false scarcity for prosperity and blessings. Like diamonds (and probably oil), there is a limitless supply of blessing and prosperity that one can tap through prayer — not simply for you, yourself, but for all of those around you. Even better, like the electrical grid, any prayer that is not used by you or those for whom prayed is fed back into the grind for everyone’s benefit and blessings.

OK, I think I have tapped myself out, spiritually, for 2008. We’ll see how this goes over — maybe I will continue revealing a completely different side of myself into 2009. Please feel free to comment and let me know if I have either contributed to your life or have encouraged you, rather, to backup slowly towards the door — exit, stage left!

And, to conclude, I wish happy Holy days to you and yours.
@bAre you between 18-25 and do you drink Coffee?^A colleague of mine is conducting a survey regarding the coffee drinking habits of 18 to 25 year olds.

It's a cool survey and it's being done all via text.

There's a $500 sweepstakes attached and the universe is limited to 200 people.

All you have to do is text BREW to 247365 and the engine will serve you up ten questions -- one at a time.

Good luck!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund Help teach a child to swim! Just $24 pays for a week's worth of lessons with The Fresh Air Fund: http://bit.ly/jvVX
RT @FreshAirFund Are you or your organization interested in partnering up with The Fresh Air Fund? Email us: pr@freshair.org

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund Help cover the cost of a bus ride to Fresh Air camp this holiday! Just $10! You can easily donate here: http://bit.ly/jvVX

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund You can donate to The Fresh Air Fund using our monthly giving program. Easy, automated, life-changing: http://bit.ly/R6nE

Saturday, December 13, 2008

I am beguiled by the NPR show "Piano Jazz" with Marian McPartland. I am listening to it now. Sam Reider is on. http://ping.fm/2yVdK

Thursday, December 11, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund Is your organization interested in partnering up w? The Fresh Air Fund? We'd love to hear from you at: pr@freshair.org

Wednesday, December 10, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund Know an innercity child who needs the gift of summer? See how to sign up a child w/ The Fresh Air Fund: http://bit.ly/y4DW

Monday, December 8, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund The Fresh Air Fund has helped 1.7 million children. Help these innercity kids have a summer to remember:http://bit.ly/UpEg

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Harry Shearer just mentioned me by name on Le Show. Under the apologies part of the show, "I'm Sorry" - for the PepsiMax suicide ads #pepsi

Thursday, December 4, 2008

I am currently rocking the top of the AdAge home page now: http://adage.com/
The same friend, @semjaza , who made me "manga" wrote this awesome Christmas poem: http://ping.fm/dxlLx
I have another article on AdAge GIN about Bratislava, Slovakia. Please digg and comment if you like it! :) http://ping.fm/L8Tam
Come check out my latest post for AdAge Global Idea Network @adagegin , "Bratislava, a City to Watch" http://ping.fm/5s4sO
I would like to introduce @robochris -- all of the "great" and "cool" stuff I read, digg, share, blog, & bookmark http://ping.fm/E4V9Z

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

RT @SurvivorCorps Attn all DC'ers! Come to Madam's Organ tonight to celebrate the treaty to ban cluster munitions!: http://bit.ly/kqhp
RT @FreshAirFund Are you a parent w/ questions about The Fresh Air Fund and what we do? Download our Parent FAQ sheet: http://bit.ly/Wbpm

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

RT @SurvivorCorps Our party celebrating the signing of a treaty to ban cluster munitions is tomm! Join us if you're in DC http://bit.ly/kqhp

Monday, December 1, 2008

RT @FreshAirFund Looking to volunteer and support innercity kids? Check out volunteer opportunities w The Fresh Air Fund: http://bit.ly/qZuZ
I have been told that my next post for AdAge Global Idea Network will come out tomorrow... I will let you know when.
Is this understandable? Does this make any sense? http://ping.fm/ZzPD8
RT @FreshAirFund Feed a child for a week at summer camp. $91 will give a child the nutrition they need to have fun!: http://bit.ly/jvVX