I was shocked and sad to hear of the passing of Heath Ledger.  I have adored him since first watching A Knight’s Tale (oh, about 10+ times…lol).  It’s always a shock when someone so young passes — and it’s even more tragic that it was accidental. (or so, amongst all the reports, I’ve come to understand)

Admittedly, I’m a gal, and Heath had a rather young, rugged, youthful, sincere-ness to him as he portrayed his characters.  His acting won my endearment and I shall miss him.

Rest Peacefully, Mr. Ledger

When the Discovery Channel aired a TV documentary last year raising the possibility that archeologists had found the family tomb of Jesus Christ in the hills behind Jerusalem, it caused a huge backlash among Christians. The claim, after all, challenged one of the cornerstones of Christian faith — that Jesus, after his crucifixion, rose bodily to heaven in his physical form.
[snip]
Still, even after the furor over the film faded, the questions it raised about the tomb unearthed in 1980 continued to make waves among archeologists and Biblical scholars. A leading New Testament expert from Princeton Theological Seminary, Prof. James Charlesworth, was intrigued enough to organize a conference in Jerusalem this week, bringing together over 50 archeologists, statisticians and experts in DNA, ceramics and ancient languages, to give evidence as to whether or not the crypt of Christ had been found.

From Here

Find an image of the transcendent that is yours, that you do not hate or envy or fear. One that you can speak to and listen to comfortably, one to one. Feel free to set aside what does not help you, even the idea of God, itself, if you must.

If there is a divine, then certainly they will help you find them. (If there is not a divine then at least you have not poured your energy into hating the nonexistent.) - Kushana from http://www.kushanasbiblequestionpage.com/
(Definitely a site worth checking out, though make sure you have a decent block of time to peruse the site — it’s extensive!)

Only sweet-voiced birds are imprisoned.
Owls are not kept in cages.

- Rumi 

“This is important, because we learn that our job
is not to set up a battleground to eradicate evil,
but to search out its spark of holiness.
Our task is not to destroy but to build;
not to hate but to find a place of yielding;
not to polarize but to discover the points of
commonality so that we can work together.
Learn this lesson, dear friends, it will serve you well.”
~ Reb Zalman,
quoted by Rabbi David A. Cooper

Congratulations to +Jordan Stratford on completing his kick-ass Gnosticism 101 book. Bought it, finished it yesterday; loved it!

Father Jordan takes you on a journey from the beginnings of Gnosticism through to contemporary practice. He answers questions that many would ask, allows you to grasp basic Gnostic ideas and perceptions, outlines important personalities who have influenced, or have been influenced by Gnostic thought, and tops it off with a list and explanation of the Gnostic Liturgical year.

This is an absolute MUST READ for anyone interested in contemporary Gnosticism.

Well done, Father Jordan!