Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Behold, The Man



By now, we’ve all seen this infamous tri-panel icon, an Ecce Homo that is Elías García Martínez’ fresco representation of the suffering Christ, crowned with thorns.  The three panels escort our eye from left to right; from the fresco in its younger days, to its time-weathered degeneration, ending finally with the well-intentioned yet botched efforts of an amateur restoration that holds only a shadow of the original.  This century-old Ecce Homo, housed in Spain’s Santuario de la Misericordia, was first created as an instrument to inspire worship.  After its unfortunate “restoration,” the community says it’s now valuable only in a far less lofty function – promoting tourism and stimulating pop-culture.  As t-shirts and other marketing items exploit its odd tale, experts now consider it ruined for its original purpose.

All is not lost; the incident brings out at least two valuable lessons that stand out in bold bas-relief. 

Monday, August 27, 2012

But God ... Reflections on Sleepless Nights

Battles are best waged 
under cover of darkness.

By day, a siege is easier to fend. 
Obstacles lie exposed, 
reinforcements stand ready, 
troops take action - quickly rallied.

But in the night ...
Lord, have mercy, in the night ... 

Sunday, August 26, 2012

What's Your Basis for Justice?

Question:  What do you get when you cross one theological nerd who spends hours tweaking his keynote lecture presentations with another theological nerd who spent 8 years as a d.j., creating radio commercials?

Give up?




That's how nerds roll. Have a look. 
- The Ellises