Biggest Surprise of 2018

Total page views 2010-2018

The biggest surprise of 2018 was that Russians were not only interested in our national politics, but for some reason they were also interested in my blog. There are Russians lurking around here almost every month and since 2010 they rank number two in total page views after the U.S.

Now, for some full disclosure... I did meet with Russian foreign exchange students back in 1992, and one of my grandchildren has a great-great grandfather who was born in Russia. Certainly, nothing that would spark any interest from Russia or put me on Robert Mueller's radar investigating Russian interference in the 2016 United States elections. But, I have to wonder, what do the Russians seek to glean from the rants of an old Hippie Christian? What are they looking for?

Pins from Russian foreign exchange students

The only thing that I can imagine that would attract the attention of the Russians is a possible interest in extreme fringe views that are contrary to the majority opinion. Whether left or right they are reported to be seeking issues to exploit and use to create political discord. I guess that a Long Hair Hippie Christian just might be considered a non-conformist and to hold some extreme fringe views. But, I could be wrong... maybe, just maybe they are interested in Jesus. Who knows?

Peace, Love & Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 12-01-2018

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.

Rock Mass for Sunday December 2, 2018

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

100th Anniversary of the WWI Armistice

Today marks the 100th anniversary of the WWI armistice... and we still keep on fighting because war is a racket without any winners except the military industrial complex!

Peace, Love & Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 11-03-2018

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.

Rock Mass for Sunday November 3, 2018









Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice 

Rituals

Rituals are deeply a part of being alive, and I suspect they are not just limited to humans. An old friend recently shared an article in ScientificAmerican “Why Rituals Work”, it presents some studies that show there are real benefits to rituals, religious or otherwise.

For me, being an un-churched Hippie Christian, I am aware of my personal need for rituals that possess deep meaning. Not that I need some religious ritual to appease an angry God, but I am seeking a point of contact between the spiritual and material worlds. Somewhere beyond Sunday, beyond beads and incense – not that these aren’t valid rituals it’s just that I am seeking simple daily personal practices. 

In my past job working with adults with disabilities and now raising a child with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) I see ritualistic behavior on the extreme end up close and personal every day. Ritualistic behaviors are one of the key diagnostic features of ASD, and they serve a very real purpose that is not always apparent to the observer.

Mostly, for those with ASD, ritualistic behaviors help provide relief from anxiety by allowing the individual some sense of order in an otherwise overwhelming world. Ritualistic behavior allows the ASD individual some limited control in their life that in turn calms them. They have a place and a practice that they can repeat with predictable results, something that they can excel at that gives them joy in a world that has too many expectations that seem impossible to them. 

I am trying to employ simple daily practices in my life such as walking and breathing to serve as ritual along with mindful conscious and unconscious prayer – being in the moment every possible moment. Even writing this blog post is part of my quest for ritual.

Peace, Love & Light!

Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 10-07-2018

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.

Rock Mass for Sunday October 7, 2018












Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

Blessed Are The Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God. ~Jesus
(Matthew 5:9)

Peace, Love & Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 09-02-2018

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.

Rock Mass for Sunday September 2, 2018









Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10". 

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

Fair Use Notice

Relationships are Sacred

Relationships are sacred, but they can also be difficult and messy a lot of the time. Some relationships require more effort than others but in the end maintaining positive connections with everyone that we encounter throughout our day is much more healthy than living a life filled with conflict and loneliness.

Find the rest of The Hippie Christian Manifesto here.

If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. (Romans 12:18)

Peace, Love & Light!
Kevin (Cloud)

Rock Mass 08-05-2018

Rock Mass on the first Sunday of the month.

Rock Mass for Sunday August 5, 2018 - The Woodstock Edition

Hippie Sunday School Bus at Woodstock, August 1969

Nun flashing Peace Sign at Woodstock, August 1969

"Well, I came upon a child of God he was walking along the road..."


"I had a dream last night, what a lovely dream it was, I dreamed we all were alright..."


"I got a telephone in my bosom and I can call him up from heart..."


"There's always a little bit of heaven in a disaster area." Wavy Gravy (Hugh Romney)


"God bless you"


"...still my soul feels heavenly bound"


"Oh, deep in my heart, I do believe we shall overcome some day."


"...Any day now, any day now I shall be released"


"...Following you I climb the mountains I get excitement at your feet"


"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound..."

“The time has come for America to help the whole world with spirituality also”

"God loves America" Hippie School Bus at Woodstock, August 1969

Here are all of my other Woodstock related posts. 

Peace, Love and Light!
Kevin (Cloud) 

The inspiration for creating "Rock Mass" came from the Rock Mass at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena California back in the early 1970’s. On the first Friday night of each month All Saints held a Rock Mass which was a mix of traditional Episcopalian Mass and rock concert. A live band would play popular rock music which couldn’t necessarily be called “Christian” but contained spiritual phrases and references to God or Jesus. During the 1960’s and early 1970’s there was an explosion of these songs coming out of the "secular" music industry way before there was “Contemporary Christian Music”, in a way, it could be called "The Gospel According To Billboard's Top 10".

(Stained glass guitar angel found at www.patheos.com/blogs/nadiabolzweber)

FAIR USE NOTICE
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance the understanding of religion and spirituality in society. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.