Yo tribe. This section ought to be full if we are what we say we are, shame!
That was an example of a guilt trip, one of many that my dear psychomom has in her vast armory of manipulative weapons. Weapons used to maintain her status as the center of the known universe.
At eighty and after a lifetime of having a narcissistic personality and other PD's, she is beyond help.
Even the first step is impossible because, perfect people do not make errors.
She grows increasingly ...ehm..difficult. At one time I dreamed of normality but, it was a false hope.
My prayer request is for the  Lord to grant me sufficient grace to cope with her for the time we have left.

As noted in a recent blog post, I am reluctant to set too many precedents on rituals. At the same time, I am aware that we do need to establish something that distinguishes Radix Fidem from the mainstream. It's not that we can't copy from the various traditions, but I sense that we need to be very careful how we adhere to the underlying orientation of our covenant.

That said, I think we need to recognize the difference between inherent expressions of faith versus contextual add-ons. The latter is rather wide open, once we remind ourselves what the former means. In regards the former, I am still deeply stirred by the huge difference between the mainstream traditions and our heart-led connection with nature. I think it would be an embarrassment to forget how that simply must change some of what we might do.

I'm also aware that some future members may find themselves called to faith while living in some urban setting. Additionally, some folks live in extreme climates, where worshiping outside is frankly risky business at least part of the year. Consider Christine, for example, up in Campbell's Bay, Quebec, out west and north from Ottawa. As I write this, it's 15°F and snowing in that area. A hardy soul might spend time outside working, but I'm not sure how many folks will be able to focus on worship in those conditions for very long. I grew up in Alaska, and I can tell you it would have been tough for me, though certainly possible to some extent. It was actually worse in the summer with huge clouds of mosquitoes in some locations.

Either way, we can't afford to lock folks into something they simply cannot do, yet we cannot ignore the fundamentally unique nature of how we approach things. I'm really interested in hearing your thoughts on this. Some issues: ceremonial vestments, weddings, funerals, baptism, communion meal, and other rituals.

Hi everybody!

I am way new to this forum thing.  I don't even know if this will post under "Introduce Yourself" or if it will just land "somewhere".

I beg to differ, Ed, on "older" as I just turned 67.  Yikes!   Can that actually be true?

I have lived in many countries as both Mom and Dad were CIA.  We ended up in Virginia, just outside of DC.  Moved to Iowa when I married the first time and had two beautiful daughters.  Now, I live in central NC where I must say I have never seen such diversity of Nature from our mountains to the coast.  I love it here.

I started programming on punch cards back in the early 70's, designing financial systems and over the years designed, programmed and implemented a whole lotta systems for mom and pops to international corporations.  I was good at it.  Now, I don't know squat about anything computer related because it's been 14 years since (retired 2004) and you know how much things have changed since then.

I LOVE the Lord.  I trust in Him.  I believe His Word and I believe His Son lived on this earth and gave us all the most astounding Gift - Himself.  I try to follow His Lead and His Example, though fail miserably way too many times.  I don't give up though.  It is only in my head that I would ever think I am un-forgiven.  I live according to my heart, where He dwells.  That is the true connection to Him and from Him.

Eight people, three howdy's. Mmmm....
OK then here goes number 4. 
My name is Iain, I'm 54 a countryfried hick, hillbilly or redneck. Whatever, I don't particularly care, you could even call me something rude it's probably true or has been. I don't like country or bluegrass music and have never cared for moonshine (paintstriper). I like what my Grandpappy called Devil music and Pepsi Cola. I can read & cypher. I did not finish HS but, did walk into the local community college one day, ten years later took the test and got a HS diploma. I did not care for school because I was bored senseless. I have read a lot of books. I liked history ,silly adventure novels and anything else but I draw the line at romance. Oh yeah, I don't much like navel gazing, self-help or anything written by a televangelist.
I believe the Bible is the greatest book ever written.
I try to live Deuteronomy 6:5.
Ecclesiastes is the best work on the human condition. Ever.
I believe in Jesus as revealed in the NT but, also have issues with just about every tenet of Western Christianity. I will absolutely not argue with anyone who holds those positions because it's the Holy Spirit's job to change hearts not mine. I guess that's my religion.
I recently bought an old Harley Davidson ironhead sportster which I rode around the house one time before winterizing it. I look forward to spring. I named her Christine after the devil car in the Steven King novel because, my family thinks it will kill me. I do not know how to shut up!

I'd like to start up threads here more often, but as I'm fairly booked as far as time goes, I won't be as active as I'd like to be. I have a blog already, plus I am starting another book. Granted, I'm an elder and admin, and this is a forum; not everything has to originate with me. But also, as an elder, I'd like to set some example. An imperfect, but an example anyways.

I want to chalk things up as one of those things I start but never have enough time for, but I think the idea that this forum is more of a placeholder for now, while we wait on God to move things, is more accurate. I don't want to force His hand. That might be my tendency to excuse myself talking. It certainly comes off that way.

Feel free to input any impressions you have on the state of this forums and its goals. I don't want this completely in my hands.

Reporting live from the igloo that is Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (-23 here right now!), my name is Graham. I'm 23 years old, hold a B.A. degree in sociology, and currently work as a cashier at a grocery store (this is all reading rather depressing, which I suppose it is). Pardon the melancholy.

According to numerous takings of the Myers-Briggs personality test, I'm somewhere between an INFJ, INFP, and INTJ.

I enjoy reading and writing, my interests broadly including sociology, philosophy, and religion. I sometimes write poetry. I also enjoy going for night walks, deep conversations, emotional music, and casual/puzzle video games (Peggle, Bejeweled, Tetris, Plants vs. Zombies, to name a few).

I don't claim to belong to any theological tradition, but I believe I've benefited from Christian mystics and "academic" (having trouble thinking of the right word to use here) writers alike. Some of these writers have included: Augustine, G.K. Chesterton. A.W. Tozer, Thomas Merton, Peter L. Berger, and Peter Kreeft. 

Well, that's enough about me! I look forward to using this forum. 

The logo features the initials of Radix Fidem, with a leaf incorporated in the letter's center. As Radix Fidem means "root of faith," I wanted another design element to express the idea of ultimate growth, and a leaf is fairly universal symbol of a complete, prosperous life. By communicating "root to leaf," we draw vitality and meaning, as per Colossians 2:7, and grow into fullness (Matthew 3:9-11).

The past week or so involved me purchasing the domain, installing and setting up the forum software--we use myBB. I had considered using phpBB but it's not open source the way myBB is. Since Radix Fidem is relatively an "open source Christianity," I thought myBB was a choice more in line with our philosophy.

I also installed a cert on the domain so the address will be https and not http (and plus a lot more secure), but for some reason the stylesheets do not load. There is most likely a configuration setting somewhere that I've missed. So for now, access the site at http://radixfidem.org (but you knew that already  ). Fixed! http now redirects to https, and all the site resource URLs have been updated.

We use the Tawny theme. Some javascript and stylesheet URLs in the header had to be modified to correct the path to the assets. Other than that, the theme has been unchanged.

I'm the "old man" at 61, a grandfather, an Army veteran (artillery and military police), and while technically retired, I volunteer in computer tech support. I was educated and ordained as an evangelical clergyman, but quickly found myself pulled and pushed outside traditional church ministry. I began writing and exploring a different approach to religion on a blog and somehow managed to attract an audience. I have been a public school teacher in secondary Social Studies, so I tend to teach a little government, politics, economics and history at times. I do okay with geography, sociology and psychology. I like to pretend that I'm a writer with a whole bunch of ebooks published online.

I'm also quite the fan of Linux -- Xubuntu is my favorite. I always have time to answer questions about Linux in particular and computer technology in general. I won't twist your arm about Linux; I can help with some Windows stuff, as well. Like Jay, I work out a lot, but I'm limited by arthritis and injuries. I take long bike rides in good weather and often take pictures of the scenery, and post them on my blog, which is linked below.

...seeing as I'm an elder and should lead by example, right?

Newly-minted middle-aged husband and dad, I work as a software designer (user experience designer, more precisely). Most of my free time, besides family things, involve a lot of reading and writing. Exercise comes into play, almost daily (resistance training, running/walking, cycling), but it's not an obsession. I have a vaguely paleo-based diet, but that is also not too much of an obsession. I also enjoy a good sci-fi movie and good cup of black coffee. I generally ignore politics and have no use for watching sports sports.

In the past I was heavily involved in music, mostly of the metal variety. Those days are behind me, as the genre doesn't hold my interest a great deal. There's a ton of great new bands out there...I just don't have the wherewithal to pay attention. I am more interested in video game music, from 8-bit all the way to full-blown symphonic tracks.

The link to my personal blog is below if you'd care to know more.

Edits: added some content, links, and small changes.