The pastor of the church I attended while in college, and then interned at, is in the news again. This time, it is a New York Times article. I'll be posting the article below as my blog for the day. If you want to listen to any of the sermons mentioned they can be found on the church website.
http://www.whchurch.org/content/page_274.htm
They start on April 18, 2004 and run for 6 weeks. (the message on 5/16 is not from the series)
If downloading them isn't your thing, I can make you a cd of files to play on a computer, or audio cds to play in a cd player, just ask.
Below is the article.
Disowning Conservative Politics, Evangelical Pastor Rattles Flock
By LAURIE GOODSTEIN
Published: July 30, 2006
MAPLEWOOD, Minn. — Like most pastors who lead thriving evangelical megachurches, the Rev. Gregory A. Boyd was asked frequently to give his blessing — and the church’s — to conservative political candidates and causes.
The requests came from church members and visitors alike: Would he please announce a rally against gay marriage during services? Would he introduce a politician from the pulpit? Could members set up a table in the lobby promoting their anti-abortion work? Would the church distribute “voters’ guides” that all but endorsed Republican candidates? And with the country at war, please couldn’t the church hang an American flag in the sanctuary?
After refusing each time, Mr. Boyd finally became fed up, he said. Before the last presidential election, he preached six sermons called “The Cross and the Sword” in which he said the church should steer clear of politics, give up moralizing on sexual issues, stop claiming the United States as a “Christian nation” and stop glorifying American military campaigns.
“When the church wins the culture wars, it inevitably loses,” Mr. Boyd preached. “When it conquers the world, it becomes the world. When you put your trust in the sword, you lose the cross.”
Mr. Boyd says he is no liberal. He is opposed to abortion and thinks homosexuality is not God’s ideal. The response from his congregation at Woodland Hills Church here in suburban St. Paul — packed mostly with politically and theologically conservative, middle-class evangelicals — was passionate. Some members walked out of a sermon and never returned. By the time the dust had settled, Woodland Hills, which Mr. Boyd founded in 1992, had lost about 1,000 of its 5,000 members.
But there were also congregants who thanked Mr. Boyd, telling him they were moved to tears to hear him voice concerns they had been too afraid to share.
“Most of my friends are believers,” said Shannon Staiger, a psychotherapist and church member, “and they think if you’re a believer, you’ll vote for Bush. And it’s scary to go against that.”
Sermons like Mr. Boyd’s are hardly typical in today’s evangelical churches. But the upheaval at Woodland Hills is an example of the internal debates now going on in some evangelical colleges, magazines and churches. A common concern is that the Christian message is being compromised by the tendency to tie evangelical Christianity to the Republican Party and American nationalism, especially through the war in Iraq.
At least six books on this theme have been published recently, some by Christian publishing houses. Randall Balmer, a religion professor at Barnard College and an evangelical, has written “Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America — an Evangelical’s Lament.”
And Mr. Boyd has a new book out, “The Myth of a Christian Nation: How the Quest for Political Power Is Destroying the Church,” which is based on his sermons.
“There is a lot of discontent brewing,” said Brian D. McLaren, the founding pastor at Cedar Ridge Community Church in Gaithersburg, Md., and a leader in the evangelical movement known as the “emerging church,” which is at the forefront of challenging the more politicized evangelical establishment.
“More and more people are saying this has gone too far — the dominance of the evangelical identity by the religious right,” Mr. McLaren said. “You cannot say the word ‘Jesus’ in 2006 without having an awful lot of baggage going along with it. You can’t say the word ‘Christian,’ and you certainly can’t say the word ‘evangelical’ without it now raising connotations and a certain cringe factor in people.
“Because people think, ‘Oh no, what is going to come next is homosexual bashing, or pro-war rhetoric, or complaining about ‘activist judges.’ ”
Mr. Boyd said he had cleared his sermons with the church’s board, but his words left some in his congregation stunned. Some said that he was disrespecting President Bush and the military, that he was soft on abortion or telling them not to vote.
“When we joined years ago, Greg was a conservative speaker,” said William Berggren, a lawyer who joined the church with his wife six years ago. “But we totally disagreed with him on this. You can’t be a Christian and ignore actions that you feel are wrong. A case in point is the abortion issue. If the church were awake when abortion was passed in the 70’s, it wouldn’t have happened. But the church was asleep.”
Mr. Boyd, 49, who preaches in blue jeans and rumpled plaid shirts, leads a church that occupies a squat block-long building that was once a home improvement chain store.
The church grew from 40 members in 12 years, based in no small part on Mr. Boyd’s draw as an electrifying preacher who stuck closely to Scripture. He has degrees from Yale Divinity School and Princeton Theological Seminary, and he taught theology at Bethel College in St. Paul, where he created a controversy a few years ago by questioning whether God fully knew the future. Some pastors in his own denomination, the Baptist General Conference, mounted an effort to evict Mr. Boyd from the denomination and his teaching post, but he won that battle.
He is known among evangelicals for a bestselling book, “Letters From a Skeptic,” based on correspondence with his father, a leftist union organizer and a lifelong agnostic — an exchange that eventually persuaded his father to embrace Christianity.
Mr. Boyd said he never intended his sermons to be taken as merely a critique of the Republican Party or the religious right. He refuses to share his party affiliation, or whether he has one, for that reason. He said there were Christians on both the left and the right who had turned politics and patriotism into “idolatry.”
He said he first became alarmed while visiting another megachurch’s worship service on a Fourth of July years ago. The service finished with the chorus singing “God Bless America” and a video of fighter jets flying over a hill silhouetted with crosses.
“I thought to myself, ‘What just happened? Fighter jets mixed up with the cross?’ ” he said in an interview.
Patriotic displays are still a mainstay in some evangelical churches. Across town from Mr. Boyd’s church, the sanctuary of North Heights Lutheran Church was draped in bunting on the Sunday before the Fourth of July this year for a “freedom celebration.” Military veterans and flag twirlers paraded into the sanctuary, an enormous American flag rose slowly behind the stage, and a Marine major who had served in Afghanistan preached that the military was spending “your hard-earned money” on good causes.
In his six sermons, Mr. Boyd laid out a broad argument that the role of Christians was not to seek “power over” others — by controlling governments, passing legislation or fighting wars. Christians should instead seek to have “power under” others — “winning people’s hearts” by sacrificing for those in need, as Jesus did, Mr. Boyd said.
“America wasn’t founded as a theocracy,” he said. “America was founded by people trying to escape theocracies. Never in history have we had a Christian theocracy where it wasn’t bloody and barbaric. That’s why our Constitution wisely put in a separation of church and state.
“I am sorry to tell you,” he continued, “that America is not the light of the world and the hope of the world. The light of the world and the hope of the world is Jesus Christ.”
Mr. Boyd lambasted the “hypocrisy and pettiness” of Christians who focus on “sexual issues” like homosexuality, abortion or Janet Jackson’s breast-revealing performance at the Super Bowl halftime show. He said Christians these days were constantly outraged about sex and perceived violations of their rights to display their faith in public.
“Those are the two buttons to push if you want to get Christians to act,” he said. “And those are the two buttons Jesus never pushed.”
Some Woodland Hills members said they applauded the sermons because they had resolved their conflicted feelings. David Churchill, a truck driver for U.P.S. and a Teamster for 26 years, said he had been “raised in a religious-right home” but was torn between the Republican expectations of faith and family and the Democratic expectations of his union.
When Mr. Boyd preached his sermons, “it was liberating to me,” Mr. Churchill said.
Mr. Boyd gave his sermons while his church was in the midst of a $7 million fund-raising campaign. But only $4 million came in, and 7 of the more than 50 staff members were laid off, he said.
Mary Van Sickle, the family pastor at Woodland Hills, said she lost 20 volunteers who had been the backbone of the church’s Sunday school.
“They said, ‘You’re not doing what the church is supposed to be doing, which is supporting the Republican way,’ ” she said. “It was some of my best volunteers.”
The Rev. Paul Eddy, a theology professor at Bethel College and the teaching pastor at Woodland Hills, said: “Greg is an anomaly in the megachurch world. He didn’t give a whit about church leadership, never read a book about church growth. His biggest fear is that people will think that all church is is a weekend carnival, with people liking the worship, the music, his speaking, and that’s it.”
In the end, those who left tended to be white, middle-class suburbanites, church staff members said. In their place, the church has added more members who live in the surrounding community — African-Americans, Hispanics and Hmong immigrants from Laos.
This suits Mr. Boyd. His vision for his church is an ethnically and economically diverse congregation that exemplifies Jesus’ teachings by its members’ actions. He, his wife and three other families from the church moved from the suburbs three years ago to a predominantly black neighborhood in St. Paul.
Mr. Boyd now says of the upheaval: “I don’t regret any aspect of it at all. It was a defining moment for us. We let go of something we were never called to be. We just didn’t know the price we were going to pay for doing it.”
His congregation of about 4,000 is still digesting his message. Mr. Boyd arranged a forum on a recent Wednesday night to allow members to sound off on his new book. The reception was warm, but many of the 56 questions submitted in writing were pointed: Isn’t abortion an evil that Christians should prevent? Are you saying Christians should not join the military? How can Christians possibly have “power under” Osama bin Laden? Didn’t the church play an enormously positive role in the civil rights movement?
One woman asked: “So why NOT us? If we contain the wisdom and grace and love and creativity of Jesus, why shouldn’t we be the ones involved in politics and setting laws?”
Mr. Boyd responded: “I don’t think there’s a particular angle we have on society that others lack. All good, decent people want good and order and justice. Just don’t slap the label ‘Christian’ on it.”
Sunday, July 30, 2006
Saturday, July 29, 2006
My Diet is Working
This won't make many people happy. I always get yelled at for this. Regardless of how this sounds though, I do understand the blessing that the combination of my current metabolism and my passion for soccer has for my body.
I weighed myself this morning because I was in a bathroom at someone else's house and saw the scale. I weigh the same as the day I graduated high school 8 years ago. I haven't fluctuated more than 5 pounds in the last 9 years. All that, and here is what I ate for meals the last couple days. Yesterday I had two packs of Ramen noodles for lunch. Then chips and salsa, followed by a bowl of ice cream for dinner. I later ate more chips and salsa for dessert. Today I awoke for an early breakfast of eggs, ham, fruit, and a bagel. Dinner consisted of hash browns and crescent rolls. As much salt, butter and oil as I could manage. I'm getting ready to have some more chips and salsa, that has been my craving lately.
I wish I could put on weight. I wish that I could gain the muscle mass. I can't seem to fluctuate. I wish often that I could trade my metabolism with someone else, someone who desires so much to lose weight or to maintain it. I have a weird goal, that others don't understand, of having a belly someday. I'd love to let someone who has never been able to lose weight switch places with me. I can't.
Someday, my lifestyle might not be as active. My metabolism is also bound to slow down at some point. There might be a belly in my future. When it starts to show, my wife will watch my diet more carefully. Until then, I guess I'll go grab some chips.
Sorry for any of you that don't have this "blessing." I really would switch places for a while if I could.
I weighed myself this morning because I was in a bathroom at someone else's house and saw the scale. I weigh the same as the day I graduated high school 8 years ago. I haven't fluctuated more than 5 pounds in the last 9 years. All that, and here is what I ate for meals the last couple days. Yesterday I had two packs of Ramen noodles for lunch. Then chips and salsa, followed by a bowl of ice cream for dinner. I later ate more chips and salsa for dessert. Today I awoke for an early breakfast of eggs, ham, fruit, and a bagel. Dinner consisted of hash browns and crescent rolls. As much salt, butter and oil as I could manage. I'm getting ready to have some more chips and salsa, that has been my craving lately.
I wish I could put on weight. I wish that I could gain the muscle mass. I can't seem to fluctuate. I wish often that I could trade my metabolism with someone else, someone who desires so much to lose weight or to maintain it. I have a weird goal, that others don't understand, of having a belly someday. I'd love to let someone who has never been able to lose weight switch places with me. I can't.
Someday, my lifestyle might not be as active. My metabolism is also bound to slow down at some point. There might be a belly in my future. When it starts to show, my wife will watch my diet more carefully. Until then, I guess I'll go grab some chips.
Sorry for any of you that don't have this "blessing." I really would switch places for a while if I could.
Friday, July 28, 2006
What's with the Sunday Heat
I finally managed what I wanted. I haven't ever been asked to play goalie this year for my soccer team, and I only have to play sweeper when the regular isn't there. This has left me the freedom to play positions that are less glorious, but are more involved in the game. These positions also require more running.
Why is it then, that Sunday has been the hottest day of the week most weeks this summer, and that clouds have been hard to find? It's supposed to get over 100 this Sunday. That isn't enticing to someone who has to spend 90 minutes of that day running. What happened to 80 and cloudy with a slight breeze?
Don't you all feel sorry for me? I'm complaining that the weather is too beautiful while I'm playing soccer. I need a hug.
Why is it then, that Sunday has been the hottest day of the week most weeks this summer, and that clouds have been hard to find? It's supposed to get over 100 this Sunday. That isn't enticing to someone who has to spend 90 minutes of that day running. What happened to 80 and cloudy with a slight breeze?
Don't you all feel sorry for me? I'm complaining that the weather is too beautiful while I'm playing soccer. I need a hug.
Thursday, July 27, 2006
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
I can't decide anymore. I used to agree with certain aspects of theology that I just don't know what to think about anymore. Particularly the question about God knowing the future.
I wrote a senior paper in college about the newly popular theology that God doesn't know the future. I still stand by the opinion I stated in that paper, that if current churches don't study and become acquainted with that position, they are going to lose a generation of believers. I never in my paper, nor now, believe that also means a church must agree with that stance. It simply is a stance that many people will come to logically, and if you brush it off as wrong right away, you will be brushing off these people.
I used to quickly argue, and hold to this position. I can't say that I do anymore. I know that I believe in free will. I do not believe that every action of life has been predestined by God. I don't know exactly what I think about God's ability to see actions that haven't been made yet though. The "Open View Theology" allows for God to both know parts of the future, and not know other parts. Traditional Arminianism says we have free will, but God knows it anyway. I can't decide (as if I have to) which one of these camps my beliefs currently fall under.
Let's use the comment section of this blog to discuss. What do you all think? Does God know the future? If possible, attempt to back up your argument with some sort of Biblical knowledge, though logical arguments and gut instincts are also welcomed. I'll likely try to play "Devil's advocate" and argue for neither position, or for both positions through this discussion.
I wrote a senior paper in college about the newly popular theology that God doesn't know the future. I still stand by the opinion I stated in that paper, that if current churches don't study and become acquainted with that position, they are going to lose a generation of believers. I never in my paper, nor now, believe that also means a church must agree with that stance. It simply is a stance that many people will come to logically, and if you brush it off as wrong right away, you will be brushing off these people.
I used to quickly argue, and hold to this position. I can't say that I do anymore. I know that I believe in free will. I do not believe that every action of life has been predestined by God. I don't know exactly what I think about God's ability to see actions that haven't been made yet though. The "Open View Theology" allows for God to both know parts of the future, and not know other parts. Traditional Arminianism says we have free will, but God knows it anyway. I can't decide (as if I have to) which one of these camps my beliefs currently fall under.
Let's use the comment section of this blog to discuss. What do you all think? Does God know the future? If possible, attempt to back up your argument with some sort of Biblical knowledge, though logical arguments and gut instincts are also welcomed. I'll likely try to play "Devil's advocate" and argue for neither position, or for both positions through this discussion.
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
My Favorite Comediean
Mitch Hedberg is my favorite comedian (he's now deceased). He speacialized in one liners, which is good because it enables me to share his sense of humor with you.
Mitch Hedberg Quotes
I hate dreaming because when you want to sleep, you want to sleep. Dreaming is work. Next thing you know, I have to build a go cart with my ex-landlord.
I want to be a rebellious McDonald's owner. Cheeseburgers... NOPE... we got spaghetti!
I got to write these jokes. So, I sit at the hotel at night and I think of something that's funny. Or, If the pen is too far away, I have to convince myself that what I thought of wasn't funny.
You know that Pepperidge Farm bread, that stuff is fancy. That stuff is wrapped twice. You open it, and then still ain't open. That's why I don't buy it, I don't need another step between me and toast.
This product that was on TV was available for four easy payments of $19.95. I would like a product that was available for three easy payments and one complicated payment. We can't tell you which payment it is, but one of these payments is going to hard.
You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don't want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something.
I would imagine if you could understand Morse Code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy.
I went to the park and saw this kid flying a kite. The kid was really excited. I don't know why, that's what they're supposed to do. Now if he had had a chair on the other end of that string, I would have been impressed.
At my hotel room, my friend came over and asked to use the phone. I said "Certainly." He said "Do I need to dial 9?" I say "Yeah. Especially if it's in the number. You can try four and five back to back real quick."
I played golf... I did not get a hole in one, but I did hit a guy. That's way more satisfying...
I saw a human pyramid once. It was totally unnecessary.
This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... It's dirty.
I bought a doughnut and they gave me a receipt for the doughtnut... I don't need a receipt for the doughnut. I give you money and you give me the doughnut, end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario that I would have to prove that I bought a doughnut. To some skeptical friend, Don't even act like I didn't buy a doughnut, I've got the documentation right here... It's in my file at home. ...Under "D".
My friend was walking down the street and he said, "I hear music." As if there is any other way of taking it in. I tried to taste it, but it did not work.
A minibar is a machine that makes everything expensive. When I take something out of the minibar, I always fathom that I'll go and replace it before they check it off, but they make that stuff impossible to replace. I go to the store and ask, "Do you have coke in a glass harmonica? ...Do you have individually wrapped cashews?"
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
Someone handed me a picture and said, "This is a picture of me when I was younger." Every picture of you is when you were younger. "...Here's a picture of me when I'm older." Where'd you get that camera man?
I want to be a race car passenger: just a guy who bugs the driver. "Say man, can I turn on the radio? You should slow down. Why do we gotta keep going in circles? Can I put my feet out the window? Man, you really like Tide..."
I don't own a cell phone or a pager. I just hang around everyone I know, all the time. If someone needs to get ahold of me they just say, "Mitch," and I say, "what" and turn my head slightly...
Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn it Otto, you have Lupis... one of those two doesn't sound right.
I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.
I like cinnimon rolls, but I don't always have time to make a pan. That's why I wish they would sell cinnimon roll incense. After all I'd rather light a stick and have my roommate wake up with false hopes.
People teach their dogs to sit, it's a trick. I've been sitting my whole life, and a dog has never looked at me as though he thought I was tricky.
My friend said to me, "You know what I like? Mashed potatoes." I was like, "Dude, you have to give me time to guess. If you're going to quiz me you have to insert a pause."
An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see an "Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order" sign, just "Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience."
A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.
I think foosball is a combination of soccer and shishkabobs.
That would be cool if you could eat a good food with a bad food and the good food would cover for the bad food when it got to your stomach. Like you could eat a carrot with an onion ring and they would travel down to your stomach, then they would get there, and the carrot would say, "It's cool, he's with me."
If you had a friend who was a tightrope walker, and you were walking down a sidewalk, and he fell, that would be completely unacceptible...
I know a lot about cars. I can look at a car's headlights and tell you exactly which way it's coming.
I have a cheese-shredder at home, which is its positive name. They don't call it by its negative name, which is sponge-ruiner. Because I wanted to clean it, and now I have little bits of sponge that would melt easily over tortilla chips...
If carrots got you drunk, rabbits would be messed-up.
I bought a seven dollar pen because I always lose pens and I got sick of not caring.
Every time I go and shave, I assume there is somebody else on the planet shaving as well, so I say, "I'm gonna go shave too."
Why are there no during pictures.
I have an underwater camera just in case I crash my car into a river, and at the last minute I see a photo opportunity of a fish that I have never seen.
Sometimes I fall asleep at night with my clothes on. I'm going to have all my clothes made out of blankets.
I type a 101 words a minute. But it's in my own language.
I wish I could play little league now. I'd be way better than before.
I never joined the army because at ease was never that easy to me. Seemed rather uptight still. I don't relax by parting my legs slightly and putting my hands behind my back. That does not equal ease. At ease was not being in the military. I am at ease, bro, because I am not in the military.
I had a bag of fritos, they were texas grilled fritos. These fritos had grill marks on them. They remind me of something, when we used to fire up the barbeque and throw down some fritos. I can still see my dad with the apron on, better flip that frito, dad, you know how I like mine.
I opened-up a yogurt, underneath the lid it said, "Please try again." because they were having a contest that I was unaware of. I thought maybe I opened the yogurt wrong. ...Or maybe Yoplait was trying to inspire me... "Come on Mitchell, don't give up!" An inspirational message from your friends at Yoplait, fruit on the bottom, hope on top.
I hate flossing, I wish I just had one long curvy tooth.
The next time I move I hope I get a real easy phone number, something like 2222222. People will ask, "Mitch, how do I get a hold of you?" I'll say, "Just press two for a while, when I answer, you'll know that you've pressed two enough."
A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap.
You know they call corn-on-the-cob, "corn-on-the-cob", but that's how it comes out of the ground. They should just call it corn, and every other type of corn, corn-off-the-cob. It's not like if someone cut off my arm they would call it "Mitch", and then re-attached it, and call it "Mitch-all-together".
I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential.
On a traffic light yellow means yield, and green means go. On a banana, it's just the opposite, yellow means go ahead, green means stop, and red means, where'd you get that banana?
My roommate says, "I'm going to take a shower and shave, does anyone need to use the bathroom?" It's like some weird quiz where he reveals the answer first.
I think Bigfoot is blurry, that's the problem. There's a large out-of-focus monster roaming the countryside.
I wrote my friend a letter with a highlighting pen, but he could not read it, he thought I was trying to show him certain parts of a piece of paper.
I use the word totally too much. I need to change it up and use a word that is different but has the same meaning. Mitch do you like submarine sandwhiches? All-encompassingly...
...and then at the end of the letter I like to write "P.S. - this is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated.
I got my hair highlighted, because I felt some strands were more important than others.
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall.
My friend asked me if I wanted a frozen banana, I said "No, but I want a regular banana later, so, Yeah."
Mitch Hedberg Quotes
I hate dreaming because when you want to sleep, you want to sleep. Dreaming is work. Next thing you know, I have to build a go cart with my ex-landlord.
I want to be a rebellious McDonald's owner. Cheeseburgers... NOPE... we got spaghetti!
I got to write these jokes. So, I sit at the hotel at night and I think of something that's funny. Or, If the pen is too far away, I have to convince myself that what I thought of wasn't funny.
You know that Pepperidge Farm bread, that stuff is fancy. That stuff is wrapped twice. You open it, and then still ain't open. That's why I don't buy it, I don't need another step between me and toast.
This product that was on TV was available for four easy payments of $19.95. I would like a product that was available for three easy payments and one complicated payment. We can't tell you which payment it is, but one of these payments is going to hard.
You know when they have a fishing show on TV? They catch the fish and then let it go. They don't want to eat the fish, they just want to make it late for something.
I would imagine if you could understand Morse Code, a tap dancer would drive you crazy.
I went to the park and saw this kid flying a kite. The kid was really excited. I don't know why, that's what they're supposed to do. Now if he had had a chair on the other end of that string, I would have been impressed.
At my hotel room, my friend came over and asked to use the phone. I said "Certainly." He said "Do I need to dial 9?" I say "Yeah. Especially if it's in the number. You can try four and five back to back real quick."
I played golf... I did not get a hole in one, but I did hit a guy. That's way more satisfying...
I saw a human pyramid once. It was totally unnecessary.
This shirt is dry clean only. Which means... It's dirty.
I bought a doughnut and they gave me a receipt for the doughtnut... I don't need a receipt for the doughnut. I give you money and you give me the doughnut, end of transaction. We don't need to bring ink and paper into this. I can't imagine a scenario that I would have to prove that I bought a doughnut. To some skeptical friend, Don't even act like I didn't buy a doughnut, I've got the documentation right here... It's in my file at home. ...Under "D".
My friend was walking down the street and he said, "I hear music." As if there is any other way of taking it in. I tried to taste it, but it did not work.
A minibar is a machine that makes everything expensive. When I take something out of the minibar, I always fathom that I'll go and replace it before they check it off, but they make that stuff impossible to replace. I go to the store and ask, "Do you have coke in a glass harmonica? ...Do you have individually wrapped cashews?"
I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it.
Someone handed me a picture and said, "This is a picture of me when I was younger." Every picture of you is when you were younger. "...Here's a picture of me when I'm older." Where'd you get that camera man?
I want to be a race car passenger: just a guy who bugs the driver. "Say man, can I turn on the radio? You should slow down. Why do we gotta keep going in circles? Can I put my feet out the window? Man, you really like Tide..."
I don't own a cell phone or a pager. I just hang around everyone I know, all the time. If someone needs to get ahold of me they just say, "Mitch," and I say, "what" and turn my head slightly...
Alcoholism is a disease, but it's the only one you can get yelled at for having. Goddamn it Otto, you are an alcoholic. Goddamn it Otto, you have Lupis... one of those two doesn't sound right.
I was at this casino minding my own business, and this guy came up to me and said, "You're gonna have to move, you're blocking a fire exit." As though if there was a fire, I wasn't gonna run. If you're flammible and have legs, you are never blocking a fire exit.
I like cinnimon rolls, but I don't always have time to make a pan. That's why I wish they would sell cinnimon roll incense. After all I'd rather light a stick and have my roommate wake up with false hopes.
People teach their dogs to sit, it's a trick. I've been sitting my whole life, and a dog has never looked at me as though he thought I was tricky.
My friend said to me, "You know what I like? Mashed potatoes." I was like, "Dude, you have to give me time to guess. If you're going to quiz me you have to insert a pause."
An escalator can never break. It can only become stairs. You would never see an "Escalator Temporarily Out Of Order" sign, just "Escalator Temporarily Stairs. Sorry for the convenience."
A severed foot is the ultimate stocking stuffer.
I think foosball is a combination of soccer and shishkabobs.
That would be cool if you could eat a good food with a bad food and the good food would cover for the bad food when it got to your stomach. Like you could eat a carrot with an onion ring and they would travel down to your stomach, then they would get there, and the carrot would say, "It's cool, he's with me."
If you had a friend who was a tightrope walker, and you were walking down a sidewalk, and he fell, that would be completely unacceptible...
I know a lot about cars. I can look at a car's headlights and tell you exactly which way it's coming.
I have a cheese-shredder at home, which is its positive name. They don't call it by its negative name, which is sponge-ruiner. Because I wanted to clean it, and now I have little bits of sponge that would melt easily over tortilla chips...
If carrots got you drunk, rabbits would be messed-up.
I bought a seven dollar pen because I always lose pens and I got sick of not caring.
Every time I go and shave, I assume there is somebody else on the planet shaving as well, so I say, "I'm gonna go shave too."
Why are there no during pictures.
I have an underwater camera just in case I crash my car into a river, and at the last minute I see a photo opportunity of a fish that I have never seen.
Sometimes I fall asleep at night with my clothes on. I'm going to have all my clothes made out of blankets.
I type a 101 words a minute. But it's in my own language.
I wish I could play little league now. I'd be way better than before.
I never joined the army because at ease was never that easy to me. Seemed rather uptight still. I don't relax by parting my legs slightly and putting my hands behind my back. That does not equal ease. At ease was not being in the military. I am at ease, bro, because I am not in the military.
I had a bag of fritos, they were texas grilled fritos. These fritos had grill marks on them. They remind me of something, when we used to fire up the barbeque and throw down some fritos. I can still see my dad with the apron on, better flip that frito, dad, you know how I like mine.
I opened-up a yogurt, underneath the lid it said, "Please try again." because they were having a contest that I was unaware of. I thought maybe I opened the yogurt wrong. ...Or maybe Yoplait was trying to inspire me... "Come on Mitchell, don't give up!" An inspirational message from your friends at Yoplait, fruit on the bottom, hope on top.
I hate flossing, I wish I just had one long curvy tooth.
The next time I move I hope I get a real easy phone number, something like 2222222. People will ask, "Mitch, how do I get a hold of you?" I'll say, "Just press two for a while, when I answer, you'll know that you've pressed two enough."
A waffle is like a pancake with a syrup trap.
You know they call corn-on-the-cob, "corn-on-the-cob", but that's how it comes out of the ground. They should just call it corn, and every other type of corn, corn-off-the-cob. It's not like if someone cut off my arm they would call it "Mitch", and then re-attached it, and call it "Mitch-all-together".
I like buying snacks from a vending machine because food is better when it falls. Sometimes at the grocery, I'll drop a candy bar so that it will achieve its maximum flavor potential.
On a traffic light yellow means yield, and green means go. On a banana, it's just the opposite, yellow means go ahead, green means stop, and red means, where'd you get that banana?
My roommate says, "I'm going to take a shower and shave, does anyone need to use the bathroom?" It's like some weird quiz where he reveals the answer first.
I think Bigfoot is blurry, that's the problem. There's a large out-of-focus monster roaming the countryside.
I wrote my friend a letter with a highlighting pen, but he could not read it, he thought I was trying to show him certain parts of a piece of paper.
I use the word totally too much. I need to change it up and use a word that is different but has the same meaning. Mitch do you like submarine sandwhiches? All-encompassingly...
...and then at the end of the letter I like to write "P.S. - this is what part of the alphabet would look like if Q and R were eliminated.
I got my hair highlighted, because I felt some strands were more important than others.
I don't have a girlfriend. But I do know a woman who'd be mad at me for saying that.
The depressing thing about tennis is that no matter how good I get, I'll never be as good as a wall.
My friend asked me if I wanted a frozen banana, I said "No, but I want a regular banana later, so, Yeah."
Trial and error
Comments from family members show that my story of traveling to Disney is not completely accurate. I knew that, those who are family members found it obvious. Let's just call it an act of "creative writing." I found a picture, made a story, that was my blog. Tonight I'm trying one I'm far less suited to accomplish. There is benefit to trying all writing styles, even though I don't plan on using them. For instance, I have no plans on writing fiction stories, but will be helped by those "creative writing" exercises. Tonight's exercise will be far less enjoyable for me.
I've never been good at poetry. I can't grasp my mind around how to make it special and unique. I'm stuck in always trying to create a rhythm and meter, while adding rhyme. This generally leaves me with poems that use small words, easy to rhyme and adjust to a pattern of syllables, while leaving me far from getting the point across. Here is my attempt to break that pattern.
An Emptying Apology
by Nate Kemper
Your character has shown and my trials prove, it takes an emptying apology to get close to you.
To appease the guilt of my life fallen short, takes more than the "sorry" spoken without heart.
An apology to empty myself of guilt, fear and shame.
And for when my life has been empty, or the times I wouldn't empty it.
When I wouldn't allow your truth to change me.
When I stubbornly let my pride be what makes me.
I can't say I've become who you want me to be.
My life's only been an empty apology.
I want you to change me, I want to be new.
But first I must willingly submit myself to you.
Letting go of what I've chosen, hidden and created while I was in control.
I need to return to the One who knows.
I need your truth to change me.
Let my Creator make me.
Let's start the process of setting me free,
By finally setting my life at your feet.
Only that will say "sorry" like an emptying apology.
Poetry is also hard for me because it comes from the heart. I'm far better at expressing my mind than I am at expressing my heart. I'm glad this exercise is over, and look forward to returning to mind work tomorrow.
I've never been good at poetry. I can't grasp my mind around how to make it special and unique. I'm stuck in always trying to create a rhythm and meter, while adding rhyme. This generally leaves me with poems that use small words, easy to rhyme and adjust to a pattern of syllables, while leaving me far from getting the point across. Here is my attempt to break that pattern.
An Emptying Apology
by Nate Kemper
Your character has shown and my trials prove, it takes an emptying apology to get close to you.
To appease the guilt of my life fallen short, takes more than the "sorry" spoken without heart.
An apology to empty myself of guilt, fear and shame.
And for when my life has been empty, or the times I wouldn't empty it.
When I wouldn't allow your truth to change me.
When I stubbornly let my pride be what makes me.
I can't say I've become who you want me to be.
My life's only been an empty apology.
I want you to change me, I want to be new.
But first I must willingly submit myself to you.
Letting go of what I've chosen, hidden and created while I was in control.
I need to return to the One who knows.
I need your truth to change me.
Let my Creator make me.
Let's start the process of setting me free,
By finally setting my life at your feet.
Only that will say "sorry" like an emptying apology.
Poetry is also hard for me because it comes from the heart. I'm far better at expressing my mind than I am at expressing my heart. I'm glad this exercise is over, and look forward to returning to mind work tomorrow.
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Blame it on Mickey
I figured it out today. I was thinking about my life as it is currently, and about how my childhood has affected it. There are certain things in my life which I know stem from my childhood, this is one of them.
People find motivation in many things. Some are inspired by encouragement, some by discouragement, but most of us can relate to the inspiration that comes from seeing a dream realized. I was young. I can't remember the exact age, but I wasn't old enough to walk the neighborhood alone yet. At such an early age, my parents were grooming for success. I was to find motivation in the realization of a dream, even at such an early age.
The family was going to visit Disney. Hoping I'd avoid finding my inspiration from Goofey, my parents quickly outfitted Jason and I with Mickey ears (customized with our names) so that our love for him and his happy going ways would take reign over the rest of the Disney crowd. My dad wasn't about to raise a princess, and my mom already had all the goofs she needed in her husband.
So we were off, both parents with a mission of motivation for me and my brother. I can still imagine their thought process. "After this trip, the boys are going to change their ways" a hopeful mom explained to her husband while packing. "I hope that Jason will become man enough to stop wetting the bed on purpose."
Dad's reply was the more realistic tone you'd always expect. "It's time for them to see the real world. I still don't know why we are taking them to this fantasy land. There isn't anything wrong with them a day at the gun range wouldn't cure." It came with the tone that was serious enough to be remembered, but awkward enough to be considered sarcastic. You just didn't know what he was really trying to say.
His real motives weren't clear at this point, but dad understood that a visit to the land of his honeymoon could only end in the thing all men would want at this point. A couple of hours free from the kids, and a hotel room with cable. Let mom deal with the rides, dad just wanted a nap.
The family was off. It was another car trip. Not as long as the treks across the country, but easily as memorable. Nathan would annoy Jason, Jason would lash out, Jason would get in trouble. It was a behavior cycle that would be repeated throughout life, though it wouldn't take long before Jason wasn't getting in trouble any longer. Dad learned the best response later in life, saying to Jason, "Deal with it." This response never eased fear in Nathan's mind, but always calmed the situation.
We arrived at Disney. Again, striving to avoid negative heroes, we bypassed the up front parking found in Goofey's lot, and chose the far lot of Mickey. The tram ride was the kids' first experience of amusement park freedom. We sat a whole row in front of the parents. Dad would take this opportunity (the first of many) to put his arm around his wife, an experience only outnumbered by the number of pictures he would take with his camera (us kids were still cute at this age).
It was a day filled with rides, junk food, sun, cartoon mascots, tantrums, and more rides. The electric lights night show would leave techno music in the head and a churro on the taste buds while we would return to the hotel for the night.
We spent the next day at Epcot. Jason enjoyed learning. Nathan looked for anything fun to do. Intellectual day was a pretty uneventful day. Jason inspired to learn, Nathan inspired to sleep. Lessons that continued throughout high school.
Finally came Universal Studios. Here is where the most important lesson was ingrained. Jason and Nathan fell in love with movies. How can you not when you ride a train that is attacked both by a shark, and sent into a subway for an earthquake at the same time. This unrealistic view of life gave us everything we were looking for. The out from reality.
And somehow, this isn't the life lesson I learned from this trip. Another, has been looming beneath the surface of all areas of this vacation story. Maybe the picture below will help all of you understand the most important life lesson learned from my childhood trip to Disney.
Popcorn can be a meal! And you better let me eat mine.
People find motivation in many things. Some are inspired by encouragement, some by discouragement, but most of us can relate to the inspiration that comes from seeing a dream realized. I was young. I can't remember the exact age, but I wasn't old enough to walk the neighborhood alone yet. At such an early age, my parents were grooming for success. I was to find motivation in the realization of a dream, even at such an early age.
The family was going to visit Disney. Hoping I'd avoid finding my inspiration from Goofey, my parents quickly outfitted Jason and I with Mickey ears (customized with our names) so that our love for him and his happy going ways would take reign over the rest of the Disney crowd. My dad wasn't about to raise a princess, and my mom already had all the goofs she needed in her husband.
So we were off, both parents with a mission of motivation for me and my brother. I can still imagine their thought process. "After this trip, the boys are going to change their ways" a hopeful mom explained to her husband while packing. "I hope that Jason will become man enough to stop wetting the bed on purpose."
Dad's reply was the more realistic tone you'd always expect. "It's time for them to see the real world. I still don't know why we are taking them to this fantasy land. There isn't anything wrong with them a day at the gun range wouldn't cure." It came with the tone that was serious enough to be remembered, but awkward enough to be considered sarcastic. You just didn't know what he was really trying to say.
His real motives weren't clear at this point, but dad understood that a visit to the land of his honeymoon could only end in the thing all men would want at this point. A couple of hours free from the kids, and a hotel room with cable. Let mom deal with the rides, dad just wanted a nap.
The family was off. It was another car trip. Not as long as the treks across the country, but easily as memorable. Nathan would annoy Jason, Jason would lash out, Jason would get in trouble. It was a behavior cycle that would be repeated throughout life, though it wouldn't take long before Jason wasn't getting in trouble any longer. Dad learned the best response later in life, saying to Jason, "Deal with it." This response never eased fear in Nathan's mind, but always calmed the situation.
We arrived at Disney. Again, striving to avoid negative heroes, we bypassed the up front parking found in Goofey's lot, and chose the far lot of Mickey. The tram ride was the kids' first experience of amusement park freedom. We sat a whole row in front of the parents. Dad would take this opportunity (the first of many) to put his arm around his wife, an experience only outnumbered by the number of pictures he would take with his camera (us kids were still cute at this age).
It was a day filled with rides, junk food, sun, cartoon mascots, tantrums, and more rides. The electric lights night show would leave techno music in the head and a churro on the taste buds while we would return to the hotel for the night.
We spent the next day at Epcot. Jason enjoyed learning. Nathan looked for anything fun to do. Intellectual day was a pretty uneventful day. Jason inspired to learn, Nathan inspired to sleep. Lessons that continued throughout high school.
Finally came Universal Studios. Here is where the most important lesson was ingrained. Jason and Nathan fell in love with movies. How can you not when you ride a train that is attacked both by a shark, and sent into a subway for an earthquake at the same time. This unrealistic view of life gave us everything we were looking for. The out from reality.
And somehow, this isn't the life lesson I learned from this trip. Another, has been looming beneath the surface of all areas of this vacation story. Maybe the picture below will help all of you understand the most important life lesson learned from my childhood trip to Disney.
Popcorn can be a meal! And you better let me eat mine.
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Shades Darker
The weather was gorgeous all weekend, and being at a cabin on a lake, I took advantage of it. I am a couple shades more red than I used to be, but it was worth it. I added to my list kneeboarding and riding/driving a four wheeler. I had never done either of those things before and have accomplished those. I also witnessed my first fish being cut, after it was caught, so that it would be ready to cook. Overall, it was a good weekend at the cabin.
With that time in the sun, and a soccer game tonight, I'm sure I'll be sleeping well. With such a list of life accomplishments for the weekend, I don't know what to look forward to next. Starting my Masters Degree is something I'm really excited about, but hoping to have something accomplished as well before September hits.
I have no thoughts left in my sunfried brain. Maybe some will come tomorrow.
With that time in the sun, and a soccer game tonight, I'm sure I'll be sleeping well. With such a list of life accomplishments for the weekend, I don't know what to look forward to next. Starting my Masters Degree is something I'm really excited about, but hoping to have something accomplished as well before September hits.
I have no thoughts left in my sunfried brain. Maybe some will come tomorrow.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
I'll miss you
Jenny and I are going to be gone for the weekend, which means for at least the next two days, I won't be blogging. I know you'll miss me, but think how exciting it will be on Monday when you get to hear from me again, it'll be like a reunion between old friends.
I took the tour at UPS tonight. I was impressed with their benefits package that they offer part-time employees, but am likely not eligible for the tuition assistance, which puts the pay-rate under what is likely necessary.
So if you know of any good part-time jobs that allow me to be a full-time student and to see my wife, let me know.
Otherwise, I'll see you in a couple of days.
I took the tour at UPS tonight. I was impressed with their benefits package that they offer part-time employees, but am likely not eligible for the tuition assistance, which puts the pay-rate under what is likely necessary.
So if you know of any good part-time jobs that allow me to be a full-time student and to see my wife, let me know.
Otherwise, I'll see you in a couple of days.
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Back to School Shopping
Though I'm going back to school soon, this isn't actually about me doing any back to school shopping. It is about the change in back to school shopping from when I was a kid.
Here were the stages. In elementary school growing up, it was all about what lunchbox you could get mom to buy. In middle school, it was trying to get them to fork over $20 for the Trapper Keeper. All 80's kids remember the Trapper Keeper. In high school, you focused on the clothes, and on which Texas Instruments graphing calculator you could get, for just under $100.
I was watching t.v. today. Circuit City was having a back to school sale. Electronics stores never used to do this. Target sold you everything you needed. They had lines of laptop and desktop computers on sale for a back to school special. I wish I was in high school now. My dad likes toys enough that I'm sure I could have convinced him that it was a school necessity instead of a high school graduation gift. Ah well, the times have changed.
At one point, pens, pencils, and paper were the necessary functions, with folders being the highpoint. I don't want to know what kids force parents to spend on backpacks nowadays (I'll be sporting my custom made Timbuktu bag ordered online for me this fall).
Remember when back to school shopping was about class supplies and not social or economic standards? Why did we let marketing and corporation take over? Fight the power.
Here were the stages. In elementary school growing up, it was all about what lunchbox you could get mom to buy. In middle school, it was trying to get them to fork over $20 for the Trapper Keeper. All 80's kids remember the Trapper Keeper. In high school, you focused on the clothes, and on which Texas Instruments graphing calculator you could get, for just under $100.
I was watching t.v. today. Circuit City was having a back to school sale. Electronics stores never used to do this. Target sold you everything you needed. They had lines of laptop and desktop computers on sale for a back to school special. I wish I was in high school now. My dad likes toys enough that I'm sure I could have convinced him that it was a school necessity instead of a high school graduation gift. Ah well, the times have changed.
At one point, pens, pencils, and paper were the necessary functions, with folders being the highpoint. I don't want to know what kids force parents to spend on backpacks nowadays (I'll be sporting my custom made Timbuktu bag ordered online for me this fall).
Remember when back to school shopping was about class supplies and not social or economic standards? Why did we let marketing and corporation take over? Fight the power.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Inspiration in a bucket (advance warning)
I'll start with the advance warning. I won't be able to continue my blog a day routine. This weekend, Jenny and I are going up to a cabin with some of her family. I won't be at my wireless laptop right before bed, and likely won't find anyway to post. I'm okay with that. You'll have a couple of days without hearing from me, and you'll have to deal with that.
On another note, after yesterday's Seminary paper post (my response to a baptism question) I find myself with little internal motivation to be creative. So, I'm turning to my trusty buckets folder, where I keep documents, and notes that are important to me at different times.
Today's comes from a book called "Let Your Life Speak." It says this:
"I had missed the deep meaning of a biblical teaching that I had always regarded as a no-brainer. 'I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Therefore, choose life' (Deuteronomy 30:19). Why, I wondered, would God waste precious breath on saying something so obvious? I had failed to understand the perverse comfort we sometimes get from choosing death in life, exempting ourselves from the challenge of using our gifts, of living our lives in authentic relationship with others."
I can relate to these thoughts. I can remember times when I wanted to be depressed. Times when I wanted to cry. Times when I hoped for nothing more than a pity party, because it would exempt me from doing the things that I could and should be doing.
I can relate many truths to myself through soccer analogies. Here is this one. I can remember times on the field that I was alive and confident. That I wanted nothing more than the ball at my feet, or the chance to shine in a penalty kick shootout. I can remember wanting defenders to fail so that I could save the day. I can also remember when I had chosen differently. I can remember times when I hoped a forward from the other team would stay close to me, so that no one would pass me the ball. When I would encourage other people to make smart runs because I didn't want to be the person involved in the action. Why sometimes do we choose death?
Life is so fulfilling, and I spend too much time of mine, trying to avoid it.
When do you want to avoid life? When does "death" (whatever that means at the time) seem like a better option?
Choose life. You won't regret it.
On another note, after yesterday's Seminary paper post (my response to a baptism question) I find myself with little internal motivation to be creative. So, I'm turning to my trusty buckets folder, where I keep documents, and notes that are important to me at different times.
Today's comes from a book called "Let Your Life Speak." It says this:
"I had missed the deep meaning of a biblical teaching that I had always regarded as a no-brainer. 'I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Therefore, choose life' (Deuteronomy 30:19). Why, I wondered, would God waste precious breath on saying something so obvious? I had failed to understand the perverse comfort we sometimes get from choosing death in life, exempting ourselves from the challenge of using our gifts, of living our lives in authentic relationship with others."
I can relate to these thoughts. I can remember times when I wanted to be depressed. Times when I wanted to cry. Times when I hoped for nothing more than a pity party, because it would exempt me from doing the things that I could and should be doing.
I can relate many truths to myself through soccer analogies. Here is this one. I can remember times on the field that I was alive and confident. That I wanted nothing more than the ball at my feet, or the chance to shine in a penalty kick shootout. I can remember wanting defenders to fail so that I could save the day. I can also remember when I had chosen differently. I can remember times when I hoped a forward from the other team would stay close to me, so that no one would pass me the ball. When I would encourage other people to make smart runs because I didn't want to be the person involved in the action. Why sometimes do we choose death?
Life is so fulfilling, and I spend too much time of mine, trying to avoid it.
When do you want to avoid life? When does "death" (whatever that means at the time) seem like a better option?
Choose life. You won't regret it.
Advantage Blogger (and another q+a with Nate)
Technical details to get out of the way. I am fortunate enough to be e-mailed every time one of you comments on my blog. Which means, even if you have commented on a blog which is buried deep within the archives, that likely no one else has read anytime recently, I get an e-mail that tells me so. I respond, I think, to all of them that ask me any kind of question. So, if you comment, check to see if I respond. Secondly, I'm always taking suggestions of things to write about, or questions, or whatever, even if my original blog asking for those isn't still on the main page. You can question or comment in any of the blogs about something you want me to ramble about. See above "technical" detail to why this works for me. In this case, I have an advantage over all of you. I need not browse through archives to find new comments, but simply need to check my e-mail.
Last bit of maintenance. If you want any of your old comments to be seen by other readers, simply put that in your comment, or tell me somehow, and I'll put a blurb about it in a recent blog (as long as I find what I'm referring to appropriate).
With that said, I have been asked another question, or thought process to comment on, this could get long.
MSK asks:
Is it appropriate or inappropriate to want, have, multiple immersion baptisms? For example, suppose someone as a young adult (child) full of good intentions, made the decision for Christ, and was baptized then as an adult, realized, regretted the many sins made after that time and after prayer, desired to confess and re-confirm Christ as Lord and Savior, is it selfish to want to be baptized again?
Separate but related, for a different time, when babies are "baptized" in some religions, since it was not made by their will but someone else, does it matter to God?
I will likely only respond to the specific situation mentioned rhetorically. For a simple answer to the original question, I would answer that it is appropriate (situation depending) but will find this space far more suited for describing what I believe the Bible maintains and what I know I maintain as the importance of baptism.
Baptism is mentioned throughout the New Testament of the Bible. I can't specifically recall any baptisms in the Old Testament, but can think of examples that happened in the New Testament, before Christ was baptized, and without using his name as the reason for baptism. John that Baptist is seen practicing immersion baptisms before he understands that the Messiah has come, and is doing so without using Christ's name in his practice. He admits fully that baptism will change upon the coming of the Messiah.
Baptism, in the ancient middle eastern culture, made a very proclaiming statement. It was used to show alliance to one set of beliefs, while also renouncing another set of beliefs. A pastor recently said in a sermon, that baptism in that culture would have been as shocking a statement to the public as someone in America in the 1950's proclaiming an alliance with the Communist party. To openly confess, and show through the process of water immersion an alliance to one set of beliefs (God's), while denouncing another (in those days the Romans) would have been highly recognized as a life altering act.
Part of what is unfortunate is that America has few, if any, acts that are still seen as "life altering" regardless of the circumstances. Marriage vows fail, often. People change alliances to get their way, often. We proclaim we are someone with say, our dress, and the next day, affiliate with a completely different clique of people. Becoming a bandwagon fan is half the fun of sports for many people. There is little done anymore that is across the board seen as a life altering act. That's unfortunate. It's also unfortunate that baptism has failed to be this, not just in many people's individual lives, but in many churches' communities at large.
Baptism itself, in the Bible, was never meant to be a sign, or procedure, for the cleansing of sin. It still does not cleanse us of sin, and never will cleanse us of sin. That has never, nor will it ever be the purpose of baptism. If that ever had been the case, Jesus' need for baptism would have not existed, yet he wanted to be baptized. Forgiveness of sin, comes through repentance, Christ's death and God's mercy alone, never from anything else, including baptism. That is one case in which some churches have failed to accurately portray what baptism meant, and is supposed to mean today. The symbolism of being dunked in the water and raised clean to that of Christ descending after death to raise from the dead is powerful symbolism, but is no more than symbolism. I will say again, baptism does not make us clean.
Secondly, the church has thrown us off as a community in one other major way. A way that as we read the Bible from a modern American standpoint, seems logical, but I believe to be harmful. The phrase seen in the Bible, "repent and be baptized" and you will be saved, or something like it (believe and be baptized...etc) is used throughout the New Testament. Because of this, many churches place baptism as a necessary part of obedience to attain salvation. This again, is unfortunate. Baptism was never meant to be part of a formula, and will never be helpful to us, or our relationship with God if it is seen as a step we "must" take. I'll try to explain this a couple of ways, and in great detail, which means this post will be long.
In America, and with a modern perspective we tend to do two things. First, we try to get everything we can out of life (the American dream) and second, we read the Bible because it is a book that can give us answers to life questions (modern perspective). The Bible was not written to support either of these notions (The American dream, or as an answer book) but was instead written to show us who God is and how we can come into relationship with Him. It needs to be read with an understanding of the culture it was written in and discernment to find application for our current culture. I'll try to explain baptism in both of these ways.
In America, baptism has become another notch on the spiritual belt. Something that we have been told (by churches or by the Bible as we read it) that we have to do to attain salvation. It has become another tool by which we continue to try to gain the most out of life. In the ancient culture, as I have already discussed, it meant something much different. It was a sign of a life changing movement. Not that we had become closer to achieving the American dream, but that we will no longer be bound by the world, and will find our full association with God. It involved, not just affiliation with God (the notch of the American dream) but the renouncing of all the other things (our selves included). It was a statement that did not say, I want to add God to what I have going here, and use Him to better my life, but instead said, My life is God's and everything in it I give to Him. (I feel like I should be preaching right now, I've got a sermon running through me) Can I get an "amen!"?
Here is a poor, current culture, example that I'll try to make up on the spot. Let's assume this. Life is all about war. Becoming a warrior is the ultimate goal in life. Affiliating yourself with an Army, is the first step, while also being a great achievement, at fulfilling for yourself what life should be like. Let's also assume that long wavy hair is in style. You join the Army. The Army (as it still does to men) gives you a haircut. A short haircut. You agree to and allow this because you desire to be affiliated with the Army, and also because our specific army believes that this is a good decision for functional reasons. Now let's assume it is a couple hundred years from now, and that we are Japanese. Becoming a warrior is still the main goal. It's livelihood started in America in our day. As a Japanese man, becoming a warrior is our desire. However, that state of Japan, culturally has long hair on their warriors. The "top knot" as seen in many movies is a sense of warrior pride to their culture. You are a young Japanese boy, trying to live out the proper life of a warrior. You come across the texts that show that all (read American) warriors immediately got their haircut upon becoming a warrior. Is it important then that you get your haircut to become a warrior? No. What is still, and always would be most important is that you are obedient to the army in which you are becoming a warrior. The act of a haircut, though important culturally to America, would have zero relevance of warriorhood to a Japanese warrior.
What I'm not trying to say here (I told you the analogy would be poor) is that baptism was only important in the ancient middle eastern culture and bears no significance on today. What I am trying to show is that baptism which is seen as a step in a formula, or as a process towards salvation, brings us nowhere.
Baptism is about turning one's life away from one thing and aligning it with another. What's funny is that salvation has the same purpose (turning our life from anything and towards God). Thus the two are commonly linked (rightly so).
Here (after long enough an explanation) is my response to the specific example given in the question. I encourage anyone whose baptism was not (to them or to God) a sign of a life turned away from "other" and affiliated with God, to be baptized. This does not mean, I encourage anyone who has been baptized and since sinned to get "re-baptized" as baptism and sin have no link. If one's initial baptism was part of a formula, at any age, and one has decided since then that they long to make their public statement of renouncing their life, and turning towards God's life, then baptism is the best choice you can make. I have no problem with people getting baptized "multiple times." I don't see anywhere scripturally that would have a problem with it either. I'm sure God would be honored to hear someone affiliate themselves with Him, even again, if that's the case.
On to the second, and much shorter part of your question:
Separate but related, for a different time, when babies are "baptized" in some religions, since it was not made by their will but someone else, does it matter to God?
Does it matter to God? Sure, why not. I have not found any detail of life to be something that does not matter to God. Do I believe that God will look at the individual soul of a baby that has been baptized differently than one that hasn't, I do not.
I agree with baby dedications, which show publicly that a family wishes, and asks support for a baby to be raised with Christian values and ultimately be introduced to Christ. The act of baptizing the baby with water at this point though, seems of little value to me, and my guess is that it is of little value to God. God likely expects more of the parents in those situations, but I'm guessing his mind is not altered on the life of one who was baptized unwillfully.
This is long enough. Any clarifying questions are welcomed by anyone. I did write this at 1:00 in the morning and if my brain thought it would take this much space to answer, I'm sure it didn't come out as clear as I hoped.
Gold Star for anyone who actually read the whole thing.
I pretty much feel like I just wrote a paper for Seminary. I wonder if they knew what I think of baptism (which i believe is Biblical) if they'd still want me.
Last bit of maintenance. If you want any of your old comments to be seen by other readers, simply put that in your comment, or tell me somehow, and I'll put a blurb about it in a recent blog (as long as I find what I'm referring to appropriate).
With that said, I have been asked another question, or thought process to comment on, this could get long.
MSK asks:
Is it appropriate or inappropriate to want, have, multiple immersion baptisms? For example, suppose someone as a young adult (child) full of good intentions, made the decision for Christ, and was baptized then as an adult, realized, regretted the many sins made after that time and after prayer, desired to confess and re-confirm Christ as Lord and Savior, is it selfish to want to be baptized again?
Separate but related, for a different time, when babies are "baptized" in some religions, since it was not made by their will but someone else, does it matter to God?
I will likely only respond to the specific situation mentioned rhetorically. For a simple answer to the original question, I would answer that it is appropriate (situation depending) but will find this space far more suited for describing what I believe the Bible maintains and what I know I maintain as the importance of baptism.
Baptism is mentioned throughout the New Testament of the Bible. I can't specifically recall any baptisms in the Old Testament, but can think of examples that happened in the New Testament, before Christ was baptized, and without using his name as the reason for baptism. John that Baptist is seen practicing immersion baptisms before he understands that the Messiah has come, and is doing so without using Christ's name in his practice. He admits fully that baptism will change upon the coming of the Messiah.
Baptism, in the ancient middle eastern culture, made a very proclaiming statement. It was used to show alliance to one set of beliefs, while also renouncing another set of beliefs. A pastor recently said in a sermon, that baptism in that culture would have been as shocking a statement to the public as someone in America in the 1950's proclaiming an alliance with the Communist party. To openly confess, and show through the process of water immersion an alliance to one set of beliefs (God's), while denouncing another (in those days the Romans) would have been highly recognized as a life altering act.
Part of what is unfortunate is that America has few, if any, acts that are still seen as "life altering" regardless of the circumstances. Marriage vows fail, often. People change alliances to get their way, often. We proclaim we are someone with say, our dress, and the next day, affiliate with a completely different clique of people. Becoming a bandwagon fan is half the fun of sports for many people. There is little done anymore that is across the board seen as a life altering act. That's unfortunate. It's also unfortunate that baptism has failed to be this, not just in many people's individual lives, but in many churches' communities at large.
Baptism itself, in the Bible, was never meant to be a sign, or procedure, for the cleansing of sin. It still does not cleanse us of sin, and never will cleanse us of sin. That has never, nor will it ever be the purpose of baptism. If that ever had been the case, Jesus' need for baptism would have not existed, yet he wanted to be baptized. Forgiveness of sin, comes through repentance, Christ's death and God's mercy alone, never from anything else, including baptism. That is one case in which some churches have failed to accurately portray what baptism meant, and is supposed to mean today. The symbolism of being dunked in the water and raised clean to that of Christ descending after death to raise from the dead is powerful symbolism, but is no more than symbolism. I will say again, baptism does not make us clean.
Secondly, the church has thrown us off as a community in one other major way. A way that as we read the Bible from a modern American standpoint, seems logical, but I believe to be harmful. The phrase seen in the Bible, "repent and be baptized" and you will be saved, or something like it (believe and be baptized...etc) is used throughout the New Testament. Because of this, many churches place baptism as a necessary part of obedience to attain salvation. This again, is unfortunate. Baptism was never meant to be part of a formula, and will never be helpful to us, or our relationship with God if it is seen as a step we "must" take. I'll try to explain this a couple of ways, and in great detail, which means this post will be long.
In America, and with a modern perspective we tend to do two things. First, we try to get everything we can out of life (the American dream) and second, we read the Bible because it is a book that can give us answers to life questions (modern perspective). The Bible was not written to support either of these notions (The American dream, or as an answer book) but was instead written to show us who God is and how we can come into relationship with Him. It needs to be read with an understanding of the culture it was written in and discernment to find application for our current culture. I'll try to explain baptism in both of these ways.
In America, baptism has become another notch on the spiritual belt. Something that we have been told (by churches or by the Bible as we read it) that we have to do to attain salvation. It has become another tool by which we continue to try to gain the most out of life. In the ancient culture, as I have already discussed, it meant something much different. It was a sign of a life changing movement. Not that we had become closer to achieving the American dream, but that we will no longer be bound by the world, and will find our full association with God. It involved, not just affiliation with God (the notch of the American dream) but the renouncing of all the other things (our selves included). It was a statement that did not say, I want to add God to what I have going here, and use Him to better my life, but instead said, My life is God's and everything in it I give to Him. (I feel like I should be preaching right now, I've got a sermon running through me) Can I get an "amen!"?
Here is a poor, current culture, example that I'll try to make up on the spot. Let's assume this. Life is all about war. Becoming a warrior is the ultimate goal in life. Affiliating yourself with an Army, is the first step, while also being a great achievement, at fulfilling for yourself what life should be like. Let's also assume that long wavy hair is in style. You join the Army. The Army (as it still does to men) gives you a haircut. A short haircut. You agree to and allow this because you desire to be affiliated with the Army, and also because our specific army believes that this is a good decision for functional reasons. Now let's assume it is a couple hundred years from now, and that we are Japanese. Becoming a warrior is still the main goal. It's livelihood started in America in our day. As a Japanese man, becoming a warrior is our desire. However, that state of Japan, culturally has long hair on their warriors. The "top knot" as seen in many movies is a sense of warrior pride to their culture. You are a young Japanese boy, trying to live out the proper life of a warrior. You come across the texts that show that all (read American) warriors immediately got their haircut upon becoming a warrior. Is it important then that you get your haircut to become a warrior? No. What is still, and always would be most important is that you are obedient to the army in which you are becoming a warrior. The act of a haircut, though important culturally to America, would have zero relevance of warriorhood to a Japanese warrior.
What I'm not trying to say here (I told you the analogy would be poor) is that baptism was only important in the ancient middle eastern culture and bears no significance on today. What I am trying to show is that baptism which is seen as a step in a formula, or as a process towards salvation, brings us nowhere.
Baptism is about turning one's life away from one thing and aligning it with another. What's funny is that salvation has the same purpose (turning our life from anything and towards God). Thus the two are commonly linked (rightly so).
Here (after long enough an explanation) is my response to the specific example given in the question. I encourage anyone whose baptism was not (to them or to God) a sign of a life turned away from "other" and affiliated with God, to be baptized. This does not mean, I encourage anyone who has been baptized and since sinned to get "re-baptized" as baptism and sin have no link. If one's initial baptism was part of a formula, at any age, and one has decided since then that they long to make their public statement of renouncing their life, and turning towards God's life, then baptism is the best choice you can make. I have no problem with people getting baptized "multiple times." I don't see anywhere scripturally that would have a problem with it either. I'm sure God would be honored to hear someone affiliate themselves with Him, even again, if that's the case.
On to the second, and much shorter part of your question:
Separate but related, for a different time, when babies are "baptized" in some religions, since it was not made by their will but someone else, does it matter to God?
Does it matter to God? Sure, why not. I have not found any detail of life to be something that does not matter to God. Do I believe that God will look at the individual soul of a baby that has been baptized differently than one that hasn't, I do not.
I agree with baby dedications, which show publicly that a family wishes, and asks support for a baby to be raised with Christian values and ultimately be introduced to Christ. The act of baptizing the baby with water at this point though, seems of little value to me, and my guess is that it is of little value to God. God likely expects more of the parents in those situations, but I'm guessing his mind is not altered on the life of one who was baptized unwillfully.
This is long enough. Any clarifying questions are welcomed by anyone. I did write this at 1:00 in the morning and if my brain thought it would take this much space to answer, I'm sure it didn't come out as clear as I hoped.
Gold Star for anyone who actually read the whole thing.
I pretty much feel like I just wrote a paper for Seminary. I wonder if they knew what I think of baptism (which i believe is Biblical) if they'd still want me.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Life (and wife) really does change a man
As I continue to "grow up" I realize that much of me has changed in just the last couple of years. I used to not be able to get up even a minute earlier than needed to do anything, and for 2 years, and 16 straight days now, I've gotten up early enough to read at least one chapter of the Bible and journal and pray in the morning. That was a change from before.
Just last week, when I found $20 at a park, I immediately handed it to my wife. I have changed. I told her then that I had changed just like I did when I handed her money that my parents had given me for mowing their lawn. It's a weird thing.
Tomorrow it is going to get even more weird. Jenny and I are getting up at 6:00 in the morning. She'll stay in the living room and do Pilates exercises while I go to the basement and work out with the weights. You read that right, I said 6:00 in the morning. I'm unemployed, and setting an alarm to get up that early. I REALLY have changed.
Just last week, when I found $20 at a park, I immediately handed it to my wife. I have changed. I told her then that I had changed just like I did when I handed her money that my parents had given me for mowing their lawn. It's a weird thing.
Tomorrow it is going to get even more weird. Jenny and I are getting up at 6:00 in the morning. She'll stay in the living room and do Pilates exercises while I go to the basement and work out with the weights. You read that right, I said 6:00 in the morning. I'm unemployed, and setting an alarm to get up that early. I REALLY have changed.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
What about the "Catholic Bible"
Well, it's time for me to turn on my brain again. My mother asked me something along these lines:
I rememberyou saying something about the "Catholic Bible" and it containing some books that aren't in the "normal" Bible. What are these books, where did they come from, and what is learned from them?
I hope that is a fair summary of what she was asking. So I'll start...
There is a group of books called the deuterocanonical books (second canon) and a group of books called the apocrypha (hidden texts) which are referred to by different people at different times as scripture. The two are separate things (deuterocanical and apocrypha) but include about 10 of the same things. They are...Tobit, Judith, additions to Esther, Wisdom, Ben Sira, Baruch, Epistle of Jeremy, Additions to Daniel (three separate additions), 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. This listing of books is all of the deuterocanical books. The apocryphal books would add, 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Jubilees, Enoch, and the Prayer of Mannasses. That is bound to be confusing enough.
Here is my summation of what is important to know about these "books of the Bible." These books are all found in ancient Greek Scrolls. These are the scrolls which were likely used by the New Testament writers to quote the Old Testament books, which is why if you search hard enough, you will find quotes from these books in the current and widely accepted New Testament. These books, however, were never found in the ancient Hebrew Scrolls (the language in which the Old Testament was written. So confusion has happened.
Though these books were sometimes quoted by the New Testament (as were poets and pagans) they were never considered by the early church to be a part of Scripture. They first gained publicity and notice in the middle of the 1500's. This was during the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent was formed as a council of the Roman Catholic church from 1545 to 1563 to discuss the Reformation. This council was the nineteenth of the Catholic Ecumenical Councils and was held primarily to specify Catholic doctrines on salvation, the sacraments and Biblical Canon, and standardizing mass throughout the church. Luther, who was leading the reformation, had stated that the Dueterocanical books should be placed with the rest of the Apocrypha, and seen as wise cultural writing but not as scripture as they were never included with the Hebrew Scrolls. This specific council found the Latin and Greek scrolls which contained the 10 or so books in question to be the ultimate primary text, regardless of their original language and thus included them in scripture.
You will notice, that not everything that happened at the Council of Trent was successful, primarily the standardization of mass throughout the church. Most Orthodox and traditionally Roman Catholic churches would now have a Bible that includes the deuterocanonical books, while many Catholic churches, who have been influenced by other denominations, and the Reformation, would have Bibles that don't include those books. There is now no singular Catholic Bible.
Thus follows the question, what do these books say, and what can we learn from them. I can only answer this question in part. Some of the books are historical books, much like those of 1 and 2 Kings, or 1 and 2 Samuel, describing the cultures, wars, and history of certain civilizations in the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament (now referred to as intertestamental). These are the only books that I have studied, and of little consequence as far as doctrine is found in them.
The Catholic belief in purgatory stems from a combination of these books, canonized Scripture (today's widely accepted Bible) and other historical writings to find its foundations. None of the three of these alone is able to make the argument for purgatory itself, but combining the three has proved relevant enough to most Catholic churches (who again would accept at least two of these three scenarios as being God inspired). This is specifically seen in the book of 2 Maccabees of which I will post a quote:
42 And so be taking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, for as much as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain. 43 And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, 44 (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
2 Maccabees 12:42-44
Again, some of the strongest teachings for this doctrine, or at least example of it come from books and statements that are not found in the Canonical Bible, but in books that some Catholic Churches have held as being scripture.
I have no other examples as I have not studied all of the books exhaustively. There are many fascinating things when it comes to the history of the church, and the word of God. I wish I knew them all.
I am more than happy to share my opinion on any of them, or answer any more specific questions that people may have about this one, but to continue at this point, would be mere rambling for no one's benefit.
I rememberyou saying something about the "Catholic Bible" and it containing some books that aren't in the "normal" Bible. What are these books, where did they come from, and what is learned from them?
I hope that is a fair summary of what she was asking. So I'll start...
There is a group of books called the deuterocanonical books (second canon) and a group of books called the apocrypha (hidden texts) which are referred to by different people at different times as scripture. The two are separate things (deuterocanical and apocrypha) but include about 10 of the same things. They are...Tobit, Judith, additions to Esther, Wisdom, Ben Sira, Baruch, Epistle of Jeremy, Additions to Daniel (three separate additions), 1 Maccabees, and 2 Maccabees. This listing of books is all of the deuterocanical books. The apocryphal books would add, 1 Esdras, 2 Esdras, Jubilees, Enoch, and the Prayer of Mannasses. That is bound to be confusing enough.
Here is my summation of what is important to know about these "books of the Bible." These books are all found in ancient Greek Scrolls. These are the scrolls which were likely used by the New Testament writers to quote the Old Testament books, which is why if you search hard enough, you will find quotes from these books in the current and widely accepted New Testament. These books, however, were never found in the ancient Hebrew Scrolls (the language in which the Old Testament was written. So confusion has happened.
Though these books were sometimes quoted by the New Testament (as were poets and pagans) they were never considered by the early church to be a part of Scripture. They first gained publicity and notice in the middle of the 1500's. This was during the Council of Trent. The Council of Trent was formed as a council of the Roman Catholic church from 1545 to 1563 to discuss the Reformation. This council was the nineteenth of the Catholic Ecumenical Councils and was held primarily to specify Catholic doctrines on salvation, the sacraments and Biblical Canon, and standardizing mass throughout the church. Luther, who was leading the reformation, had stated that the Dueterocanical books should be placed with the rest of the Apocrypha, and seen as wise cultural writing but not as scripture as they were never included with the Hebrew Scrolls. This specific council found the Latin and Greek scrolls which contained the 10 or so books in question to be the ultimate primary text, regardless of their original language and thus included them in scripture.
You will notice, that not everything that happened at the Council of Trent was successful, primarily the standardization of mass throughout the church. Most Orthodox and traditionally Roman Catholic churches would now have a Bible that includes the deuterocanonical books, while many Catholic churches, who have been influenced by other denominations, and the Reformation, would have Bibles that don't include those books. There is now no singular Catholic Bible.
Thus follows the question, what do these books say, and what can we learn from them. I can only answer this question in part. Some of the books are historical books, much like those of 1 and 2 Kings, or 1 and 2 Samuel, describing the cultures, wars, and history of certain civilizations in the period between the Old Testament and the New Testament (now referred to as intertestamental). These are the only books that I have studied, and of little consequence as far as doctrine is found in them.
The Catholic belief in purgatory stems from a combination of these books, canonized Scripture (today's widely accepted Bible) and other historical writings to find its foundations. None of the three of these alone is able to make the argument for purgatory itself, but combining the three has proved relevant enough to most Catholic churches (who again would accept at least two of these three scenarios as being God inspired). This is specifically seen in the book of 2 Maccabees of which I will post a quote:
42 And so be taking themselves to prayers, they besought him, that the sin which had been committed might be forgotten. But the most valiant Judas exhorted the people to keep themselves from sin, for as much as they saw before their eyes what had happened, because of the sins of those that were slain. 43 And making a gathering, he sent twelve thousand drachmas of silver to Jerusalem for sacrifice to be offered for the sins of the dead, thinking well and religiously concerning the resurrection, 44 (For if he had not hoped that they that were slain should rise again, it would have seemed superfluous and vain to pray for the dead,)
2 Maccabees 12:42-44
Again, some of the strongest teachings for this doctrine, or at least example of it come from books and statements that are not found in the Canonical Bible, but in books that some Catholic Churches have held as being scripture.
I have no other examples as I have not studied all of the books exhaustively. There are many fascinating things when it comes to the history of the church, and the word of God. I wish I knew them all.
I am more than happy to share my opinion on any of them, or answer any more specific questions that people may have about this one, but to continue at this point, would be mere rambling for no one's benefit.
Friday, July 14, 2006
Afternoon Blog
I'm writing this one at 3:00 in the afternoon. That is unusual. Here is why. Now that Jenny and I are broke (read I don't have a job and we just had car repairs) we need to make the most of our "fun money" (read money I found at a park). Tonight we'll be heading to do one of our favorite activities. Pay for one movie, but watch three. No we won't be theater hopping, or sneaking in to movies. We are going to the drive-in.
It's uncommon for a drive-in to be playing three movies that I haven't seen and that interest me if even only in a slight way, with slim to no risk of extreme inappropriateness. Jenny and I will be enjoying the night, and morning, out. Don't call early tomorrow, I won't be out of bed until at least noon.
For those of you waiting to find more intellectual than personal posts, look forward to one about the "catholic bible" which my mother asked me about today. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll find out that THE catholic church (though not all Catholics) have some additional books in their bible which aren't found in most bibles. Thoughts coming.
It's uncommon for a drive-in to be playing three movies that I haven't seen and that interest me if even only in a slight way, with slim to no risk of extreme inappropriateness. Jenny and I will be enjoying the night, and morning, out. Don't call early tomorrow, I won't be out of bed until at least noon.
For those of you waiting to find more intellectual than personal posts, look forward to one about the "catholic bible" which my mother asked me about today. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you'll find out that THE catholic church (though not all Catholics) have some additional books in their bible which aren't found in most bibles. Thoughts coming.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Where have all the cowboys gone?
The old west. Where the good guys knew how to fight for, save, and treat a lady. Remember a time when all men seemed to understand that women really are better than us, and that they deserve the best from us? What happened to those days?
Is chivalry dead? I listen to popular hip-hop songs and the female singers talk about their "understanding" that chivalry is dead, and that it was probably good while it lasted, but they can't expect it. What a crock. Women, you deserve more from a man than mediocre niceness.
Men, get off your butts. Open a door once in a while. Make sure you have the cash to pay. These things really aren't that hard, and they really are worth our time. There isn't much better we have going on.
Treat women like they deserve to be treated. If you can't, don't try and date them. If you won't, enjoy being single, but don't complain that they won't give you what you WANT if you won't give them what they DESERVE.
Is chivalry dead? I listen to popular hip-hop songs and the female singers talk about their "understanding" that chivalry is dead, and that it was probably good while it lasted, but they can't expect it. What a crock. Women, you deserve more from a man than mediocre niceness.
Men, get off your butts. Open a door once in a while. Make sure you have the cash to pay. These things really aren't that hard, and they really are worth our time. There isn't much better we have going on.
Treat women like they deserve to be treated. If you can't, don't try and date them. If you won't, enjoy being single, but don't complain that they won't give you what you WANT if you won't give them what they DESERVE.
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
I'm calling my mommy
Tomorrow is the day I get the brake work done on my car. It's far more expensive an undertaking than Jenny and I were hoping for in the first few weeks of my unemployment, but is for my and every one else's (on the road anyway) safety. With that said, I have to wake up early again (not used to that being unemployed) and drive out to the dealership so they can tinker with the Escape. I don't want to spend all day there, so I did what everyone would do. I called mom.
Mom will come pick me up tomorrow morning. She will likely even feed and entertain me in some way. I'm blessed to have parents who still enjoy doing that. I'm excited to spend the day with her. I hope all of you have families that are as much of a blessing as mine.
Spending the day with my mom will put my other adventure on hold though. In my quest to read 11 books in 11 days (I need someway to fill my time) I'll be stopping at 3 for 3 to take a "brake" (get it, its spelled incorrectly for pause, but correctly for my car). I've read a book each of the last 3 days, but won't keep that task tomorrow. Hopefully on Friday I will finish another one. I chose 11 because that is how many I owned from my reading list that I had yet to read, though I own more books than that which I haven't read. Regardless, if you have any recommendations of good books (mainly ones that help the spirit grow in some way or encourage deep thinking) I'm more than willing to read them.
Mom will come pick me up tomorrow morning. She will likely even feed and entertain me in some way. I'm blessed to have parents who still enjoy doing that. I'm excited to spend the day with her. I hope all of you have families that are as much of a blessing as mine.
Spending the day with my mom will put my other adventure on hold though. In my quest to read 11 books in 11 days (I need someway to fill my time) I'll be stopping at 3 for 3 to take a "brake" (get it, its spelled incorrectly for pause, but correctly for my car). I've read a book each of the last 3 days, but won't keep that task tomorrow. Hopefully on Friday I will finish another one. I chose 11 because that is how many I owned from my reading list that I had yet to read, though I own more books than that which I haven't read. Regardless, if you have any recommendations of good books (mainly ones that help the spirit grow in some way or encourage deep thinking) I'm more than willing to read them.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Living in a muddled world
Do boundaries exist anymore? How many people do or can check their work e-mail from home, or from their phone? How many of you are socially reading this while you are at work? When do we make the distinction from available to not available? What hours are off limit for work?
Do you feel the need to do anything in person anymore? I got estimates and scheduled my car service without ever talking to anyone. I just chatted online with a representative. They confirmed my appointment for me over e-mail. It required no human contact whatsoever. It's kind of weird.
How does this affect the rest of your life? Specifically, how does this affect your relationship with God? There should be pros and cons. I'll explain. One pro, is that we are told to "pray without ceasing" which is far easier when you can be in contact at all times. This is a life we are supposed to live with our creator. However, we are not to treat it as something we can check in and out of at will. The "human contact" or intimate relationship part of the conversation is supposed to be there. We shouldn't simply be sending God an e-mail, hoping that he responds in some way at some time, but should be having conversation with him at all times. If your prayer life looks like a phone call or an e-mail, you are missing out on some of the greatest moments available to you. If your life with other humans is always available and never has time to rest and enjoy, you also are missing out.
It kind of works as an opposite. We feel the need to be constantly in touch, to be within a phone call, to answer and check e-mails within minutes of their arrival hoping not to miss anything, and this causes us to miss out on so much of what is going on in our lives in the present. Our anticipation of future actions leaves us void of enjoying the present ones.
Find God always, and find time away from other people. God wants you to have a Sabbath day, not 7 days of muddled life where work and social projects are interchangeable.
For those of you reading this while you are at work... hi. I'm glad you checked in. I hope you continue to do so. Don't get caught. Good luck, and get some work done, but try to leave as much of in your office when you leave so that you don't take it home with you, to people who don't deserve it, and do deserve you.
Do you feel the need to do anything in person anymore? I got estimates and scheduled my car service without ever talking to anyone. I just chatted online with a representative. They confirmed my appointment for me over e-mail. It required no human contact whatsoever. It's kind of weird.
How does this affect the rest of your life? Specifically, how does this affect your relationship with God? There should be pros and cons. I'll explain. One pro, is that we are told to "pray without ceasing" which is far easier when you can be in contact at all times. This is a life we are supposed to live with our creator. However, we are not to treat it as something we can check in and out of at will. The "human contact" or intimate relationship part of the conversation is supposed to be there. We shouldn't simply be sending God an e-mail, hoping that he responds in some way at some time, but should be having conversation with him at all times. If your prayer life looks like a phone call or an e-mail, you are missing out on some of the greatest moments available to you. If your life with other humans is always available and never has time to rest and enjoy, you also are missing out.
It kind of works as an opposite. We feel the need to be constantly in touch, to be within a phone call, to answer and check e-mails within minutes of their arrival hoping not to miss anything, and this causes us to miss out on so much of what is going on in our lives in the present. Our anticipation of future actions leaves us void of enjoying the present ones.
Find God always, and find time away from other people. God wants you to have a Sabbath day, not 7 days of muddled life where work and social projects are interchangeable.
For those of you reading this while you are at work... hi. I'm glad you checked in. I hope you continue to do so. Don't get caught. Good luck, and get some work done, but try to leave as much of in your office when you leave so that you don't take it home with you, to people who don't deserve it, and do deserve you.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Q + A with Nate (two sections)
These are a couple of responses from my, topics are nice thread.
Posted by Kimo333:
Ok, so I went to the Mongolian BBQ last night...There's a fun topic right?
I can't remember any bad times that I've had at Khan's. I have learned a couple of things that have been helpful to me with my travels there. Always take off your tie. There will be splatter at Khan's, and your shirt will get dirty. Ties have to be dry cleaned, take them off and let the dress shirt get dirty. This has been especially helpful to remember on Sunday Afternoons. Secondly, leave the noodles until last, no matter where they have placed them on the buffet line. Adding the dome of noodles makes it hard to put anything besides the sauce on top. Pile on high first, the noodles seem to stick well to whatever you put on under them. Lastly, always decide you want the next plate quickly. If you pause a couple of minutes, you will regret it. If you aren't hungry enough, you know, if you can't decide, get up right away and start filling. Waiting is death to the appetite.
Posted by JAk (who for some reason capitalized two letters of his initials):
Does God hold a grudge against humans? Behind this question was the original sin. If God isn't holding a grudge against mankind, then why would everybody be born into sin because of one mans mistake?
Just a note for everyone... I am answering this question off the cuff, as I would have had I been at the small group that it was asked. I have not done sufficient research to be 100% confident in my decision as being the only, or absolute right decision, but I am comfortable currently with everything I will type. Just remember, this is my OPINION and is not THE answer.
Does God hold a grudge against humans? No. Humans have broken God's heart. We've rebelled, we've left him, we've discounted his name, we've worshiped things that aren't him. This at one point in history did cause God to "start over." God brought flood. Obviously, God didn't have a grudge against all humans, as he allowed Noah and his family to live, even warning them years in advance. It even caused God to want to do this again. Moses argued with God about his initial response in wanting to kill his own "chosen people" (Israel) and God reminds us of the covenant he has made never to destroy us all again. These are both old testament understandings of God. Jesus adds more to the puzzle. Through him we encounter a God that is in love with all people, not just the "chosen people" and who is working for good in all situations. If you believe in some different kind of God, I don't know what biblical support you'd have for Him.
Behind this question was original sin. If God isn't holding a grudge against mankind, then why would everyone be born into sin because of one man's mistake? My initial comment then, as it is now takes us to looking closer at what is referred to as "original sin." The eating of the fruit in the Garden on Eden. My sarcastic response will be to point out that this original sin was two people and not "one man's sin." My second point will address the question much more formally.
Adam and Eve used their free will to eat of the "forbidden fruit." This fruit was from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Until this point, no human did, or was created to know good and evil. We were created to enjoy and to multiply on this planet. We were in perfect communion with God, and had no shame over our nakedness, or life in general. There was no reason to hide. Nobody was better than anyone, no values had been established as superior and no line of thinking was more right than the next. The first sin (which if I remember correctly is the only one possible at this point) was to eat the fruit of that tree. I can't think of another thing that had been commanded against before this time. The devil/serpent convinced Adam and Eve that God was holding back on them. Their sin was in distrusting God and trusting the lie that they could become like, or better than God. So they ate. As they did, a few important things happened. One, and less consequential, they were punished as individuals by God. I talked about these in a previous post. Eve was cursed with pain in childbearing (which passed down to all women) and Adam was cursed to toil and work with the land to be disappointed and unsatisfied (again passed down to all men). This however isn't the most important thing to me, nor do these punishments have anything to do with us being "born into sin."
Here is the more important thing that happened. Adam and Eve felt shame. They noticed they were naked, and they hid. Pride, guilt, shame, hate, discouragement, and many other negative feelings and emotions entered the world for the first time. The tree had given them "knowledge" of good and evil. In other words, we had at this point decided we could equate things as good or as bad. We began to have the ability to place value on what was good and what wasn't. Previous to this, we only knew that God said it was good, and that one thing was forbidden. Now everything is left to our own ranking system (again this is still true, is still flawed and is still wrong). We think we know what is best. We assume control over things we have no control over and we are judged by everyone we come into contact with. This was never meant to be. I'm not born into sin because I am reaping the punishment of Adam or Eve eating the fruit (those punishments are still around, but are not "original sin"). I'm born into sin the same way everyone else is. We live in a flawed world. A world flawed by our own choosing. Adam did not make this world the way it is, nor did God. The serpent/devil and humankind together have continued to decide that being in charge of right and wrong, good and evil, is our privilege. If all of humankind could get rid of this notion, original sin would cease to be something we are born into, and would become only a physical punishment during childbirth, and a toiling at work. Instead, we live in a world that is far less "good." We live in a world, from birth in a place that is "sin."
God is doing the exact opposite of holding a grudge. He is allowing and providing for us an opportunity to be reconciled to this world and most importantly to Him. He provides for us a life of freedom found in a sacrifice that he made with His son. This God has no grudge. He is currently working to make this life more abundant for us and to configure the new heaven and new earth to be "good" and ready upon our arrival.
Posted by Kimo333:
Ok, so I went to the Mongolian BBQ last night...There's a fun topic right?
I can't remember any bad times that I've had at Khan's. I have learned a couple of things that have been helpful to me with my travels there. Always take off your tie. There will be splatter at Khan's, and your shirt will get dirty. Ties have to be dry cleaned, take them off and let the dress shirt get dirty. This has been especially helpful to remember on Sunday Afternoons. Secondly, leave the noodles until last, no matter where they have placed them on the buffet line. Adding the dome of noodles makes it hard to put anything besides the sauce on top. Pile on high first, the noodles seem to stick well to whatever you put on under them. Lastly, always decide you want the next plate quickly. If you pause a couple of minutes, you will regret it. If you aren't hungry enough, you know, if you can't decide, get up right away and start filling. Waiting is death to the appetite.
Posted by JAk (who for some reason capitalized two letters of his initials):
Does God hold a grudge against humans? Behind this question was the original sin. If God isn't holding a grudge against mankind, then why would everybody be born into sin because of one mans mistake?
Just a note for everyone... I am answering this question off the cuff, as I would have had I been at the small group that it was asked. I have not done sufficient research to be 100% confident in my decision as being the only, or absolute right decision, but I am comfortable currently with everything I will type. Just remember, this is my OPINION and is not THE answer.
Does God hold a grudge against humans? No. Humans have broken God's heart. We've rebelled, we've left him, we've discounted his name, we've worshiped things that aren't him. This at one point in history did cause God to "start over." God brought flood. Obviously, God didn't have a grudge against all humans, as he allowed Noah and his family to live, even warning them years in advance. It even caused God to want to do this again. Moses argued with God about his initial response in wanting to kill his own "chosen people" (Israel) and God reminds us of the covenant he has made never to destroy us all again. These are both old testament understandings of God. Jesus adds more to the puzzle. Through him we encounter a God that is in love with all people, not just the "chosen people" and who is working for good in all situations. If you believe in some different kind of God, I don't know what biblical support you'd have for Him.
Behind this question was original sin. If God isn't holding a grudge against mankind, then why would everyone be born into sin because of one man's mistake? My initial comment then, as it is now takes us to looking closer at what is referred to as "original sin." The eating of the fruit in the Garden on Eden. My sarcastic response will be to point out that this original sin was two people and not "one man's sin." My second point will address the question much more formally.
Adam and Eve used their free will to eat of the "forbidden fruit." This fruit was from the tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Until this point, no human did, or was created to know good and evil. We were created to enjoy and to multiply on this planet. We were in perfect communion with God, and had no shame over our nakedness, or life in general. There was no reason to hide. Nobody was better than anyone, no values had been established as superior and no line of thinking was more right than the next. The first sin (which if I remember correctly is the only one possible at this point) was to eat the fruit of that tree. I can't think of another thing that had been commanded against before this time. The devil/serpent convinced Adam and Eve that God was holding back on them. Their sin was in distrusting God and trusting the lie that they could become like, or better than God. So they ate. As they did, a few important things happened. One, and less consequential, they were punished as individuals by God. I talked about these in a previous post. Eve was cursed with pain in childbearing (which passed down to all women) and Adam was cursed to toil and work with the land to be disappointed and unsatisfied (again passed down to all men). This however isn't the most important thing to me, nor do these punishments have anything to do with us being "born into sin."
Here is the more important thing that happened. Adam and Eve felt shame. They noticed they were naked, and they hid. Pride, guilt, shame, hate, discouragement, and many other negative feelings and emotions entered the world for the first time. The tree had given them "knowledge" of good and evil. In other words, we had at this point decided we could equate things as good or as bad. We began to have the ability to place value on what was good and what wasn't. Previous to this, we only knew that God said it was good, and that one thing was forbidden. Now everything is left to our own ranking system (again this is still true, is still flawed and is still wrong). We think we know what is best. We assume control over things we have no control over and we are judged by everyone we come into contact with. This was never meant to be. I'm not born into sin because I am reaping the punishment of Adam or Eve eating the fruit (those punishments are still around, but are not "original sin"). I'm born into sin the same way everyone else is. We live in a flawed world. A world flawed by our own choosing. Adam did not make this world the way it is, nor did God. The serpent/devil and humankind together have continued to decide that being in charge of right and wrong, good and evil, is our privilege. If all of humankind could get rid of this notion, original sin would cease to be something we are born into, and would become only a physical punishment during childbirth, and a toiling at work. Instead, we live in a world that is far less "good." We live in a world, from birth in a place that is "sin."
God is doing the exact opposite of holding a grudge. He is allowing and providing for us an opportunity to be reconciled to this world and most importantly to Him. He provides for us a life of freedom found in a sacrifice that he made with His son. This God has no grudge. He is currently working to make this life more abundant for us and to configure the new heaven and new earth to be "good" and ready upon our arrival.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
How many pens do I carry?
I always try to have a pen in my pocket. More often than not, I have two of them, one blue ink, and one black ink. They tend to come in pretty handy, like a person who always has a pocket knife. I've been thinking lately though, that maybe I'm carrying three pens.
I'm very analytical, very logical, and very technical. I correct people's odd misuses of grammar and take words literally. I often find myself using an imaginary red pen when people talk. Sometimes publicly, but if you think I say it a lot, you don't want to know how often I think it.
I have, and hope again to someday make my living preaching sermons. Because of this desire I am one of the most critical people of pastor's as they preach, but more for the grammar and consistency than for the message. As long as the message is biblical, I'm okay, I may not enjoy it, but I don't berate a pastor for not enticing my senses. But if you make your living speaking, from the pulpit or not, please, at least be grammatically correct. At least pretend to have a grasp on one of the languages you use in a sermon. Don't contradict yourself, it confuses everyone.
I often repeat things, not just for emphasis, but because I want to make sure that people understand exactly what I mean. I will make the same point in four different sentences consecutively just to make sure I'm clear.
Please, for the sake of the church, be clear. I'll try my best when I speak to do so. Feel free to use your red pens.
I'm very analytical, very logical, and very technical. I correct people's odd misuses of grammar and take words literally. I often find myself using an imaginary red pen when people talk. Sometimes publicly, but if you think I say it a lot, you don't want to know how often I think it.
I have, and hope again to someday make my living preaching sermons. Because of this desire I am one of the most critical people of pastor's as they preach, but more for the grammar and consistency than for the message. As long as the message is biblical, I'm okay, I may not enjoy it, but I don't berate a pastor for not enticing my senses. But if you make your living speaking, from the pulpit or not, please, at least be grammatically correct. At least pretend to have a grasp on one of the languages you use in a sermon. Don't contradict yourself, it confuses everyone.
I often repeat things, not just for emphasis, but because I want to make sure that people understand exactly what I mean. I will make the same point in four different sentences consecutively just to make sure I'm clear.
Please, for the sake of the church, be clear. I'll try my best when I speak to do so. Feel free to use your red pens.
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Make a list, check it twice
Almost every night I look at Jenny and say, "What should I blog about tonight?" She doesn't usually answer. Both because she doesn't have ideas, and because she really likes reading what comes to my mind without her help. It sometimes surprises her.
I do however, get blogger's block (I'm assuming I can make writer's block about blogging) and wish that I knew what someone wanted me to rant/write/think/talk/joke about. So here is your opportunity. The comments thread of this blog will help me to see if there is anything that interests those of you who read. No topic is off limits to ask, though I may not answer every request publicly. I will likely answer any question asked, some of them I may just not post publicly.
So today, officially opens season on asking me questions or giving me topics. It can be stupid, impersonal, personal, spiritual or all of the above. The spiritual category is my favorite, so I'm up for any of those questions, but again, I'll practice writing about anything, so just let me know what it is you want.
Happy hunting.
I do however, get blogger's block (I'm assuming I can make writer's block about blogging) and wish that I knew what someone wanted me to rant/write/think/talk/joke about. So here is your opportunity. The comments thread of this blog will help me to see if there is anything that interests those of you who read. No topic is off limits to ask, though I may not answer every request publicly. I will likely answer any question asked, some of them I may just not post publicly.
So today, officially opens season on asking me questions or giving me topics. It can be stupid, impersonal, personal, spiritual or all of the above. The spiritual category is my favorite, so I'm up for any of those questions, but again, I'll practice writing about anything, so just let me know what it is you want.
Happy hunting.
Friday, July 07, 2006
010010
I know what you're thinking as you look at my title. You're thinking "why isn't that the binary representation of the number 18?" And yes, you are correct "010010" is the binary representation of the number 18. I didn't know that until about a minute ago, but google is amazing and I found my answer.
"010010" were numbers important to me in a far different way today. They were my golf score in relation to par on holes 8-13 today at Boulder Pointe. That is par, bogey, par, par, bogey, par. Or +2 over a 6 hole span. I usually cannot and do not play that well, but because of that 6 hole stretch, reduced my best score on that course by 4 strokes today. It was a fun afternoon.
My brother is going to that course tomorrow (with my dad whom I went with today). He thinks he'll beat my overall score. Congratulations to him if he does (I doubt he will/did). More importantly though, I challenge him to have a better 6 hole run than these six holes. If we are all lucky enough, he'll comment sometime after his round to let us know how close he came.
"010010" were numbers important to me in a far different way today. They were my golf score in relation to par on holes 8-13 today at Boulder Pointe. That is par, bogey, par, par, bogey, par. Or +2 over a 6 hole span. I usually cannot and do not play that well, but because of that 6 hole stretch, reduced my best score on that course by 4 strokes today. It was a fun afternoon.
My brother is going to that course tomorrow (with my dad whom I went with today). He thinks he'll beat my overall score. Congratulations to him if he does (I doubt he will/did). More importantly though, I challenge him to have a better 6 hole run than these six holes. If we are all lucky enough, he'll comment sometime after his round to let us know how close he came.
We are also hoping that my dad has a better day on the course tomorrow than he did today. We'll let him take the first 4 holes just the way he played them today, but after that, we'd like to see him play some of the holes better.
Good luck to you both.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Does God shop in the produce aisle?
Jenny and I went to the grocery store today. It was a depressing experience. Depressing for Jenny, because she just plain hates grocery shopping, and depressing for me because of far different reasons.
In Genesis 3, shortly after Adam and Eve have listened to the serpent, and eaten from the tree, God "curses" them saying this:
"To the woman he said, 'I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'
To Adam he said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'you must not eat of it,' Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Genesis 3:16-19
For those of you who don't always like the way the Bible describes things, I'll translate/paraphrase this for you, in my own words.
People sinned. God is telling us what the results of this sin will be. To women, he says, you are going to experience great pains when you give birth. To men he says, you are going to work hard and long, and this work will never produce for you the fulfillment that you seek.
It is clear to me, how many of the differences between man and women have come to us because of these curses. Do you wonder why men are always trying to be seen as successful? God said it was our nature to do so. Women have the apparent purpose (when looking at their bodies) of creating children, while men's apparent purpose (when looking at our bodies) is hard to find. We are groomed to work, to provide, and have been cursed to do this with less effectiveness than we would have hoped.
That struck me today in the grocery store, as Jenny and I shopped, and thought about little else than "I'm unemployed." The money that will come from my labor is currently non-existent. Depression and failure were immanent emotional responses. Some of this in unhealthy ways (as I know my choice to resign from my job was out of a desire to follow God's instructions for my life) and some of it in a healthy way (I will never be the adequate provider of this relationship, I will always toil and come up short).
Only God will be able to adequately provide for Jenny, and for myself. I am and will be instructed to work, and toil for those provisions as well, but ultimately, my life design does not enable me to provide all necessary things for our family. God must be the center. That was real to me in the produce aisle today. It isn't always real to me. It is easy to lose focus of.
In Genesis 3, shortly after Adam and Eve have listened to the serpent, and eaten from the tree, God "curses" them saying this:
"To the woman he said, 'I will greatly increase your pains in childbearing; with pain you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.'
To Adam he said, 'Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'you must not eat of it,' Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. It will produce thorns and thistles for you, and you will eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return."
Genesis 3:16-19
For those of you who don't always like the way the Bible describes things, I'll translate/paraphrase this for you, in my own words.
People sinned. God is telling us what the results of this sin will be. To women, he says, you are going to experience great pains when you give birth. To men he says, you are going to work hard and long, and this work will never produce for you the fulfillment that you seek.
It is clear to me, how many of the differences between man and women have come to us because of these curses. Do you wonder why men are always trying to be seen as successful? God said it was our nature to do so. Women have the apparent purpose (when looking at their bodies) of creating children, while men's apparent purpose (when looking at our bodies) is hard to find. We are groomed to work, to provide, and have been cursed to do this with less effectiveness than we would have hoped.
That struck me today in the grocery store, as Jenny and I shopped, and thought about little else than "I'm unemployed." The money that will come from my labor is currently non-existent. Depression and failure were immanent emotional responses. Some of this in unhealthy ways (as I know my choice to resign from my job was out of a desire to follow God's instructions for my life) and some of it in a healthy way (I will never be the adequate provider of this relationship, I will always toil and come up short).
Only God will be able to adequately provide for Jenny, and for myself. I am and will be instructed to work, and toil for those provisions as well, but ultimately, my life design does not enable me to provide all necessary things for our family. God must be the center. That was real to me in the produce aisle today. It isn't always real to me. It is easy to lose focus of.
Wednesday, July 05, 2006
And my muscles rejoice
My parent's new hot tub got delivered today. I've missed consistent access to a hot tub, especially in the time of year that I am playing soccer. I could hear a collective rejoicing of my muscles today as I saw the Cal Spas employees take the broken hot tub away and deliver the new one. Part of that was because I wasn't involved in any of the heavy lifting that took place, but most of it was because I will get to use that hot tub.
My dad and I were like little kids while it was being set up. We were both far too anxious to try it out, especially knowing that it wouldn't be ready today for that trial. It won't be long though. I'll be sitting, or lounging, or watching a movie in it soon.
That's it. Just the random news for you today, that is immensely exciting for me. You'll have to wait for another day to get anything more productive from me.
My dad and I were like little kids while it was being set up. We were both far too anxious to try it out, especially knowing that it wouldn't be ready today for that trial. It won't be long though. I'll be sitting, or lounging, or watching a movie in it soon.
That's it. Just the random news for you today, that is immensely exciting for me. You'll have to wait for another day to get anything more productive from me.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
That'll make an impression
There are many things someone can do to impress me. Stupid tricks, funny jokes, crazy stunts with their body, eating enormous amounts of food, skills in a sport, reflex speed.... This list really could go on a long time. However, one thing continues to impress me. It is the ability to use one's mind to remember those things which are "important." I'm talking specifically right now about the Bible.
Scripture memorization impresses me. I'm impressed by the "I can remember a verse word for word" thing like many people are, but that isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about remembering the overarching ideas and orders of stories in specific books. When someone says Philippians 2, I can't recall what it is about. I can't tell you what stories come in what order in what Gospel. I can't even remember how many chapters most of the books have. I wish I could. Maybe someday I'll be able to. I'm most impressed with people who can do this with almost any book of the Bible. I'm sure it starts by remembering one, and that is where I would need to start, but the motivation is lacking.
I don't simply want to be able to do this to impress (though I think it is pretty cool) but because I want God's word to be that close to me and my heart. I have a good memory. I remember things that I shouldn't, that aren't important, but that I can't forget. I can tell you the number of specific Wal-Mart semi-trucks I've passed on road trips to Kentucky, just because I made a joke about them. I am filled with information I will never need. Why can't I take the time to fill myself with information that I a) will need, and b) will fascinate me.
Someday I will. Years from now, I'll know the Bible better. I mean, I am reading it every day, so I'm bound to remember parts of it.
Will you grow with me? Will you decide to learn more? Let's take an intellectual endeavor to better understand (through memory) the scriptures. I'm game to start. Let's pick a book and begin. Whoever decides to respond first, will enable me to pick a book to learn better with them. Any following responses to jump on board, will simply be told, the book picked and the other people deciding to learn. If I don't get responses, well, then I guess I'll leave you all in the dust.
This is my next step forward.
Scripture memorization impresses me. I'm impressed by the "I can remember a verse word for word" thing like many people are, but that isn't what I'm talking about. I'm talking about remembering the overarching ideas and orders of stories in specific books. When someone says Philippians 2, I can't recall what it is about. I can't tell you what stories come in what order in what Gospel. I can't even remember how many chapters most of the books have. I wish I could. Maybe someday I'll be able to. I'm most impressed with people who can do this with almost any book of the Bible. I'm sure it starts by remembering one, and that is where I would need to start, but the motivation is lacking.
I don't simply want to be able to do this to impress (though I think it is pretty cool) but because I want God's word to be that close to me and my heart. I have a good memory. I remember things that I shouldn't, that aren't important, but that I can't forget. I can tell you the number of specific Wal-Mart semi-trucks I've passed on road trips to Kentucky, just because I made a joke about them. I am filled with information I will never need. Why can't I take the time to fill myself with information that I a) will need, and b) will fascinate me.
Someday I will. Years from now, I'll know the Bible better. I mean, I am reading it every day, so I'm bound to remember parts of it.
Will you grow with me? Will you decide to learn more? Let's take an intellectual endeavor to better understand (through memory) the scriptures. I'm game to start. Let's pick a book and begin. Whoever decides to respond first, will enable me to pick a book to learn better with them. Any following responses to jump on board, will simply be told, the book picked and the other people deciding to learn. If I don't get responses, well, then I guess I'll leave you all in the dust.
This is my next step forward.
Monday, July 03, 2006
What's left to complain about?
I've been reading a book recently that deals with the first five books of the Bible. With that, and my recent purchase of the audio Bible to listen to in my car, I've been fascinated with the stories of Israel's history and the Exodus. It's interesting to me to see patterns that are set up between God, the Israelites, and Moses.
Pretty much the story goes like this. People complain. God fixes. They complain. God gets mad. Moses intervenes. Later, rinse, repeat.
We don't like being slaves. Moses, go help them. We aren't slaves anymore (woohoo). Where are we gonna go?
We don't have food. Moses, go tell them I'll provide. Manna (woohoo). When do we get meat again?
We really want meet. God=I'm getting tired of you people. Moses=let them be, I'll pull them forward. Fine, here is more quail than they know what to do with. We don't trust our leaders.
We want to see God so lets make an idol. God=I want to kill them. Moses=let them be, I'll pull them forward. Fine, but I'm gonna kill 15,000 of them to send a message. God is cool, we'll follow him.
It's a pattern of so many of our lives. God provides, we are ecstatic. We love, we grow, we get bored, we complain. God provides.
It's amazing how fickle we can be. God has been so faithful, and we find reason to ignore His provisions, or his truths or his laws and chose our own way.
I'm no longer shocked at why God killed us to start over with Noah, and why he wanted to do the same with Moses, and likely has wanted to do the same since then. Thank God for his covenants to us.
Pretty much the story goes like this. People complain. God fixes. They complain. God gets mad. Moses intervenes. Later, rinse, repeat.
We don't like being slaves. Moses, go help them. We aren't slaves anymore (woohoo). Where are we gonna go?
We don't have food. Moses, go tell them I'll provide. Manna (woohoo). When do we get meat again?
We really want meet. God=I'm getting tired of you people. Moses=let them be, I'll pull them forward. Fine, here is more quail than they know what to do with. We don't trust our leaders.
We want to see God so lets make an idol. God=I want to kill them. Moses=let them be, I'll pull them forward. Fine, but I'm gonna kill 15,000 of them to send a message. God is cool, we'll follow him.
It's a pattern of so many of our lives. God provides, we are ecstatic. We love, we grow, we get bored, we complain. God provides.
It's amazing how fickle we can be. God has been so faithful, and we find reason to ignore His provisions, or his truths or his laws and chose our own way.
I'm no longer shocked at why God killed us to start over with Noah, and why he wanted to do the same with Moses, and likely has wanted to do the same since then. Thank God for his covenants to us.
Power to Overwhelm
What kinds of things have the power to overwhelm you? There are obviously emotions we can become overrun by, like fear, rage, anger, and love. But what "things" tend to overwhelm you? Is it relationships? How about money? What about sports? Family? Physical pain? Addiction? Habit?
There are so many things in this life, and in this world that try to take control of us. This doesn't even start to mention the people (like corporate America, and marketers) who are bidding for control of our lives. We so often find ourselves in situations where something else is controlling us. Outside of Christ, should it ever be this way?
What do you allow to run your life, even if it is temporarily? This is the second major reason I don't even socially partake in alcohol (the first is my parents). Why would I want to lose control of a body that I already put in enough danger when I am in complete control? Why do we so often allow things to control us, own us, or overrun our real selves? Claim the control that is yours. It comes through surrendering to God.
You must lose yourself to find yourself. (That Bible thing is pretty cool)
There are so many things in this life, and in this world that try to take control of us. This doesn't even start to mention the people (like corporate America, and marketers) who are bidding for control of our lives. We so often find ourselves in situations where something else is controlling us. Outside of Christ, should it ever be this way?
What do you allow to run your life, even if it is temporarily? This is the second major reason I don't even socially partake in alcohol (the first is my parents). Why would I want to lose control of a body that I already put in enough danger when I am in complete control? Why do we so often allow things to control us, own us, or overrun our real selves? Claim the control that is yours. It comes through surrendering to God.
You must lose yourself to find yourself. (That Bible thing is pretty cool)
Saturday, July 01, 2006
My Ticketmaster Friend
Jenny and I spent the afternoon and early evening at a sold out show in the Varsity Theater in Dinkytown. We are nerds. We ordered tickets a couple of weeks ago, and showed up over an hour before the show starts to wait in line for seats. To hear a sermon. An hour and a half long sermon. Most people can't stand the 20-30 minute sermon at church, and Jenny and I pay money to spend our day that way.
Hour and a half sermons have never seemed so short to me. If I could have it my way, I'd probably teach for an hour or so every time I wrote a sermon. There is always so much to say, and so little time.
We went to hear Rob Bell speak. He is on his "everything is spiritual" tour sponsored by Zondervan, where he is going town to town, in a bus, like a rockstar, to preach a sermon. The only thing on stage with him is a 20 foot or so wide whiteboard, which he uses to put his "notes" on the board behind him while he talks. You can tell he's done it before.
His thoughts on "flatland" were the best part of his sermon, and I'd love to talk to you about it, and his ideas (rooted in experience and scripture) about how we are living in our own "flatland."
On a personal note, I'm temporarily unemployed now. Yesterday was my last day at the church, and tomorrow starts my "time away" (likely 3 or 4 Sundays) from that church before Jenny and I return to attending there. We are going to Jenny's old church tomorrow, and I specifically will enjoy playing no role in the service, not waking up for Sunday School, and feeling zero obligation to any congregation member, outside of normal (read Biblical) Christian love.
Hour and a half sermons have never seemed so short to me. If I could have it my way, I'd probably teach for an hour or so every time I wrote a sermon. There is always so much to say, and so little time.
We went to hear Rob Bell speak. He is on his "everything is spiritual" tour sponsored by Zondervan, where he is going town to town, in a bus, like a rockstar, to preach a sermon. The only thing on stage with him is a 20 foot or so wide whiteboard, which he uses to put his "notes" on the board behind him while he talks. You can tell he's done it before.
His thoughts on "flatland" were the best part of his sermon, and I'd love to talk to you about it, and his ideas (rooted in experience and scripture) about how we are living in our own "flatland."
On a personal note, I'm temporarily unemployed now. Yesterday was my last day at the church, and tomorrow starts my "time away" (likely 3 or 4 Sundays) from that church before Jenny and I return to attending there. We are going to Jenny's old church tomorrow, and I specifically will enjoy playing no role in the service, not waking up for Sunday School, and feeling zero obligation to any congregation member, outside of normal (read Biblical) Christian love.
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