Well folks, this is the end. Since I only have 6 followers this ending will not have a significant impact on the world.
Due to comments by people who shall remain nameless, I have changed my gmail account. Since this blog is tied to that account, it will no longer be used. Fortunately, a blog that looks slightly different but has the exact same content will continue. Simply follow this link and update bookmarks or dashboard or whatever else you 6 use to follow my blog. Thank you and sorry for the inconvenience.
By the way, switching email accounts is quite bothersome. I don't wish it upon any of you.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Adventure
Someone once wrote: "I don't know what part of my brain is used to play Minesweeper, but the part that isn't used goes on an adventure! Outwardly it looks like I care greatly about numbers and flags, which I do, but inwardly my mind is much more active than that! In my head my mind can go anywhere!"
So true, so true.
So true, so true.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
The Story We Find Ourselves In
I just finished my third book of this year in Mennonite Voluntary Service in Baltimore. It was "The Story We Find Ourselves In" by Brian McLaren. I've read several book by McLaren and I've always enjoyed them. In fact, without exception I've always bought the book after I finished reading it and then reread it, something that rarely happens. It was one of several books handed to me by my current pastor 6 days ago in addition to a longer list of books to read. (Earlier this week I read "Prodigal God" by Timothy Keller. It's also a really good book!) I was quite excited to see this McLaren book was one that he handed to me. And I was even more excited to see that there were actually 2 McLaren books on my list!
I was then disappointed to see that "The Story We Find Ourselves In" is actually the 2nd book in a series McLaren wrote. The first was "A New Kind of Christian" and I was not handed that one. In fact, "The Story We Find Ourselves In" wasn't even on my list. My pastor meant to give me the first one. The obvious upside: I still have 2 other McLaren books to read on my list! And both books in this set, though connected were meant to stand alone. There were several references to the first book in the second, but it really can stand alone.
I hadn't read a book of this style before. It was fiction theology. The book was fiction, but the intent was to explain the theology of the Christian narrative in a postmodern world. So basically it was fun theology. It may not be the most concise or in depth way to explain theology, but it's fun to read in the context of a story. The characters just happened to have extensive conversations on theology throughout the book.
The basic story line: The life of a pastor in Maryland is forever altered when his life story intersects with a friend of a friend, a woman who is being treated for breast cancer at the National Institute of Health. Through her, the pastor learns about how their mutual friend has been explaining the story we find ourselves in(the Christian narrative). When the friend also comes to Maryland, the story can be completed.
If anyone knows anything about me, they it's quite clear this book hit close to home. I'll list why: I'm serving as an intern pastor in Maryland for a year. The pastor's name in this book? Daniel. My mom has been battling breast cancer for several months now (one day shy of 5 months, I guess). For about the last month I've been unusually intrigued by the Biblical narrative, feeling the need to know exactly how it all fits together. Also, for years I've been trying to find my place as a postmodern Christian. Postmodernity scares some Christians, but I've always felt like it shouldn't.
So yeah, I loved this book. It's going to take me a while to unpack it all. Maybe that'll give me enough time to buy it for myself and read it again!
I was then disappointed to see that "The Story We Find Ourselves In" is actually the 2nd book in a series McLaren wrote. The first was "A New Kind of Christian" and I was not handed that one. In fact, "The Story We Find Ourselves In" wasn't even on my list. My pastor meant to give me the first one. The obvious upside: I still have 2 other McLaren books to read on my list! And both books in this set, though connected were meant to stand alone. There were several references to the first book in the second, but it really can stand alone.
I hadn't read a book of this style before. It was fiction theology. The book was fiction, but the intent was to explain the theology of the Christian narrative in a postmodern world. So basically it was fun theology. It may not be the most concise or in depth way to explain theology, but it's fun to read in the context of a story. The characters just happened to have extensive conversations on theology throughout the book.
The basic story line: The life of a pastor in Maryland is forever altered when his life story intersects with a friend of a friend, a woman who is being treated for breast cancer at the National Institute of Health. Through her, the pastor learns about how their mutual friend has been explaining the story we find ourselves in(the Christian narrative). When the friend also comes to Maryland, the story can be completed.
If anyone knows anything about me, they it's quite clear this book hit close to home. I'll list why: I'm serving as an intern pastor in Maryland for a year. The pastor's name in this book? Daniel. My mom has been battling breast cancer for several months now (one day shy of 5 months, I guess). For about the last month I've been unusually intrigued by the Biblical narrative, feeling the need to know exactly how it all fits together. Also, for years I've been trying to find my place as a postmodern Christian. Postmodernity scares some Christians, but I've always felt like it shouldn't.
So yeah, I loved this book. It's going to take me a while to unpack it all. Maybe that'll give me enough time to buy it for myself and read it again!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
A Painted House
I've just finished my first book of this year in MVS. It was "A Painted House" by John Grisham. I bought it at a thrift store about 5 blocks from my new house for $0.90. It was plenty worth it in my opinion!
It was during my time in Iowa last summer that I first started reading John Grisham and I'm happy to say that I have another one waiting to be read. It's "The Last Juror" and I picked it up for free at a place called the Book Thing, a book exchange open on weekends for anyone to donate books or take them home for free. That's one great thing about Baltimore!
"A Painted House" wasn't anything like the other John Grisham books I've read. It had no legal side to it at all. There was a deputy who talked about arresting one of the characters, but that was it. Instead it was a story of a young boy named Luke growing up on a cotton farm in Arkansas in the early 1950s. Because of their hired hands during harvest Luke had plenty of adventures and learned a lot about family, life and death. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Anyone want to read it? I could probably get it to you.
Baseball took a prominent role in the story. The family was enamored with the St. Louis Cardinals and listened to their games on the radio at every opportunity. Because of that, the Cubs were enemies, though not ones to worry about (sorry, mom). It was the New York Dodgers that they were really concerned with.
Another interesting thing: Luke's grandmother mentioned the passage from Luke 14 that I wrote my last post on. Gran was an excellent example of someone helping those that can't repay you for your kindness.
It was during my time in Iowa last summer that I first started reading John Grisham and I'm happy to say that I have another one waiting to be read. It's "The Last Juror" and I picked it up for free at a place called the Book Thing, a book exchange open on weekends for anyone to donate books or take them home for free. That's one great thing about Baltimore!
"A Painted House" wasn't anything like the other John Grisham books I've read. It had no legal side to it at all. There was a deputy who talked about arresting one of the characters, but that was it. Instead it was a story of a young boy named Luke growing up on a cotton farm in Arkansas in the early 1950s. Because of their hired hands during harvest Luke had plenty of adventures and learned a lot about family, life and death. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Anyone want to read it? I could probably get it to you.
Baseball took a prominent role in the story. The family was enamored with the St. Louis Cardinals and listened to their games on the radio at every opportunity. Because of that, the Cubs were enemies, though not ones to worry about (sorry, mom). It was the New York Dodgers that they were really concerned with.
Another interesting thing: Luke's grandmother mentioned the passage from Luke 14 that I wrote my last post on. Gran was an excellent example of someone helping those that can't repay you for your kindness.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Luke 14
Luke 14:12-14
12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
This passage made me smile today as I read it. The first reason was trivial: I smiled picturing Jesus using the word “luncheon.” I don’t know what word Jesus would have used in Aramaic, but the TNIV translators from Luke’s Greek decided luncheon was the right term. That’s just great!
The second reason I smiled was because I could picture the beauty of these instructions enacted. Someone would snub all their family at Thanksgiving either by not inviting any of them to dinner or by turning down all their invitations. The family would be confused and slightly annoyed until they realized the alternative meal that was being hosted. The person would have planned a Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings (including a vegetarian option), but instead of asking the usual guests to attend, less fortunate people were invited. Most didn’t accept the invitation because it was slightly humiliating or uncomfortable or just too odd. Those who came though, had a fantastic time!
I don’t know what being “repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” means, but I don’t think the rewards would be slow in coming at all. At the very least the novelty of the event would create peculiar and priceless looks on the faces of both guests and others who heard about it. That might be reward enough. Everyone involved would be thankful and new relationships would be forged. Some of them might last though most may not, but at least for one meal the story lines of people intersected to the benefit of all. The reward wouldn't be tangible or fully describable, but it'd be important.
I do find it interesting that this teaching from Jesus comes right after what he said in verses 7-11:
7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
This part doesn’t make me smile in the same way. It doesn’t come across as selfless or humble like maybe it’s supposed to. To me it seems underhanded and sly. It’s taking a risk for the potential of a greater and immediate reward. It’s playing the system and seems completely selfish, though in a less obvious way. Maybe I just don’t understand the cultural norms enough for this part of Jesus’ teaching to light up my imagination and cause me to smile. Perhaps if I attended a 1st century Middle Eastern luncheon or dinner then I’d understand a little better. Until that happens though, I think I'll enjoy Jesus' second teaching.
12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, 14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
This passage made me smile today as I read it. The first reason was trivial: I smiled picturing Jesus using the word “luncheon.” I don’t know what word Jesus would have used in Aramaic, but the TNIV translators from Luke’s Greek decided luncheon was the right term. That’s just great!
The second reason I smiled was because I could picture the beauty of these instructions enacted. Someone would snub all their family at Thanksgiving either by not inviting any of them to dinner or by turning down all their invitations. The family would be confused and slightly annoyed until they realized the alternative meal that was being hosted. The person would have planned a Thanksgiving feast with all the fixings (including a vegetarian option), but instead of asking the usual guests to attend, less fortunate people were invited. Most didn’t accept the invitation because it was slightly humiliating or uncomfortable or just too odd. Those who came though, had a fantastic time!
I don’t know what being “repaid at the resurrection of the righteous” means, but I don’t think the rewards would be slow in coming at all. At the very least the novelty of the event would create peculiar and priceless looks on the faces of both guests and others who heard about it. That might be reward enough. Everyone involved would be thankful and new relationships would be forged. Some of them might last though most may not, but at least for one meal the story lines of people intersected to the benefit of all. The reward wouldn't be tangible or fully describable, but it'd be important.
I do find it interesting that this teaching from Jesus comes right after what he said in verses 7-11:
7When he noticed how the guests picked the places of honor at the table, he told them this parable: 8"When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take the place of honor, for a person more distinguished than you may have been invited. 9If so, the host who invited both of you will come and say to you, 'Give this man your seat.' Then, humiliated, you will have to take the least important place. 10But when you are invited, take the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he will say to you, 'Friend, move up to a better place.' Then you will be honored in the presence of all your fellow guests. 11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."
This part doesn’t make me smile in the same way. It doesn’t come across as selfless or humble like maybe it’s supposed to. To me it seems underhanded and sly. It’s taking a risk for the potential of a greater and immediate reward. It’s playing the system and seems completely selfish, though in a less obvious way. Maybe I just don’t understand the cultural norms enough for this part of Jesus’ teaching to light up my imagination and cause me to smile. Perhaps if I attended a 1st century Middle Eastern luncheon or dinner then I’d understand a little better. Until that happens though, I think I'll enjoy Jesus' second teaching.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Freely
Lyrics for thought on these days as I make a pretty significant transition in my life:
He said "Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live."
He said "Freely, freely you have received, freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live."
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Graduation
Later today along with 400 others, in tempertures approaching 90 degrees, I will be graduating from college. They will say my name and I’ll walk up on stage to be handed a diploma. Supposedly that’s what I’ve been working toward for four years. That’s what the assumption will be as we all take our turn to be handed an official looking paper with our name on it. I’m told it’ll impress future employers. It’s supposed to help us all get better jobs to make more money. I think the goal from that is more happiness. Well, I’m not happy.
Sure, I’ve fulfilled all the requirements for a diploma, so in that sense at least I suppose I’ve earned it. I’ve sat through classes for about 20 hours a week for four years. I’ve done countless hours of homework for those classes. I’ve written papers and given speeches and read countless books. I did all that I needed to in order to complete my assignments well and get decent grades in all of my classes. I’m sure I’ve done everything necessary to be handed a diploma. I just wish that wasn’t the emphasis.
Four years have culminated in a diploma, but I want something that actually represents all of my past four years. A diploma represents only part of this college experience. And I’d say it’s a fairly insignificant part. Fortunately there is more to a graduation ceremony. The pinnacle is being handed a diploma, but I’m choosing to look at other aspects. I’ll look at what I’m wearing for graduation.
The first thing everyone will notice is a nice Royal blue gown. That represents EMU and it makes me think about the countless sporting events I’ve attended as well as the many seasons on intramural teams. Under that gown I’ll be wearing some nice dress clothes. Probably 95% of the time I’ve dressed up as a college student was for a concert I sang in. That’s what those clothes represent for me. I’ll be wearing a white stole with blue Jerusalem crosses around my shoulders. That was given to all the students who dared to spend an entire semester in the Middle East. It represents a huge transition in my life blessing me with cross-cultural eyes and the desire to wonder. Also draped on my shoulders will be blue and gold Cords of Distinction. Those represent my investment in the Honors Program, years serving Campus Ministries, and significant involvement in church life off campus. I’ll also have a little green ribbon pinned to my gown. Every senior was given a chance to sign a Graduation Commitment devoting ourselves to a life of integrity after we graduate. I signed that and will live up to it.
One thing is missing. There’s nothing to represent the hundreds of relationships I’ve formed these last four years. There’s nothing for my 2 years in Oakwood, including the best freshman hall ever. There’s nothing for my year in Hillside with the greatest guys ever to live in the Keep. There’s nothing for the family I gained living in Martin House this year. There’s nothing for my brothers and sisters gained these last four years. There’s nothing for the beautiful one I drove home last night. There’s nothing for all of these relationships.
But maybe it’s because those don’t end. Sporting events, intramurals, concerts, cross-cultural, Honors Program, Campus Ministries—these all end. I’m no longer a part of them. They are a part of who I’ve become, but my four years are up. My relationships, fortunately, will not end and for that I’m extremely grateful. Today they’ll be represented by hugs. Hugs for a job well done these last four years and for a whole wonderful life ahead of us!
Thank you, EMU. I think I’m ready to graduate.
Sure, I’ve fulfilled all the requirements for a diploma, so in that sense at least I suppose I’ve earned it. I’ve sat through classes for about 20 hours a week for four years. I’ve done countless hours of homework for those classes. I’ve written papers and given speeches and read countless books. I did all that I needed to in order to complete my assignments well and get decent grades in all of my classes. I’m sure I’ve done everything necessary to be handed a diploma. I just wish that wasn’t the emphasis.
Four years have culminated in a diploma, but I want something that actually represents all of my past four years. A diploma represents only part of this college experience. And I’d say it’s a fairly insignificant part. Fortunately there is more to a graduation ceremony. The pinnacle is being handed a diploma, but I’m choosing to look at other aspects. I’ll look at what I’m wearing for graduation.
The first thing everyone will notice is a nice Royal blue gown. That represents EMU and it makes me think about the countless sporting events I’ve attended as well as the many seasons on intramural teams. Under that gown I’ll be wearing some nice dress clothes. Probably 95% of the time I’ve dressed up as a college student was for a concert I sang in. That’s what those clothes represent for me. I’ll be wearing a white stole with blue Jerusalem crosses around my shoulders. That was given to all the students who dared to spend an entire semester in the Middle East. It represents a huge transition in my life blessing me with cross-cultural eyes and the desire to wonder. Also draped on my shoulders will be blue and gold Cords of Distinction. Those represent my investment in the Honors Program, years serving Campus Ministries, and significant involvement in church life off campus. I’ll also have a little green ribbon pinned to my gown. Every senior was given a chance to sign a Graduation Commitment devoting ourselves to a life of integrity after we graduate. I signed that and will live up to it.
One thing is missing. There’s nothing to represent the hundreds of relationships I’ve formed these last four years. There’s nothing for my 2 years in Oakwood, including the best freshman hall ever. There’s nothing for my year in Hillside with the greatest guys ever to live in the Keep. There’s nothing for the family I gained living in Martin House this year. There’s nothing for my brothers and sisters gained these last four years. There’s nothing for the beautiful one I drove home last night. There’s nothing for all of these relationships.
But maybe it’s because those don’t end. Sporting events, intramurals, concerts, cross-cultural, Honors Program, Campus Ministries—these all end. I’m no longer a part of them. They are a part of who I’ve become, but my four years are up. My relationships, fortunately, will not end and for that I’m extremely grateful. Today they’ll be represented by hugs. Hugs for a job well done these last four years and for a whole wonderful life ahead of us!
Thank you, EMU. I think I’m ready to graduate.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
The Last Samurai
I watched “The Last Samurai” with a terrific group of people last weekend. This was my second time watching the movie, but the first time was 3 years, 2 months, and 28 days ago so I didn’t remember much of the plot. It’s a long and pretty emotionally powerful movie. I’d recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen it before. One part in particular caught me as I watched it this time. (I couldn’t figure out how to tell this without giving some spoilers. Sorry.)
The story takes place in Japan in the 1870s. Nathan Algren is an American captain who has extensive experience subduing rebellions among Native Americans in the American west. Katsumoto is the leader of a Samurai rebellion fighting against the westernization of the Japanese empire. Algren has been hired to work with the Japanese empire to apply the same principles he learned from the Native Americans to surpass this native Japanese rebellion too. Before long though, he finds himself caught and cared for by his enemy, Katsumoto.
Over time, Algren embraces the lifestyle and code of honor of the samurai and chooses to switch allegiance and fight with Katsumoto against the westernized Japanese army. In one final, glorious charge, the samurai are mowed down by two twin machine guns. Katsumoto is fatally wounded, but wants to die with his honor intact, so Algren helps him fall on his own sword. As he is dying in Algren’s arms, he says something like, “They’re all perfect” while looking at blossoms blow off a tree in the wind.
It was a reference to an earlier conversation that Katsumoto had with Algren while Algren was his prisoner. My memory is fading on the specifics, but in the earlier scene Algren had approached Katsumoto with a specific question. Katsumoto ignored him and started talking about a poem and the blossoms on a tree. He said something like, “You could spend your whole life looking for the perfect blossom, and it wouldn’t be a wasted life.”
These two scenes convey the truth that somehow in the end everything is perfect. It would take an entire lifetime to define and explore the far reaches of perfection, but in the end everything holds its own perfection. Maybe everything has a part of perfection or a touch of perfection or contains a glimpse of perfection.
I agree. I take a slightly more spiritual angle though to explain it. If there is a wholly perfect God then God cannot use anything that isn’t perfect. Therefore, I define perfection as anything that can be used by God for God’s purposes, which is everything because all things are redeemable. Perfection has less to do with humanly definable characteristics and more to do with “divine potential” or whatever term you want to use. No matter the past, nothing is completely useless to God, so everything has the potential of a perfect future. No matter what disastrous past may have occurred, the future, through God’s mercy and grace, has unlimited potential for good. Therefore in its own unknown way, everything thing is perfect looking forward.
With human eyes we cannot see the perfect potential of anything and we get caught up on superficial judgments of all that we see. We would spend a lifetime looking for our own definition of perfect, but through God’s eyes all things are already perfect, whether it is a flower blossom or a human being.
The story takes place in Japan in the 1870s. Nathan Algren is an American captain who has extensive experience subduing rebellions among Native Americans in the American west. Katsumoto is the leader of a Samurai rebellion fighting against the westernization of the Japanese empire. Algren has been hired to work with the Japanese empire to apply the same principles he learned from the Native Americans to surpass this native Japanese rebellion too. Before long though, he finds himself caught and cared for by his enemy, Katsumoto.
Over time, Algren embraces the lifestyle and code of honor of the samurai and chooses to switch allegiance and fight with Katsumoto against the westernized Japanese army. In one final, glorious charge, the samurai are mowed down by two twin machine guns. Katsumoto is fatally wounded, but wants to die with his honor intact, so Algren helps him fall on his own sword. As he is dying in Algren’s arms, he says something like, “They’re all perfect” while looking at blossoms blow off a tree in the wind.
It was a reference to an earlier conversation that Katsumoto had with Algren while Algren was his prisoner. My memory is fading on the specifics, but in the earlier scene Algren had approached Katsumoto with a specific question. Katsumoto ignored him and started talking about a poem and the blossoms on a tree. He said something like, “You could spend your whole life looking for the perfect blossom, and it wouldn’t be a wasted life.”
These two scenes convey the truth that somehow in the end everything is perfect. It would take an entire lifetime to define and explore the far reaches of perfection, but in the end everything holds its own perfection. Maybe everything has a part of perfection or a touch of perfection or contains a glimpse of perfection.
I agree. I take a slightly more spiritual angle though to explain it. If there is a wholly perfect God then God cannot use anything that isn’t perfect. Therefore, I define perfection as anything that can be used by God for God’s purposes, which is everything because all things are redeemable. Perfection has less to do with humanly definable characteristics and more to do with “divine potential” or whatever term you want to use. No matter the past, nothing is completely useless to God, so everything has the potential of a perfect future. No matter what disastrous past may have occurred, the future, through God’s mercy and grace, has unlimited potential for good. Therefore in its own unknown way, everything thing is perfect looking forward.
With human eyes we cannot see the perfect potential of anything and we get caught up on superficial judgments of all that we see. We would spend a lifetime looking for our own definition of perfect, but through God’s eyes all things are already perfect, whether it is a flower blossom or a human being.
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Take that, world!
A little glimpse into my life:
Several years ago (Sunday, May 27, 2007 to be exact) I was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast before church. That time would have been incomplete and likely unsatisfactory without some ridiculously good reading material known to most as the Sunday comics. I've always enjoyed reading the comics, especially on Sundays, but there are few strips (if any) I enjoy more than Baby Blues. I can't pinpoint exactly what I appreciated about it, but if I was running late for church I'd still make sure to read that one.
Well, on that Sunday morning before church in May as I was eating breakfast and reading the comics I decided to cut out the Baby Blues strip. I still have it. It hung in my room at home and then in several dorm rooms at college. It's not currently hanging anywhere and is just sitting in a box, but I know exactly where it is. I was
thinking of that strip today and I hope more and more that my life can emulate what it portrays.
I can't figure out how to get the picture any larger (if you click on it it'll get a little bigger), but here it is. Better yet, follow this link and enjoy more Baby Blues brilliance! Just don't waste your whole day that way.
You can barely tell, but Daryl's eyes are looking up in the last frame. Without that detail this strip doesn't quite do it for me.
Enjoy your day!
Several years ago (Sunday, May 27, 2007 to be exact) I was sitting at the kitchen table eating breakfast before church. That time would have been incomplete and likely unsatisfactory without some ridiculously good reading material known to most as the Sunday comics. I've always enjoyed reading the comics, especially on Sundays, but there are few strips (if any) I enjoy more than Baby Blues. I can't pinpoint exactly what I appreciated about it, but if I was running late for church I'd still make sure to read that one.
Well, on that Sunday morning before church in May as I was eating breakfast and reading the comics I decided to cut out the Baby Blues strip. I still have it. It hung in my room at home and then in several dorm rooms at college. It's not currently hanging anywhere and is just sitting in a box, but I know exactly where it is. I was
thinking of that strip today and I hope more and more that my life can emulate what it portrays.I can't figure out how to get the picture any larger (if you click on it it'll get a little bigger), but here it is. Better yet, follow this link and enjoy more Baby Blues brilliance! Just don't waste your whole day that way.
You can barely tell, but Daryl's eyes are looking up in the last frame. Without that detail this strip doesn't quite do it for me.
Enjoy your day!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Prayer
"Prayer, therefore, is a great adventure because the God with whom we enter into a new relationship is greater than we are and defies all our calculations and predictions. The movement from illusion to prayer is hard to make since it leads us from false certainties to true uncertainties, from an easy support system to a risky surrender, and from the many 'safe' gods to the God whose love has no limits."
Henri J.M. Nouwen, Reaching Out
Prayer is an illusion when we think God will love us more when we pray.
Prayer is an illusion when we think God will love us more when we pray.
Monday, March 22, 2010
I'm not called to be the Body of Christ
I'm not called to be the Body of Christ.
That’s not for me. That’s not for any of us. See, we just can’t do it. God didn’t design humans to work that way. Some people may think they can be the Body of Christ, but they can’t. I used to think that, but now I don’t. Last night God made me realize that I’m not called to be the Body of Christ.
“The pain of the world is a burden. It’s my cross to bear.” is a line from one of my favorite songs to play on guitar, but it can be misleading. All the pain of the world is not my cross to bear. I never really thought that it was, but now I’m sure that it’s not.
The Church is called to be the Body of Christ and as part of the Church I share a part of this calling, but I can’t claim it completely for myself. As one human being I can’t possibly be the entire Body of Christ. This may seem like a simple revelation or something so elementary to Christian life, but it had a huge impact on me yesterday.
In church yesterday morning there was a reflection time, which is completely normal. At The Table we are given questions to think about or activities to do or some other way to respond to the scriptures that we’ve been working with that morning. Yesterday was an ordination service for two leaders in my church and during the reflection time I was reflecting on the commitment they had made. It was a series of “Do you/will you . . .” statements to which they had responded “I do/I will”. It seemed pretty simple.
It was that list of questions that occupied my thoughts during the long reflection time. They aren’t easy questions! There’s certainly nothing simple to them! That’s not what this blog post is about though. I sat there reflecting on my journey with God these last years and contemplating the new chapter that is to come after graduation. I wanted nothing more than for someone to come over and talk with me. That would show me that others cared, that I was loved and that I didn’t have to take this journey by myself. Actually they didn’t even need to talk with me. I just wanted someone to sit with me as I wrestled with my thoughts.
Someone came over. She sat in the empty chair next to me and asked how I was doing. I lied. I said I was “fine” or “good” or something like that. She came over and was Christ to me and in turn I showed that I was some pathetic, little human wanting to put on a good front and hide what was really going on. I was torn up inside, but I denied it. She had shown me the Body of Christ at work and I hadn't embraced it.
Then later in the day, at Celebration (a student-led worship service) we were given time for prayer and reflection or whatever we needed to do. I sat by myself with my head in my arms trapped in thought about God’s trust for me and how undeserved it is. That’s not what this blog post is about though. For the second time in one day I found myself wanting nothing more than for someone to come over and show me that I was loved. My thoughts were my own and I wouldn’t be able to share them, but I needed someone to come over and be Christ to me again.
I was suddenly brought out of my own self-absorbed world when I realized that there may be other people in that room who were sharing my desire to be loved and cared for in that moment. It wasn’t a new realization, but this time I realized that I might be the only one aware that someone else might have those needs. What if the responsibility within the Body of Christ to be Christ to others therefore fell to me? The responsibility certainly couldn’t fall to people who were unaware of the need.
But I’m not called to be the Body of Christ by myself. In that moment I was a needy part of the Body and not in position to care for others. The needs of my Christian brothers and sisters are not all my responsibility, but rather the shared responsibility of us all. All the pain of the world is not my burden; it’s our burden to share. And fortunately it’s our burden to share as empowered by the love of God, as shown by the life of Christ, and as led by the Holy Spirit.
Being the Body of Christ doesn’t mean that we all have to love and care for everybody, but if we can all at least love and care for our friends (and maybe a few nearby enemies too!), then think of what a Body that will create! That’s so exciting to me! It’s lovers of Christ playing in concert to make gorgeous music heard by the rest of the world! And I get to be a part of it. We all do.
That’s not for me. That’s not for any of us. See, we just can’t do it. God didn’t design humans to work that way. Some people may think they can be the Body of Christ, but they can’t. I used to think that, but now I don’t. Last night God made me realize that I’m not called to be the Body of Christ.
“The pain of the world is a burden. It’s my cross to bear.” is a line from one of my favorite songs to play on guitar, but it can be misleading. All the pain of the world is not my cross to bear. I never really thought that it was, but now I’m sure that it’s not.
The Church is called to be the Body of Christ and as part of the Church I share a part of this calling, but I can’t claim it completely for myself. As one human being I can’t possibly be the entire Body of Christ. This may seem like a simple revelation or something so elementary to Christian life, but it had a huge impact on me yesterday.
In church yesterday morning there was a reflection time, which is completely normal. At The Table we are given questions to think about or activities to do or some other way to respond to the scriptures that we’ve been working with that morning. Yesterday was an ordination service for two leaders in my church and during the reflection time I was reflecting on the commitment they had made. It was a series of “Do you/will you . . .” statements to which they had responded “I do/I will”. It seemed pretty simple.
It was that list of questions that occupied my thoughts during the long reflection time. They aren’t easy questions! There’s certainly nothing simple to them! That’s not what this blog post is about though. I sat there reflecting on my journey with God these last years and contemplating the new chapter that is to come after graduation. I wanted nothing more than for someone to come over and talk with me. That would show me that others cared, that I was loved and that I didn’t have to take this journey by myself. Actually they didn’t even need to talk with me. I just wanted someone to sit with me as I wrestled with my thoughts.
Someone came over. She sat in the empty chair next to me and asked how I was doing. I lied. I said I was “fine” or “good” or something like that. She came over and was Christ to me and in turn I showed that I was some pathetic, little human wanting to put on a good front and hide what was really going on. I was torn up inside, but I denied it. She had shown me the Body of Christ at work and I hadn't embraced it.
Then later in the day, at Celebration (a student-led worship service) we were given time for prayer and reflection or whatever we needed to do. I sat by myself with my head in my arms trapped in thought about God’s trust for me and how undeserved it is. That’s not what this blog post is about though. For the second time in one day I found myself wanting nothing more than for someone to come over and show me that I was loved. My thoughts were my own and I wouldn’t be able to share them, but I needed someone to come over and be Christ to me again.
I was suddenly brought out of my own self-absorbed world when I realized that there may be other people in that room who were sharing my desire to be loved and cared for in that moment. It wasn’t a new realization, but this time I realized that I might be the only one aware that someone else might have those needs. What if the responsibility within the Body of Christ to be Christ to others therefore fell to me? The responsibility certainly couldn’t fall to people who were unaware of the need.
But I’m not called to be the Body of Christ by myself. In that moment I was a needy part of the Body and not in position to care for others. The needs of my Christian brothers and sisters are not all my responsibility, but rather the shared responsibility of us all. All the pain of the world is not my burden; it’s our burden to share. And fortunately it’s our burden to share as empowered by the love of God, as shown by the life of Christ, and as led by the Holy Spirit.
Being the Body of Christ doesn’t mean that we all have to love and care for everybody, but if we can all at least love and care for our friends (and maybe a few nearby enemies too!), then think of what a Body that will create! That’s so exciting to me! It’s lovers of Christ playing in concert to make gorgeous music heard by the rest of the world! And I get to be a part of it. We all do.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Your Love Endures
Though the treasures of this life may fade,
Your love endures forever.
They will pass away things that man has made,
But your love endures forever.
Now I can't explain, or even understand
Why you gave your life, to save sinful man,
But I know it's true, I've seen it myself
Your love endures forever.
Though the seasons change with the passing time,
Your love endures forever.
And the sun will fade if just for the night,
Your love endures forever.
Now I can't explain, or even understand
Why you gave your life, to save sinful man,
But I know it's true, I've seen it myself
Your love endures forever.
Though our pains and joys will come and go,
Your love endures forever.
Even in my fears I will always know,
That your love endures,
Yes your love endures forever.
Third Day
Your love endures forever.
They will pass away things that man has made,
But your love endures forever.
Now I can't explain, or even understand
Why you gave your life, to save sinful man,
But I know it's true, I've seen it myself
Your love endures forever.
Though the seasons change with the passing time,
Your love endures forever.
And the sun will fade if just for the night,
Your love endures forever.
Now I can't explain, or even understand
Why you gave your life, to save sinful man,
But I know it's true, I've seen it myself
Your love endures forever.
Though our pains and joys will come and go,
Your love endures forever.
Even in my fears I will always know,
That your love endures,
Yes your love endures forever.
Third Day
Saturday, February 27, 2010
From the National Cathedral
Do you ask an illustrator to write a book? No, that is for the writer to do. Do you ask a writer to illustrate a book? No, that is for the illustrator to do. Together they create a story that illustrator-types and writer-types can both enjoy. They’ve approached the story as they are able and through their efforts others may also approach the story as they are able. The whole world shares in the gifts.
Some are gifted and able to approach stories as both writer and illustrator. So much greater the gift and the blessing, but may they not look down on those who approach only one way. For it is through all gifts both big and small that the story is exalted.
The writer meant no disrespect in missing the subtleties of the illustrator’s art when forming sentences, and likewise the illustrator meant no disrespect by simplifying the writer’s craft into one glimpse. As neither are masters of the other’s craft, they cannot measure up or be judged parallel or compared. While the writer conveys action and movement, the illustrator conveys detail and imagery. Neither approach is better nor worse; they are merely different.
Differences that divide subtract from the whole. Each craft becomes competition, drawing audiences away from the true center, the story, and towards the writing or the illustrations. Differences that complement combine to form something greater than the two parts could alone. The focus can then be central as the voice of the story is multiplied. The focus is seen and the story magnified when the elements are held together despite differences.
Some are gifted and able to approach stories as both writer and illustrator. So much greater the gift and the blessing, but may they not look down on those who approach only one way. For it is through all gifts both big and small that the story is exalted.
The writer meant no disrespect in missing the subtleties of the illustrator’s art when forming sentences, and likewise the illustrator meant no disrespect by simplifying the writer’s craft into one glimpse. As neither are masters of the other’s craft, they cannot measure up or be judged parallel or compared. While the writer conveys action and movement, the illustrator conveys detail and imagery. Neither approach is better nor worse; they are merely different.
Differences that divide subtract from the whole. Each craft becomes competition, drawing audiences away from the true center, the story, and towards the writing or the illustrations. Differences that complement combine to form something greater than the two parts could alone. The focus can then be central as the voice of the story is multiplied. The focus is seen and the story magnified when the elements are held together despite differences.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
The Sacred Center
In my Congregation and Its Ministries class we talked about the book “Rediscovering the Sacred Center” by Howard E. Friend Jr and it blew my mind! It wasn’t a completely new thought, nor a new practice. He explained something I’ve found myself doing over and over. I’m proud to say that it’s my practice, but I’m humbled by the sheer number of mistakes before I got there.
The illustration is like this: God is in the center. There is a true self and a false self. The true self is as God desires us to be—what we are as followers of Christ. That’s the aim, the goal, but we always find ourselves acting as false selves—people guided by ego and fear and perceptions of others. The false self lies and hides and misrepresents God. In moments of conviction we realize that we are living falsely, so through willpower we change our actions and attitudes to align with the true self. It works for a time, but society pulls us back to the false self, our willpower gives out. This cycle repeats itself and will continue to repeat until we approach it the situation differently.
Here’s the focus: instead of pushing toward the true self and striving after what we think God wants us to do or be like, we pull into the center. It’s ingenious! Pulling in to the sacred center makes the eventual move back to the true self authentic. Instead of forcing our to fit our ideal image we wait in God until the true self emerges organically. How else can we become who God intended except through God? The aim is the true self, but instead of setting criteria and willing ourselves to fulfill the requirements, we dwell in God and let our true selves manifest through God authentically. It’s brilliant!
And that’s what I’ve done. Arguably that’s what I do every night, but it’s especially clear when I hit though crashes and have dates with God. When I’m feeling drained and dry and tossed about I retreat to God. “You are God and I am man so I leave it in your hands” is the pulling to the center when God is.
This is how I wish practices evolved. I don’t want people to say, “Prayer is good, so I’m going to pray 5 times a day.” I don’t want someone to say, “A good Christian would read the Bible, so I’m going to read it through in a year.” Those things are great and holy habits and spiritual practices can probably begin that way, but I want it you be different. I want it to be, “God, I desire more conversation with you, so I’m going to try to pray 5 times a day.” Or “God, I want to know more about you, so I’m going to spend more time in your Word.” That’s authentic! Those are God centered practices! And I think those are what God loves.
Imagine a church that lives that way! Just imagine it! My mind gets blown after a few minutes! It makes everything life-giving and flexible and open. It makes way for all sorts of gifts and creativity! It gives everyone responsibility for their own relationship with God. God, I think it’s beautiful. I really do.
The illustration is like this: God is in the center. There is a true self and a false self. The true self is as God desires us to be—what we are as followers of Christ. That’s the aim, the goal, but we always find ourselves acting as false selves—people guided by ego and fear and perceptions of others. The false self lies and hides and misrepresents God. In moments of conviction we realize that we are living falsely, so through willpower we change our actions and attitudes to align with the true self. It works for a time, but society pulls us back to the false self, our willpower gives out. This cycle repeats itself and will continue to repeat until we approach it the situation differently.
Here’s the focus: instead of pushing toward the true self and striving after what we think God wants us to do or be like, we pull into the center. It’s ingenious! Pulling in to the sacred center makes the eventual move back to the true self authentic. Instead of forcing our to fit our ideal image we wait in God until the true self emerges organically. How else can we become who God intended except through God? The aim is the true self, but instead of setting criteria and willing ourselves to fulfill the requirements, we dwell in God and let our true selves manifest through God authentically. It’s brilliant!
And that’s what I’ve done. Arguably that’s what I do every night, but it’s especially clear when I hit though crashes and have dates with God. When I’m feeling drained and dry and tossed about I retreat to God. “You are God and I am man so I leave it in your hands” is the pulling to the center when God is.
This is how I wish practices evolved. I don’t want people to say, “Prayer is good, so I’m going to pray 5 times a day.” I don’t want someone to say, “A good Christian would read the Bible, so I’m going to read it through in a year.” Those things are great and holy habits and spiritual practices can probably begin that way, but I want it you be different. I want it to be, “God, I desire more conversation with you, so I’m going to try to pray 5 times a day.” Or “God, I want to know more about you, so I’m going to spend more time in your Word.” That’s authentic! Those are God centered practices! And I think those are what God loves.
Imagine a church that lives that way! Just imagine it! My mind gets blown after a few minutes! It makes everything life-giving and flexible and open. It makes way for all sorts of gifts and creativity! It gives everyone responsibility for their own relationship with God. God, I think it’s beautiful. I really do.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Take my life - HWB 389
Once upon a time I went on an amazing weekend retreat with a bunch of incredible people. And we sang this song. And I liked the words, so I posted them on my blog. The end.
Take my life
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold:
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Take my life
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet, and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee.
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold:
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Ev'ry pow'r as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine,
It shall be no longer mine;
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure store;
Take myself, and I will be,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
Ever, only, all for Thee.