Conscious

Life from the Center is a life of unhurried peace and power. It is simple. It is serene. It is amazing. It is triumphant. It is radiant. It takes no time, but it occupies all our time. And makes our life programs new and overcoming.

- Thomas Kelly

I'm not really on vacation, but life has felt much more like a vacation recently. We'll see how long it keeps up. It's not all a lack of work, because (for instance) I worked about 12 hours yesterday. But life just isn't so stressful or rushed like it was. I do what I need to, but I can "stop and smell the roses" along the way.

I'm reading a really great book right now called "Freedom of Simplicity" by Richard Foster. I am being challenged in the way I live, think, and understand simplicity. One of the parts of the book I read recently spoke of Frank Laubach's "Game with Minutes." In this "game" Frank would see how many minutes out of an hour he could be conscious of God's presence. Every day in his journal he'd put "Conscious 25%" or "Conscious 70%" etc. He would figure out what percentage of his day he was actually actively being conscious of God. It's an amazing and convicting challenge, one that even the mention of would send many of us downcast, due to the fact that we realize how seemingly unavoidably distracted we are to God throughout the majority of our day, and therefore life. I know for me, it's a blessing if I randomly remember to thank God for being good, while I drive mindlessly to my next appointment from time to time.

I want to challenge myself to this task. I want to take such a task seriously if I should attempt it. Coming into mental preparation, I realize to be conscious would mean to severely lessen or eliminate the mind-dulling substances of our modern age. It means an effort to turn the TV from sketch comedy, sitcoms, and pointless fictional dramas. Or better yet, to turn the TV off. It means putting a bridle on my mind, and training it to focus. It means dominating my laziness and turning it into purposed action, that feeds simplicity.

Is it pathetic that all of these seem like too much and make me want to scratch the idea?

Now I'm not saying I can never watch TV, even pointless TV. I'm not saying I can't zone out and think of nothing (since that's definitely a good thing from time to time). But what I am saying is this, we are more overboard than we realize in our distractions. Our minds are shutting down to the extent that we (me included) are oblivious to it. Just ask those who have trained their minds, they'll give you evidences of how far we've drifted into LaLa Land.

If God occupies all of heaven and earth, shouldn't he occupy my thoughts as well? Would I not benefit from a closer relationship with the Guy who has it all under His control? Would I not be a more effective minister to the Gospel if I allowed His Word to permeate all my actions, in a living and conscious manner?

As it is, there is division. There is time for what God wants, and time for what Steve wants. I know this is wrong, but I am very content with it... until I wake myself up. Until I reminisce the sweet taste of eternity, I am content in my blissful ignorance. Try the challenge. See how conscious of God you can be throughout the day. Be diligent in your attempts and see how things improve.

Logotherapy

I'm bored.

What a horrendous utterance! But it's true. I'm completely bored. I have lots I can and should be doing, yet I'm not. I have no will to meaning right now; well, I'm not realizing that meaning currently at least.

I read a book recently called Man's Search for Meaning. I highly recommend it!

Meaning should be the driving force in our lives. Without meaning, why do we continue to live? Why do we not take our own lives? Perhaps the apathy and lethargy that has seeped into our pores is often the very thing keeping us from suicide; our lack of decisiveness to even kill ourselves. Or perhaps it's the artificial, superficial highs of life that keep us distracted from the severe lows that unavoidably follow... at. least sometimes

By comparison, most would probably say that I live a life of meaning and purpose. And I often do. But it's hard to live in a blazing house without getting burned. Naturopaths say that the acidic nature of our bodies is the underlying cause of much of the disease we encounter. That if we would just eat to properly alkalize the pH of our body, many of the health issues that ale us, would disappear.

I run into many people who know their diet is awful. They are convicted to change it, but they don't. Knowledge is of no benefit to these people. I see the same thing in life issues. I have many friends who know the lifestyle they are living is killing them physically, mentally, morally, spiritually, or all of the above, yet they continue to live this way. And I'm not excluded.

My point is, understanding meaning does nothing if you are continually surrounded by lifestyle pollution. Excessive entertainment, lack of rewarding labor, rampant sexuality, a dearth of moral absolutes, disbelief in an ultimate being (God), disregard for our physical health, consumerism, superficiality, short attention spans, great faith in politics/government, idolatry of celebrities are all examples of pollutants that make it nearly impossible to have a truly worthwhile existence.

We accomplish very little, and the things we do accomplish are often lacking significance in the big scheme of things. We are left asking the question, "Why did I work so hard on that? Was it only for pride?" Or even asking if our accomplishments are helping the world or tearing it apart. Society encourages to not ask these questions, but rather buy into the idea of having fun today! Carpe Diem!!! We do this so much that our later years our destroyed by the effects of our "fun," thus we are ill-equipped to fulfill some basics of man's purpose by the time we're middle-aged. Then we are sorry and bored, rather than vital and progressive.

Living fully requires, I believe, a mixture of interaction and separation. A person must keep oneself free from the toxic effect of society. But man also desires to be courageous, which may require diving into the vat of suffering to save one being eaten alive by despair. Suffering is sometimes not avoidable, and can teach a lot; but suffering sacrificially solidifies a reason of being and inspires the world to find that same reason.

Why so bored? Because I'm closing my eyes. I'm being apathetic today. My work is not giving me meaning because it isn't always making the world better. Because I'm busy playing with expensive toys I've bought, rather than connecting with the least of these. The truth is, the least of these don't even exist when I'm the only one who matters in my world. Today the focus is on me, so unless I'm reason enough (in and by myself) to have meaning, it just will not exist. I need an outside source.

Along For The Ride

As a Campus Life director, I am always looking for media clips that will help illustrate a point. You know, that scene that makes the idea I'm speaking on come to life, and allows the students to identify more practically with the subject matter. Creating this connection between a thought being conveyed and the audience is key to any speaker.

There is a plethora of scenes that portray moral, heart-felt words that demonstrate virtuous characteristics and world views. I have a library of clips in my head, categorized by topical affiliation. It struck me, despite the total lapse in morality in today's movies, I can so easily find moments of moral integrity in almost any film. It seems so paradoxical.

I have stumbled upon some very sensitive material that Hollywood doesn't want you to realize. That's why I'm going to be writing a book called "Hollywood Insights 'They Don't Want You To Know About,'" seeing as how this format is working so well for Kevin Trudeau.

Movies take you for a ride, and they don't drop you off at the destination they promise. Here's a common layout for modern day comedy. Introduce the protagonist (or antagonist who gradually becomes a protagonist), who is currently living in a state that is obviously off from what is the proper way to live. The movie will make light of the character's lifestyle, but indirectly assume that there is something fundamentally superficial; enjoyable, yet ultimately unfulfilling about this person.

We embark on a journey that saturates us in immoral lies about actual life. The character lives in a greatly exaggerated state of how some actual less-than-righteous individuals might think or live. Since a major goal of cinema is to immerse the watcher into the movie, the audience member's reality becomes the movie for it's duration. Anytime you are immersed into anything, something is bound to stick (whether good, bad, or neutral). In most cases someones guard is not completely lifted, but softened during a movie; giving way to susceptibility.

You will notice that the bulk of iniquity is found near the beginning or middle of the movie, while the end has a twist of uprightness. It's about taste. A sweet morsel covers a bitter taste, so you forget it was ever there. As the movie ends and your mind is freed up to process what you have just taken in, you remember the good, and can deem it an acceptable film. But the quotable moments, or those you will laugh at and are embedded into your mind consist of the vulgar, the unrealistic, the stuff your grandmother would not approve of.

In the end, the protagonist has gained a compromised perspective of right and wrong. It's better than where they started, and it has relics of admirable qualities; however, the final product is only good in a relative sense to where they started. There is a great lack of true virtue. But because it is more easy to identify things in a relative fashion than a static way, guided by truth, faith, and philosophy, we are more likely to applaud the "moral of the story." And realize it or not, our understanding of right and wrong has been tweaked.

The ride is from a place of perversion to a place of middle ground. We pick up all the junk along the way and are fed a spoonful of compromised morality. Bravery, friendship, acceptance, education, maturity, and dedication are good things, but they are not inherently good. They are good when the are coupled with truth and love. Movie emphasize the former and neglect the latter. Thus we look for the right things in the wrong places and expect a Hollywood ending.

Media greatly determines what we will accept as our next reality. Remain skeptic of a movie's moral finish. Discern what is truly right, wrong, good, and bad... then hold everything up to that light. Don't just go along for the ride, have an intended destination.

A Lifestyle Of Rules

As many of you probably know, I "prefer a vegan diet."  Eating healthy, and avoiding most dairy and meat is a choice that I made when confronted with some truths about the consequences of what you eat.  It has also been reenforced by learning about the effects of mass producing cows, chickens, pigs, etc. in the most cost-effective, as well as morally, dietary, and socially upsetting, manners.

Previous to my "conversion" I ate like a normal American.  Perhaps a bit healthier, with salads and vitamin supplements, but pretty normal.  It was out of a conviction to live a better, healthier life, and a responsibility to friends and family, as well as my God, to take care of what I've been given responsibility over, and conduct myself in a way that promotes quality and quantity of life.  Like I said, it was a conviction, and following through with the choices I made required sacrifice in addition to desire and encouragement.  But there was something new and fresh in my decision.  I despised the poisons offered me, and rejected them at nearly every opportunity, despite the temptation.  I trained my body and my mind to think and expect differently, but it was all fueled by an active desire to do what is right, and help inspire others to do the same.

The funny thing about a change like that is, it soon loses its passion, and turns common place.  It becomes about rules you've set for your mind and body, rather than a desire for "what is best."  I no longer detest the idea of hydrogenated corn syrup or the chlorine in our drinking water.  I do my best to not partake of such things, but there's less conviction to it; it is simply the new norm.

I've also noticed a flexibility to consume the forbidden.  My mental military is like an army who has lost the vision of their purpose, through their uneventful stationing in a foreign land.  The battles that used to be my mind verses my eyes and tastebuds has become my mind, eyes, and tastebuds teaming up against my stomach.  I don't deny myself the sugary foods because I know the harm they will do me (if I deny them at all), I do so because I know my stomach will exact revenge.

So although I eat in a good, similar fashion to when I started, something is certainly different and amiss.

It amazes me how it can be a similar series coming from my spirit and faith.

There are times I will reevaluate my faith and with conviction I will make decisions of what I need to add and what I need to exclude from how I live.  Passion fills me and enables me to carry out these Godly desires with respect for God, myself, and others.  I feel like I've found a Truth that matters and I want to show it to the world through life.

But once again, all too soon I lose sight of why I do what I do.  It becomes for the sake of the deed itself rather than the spirit of righteousness, godliness, and repentance.  When Christianity becomes a passive lifestyle I think that's a dangerous place to be.  I also think it's an easy place to find.  We put a lot of emphasis on how we live (what we do and don't do because of our faith), but none of that means anything if it is not propelled by a spirit of desire for the Kingdom of God.  Without that drive of love for the good, we are but a clanging cymbal.

How do we rejuvenate our apathetic following of our prior convictions?

That's where our relationships come in.  Our relationships as the church and our relationship with Jesus.

Meeting with others who share our faith, who may not be in a place of apathy, but a place of passion, can help spark your spirit.  Inspiration confronting unsatisfaction brings the heart and rational mind face to face, resulting in reflectional hope for more.

Meeting with Jesus, in your prayer time and Bible reading, gives the opportunity to get the same inspiration, reflection, and hope.  I believe in this time you will be stretched too.  New aspirations, taking things to the next level, helps to reinvigorate the spirit to step up to the challenge, realizing the calling.

Realize the calling.  Remember why you live the way you do.  Confront your life with the love, purpose, and intentionality Christ displayed in his life and death.  Fathom the responsibility placed upon you as his disciple.  Listen to his voice.  Bring about the Kingdom by encouraging Truth in every facet of your life.

Rinse and Repeat.

The American Dream

I'm not a historian, not even close, so this blog may ring very wrong in your ears.  But regardless I am writing this, and hoping that there is at least a portion of truth within it.

When the colonists came to the Americas they came because they wanted a place where they could practice freedom and liberty for all men.

When Americans began expanding West, they did so because they wanted to find a life and wealth for their own.

When wealthy land owners began partaking in the African slave trade, they did so as a means to increase production, lower production costs, and thus receive a bigger slice of the American Dream pie they so desperately wanted.

When John is working full-time, and his wife puts their kids in daycare so she can also work a full-time job, it is to bring them closer to the dream of being able to give themselves and their children anything they could ever want.

When Ted Stevens accepts bribes, he does so in pursuit of wanting wealth, power, and freedom that could be associated with a twisted form of the American Dream.

I'm not saying the American Dream is an evil thing, or was wrong in its inception (at least as an idea, not a phrase).  But it becomes increasingly apparent in our country that the American Dream has strayed from a desire for basic human rights and opportunity.  Instead it has been individualized in our minds.  The focus of the American Dream is no longer country or appealing to a higher truth; but, rather, me.  

Our dream is one that looks out for our own immediate self-interest.  We want no law or person hindering what we can do.  It appears we have a thought process that says, "Laws are so other people can't impede on my freedoms."  But that is as far as we want the laws to serve us, their application against us is unfair in our eyes.  Just look at the example of illegal downloading of music.  This is something I point back at myself for.  I wouldn't want anyone stealing from me, but I don't want anyone to hinder my ability to steal from others.  The American Dream, it's all about me.  And we are even destroying our families and relationships, as we try to satisfy and provide what the "American Dream" and Darwin would have us believe is most important.

It also drives us to our division in politics.  Now surely this isn't 100% true, but one can certainly see a trend in what party a person is registered for, based on their income levels or affiliations.

When Sherman Alexie was interviewed on The Colbert Report, he said something that made me think...

Unlike other groups of people in this country, we Indians vote for the good of everybody, and not just for the good of our little group.

-  Sherman Alexie

If you watch the clip you will see he was speaking about why McCain is a better choice for the Native American population, and yet why the Native Americans generally were pushing for Obama.  Now regardless of your or my political views, you can't deny this statement contains a dose of caffein to wake up our minds.  We do vote for ourselves.  Christians vote for the person that seems the most moral (sometimes putting their ability to run the government further back on the list) so they can have the moral character they want to see in office, much of the upper-class vote for the republican candidate, so they can get tax breaks they so desperately want, and many of the low-class citizens vote for the democrats so they can get the handouts they want.

We make our decisions with a form of presupposition.  That is, "whatever helps me or my cause the most, is the best answer."  To find a way to better our country, don't we need to lay those aside?  Shouldn't we do what is right, regardless of whether or not we are the ones who will most benefit or least benefit.  Can we be objective without first denying our self?

Let's stop the American Dream from being focused on what we WANT, and rather, let's keep it at what it started at.  Fair opportunity, liberty, and democracy.  Liberty doesn't ensure you the things that you want.  Opportunity does not afford you the right to break the law to succeed.  And surely democracy was not meant for us to selfishly mandate that our individual desires be satisfied, rather it ignites an obligation for us to educate ourselves and seek true wisdom, ignoring any presuppositions not arrived at in the truth of reason, so that we may look to the good of all before the good of ourselves.

We'll never see the America we're dreaming of unless we forsake this selfish rendition of the American Dream we have so tightly embraced.

Resentment

I'm noticing that I am a person full of resentment. When things don't go my way I get frustrated, angry, and feel sorry for myself. The funny thing is that 99% of the time it's things I can't change that do this to me. I suppose it's because I'm the kind of guy who changes what I can to make things the way I think they ought to be. But some things are just out of my hands. You can't really change other people too much, you can't change a lot of your physical attributes, and you certainly can't change the past.

Being resentful towards people, who aren't acting as I want them to, just isn't fair. It's selfish and makes me feel like I'm a toddler vying for the toy the other kid has, and crying a miserable sob when my attempts end in knowing failure. It's one thing when what I want is the other person's best interest... it's another when it's first and foremost my best interest. Although my will is typically the center of my universe, it is all too often not at the top of other people's priority list. But I will get very angry sometimes when they aren't using my eyes to see the world. Strangely enough, God doesn't use my eyes to see the world very often either, nor does He consider many of my suggestions for "what is best."

It's also not right or fair for me to resent myself, my parents, my genes, or my God for making me the way I am. Given the luxury of vision, we pay the price of unrelenting comparisons. Physique, eyes, hair, teeth, nose, chin, skin pigment, skin clarity, height, weight, etc. etc. etc. Every time I open my eyes in public, in front of a TV, or a magazine, or even a church bulletin often times, I am confronted with a person, a body party, a style, a class of attractiveness, or just a level of individual "success" that begs me to judge myself by its standard. It usually ends one of two ways; criticism of them or criticism of myself, and the self-loathing, self-pitying depression that can follow either.

This system will motivate some to better themselves, but even the best reactions to this embedded way of life are unhealthy and destructive at the core. I need to be me. The best me I can be, which is the me God created me to be. I need to take a step back and realize that being the best me isn't for me at all, it's for He. He is the one who should receive the glory for whom I was created to be. His design was not implemented for me to be a towering example of human stature and health, that others may marvel at my impressiveness. I was made for humility, that exaltation might belong to Him who deserves it, and can handle it. When I get caught up comparing and seeing what I lack, I neglect what I've been given and the purpose for which I've been given it.

But whether a beautiful model, or an easy-going hippie, we all have a tendency to regret things in our past. To get so distracted, so entangled, so troubled that we made that mistake or entered into that relationship. We tried that, and haven't been able to stop ever since. Or we wasted our life for so long. We can resent history, and unable to forgive ourselves, we create a bleak outlook for our future. Void of hope, we cave under the weight of our perceived failures, which only perpetuates them all the more. "If Only" is our daily recited mantra. We quietly remind ourselves of it in our mind, "If only... everything could be different... I could be different... they might not have had to..."

Once again we sing the tune of the desire for our own glory. With a God who is sovereign; who ordains all good and bad things that come to pass, how can you live a life resenting your past? Surely throw off the guilt and shame from past sins, but embrace the good that can or has come from it. The growth in understanding, being able to relate with the broken-hearted, an appreciation for grace, peace, forgiveness, and love, or just the passion for life. We surely have a God who works the bad for good according to His will. If God has allowed the actions I took to pass, then that means he planned it and has a purpose for it. We no longer need to be bogged down by those things, but we need to embrace grace shown by God, and continue in His way.

If God is truly sovereign and in control, there is no longer any reason to resent that which you can't change, who you were designed to be, or the things that have already happened and are now behind you. Simply rest. Rest assured that He is God and He is sovereign.

Saving Your Bracelet

This past week I attended Heatwave, Youth For Christ's summer beach trip for the NE part of the country. I have been there many times before, but more times as "video guy" than a Campus Life leader for students. This year I was both. I felt extreme responsibility to be 100% dedicated to both duties, but it was extremely hard to balance the busyness with remaining spiritually open to God's voice. But despite all that I was doing I formed relationships and witnessed other friendships develop. I sat with the everyone else on the porch during our group meetings and listened to students pour out about their lives; who they are (good and bad), what God is showing them, and the witness that has come from friends on the trip.

Last night as I prepared for my Campus Life meeting, I was feeling restless about the topic I chose. I thought, "I need to bring an important element from Heatwave to our meeting tonight," especially since none of the students that night had gone to Heatwave. As I cleaned out my car I found my bracelet from Heatwave. It's a dear thing to the kids, and I know many are still wearing it even after the trip. Why? To remember. What would students say if you asked them what the bracelet helps them to remember? I can almost garantee two answers would soar above them all. 1. What God showed me this weekend. 2. The friendships I made and the closeness I felt in them.

All of this was stirring around and I felt like it was on the tip of my tongue, how it all fits together. I finally got to the point where I was down on my knees praying for direction. Within seconds it came to me. Confession.

I had even been talking about confession the night before, in regard to trips like Heatwave and even life, with my friend Kelly. For some reason I never considered to speak about it though. Confession is what separates Heatwave and trips like it from other camps and whatnot. Many students feel safety and trust and expose their soul for all to see. They stop pretending they are someone they aren't, and desperately want to be free to be, coming clean before God and everyone else.

"The one who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses them and forsakes them will find mercy."

- Proverbs 28:13

It comes so natural with our sin to hide. The shame and the fear cloud any reason we might see of how to remedy the situation. We pretend like the cancer doesn't exist, but it continues to eat away at us inside.

1 Blessed is he
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the man
whose sin the LORD does not count against him
and in whose spirit is no deceit.

3 When I kept silent,
my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.

4 For day and night
your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was sapped
as in the heat of summer.
Selah

5 Then I acknowledged my sin to you
and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, "I will confess
my transgressions to the LORD "—
and you forgave
the guilt of my sin.
Selah

- Psalm 32:1-5

Even the first sin in the Garden of Eden was immediately followed by hiding from God (Genesis 3:8-10). God questions Adam, "Where are you?"

Where... Are... You?

Isn't that the question our spirit cries sometimes? WHERE AM I? We have become so out of touch with who we are by pretending. We notice our actions as if we were an outsider and wonder who that person is, because we know it's not us. But at the same time we are so afraid of addressing our sin. We are so afraid of what those around us would think if they knew what we've done, what we quietly think in our minds, and how distressed our spirit is. Maybe we're even afraid that they won't even care when we express this.

Yesterday I visited a site called PostSecret.com. Here, people anonymously send in post cards with their secrets. It's a form of confession, of saying things they are too afraid to really share with anyone. Here is one that struck me.

"I have a secret inside me. It hurts like hell, and I want to let it out, but I don't know what it is."

I feel like that's me. I feel like its all of us, with our unconfessed sin. Sins we have grown so accustomed to, that we have tucked away out of sight for so long, that we forgot they were even there. But they are still wasting away our bones, and we feel them all the time. We are unfulfilled in our fear, shame, and ignoring of them. We need to let them out! But first we need to know them.

Speaking with a friend recently, she told me how horrible things had been coming out of her. This woman who seems like the perfect Christian is saying how much sin was pouring out of her over a few day period. The neat part is that she journals and was looking over her journal from a couple days prior, where she prayed that God would search her heart and show her what was in it. There was sin hurting her inside that she was unaware of, and from her asking, God revealed it so she would then deal with it. Seeking out your "secret," asking God expose it, and listening to His response are steps in discovering what's in you. Most of the time it'll be hidden (because you're great at hiding things) so it won't be evident, other times you'll be very aware of it.

Once the secrets are known, we need to confess them to God and to each other. When you ponder those actions, the first seems more easy to swallow than the second, but they can't be apart.

Because God doesn't gossip, blog, or usually speak audibly to the people we know, we think He doesn't pose a threat to our little charade. But this is not taking into consideration the heart of confession. The heart of confession is acknowledging before God and man that I am broken, that I am sinful, and that I need God's forgiveness for what I've done, and his Spirit to make me righteous. It is embracing my acknowledgment that I am not perfect, and that I cannot pretend I am. If that is what my confession is, confessing to man will only help me to establish more tangibly that I am not IT. It's a testimony that all have fallen short (especially me), and it is only by God's grace that any can be deemed righteous. Confession is absolutely necessary for repentance and salvation.

"People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to where he was baptizing, he said to them: 'You brod of vipers! Who warned yu to flee the coming wrath? Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say t yourselves, "We have Abraham as our father." I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children fr Abraham. The ax is already at the root f the trees, and every tree that does not produce god fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.'

'I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come ne wh is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.'"

You need to be real. Otherwise you are a brood of vipers. When we don't confess to each other, the sincere followers will be overwhelmed and downcast. It creates a religion of needing to be infallible, and if you mess up, you must not be as good as them, rather than of faith of mercy, forgiveness, and perseverance.

Lastly, we need to confess before each other because we need each other's help.

"So confess your sins to one anther and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great effectiveness."

- James 5:16

How can we be there for one another when we don't know who our friends really are or what struggles they are going through. Often times prayer requests at church consist of the superficial problems that we aren't embarrassed to admit. How does that do any good in helping the deep hardships, questions, situations, and sins that are eating us away inside. We need to pray with one another. It is effective and it's the action we can always perform to help those we love.

I spoke this message last night at Campus Life. Coincidentally Matthew Paul Turner's blog has a very related post today.

If we are to be a church, we must bring no condemnation toward people. We need to love by doing what will bring the best for them, and allow them to be free and real. If we, being confident in Christ, openly confess our shortcomings, our wrongs, our sin, and God's forgiveness, how much more open will everyone else be to admit their sin without feeling judged and believe God can forgive them as He has forgiven you.

Let's make confession a regular occurrence in our churches, youth groups, Campus Life groups, small groups, friendships, families, etc, etc ,etc. When we do I think people will come in flocks for the opportunity to finally be real, set free from the shame and fear of sin and judgment. Let your life be a living reminder of the real Church, be a living bracelet for all to see.

Being GOOD Christians: Part 1

This is the desire of all those who follow Jesus, isn't it, being good?

Thinking of a Christian I often picture the clean-cut appearance, with a pressed shirt and tie. Mr. Always Smiling, and his wife tending to the 3.2 kids while ironing and making dinner. Really, Mr. and Mrs. Always Smiling Christian look a lot like the American Dream with a Bible in it's hand. Their kids don't watch bad TV shows or movies and go to Christian school. These people look like great role models, removing themselves from the temptations of the world and appear to be living a life very untainted by sin, to the point you might not even know sin existed.

Of course there are other depictions, such as Mr. Pull Over Christian. This is the Christian that pulls over when someone has a flat on the side of the road. This guy is willing to get his clothes dirty and sacrifice half an hour to make sure that you can get that tire changed or put some gas in your empty tank. I'm sure there are many out there who are very thankful for Pull Over Christian guy.

Then there's Ms. Prayer Warrior. She is always willing to make time for you in her prayer routine. This motherly figure makes you feel like someone cares, and you KNOW she is always praying. It seems like she must do nothing else other than pray for others and spend time with her little Schitzu (usually both at the same time).

Hip Teen Christian is becoming a dominant force in the land of Christian stereotypes. This dude uses music, extreme sports, and popular movies to build his witness. The older Christians in his church, like Mr. Always Smiling Christian don't appreciate his ways too much, and suspect he's going down a dangerous path, but the dude is just trying to be like Jesus. He intertwines his life with the lives of those around him and popular culture. Because of Jesus he's not of the world, but he is most definitely in the world. In fact, you might not even know he is a Christian until he invites you to youth group sometime.

Those are some stereotypes that I feel I have earned the right to use, being in the church all my life. I have fallen in more than one of those categories, and I'm not saying that's a bad thing. Those who read this blog and know my sarcastic and critical tendencies are waiting for me to rip each of these descriptions to shreds, as to why they have no idea what a life toward Christ really looks like. I'm not going to do that, although I will give some advice in a little bit.

Each of these people have an understanding of great value. Mr. Always Smiling sees the value of purity and the joy of a close family. Mr. Pull Over Christian can grasp the idea of "Do Unto Others" and knows that by sacrificing he is really expanding God's Kingdom, something much more important than being late to wherever he was going. Ms. Prayer Warrior knows intimately that God listens to the prayers of his people, and although she feels she has limitations in her capabilities, prayer is an incredible tool that she can and will use to the best of her ability. Hip Teen Christian is someone who sees Jesus as someone who reached out to those beyond church walls. He wants to build trusting relationships with others so that he can have the opportunity to share and show the testimony of how Christ changed him.

All of these members are part of the body. When you bring them all together, the body looks pretty balanced (although I have excluded many parts, but just for an illustration). And this is a common understanding, I think. Certain people have certain gifts given to them to use, so it all evens out in the end and we are a complete body. This ought not negate our responsibility to be complete in our spirituality. In verse 7 it says, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." All should benefit from spiritual gifts, and the spiritual gifts of some should generate spiritual fruit from all. The fruit of the spirit does not act in the same manner as the gifts of the spirit, where each gift is not given to all, but to some. The fruit of the spirit is for all, and all Christians should be partaking of all of the fruit.

28And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues.

- 1 Corinthians 12:28

This verse is speaking of very specific gifts that make everyone valuable and no one complete without the other. You can say that even in other spiritual manners: grace, peace, love, charity, suffering, prayer, etc. some will have more of a natural inclination towards doing and being these virtues, but that does not exclude any from striving for all of them. In my experience people live a life of saying, well God has blessed me with being this way, so this is how I will serve Him. Since when is the easy and natural things in your life what God automatically calls you to?

Moses - Exodus 4:10-17 - God calls Moses to do something beyond what he feels is his natural ability. Moses complains, showing little faith in God and in himself, which kindled his anger against Moses.

Samson - Judges 13-16 - Samson is a man whose strength was his means of bringing about judgment on the captors of Isreal, the Philistines. He had killed thousands in his life, with impossible odds stacked against him. The Spirit of the Lord would come upon him and give him incredible strength. He was a man of pride, who could not be hurt. He did all of these things with no sacrifice to himself. In the end though, he learns humility from his pride, through weakness that he had never known. His final act is an act of sacrifice, where he will have to give his own life, and in doing that he destroys more Philistines than he had his entire life.


Isaiah - Isaiah 6 - Isaiah is a man who, by his own confession is not the pure man he wishes to be. He knows he is not worthy to be in the throne room of God, and not worthy to do the works of God. By the cleansing of his sin and a removal of his guilt Isaiah can respond to God's call of someone to send in His name, "Here am I; send me!"

Jesus - Matthew 26:39 - Jesus himself, who was lacking nothing, showed a preference to stay with his disciple and the ministry that had been established. But God's will showed that Jesus had to die on a cross for the salvation of all man, and Jesus made his will one with the Father's.

God does not use His followers in the way we might have Him. Since we know these stories through to completion, we know that all works out well. But if we had been there at the time, or even more, the person God called to do things contrary to our natural abilities, how could we not question Him? God's choices often times make no sense from our understanding. It's in this same regard that we must take up all of the fruit and all of the virtues of the Spirit and live them out.

8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

- 1 Timothy 4:8

We are called to godliness, not in just some areas, but all areas. The book of Proverbs is a book of wisdom, which shows how to live, how to be good. Wisdom encompasses all we are to do, it shows the truths that were created from the beginning, and it brings us to life. When it comes down to it, Wisdom is the chief attribute we should strive toward, because through It we can can understand and work toward the others.

22 "The LORD brought me forth as the first of his works, ^[b] , ^[c]
before his deeds of old;

23 I was appointed ^[d] from eternity,
from the beginning, before the world began.

24 When there were no oceans, I was given birth,
when there were no springs abounding with water;

25 before the mountains were settled in place,
before the hills, I was given birth,

26 before he made the earth or its fields
or any of the dust of the world.

27 I was there when he set the heavens in place,
when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep,

28 when he established the clouds above
and fixed securely the fountains of the deep,

29 when he gave the sea its boundary
so the waters would not overstep his command,
and when he marked out the foundations of the earth.

30 Then I was the craftsman at his side.
I was filled with delight day after day,
rejoicing always in his presence,

31 rejoicing in his whole world
and delighting in mankind.

32 "Now then, my sons, listen to me;
blessed are those who keep my ways.

33 Listen to my instruction and be wise;
do not ignore it.

34 Blessed is the man who listens to me,
watching daily at my doors,
waiting at my doorway.

35 For whoever finds me finds life
and receives favor from the LORD.

36 But whoever fails to find me harms himself;
all who hate me love death."

- Proverbs 8:22-36

We must move away from consciously accepting an unbalanced spiritual life. Once there is a decision to follow Christ, there is automatically a decision to follow the ways of Wisdom. Jesus said he was Life and Wisdom says she is Life, so logically they must be one in the same. A Christian must be seeking, aware, and available. Seeking Truth in every facet of life, being aware enough to notice Truth when it shows itself, and being available within yourself to apply what is revealed to you, changing wherever necessary.

Mr. and Mrs. Always Smiling and Hip Teen Christian could teach each other a lot about following Jesus. Both are correct, and both are not totally correct. Hip Teen Christian needs to learn that there is a difference between being available to people in society and surrounding yourself with corrupting influences. The Always Smiling's need to understand that Christianity isn't a perfect little bubble, but it's a place of getting out there and bringing light to darkness.

Pull Over Christian and Ms. Prayer Warrior could also teach each other much. Pull Over Christian needs to learn sacrifice doesn't just need to be a physical action, but it can be taking time away and caring enough to pray for someone, even when no one is watching. Ms. Prayer Warrior could learn to be imaginative in how she helps others. Exploring new ways where she is capable (whether she realizes it or not) to physically get out there and make a difference in someones life.

Obviously all of these stereotypical individuals can influence the others where they are lacking, but I just showed the most stand-out examples.

We have the Spirit, we have the Bible, and we have each other for a reason. All should be bringing us to a place of greater wisdom: greater spiritual understanding and a more complete living out of godliness. It is by the wisdom of the Bible, the revelation of the Spirit of God, and the testing in life of both that we are able to learn what is good. So let us strive to know good.

Ex-Nun Left Convent For Compassion

I've been really wanting to read some books by Karen Armstrong. Some of her book summaries seemed to address some important ideas about religion that others ignore.

I found a posted video of her speaking at TED.

This talk is very neat and incredibly hard to disagree with. Perhaps the sheep will finally be united into one flock.


Watch this video and leave some comments. Controversial stuff... probably.

Pick Me Up

I found a link to this story in a blog I frequent.

I think it's very relatable, simple, and effective.

Even when we make good cheer, we are not always of good cheer. But there is hope that something true, convicting, and inspiring will lift our spirits in fullness.

Let's not be afraid or hesitant to speak these things to one another, simply because someone is already happy/encouraged/confident. The truth is that they may not be, and your sincere word of truth could make their day.

We Are Still Called To Be Fruitful And Multiply

I can already tell you that this post probably isn't what you think. I'm not going to call birth control evil. I'm not going to tell you that your purpose as a man, or especially a woman, is primarily to continue the species. I'm joking ladies, and I do see an importance in continuing humankind. And believe it or not, this isn't going to be an analogy of how you should be multiplying your finances with the blessing of God. This is something much more Biblically inspired than that.

I was reading Luke. I have been going through the book of Luke with some of the high school kids in my Campus Life group. A few weeks ago we were at the end of chapter 9, and this week we started chapter 10. I was coming home from a trip to Atlanta today, and I figured it was as good a time as any to prepare for the Campus Life meeting this evening. I began to read, "After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others and sent them on ahead of him two by two into every town..." I kind of stopped an pondered. I still had 23 1/2 verses to go, and I was already pondering after the first half of verse one.

I thought to a play that a woman who used to go to my church, Missy, wrote and directed for the children. The name of the play was "Two by Tow." I remember it well because I video taped it and made a DVD of it. The play was a story of Noah and the ark. Two by two. I know that Jesus is very aware of the Old Testament; in fact he probably has it memorized, if he's a good learned Rabbi. Throughout Jesus' teachings he constantly refers to OT scripture, whether directly or just by mimicking a thought or phrase to show connection. Maybe Jesus was connecting the sending of these 72 followers with Noah and the ark. I turned to Genesis 6 to refresh my mind on any nuances of the Noah story... maybe something I could pick out.

17 I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. 18 But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons' wives with you. 19 You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. 20 Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. 21 You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them."

22 Noah did everything just as God commanded him.

Genesis 7

1 The LORD then said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and your whole family, because I have found you righteous in this generation. 2 Take with you seven ^[a] of every kind of clean animal, a male and its mate, and two of every kind of unclean animal, a male and its mate, 3 and also seven of every kind of bird, male and female, to keep their various kinds alive throughout the earth.

- Genesis 6:17- 7:3

I was honestly shocked to find something I didn't remember at all. God calls Noah to bring in seven of every kind of clean animal and two of ever kind of unclean animal. 7 clean, 2 unclean. 7 2. 72! Some may think this is just a weird fluke, but Jews love playing with numbers. I think this is a very justified thing here. Jesus is somehow trying to put what God did with the flood
together with what God is doing now through Jesus' message. What could this message be?

I'm not going to claim to have this in its entirety, since I have been slightly dwelling on it for only about 10 hours now. But here are my thoughts.

Why did God have at least two of a kind come on the ark of every species? In Genesis 6 and 7 you see that the reason for bringing the animals was to keep these animals alive. They are coming to Noah to be kept alive for the duration of the flood. Did these animals choose Noah? No, God chose these animals. Because God chose the animals they went to Noah and were saved with a purpose. The purpose of their salvation was to multiply and restore.

Jesus finds himself with a similar adequate lack, that Noah had. Noah did not have an excess of animals on the ark, but he had enough. In verse 2 of Luke 10, Jesus expresses this, reiterating an idea from the previous chapter. Here, there are many people who are "willing" to follow Jesus and live as he teaches. But throughout these six verses Jesus continually rebukes people who seem willing to follow him. It's because they're saying one thing with their mouth, yet believing something else in their heart. There is a hesitation and they are not fully committed. That is a problem to Jesus. So although it seems like many are called, few are chosen.

But this is ok, because as you can see we have enough rabbits in the world. Species survived. How did they survive? How did they more than survive, but prosper? They multiplied. Jesus is reinventing the flood. God vowed he would never destroy the Earth with a flood again, but what was the initial purpose? This was an "attempt" at renewal. God essentially restarted and gives the same command he gave in the beginning of creation "be fruitful and increase in number." This is God working to make things right again. Despite God eliminating the unrighteous, it did not eliminate unrighteousness. Very shortly after the flood we see Noah behaving badly... I feel like that should be a commercial you see on late night TV, "Noahs Behaving Badly! *Uncensored*" It's funny cause Noah does end up naked and his sons see him, so he really was uncensored.

Unrighteousness is still around, this whole flood thing appears to be a "failed" attempt, notice that's in quotes. God vows that he will never destroy the whole earth or curse the ground again because of man's wickedness. It's kind of like God does it to show that's now how to do it. Sounds barbaric at the cost of so many lives, but very likely necessary for the time.

God still desires for man to follow Him, but also decides that cursing "the ground" because of the evil of man is not the way to go. If God is not giving up on this rescue mission of man's heart, how will he accomplish it? This is where we fast forward 4,000 years or so. Jesus has his 72. Jesus has his pairs, set with the duty to be fruitful and increase. This is a restoring of the Earth, just like God was working toward with Noah and his family. They failed, and in doing so, established something very important. It takes more than killing wicked people to bring about righteousness.

The new Way will not be that of purging people from the planet and physically rebirthing the population in hopes of better success; rather it is a movement to purge the evil out of them and restore humankind through a spiritual awakening (rebirth) one by one. These 72 sent out aren't "makin' babies," they're bringing about spiritual renewal and thus restoration. Man and the world were created good, the restoration is the process of bringing everything back to that good.

Jesus was the good restoration, so we could know what it looked like. Jesus is the white. When white balancing a camera, you need absolute white. The camera looks at the absolute white, and decides it is white. By knowing that white is really white, all colors come out truly represented. If you place the camera in front of a light blue, the camera can decide that is white. When that happens, all the other colors will be seriously flawed. Man has a tendency to white balance to an odd color, believing it is white. It screws up his whole perspective of everything, where the world doesn't make sense; when grass isn't green and the sky isn't blue. Jesus is that white that sets us straight. Through him we can see the world in it's truth and color.

By knowing that truth, we can then go out and make that truth known. We can act according to life in the truth, where actions fit nicely with faith in the Kingdom of God. By living this correct life we inspire truth among others. We preach it whether we're speaking or not. As the truth is lived out, people acknowledge it. We are chosen by God, just as the animals and humans were for Noah. We are chosen in Christ to be saved and then bring salvation through increase in those experiencing this Life.

At times this may seem like a simple truth. Many may take it more as a naive idea. But I would say it's a powerful truth that is simple once your white balance is set. Once you know how God's kingdom functions, you can forget how the world's kingdom functions and stop relying on it. The Truth is finally here, so many wanted it, how can we not take advantage of it. Become like a child and forget what you knew, forget what is "realistic" in the eyes of the world, forget how things "work" in the ways of the world; focus on the Way of Jesus.

21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

22"All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him."

23Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

- Luke 10:21-24

TED Is My New Best Friend

I've started getting into this TED Talks website, where at this conference great people/thinkers/talents from all around the world share a bit of what they've discovered and experienced in life. These range from entertaining acts, to great advances in technology, to challenging how we understand the world, to feeling the beauty around us.

I think these talks are a blessing of perspective that we should take advantage of. These individuals were invited to participate because they have important things to say and present. I have only watched a smalled percentage of these videos so far, but I will post some examples that I found interesting, with some of my thoughts afterward.

Open yourself up to the wonder, call to introspection, joy, anger, and forward thinking found in these words and testimonies.


New Insights on Poverty and Life Around the World - The impossible is possible!

This guy is really neat. Simple but incredibly self-aware and funny. He has a really neat program for comparing countries around the world in various aspects on a chart.

I think the end of the talk where he compares what different levels of income really look like, and where the life someone is living really starts to improve on the financial scale. If nothing else, pay attention to the very end where he talks about the goals and the means. I like how he rates the importance of the goals and the means; it really made me think.

Stop thinking of developing countries are going nowhere, they are often moving more forward than we realize. Look at progress rather than state. When you look at progress and the needs to attain the goal, there is hope for what seems impossible.



The future of the Internet - Interconnecting every picture taken on the web (novice or professional) to map the world.

We are currently using the world wide web at Web 2.0. I imagine that what this man is showing will heavily constitute what web 3.0 or 4.0 is all about. Taking what everyone has given and making it one through intuitive links. Experts have already said that web 3.0 will be concerned with interpreting pictures. In this evolution you will be able to find pictures similar to another one by computers analyzing the actual look of the picture. I see that going hand in hand with what this dude is presenting. Insane! Why Microsoft, why not Apple?



Fantastic Voyage Inside A Cell - Truth meets beauty inside the workers of our body.

This isn't huge on thinking, but it's very awe inspiring. You know, I like this because it's a molding together of the Easter and Western thought process. It takes our search for truth to far depths, but at the same time is doing so in a way that makes you sit back and admire.



Music With Your Whole Body - Making music more about hearing the sound with your ears.

This talk is alright until you realize something. The percussionist woman speaking is almost completely deaf. She speaks of music on another level than many of us realize. It is insightful how she encourages us to listen to what is being played by our whole body, in all of our surroundings, with all of our audience. Getting rid of all the rules and making is something moving and holistic. Anyone can be a part of music when you are putting your whole self into it, imagining it in new every time.

If you aren't a musician you may not appreciate this as much.



A Vital Story From A Photojournalist - Hard photos that tell more truth than any government would care to share.

This is a hard recap of the terrors of history over the past 20 years, documented by word and photograph from one man's account. This moving documentation is hard to watch but also necessary. It stirs up anger that must be used. This is what is happening. The world has a responsibility to take action upon information that cannot be refused.



As you navigate the site and view the videos, please leave comments about any that you found to be exceptionally moving/interesting/entertaining.

MOOOOOOVE Over, I'm Gonna Eat Me Somma 'Dat Crap

"Yum yum yum yum! I love me some fast food!"

If the statement above expresses how you feel, you should very much watch the movie Fast Food Nation. You will say "No I shouldn't, I'm content." Whether or not you want to, doesn't change the fact that you should.

This movie is about the quite literal "crap" that the wealthy food industry promotes to us as delicious food. It might be early in the blog for this, but let me say there is some irony here. This movie intends to expose lies and marketing to the naked eye. At the same time this movie is full of sex that doesn't need to be there. Be it the TV audio of a lesbian sex scene that a character is watching or the few sex scenes (at least one with nudity). I understand that maybe the later scene may have some merit, since it is displaying manipulation of immigrants, but of course the women in those scenes are very attractive. It's using its own form of lies and marketing to sell a movie to expose different lies and marketing. Ugh.

I won't spoil the whole movie, but this film addresses corporate fat-cat corruption, the governments imposition oh private property, treatment of illegal immigrants, quality of our food, and misguided rationalizing of why these wrongs must be done.

This is not a documentary. It is a movie. But the theme and content of the movie is designed to be an echo of reality, just with fictional characters and companies. I would compare it to Blood Diamond in that regard (I highly recommend that movie as well).

I really like the way the present that the problem isn't just with us eating crap-filled, low-grade, fake food; but rather it is in the deterioration of our way of living by the overcrowding of "convenience" and corporations, rather than simplicity and humility. That is what separates this film from one like Supersize Me. Supersize Me warns consumers of the harm that may come to us, privately, from eating fast food. Fast Food Nation warns people of the harm that may come to us, collectively, by feeding into the machine. It is not just personal, but systemic outcome.

Maybe this analysis has turned you off from the movie. I do believe that this is what it was going for, but if you want to watch it just for a few of the aspects, you will still get something out of it.

And people think I'm crazy for not eating meat.

Bless Our Food

I wonder how many people say grace before they eat. When I think about "saying grace" I turn into an 11 year old again and feel like getting everyone to bow their head and just yell out "GRACE" and start chowing down like in Hook.

Then I think of Ben Stiller praying lyrics from Jesus Christ Superstar at the dinner table in Meet the Parents. I guess it's sad that these are the first things that come to mind when I think of saying grace. I'm such a child of the media.

But seriously, praying before our meal, saying grace, blessing the food... what's it all about?

I would say there are two things that are common to nearly every saying of "grace." The first is the thanking of God for provision, and the second is asking God to bless the food.

I certainly have no issue whatsoever with thanking God for provision. I think that is key to life, and that at a meal is the perfect time to remind yourself of God's provision. But asking God to bless the food is something that is curious to me. Take a moment and think about what it means for God to bless your food.

Does asking God's blessing on it make it more healthy for you? Does it kill germs, viruses, etc. on the food? Does it help digestion? Is it a new miracle weight loss scheme (Prayed Before Weighed)? Does it somehow make you more holy for eating prayed over food? Is this a ceremonial cleansing of the food like in the Old Testament? Bless this food...

Does calling down a blessing make something blessed? For something to be blessed is for God to be interwoven with it. The word blessed in hebrew (barak) means to get down and kneel. For God to bless us, Creation, the things we partake of, the good; is for God to come down to be with what is going on and show his favor. Blessing doesn't happen because we ask of it. Things that are worthy of God coming down to join are inherently blessed. Just like when Jesus gives an anthem of what blessing can look like in the beatitudes. These are things that God says are worthy of His attention, they are things he wants to be connected with, they are blessed.

The blessing of a meal can mean a lot of things, but it also begs a lot of questions.

I think you can break the blessing into three categories: God, others, creation. And all of these should be lumped under the heading of respect.

God: As I said, praying a prayer of thanks is one of the most common and universal aspects of the mealtime prayer. We are able to lay ourselves before our maker and give thanks; however, thanks cannot be given throughout our day without our acknowledgment of God's hand consistently being in our lives. Prayer is a time where we regroup. We realize that we have been preoccupied and not fully aware of God throughout our day. After acknowledging this we slow down and refocus and allow ourselves to be awed at the realization that God at that moment is kneeling with our humility before Him. Then we can give thanks and pursue a life of continual thanks.

Others: It is sad for me to think of how many meals I have eaten alone. It's even sadder to think that I sometimes eat meals alone by choice instead of joining others. Just as this is a time to regroup in thanks and appreciation to God and awareness of his presence, it's also a time to look at what matters in life. It's time to join with friends, enemies, or the other to bond; to share over a meal. It's a time of openness with nothing else pressing on us to get done, it is a sacred time. It's a time to show love and caring for others where there is no work to be done, so it's sincere. You can enter into another's life for that time and then carry that conversation with you for the rest of the day, keeping in your heart the joys and the woes of another. It's connectedness, and I believe God called that good and he would kneel with us in that.

Creation: A meal is unique in that we ingest food. We ingest creation, and it sustains us. We rely upon what God has created and given us authority over. We were made to be the Earth's caretakers, but we often get preoccupied with being society's caretakers. Sitting down to take creation, hold it in our hands and then join it to ourselves is a heavy illustration of how we need to be connected with the Earth. You take that plant full of nutrients from the ground; you take that meat that was once an animal with life who fed on plants, drank water from a stream, grew healthy in the warmth of the sun, and enjoyed the landscape God provided for it. You connect with these things if you allow yourself, and you realize something greater; something that ties together complexity, harmony, and love. And man coming in contact with his calling at every meal is something that I believe would bring God to recline at the table with him.

As I said there are questions that come and must be asked through the eyes of blessing.

Am I living blessing in this meal? Is anything about this meal keeping God away from it?

Am I not trusting God? Have I been too busy to revere his majesty during my day? Have I thought the world was all about me at times, and not kept God at the center of all? Do I show thanks for what I have by sharing it with others, so that they may have some of God's provision also? Am I able to accept from others and see it as from God? Am I aware that He is here, and that this ground is holy ground?

Am I ok with everyone around me? Am I interested in what they have to say or am I just waiting for my next chance to talk? Am I annoyed with them? Do I despise them? Is there anyone I really hope would not sit with me at the meal? Is there anyone who if they sat next to me, I would be conflicted by knowing I have not done my best to respect them. If the 11 year old sweat shop worker for the manufacturer where I get most of my clothes sat by me for lunch, what would I say? Do I have wrongs to right with people I know or don't know? Do I even care about these wrongs? What steps can I take to make this a blessed meal for all to join with me and not just some. What steps can I take to allow God ,Himself, to join this meal with me?

Am I aware of where my food came from? Do I understand the process that got it here? Have I ever been connected with the soil? Have I ever marveled at a seed and respected it's ambition to spring forth abundant life from nearly nothing? Do I care about the quality of the plants? Do I care about artificial substances that weaken the plants and steal their honor to make my life more practical and easy? Do I appreciate vegetation the way I should by making sure species do not go extinct? Am I aiding in the pollution that is poisoning creation? Do I know where my eggs came from? Do I know the practices and treatment of the birds from which the eggs come? Is it respectful to the animal or is it the equivalent of a Nazi concentration camp for animals? How are the animals I ingest cared for? Are they really cared for, or are they given meaningless lives where they will not experience creation, only a man made cage, and then be slaughtered at the earliest age possible? Am I contributing to this by my food choices? Is God here with me in these decision? Is he here with me in my selfish, apathetic ignorance to creation?

These are things I am starting to realize I need to ask. Blessing isn't whatever I want it to be or whatever is easiest for me... it's what is right. Justice and righteousness are the same word in Hebrew. The word conveys a right way of living that moves out and makes the world right. Blessing isn't just contingent on me being a nice person and acknowledging that God is good for giving me this food, its judgment is that I must make sure everything surrounding this meal is as right and sacred as possible. The more sacred and righteous it is the more apt God is to kneel with me at the meal and bless what the meal is and what it's doing in me and in the world.

Bless this meal.

Amen.

Evangelicals, Wake Up For The Election

:::I started this back in mid January and finished it today:::

Well, we’re almost two weeks into 2008, which means we are nearly two weeks into an election year. I must say that a year ago I was largely apathetic to the notion of choosing a new president, but I must say I now have the bug. I see this year as an opportunity for change in the U.S., or we may just maintain the same course we’ve been on for a while. New times mean new issues. New issues are ways of showing the deficiencies in our prior decisions/laws/declarations.

Everyone has the answer though. Every single presidential candidate has their own solution for the problems at hand, and all the future problems to come. This is certainly hailing as the election for change. I would say there is much desire for change coming from the Democratic party, which makes sense since they haven’t been running things for eight years. There is also a fair amount of talk for change coming from the Republicans, although on a much smaller level. As much as a party desires to uphold their own, there are certain consequences from G.W.’s administration that can’t be overlooked (although most of these decisions are not all from George, but have been handed down from president to president, sometimes in a snowballing effect). The Democrats certainly point the finger at George a lot, while the Republicans do their best to point the finger at Clinton wherever possible.

I wonder how important the Evangelicals will be perceived in the upcoming election, since they were widely credited as a (or the) major support in getting Bush elected for a second term. Are they still a driving force in our country? What do they look for in the President? What contributes to their common ideals? What are those common ideals? If Eric Clapton shot the Sheriff, who shot the deputy?

I found a website detailing what the “Evangelicals” in general are looking at as key issues, and answers to those issues.

http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=51686

Here’s a brief summary…

The Candidate must be:

- A social/fiscal conservative

- Strongly opposed to abortion

- Strongly opposed to same-sex marriage

- Adamant about religious freedom

- Desiring to unite the government and private sectors

- Desiring to unite government and religious institutions (Christian, Jewish, Muslim? I wonder what Evangelicals mean by that.)

- Very strongly supporting the war on terror, both at home and abroad in countries like Iraq

- See the terrorist enemy as inhuman killers and incapable of rationality or being appeased civilly

- Immigration

o Close border with a $10 Billion fence

o Stricter laws for getting into the country/kick out illegals

- Use our country’s own oil

o “But a handful of environmental alarmists have convinced many lawmakers to pretend the oil is not there. I want to preserve the beauty of our nation as much as anyone, but I also think we need to utilize our God-given resources and thus liberate the U.S. from dependence on many nations who hate us”

Okay, let’s break this down. Since the most inherently unifying commonality of Evangelicals is Jesus, let’s get him in the mix.

I’m going to skip the first one for the time being.

Opposition to abortion and homosexuality is key to the followers of Jesus. To my understanding Jesus never directly addresses the issue of homosexuality. It doesn’t mean he’s in support of it, but it must not have been at the top of his priority list. I have some of my own thoughts on it, but that’s pretty irrelevant here. Other followers of Jesus have commented on homosexuality, just as many of his followers today have, but Jesus never mentioned it.

Abortion, by the definition could be considered murder. I know the word “could” in there might make people angry, saying “IT DEFINITELY IS!” The definition speaks of killing another person with malice aforethought, characterized by premeditation. Abortion is probably usually done without malice toward the child, but in the view of the one(s) making the choice, merely a sense of grace upon the child who would have an unfair life due to the parental situation. Often times it’s done from selfishness, where it isn’t convenient. And I’m sure sometimes it’s done with little to no thought. So the potential good-will or the supposed mercy of the abortion could negate it by definition as “murder.” I would go as far to say that many mothers know that what they’re doing is wrong, but consider it a necessary evil.

This takes me to the war on terror. Abortion is often justified by saying the fertilized egg is just a clump of cells and not a real human or child yet; an argument that evangelicals traditionally disagree with. How is it that Evangelicals could support the killing of full-grown, completely developed humans? Sure one could say that it is in the desire for safety and security that we must commit less than desired acts on others. But isn’t this similar to the necessary evil that a mother might take into consideration in order to secure her economic/education safety and security to help her ensure a better future for herself and the possibility to raise other future children in a more proper, less dysfunctional home? I don’t think it’s much different, and I don’t think either is justifiable by humanity (especially Evangelicals).

I do believe it was Jesus who said “he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.” Maybe today we could put it, “he who lives by the easy way out that disregards others, dies by the easy way out that disregards others.” We have undeniably made enemies out of terrorists. Didn’t Jesus say to love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you. Didn’t Jesus make a huge stand and a huge impact by being at peace with those killing him, even forgiving them? Didn’t Jesus end up fine in the end, despite his lowly, humble position when faced with Roman injustice? I thought the Evangelicals were the ones who followed Jesus’ teachings. Why are they some of the greatest advocates of war, and then hypocritically against abortion? They are for the life of unborn children and opposed to the life of adults who have different belief systems.

Love could go a long way in this “war.” Considering a major cause of the hatred of America by Islamic fundamentalists is our progressive economic and dominating military imposition on the more traditional ideals of their own territory. Love and respect would go a long way… as well as perhaps learning lessons on how to live from their culture.

Religious freedom is the reason this country was formed. We certainly uphold this ideal to a point of near idolic worship. In our 21st century billboard infested culture advertisement rules. Sometimes advertisement might become a bigger concern than even quality control. We're all about winning... winning equals fame, pride, superiority, power, money, and probably some others. Religious freedom has become the right for me to advertise my belief system. It's not about what I practice, it's about what I believe in.
This goes right along with the evangelical desire to unite government and religious institutions. It's all about how much clout I can gain for Jesus. Christians have no desire for the Hindu religious affiliations or the mosque-run organizations to be holding hands with the United States government. After all, we're a CHRISTIAN nation!
I would agree that when our nation's first ancestors took their first few steps off the Mayflower they had trouble walking straight after being on a ship for a few months. But after that I think they had the intention for a theocratic society of sorts. Run differently than in England, but surely a nation of people like them. The problem is that it didn't work all that great, although we did survive... there were those darn witch trials though; the spawn of a theocratic society.
A while later this was all remembered, as well as how things were in England, and also the consideration of known history. The Constitution was not written for a theocracy, it was written for a democracy. If we're a Christian nation, we run the risk of deeming anyone who is not Christian as an evil threat to our society. If we are a nation that is filled largely with Christians, well that should be very different. It allows us to set up laws based on Christian morals one might say, another might say Natural Law that is common knowledge to all (or most) of humanity.
As long as a religious institution is conducting itself by means of this Natural Law it should not be judged any differently than another organization, Christian or not. We are not a Christian bully nation. We are not a Christian favoritism nation. We should not be a huge billboard for Christianity. But we should allow all people and groups abiding by the laws to represent themselves on their own, perhaps partnered with the government, but not specially endorsed by it.
Another issue is the illegal immigration. Who is our biggest culprit here? If I have read things correctly I believe it is Switzerland. Do you believe that? Why not? What about Canada? Who do you think the country with the most illegal immigrants in the U.S. is?
I should look this up, although I'm not, but I'd say it's probably Mexico. Why would Mexicans as opposed to the Swiss or Canadians by trying to sneak in? Because it's freakin' hot down there! Ok, not really. Probably because it's poor down there. Bad health care, bad living conditions, bad gas from all the burritos. So our idea to keep those people who are unfortunate away from our great stuff that is ours and not theirs is to build a 10 billion dollar fence.

Alright, I'm probably an idiot, but how about this. What if we put 10 billion dollars into their economy. What if we gave loans to their people to start business, to initiate trade, to better conditions, to promote better health care into the country? Will it solve everything? No, but it'll help. It should at least keep most of them occupied so they don't feel the need to come to the U.S.

Also, for all you Jesus lovers, I think Jesus told a story about a poor beggar that was outside this rich man's house. The rich man had walls separating him from the poor man, but when they died things reversed. The rich man tried to keep his superiority and authority over the poor, but it was no longer there. Maybe someday Mexico will rise up and become a power. How will we be treated by them? How are we treating them? Is this impossible? Was it impossible for China not too long ago? The Bible talks many times about allowing foreigners into your land. I do see an economic problem with that, and even some overcrowding. My solution is to reach out and make their land inhabitable for them, then we can live in peace. I kind of think Jesus would have liked that. He tends to support interaction between the rich and poor, where they both share what they have.

It's also kind of funny that these Evangelicals who are very conservative want the GOVERNMENT to build the 10 billion dollar wall. Why not have the states effected raise money for that. The immigration problem isn't in Nevada so much, ya know? But I'm against the wall anyway.

I think Evangelical conservatives can do so much to lessen government control. Just like the whole wall senario... they can share. The government just distributes money, with some corruption and improper spending mixed in there too. We wouldn't need them for many things if we'd seek out those in need and share. Welfare, health care, social security, unemployment, education, etc etc etc. These are things we can share. If someone can't afford a necessity and you are planning a nice vacation, give. If you're in a medical profession and someone needs looked at or treatment, give. If someone is without a job and you know of one or can create a job for them, give. Better yet teach them a trade so they can get a job. We're all about disconnected higher education, with its standards and tests; but we've lost the personal training found in an apprenticeship. We're spending thousands and thousands of dollars on an education you can learn from a mentor for free. Or how about this. Instead of both the mother and father in a family having a job, just let the mother get one, and the father can stay at home and cook/clean. That way more people can get jobs, instead of having them taken up by families who don't need the money, but just get bored at home all day. That's conservative. Think big, think different. In Acts 2 no one had any needs cause they shared. They sold their possessions to make sure no one was without.

And finally, oil. We are fools. We trick ourselves into thinking we're being ecologically friendly by getting the car that gets 35mpg, but we forget that we haven't walked anywhere in 3 years and that we have 3 cars for our 4 person family. It's overabundance that is draining our earth of resources and filling it with pollution. Oil wouldn't be such an issue if we hadn't sucked up over half of the worlds energy for our %5 of its population. Sure we need to get cleaner and more renewable energy, but we also need to stop producing so much. I don't care how recyclable a car is, if you make billions of them, you will have waste and pollution. Americans believe we deserve it because we're so strong, but we're wrong. Evangelicals, you guys are building 7, 10, 20 million dollar facilities. Could you build with less and save the Earth some? Maybe God wouldn't mind your house for him not looking as lavish in exchange for his tabernacle of the Earth not being dilapidated.

I know this is long, and congrats if you made it this far. I don't mean to be a downer, but I just want to expose hypocrisy along with what doesn't make sense. I believe in the words of Jesus, although I get much criticism for what I say, even (especially) from Christians. I find they tend to have trouble seeing the big picture, being creative, and having hope toward new ways of living, God's ways of living. Just like the prophets who seemed to have bad news, I am presenting our woes. It's the opportunity to repent and find joy in repentance.