The more I learn about people...the more sad I become.
Are there no happy endings? How much longer can any of this go on before it all ultimately just collapses?
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Movies
Movies I Need to See Again Soon:
-Lost in Translation
-Hoodwinked
-Over the Hedge
-The Stand
-Blade Runner
-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
-Kill Bill
-Groundhog Day
-V for Vendetta
-Little Miss Sunshine
Movies I Need to Just See:
-Inglorious Bastards
-The Shawshank Redemption
-The Prestige
-Quantum of Solace
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Burton
Movies I Need to See That I Am Ashamed to Say I Forgot to List the First Time:
-Labyrinth
-Pulp Fiction (12 times is never enough)
-Lost in Translation
-Hoodwinked
-Over the Hedge
-The Stand
-Blade Runner
-Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
-Kill Bill
-Groundhog Day
-V for Vendetta
-Little Miss Sunshine
Movies I Need to Just See:
-Inglorious Bastards
-The Shawshank Redemption
-The Prestige
-Quantum of Solace
-The Curious Case of Benjamin Burton
Movies I Need to See That I Am Ashamed to Say I Forgot to List the First Time:
-Labyrinth
-Pulp Fiction (12 times is never enough)
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
On Fruit
I had a particular friend ask a question concerning Genesis 3 and if there was an apple mentioned and if so why an apple. The following was a response to that:
Genesis 3:1-10
"The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid..." "
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Here is the Hebrew word used for fruit in those passages:
pĕriy
possible translations:
1) fruit
a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
At no point does the Bible say anything about an apple. For those thinking of an apple (about 97% of the Western population) are thinking of Paradise Lost...which according to my favorite English professor, Dr.Cole from college, was the second most popular book in the South during the Civil War (the first being the Bible).
** ** ** ** **
That said I feel the need to bring up one of my general rules of theology:
Please, please, please do not under any circumstances get your theology based off of a popular novel, a movie you see or from reading what I write. Do your own research and find the Truth, it is out there waiting so get to work already!
I digress.
** ** ** ** **
For a Western audience an Apple is a good symbol, fruit of knowledge and whatnot,but the apple didn't have the same meaning to a Hebrew audience.
This article tidbit explains a bit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple#Christianity
Rabbi's have speculated that it was possibly a (wait for it) pomegranate..but that is just Midrash and speculation. But ultimately no fruit is actually named.
Was it a literal fruit?
Possibly.
In the same sense that the first few chapters of Genesis could be literal historical fact, simply a creation myth Moses recorded or a mixture of the two.
Ultimately it doesn't matter which is true because the story itself is the point.
The point of the story is that Eve knew God in a literal sense that we can only fumble at. We Christians have a connection because of the Holy Spirit and we can feel God...but she could be hugged by God and told how beautiful she was. She had literal access to the physical presence of God (ie. think possibly Jesus, these Old Testament appearances of Him were called theophanies...a lot of the time the term 'Angel of the Lord' is used and commonly thought by Christian Biblical scholars as being appearances of the pre-incarnate Jesus) and this deep intimate love is something we can only paw at.
I think this is part where the oft used title of calling God Father has some deeper implications. The term "Personal relationship" with God is thrown around as a colloquial term so often that I don't even know what it means anymore.
I like to think that Christianity is not about trying to be so good that you get some sort of tacky and stupid gold plated mansion in heaven that belongs better on MTV's Cribs. If that is heaven I want nothing to do with it. This world sucks and the last thing I want to do is have a part two that will go on forever.
As far as I can gather heaven has nothing to do with our material greed and everything to do with being passionately in Love. My idea of heaven isn't me walking on streets of gold as much as it is me spending an absurd amount of time hugging God.
But...what about now?
This whole reason I can't hug God is because of a separation, because of THIS separation. Forgive the unintentional pun but this passage is the genesis of that sin, that root reason why this world is in so much disorder and why we have separation from each other and God.
The only thing Eve and Adam had to do was avoid doing something. I do not think it was a test because I do not think God gives us tests, He gives us choices and it is up to use to decide what to do with it.
He gives us choices and with those choices come questions:
Who do we love more?
Whose judgment do we trust?
Is it possible for this mess of a life to be made into something beautiful?
Lucifer makes an appearance in this. He can take on the appearance of an angel of light when he wants to but he took on the form of a snake and talked to Eve. This is strange, she didn't bat an eye at the thought of reptile talking to her. Did other animals in the Garden of Eden talk? Or is this just another image?
Regardless of how this scene may or may not have played out, I do believe in a literal Satan/devil/Lucifer and that he has a host of fallen angels (demons) who do his work. I would really recommend everyone to read 'The Screwtape Letter' if you haven't...CS Lewis puts this whole Lucifer thing in proper perspective, that he is more than a red devil in horns with a pitchfork but a twisted and demented egomaniac being who called himself the star of the morning and who decided he would no longer kneel before God.
Which this arrogance, this pride is a running theme in this passage.
Lucifer did help push Eve and Adam to eating the fruit...but ultimately all three has this relationship to God we can't imagine. It feels like I'm just fooling around in the dark hoping that I'll bump into God and all three of them were there with God.
Literally there with God.
Throw a rock and hit God close.
What does this say about our natures?
It is a terrifying prospect.
If beings created as perfect can't stand God...where do we stand?
Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, those who partook in the Rwanda genocide, Lord Voldemort...they were babies once. They grew up and then did horrible, terrible things. Sure part of was an environmental influence, humans are naturally selfish (anyone who doesn't think so should work in a daycare for a few months) and it takes something special for people to get to the point where human lives are meaningless...but it IS possible.
The taking of another human life is so profane...so against the order of things that it destroys a person until they either go crazy and kill themselves or they start to kill so much that they no longer have feeling. The 'lucky' ones I have met (war veterans among others) either drink heavily or barely hold onto their sanity because of how horrible it is.
One of the best mentors I ever had was a platoon commander in Vietnam. He only talked about his experince in Vietnam once and that was more than enough. It was like he was in another realm and although he barely spoke the look of horror on his face...it is something I can never forget.
And what does this mean?
Even those with good intentions can't hide from the twisting that sin does to their soul. This isn't about a moralistic crusade as much as it is realizing where we stand in our broken lives.
Is this it?
Is this all there is?
We live on this burned out hunk or rock and then what?
Humans have unlimited potential but we are limited by ourselves. By the darkness that is in our hearts. I feel the point of this world sometimes isn't a social experiment or big chess game but for us to see who we really are and realize we can't make it on our own...we need each other and we need Jesus.
If you want to read a better take on all this by someone who actually knows what he is talking about then please go pick up "Sex God" by Rob Bell. He doesn't swear like Anne Lamott but he knows how to pull a lot of ideas together and makes many good points concerning Jesus, personal identity and sexuality.
http://www.amazon.com/Sex-God-Exploring-Connections-Spirituality/dp/0310280672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250744230&sr=8-1
Genesis 3:1-10
"The serpent was clever, more clever than any wild animal God had made. He spoke to the Woman: "Do I understand that God told you not to eat from any tree in the garden?"
The Woman said to the serpent, "Not at all. We can eat from the trees in the garden. It's only about the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, 'Don't eat from it; don't even touch it or you'll die.'"
The serpent told the Woman, "You won't die. God knows that the moment you eat from that tree, you'll see what's really going on. You'll be just like God, knowing everything, ranging all the way from good to evil."
When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.
Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.
When they heard the sound of God strolling in the garden in the evening breeze, the Man and his Wife hid in the trees of the garden, hid from God.
God called to the Man: "Where are you?"
He said, "I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. And I hid..." "
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Here is the Hebrew word used for fruit in those passages:
pĕriy
possible translations:
1) fruit
a) fruit, produce (of the ground)
b) fruit, offspring, children, progeny (of the womb)
c) fruit (of actions) (fig.)
At no point does the Bible say anything about an apple. For those thinking of an apple (about 97% of the Western population) are thinking of Paradise Lost...which according to my favorite English professor, Dr.Cole from college, was the second most popular book in the South during the Civil War (the first being the Bible).
** ** ** ** **
That said I feel the need to bring up one of my general rules of theology:
Please, please, please do not under any circumstances get your theology based off of a popular novel, a movie you see or from reading what I write. Do your own research and find the Truth, it is out there waiting so get to work already!
I digress.
** ** ** ** **
For a Western audience an Apple is a good symbol, fruit of knowledge and whatnot,but the apple didn't have the same meaning to a Hebrew audience.
This article tidbit explains a bit:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apple#Christianity
Rabbi's have speculated that it was possibly a (wait for it) pomegranate..but that is just Midrash and speculation. But ultimately no fruit is actually named.
Was it a literal fruit?
Possibly.
In the same sense that the first few chapters of Genesis could be literal historical fact, simply a creation myth Moses recorded or a mixture of the two.
Ultimately it doesn't matter which is true because the story itself is the point.
The point of the story is that Eve knew God in a literal sense that we can only fumble at. We Christians have a connection because of the Holy Spirit and we can feel God...but she could be hugged by God and told how beautiful she was. She had literal access to the physical presence of God (ie. think possibly Jesus, these Old Testament appearances of Him were called theophanies...a lot of the time the term 'Angel of the Lord' is used and commonly thought by Christian Biblical scholars as being appearances of the pre-incarnate Jesus) and this deep intimate love is something we can only paw at.
I think this is part where the oft used title of calling God Father has some deeper implications. The term "Personal relationship" with God is thrown around as a colloquial term so often that I don't even know what it means anymore.
I like to think that Christianity is not about trying to be so good that you get some sort of tacky and stupid gold plated mansion in heaven that belongs better on MTV's Cribs. If that is heaven I want nothing to do with it. This world sucks and the last thing I want to do is have a part two that will go on forever.
As far as I can gather heaven has nothing to do with our material greed and everything to do with being passionately in Love. My idea of heaven isn't me walking on streets of gold as much as it is me spending an absurd amount of time hugging God.
But...what about now?
This whole reason I can't hug God is because of a separation, because of THIS separation. Forgive the unintentional pun but this passage is the genesis of that sin, that root reason why this world is in so much disorder and why we have separation from each other and God.
The only thing Eve and Adam had to do was avoid doing something. I do not think it was a test because I do not think God gives us tests, He gives us choices and it is up to use to decide what to do with it.
He gives us choices and with those choices come questions:
Who do we love more?
Whose judgment do we trust?
Is it possible for this mess of a life to be made into something beautiful?
Lucifer makes an appearance in this. He can take on the appearance of an angel of light when he wants to but he took on the form of a snake and talked to Eve. This is strange, she didn't bat an eye at the thought of reptile talking to her. Did other animals in the Garden of Eden talk? Or is this just another image?
Regardless of how this scene may or may not have played out, I do believe in a literal Satan/devil/Lucifer and that he has a host of fallen angels (demons) who do his work. I would really recommend everyone to read 'The Screwtape Letter' if you haven't...CS Lewis puts this whole Lucifer thing in proper perspective, that he is more than a red devil in horns with a pitchfork but a twisted and demented egomaniac being who called himself the star of the morning and who decided he would no longer kneel before God.
Which this arrogance, this pride is a running theme in this passage.
Lucifer did help push Eve and Adam to eating the fruit...but ultimately all three has this relationship to God we can't imagine. It feels like I'm just fooling around in the dark hoping that I'll bump into God and all three of them were there with God.
Literally there with God.
Throw a rock and hit God close.
What does this say about our natures?
It is a terrifying prospect.
If beings created as perfect can't stand God...where do we stand?
Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, those who partook in the Rwanda genocide, Lord Voldemort...they were babies once. They grew up and then did horrible, terrible things. Sure part of was an environmental influence, humans are naturally selfish (anyone who doesn't think so should work in a daycare for a few months) and it takes something special for people to get to the point where human lives are meaningless...but it IS possible.
The taking of another human life is so profane...so against the order of things that it destroys a person until they either go crazy and kill themselves or they start to kill so much that they no longer have feeling. The 'lucky' ones I have met (war veterans among others) either drink heavily or barely hold onto their sanity because of how horrible it is.
One of the best mentors I ever had was a platoon commander in Vietnam. He only talked about his experince in Vietnam once and that was more than enough. It was like he was in another realm and although he barely spoke the look of horror on his face...it is something I can never forget.
And what does this mean?
Even those with good intentions can't hide from the twisting that sin does to their soul. This isn't about a moralistic crusade as much as it is realizing where we stand in our broken lives.
Is this it?
Is this all there is?
We live on this burned out hunk or rock and then what?
Humans have unlimited potential but we are limited by ourselves. By the darkness that is in our hearts. I feel the point of this world sometimes isn't a social experiment or big chess game but for us to see who we really are and realize we can't make it on our own...we need each other and we need Jesus.
If you want to read a better take on all this by someone who actually knows what he is talking about then please go pick up "Sex God" by Rob Bell. He doesn't swear like Anne Lamott but he knows how to pull a lot of ideas together and makes many good points concerning Jesus, personal identity and sexuality.
http://www.amazon.com/Sex-God-Exploring-Connections-Spirituality/dp/0310280672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250744230&sr=8-1
Midnight Music With Dance
It's not an issue of age...it's an issue of the feelings of being rocked and buffeted by time. The times of sand swirling around my feet and making a picture perfect reflection of everything I miss and regret.
It is something special...to know when you are lost.
I can't pretend to be something I'm not.
Things are falling in place...becoming something else.
The night is dark, the lights are dimmed.
It's just the two of us here and whoever else that is looking in.
Is this infinite really here and out there?
Did You speak and allow the rose of love to flourish and blossom?
I hate being in this darkness...could You move closer?
I feel the music moving through me...seconds ticking past.
The sands moving faster in rhythm.
I don't care about music or writing right now.
All of this is dying.
Like a tooth ache they just make me long to forget.
Would it be possible to live apart from my ego?
Wrap Your hand around my heart,
keep it warm.
Keep the blood pumping
just so I can feel.
The night is late
but I'm not ready to depart.
I'm not praying to transform
but to sooth this aching
that I might heal.
And maybe to lessen how great
this divide is between us.
It is impossible to run from everything
but hope yet lives.
It is something special...to know when you are lost.
I can't pretend to be something I'm not.
Things are falling in place...becoming something else.
The night is dark, the lights are dimmed.
It's just the two of us here and whoever else that is looking in.
Is this infinite really here and out there?
Did You speak and allow the rose of love to flourish and blossom?
I hate being in this darkness...could You move closer?
I feel the music moving through me...seconds ticking past.
The sands moving faster in rhythm.
I don't care about music or writing right now.
All of this is dying.
Like a tooth ache they just make me long to forget.
Would it be possible to live apart from my ego?
Wrap Your hand around my heart,
keep it warm.
Keep the blood pumping
just so I can feel.
The night is late
but I'm not ready to depart.
I'm not praying to transform
but to sooth this aching
that I might heal.
And maybe to lessen how great
this divide is between us.
It is impossible to run from everything
but hope yet lives.
C.S. Lewis quote
I keep trying the source of this quote but I simply have had no luck.
Drat.
"Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink, sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Drat.
"Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink, sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased."
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Northland Church notes 8-9-09
"I Don't Believe in Christ Because of Christians"
...waiting for the music to end and the sermon to start...the topic by itself sounds like something that has freaking bothered me for almost a decade. Using people as an excuse has always seemed incredibly lame to me...but seeing and feeling the hypocrisy on a personal level (I don't even want to look at the mirror right now)...the fact that the Church hasn't fallen apart and that people continue to have changed lives to me is EVIDENCE that there is something more than a community wide self delusion.
Truth is a living, vivid and powerful force that is not subjective to time and human interference...of course the conveying of that Truth can be marred by miscommunication...but that Truth is You...that Truth exists an actual Being...like in John chapter one where it talked about the Word...which is Jesus bu in Greek the word for Word is Logos...truth...this being...this absolute.
This beautiful horror of an absolute unbreakable love that transcends our mistakes and our evil.
...
Matthew 23:13, 25:10
Genesis 4:7
Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
Matthew 7:5, 21-24
1 Peter 2:1
Galatians 2:20
Matthew 12:48, 50
The point of carrying the gospel is because earth is supposed to be more like heaven.
Few people rationally think out their beliefs to the point of why they do or do not believe in a doctrine...and question. It's base instinct that drives and make people decide what is 'true' or 'false'.
They do not read the scripture or pray before making a decision...their first 'Bible' is the Christians they see.
Matthew 23:13
-The only period where Jesus has a sustained anger is in dealing with hypocritical religious leaders who suppressed people pushing them from God.
People do not always come out and say it but they are looking...saying you are a Christian, much less minister, is opening a world of critique and criticism.
Our life is not about us...it is about others. It is possible to literal shut people off from the Kingdom just because of our lives.
-literal definition of the word hypocrite (used by Jesus) in the Greek is 'actor' someone performing on a stage for money...
-'shut off' also used in Matthew 25 in the parable and the ones trapped outside.
-There are those with an interest and desire to find Him but the hypocrisy can push others outside.
Hypocrisy is NOT:
-The fact we have many identities, we have competing identities for different circumstances. Not necessarily in trying to put in on an act.
-The self control of our feelings. Holding back and not being rude...not saying everything one is thinking. It is wise and prudent to exercise self control over thoughts and what is said..."being a better self". Choosing a wiser way to communicate.
-When you refuse to live other people's definition of Christianity.
Hypocrisy is:
-Demanding of others the life you, yourself will not live.
-Trying to look religious when you are not trying to become the person you are trying to look at.
Genesis 4:7 Abel and Cain
-What we give to God isn't supposed to be bribes or payoffs...we give because we love God. He owns everything and doesn't need us...it's like a child being given money to buy a gift for a parent...it's done out of love...wanting to make Him happy.
-Abel offered his sacrifice our of faith and love, which God accepted. Cain's offering was rejected because it wasn't done out of faith and love. Cain was seeking approval, not seeking to honor God.
-All God was asking for was Cain's heart...his love...Cain's reaction was the murder of Abel.
Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
-Do not act, pray or give like hypocrites.
Central questions:
Who are you living for?
Whose approval are you living for?
-God doesn't view like people do...he doesn't judge on the outward appearances.
-When we understand what hypocrisy is do we know the results?
Hypocrisy robs us of intimacy with God and people. We were born to love and be loved and having a secret life prevents us from loving. To be loved genuinely you have to let people know you. By definition hypocrites can not be loved by God or people.
-It is more than just good teaching on Sunday but how we learn from others during the week. Kids learn from what we say but they will become how you live.
-We can choose who we are going to become. When we accept Christ it is no longer us who live but Christ...are we going to live this new identity?
-We have the power to be the people we are supposed to be...with children and with marriages...but will we use it?
Matthew 7:5, 21-24
-We have to take a look at our lives...decide what has to go if we REALLY want the real life we were meant for. What has to be cut out? Removed?
1 Peter 2:1
-These things aren't who we are...things we can loose.
It is possible to live a life where people can follow us and see Christ...
-Working to repent from sin isn't hypocrisy...it is who we are. It's only when we try to adjust our life to the sin and hide that...it becomes hypocrisy.
Matthew 12:50
He loves us for who we are and will not let us stay the way we are.
Community helps.
It's not enough to believe without becoming.
...waiting for the music to end and the sermon to start...the topic by itself sounds like something that has freaking bothered me for almost a decade. Using people as an excuse has always seemed incredibly lame to me...but seeing and feeling the hypocrisy on a personal level (I don't even want to look at the mirror right now)...the fact that the Church hasn't fallen apart and that people continue to have changed lives to me is EVIDENCE that there is something more than a community wide self delusion.
Truth is a living, vivid and powerful force that is not subjective to time and human interference...of course the conveying of that Truth can be marred by miscommunication...but that Truth is You...that Truth exists an actual Being...like in John chapter one where it talked about the Word...which is Jesus bu in Greek the word for Word is Logos...truth...this being...this absolute.
This beautiful horror of an absolute unbreakable love that transcends our mistakes and our evil.
...
Matthew 23:13, 25:10
Genesis 4:7
Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
Matthew 7:5, 21-24
1 Peter 2:1
Galatians 2:20
Matthew 12:48, 50
The point of carrying the gospel is because earth is supposed to be more like heaven.
Few people rationally think out their beliefs to the point of why they do or do not believe in a doctrine...and question. It's base instinct that drives and make people decide what is 'true' or 'false'.
They do not read the scripture or pray before making a decision...their first 'Bible' is the Christians they see.
Matthew 23:13
-The only period where Jesus has a sustained anger is in dealing with hypocritical religious leaders who suppressed people pushing them from God.
People do not always come out and say it but they are looking...saying you are a Christian, much less minister, is opening a world of critique and criticism.
Our life is not about us...it is about others. It is possible to literal shut people off from the Kingdom just because of our lives.
-literal definition of the word hypocrite (used by Jesus) in the Greek is 'actor' someone performing on a stage for money...
-'shut off' also used in Matthew 25 in the parable and the ones trapped outside.
-There are those with an interest and desire to find Him but the hypocrisy can push others outside.
Hypocrisy is NOT:
-The fact we have many identities, we have competing identities for different circumstances. Not necessarily in trying to put in on an act.
-The self control of our feelings. Holding back and not being rude...not saying everything one is thinking. It is wise and prudent to exercise self control over thoughts and what is said..."being a better self". Choosing a wiser way to communicate.
-When you refuse to live other people's definition of Christianity.
Hypocrisy is:
-Demanding of others the life you, yourself will not live.
-Trying to look religious when you are not trying to become the person you are trying to look at.
Genesis 4:7 Abel and Cain
-What we give to God isn't supposed to be bribes or payoffs...we give because we love God. He owns everything and doesn't need us...it's like a child being given money to buy a gift for a parent...it's done out of love...wanting to make Him happy.
-Abel offered his sacrifice our of faith and love, which God accepted. Cain's offering was rejected because it wasn't done out of faith and love. Cain was seeking approval, not seeking to honor God.
-All God was asking for was Cain's heart...his love...Cain's reaction was the murder of Abel.
Matthew 6:2, 5, 16
-Do not act, pray or give like hypocrites.
Central questions:
Who are you living for?
Whose approval are you living for?
-God doesn't view like people do...he doesn't judge on the outward appearances.
-When we understand what hypocrisy is do we know the results?
Hypocrisy robs us of intimacy with God and people. We were born to love and be loved and having a secret life prevents us from loving. To be loved genuinely you have to let people know you. By definition hypocrites can not be loved by God or people.
-It is more than just good teaching on Sunday but how we learn from others during the week. Kids learn from what we say but they will become how you live.
-We can choose who we are going to become. When we accept Christ it is no longer us who live but Christ...are we going to live this new identity?
-We have the power to be the people we are supposed to be...with children and with marriages...but will we use it?
Matthew 7:5, 21-24
-We have to take a look at our lives...decide what has to go if we REALLY want the real life we were meant for. What has to be cut out? Removed?
1 Peter 2:1
-These things aren't who we are...things we can loose.
It is possible to live a life where people can follow us and see Christ...
-Working to repent from sin isn't hypocrisy...it is who we are. It's only when we try to adjust our life to the sin and hide that...it becomes hypocrisy.
Matthew 12:50
He loves us for who we are and will not let us stay the way we are.
Community helps.
It's not enough to believe without becoming.
Morning
I'm hurting from the bike...trouble breathing...stupid asthma that I thought was gone. Nothing major...just pain.
I think I may have almost broke the bike...I started listening to "The Perfect Drug" by Nine Inch Nails and as soon as the drums hit in the intro I took off...about ten seconds into that burst of speed I heard a horrible screeching noise and smelt burning plastic...I glanced down and saw I was going about twenty-six MPH and slowed down...thankfully it didn't fall apart but that would have been my luck...the stupid bike falling apart under me.
I ended the biking with Johnny Cash's haunting version of "Hurt". One of the best recordings of any song ever...I can say that will be one song I want to carry with me the rest of my life. The Nihilism in Christianity...but it is offset by hope. Amazing where this is all going and going...
I think I may have almost broke the bike...I started listening to "The Perfect Drug" by Nine Inch Nails and as soon as the drums hit in the intro I took off...about ten seconds into that burst of speed I heard a horrible screeching noise and smelt burning plastic...I glanced down and saw I was going about twenty-six MPH and slowed down...thankfully it didn't fall apart but that would have been my luck...the stupid bike falling apart under me.
I ended the biking with Johnny Cash's haunting version of "Hurt". One of the best recordings of any song ever...I can say that will be one song I want to carry with me the rest of my life. The Nihilism in Christianity...but it is offset by hope. Amazing where this is all going and going...
Monday, August 17, 2009
True Words...
"You don't measure up to the expectation.
When you're unemployed, there's no vacation.
No one cares, no one sympathizes.
You just stay home and play synthesizers."
-Flight of the Conchords, "Inner City Pressure"
When you're unemployed, there's no vacation.
No one cares, no one sympathizes.
You just stay home and play synthesizers."
-Flight of the Conchords, "Inner City Pressure"
I'm having so many scattered thoughts right now...I'm forgetting which way I was walking a moment ago. I'm ready for the pain to end and for some semblance of peace to come.
I don't want to pray right now.
I'm too upset and frustrated. It's like this rut...and the only way I see out is a way paved in angry and violence...it's hard to remember to even breath at times like this.
But hey you know...everything is alright.
Everything is okay.
Nothing is wrong here.
Everything is passing.
I don't want to pray right now.
I'm too upset and frustrated. It's like this rut...and the only way I see out is a way paved in angry and violence...it's hard to remember to even breath at times like this.
But hey you know...everything is alright.
Everything is okay.
Nothing is wrong here.
Everything is passing.
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