I haven't posted in quite some time. In this post, I am just going to jot down some of my recent thoughts in bullet form.
- First, on a serious note, I would like the mourn the death of Sean Taylor. I don't mention the Redskins in this blog much for some reason (though I am obsessed), but the tragic shooting and passing of Sean Taylor came as quite a suprise to everyone. I know, I know, there are tragedies everywhere everyday. Taylor was just freakish though in his physical abilities. The perfect blend of speed and strength, he seemed indestructible. More tragic is that he was just turning around his life over the past year or two, which was before marked by constant trouble (arrests, etc.). He left behind an 18 month year old girl. Maybe one day he could have been in the Hall of Fame. Such a sad thing.
- It is December 1st, which I have decided is like my New Years. Any changes I want to make, I would like to start now, getting some momentum going into next year. I really had a lot of goals for this year, all of which failed miserably. It was not a great year spiritually, or in any other discipline, and I hope to turn that around next year. Here goes!
- The "i" key was broken on my keyboard and I just got it fixed. Lots of words have "i" in it. Having no "i"key is annoying.
- There aren't a lot of Einsteins. In my field, there are not a lot of Barths, or Calvins, or Boenhoffers. My question is, is this because these people were so special, or because almost everyone gives up trying to be something great. I feel like between ages 18-22 I hear a lot ambition on what people want to be. I feel like between 23-80 I see a lot of compromise and giving up. Am I not going to be Karl Barth because I will eventually give up wanting to be something great, or people I actually am not great. People need to learn to take risks. Life is not a cost-benefit analysis, it is a symphony, and nothing is beautiful about being mundane or scared.
- I am realizing (this is not an attack on anyone in particular) the kind of people I want to be around, and the kind of people I don't. I want to be around people who burn (see my facebook for the quote one this). I want to be around passionate people, who enjoy life. Not just the exciting things, but the things we have relegated as mundane and trite. Conversely, I do not want to be around those who are lazy, apathetic, bored or uninterested. I am tired of these people. I am tired of being around people who are dramatic, who cannot see outside themselves. I wanna be around people who have concerns for the world.
- I was going to make a post called "Who is Winning the Game to kill Uganda." I made it a subtitle because I think it attracts interest. I was watching the Republican debates the other day. I hate politics, and generally don't find them interesting (although now I find them becoming progressively more interesting). The format was people asking questions through youtube, some of which proved the stupidity of Americans (one guy dogmatically asked 4 times if he believed every word of the Bible, holing the Bible up to the screen (as if that is essential for office); another asked what they thought about the confederate flag)). First of all, why do we ask stupid questions like that. We are choosing someone to run our country, and impact billions around the world. Infuriatingly ignorant. Anyways, what was interesting and why I am writing about this is that all talk about the debate and analysis sounding similar to the sport talk I hear everyday. It was about who won, who came out looking good, who's argument beat the others. However, I heard no analysis on the actual issues. No one asked if the candidates arguments seemed morally right. There is no analysis on the actual impact these issues have. Instead, Huckabee looked good because he was the most humorous, and others looked bad because of their personal attacks on each other. Also, why do we only care about their views. What about their ability to reason, their intelligence, their bravery. Do you this a possibly terrorist attack on the World Trade center was an area of debate when Bush was running? No. We need to care more about the President's ability to tackle new issues that they will undoubtedly encounter. Instead, we use even the choosing of our President as another form (as if we need more) of entertainment. I can't wait to see who wins the game. In the meantime, as we have our fun, we are making a decision that effects the poor in our country and the poor in Uganda and the persecuted in Iraq. But its all a game, right?
- Sorry, that was kind of a post. I bought a new grinder and a new french press today. Woot. And a journal, which I hope to use so I can voice things I couldn't voice here.
- I am not sleeping tonight or Sunday night in preparation for a final.
- Going home has now not become something I long for. I like it here. I am not at all the same socially here as there, but that can be nice. Much more reflection and personal time.
- Lastly, I am tired of people questioning me moving to Boston. I keep hearing about how I should have stayed at Liberty. It makes sense. I was going to grad school for free, I had tons of friends I could hang out with, it was easier, and I would have been done possibly two years earlier. You know why it doesn't make sense? My post earlier. That involves no risk, no challenging myself, no growth. It is the easy path. I have never once here really asked if I am supposed to be here. I am not saying its wrong for other people to go to LTS or anything, but for me it isn't, and social, financial, and academic comforts were not going to tempt me from what I needed for God's path for me. The comforts of Egypt were a lot more tempting than the desert. I'm just saying.
I was hoping there would be more comments last time. COMMENT!
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Rants Against Modern Evangelicalism: Part II
Ok, so this is a response, or rather a follow up, from my last post. That is to say, I have more to say, and I believe I need to clarify my previous assertions.
In my last post, I ranted about how the modern evangelical seems to have no desire to pursue knowledge of God in theology, church history, Biblical studies, etc. And those who do seem content in pursuing their own specific beliefs seem content in never attending to the claims of other theological systems or ideas. Calvinists study Calvinism; Pentecostals study Pentecostal theology, etc. How often do you see a Calvinist exploring Wesley, or a Pentecostal reading McArthur, or a fundamentalist studying Karl Barth? Not too often. And I believe this is sad, and shows a lack of unity in the church. God forbid that we even study other belief systems like Islam or Hinduism to know what they claim!
That is what I said. This is what I did not say. I did not say that the main problem in the church is a lack of academic knowledge of God. I did not say that this academic knowledge would automatically bring people to a greater intimacy with God (or as Victoria would put, Knowledge as opposed to knowledge).
I have been learning about a concept called the self-authenticating nature of Scripture. I am not sure if this is a new concept to me, or if it is just putting words to beliefs I have always held. It is fairly reformed in its basis, though I am not sure it has to be. Regardless, it is that Scripture is true because it is true. That is, Scripture is true because it proves itself to be true to the believer in experience. So, what this is going against is the main notion that Scripture is true because it proves itself to be true through textual integrity, historical proof, archaelogical evidence, and rational thought. These things indeed, Calvin would say, have their role. However, they are not the ultimate and authoritative test by which Scripture is judged. The only legitimate judge of Scripture is the Holy Spirit, who is appropriately the author of Scripture. All other tests and proofs are secondary.
This would fall into a belief of presuppositionalism. I do not know much about this, other than the fact that it claims that to be a Christian or non-Christian, one has certain presuppositions that cannot be proven or argued against. Therefore, one cannot just argue someone to a belief in one or the other. I would like Caleb to post in response to this in how I slaughtered explaining this belief.
Anyways, this hangs true in evangelism in that the Holy Spirit converts people, not us. And He must self-authenticate his Scripture in the life of someone to make them a believer. He can use apologetics to do this, or love and good deeds, but none of these are saving the person, nor are they even the reason the person believes, but rather that act of self-authentication.
How does this apply to my earlier discussion? I was riding in the car with my roommate and asked him about this. I was talking with a girl at this house who is struggling with her belief that Scripture is true. She is a person who is committed to social justice and willing to go to extremes to do what is right (I call her a hippy just for my sake; living in intentional community, etc.). I asked my roommate that if all things were constant (like in our scientific process) except knowledge about God (theology, church history, etc.) would the person who knows more be more intimate with God. The conversation went around in circles.
Now most of the people that I know that are really intimate with God care about pursuing knowledge about God. So does knowledge spur on intimacy, or intimacy knowledge. Since I know others who know a lot but are not intimate, I would assume intimacy spurs on knowledge. I told my friend that I felt like knowledge of God was like an assortment of tools. The more knowledge, the better and more complex the tools are. The purpose is making a building, which is the equivalent in my analogy of building a building. Someone with better tools can build something great. They can also cut off their arm with a cyber saw, so knowledge is creative and great and also destructive and scary. I don't know if this analogy is that good though. Does someone with less knowledge actually unable to be as intimate with God as someone with more. If so, that seems extreme. If not, why pursue knowledge? See, I told you this thing was cyclical.
In the end, this applies to my earlier conversation in what the church needs is more intimacy with God. I know from being a Bible/theology student the last 4+ years is that you can both be learning a lot about God and be far from Him. The church needs more intimacy and experience of God. But they need to pursue this through knowing about Him, and not just empty experience. Experience should be enriched by knowledge, and this is rare. A lack of knowledge seems to result in empty emotion, and an abundance of knowledge seems to often result in cynicism and unbelief. However, there are those who have rich, intimate relationship with the Lord and increasing knowledge of Him, and this is beautiful, and what I want to see in the church and myself.
Again, this is a rant, and may not be as linear as I would like. Please respond, I want to know your thoughts!
In my last post, I ranted about how the modern evangelical seems to have no desire to pursue knowledge of God in theology, church history, Biblical studies, etc. And those who do seem content in pursuing their own specific beliefs seem content in never attending to the claims of other theological systems or ideas. Calvinists study Calvinism; Pentecostals study Pentecostal theology, etc. How often do you see a Calvinist exploring Wesley, or a Pentecostal reading McArthur, or a fundamentalist studying Karl Barth? Not too often. And I believe this is sad, and shows a lack of unity in the church. God forbid that we even study other belief systems like Islam or Hinduism to know what they claim!
That is what I said. This is what I did not say. I did not say that the main problem in the church is a lack of academic knowledge of God. I did not say that this academic knowledge would automatically bring people to a greater intimacy with God (or as Victoria would put, Knowledge as opposed to knowledge).
I have been learning about a concept called the self-authenticating nature of Scripture. I am not sure if this is a new concept to me, or if it is just putting words to beliefs I have always held. It is fairly reformed in its basis, though I am not sure it has to be. Regardless, it is that Scripture is true because it is true. That is, Scripture is true because it proves itself to be true to the believer in experience. So, what this is going against is the main notion that Scripture is true because it proves itself to be true through textual integrity, historical proof, archaelogical evidence, and rational thought. These things indeed, Calvin would say, have their role. However, they are not the ultimate and authoritative test by which Scripture is judged. The only legitimate judge of Scripture is the Holy Spirit, who is appropriately the author of Scripture. All other tests and proofs are secondary.
This would fall into a belief of presuppositionalism. I do not know much about this, other than the fact that it claims that to be a Christian or non-Christian, one has certain presuppositions that cannot be proven or argued against. Therefore, one cannot just argue someone to a belief in one or the other. I would like Caleb to post in response to this in how I slaughtered explaining this belief.
Anyways, this hangs true in evangelism in that the Holy Spirit converts people, not us. And He must self-authenticate his Scripture in the life of someone to make them a believer. He can use apologetics to do this, or love and good deeds, but none of these are saving the person, nor are they even the reason the person believes, but rather that act of self-authentication.
How does this apply to my earlier discussion? I was riding in the car with my roommate and asked him about this. I was talking with a girl at this house who is struggling with her belief that Scripture is true. She is a person who is committed to social justice and willing to go to extremes to do what is right (I call her a hippy just for my sake; living in intentional community, etc.). I asked my roommate that if all things were constant (like in our scientific process) except knowledge about God (theology, church history, etc.) would the person who knows more be more intimate with God. The conversation went around in circles.
Now most of the people that I know that are really intimate with God care about pursuing knowledge about God. So does knowledge spur on intimacy, or intimacy knowledge. Since I know others who know a lot but are not intimate, I would assume intimacy spurs on knowledge. I told my friend that I felt like knowledge of God was like an assortment of tools. The more knowledge, the better and more complex the tools are. The purpose is making a building, which is the equivalent in my analogy of building a building. Someone with better tools can build something great. They can also cut off their arm with a cyber saw, so knowledge is creative and great and also destructive and scary. I don't know if this analogy is that good though. Does someone with less knowledge actually unable to be as intimate with God as someone with more. If so, that seems extreme. If not, why pursue knowledge? See, I told you this thing was cyclical.
In the end, this applies to my earlier conversation in what the church needs is more intimacy with God. I know from being a Bible/theology student the last 4+ years is that you can both be learning a lot about God and be far from Him. The church needs more intimacy and experience of God. But they need to pursue this through knowing about Him, and not just empty experience. Experience should be enriched by knowledge, and this is rare. A lack of knowledge seems to result in empty emotion, and an abundance of knowledge seems to often result in cynicism and unbelief. However, there are those who have rich, intimate relationship with the Lord and increasing knowledge of Him, and this is beautiful, and what I want to see in the church and myself.
Again, this is a rant, and may not be as linear as I would like. Please respond, I want to know your thoughts!
Friday, November 2, 2007
Rants Against American Evangelicalism: Part I
I'm coming to the conclusion that Evangelicals as a whole are ignorant people. I do not think we care about truth. The modern American church today is entertaining itself to death. We care about performance and numbers and lights and sounds. And we are stubborn. We have our specific set of beliefs. We are reformed, or charismatic, or baptist, or anglican, or methodist. We are an incredibly fragmented people.
But here is my problem with us. We are ignorant. Immensely ignorant. How many Calvinists do you know that have studied John Wesley in your church. Or cessationists studied the charismatic movement. How many Baptists have studied amillenialism. How many people are there that have no clue what these things mean.
My problem is that I feel like almost no one I know outside of the academic world seems to care much about studying these things, and if and when they gloriously do, they do not question or challenge what they think at all. Thank would be horrible sin. How many people have you heard after a church service say, "I'm really just struggling with my belief that the Bible is innerant." Probably none. Most may not care (hopefully not those who are genuine believers). Many inside are screaming these questions, but they suppress them because they oppose their beliefs.
If something is true, then what are we afraid of. Do we know WHY we believe in innerancy? Do we know why we believe in the incarnation? In the return of Christ? Do we know what we believe is the proper interpreation of the Old Testament, or the New Testament? Or do we blindly follow what we have been saved into. If you were saved into the Catholic church, you wouldn't question your beliefs either. Maybe you were lucky and you are in the right church. But if it is true, then it is true, and there should be no harm. Not with a humble and godly heart.
But it seems like the church just preaches the same simple message every week, and no one is even aware of the complexities of the Bible. We are studying GOD. Just think about that. God is our subject. And he isn't simple. We can't even know Him at all actually. He is completely transcendent. Except he has revealed himself in the Bible. But we don't care to know that Bible as the church. Just showing up to church once a week is pretty much sufficient. I mean, most people don't do that, right?
God is crying for us to seek him, honestly and openly. And for the mature and humble, that should mean pursuing and quesitoning truth and establishing themselves in it. Now, I guess this isn't for everyone. Because some people, by questioning, could fall away from the truth or go into some craziness. But are those people really believer anyways? I don't know.
I don't excluse myself from this either. And I feel woefully ignorant. I feel like all of my time at Liberty I was presented on the evangelical, Baptist, premillenial, non-Calvinist view of everything, and never given an avenue to explore the plethora of other ideas and beliefs. Maybe we wouldn't be so segregated if we got to know what other people, at least within evangelicalism itself, believed. I am not saying you have to go study liberalism or other religions, though that could be beneficial for some very mature believers, but study the Bible. And not just your church's interpretation of the Bible. If the only think you use to study the Bible your whole life is a John MacArthur Study Bible (which I love to death and do all my quiet times with), then its going to be hard to understand anyone having a view other than his theology. Explore the riches of Christ. Unless we have something more important to do. I mean there is American Idol and being an American and working 90 hours a week to buy a bunch of stuff that when we die will have no value, so we could pursue that. I guess I am frustrated because I am more Biblically trained than the average pastor and that is horrible. I am in the same boat as everyone I am talking about. Wake up call to John - learn about God!
Take this into account. Cathoic priests study a lot more than Evangelical pastors and they don't marry. They sacrifice a lot to study God and know Him. Mormons commit (all, not some, all) to do a mission for two years and that is all they do those two years. I'm not saying these people are right. I am saying they seem to care a lot more than us. Maybe they feel like they have to earn God's favor more, which is wrong, I do not know. But their actions should convict us.
Just realize, when we go to heaven, and we stand before the great white throne of God Himself, in all His glory, and we say, well I went to church, he probably won't be impressed. He wants us to know Him. And he isn't simple. And it takes work. But I am sure he will be ok with our excuses. I mean, the movies are important. And so is TV, pop culture, the mall, and working hard to save up for nice things. Maybe He will let us slide. I mean, it is only God we are studying, right? Who cares what grade we get?
But here is my problem with us. We are ignorant. Immensely ignorant. How many Calvinists do you know that have studied John Wesley in your church. Or cessationists studied the charismatic movement. How many Baptists have studied amillenialism. How many people are there that have no clue what these things mean.
My problem is that I feel like almost no one I know outside of the academic world seems to care much about studying these things, and if and when they gloriously do, they do not question or challenge what they think at all. Thank would be horrible sin. How many people have you heard after a church service say, "I'm really just struggling with my belief that the Bible is innerant." Probably none. Most may not care (hopefully not those who are genuine believers). Many inside are screaming these questions, but they suppress them because they oppose their beliefs.
If something is true, then what are we afraid of. Do we know WHY we believe in innerancy? Do we know why we believe in the incarnation? In the return of Christ? Do we know what we believe is the proper interpreation of the Old Testament, or the New Testament? Or do we blindly follow what we have been saved into. If you were saved into the Catholic church, you wouldn't question your beliefs either. Maybe you were lucky and you are in the right church. But if it is true, then it is true, and there should be no harm. Not with a humble and godly heart.
But it seems like the church just preaches the same simple message every week, and no one is even aware of the complexities of the Bible. We are studying GOD. Just think about that. God is our subject. And he isn't simple. We can't even know Him at all actually. He is completely transcendent. Except he has revealed himself in the Bible. But we don't care to know that Bible as the church. Just showing up to church once a week is pretty much sufficient. I mean, most people don't do that, right?
God is crying for us to seek him, honestly and openly. And for the mature and humble, that should mean pursuing and quesitoning truth and establishing themselves in it. Now, I guess this isn't for everyone. Because some people, by questioning, could fall away from the truth or go into some craziness. But are those people really believer anyways? I don't know.
I don't excluse myself from this either. And I feel woefully ignorant. I feel like all of my time at Liberty I was presented on the evangelical, Baptist, premillenial, non-Calvinist view of everything, and never given an avenue to explore the plethora of other ideas and beliefs. Maybe we wouldn't be so segregated if we got to know what other people, at least within evangelicalism itself, believed. I am not saying you have to go study liberalism or other religions, though that could be beneficial for some very mature believers, but study the Bible. And not just your church's interpretation of the Bible. If the only think you use to study the Bible your whole life is a John MacArthur Study Bible (which I love to death and do all my quiet times with), then its going to be hard to understand anyone having a view other than his theology. Explore the riches of Christ. Unless we have something more important to do. I mean there is American Idol and being an American and working 90 hours a week to buy a bunch of stuff that when we die will have no value, so we could pursue that. I guess I am frustrated because I am more Biblically trained than the average pastor and that is horrible. I am in the same boat as everyone I am talking about. Wake up call to John - learn about God!
Take this into account. Cathoic priests study a lot more than Evangelical pastors and they don't marry. They sacrifice a lot to study God and know Him. Mormons commit (all, not some, all) to do a mission for two years and that is all they do those two years. I'm not saying these people are right. I am saying they seem to care a lot more than us. Maybe they feel like they have to earn God's favor more, which is wrong, I do not know. But their actions should convict us.
Just realize, when we go to heaven, and we stand before the great white throne of God Himself, in all His glory, and we say, well I went to church, he probably won't be impressed. He wants us to know Him. And he isn't simple. And it takes work. But I am sure he will be ok with our excuses. I mean, the movies are important. And so is TV, pop culture, the mall, and working hard to save up for nice things. Maybe He will let us slide. I mean, it is only God we are studying, right? Who cares what grade we get?
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Book Review: Daughters of Islam
By the way, there is a personal post from today under this, so do not miss that!
So this was a book I read for my Intro to Islam class. Though these grading scales don't mean much, here is my quick evaluation of the book.
Overall - C
Ability to Hold Interest – B
Theology – B
Reliability – B
Useful – C-
This book is an interesting one to review. I did not find this book greatly valuable. I will explain why. The entire purpose of the book is to explain the lives of Muslim women and, as the book is subtitled, for "Building Bridges with Muslim Women." However, the book lacks focus. The writer states in the introduction that their aim of the book is: "To educate about important parts of Muslim women's lives. To elucidate some missions strategies. To offer examples. And to encourage." Here lies my issues with this book; by having so many aims for the book, it seems to not really satisfy any of them. The book is a little scatter-brained in purpose for me.
Way too much of this book seems to be explaining things about Muslim women that are true of all people. For example, chapter two is called "Every Woman Is an Exception," and it explains all the different types of Muslim women. There are poor Muslim women, successful Muslim women, devout Muslim women, and apathetic Muslim women. Do we need to elaborate on this? By being part of humanity, much of this is logic, and I feel the time could be spent better. I would say a good half of this book is comprised of stories of Muslim women coming to faith in the Lord. This is really interesting and encouraging, but I don't feel like it is completely the most important thing. I will explain later.
Chapter 4 has the same issues I explained about the fact that it explains things that should be obvious. With titles like "Muslim Women are Created in the Image of God," "Muslim-Background Women are Redeemed by Christ," and "Muslim-Background Women Can be Empowered by the Holy Spirit," as well as others, I feel like these things would be utterly obvious to any Christian, unless that Christian is completely discriminatory against Muslims and doesn't think they are people.
Some sections were very useful, however. Chapter 6, entitled "Family: Sex, Singles, Husbands, Children" was incredibly interesting and informative on Muslim views of family and sexuality, as well as the impacts these views have on them and their spiritual lives. For example, because of their views of purity in prayer and fasting, Muslim women can never get as close to God because they cannot fast during childbearing, menstruation, etc. In a works based system, they cannot spend as much time in prayer and fasting as a man is capable. There are a lot of interesting facts like that in this chapter than can paint a picture that is not obvious or just pure logic.
Chapter 10 was also enlightening about our impact on Muslim cultures, how we should try and build up and invest in their economies and help poor Muslims turn around their society. It talks about setting up banks that microloan out money and help Muslims start business with having a reasonable interest rate (not possible for them anywhere else). This was creative and I believed a great solution to helping the poor. Understanding economics, just giving handouts or doing things for people will never help them. Poverty can be cured in these situations with a combination of compassion and evoking hard work in people. This really resonated with my recently increasing interest in social-justice.
In the end, my evaluation of this book is interesting. There is nothing major that I disagree about in the book. However, is it the best use of your reading time? Not really. If you read chapter 6 and 10 (as I stated above) you would be fine. If you want some encouragement, you can read any or all of the chapters filled with stories on conversion. However, unless you read a few books a month, you would be better off spending your time reading the Qur'an itself, of Islamic theology books, or at least demographical studies on different groups of Muslims. The book was just so general in that when it gave the story different Muslim women to paint for the reader a picture of how Muslim women are, I feel like it fell short. Combine those stories with statistics and better analysis! Regardless, if you are looking to work with Muslims or want to start witnessing to some Muslims at you work or in your family, this book could be somewhat useful, but there are much more useful books.
Final Conlusion: Read only if you are going to read several books on Muslim people and culture, and only if you read a lot of books. There are more useful resources on this topic. Or, just read chapters 6 and 10.
So this was a book I read for my Intro to Islam class. Though these grading scales don't mean much, here is my quick evaluation of the book.
Overall - C
Ability to Hold Interest – B
Theology – B
Reliability – B
Useful – C-
This book is an interesting one to review. I did not find this book greatly valuable. I will explain why. The entire purpose of the book is to explain the lives of Muslim women and, as the book is subtitled, for "Building Bridges with Muslim Women." However, the book lacks focus. The writer states in the introduction that their aim of the book is: "To educate about important parts of Muslim women's lives. To elucidate some missions strategies. To offer examples. And to encourage." Here lies my issues with this book; by having so many aims for the book, it seems to not really satisfy any of them. The book is a little scatter-brained in purpose for me.
Way too much of this book seems to be explaining things about Muslim women that are true of all people. For example, chapter two is called "Every Woman Is an Exception," and it explains all the different types of Muslim women. There are poor Muslim women, successful Muslim women, devout Muslim women, and apathetic Muslim women. Do we need to elaborate on this? By being part of humanity, much of this is logic, and I feel the time could be spent better. I would say a good half of this book is comprised of stories of Muslim women coming to faith in the Lord. This is really interesting and encouraging, but I don't feel like it is completely the most important thing. I will explain later.
Chapter 4 has the same issues I explained about the fact that it explains things that should be obvious. With titles like "Muslim Women are Created in the Image of God," "Muslim-Background Women are Redeemed by Christ," and "Muslim-Background Women Can be Empowered by the Holy Spirit," as well as others, I feel like these things would be utterly obvious to any Christian, unless that Christian is completely discriminatory against Muslims and doesn't think they are people.
Some sections were very useful, however. Chapter 6, entitled "Family: Sex, Singles, Husbands, Children" was incredibly interesting and informative on Muslim views of family and sexuality, as well as the impacts these views have on them and their spiritual lives. For example, because of their views of purity in prayer and fasting, Muslim women can never get as close to God because they cannot fast during childbearing, menstruation, etc. In a works based system, they cannot spend as much time in prayer and fasting as a man is capable. There are a lot of interesting facts like that in this chapter than can paint a picture that is not obvious or just pure logic.
Chapter 10 was also enlightening about our impact on Muslim cultures, how we should try and build up and invest in their economies and help poor Muslims turn around their society. It talks about setting up banks that microloan out money and help Muslims start business with having a reasonable interest rate (not possible for them anywhere else). This was creative and I believed a great solution to helping the poor. Understanding economics, just giving handouts or doing things for people will never help them. Poverty can be cured in these situations with a combination of compassion and evoking hard work in people. This really resonated with my recently increasing interest in social-justice.
In the end, my evaluation of this book is interesting. There is nothing major that I disagree about in the book. However, is it the best use of your reading time? Not really. If you read chapter 6 and 10 (as I stated above) you would be fine. If you want some encouragement, you can read any or all of the chapters filled with stories on conversion. However, unless you read a few books a month, you would be better off spending your time reading the Qur'an itself, of Islamic theology books, or at least demographical studies on different groups of Muslims. The book was just so general in that when it gave the story different Muslim women to paint for the reader a picture of how Muslim women are, I feel like it fell short. Combine those stories with statistics and better analysis! Regardless, if you are looking to work with Muslims or want to start witnessing to some Muslims at you work or in your family, this book could be somewhat useful, but there are much more useful books.
Final Conlusion: Read only if you are going to read several books on Muslim people and culture, and only if you read a lot of books. There are more useful resources on this topic. Or, just read chapters 6 and 10.
No Creativity
Sorry, I have no creative title. So it has been over two weeks since I have updated this. I am sorry about that. Its not that I haven't had the time, its just motivation I lack.
Anyways, so my last post was about as emo and as dreary as it gets. Sorry about that. So recently I went home to NOVA for like 8 days or so. It was nice being home. I got to lead worship twice, which I still miss. The coolest thing I did was terror maze on Wednesday and Friday night. Terror Maze is an outreach where students come from all over the area and go through a haunted house type maze with some cool stuff. At the end, in small groups, the students see a Gospel based video clip and then have the Gospel explained to them. My roll was crazy. There was a larg chain link fence with a car battery hooked up to it and I would take on of the ends of the jumper cables and scrape it across the fence (creating tons of sparks) and screaming in my crazy costume while the group passed by. They were almost always suprised and scared, as it was really dark and really suprising. It was also really dangerous, and I burned myself a few times the first night, but oh well. It was cool. Over 100 kids made first time decisions (I don't like using that wording but whatever, you know what I mean). It was awesome and the Lord really used it.
I had some issues with people back home and some drama, but I don't really care to elaborate. In some ways I realize I have been really immature the past few months and I dunno. I am just growing a lot and that is kind of hard, but its cool. By the way, my drives were miserable, as both times I drove through the night and didn't get in until 6am. Really stupid and dangerous, but it worked out. Didn't have much of an option considering I was leading worship and all both Sundays and that dictated the times I left a lot.
So I got my midterm back from Archaelogy. I thought I failed it, but I got a C. I have never been happy to see a C, except this time, because I do not have to drop that class now. The professor said he was impressed in how well I did considering my lack of preparation and that I would easily pull off a B+ for the course. That was amazing news to me.
Today I just cleaned all day and had dinner with my roomate Brad and some other guys at our house. I wish I could do something crazy for Halloween, but I guess I am not a kid anymore (I did go trick-or-treating at 20 at college haha).
Anyways, I really just wanna focus on my academics and improving my relationship with the Lord. I went to dinner with Dale one night while I was home and it was so encouraging. He was just telling me that is academics or Boston or anything is keeping me from the Lord than put that away and focus on the Lord. I feel like no matter how many great brains I study under, Dale's voice will always be in the back of my head saying "seek Christ." I know a lot of people smarter than him, but not many if any that are wiser. His Christ-centeredness is amazing. I love that guy.
Anyways, thats it for now. I am going to post a book review now so I don't wanna waste much more time. Peace out kids!
Anyways, so my last post was about as emo and as dreary as it gets. Sorry about that. So recently I went home to NOVA for like 8 days or so. It was nice being home. I got to lead worship twice, which I still miss. The coolest thing I did was terror maze on Wednesday and Friday night. Terror Maze is an outreach where students come from all over the area and go through a haunted house type maze with some cool stuff. At the end, in small groups, the students see a Gospel based video clip and then have the Gospel explained to them. My roll was crazy. There was a larg chain link fence with a car battery hooked up to it and I would take on of the ends of the jumper cables and scrape it across the fence (creating tons of sparks) and screaming in my crazy costume while the group passed by. They were almost always suprised and scared, as it was really dark and really suprising. It was also really dangerous, and I burned myself a few times the first night, but oh well. It was cool. Over 100 kids made first time decisions (I don't like using that wording but whatever, you know what I mean). It was awesome and the Lord really used it.
I had some issues with people back home and some drama, but I don't really care to elaborate. In some ways I realize I have been really immature the past few months and I dunno. I am just growing a lot and that is kind of hard, but its cool. By the way, my drives were miserable, as both times I drove through the night and didn't get in until 6am. Really stupid and dangerous, but it worked out. Didn't have much of an option considering I was leading worship and all both Sundays and that dictated the times I left a lot.
So I got my midterm back from Archaelogy. I thought I failed it, but I got a C. I have never been happy to see a C, except this time, because I do not have to drop that class now. The professor said he was impressed in how well I did considering my lack of preparation and that I would easily pull off a B+ for the course. That was amazing news to me.
Today I just cleaned all day and had dinner with my roomate Brad and some other guys at our house. I wish I could do something crazy for Halloween, but I guess I am not a kid anymore (I did go trick-or-treating at 20 at college haha).
Anyways, I really just wanna focus on my academics and improving my relationship with the Lord. I went to dinner with Dale one night while I was home and it was so encouraging. He was just telling me that is academics or Boston or anything is keeping me from the Lord than put that away and focus on the Lord. I feel like no matter how many great brains I study under, Dale's voice will always be in the back of my head saying "seek Christ." I know a lot of people smarter than him, but not many if any that are wiser. His Christ-centeredness is amazing. I love that guy.
Anyways, thats it for now. I am going to post a book review now so I don't wanna waste much more time. Peace out kids!
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
The Business of Misery
Ok, so it has been a week, so I will update this blog (however, I feel this blog becoming increasingly worthless a it is half-journal, but not since I can't say a lot of personal things, and half me ranting - it brings very little value and maybe I need more theological encouragment type content). Anyways, I was thinking of whether or not to write this blog because it was be read poorly and result in cliche advice I do not care to hear. Regardless, here I go.
I have decided I don't like Boston. I am miserable here. Not like POW camp, tortured miserable, or depressed crying at night miserable, but out of place, feeling empty and pointless miserable. I don't understand why I am here right now. For one, the acadmic rigors here are overwhelming me. I have been reading like 10 hours a day the past three days for this midterm (which God graciously gave me more time for since I didn't know its date until the day before, which I am very thankful for), and the content is meaningless archaelogy. I somehow didn't know there was a final Monday until I was told in an email Sunday afternoon, and I had a melt down. Like, mentally, something in my broke. After reading for like 12 hours, I laid in bed for a quick hour nap and my mind raced with actual considerations of going home, maybe working for the Rock for awhile, probably the only place I have really felt at home at. I was thinking about whether or not I really am meant to be an academic. I will continue on that in a minute.
I am a social creature and it is hard being somewhere where I do not have a social life. I know some people and have friends, but it isn't the same as home yet and I have yet to feel like I belong here at all. As for the acadmic part, I told Kristen its like a professional athlete. In high school he is a start, in college he is great, and then he goes to the pros and everyone else is great or better and he is just another bench player. I feel like that is how I will end up in academia. Is this really God's call for my life? Or is it my resitance to full-time vocational ministry? Have I taken the wrong path to come here? Is this God's way of telling me this isn't what he wants for me? Am I just burning out because of lack of reliance on Him (true regardless)? There are like 800 questions in my head. Where did the idea of being a professor even come from? I have never taught. Just because I am good at school doesn't make me an academic. I don't know if another 6 years of this or so is worth it.
At the same time was I supposed to settle? Should I have stayed at Liberty where I was comfortable and having fun and gotten a degree that I would have already had by now. There seems to be something said that I am trying something new. I know far too many people who stay at home for their whole lives or take the easy route. Maybe the road to excellence is paved in frustration and tears because I am stretching myself and my abilities and not settling. I can't just stay will challenges I know I can breeze through.
That said, I miss MBC the most. I miss ministry. I miss church and community. In talking with people about God here or sitting in class for some reason I still sense godlessness. I think that is a New England thing and not a "me being in a new place" thing because I don't feel like I felt this way at Liberty when I was knew there. I need to get plugged into a church here asap and I need to start making time in my thousands of pages of reading to seek the Lord. I am sure that is a majority of this issue. Still then, I don't like it here.
Midterm is tommorrow. Still reading about pots and steles and buildings and languages. Its boring as crap, and worst off, isn't really being used as Biblical archaelogy, just archaelogy of the Near East. The only reason I care about these things is enlightenment in the word, which I am not getting from this stupid class. Alas.
Again, as you read this, understand I am just being honest. Rain makes sunny days look better. All that crap. I know things will get better, and I hope I use this to really rely on the Lord. Regardless, I really hope those better days come soon.
I have decided I don't like Boston. I am miserable here. Not like POW camp, tortured miserable, or depressed crying at night miserable, but out of place, feeling empty and pointless miserable. I don't understand why I am here right now. For one, the acadmic rigors here are overwhelming me. I have been reading like 10 hours a day the past three days for this midterm (which God graciously gave me more time for since I didn't know its date until the day before, which I am very thankful for), and the content is meaningless archaelogy. I somehow didn't know there was a final Monday until I was told in an email Sunday afternoon, and I had a melt down. Like, mentally, something in my broke. After reading for like 12 hours, I laid in bed for a quick hour nap and my mind raced with actual considerations of going home, maybe working for the Rock for awhile, probably the only place I have really felt at home at. I was thinking about whether or not I really am meant to be an academic. I will continue on that in a minute.
I am a social creature and it is hard being somewhere where I do not have a social life. I know some people and have friends, but it isn't the same as home yet and I have yet to feel like I belong here at all. As for the acadmic part, I told Kristen its like a professional athlete. In high school he is a start, in college he is great, and then he goes to the pros and everyone else is great or better and he is just another bench player. I feel like that is how I will end up in academia. Is this really God's call for my life? Or is it my resitance to full-time vocational ministry? Have I taken the wrong path to come here? Is this God's way of telling me this isn't what he wants for me? Am I just burning out because of lack of reliance on Him (true regardless)? There are like 800 questions in my head. Where did the idea of being a professor even come from? I have never taught. Just because I am good at school doesn't make me an academic. I don't know if another 6 years of this or so is worth it.
At the same time was I supposed to settle? Should I have stayed at Liberty where I was comfortable and having fun and gotten a degree that I would have already had by now. There seems to be something said that I am trying something new. I know far too many people who stay at home for their whole lives or take the easy route. Maybe the road to excellence is paved in frustration and tears because I am stretching myself and my abilities and not settling. I can't just stay will challenges I know I can breeze through.
That said, I miss MBC the most. I miss ministry. I miss church and community. In talking with people about God here or sitting in class for some reason I still sense godlessness. I think that is a New England thing and not a "me being in a new place" thing because I don't feel like I felt this way at Liberty when I was knew there. I need to get plugged into a church here asap and I need to start making time in my thousands of pages of reading to seek the Lord. I am sure that is a majority of this issue. Still then, I don't like it here.
Midterm is tommorrow. Still reading about pots and steles and buildings and languages. Its boring as crap, and worst off, isn't really being used as Biblical archaelogy, just archaelogy of the Near East. The only reason I care about these things is enlightenment in the word, which I am not getting from this stupid class. Alas.
Again, as you read this, understand I am just being honest. Rain makes sunny days look better. All that crap. I know things will get better, and I hope I use this to really rely on the Lord. Regardless, I really hope those better days come soon.
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
I'm Not an Actor
Lots of thoughts in my head right now. Just went out to wings with my roomate and some guys. I guess I have been feeling really challenged by the people up here in the Boston area. The Christians are unlike any I've ever met in my limited 7 or 8 years as a Christian. They think a lot. Many of them are intellectuals (grad school does that to you). They question. They think out what they believe and say. They don't follow the normal stream of conservatism I have always encountered. Much like the hippies, this has challenged me.
Tonight I was talking for awhile with a guy named Brian. He is married, 25, and is curently in grad school pursuing his masters in psychology and is doing clinical hours and will go on to his PhD in that field. We talked at nights end about the fact that he is wrestling with inerrancy and interpretation of Scripture. We talked at length about homosexuality and his friends who are practicing lesbians who live together but are believers. He is wrestling with a lot. A lot of people here are. My roomate Dave was telling me about how he was wrestling about Protestantism and considering converting to Catholicism awhile ago. The people at the hookah place question the existance of objectivity and God in general.
Now I know what any conservative believer reading this is thinking: oh no, liberalism is causing John to question his beliefs. No. That is not true. Nothing I believe has really changed, although I feel God is opening me up to a conviction of more socio-economic issues and poverty that I haven't had. No, I am not question my faith, innerancy, Protestantism. Heck, I am not even questioning Calvinism. It is just refreshing to be around believers who are open and honest about these issues. About their faith. They are wrestling with life, many of them in intimacy with the Lord and going to Him with their questions.
I guess the Christianity I have been exposed to so often seems to scripted. If someone came up to me after a service at MBC and talked about these issues, it wouldn't be a huge deal, but it would clearly be out of the ordinary. I think in DC most people at MBC are so consumed with their own jobs and life they don't care that much about some of those issues. If they talked to me about it at Liberty, they would me labeled as liberals and heretics. What I find rediculous is that we all have our answers to all these questions, scripted in a lot of ways by our apologetic arguements, but deep down many of us wrestle with the issues of God's sovereignty and AIDS and the evils of this world. I think in the end, it comes down to two facts. Most of the Christians I have met are too consumed in their white, middle-class American lives to even care about some of the deep issues, or they are too scared to speak up around conservative believers who can be very judgmental.
In the end, I still obviously argued tonight with him for innerancy and against all of our rediculous sinfulness. But I appreciated his honesty and willingness to have converse with another believer about something. I am tired of groups of Christians where we have to act like we are all doing well and are happy. At Liberty, my prayer groups were so forced. No one in those groups cared about what was going on with other believers there. We pretended to. Maybe we even prayed down lists of those people's requests. But we didn't share any of ourselves. And we certainly didn't question anything. We all read our lines and the play was over. I just hope to develop relationships that are more genuine than that. Hope this communicated itself alright. In the end, I have a lot of thinking to do.
Tonight I was talking for awhile with a guy named Brian. He is married, 25, and is curently in grad school pursuing his masters in psychology and is doing clinical hours and will go on to his PhD in that field. We talked at nights end about the fact that he is wrestling with inerrancy and interpretation of Scripture. We talked at length about homosexuality and his friends who are practicing lesbians who live together but are believers. He is wrestling with a lot. A lot of people here are. My roomate Dave was telling me about how he was wrestling about Protestantism and considering converting to Catholicism awhile ago. The people at the hookah place question the existance of objectivity and God in general.
Now I know what any conservative believer reading this is thinking: oh no, liberalism is causing John to question his beliefs. No. That is not true. Nothing I believe has really changed, although I feel God is opening me up to a conviction of more socio-economic issues and poverty that I haven't had. No, I am not question my faith, innerancy, Protestantism. Heck, I am not even questioning Calvinism. It is just refreshing to be around believers who are open and honest about these issues. About their faith. They are wrestling with life, many of them in intimacy with the Lord and going to Him with their questions.
I guess the Christianity I have been exposed to so often seems to scripted. If someone came up to me after a service at MBC and talked about these issues, it wouldn't be a huge deal, but it would clearly be out of the ordinary. I think in DC most people at MBC are so consumed with their own jobs and life they don't care that much about some of those issues. If they talked to me about it at Liberty, they would me labeled as liberals and heretics. What I find rediculous is that we all have our answers to all these questions, scripted in a lot of ways by our apologetic arguements, but deep down many of us wrestle with the issues of God's sovereignty and AIDS and the evils of this world. I think in the end, it comes down to two facts. Most of the Christians I have met are too consumed in their white, middle-class American lives to even care about some of the deep issues, or they are too scared to speak up around conservative believers who can be very judgmental.
In the end, I still obviously argued tonight with him for innerancy and against all of our rediculous sinfulness. But I appreciated his honesty and willingness to have converse with another believer about something. I am tired of groups of Christians where we have to act like we are all doing well and are happy. At Liberty, my prayer groups were so forced. No one in those groups cared about what was going on with other believers there. We pretended to. Maybe we even prayed down lists of those people's requests. But we didn't share any of ourselves. And we certainly didn't question anything. We all read our lines and the play was over. I just hope to develop relationships that are more genuine than that. Hope this communicated itself alright. In the end, I have a lot of thinking to do.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Weddings and Coffee
I haven't blogged in awhile. My life isn't exactly a thrill a second, so I don't feel like most of these posts are of much value, but nonetheless here is my update.
This past weekend was pretty cool. On Thursday I picked up Flynn at the airport (which means me driving around downtown). It was really good seeing him. We went to Baja (my first experience), where I got him to buy me lunch for my bday/picking him up and then we went to my place. JR and all the other guys picked us up and we headed back to downtown for the Redsox game. JR bought us all Red Sox shirts for the game with a player that plays the position that we play in softball, and he picked Matsuzaka for me. The shirt was a youth large...so it was a good thing i lost 20 pounds ha! Anyways, so the game was fun. I don't know if Fenway is quite the "experience" everyone says it is. No baseball game is as exciting as a pro or college football game. And the stadium isn't as nice as Camden. But the fans are very intense so it was good. They lost 5-4, but had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th and it started raining like crazy. It was cool. Some girls were spitting some g at me kinda, so that was fun. There are some funny videos of me going nuts at the game, and me going on top of someone's shoulders didn't make the security guard very happy.
Then we went out to a bar and got some beers and toasted to JR's getting married, but weren't there long (the best man, Wasil, kinda rushed us out; we were there maybe 15 minutes). Then we went up to Maine and to the cabin we were staying in and went in the hot tub and chilled. I walked througout the house completely nude, which was funny considering there were like 2 people I had never met there. I'm crazy.
The next day was the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner, which involved us eating lobsters at a beautiful lighthouse in Maine. This area was like a postcard; it was just gorgeous. The lobsters were interesting because they were full lobsters and that stuff can kind of gross me out, but they were good. Then the guys went to the beach and chilled and talked and did guy things for JR's last night of freedom.
The wedding was beautiful. JR was crying before it started, during it, etc. Bre was gorgeous and you could see all of her teeth the whole time. My hair was all over the place and I was worried I looked like a fool, but I refuse to get a haircut so there. The reception was a blast. I danced a bunch, which I normally hate but there were some cuties and what else am I supposed to do? I was so proud of JR and Bre. I was living with JR when they started dating, and they are perfect together. He will certainly cherish her and love her the rest of their lives, and her him. They are awesome.
It was great seeing everyone. I was kind of a jerk at times on the trip, and I feel bad about that. I was just on edge for some reason at times. Regardless, it was a relief seeing so many people I love and miss. It also sucks cause I don't have that here yet and I want to. Time will bring it.
This week, I started work. It is nice having income again, and though I thought I missed working, its not the greatest. But my new store seems cool, and it is way less busy and stressful as the one in DC. What sucks is that I wanted to come home next week during reading week, but I have already been given a schedule and now I don't think I can. I will see what I can do I guess. Not sure yet.
Tuesday night we had game night, which was fun. Apples to apples is always a great game. Except I dominated last time and sucked this time.
I just finished Malcolm X. I'll try and post a book review sometime. It was a really good book. Weird reading about life from such a different perspective (black, muslim, mid 20th century). A lot learned, though. Oh, I talked to Hannah on the phone tonight for the first time since I moved up here (so over a month, since like August). It was good. I didn't really pry into her life and really said nothing of the whole boyfriend thing or anything else. I knew that wansn't my place, and just wanted to know how she was doing. I miss her friendship, so it was good to catch up some.
Life brings me Systematic Theology in the morning, and I havent been to class in awhile because of the wedding and such. I am still worried about the work load and such, and wonder if staying here and working during reading week wouldn't be the worst idea. Anyways, I will keep this up to date. Have a good life!
This past weekend was pretty cool. On Thursday I picked up Flynn at the airport (which means me driving around downtown). It was really good seeing him. We went to Baja (my first experience), where I got him to buy me lunch for my bday/picking him up and then we went to my place. JR and all the other guys picked us up and we headed back to downtown for the Redsox game. JR bought us all Red Sox shirts for the game with a player that plays the position that we play in softball, and he picked Matsuzaka for me. The shirt was a youth large...so it was a good thing i lost 20 pounds ha! Anyways, so the game was fun. I don't know if Fenway is quite the "experience" everyone says it is. No baseball game is as exciting as a pro or college football game. And the stadium isn't as nice as Camden. But the fans are very intense so it was good. They lost 5-4, but had the bases loaded in the bottom of the 9th and it started raining like crazy. It was cool. Some girls were spitting some g at me kinda, so that was fun. There are some funny videos of me going nuts at the game, and me going on top of someone's shoulders didn't make the security guard very happy.
Then we went out to a bar and got some beers and toasted to JR's getting married, but weren't there long (the best man, Wasil, kinda rushed us out; we were there maybe 15 minutes). Then we went up to Maine and to the cabin we were staying in and went in the hot tub and chilled. I walked througout the house completely nude, which was funny considering there were like 2 people I had never met there. I'm crazy.
The next day was the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner, which involved us eating lobsters at a beautiful lighthouse in Maine. This area was like a postcard; it was just gorgeous. The lobsters were interesting because they were full lobsters and that stuff can kind of gross me out, but they were good. Then the guys went to the beach and chilled and talked and did guy things for JR's last night of freedom.
The wedding was beautiful. JR was crying before it started, during it, etc. Bre was gorgeous and you could see all of her teeth the whole time. My hair was all over the place and I was worried I looked like a fool, but I refuse to get a haircut so there. The reception was a blast. I danced a bunch, which I normally hate but there were some cuties and what else am I supposed to do? I was so proud of JR and Bre. I was living with JR when they started dating, and they are perfect together. He will certainly cherish her and love her the rest of their lives, and her him. They are awesome.
It was great seeing everyone. I was kind of a jerk at times on the trip, and I feel bad about that. I was just on edge for some reason at times. Regardless, it was a relief seeing so many people I love and miss. It also sucks cause I don't have that here yet and I want to. Time will bring it.
This week, I started work. It is nice having income again, and though I thought I missed working, its not the greatest. But my new store seems cool, and it is way less busy and stressful as the one in DC. What sucks is that I wanted to come home next week during reading week, but I have already been given a schedule and now I don't think I can. I will see what I can do I guess. Not sure yet.
Tuesday night we had game night, which was fun. Apples to apples is always a great game. Except I dominated last time and sucked this time.
I just finished Malcolm X. I'll try and post a book review sometime. It was a really good book. Weird reading about life from such a different perspective (black, muslim, mid 20th century). A lot learned, though. Oh, I talked to Hannah on the phone tonight for the first time since I moved up here (so over a month, since like August). It was good. I didn't really pry into her life and really said nothing of the whole boyfriend thing or anything else. I knew that wansn't my place, and just wanted to know how she was doing. I miss her friendship, so it was good to catch up some.
Life brings me Systematic Theology in the morning, and I havent been to class in awhile because of the wedding and such. I am still worried about the work load and such, and wonder if staying here and working during reading week wouldn't be the worst idea. Anyways, I will keep this up to date. Have a good life!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
22 is the new 21
I feel i should update this as I am going out of town for a few days and don't want to leave the droves of people that read this uninformed about my ever-fascinating life. That was sarcasm. On with the show.
September 25th will always be a fond day for me, because that was the day I was born. And if I was not born, I wouldn't probably do as much cool stuff as I have in my life. So for that, I celebrate. However, it falls on a crappy day in terms of everytime I go to a new school or somewhere new, its generally in the first few weeks of that place and I don't know a ton of people, so yea.
Yesterday was alright considering that fact. My roomates, who have been super cool about including me and helping me not die in my room watching reality TV, helped make it better. We were going to do a game night with a house of girls anyways, so we did that and Brad cooked us a pork roast, which was great and heated up in a sandwhich even better. We played Apples to Apples, which I dominated, and then Imagine If...which was fun but I didn't win. It was a fun time. I felt like I really let loose and acted like myself...which is unfortunate for everyone else who was there!
Um, so yeah. I have been reading a bunch this week, mostly this Malcolm X autobiography, which im a little over 200 pages into and have another 200 pages to go. I have never heard someone more rascist in my life. He really hates white people. The Nation of Islam, which he belongs to (like a cult or offspring of some sort of Islam that most African-American Muslims attain to) believes the white man is the devil and a bunch of other crazy stuff. I was hoping he would be fighting more for equality, but he seems to want blacks exalted and whites cast off. I am so glad the racial tension and issues in this country have improved so much in the last 50 years. It was horrible the way things were, and the book has clearly been startling to me (not that I haven't read this kinda stuff at all before, but it is definitely informing). Regardless, Malcolm X's transformation from complete sinfulness to fighting for a cause is inspiriting. I will write a book review on it when I am done.
I am really excited becasue I get to see a bunch of friendly faces the next few days. I'm picking up Shannon from the airport and then going with him to downtown Boston to hang out with JR and a bunch of people in the wedding and then go to Fenway for the Sox game. Fenway is supposedly an experience (as evidenced by $60 baseball tickets...im used to paying like $8). Then we are going to Maine and I'll be there all weekend for rehearsal and all that as I am in the wedding. It is funny because I am the only person under 6 foot tall and under 200 pounds...so im 50 or more pounds lighter and 6 inches or more shorter than everyone else in the wedding. I offered to just be the ring bearer.
I am really excited to see my buds again. Should be a great weekend. Hope to get some reading done too. The amount of reading is rediculous. I will count it up soon, but I would guess it is around 5-6 thousand pages for the semester...for 3 and a half months thats a lot! And I am not the quickest reader so. I am excited to read some of these books though. Anyways, Victoria and Jecholia, and I'm pretty sure that is all who reads this haha...have a good weekend!
September 25th will always be a fond day for me, because that was the day I was born. And if I was not born, I wouldn't probably do as much cool stuff as I have in my life. So for that, I celebrate. However, it falls on a crappy day in terms of everytime I go to a new school or somewhere new, its generally in the first few weeks of that place and I don't know a ton of people, so yea.
Yesterday was alright considering that fact. My roomates, who have been super cool about including me and helping me not die in my room watching reality TV, helped make it better. We were going to do a game night with a house of girls anyways, so we did that and Brad cooked us a pork roast, which was great and heated up in a sandwhich even better. We played Apples to Apples, which I dominated, and then Imagine If...which was fun but I didn't win. It was a fun time. I felt like I really let loose and acted like myself...which is unfortunate for everyone else who was there!
Um, so yeah. I have been reading a bunch this week, mostly this Malcolm X autobiography, which im a little over 200 pages into and have another 200 pages to go. I have never heard someone more rascist in my life. He really hates white people. The Nation of Islam, which he belongs to (like a cult or offspring of some sort of Islam that most African-American Muslims attain to) believes the white man is the devil and a bunch of other crazy stuff. I was hoping he would be fighting more for equality, but he seems to want blacks exalted and whites cast off. I am so glad the racial tension and issues in this country have improved so much in the last 50 years. It was horrible the way things were, and the book has clearly been startling to me (not that I haven't read this kinda stuff at all before, but it is definitely informing). Regardless, Malcolm X's transformation from complete sinfulness to fighting for a cause is inspiriting. I will write a book review on it when I am done.
I am really excited becasue I get to see a bunch of friendly faces the next few days. I'm picking up Shannon from the airport and then going with him to downtown Boston to hang out with JR and a bunch of people in the wedding and then go to Fenway for the Sox game. Fenway is supposedly an experience (as evidenced by $60 baseball tickets...im used to paying like $8). Then we are going to Maine and I'll be there all weekend for rehearsal and all that as I am in the wedding. It is funny because I am the only person under 6 foot tall and under 200 pounds...so im 50 or more pounds lighter and 6 inches or more shorter than everyone else in the wedding. I offered to just be the ring bearer.
I am really excited to see my buds again. Should be a great weekend. Hope to get some reading done too. The amount of reading is rediculous. I will count it up soon, but I would guess it is around 5-6 thousand pages for the semester...for 3 and a half months thats a lot! And I am not the quickest reader so. I am excited to read some of these books though. Anyways, Victoria and Jecholia, and I'm pretty sure that is all who reads this haha...have a good weekend!
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Fire Escape Ramblings
Ok, so Friday I guess is where I left off. Friday I went to Theology class in the morning for me, which was like 1pm (ha). Theology is definitely my favorite class out of the two I have on campus. We talked mostly about general and special revelation. It is a sweet class. Then I went and dropped of my laptop to get the screen replaced and then met my roomate and the girl he is talking with (Sarah) and we drove to the T and went downtown to go to a coffee house this church (City Life) was hosting. It was really good and the musicians were all legitimately talented. It didn't hurt that the coffee and food was great.
The most pleasant suprise was that I ran into the only person I knew before I came here in Boston, Michael Roberts. Michael Roberts was raised Jewish, and he started coming to church with me and gave his life to the Lord at some point in that process. This was back when I was a senior. He now goes to New England Conservatory and he is still on fire for the Lord. He always IMs me and asks Biblical questions. A lot of the time I feel like I blow him off, which is stupid of me. It was really encouraging to see him and hear about his life. God has been faithful to him, and it is amazing to me that the Lord used me in his life.
Dave and Sarah went out dancing after, something I chose not to accompany them to (would have been kinda awkward and I wasnt going to pay to go do something I don't like doing). So yea. I lost my keys that night, and I thought they fell off on the T, but they didn't and Dave found them in his car. I had Brad take me over on Saturday to go get my car again (since I had to get a ride home Friday, cause I didn't have my keys). Since then I have just been chillin and reading and watching football. The Redskins absolutely broke my heart today, blowing a 17-3 halftime lead to lose 24-17, missing the endzone on 4th and goal on the 1. WOW!
I'm reading the autobiography of Malcolm X for Islam class. It is already moving. I chose it because I thought it would be shortest of my book choices, and it was the cheapest on amazon. Its like 400 pages though, ha. Anyways, I'm not a rascist, but I think we all have our rascist thoughts and stereotypes of people. I don't know. I think it is important for everyone to read stuff like this. It isn't just black history, its all of our history. It is the horrible past of our country. It moves me. There were frightening words in the first chapter. Malcolm X says that he thinks he will one day die from an act of violence. Self-prophesy. Crazy.
So things spiritually aren't good. I'm not going to lie. I am not spending time with the Lord. And the more time I am not with the Lord, the more its difficult to seek Him. Its rediculous. It will change.
Ok, so those are the events of my life; these are the things floating around in my head. So I didn't get, as of right now, the job at the church. Some of the reasons were that they are much more traditional than I am used to, and they know I have a lot of responsibilities as a student. But one of the main reasons was a conversation we had at lunch. I asked them their opinion on certain Christian liberties as drinking and smoking and such. They weren't against them at all. But they felt I was smug about my Christian liberties, which was completely odd. I don't really talk about them much; I only asked because I felt things were going well, and knowing they were Baptist and would be my spiritual authorities if I worked at the church, I wanted to know what they wanted me to do. I tried to clarify this in my email.
Christian liberties and all just seem frustrating to me. They seem more of a hassel. I want to just say never practice anything anyone questions out of making life easier, but I feel like that is just giving up and not standing up for anything. For example, the Holy Smokes experience was one of great spiritual and evangelistic value I thought, and I have had so many experiences like that, that I thing there is more than just abstaining from everything. It is interesting how the church has varied of the years on these subjects. Early in church history, abstaining from everything was the godliest situation. Not having any money or possessions was spiritual. Now, sometimes, embracing freedom is viewed as spiritual. Where is the line?
As for life in general, I am frustrated with people that seem to show of their spirituality. It seems like some people are so quick to point out their spiritual experiences or feelings towards everything, in situations where it isn't natural but makes them look good. However, their spiritual shortcomings aren't mentioned. JR has always found one of the most interesting things about me is that I share my sin pretty openly. Living with him, he would know if I messed up in an area or didn't seek the Lord. I would confront him on it. Now I wonder if that kind of stuff, in situations like that church, hurts me. Am I always to pretend I am doing great? People say I say a lot of negative things sometimes. At what point can I actually be genuine and at what point do I need to act. Isn't it our fakeness that pushes so many unbelievers away? The entirity of life just seems to be confusing me right now.
The hippies really encourage me (the ones I keep meeting) because they are self-sacrificing. I am so selfish all the time. They share everything. And they seem to genuinely care about people and enjoy life.
I had some cool time on my fire escape outside of my room. I sat there and listened to music and drank coffee. It is one place I feel completely tucked away. I am scared of heights though, and it is like 30-40 feet up, so it is kinda freaky. I listened some to Lou Giglio's sermon on Jeans and the Will of God and all from passion, which is the only sermon I have heard like many times over and over again. One thing he said was that whatever you do in life, don't do it half heartedly. I wanna pursue my life with full out passion, to enjoy it. I wonder if I am going into the write vocation. The Lord will guide me. BTW, since she is like one of two people who reads this, I wanna shout out to Victoria, who I think is very genuine. HA. Anyways I am tired and rambling.
The most pleasant suprise was that I ran into the only person I knew before I came here in Boston, Michael Roberts. Michael Roberts was raised Jewish, and he started coming to church with me and gave his life to the Lord at some point in that process. This was back when I was a senior. He now goes to New England Conservatory and he is still on fire for the Lord. He always IMs me and asks Biblical questions. A lot of the time I feel like I blow him off, which is stupid of me. It was really encouraging to see him and hear about his life. God has been faithful to him, and it is amazing to me that the Lord used me in his life.
Dave and Sarah went out dancing after, something I chose not to accompany them to (would have been kinda awkward and I wasnt going to pay to go do something I don't like doing). So yea. I lost my keys that night, and I thought they fell off on the T, but they didn't and Dave found them in his car. I had Brad take me over on Saturday to go get my car again (since I had to get a ride home Friday, cause I didn't have my keys). Since then I have just been chillin and reading and watching football. The Redskins absolutely broke my heart today, blowing a 17-3 halftime lead to lose 24-17, missing the endzone on 4th and goal on the 1. WOW!
I'm reading the autobiography of Malcolm X for Islam class. It is already moving. I chose it because I thought it would be shortest of my book choices, and it was the cheapest on amazon. Its like 400 pages though, ha. Anyways, I'm not a rascist, but I think we all have our rascist thoughts and stereotypes of people. I don't know. I think it is important for everyone to read stuff like this. It isn't just black history, its all of our history. It is the horrible past of our country. It moves me. There were frightening words in the first chapter. Malcolm X says that he thinks he will one day die from an act of violence. Self-prophesy. Crazy.
So things spiritually aren't good. I'm not going to lie. I am not spending time with the Lord. And the more time I am not with the Lord, the more its difficult to seek Him. Its rediculous. It will change.
Ok, so those are the events of my life; these are the things floating around in my head. So I didn't get, as of right now, the job at the church. Some of the reasons were that they are much more traditional than I am used to, and they know I have a lot of responsibilities as a student. But one of the main reasons was a conversation we had at lunch. I asked them their opinion on certain Christian liberties as drinking and smoking and such. They weren't against them at all. But they felt I was smug about my Christian liberties, which was completely odd. I don't really talk about them much; I only asked because I felt things were going well, and knowing they were Baptist and would be my spiritual authorities if I worked at the church, I wanted to know what they wanted me to do. I tried to clarify this in my email.
Christian liberties and all just seem frustrating to me. They seem more of a hassel. I want to just say never practice anything anyone questions out of making life easier, but I feel like that is just giving up and not standing up for anything. For example, the Holy Smokes experience was one of great spiritual and evangelistic value I thought, and I have had so many experiences like that, that I thing there is more than just abstaining from everything. It is interesting how the church has varied of the years on these subjects. Early in church history, abstaining from everything was the godliest situation. Not having any money or possessions was spiritual. Now, sometimes, embracing freedom is viewed as spiritual. Where is the line?
As for life in general, I am frustrated with people that seem to show of their spirituality. It seems like some people are so quick to point out their spiritual experiences or feelings towards everything, in situations where it isn't natural but makes them look good. However, their spiritual shortcomings aren't mentioned. JR has always found one of the most interesting things about me is that I share my sin pretty openly. Living with him, he would know if I messed up in an area or didn't seek the Lord. I would confront him on it. Now I wonder if that kind of stuff, in situations like that church, hurts me. Am I always to pretend I am doing great? People say I say a lot of negative things sometimes. At what point can I actually be genuine and at what point do I need to act. Isn't it our fakeness that pushes so many unbelievers away? The entirity of life just seems to be confusing me right now.
The hippies really encourage me (the ones I keep meeting) because they are self-sacrificing. I am so selfish all the time. They share everything. And they seem to genuinely care about people and enjoy life.
I had some cool time on my fire escape outside of my room. I sat there and listened to music and drank coffee. It is one place I feel completely tucked away. I am scared of heights though, and it is like 30-40 feet up, so it is kinda freaky. I listened some to Lou Giglio's sermon on Jeans and the Will of God and all from passion, which is the only sermon I have heard like many times over and over again. One thing he said was that whatever you do in life, don't do it half heartedly. I wanna pursue my life with full out passion, to enjoy it. I wonder if I am going into the write vocation. The Lord will guide me. BTW, since she is like one of two people who reads this, I wanna shout out to Victoria, who I think is very genuine. HA. Anyways I am tired and rambling.
Thursday, September 20, 2007
Holy Smokes!
Ok, I would like to preface this post by saying that I just made a french press of Arabian Mocha Sunani, and it is marvelous. Note to self: stop brewing coffee and take the time to french press it.
Ok, so Monday night was AWESOME. One of the coolest things I have been to in awhile. So after going to my archaelogy class, I did whatever and then bought a tape to record the Redskins monday night game. I missed the first game interviewing with that church and so I was NOT going to miss this one. But I wanted to go to this thing called "Holy Smokes" with my roomates. So I got into the car with Dave and Brad and we picked up Sarah, the girl Dave is talking to (who is awesome and they would be a great match if it works out).
We arrived to the house of this girl Stacey awhile later, and waited for Stacey to get home. People started to trickle in that lived there. The people were very artsy, hippy-ish people, and they reminded me a lot of hanging out with Laney/visiting her at VCU. They were mega cool, and it was refreshing being around people who are so different than me and the people I generally hang out with. They cooked us dinner, which was great, and then tons of people started showing up. There were around 20 or so people in this small house, and then we all went down to the basement and set up about five hookahs. We began smoking and just talking (Cherry Mint was awesome) and then one of the guys who lives there said we needed to concentrate our conversation on something positive, so we all went around and gave our name, why we were there, and what we believer our purpose was in life.
The cool thing about Holy Smokes is that most of the people are generally not believers. This time it was like half and half, but that was an exception. Many people were not Christians. There were some people who were atheists. I gave the answer that my purpose in life is to glorify the Triune God of Christianity, and to do this mainly by enjoying Him forever (very Piper-esque). Anyways, we went around and began discusses a number of subjects, such as right and wrong, relativism, what God is. I talked way too much, but my roomates said I did a good job of playing the strong, loud voice of Christianity and that it was needed. Many of the Christians were more harboring discussion and not giving their answers, which was greatly needed too.
It was amazingly refreshing to be around unbelievers. I am almost never in real interaction with unbelievers, and I need to be more. It magnifies the purpose of my beliefs and life, and reminds me of my life before Christ and where others are in life. The entire night was completely encouraging and I was incredibly glad I went. I hope to keep going in the future if work permits. It challenged me that I am incredibly selfish and self-focused. The people who lived there were not at all. Their house was everyone's house. Their stuff was everyone else's too. I need my room and my place that is MINE and that no one can have, my things that are no one elses. I am very greedy.
I got back and the Redskins game did not tape! I was pretty ticked, as I missed them upset the Eagles. I am glad I went to Holy Smokes, though.
Since then I have just been chillin at the house. I have an absurd amount of reading that I need to start on, but I have been so unfocused. I got a bed that will finally be mine that I need to pick up next week, and give the one Ramos has been lending me back to him. I went to a laundromat for the first time yesterday. Ended up being fairly expensive, so I am hoping Ramos can start letting me do laundry at his place soon. He gave me some H and M shirts of his that shrunk, so that was cool.
I have been thinking a lot about love lately. Not because I think I have been in love (romantically), becasue I am fairly sure I haven't, but more just thinking about what it is. Is it just like other romantic feelings but a different intensity, or a different concept altogether. How is it like other loves, and how isn't it? Why do you not understand it until you have experienced it (the only thing I know of that is similar in that regards is salvation)? It seems like someone has to be given back to in order to be in love, so isn't that partly shallow? I don't know, its interesting. I think too much.
I was reading someone I lived with at Libert's blog from three years ago. Time and life goes by so fast. I feel like I am always living in the past and the future, but I am never living in the now. This girl I met here named Hannah was telling me about being here now, being in the moment. I really need that. I wish I had journaled more so I had more possession of the past. I feel like I have lost it. Again, I'm weird and think too much.
So I took Hannah off my friends lists/out of my phone, etc. Not because I am upset, but just because I was checking up on her too much and I need to get over her. Theres just a lot of things I don't need to find out about. Give it some time and we will be back to normal.
On a last note, I need to seek the Lord more. I have been distracted way too much lately. I remember in Peru when I was spending time with the Lord every morning and what that meant to me. I need that back again. My spiritual disciplines are wretched. I want my life to be God's here. That is so Christianese, but it is hard to live out. I am sure that it will change though. Praise the Lord for perseverance of the saints.
I am posting a blog very soon (maybe even today) on the second commandment as I said before, so look for that. Peace!
Ok, so Monday night was AWESOME. One of the coolest things I have been to in awhile. So after going to my archaelogy class, I did whatever and then bought a tape to record the Redskins monday night game. I missed the first game interviewing with that church and so I was NOT going to miss this one. But I wanted to go to this thing called "Holy Smokes" with my roomates. So I got into the car with Dave and Brad and we picked up Sarah, the girl Dave is talking to (who is awesome and they would be a great match if it works out).
We arrived to the house of this girl Stacey awhile later, and waited for Stacey to get home. People started to trickle in that lived there. The people were very artsy, hippy-ish people, and they reminded me a lot of hanging out with Laney/visiting her at VCU. They were mega cool, and it was refreshing being around people who are so different than me and the people I generally hang out with. They cooked us dinner, which was great, and then tons of people started showing up. There were around 20 or so people in this small house, and then we all went down to the basement and set up about five hookahs. We began smoking and just talking (Cherry Mint was awesome) and then one of the guys who lives there said we needed to concentrate our conversation on something positive, so we all went around and gave our name, why we were there, and what we believer our purpose was in life.
The cool thing about Holy Smokes is that most of the people are generally not believers. This time it was like half and half, but that was an exception. Many people were not Christians. There were some people who were atheists. I gave the answer that my purpose in life is to glorify the Triune God of Christianity, and to do this mainly by enjoying Him forever (very Piper-esque). Anyways, we went around and began discusses a number of subjects, such as right and wrong, relativism, what God is. I talked way too much, but my roomates said I did a good job of playing the strong, loud voice of Christianity and that it was needed. Many of the Christians were more harboring discussion and not giving their answers, which was greatly needed too.
It was amazingly refreshing to be around unbelievers. I am almost never in real interaction with unbelievers, and I need to be more. It magnifies the purpose of my beliefs and life, and reminds me of my life before Christ and where others are in life. The entire night was completely encouraging and I was incredibly glad I went. I hope to keep going in the future if work permits. It challenged me that I am incredibly selfish and self-focused. The people who lived there were not at all. Their house was everyone's house. Their stuff was everyone else's too. I need my room and my place that is MINE and that no one can have, my things that are no one elses. I am very greedy.
I got back and the Redskins game did not tape! I was pretty ticked, as I missed them upset the Eagles. I am glad I went to Holy Smokes, though.
Since then I have just been chillin at the house. I have an absurd amount of reading that I need to start on, but I have been so unfocused. I got a bed that will finally be mine that I need to pick up next week, and give the one Ramos has been lending me back to him. I went to a laundromat for the first time yesterday. Ended up being fairly expensive, so I am hoping Ramos can start letting me do laundry at his place soon. He gave me some H and M shirts of his that shrunk, so that was cool.
I have been thinking a lot about love lately. Not because I think I have been in love (romantically), becasue I am fairly sure I haven't, but more just thinking about what it is. Is it just like other romantic feelings but a different intensity, or a different concept altogether. How is it like other loves, and how isn't it? Why do you not understand it until you have experienced it (the only thing I know of that is similar in that regards is salvation)? It seems like someone has to be given back to in order to be in love, so isn't that partly shallow? I don't know, its interesting. I think too much.
I was reading someone I lived with at Libert's blog from three years ago. Time and life goes by so fast. I feel like I am always living in the past and the future, but I am never living in the now. This girl I met here named Hannah was telling me about being here now, being in the moment. I really need that. I wish I had journaled more so I had more possession of the past. I feel like I have lost it. Again, I'm weird and think too much.
So I took Hannah off my friends lists/out of my phone, etc. Not because I am upset, but just because I was checking up on her too much and I need to get over her. Theres just a lot of things I don't need to find out about. Give it some time and we will be back to normal.
On a last note, I need to seek the Lord more. I have been distracted way too much lately. I remember in Peru when I was spending time with the Lord every morning and what that meant to me. I need that back again. My spiritual disciplines are wretched. I want my life to be God's here. That is so Christianese, but it is hard to live out. I am sure that it will change though. Praise the Lord for perseverance of the saints.
I am posting a blog very soon (maybe even today) on the second commandment as I said before, so look for that. Peace!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Birthdays and Boston Cream
So an update. Things have been going fairly well up here in New England. Classes have been interesting. My History and Archaelogy of the Ancient Near East class seems like it may be a snoozer. I enjoy learning anything, but from what the teacher is saying I don't even think this is Biblical archaelogy, but just the history and archaelogy of that region. Pottery and all that doesn't really excite me, but he has made some Biblical connections, so maybe I will get something out of reading 1500 pages on pots and palettes and such. My Systematic Theology class seems far more interesting. I was wrong; the prof is not a published guy, he is actually still working on his dissertation, but has studied at Yale and Oxford, so he seems bright. He told the class we should find a designated driver and go to the pub and talk theology with a few pints. He also apologized for having to refer to God as a He. I am for sure not at Liberty anymore, even though this place isn't liberal. Its just less conservative.
I've finally been going out and doing more things. And I finally have been into the actually city. It was my roomates birthday on Saturday, so a bunch of us went down town to this bar John Havard's (right next to Harvard) and got beers (of which I actually had one) and chilled. One girl made a Boston cream pie that was amazing. The whole thing was somewhat fun. The public tranportation here is rough. The subway train was broken down and we kept having to get off and go onto buses, so it took forever to get down there. Then last night I went with my roomate to this ministy called Genesis, which is a college age ministry with contemporary worship (very rare here) and some preaching and all. It was pretty cool, and I think I might get involved and talked to the worship leader about doing some bass or electric for them. It could be hard considering I will be (hopefully) leading worship on sunday morning for that chuch, but I could work it out. Then we went to this pretty cool worship service at the school where all the lights are off and everyone is super quiet and they sing hymns and such.
Tonight I am supposed to go to this thing called Holy Smokes, where people smoke hookah and chill and talk about theology and stuff. Its apparently not just believers, but an out reach and stuff. Seems kinda cool, and I might tape the skins game and go check it out.
In general I am just realizing that the same God that was with me in northern VA and in Lynchburg is here with me, and I really feel stupid for not pursuing Him much the last two weeks I have been here. I really want to take this opportunity up here to cleave to God. I am really confused about the future, and passing around the hot potatoe of pursuing acadmia or vocational ministry, or both. My heart is in ministry. This summer I saw grown people week as I told them to Gospel in Peru, not even speaking their language. I saw kids lives transformed at the beach, kids touched by the Gospel and changed forever. I want to be around that as much as possible. Its funny how much like Israel I am. You read the Old Testament and you are like, man, Israel is so stupid. Stop rebelling. You just saw the Red Sea parted. You just saw God's Shikinah glory pass over the tabernacle. You saw the Lord go with you into the conquest. But we are the same way. I saw the Lord do amazing acts this summer in the hearts of men, and yet I can so easily turn to sin or apathy. God, grant me a steadfast heart!
I am about to post something on the second commandment and modern day idolatry. I changed my mind about the whole two blog system, and so I will be posting whenever I get a chance about different things. I am hoping to get some work done this week, as I am absurdly behind in my Into to Islam class (as in, I haven't started and it is due in a little over a month).
To close, its been really encouraging having friends like Jenny and Kristen and Corrin and other people from back home just texting me and letting me know I am missed. It is a stretch for me to be out here, and I miss everyone, especially the minnistry. I miss leading worship, which is funny because I never intended to get into worship leading in the first place. Anyways, miss you all! Peace!
I've finally been going out and doing more things. And I finally have been into the actually city. It was my roomates birthday on Saturday, so a bunch of us went down town to this bar John Havard's (right next to Harvard) and got beers (of which I actually had one) and chilled. One girl made a Boston cream pie that was amazing. The whole thing was somewhat fun. The public tranportation here is rough. The subway train was broken down and we kept having to get off and go onto buses, so it took forever to get down there. Then last night I went with my roomate to this ministy called Genesis, which is a college age ministry with contemporary worship (very rare here) and some preaching and all. It was pretty cool, and I think I might get involved and talked to the worship leader about doing some bass or electric for them. It could be hard considering I will be (hopefully) leading worship on sunday morning for that chuch, but I could work it out. Then we went to this pretty cool worship service at the school where all the lights are off and everyone is super quiet and they sing hymns and such.
Tonight I am supposed to go to this thing called Holy Smokes, where people smoke hookah and chill and talk about theology and stuff. Its apparently not just believers, but an out reach and stuff. Seems kinda cool, and I might tape the skins game and go check it out.
In general I am just realizing that the same God that was with me in northern VA and in Lynchburg is here with me, and I really feel stupid for not pursuing Him much the last two weeks I have been here. I really want to take this opportunity up here to cleave to God. I am really confused about the future, and passing around the hot potatoe of pursuing acadmia or vocational ministry, or both. My heart is in ministry. This summer I saw grown people week as I told them to Gospel in Peru, not even speaking their language. I saw kids lives transformed at the beach, kids touched by the Gospel and changed forever. I want to be around that as much as possible. Its funny how much like Israel I am. You read the Old Testament and you are like, man, Israel is so stupid. Stop rebelling. You just saw the Red Sea parted. You just saw God's Shikinah glory pass over the tabernacle. You saw the Lord go with you into the conquest. But we are the same way. I saw the Lord do amazing acts this summer in the hearts of men, and yet I can so easily turn to sin or apathy. God, grant me a steadfast heart!
I am about to post something on the second commandment and modern day idolatry. I changed my mind about the whole two blog system, and so I will be posting whenever I get a chance about different things. I am hoping to get some work done this week, as I am absurdly behind in my Into to Islam class (as in, I haven't started and it is due in a little over a month).
To close, its been really encouraging having friends like Jenny and Kristen and Corrin and other people from back home just texting me and letting me know I am missed. It is a stretch for me to be out here, and I miss everyone, especially the minnistry. I miss leading worship, which is funny because I never intended to get into worship leading in the first place. Anyways, miss you all! Peace!
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Movies and Mullings
So Boston is still kinda boring, but things have shown some promise. Monday night I met up with this guy that used to live in my apartment, Ramos, and about 15 or so other people at some bar called the Wild Horse. People there were pretty cool. I didn't drink anything; instead I just kinda chilled. I got there late so I only got to talk to people for like 45 minutes or so. It was nice to get out. Tonight I went out with my roomate Dave and met up with some people and got wings. Again, just for like an hour or so. Its nice getting out some.
So one interesting note is that everyone I have met here so far from the seminary drinks. I am completely fine with casual drinking or whatever, but it is kind of weird having it as a part of the culture here. Not that I haven't been around much drinking, but so many believers going out and drinking all the time just seems kinda odd to me at times. I mostly haven't done it at all cause its expensive and high in calories, but the whole image thing is in my mind too. We will see how it develops. Its interesting for sure.
So I didn't have to wake up today until around noon on Friday, but I still woke up and I watched some True Life and then saw The Number 23 with Jim Carrey that I had rented. Talk about a crazy movie. It was pretty sweet. I like weird unique movies, and it was def that. After wings and such tonight I watched Garden State, which I bough like a year ago and never got around to seeing. It was also uber sweet.
Blogging is weird cause I know its more public than journaling so I don't really wanna expose myself much, but I know like 3 people read this so, oh well. So Garden State reminded me a lot Hannah. The main character is completely weird and has a lot of stuff screwed up with him emotionally and he falls in love with this completely nuerotic and unique weird girl.
Hannah is completely insane and nuerotic and I loved it. She is unique...shes an individual. I never realized how important that is. I don't want a perfect girl. I want someone I can share how screwed up I am and who can understand my insane family life blah blah blah. I think a lot of people look at me and see a smart kid who has a lot going for him, but I also have so many rediculous weaknesses and a lot of issues in the background, and I want to be able to share that with someone and have them understand what that is like. And yea. I had a dream that I bought Hannah coffee and when I brought it back to her she was making out with Matt. It was kinda odd. I don't know what is up with me having weird dreams lately. I'm sure the Hannah phase will pass, especially since I am forced to move on. I would love to hold on and fight for it, but I don't think that will do any good. Thats all I am saying about that for awhile. Maybe once I start meeting some cute girls here :)
I am hoping spiritually things go well here. Spiritual life up here seems to be completely different than in Lynchburg or even DC. Its kind of cool that people here aren't trying to impress each other spiritually like in Lynchburg, but I just hope people are genuine.
The Redskins won their first game and I missed it for that church interview. I love the skins way too much. People here are obsessed with the Sox and Pats. Pretty crazy. Anyways, I have a long day ahead of movies and playstation and maybe, if I get to it, classwork.
So one interesting note is that everyone I have met here so far from the seminary drinks. I am completely fine with casual drinking or whatever, but it is kind of weird having it as a part of the culture here. Not that I haven't been around much drinking, but so many believers going out and drinking all the time just seems kinda odd to me at times. I mostly haven't done it at all cause its expensive and high in calories, but the whole image thing is in my mind too. We will see how it develops. Its interesting for sure.
So I didn't have to wake up today until around noon on Friday, but I still woke up and I watched some True Life and then saw The Number 23 with Jim Carrey that I had rented. Talk about a crazy movie. It was pretty sweet. I like weird unique movies, and it was def that. After wings and such tonight I watched Garden State, which I bough like a year ago and never got around to seeing. It was also uber sweet.
Blogging is weird cause I know its more public than journaling so I don't really wanna expose myself much, but I know like 3 people read this so, oh well. So Garden State reminded me a lot Hannah. The main character is completely weird and has a lot of stuff screwed up with him emotionally and he falls in love with this completely nuerotic and unique weird girl.
Hannah is completely insane and nuerotic and I loved it. She is unique...shes an individual. I never realized how important that is. I don't want a perfect girl. I want someone I can share how screwed up I am and who can understand my insane family life blah blah blah. I think a lot of people look at me and see a smart kid who has a lot going for him, but I also have so many rediculous weaknesses and a lot of issues in the background, and I want to be able to share that with someone and have them understand what that is like. And yea. I had a dream that I bought Hannah coffee and when I brought it back to her she was making out with Matt. It was kinda odd. I don't know what is up with me having weird dreams lately. I'm sure the Hannah phase will pass, especially since I am forced to move on. I would love to hold on and fight for it, but I don't think that will do any good. Thats all I am saying about that for awhile. Maybe once I start meeting some cute girls here :)
I am hoping spiritually things go well here. Spiritual life up here seems to be completely different than in Lynchburg or even DC. Its kind of cool that people here aren't trying to impress each other spiritually like in Lynchburg, but I just hope people are genuine.
The Redskins won their first game and I missed it for that church interview. I love the skins way too much. People here are obsessed with the Sox and Pats. Pretty crazy. Anyways, I have a long day ahead of movies and playstation and maybe, if I get to it, classwork.
Monday, September 10, 2007
Service and Slashed Tires
So things have been interesting since my last post. Friday was my first day of classes, which was exciting. I have Systematic Theology I with Anders, who has written some commentaries that I've used so he is fairly well published. I got to class 10 minutes late. Luckily that was early, because Anders never showed and we just took attendance and left. His assistants didn't know why he didn't show. Guess I'll meet him next Friday (all my classes are just once a week).
All of Saturday was spent setting up my room. The complete hazard zone that had formed from me unpacking was completely wrenching on my OCD all week so it was great to get everything set up, which literally took like 8 hours and I was unable to go downtown and hear my roomate's cousin rap. Which stinks because he sounded really good when Dave played his stuff for me. Actually even sounded black.
So today has been a little nuts. I was woken up this morning repeatedly at 4 or 5am by literally the loudest thunder I have ever heard in my life. Not just loud, but long and creepy. Like literally rolls of thunder lasting 6-10 seconds. It was the craziest thing I had ever heard in my life. Then I had an incredibly bizarre dream that I killed Doug Gibson's mom (I haven't seen Doug in like five years). Super weird. Then I woke up and came out to the church I am interviewing with talk to them about worship and get a feel for things.
The church is pretty cool. Incredibly theologically sound, with expositional preaching and Christ-centered worship. It is also dress-up and traditional, which kind of wigs me out and reminds me of church when I was a kid and didn't know Christ. I'm used to things being laid back and chill, so I don't know if it will be a good fit. It is also an hour away, which would be tough, so we will see what happens. It is hard to find churches here that are conservative at all (like believing in the deity of Christ), so I don't know if I should turn down a paid worship position at such a solid church because of ties and stained-glass. We will see how the Lord works. I went out with the pastor and assistant pastor/current worship leader to Chillis and we talked and I urned to be watching the Skins game, but it was good.
Upon my return to the church I played some songs for them and they liked it and I walked to my car, only to find all four tires flat. I was a little taken back, but somewhat prepared for it considering this kind of thing seems to happen to me all the time. Me and cars do not seem to go well together. However, no one can get four flat tires, even with the rocky roads here in Boston. I looked closer and there were about 4 or 5 knive slits per tire. Someone slashed all four of my tires in the church parking lot. Pretty insane. Not a rough area or anything, I was in the suburbs. I was a little concerned but the church really blessed me and went and bought me four new tires and there was a mechanic there who put them on for me, so now I am riding on four new tires. Pretty sweet. Still kinda crazy.
Today was my first class. History and Archaelogy of the Ancient Near East. I am almost positive that my teacher is Borat, and I was fully expecting him to say, "Archaelogy is very nice." But he didn't. Seems like it'll be a pretty boring class, but maybe I will learn some interesting stuff. The teacher says the 1500 pages of reading aren't a part of the grade for the course, unless you don't do it all and then it hurts your grade. So sweet of him. It was three hours. The rest of the day was spent getting my tux fitted for Bre and JR's wedding and getting stuff worked out with Starbucks.
It sucks not having people to call and hang out with. I don't really know how I am going to make friends, mostly because I don't know where I will meet people and if I don't meet people through my roomates I'm screwed. I should've lived on campus but it was too expensive. So that could use prayer.
I'm kind of going through a "what the crap am i doing" mood. Why am I in grad school. Do I really wanna be a teacher. Is there anything I would rather do? Why don't I go focus on music or go into ministry or become a plumber or something. I dunno. Everyone goes through these times. Regardless, I really need to do a better job of seeking the Lord here, which I haven't been doing much. Anyways, hopefully things will turn around. Still thinking about stuff from back home some and just learning to get over Hannah, which is annoying and something I don't want to do. I'm really glad we are still friends though. I still have lingering feelings though and I don't really know why.
I literally have no class or anything until Friday. Ha. Oh, and I found out I have lost 20 pounds! HAHA. So I weigh like 155 now. Pretty crazy. I'm happy about it. Anyways, until next time.
All of Saturday was spent setting up my room. The complete hazard zone that had formed from me unpacking was completely wrenching on my OCD all week so it was great to get everything set up, which literally took like 8 hours and I was unable to go downtown and hear my roomate's cousin rap. Which stinks because he sounded really good when Dave played his stuff for me. Actually even sounded black.
So today has been a little nuts. I was woken up this morning repeatedly at 4 or 5am by literally the loudest thunder I have ever heard in my life. Not just loud, but long and creepy. Like literally rolls of thunder lasting 6-10 seconds. It was the craziest thing I had ever heard in my life. Then I had an incredibly bizarre dream that I killed Doug Gibson's mom (I haven't seen Doug in like five years). Super weird. Then I woke up and came out to the church I am interviewing with talk to them about worship and get a feel for things.
The church is pretty cool. Incredibly theologically sound, with expositional preaching and Christ-centered worship. It is also dress-up and traditional, which kind of wigs me out and reminds me of church when I was a kid and didn't know Christ. I'm used to things being laid back and chill, so I don't know if it will be a good fit. It is also an hour away, which would be tough, so we will see what happens. It is hard to find churches here that are conservative at all (like believing in the deity of Christ), so I don't know if I should turn down a paid worship position at such a solid church because of ties and stained-glass. We will see how the Lord works. I went out with the pastor and assistant pastor/current worship leader to Chillis and we talked and I urned to be watching the Skins game, but it was good.
Upon my return to the church I played some songs for them and they liked it and I walked to my car, only to find all four tires flat. I was a little taken back, but somewhat prepared for it considering this kind of thing seems to happen to me all the time. Me and cars do not seem to go well together. However, no one can get four flat tires, even with the rocky roads here in Boston. I looked closer and there were about 4 or 5 knive slits per tire. Someone slashed all four of my tires in the church parking lot. Pretty insane. Not a rough area or anything, I was in the suburbs. I was a little concerned but the church really blessed me and went and bought me four new tires and there was a mechanic there who put them on for me, so now I am riding on four new tires. Pretty sweet. Still kinda crazy.
Today was my first class. History and Archaelogy of the Ancient Near East. I am almost positive that my teacher is Borat, and I was fully expecting him to say, "Archaelogy is very nice." But he didn't. Seems like it'll be a pretty boring class, but maybe I will learn some interesting stuff. The teacher says the 1500 pages of reading aren't a part of the grade for the course, unless you don't do it all and then it hurts your grade. So sweet of him. It was three hours. The rest of the day was spent getting my tux fitted for Bre and JR's wedding and getting stuff worked out with Starbucks.
It sucks not having people to call and hang out with. I don't really know how I am going to make friends, mostly because I don't know where I will meet people and if I don't meet people through my roomates I'm screwed. I should've lived on campus but it was too expensive. So that could use prayer.
I'm kind of going through a "what the crap am i doing" mood. Why am I in grad school. Do I really wanna be a teacher. Is there anything I would rather do? Why don't I go focus on music or go into ministry or become a plumber or something. I dunno. Everyone goes through these times. Regardless, I really need to do a better job of seeking the Lord here, which I haven't been doing much. Anyways, hopefully things will turn around. Still thinking about stuff from back home some and just learning to get over Hannah, which is annoying and something I don't want to do. I'm really glad we are still friends though. I still have lingering feelings though and I don't really know why.
I literally have no class or anything until Friday. Ha. Oh, and I found out I have lost 20 pounds! HAHA. So I weigh like 155 now. Pretty crazy. I'm happy about it. Anyways, until next time.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
My Big Move
Hey everyone,
Ok so I now live in Massachusetts, a state that I just literally had to look up the spelling of. I had several weeks of extended good-byes, which began to wear on me, so Sunday rolled around and I saw everyone at church and heard Dale preach, which, was very good, and then went home to pack my car. I thought I had a lot packed up before hand, but it took me and my mom three or more hours to pack my car and then she took me and got my hair trimmed up (which was much needed) and I got dinner with her and my dad. It was nice to spend some time with them before I left. So I got home, and it was around 8pm and I decided I didn't want to deal with sleeping in an empty room and how depressing that would be and waking up early so I rolled out of town, barely able to see out of my windows.
My ride was surprisingly pleasant, although I was exhausted. I was expecting driving alone in the middle of the night with all that has been going on in my life this summer and leaving home to be depressing, but it was a nice drive. It kinda sucked that my ipod died halfway through, but then I heard the Delilah song that I have somehow gone the last few months hearing about but never hearing. It’s charming. I pulled up to my apartment at 6am (just for the record, I do not live in Boston, I live in Ipswich, which is like 45 minutes north of Boston)
So I walked into my apartment and immediately realized I lived in a dump. My house is from the 1700's and is pretty run down, something I expected considering my ridiculously reasonable rent. Though that morning I had a small panic attack, it has grown on me. It is awkward that there is a roommate of mine whose room cuts through mine, so my privacy is incredibly infringed upon, but I have some ideas of hanging sheets and such to get around that. It is going to be interesting for sure (that roommate is in his 30's, married with 4 kids and lives in Connecticut, but for some reason works at the school and maybe goes to school. My roommates have met him twice in 3 months, but the guy came in last night and woke me up then and this morning walking through Weird. ADVENTURE!
Waking up the first day, I was excited to learn my roommates are 23 and 24, not 46 and Asian. They are cool guys. They smoke pipes and drink beer and are pretty laid back, but I don't think they are liberal Christians. They seem solid; I haven't talked to them yet about it.
Most of the week I have been doing orientation and trying to gather furniture (sorry this post is so long, just a lot going on). I took and OT and NT assessment that I passed. I realized I don't have to decide my degree path this semester and got signed up for classes. Also, whatever degree path I choose doesn't necessarily lock me into the same PhD program, so a lot of pressure has been taken off my shoulders (I am deciding between OT and Theology, and maybe NT). My courses this semester are as follows: Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology I, Intro to Islam, and History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Pretty cool stuff.
I miss my friends. Not like a ton, that'll come later as I am so focused on getting settled. It seems like it will be difficult to meet people living off campus. I hope to meet people from the undergrad through my roommate that went there. Certain people are obviously on my mind here, and I for sure miss serving at the church and having the encouragement of Dale and Kent and everyone.
The future is that I start class tomorrow with Systematic Theology, and I try and get a bed. I may see JR and Bre tonight as JR just flew into Boston to go to Maine for the wedding and such. I also interview with that church about being their worship leader this Sunday. I'm getting lunch with the pastor and current worship leader after service, so you can pray for that! My other prayer request is just for godly friends here, and maybe like a 20-year-old Christian model who is incredibly attracted to artsy, intellectual and sometimes-awkward seminary students. God is sovereign, and can do what he wants. Miss you guys!
John
Ok so I now live in Massachusetts, a state that I just literally had to look up the spelling of. I had several weeks of extended good-byes, which began to wear on me, so Sunday rolled around and I saw everyone at church and heard Dale preach, which, was very good, and then went home to pack my car. I thought I had a lot packed up before hand, but it took me and my mom three or more hours to pack my car and then she took me and got my hair trimmed up (which was much needed) and I got dinner with her and my dad. It was nice to spend some time with them before I left. So I got home, and it was around 8pm and I decided I didn't want to deal with sleeping in an empty room and how depressing that would be and waking up early so I rolled out of town, barely able to see out of my windows.
My ride was surprisingly pleasant, although I was exhausted. I was expecting driving alone in the middle of the night with all that has been going on in my life this summer and leaving home to be depressing, but it was a nice drive. It kinda sucked that my ipod died halfway through, but then I heard the Delilah song that I have somehow gone the last few months hearing about but never hearing. It’s charming. I pulled up to my apartment at 6am (just for the record, I do not live in Boston, I live in Ipswich, which is like 45 minutes north of Boston)
So I walked into my apartment and immediately realized I lived in a dump. My house is from the 1700's and is pretty run down, something I expected considering my ridiculously reasonable rent. Though that morning I had a small panic attack, it has grown on me. It is awkward that there is a roommate of mine whose room cuts through mine, so my privacy is incredibly infringed upon, but I have some ideas of hanging sheets and such to get around that. It is going to be interesting for sure (that roommate is in his 30's, married with 4 kids and lives in Connecticut, but for some reason works at the school and maybe goes to school. My roommates have met him twice in 3 months, but the guy came in last night and woke me up then and this morning walking through Weird. ADVENTURE!
Waking up the first day, I was excited to learn my roommates are 23 and 24, not 46 and Asian. They are cool guys. They smoke pipes and drink beer and are pretty laid back, but I don't think they are liberal Christians. They seem solid; I haven't talked to them yet about it.
Most of the week I have been doing orientation and trying to gather furniture (sorry this post is so long, just a lot going on). I took and OT and NT assessment that I passed. I realized I don't have to decide my degree path this semester and got signed up for classes. Also, whatever degree path I choose doesn't necessarily lock me into the same PhD program, so a lot of pressure has been taken off my shoulders (I am deciding between OT and Theology, and maybe NT). My courses this semester are as follows: Christian Ethics, Systematic Theology I, Intro to Islam, and History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Pretty cool stuff.
I miss my friends. Not like a ton, that'll come later as I am so focused on getting settled. It seems like it will be difficult to meet people living off campus. I hope to meet people from the undergrad through my roommate that went there. Certain people are obviously on my mind here, and I for sure miss serving at the church and having the encouragement of Dale and Kent and everyone.
The future is that I start class tomorrow with Systematic Theology, and I try and get a bed. I may see JR and Bre tonight as JR just flew into Boston to go to Maine for the wedding and such. I also interview with that church about being their worship leader this Sunday. I'm getting lunch with the pastor and current worship leader after service, so you can pray for that! My other prayer request is just for godly friends here, and maybe like a 20-year-old Christian model who is incredibly attracted to artsy, intellectual and sometimes-awkward seminary students. God is sovereign, and can do what he wants. Miss you guys!
John
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Book Review: Velvet Elvis (Part I)
This should be my first of many book review posts. The purpose of this type of post is to analyze different literature, almost entirely in the realm of Christian work, in order to give the reader a good synopsis of the book’s content and usefulness in the life of the believer. The reviews will be scrutinized under the authority of Scripture, and the theological soundness of the book will be attacked or defended. I will also analyze other aspects of the books I read here such as whether or not the book was interesting, or whether the book was relevant to most readers. I hope these posts will keep you up to date on some popular books and encourage or discourage you to read some of them.
Rob Bell’s “Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith”
Overall - D+
Creativity – B
Ability to Hold Interest – B+
Theology – D-
Reliability – D
Useful – D
Final conclusion – If you only read a few books a year, don’t waste one on this book. If you are grounded in your theology and want to read from the perspective of a new age church movement, read it.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s a cliché expression. Problem is, this saying holds an exact opposite truth than generally intended by that saying. This book has a great looking cover that was obviously designed by a talent graphic designer. However, once you get past the cover, “Velvet Elvis” not only has shoddy theology, by many of its ideas are dangerous.
I will let you know what drew me to this book. My friend from school loves Rob Bell to death, probably because my friend loves graphic design and all that cool stuff. For months I ripped on him about Rob Bell because of what I had heard about him from others. Finally, after a few months, I decided that instead of being a hypocrite, I would read the book. At times, the book is inspiriting and encouraging to the believer. However, if someone is not firmly grounded in Biblical theology, it can also lead to some dangerous ideas. I decided to post on this book because it has sold over 100,000 copies. Rob Bell’s NOOMA videos and other books, such as “Sex God”, have gathered him a national audience, and I think it is crucial for people in the church to use the lenses of Scripture to analyze all things, especially trendy or popular movements, such as the emergent movement Bell is tied to. I will try and make this review as brief as I can, but the books popularity makes me tend to what to analyze it in depth. For today, I will go over chapter 1, which is titled “Jump”.
CHAPTER 1 - JUMP:
Anyone who has written anything knows that you should try and begin and end well. This is crucial. Bell’s first and last chapters are nightmarish compared to the rest of his book. The overarching analogy in chapter one is that of a trampoline. He encourages everyone to follow with the fluid movement of Christianity, which he claims is constantly changing, adjusting, and growing. Bell states that God has not left us alone in human history, and that “As a part of this tradition, I embrace the need to keep painting, to keep reforming (12).” He goes on to say that by this he does not mean “better lights, sharper graphics, and new methods…I mean theology (12).”
Bell goes on to make the analogy of a trampoline. The springs of the trampoline represent doctrine. Like springs, theology has room to move (22). Bell claims doctrine has an importance to it, that it helps us put to words reality (25). He says that many of us wrongly make theology like bricks, where if one is removed, it damages the sturdiness of our faith (26). Then, he goes on to his famous statements on the virgin birth.
He says that if tomorrow, the virgin birth was disproved, one could keep “jumping”, could keep on with the faith and believing in God. “But if the whole faith fall apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring, then it wasn’t that strong in the first place, was it (27)?” He says that in brick world (those who believe doctrine is essential) are stuck to defend themselves, and that he would much rather enjoy the trampoline and invite others to enjoy jumping with him.
The problem with Rob Bell’s argument is that it is completely unbiblical. There is a problem called sin (which is tip toed around a lot in this book), and if Christ was born of a man, he would have imputed a sin nature. If Christ had imputed a sin nature, his sacrifice would have been worthless. And then me, Rob Bell, Jerry Falwell, Bill Graham and every other believer in history would have to account for their own sins, and would ultimately fall short and go to hell. It seems to me that the spring of the virgin birth is very important. I don’t think I can go “jumping” on the trampoline without it. You see this in the Bible with other doctrines.
Speaking about the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” Without the resurrection, we not only are not saved, but our entire lives on earth are to be pitied more than all men! We are the most pitiful creatures on earth if this doctrine is not true! Bell is correct that some beliefs about the Bible are not vital. That if certain springs broke (for example, if our views on the end times are wrong, the different views on miraculous gifts), we could continue jumping. He seems to forget that a doctrine about God changing over time means that God changes, that the Bible's claims of the immutability of God (theological term meaning He doesn't change) are untrue. He also seems to undermine the authority Scripture holds, aluding to theology changing even though the Word of God is the ultimate authority to the believer. Bell's ignorant, sweeping statements are completely heretical. There is no way around that fact.
Bell then goes on in this chapter and tells us to embrace doubt. Jesus never sponsored this type of thinking. He was always questioning his disciple’s faith, telling them they doubted too much. Yes, there is a time and a place for investigation, study, and research. However, I think there is healthy “doubt” and unhealthy doubt. One should not just accept everything they hear in the church or in a book blindly. They should always question and turn to the Word. And everyone goes through times where they do doubt, and those are times we need to have faith and trust in God and His character when things seems to make no sense. However, encouraging doubt seems to be pointing people to question God by our own standards. This is rebellion, and it is sin. There is a fine line. We should never hold ourselves above God like we can question Him.
I agree with him as he later says that seeking out truth will always lead to more questions, and we will never come to conclusions on everything. However, it is strangely absent that here Bell does not emphasis that we should turn to and lean on and desperately cling to the Bible for truth. I do like what he says on page 35, that many times we just try and convince people to believe the same things we do. With this, may people end up intellectually affirming these truths but never bowing their hearts to Christ or loving Him. This is not salvation, and this strategy of telling people that if they just agree with us in the truth that they are saved. Salvation always will result in a love for Christ, not just an ability to explain who He is.
In the end, the first chapter leaves the reader who embraces Bell’s teaching doubting doctrine, questioning God, and mostly focused on the experiential “jumping” of the Christian faith, which Bell encourages us to change and “repaint” as it continually changes. Not the best start to a book I have read. I will review the next few chapters in my next post.
Posted by John Carlson at 7:02 PM 0 comments
Friday, February 16, 2007
Academic Works
Academic Works
http://savefile.com/projects/1080352
This is a link (also on the right of my home page here) to some of my papers I have written during my undergrad/grad school work. They all fall under the categories of either Biblical Studies, Theology, or Church History. They do not all represent my best work, and some of them have many errors. They should be used to supplement learning, not for copying for academic dishonesty. Make sure when you click on the link to scroll down to see where they are to download. They will not be put as their own posts as most of them are at least 10 pages in length. Enjoy!
John
Rob Bell’s “Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith”
Overall - D+
Creativity – B
Ability to Hold Interest – B+
Theology – D-
Reliability – D
Useful – D
Final conclusion – If you only read a few books a year, don’t waste one on this book. If you are grounded in your theology and want to read from the perspective of a new age church movement, read it.
Don’t judge a book by its cover. It’s a cliché expression. Problem is, this saying holds an exact opposite truth than generally intended by that saying. This book has a great looking cover that was obviously designed by a talent graphic designer. However, once you get past the cover, “Velvet Elvis” not only has shoddy theology, by many of its ideas are dangerous.
I will let you know what drew me to this book. My friend from school loves Rob Bell to death, probably because my friend loves graphic design and all that cool stuff. For months I ripped on him about Rob Bell because of what I had heard about him from others. Finally, after a few months, I decided that instead of being a hypocrite, I would read the book. At times, the book is inspiriting and encouraging to the believer. However, if someone is not firmly grounded in Biblical theology, it can also lead to some dangerous ideas. I decided to post on this book because it has sold over 100,000 copies. Rob Bell’s NOOMA videos and other books, such as “Sex God”, have gathered him a national audience, and I think it is crucial for people in the church to use the lenses of Scripture to analyze all things, especially trendy or popular movements, such as the emergent movement Bell is tied to. I will try and make this review as brief as I can, but the books popularity makes me tend to what to analyze it in depth. For today, I will go over chapter 1, which is titled “Jump”.
CHAPTER 1 - JUMP:
Anyone who has written anything knows that you should try and begin and end well. This is crucial. Bell’s first and last chapters are nightmarish compared to the rest of his book. The overarching analogy in chapter one is that of a trampoline. He encourages everyone to follow with the fluid movement of Christianity, which he claims is constantly changing, adjusting, and growing. Bell states that God has not left us alone in human history, and that “As a part of this tradition, I embrace the need to keep painting, to keep reforming (12).” He goes on to say that by this he does not mean “better lights, sharper graphics, and new methods…I mean theology (12).”
Bell goes on to make the analogy of a trampoline. The springs of the trampoline represent doctrine. Like springs, theology has room to move (22). Bell claims doctrine has an importance to it, that it helps us put to words reality (25). He says that many of us wrongly make theology like bricks, where if one is removed, it damages the sturdiness of our faith (26). Then, he goes on to his famous statements on the virgin birth.
He says that if tomorrow, the virgin birth was disproved, one could keep “jumping”, could keep on with the faith and believing in God. “But if the whole faith fall apart when we reexamine and rethink one spring, then it wasn’t that strong in the first place, was it (27)?” He says that in brick world (those who believe doctrine is essential) are stuck to defend themselves, and that he would much rather enjoy the trampoline and invite others to enjoy jumping with him.
The problem with Rob Bell’s argument is that it is completely unbiblical. There is a problem called sin (which is tip toed around a lot in this book), and if Christ was born of a man, he would have imputed a sin nature. If Christ had imputed a sin nature, his sacrifice would have been worthless. And then me, Rob Bell, Jerry Falwell, Bill Graham and every other believer in history would have to account for their own sins, and would ultimately fall short and go to hell. It seems to me that the spring of the virgin birth is very important. I don’t think I can go “jumping” on the trampoline without it. You see this in the Bible with other doctrines.
Speaking about the doctrine of the resurrection of Christ, Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:17-19: “And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” Without the resurrection, we not only are not saved, but our entire lives on earth are to be pitied more than all men! We are the most pitiful creatures on earth if this doctrine is not true! Bell is correct that some beliefs about the Bible are not vital. That if certain springs broke (for example, if our views on the end times are wrong, the different views on miraculous gifts), we could continue jumping. He seems to forget that a doctrine about God changing over time means that God changes, that the Bible's claims of the immutability of God (theological term meaning He doesn't change) are untrue. He also seems to undermine the authority Scripture holds, aluding to theology changing even though the Word of God is the ultimate authority to the believer. Bell's ignorant, sweeping statements are completely heretical. There is no way around that fact.
Bell then goes on in this chapter and tells us to embrace doubt. Jesus never sponsored this type of thinking. He was always questioning his disciple’s faith, telling them they doubted too much. Yes, there is a time and a place for investigation, study, and research. However, I think there is healthy “doubt” and unhealthy doubt. One should not just accept everything they hear in the church or in a book blindly. They should always question and turn to the Word. And everyone goes through times where they do doubt, and those are times we need to have faith and trust in God and His character when things seems to make no sense. However, encouraging doubt seems to be pointing people to question God by our own standards. This is rebellion, and it is sin. There is a fine line. We should never hold ourselves above God like we can question Him.
I agree with him as he later says that seeking out truth will always lead to more questions, and we will never come to conclusions on everything. However, it is strangely absent that here Bell does not emphasis that we should turn to and lean on and desperately cling to the Bible for truth. I do like what he says on page 35, that many times we just try and convince people to believe the same things we do. With this, may people end up intellectually affirming these truths but never bowing their hearts to Christ or loving Him. This is not salvation, and this strategy of telling people that if they just agree with us in the truth that they are saved. Salvation always will result in a love for Christ, not just an ability to explain who He is.
In the end, the first chapter leaves the reader who embraces Bell’s teaching doubting doctrine, questioning God, and mostly focused on the experiential “jumping” of the Christian faith, which Bell encourages us to change and “repaint” as it continually changes. Not the best start to a book I have read. I will review the next few chapters in my next post.
Posted by John Carlson at 7:02 PM 0 comments
Friday, February 16, 2007
Academic Works
Academic Works
http://savefile.com/projects/1080352
This is a link (also on the right of my home page here) to some of my papers I have written during my undergrad/grad school work. They all fall under the categories of either Biblical Studies, Theology, or Church History. They do not all represent my best work, and some of them have many errors. They should be used to supplement learning, not for copying for academic dishonesty. Make sure when you click on the link to scroll down to see where they are to download. They will not be put as their own posts as most of them are at least 10 pages in length. Enjoy!
John
Saturday, March 17, 2007
An Update on Life/Random Thoughts
Ok, so for the four of you that might check this out, I am sorry for the lack of posting as of late. I have a few posts primed and ready, but have not gotten to them yet. I will be posting a book review of Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis" this week (I hope), and soon after hopefully one on "Fool's Gold" by John MacArthur.
So an update. February has been a rough month. This is the reason for a lack of inspiration here. It was a month where I allowed a lot of different things to take priority of the Word of God in my life, and struggle has ensued. I am hoping that is progressively changing. Sanctification is a process, unfortunately, and I can't just flip a light switch and become the person I want to be. The problem is, if I let that discourage me, it will get me nowhere. The beginning of March, however, began with a great weekend. The leadership in the youth group I lead Junior High worship for and volunteer with had a retreat in which we studies systematic theology and worshipped the Lord together. Now, coming from Liberty and having a Biblical Studies degree, I could have just acted like an arrogant fool as if I knew systematic theology like the back of my hand, but (for once) I was humble and really allowed God excite me with the truths of His Word again.
Rather than the details, one principle stands out to me. Proper theology should result in a passionate, Christ-exalting response of praise, rather than a general puffing up of knowledge. This is hard for me to keep in the forefront of my mind as I pursue degrees and write papers and take tests. This is not about knowledge. My pursuits are not about degrees, or about academia. Every time I approach my studies or my time in the Word or at church like this, I am wasting an opportunity to praise and exalt Christ in my heart. It’s a shame, because it happens too often.
The analogy goes like this. If you start dating someone, you can probably name a few reasons that you like that person (if you haven't known them too long). You could have been attracted to them because of their looks, or their kindness, or maybe the fun-loving attitude. But as your relationship matures, you begin to draw in a wide knowledge of who that person is. As time progresses, the reasons you like that person, or love them, is probably vastly more complex and beautiful than the original reason. The same goes for our relationship with the Lord. So many only know a small amount about who the Lord is, and they genuinely praise and glorify Him for these few things. However, there is a vast plethora of characteristics about the Lord and doctrine concerning our relationship for Him that can result in vastly deeper and more meaningful form of worship (not just with music) than the original. Too many of us just like the Lord (if we are honest), and this is only because we know so little about Him. If we know Him well, the only response is a deep and passionate love for Him. To many of us are still in the stage where we know about the Lord what a high school couple knows about each other. However, if you ask a wife why she loves her husband, it’s not because of the smile or his charm (if it is a healthy marriage), but rather probably because of his integrity, faithfulness, and his constant care under distress. We should aspire to know so much about God.
Regardless, I was challenged by the weekend, and had some leaders really speak truth into areas in which I am struggling and NEED to work on. I got to spend so much time with people much more godly than myself, many of them younger, and it was very challenging and encouraging.
Please pray for me, as I am contemplating a lot of issues in my life, mostly associated with my church and worship and my role there, as well as some other things. Though the request is ambiguous, I think that is specific enough to pray for. I will update you all on this if the need arises.
Now, as I get off of my soapbox, and attempt to live what I am talking about, I have a few more, less important thoughts.
On is that March Madness has begun, and it is great. I won my pool last year and hope to again. My final is Georgetown over Florida. Hope I pull that one off.
I have developed a slight addiction to espresso since I began working at Starbucks two months ago. I crave it when I have days off.
I don't believe global warming is legitimate (30 years ago at the peak of industrialization many scientists believer we were going to enter a global ice age), but IF IT IS REAL, I say bring it...it is too stinkin' cold. I hate the cold. People who like it are lying to try and impress you. That should not be something you like about them.
Ok, there is the update. Please be on the look out for my book reviews coming up and leave comments on what you think! Thanks!
So an update. February has been a rough month. This is the reason for a lack of inspiration here. It was a month where I allowed a lot of different things to take priority of the Word of God in my life, and struggle has ensued. I am hoping that is progressively changing. Sanctification is a process, unfortunately, and I can't just flip a light switch and become the person I want to be. The problem is, if I let that discourage me, it will get me nowhere. The beginning of March, however, began with a great weekend. The leadership in the youth group I lead Junior High worship for and volunteer with had a retreat in which we studies systematic theology and worshipped the Lord together. Now, coming from Liberty and having a Biblical Studies degree, I could have just acted like an arrogant fool as if I knew systematic theology like the back of my hand, but (for once) I was humble and really allowed God excite me with the truths of His Word again.
Rather than the details, one principle stands out to me. Proper theology should result in a passionate, Christ-exalting response of praise, rather than a general puffing up of knowledge. This is hard for me to keep in the forefront of my mind as I pursue degrees and write papers and take tests. This is not about knowledge. My pursuits are not about degrees, or about academia. Every time I approach my studies or my time in the Word or at church like this, I am wasting an opportunity to praise and exalt Christ in my heart. It’s a shame, because it happens too often.
The analogy goes like this. If you start dating someone, you can probably name a few reasons that you like that person (if you haven't known them too long). You could have been attracted to them because of their looks, or their kindness, or maybe the fun-loving attitude. But as your relationship matures, you begin to draw in a wide knowledge of who that person is. As time progresses, the reasons you like that person, or love them, is probably vastly more complex and beautiful than the original reason. The same goes for our relationship with the Lord. So many only know a small amount about who the Lord is, and they genuinely praise and glorify Him for these few things. However, there is a vast plethora of characteristics about the Lord and doctrine concerning our relationship for Him that can result in vastly deeper and more meaningful form of worship (not just with music) than the original. Too many of us just like the Lord (if we are honest), and this is only because we know so little about Him. If we know Him well, the only response is a deep and passionate love for Him. To many of us are still in the stage where we know about the Lord what a high school couple knows about each other. However, if you ask a wife why she loves her husband, it’s not because of the smile or his charm (if it is a healthy marriage), but rather probably because of his integrity, faithfulness, and his constant care under distress. We should aspire to know so much about God.
Regardless, I was challenged by the weekend, and had some leaders really speak truth into areas in which I am struggling and NEED to work on. I got to spend so much time with people much more godly than myself, many of them younger, and it was very challenging and encouraging.
Please pray for me, as I am contemplating a lot of issues in my life, mostly associated with my church and worship and my role there, as well as some other things. Though the request is ambiguous, I think that is specific enough to pray for. I will update you all on this if the need arises.
Now, as I get off of my soapbox, and attempt to live what I am talking about, I have a few more, less important thoughts.
On is that March Madness has begun, and it is great. I won my pool last year and hope to again. My final is Georgetown over Florida. Hope I pull that one off.
I have developed a slight addiction to espresso since I began working at Starbucks two months ago. I crave it when I have days off.
I don't believe global warming is legitimate (30 years ago at the peak of industrialization many scientists believer we were going to enter a global ice age), but IF IT IS REAL, I say bring it...it is too stinkin' cold. I hate the cold. People who like it are lying to try and impress you. That should not be something you like about them.
Ok, there is the update. Please be on the look out for my book reviews coming up and leave comments on what you think! Thanks!
Friday, February 16, 2007
Academic Works
http://savefile.com/projects/1080352
This is a link (also on the right of my home page here) to some of my papers I have written during my undergrad/grad school work. They all fall under the categories of either Biblical Studies, Theology, or Church History. They do not all represent my best work, and some of them have many errors. They should be used to supplement learning, not for copying for academic dishonesty. Make sure when you click on the link to scroll down to see where they are to download. They will not be put as their own posts as most of them are at least 10 pages in length. Enjoy!
John
This is a link (also on the right of my home page here) to some of my papers I have written during my undergrad/grad school work. They all fall under the categories of either Biblical Studies, Theology, or Church History. They do not all represent my best work, and some of them have many errors. They should be used to supplement learning, not for copying for academic dishonesty. Make sure when you click on the link to scroll down to see where they are to download. They will not be put as their own posts as most of them are at least 10 pages in length. Enjoy!
John
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