Sunday, March 23, 2008
Easter
Nothing like a friggin' sweet guitar solo to remind you of how awesome the resurrection is. While a guitar solo inspires awe the reality the Christ was not bound to the grave inspires so much more awe.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Justice
So Jesus said that the poor would always be with us. I was reflecting on this idea and how in ways it could quite possibly slap the human understanding of retributive and reparation justice in the face. This idea of doing justice because there is a 'norm' to the world, that there is a balance we must achieve seems faulty in light of Jesus' comment that the poor will always be with us. For if the poor will always be with us there is no hope of bringing about this balance, this norm.
Don't get me wrong, I think it is horribly wrong that there are children who go to bed hungry and will later die because they don't have food. I think it is wrong that mothers will lie dying of a disease knowing there is no one to care for her children. I think it is wrong that in the name of justice people kill to restore this elusive thing known as justice.
My point, is that yes, we feed those who are starving. Yes, we care for orphans and widows and whoever else is around us suffering as a result of our broken world. BUT, we do not do these things because we believe we will bring about a balance, it is not to establish something. The one who will establish justice is God. It is our heavenly Father. At the time when the kingdom is fully known and made present there will be justice that is so perfect we cannot fathom it now. And so for now let us love God and others. Let the world know we are Christians because we, who are make up the body of Christ, love others despite the reality that we ourselves will never bring about a world of justice.
Don't get me wrong, I think it is horribly wrong that there are children who go to bed hungry and will later die because they don't have food. I think it is wrong that mothers will lie dying of a disease knowing there is no one to care for her children. I think it is wrong that in the name of justice people kill to restore this elusive thing known as justice.
My point, is that yes, we feed those who are starving. Yes, we care for orphans and widows and whoever else is around us suffering as a result of our broken world. BUT, we do not do these things because we believe we will bring about a balance, it is not to establish something. The one who will establish justice is God. It is our heavenly Father. At the time when the kingdom is fully known and made present there will be justice that is so perfect we cannot fathom it now. And so for now let us love God and others. Let the world know we are Christians because we, who are make up the body of Christ, love others despite the reality that we ourselves will never bring about a world of justice.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
A Post For Erik
"The religion that Americans (and the victims of Western secularism around the world) are turning their backs on is not the dynamic equivalent of the faith that turned the first-century world upside-down."
-Charles Kraft
Oh, what a Powerbomb Mr. Kraft gives us. So here we are in 2008 and the church definitely seems different that what we read about in Acts. I know... that was then, this is now, of course we should be different. After all, we have oil and democracy. So there are some differences in forms but should there really be such a big difference in terms of impact (generally speaking)? Don't get me wrong there are plenty of good things happening within the church but there are plenty of horrid things. People forget that those who are being tortured in the name of 'freedom' are humans that we are called to love. People have lost faith in this community called the body of Christ, although plenty of people still like the idea of Jesus.
Perhaps we, the church, need some good theology to kick us in the ass. Encouraging, challenging, and convicting us. To follow Christ cannot be some passive thing. We must think, listen, look, read, speak, love. I think that is something we in North America have forgotten, and perhaps that is one of the reasons we here are not having the same type of impact as those in the past. After all, they will know we are Christians by our love.
-Charles Kraft
Oh, what a Powerbomb Mr. Kraft gives us. So here we are in 2008 and the church definitely seems different that what we read about in Acts. I know... that was then, this is now, of course we should be different. After all, we have oil and democracy. So there are some differences in forms but should there really be such a big difference in terms of impact (generally speaking)? Don't get me wrong there are plenty of good things happening within the church but there are plenty of horrid things. People forget that those who are being tortured in the name of 'freedom' are humans that we are called to love. People have lost faith in this community called the body of Christ, although plenty of people still like the idea of Jesus.
Perhaps we, the church, need some good theology to kick us in the ass. Encouraging, challenging, and convicting us. To follow Christ cannot be some passive thing. We must think, listen, look, read, speak, love. I think that is something we in North America have forgotten, and perhaps that is one of the reasons we here are not having the same type of impact as those in the past. After all, they will know we are Christians by our love.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Weather warning
It is supposed to get up to 4 degrees today, you heard me 4, and we are talking Celsius. I'm going to lather on some SPF 45 to keep from burning up.
Friday, March 7, 2008
The looming future
It is my birthday in just over a month and I figure I am having a midlife crisis (that is right I only plan on living to be 50). I was thinking about what I have done with life and it is sort of funny. I have succeeded in blowing away all of the expectations good old fashion family tv puts on a young adult. I'm still in school, I don't have a real job, definitely not married, I pretty darn sure I don't have any kids. Well I have Logan he is practically like my son with his ageless face. He will be laughing in 20 years.
I figure a successful life is all relative. If I compare myself to The Dude and use that as my standard of success I think I am doing pretty good. My bowling game is lacking though, perhaps that is why I am going bowling for my birthday?
The Dude is my anchor in terms of success and I am happy with that. I don't want to end up being Walter after all.
Revolution! I am the walrus.
I figure a successful life is all relative. If I compare myself to The Dude and use that as my standard of success I think I am doing pretty good. My bowling game is lacking though, perhaps that is why I am going bowling for my birthday?
The Dude is my anchor in terms of success and I am happy with that. I don't want to end up being Walter after all.
Revolution! I am the walrus.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
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