Work In Progress

It's the beginning of the service, and all is quiet except for the preacher who starts to pray.

SUDDENLY- A motorcycle drives by outside, buzzing loudly as it passes our building.

I've always been told to ignore the noises outside the church, and to focus on what's going on inside. This is sound advice for the literal noises outside during a church service, but what about on the metaphorical. What would it mean for us focus on the noises outside the church that we hear through our walls as we carry on our gatherings? What do these metaphorical noises represent. If we listened to them, what would we learn?

What do you think about the idea? I haven't fleshed it out much. Please give feedback.

God is Overwhelming

I recently went on a retreat out in the country. It was a wonderful time. Just going hikes, and hearing the life experiences of the leaders at the retreat, was amazing. The experience really expanded my view of what "life" is. It's so easy to forget that not everyone lives in the city, and that not everyone goes to college, and that not every college is like yours. Seeing people living in the country, and loving it, it reminds me of the fact that we can't experience everything. As much as I wish it weren't the case, it is. God doesn't call us to experience everything, and we have to become okay with that.

Hearing about, and meeting, people who are living much different lives from me has been very beneficial. I often forget how beautiful my life is. Through seeing the beauty of lives vastly different than mine though, I am able to see the beauty in mine. This is because for me, seeing beauty is seeing possibilities, seeing hope and potential. And so seeing the possibilities of other's way-of-life, I can see how they see the possibilities in mine.

It still makes me somewhat sad that there are limits to what I'll be able to experience in my life. I can't grow up and have a hundred careers, it's just not feasible. But I can take comfort in the fact that these infinite possibilities come from a Creator who is so amazing, that He has created a world vaster than I can ever completely experience. And I can take hope in the fact that others will see my life, and see the beauty in it, and be inspired to take a similar path, or maybe they'll see the beauty of a different path because of mine, and it will give them courage and reassurance.

A Song

I saw this band live on Tuesday. I heard this song, and it was so amazing. Not just musically, but the fact that someone could write this song, is so hard to believe. As the singer said "Some people say this song is cynical. This couldn't be farther from the truth." Enjoy these lyrics. This song is on YouTube. It's not that I heavy, I promise.

Gratitude by VNV Nation

It is not love, if love is cold to touch
It is not belief, when there's nothing there to trust
Could not submit, would never bring myself to heel
Determination grows, as each truth is revealed

Torn and repaired, just to endure it all again
Without a reason for my place in all this pain
Though well concealed, the scars they just compound
Until there's nothing left of what was once my former self

My god, look at what we are now
Without regret for all the things that we have done

Thank you for all the doubts, and for all the questioning
For all the loneliness and for all the suffering
For all the emptiness, and the scars it left inside
It inspired in me, an impetus to fight

For the conviction, for the purpose found along
For the strength and courage, that in me I've never known
And if it seems to you, that my words are undeserved
I write this in gratitude for whatever good it serves

Sometimes I wish, that you could see me now
In the rightful place, where I knew that I belonged
Sometimes I wish, that you might someday understand
To close the chapter, and lay to rest the past

But nothing would change, we make the best of what we have
For we are measured, by the actions of our lives
We bide our time, let the future unfold
Like immortals, in great legends to be told

My god, look at what we are now
Without regret for all the things that we have done

Thank you for all the doubts, and for all the questioning
For all the loneliness, and for all the suffering
For all the emptiness, and the scars it left inside
It inspired in me, an impetus to fight

To all who stood with me, when we stood as one
Thank you for guiding me, for bringing me home
And if it seems that I'm obliged to say these words
I write this in gratitude, the least that you deserve

On "Belief": To the Insiders

Christians should be much more thoughtful when discussing the issue of "belief", especially when non-Christians are around. We often forget that the word "belief" has very strong negative connotations for many people, and that it is often thought of as 'forced' rather than sincere. For those with such connotations of 'belief' it must be quite disturbing to hear about "the importance of belief" and "believing even when God seems to have abandoned you" and especially when hearing ideas like "beliefs are more important than actions." 

This doesn't mean that belief isn't important, but it means that we Christians should think about how our messages will sound to different audiences, and we should clarify on points (like "belief") where the connotations we attach to a word, phrase, or idea might be lost.

A Time To Argue, A Time To Discuss

I find that when talking theology with friends, most of my discussions become arguments.

 

Argument: a dialogue that focuses on critical analysis of an idea; often serious but does not imply 'heated'

Critical analysis: a piece by piece analysis of the validity/truthfulness of an idea

Discussion: a dialogue that emphasizes the implications of an idea; discussion includes but does not focus on critical analysis; discussion often includes temporarily assuming the idea is true regardless of whether one believes it to be so; discussion is often light-hearted but can become heated

A Prayer Over Food

Hear's a paraphrase of the prayer I say before I eat (those few times when I do pray before I eat):

God, thank you for this food before me. You are the source of all nutrition, whether it be physical, mental, spiritual, or other. May I not forget this when I am in need. This food has gone through many hands, and many levels of work have brought and prepared it for me. May I not forget the injustices that have occurred in getting the food to me. May the energy it supplies help me to defeat those injustices. May I not forget those who are without food, for whatever reason. For as long as I have ability to put food on my plate, may I never refuse to give food to the hungry when the opportunity arises. God, thank you for your love. May I not keep it to myself, but share it with the world. Amen.

Revelation

I think God made life to be lived through principles not through rules.