Have recently been put back into contact with an old friend of mine back from Green Bay, goes by the name of Nate. He's now a married seminary student living in Texas and is about four or five years older than me (as most of my Green Bay friends tended to be). While chatting online one night we got to talking about Biblical matters, and I mentioned those Ezekiel sermons Bruce was preaching about, specifically all the talk about the Spirit leaving the temple. I sent him the link to Bruce's post, and here is an editted version of our conversation following it. Note- names changed to protect our AIMs.
Nate: yeah, reading it...aight...heres me thoughts
STU2: i'm not sure if i really totally agree with it, but he uses some good scripture to back it up...
Nate: God's plan did not change with the temple... he wasn't 'forced out' of the temple...even before Ezekiel he reminded his people that he had a plan to write his words on their hearts (going back to david's time)
Nate: there's this idea floating around right now that God changes his mind...that he has emotions and we can affect him...and i say...YES
Nate: but then we get into the tricky territory of what exactly we mean by change, when he is unchangeable
STU2: true
Nate: i think that His emotions are a reflection of His absolute character (and i'm getting to my point, i promise)
Nate: God changes every time someone accepts him and he 'decides' not to send them to hell... but our understanding of that time is so limited
Nate: for instance, if you really read genesis, it looks like abraham has been following God for some time before 'it was counted to him as righteousness'
Nate: which gets us to our point...and i don't entirely disagree with your pastor
Nate: all i'm saying is this--some people who claim to be Christians will be very surprised when they meet God for the first time
Nate: But all people that God claims to be Christians will know him when they see Him
STU2: hmm... i'll have to think about all this
Nate: i don't think that God changes His mind when we sin--even if we 'force him out' of our hearts (temple)
STU2: any scripture to back this up?
Nate: anyways, here goes: acts 17:24 and to the end of the chapter
Nate: it's one of the great apologetics
STU2: ok
Nate: well, my point here is that paul has started out without judaism to convert to greeks...atheists and pantheists alike
Nate: he's pointing out to them that God does not live in temples made by human hands
Nate: the context is simple--he's standing in front of a temple to the unknown God
STU2: yes
Nate: but his point is even more simple--that God doesn't need anything from us... in a pagan mindset, this is profound--the gods needed our attention--even fought over it
Nate: he goes on to argue that God has put man in the position that he's in--searching (fumbling or groping) in the dark to find God
Nate: God has placed in us this desire to find him... which is a paradox
STU2: off topic...read a good book recently that argues we need to adopt that a more Paul type form of witnessing than a Peter type...mainly because we as a culture do not have a biblical basis any more, so our techniques need to change
Nate: i'd agree with that point to some extent
Nate: but anyways, i know i'm like forever away from concluding my thoughts, but in verse 31 paul finishes with this simple thought that God gives assurance to unto all men (and he does say all) in the resurrection
Nate: so salvation is available to all, but not all take it. but those that do are assured of it
Nate: i'm not totally disagreeing with your pastor here, please understand
STU2: i understand
Nate: it seems like there are lots of holes in your arguments
Nate: but it seems right to me
Nate: anyways man, i hope that i've made any sense at all tonight, i'm kinda tired. my point in acts was simply this--we have assurance of our salvation, and it is the same assurance of damnation to the world--the cross either brings us to life or condemns us to death.
Nate: but when it does...well, that's hard to tell
Nate: the question which i've kinda sidestepped around is this--can you step back over the fence?
STU2: meaning?
Nate: well, i still haven't really answered if you can lose your salvation or not
STU2: true
Nate: i've just answered that you can know for sure you have it
STU2: it's an ongoing debate among many circles...and despite what some fundamentalists say, it's not so easy to understand
Nate: but the question is flawed
Nate: i mean, you choose every day to step across the line
Nate: but you don't lose your salvation every time you do
Nate: because your salvation has nothing to do with anything that you've done
Nate: it's assured in the cross that you can be saved
Nate: so it's on the cross that you have to depend, thank God
STU2: true...which is hard for me to understand at times, coming from a legalistic background
Nate: i think the change that would be required of God to 'lose' your salvation would be against His nature
Nate: i don't think God changes that way, but we do
STU2: lol, it's too late for these types of arguments...
Nate: well, it's a lot ot think about
STU2: yeah... might as well just call it a night, u've given me a lot to think about
Nate: well, thanks for the friendly discussion
STU2: no problem
STU2: do you mind if i copy all this down and get some feedback from either friends or my pastor?
Nate: not at all
STU2: thanks
STU2: u'll be on the 6 o'clock news
Nate: i read a fascinating quote by C.S. Lewis the other day...let me find it
STU2: ok
Nate: "i know it indeed to my cost. in the days when i still hated Christianity, i learned to recognise, like some all too familiar smell, that almost unvarying SOMETHING which met me, now in Puritan Bunyan, now in Anglican Hooker, now in Thomist Dante...it was, of course, varied; and yet--after all--so unmistakenly the same. recognisable, not to be evaded, the odour which is death to us until we allow it to become life. (CS Lewis)
Nate: speaking of Christianity, despite its divisions, as a 'formidable unity' to the those who are 'without'
Please feel free to leave any comments or join the discussion. I'll make sure Nate gets your responses.
Feb 27, 2006
Feb 26, 2006
Blog update, and a shoutout
My apologies for not posting more often here. I envisioned Zoo Station to be more of a serious type of blog, as opposed to one of those "my day sucked/I love popcorn!/she's so into me" type of teenage online journals. Been there, done that, hated it. So, when I have something really important to say, it will get posted here, and not on that "other" blog over at myspace. Although there might be some "crossblogging" (can I coin that term?).
Plus, I was really surprised and sorta excited to find out that there are people out there who bother reading this. All to often it feels that any sort of creative work I do, be it putting down an exact track listing on a cd that reflects a theme or a mood of mine, to actually being the editor of a student newspaper which sucks huge amounts of my time and energy, or even posting a blog online...all creative work I do seems underappreciated or worse yet unnoticed.
It's nice to be noticed. Thank you.
One little shoutout- When I'm handed a cd that has "Better than U2" written on it, I'm more than skeptical. No one is better. Period. Except maybe the Beatles.
That said, I have got to give mad props to Micah for giving me a copy of Delirious? "The Mission Bell." I've listened to it a handful of times (including as I write this) and I must say it is an excellent, excellent album. Thanks Micah.
Signing off...
Plus, I was really surprised and sorta excited to find out that there are people out there who bother reading this. All to often it feels that any sort of creative work I do, be it putting down an exact track listing on a cd that reflects a theme or a mood of mine, to actually being the editor of a student newspaper which sucks huge amounts of my time and energy, or even posting a blog online...all creative work I do seems underappreciated or worse yet unnoticed.
It's nice to be noticed. Thank you.
One little shoutout- When I'm handed a cd that has "Better than U2" written on it, I'm more than skeptical. No one is better. Period. Except maybe the Beatles.
That said, I have got to give mad props to Micah for giving me a copy of Delirious? "The Mission Bell." I've listened to it a handful of times (including as I write this) and I must say it is an excellent, excellent album. Thanks Micah.
Signing off...
My apologies for not posting more often here. I envisioned Zoo Station to be more of a serious type of blog, as opposed to one of those "my day sucked/I love popcorn!/she's so into me" type of teenage online journals. Been there, done that, hated it. So, when I have something really important to say, it will get posted here, and not on that "other" blog over at myspace. Although there might be some "crossblogging" (can I coin that term?).
Plus, I was really surprised and sorta excited to find out that there are people out there who bother reading this. All to often it feels that any sort of creative work I do, be it putting down an exact track listing on a cd that reflects a theme or a mood of mine, to actually being the editor of a student newspaper which sucks huge amounts of my time and energy, or even posting a blog online...all creative work I do seems underappreciated or worse yet unnoticed.
It's nice to be noticed. Thank you.
One little shoutout- When I'm handed a cd that has "Better than U2" written on it, I'm more than skeptical. No one is better. Period. Except maybe the Beatles.
That said, I have got to give mad props to Micah for giving me a copy of Delirious? "The Mission Bell." I've listened to it a handful of times (including as I write this) and I must say it is an excellent, excellent album. Thanks Micah.
Signing off...
Plus, I was really surprised and sorta excited to find out that there are people out there who bother reading this. All to often it feels that any sort of creative work I do, be it putting down an exact track listing on a cd that reflects a theme or a mood of mine, to actually being the editor of a student newspaper which sucks huge amounts of my time and energy, or even posting a blog online...all creative work I do seems underappreciated or worse yet unnoticed.
It's nice to be noticed. Thank you.
One little shoutout- When I'm handed a cd that has "Better than U2" written on it, I'm more than skeptical. No one is better. Period. Except maybe the Beatles.
That said, I have got to give mad props to Micah for giving me a copy of Delirious? "The Mission Bell." I've listened to it a handful of times (including as I write this) and I must say it is an excellent, excellent album. Thanks Micah.
Signing off...
Feb 13, 2006
Frank Miller's Batman goes political
There is an excellent article and interview set I found. http://brainster.blogspot.com/2006_02_12_brainster_archive.html#113985914760313518
In it, a great quote from Frank Miller, circa 1994. By the way, Frank Miller is a highly acclaimed novelist/graphic artist/film producer. I've highly enjoyed his work throughout the years. Anyways, his great quote:
Troublesome as the so-called Religious Right can be, they're generally a pretty clumsy bunch. They swing a club. 'Liberals', on the other hand, use a scalpel, and only after they've applied intellectual anesthetic. Any pain is felt much later. This makes them much more dangerous censors. Especially since most artists tend to be vulnerable to their anesthetic. The most palpable threat to free speech these days comes from the secular political left. Janet Reno, Paul Simon, all those little 'politically correct' fascists that haunt our universities, preaching that the purpose of fiction is not entertainment, but rather indoctrination. These shameless, lying, whiny scumbag baby boomer, sixties-generation spoiled brats who think they serve society by rewriting history and trying to unravel our language...they represent a much more effective and successful effort to shut down free speech and the free press than the Bible-bangers ever have." Frank Miller, 1994.
In it, a great quote from Frank Miller, circa 1994. By the way, Frank Miller is a highly acclaimed novelist/graphic artist/film producer. I've highly enjoyed his work throughout the years. Anyways, his great quote:
Troublesome as the so-called Religious Right can be, they're generally a pretty clumsy bunch. They swing a club. 'Liberals', on the other hand, use a scalpel, and only after they've applied intellectual anesthetic. Any pain is felt much later. This makes them much more dangerous censors. Especially since most artists tend to be vulnerable to their anesthetic. The most palpable threat to free speech these days comes from the secular political left. Janet Reno, Paul Simon, all those little 'politically correct' fascists that haunt our universities, preaching that the purpose of fiction is not entertainment, but rather indoctrination. These shameless, lying, whiny scumbag baby boomer, sixties-generation spoiled brats who think they serve society by rewriting history and trying to unravel our language...they represent a much more effective and successful effort to shut down free speech and the free press than the Bible-bangers ever have." Frank Miller, 1994.
Feb 12, 2006
Jack Thompson a Christian? Don't make me laugh...
This Jack Thompson guy sickens me. Not only does he have the nerve to manipulate data to fit his own little schemes, but then he has the nerve to call himself a Christian? And to tell Bono that he will be losing his Christian testimony if he is part of a joint venture group that buys Take Two...sheesh. This guy sickens and disgusts me.
Give it time, Hillary will jump onto this too...
_______________________________________
Ellie GibsonFebruary 10, 2006
Following the emergence of rumours that Elevation Partners may launch an acquisition bid for Take Two, Jack Thompson has written an open letter to one of Elevation's key investors - U2 frontman Bono.
"Dear Bono," the letter begins, "I write you as a fellow brother in Jesus Christ, appreciative of your bold witness to the transforming truth of the Gospel, in both your words and your deeds... I write to encourage you, respectfully and in a spirit of brotherly love, not to purchase Take Two Interactive Software, Inc."
Thompson warns Bono that if he acquires Take Two, he will also acquire "A Mature-rated murder simulator marketed and sold to teens that has been linked by law enforcement officials to numerous, specific, provable copycat killings around the country" - namely Grand Theft Auto, of course.
He goes on to claim that Take Two "lied to the investment community" in its latest SEC filing, and warns that ongoing "criminal investigations" have put the publisher's very survival at risk, "Despite the fraudulent assertions in the recent [SEC filing] that they are all 'without merit'."
"That is akin to saying that AIDS poses no threat to life. Ridiculous."
Thompson then argues that the PS2's Dual Shock controller "desensitises the user to the act of killing" because it "sends a visceral jolt back into the hands of the player each time he kills." Which, obviously, he sees as another reason not to buy Take Two.
Thompson doesn't think much of Bill Gates, either, who recently appeared on the cover of Time magazine alongside Bono. "I assume you think Gates a man of intellect," the letter reads."Here is what he said recently on 60 Minutes: 'These action games transport you to a world you think is real.' Exactly. That is why they are dangerous."
Next in the firing line is Bully, a forthcoming Rockstar title that is set in a school and which has already caused controversy despite the fact it has yet to be released. Thompson describes it as a "Columbine simulator" that will "spawn more school violence," alleging that Take Two has "lied to the public about what is actually in this game."
He also claims that he has obtained screenshots which show the game's true content, stating: "I can hear Take-Two saying to you, Bono, if I were to show you these clandestine screenshots, 'Who are you going to believe, Bono; us or your lying eyes?'"
Thompson warns Bono that buying Take Two "will serve as a refutation of your Christian twitness [sic]", stating that unless Elevation Partners plans to buy Take Two for the purpose of incinerating the Grand Theft Auto games and the other murder simulator titles that Take Two owns... Then you will be tying a millstone around your own neck."
The letter finishes: "I could fill another ten pages with descriptions of the criminal activity by Take-Two and [law firm] Blank Rome toward me, but I can tell you about all that if and when we meet."I am trying to keep you, dear brother, from being run over by a careening bus. I do this to help you. A brother in Christ has now warned you. Now, do the right thing, in His powerful name I pray," Thompson writes, before signing off: "In Jesus Christ, Jack Thompson."
You can read the full letter over at Game Politics.http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/202166.html? thread=13231030#t13231030
Bono was unavailable for comment at the time of writing, but we've sent him a text.
Give it time, Hillary will jump onto this too...
_______________________________________
Ellie GibsonFebruary 10, 2006
Following the emergence of rumours that Elevation Partners may launch an acquisition bid for Take Two, Jack Thompson has written an open letter to one of Elevation's key investors - U2 frontman Bono.
"Dear Bono," the letter begins, "I write you as a fellow brother in Jesus Christ, appreciative of your bold witness to the transforming truth of the Gospel, in both your words and your deeds... I write to encourage you, respectfully and in a spirit of brotherly love, not to purchase Take Two Interactive Software, Inc."
Thompson warns Bono that if he acquires Take Two, he will also acquire "A Mature-rated murder simulator marketed and sold to teens that has been linked by law enforcement officials to numerous, specific, provable copycat killings around the country" - namely Grand Theft Auto, of course.
He goes on to claim that Take Two "lied to the investment community" in its latest SEC filing, and warns that ongoing "criminal investigations" have put the publisher's very survival at risk, "Despite the fraudulent assertions in the recent [SEC filing] that they are all 'without merit'."
"That is akin to saying that AIDS poses no threat to life. Ridiculous."
Thompson then argues that the PS2's Dual Shock controller "desensitises the user to the act of killing" because it "sends a visceral jolt back into the hands of the player each time he kills." Which, obviously, he sees as another reason not to buy Take Two.
Thompson doesn't think much of Bill Gates, either, who recently appeared on the cover of Time magazine alongside Bono. "I assume you think Gates a man of intellect," the letter reads."Here is what he said recently on 60 Minutes: 'These action games transport you to a world you think is real.' Exactly. That is why they are dangerous."
Next in the firing line is Bully, a forthcoming Rockstar title that is set in a school and which has already caused controversy despite the fact it has yet to be released. Thompson describes it as a "Columbine simulator" that will "spawn more school violence," alleging that Take Two has "lied to the public about what is actually in this game."
He also claims that he has obtained screenshots which show the game's true content, stating: "I can hear Take-Two saying to you, Bono, if I were to show you these clandestine screenshots, 'Who are you going to believe, Bono; us or your lying eyes?'"
Thompson warns Bono that buying Take Two "will serve as a refutation of your Christian twitness [sic]", stating that unless Elevation Partners plans to buy Take Two for the purpose of incinerating the Grand Theft Auto games and the other murder simulator titles that Take Two owns... Then you will be tying a millstone around your own neck."
The letter finishes: "I could fill another ten pages with descriptions of the criminal activity by Take-Two and [law firm] Blank Rome toward me, but I can tell you about all that if and when we meet."I am trying to keep you, dear brother, from being run over by a careening bus. I do this to help you. A brother in Christ has now warned you. Now, do the right thing, in His powerful name I pray," Thompson writes, before signing off: "In Jesus Christ, Jack Thompson."
You can read the full letter over at Game Politics.http://gamepolitics.livejournal.com/202166.html? thread=13231030#t13231030
Bono was unavailable for comment at the time of writing, but we've sent him a text.
Feb 10, 2006
A wonderful quote from Eugene Peterson
In the foreword to Raewynne J. Whiteley and Beth Maynard's, Get Up Off Your Knees, Preaching the U2 Catalog, Peterson wrote:
"Is U2 a prophetic voice? I rather think so. And many of my friends think so. If they do not explicitly proclaim the Kingdom, they certainly prepare the way for that proclamation in much the same way that John the Baptist prepared the way for the kerygma of Jesus. . . . Amos crafted poems, Jeremiah wept sermons, Isaiah alternately rebuked and comforted, Ezekiel did street theater. U2 writes songs and goes on tour, singing them."
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4232
And I apologize for not blogging on this account more, I'll have to step it up a notch or two to make it interesting.
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