One small thing I want to address first...JP, you have my prayers. I hope he has a speedy and smooth recovery from the accident, and that through this whole process a valuable lesson will be learned. Heal, man. Sit back and watch some Simpsons and heal.
Now on to to true purpose of this blog...
You all know I work at a radio station, primarily dubbing old reel to reel tapes of sermons and lectures from the seminary and church. Boring stuff, I always have my own headphones handy, because really, who wants to listen to some theologian from the 70's prattle on about something theological that is half based on Biblical proof and half based on what he wants the Bible to say. A prime example of this is popular culture, music, and end times theories. No, Russia is not the Anti-Christ...get yourselfs up to speed.
Anyways, I don't actively listen, but at times little thoughts and sentences come to me from the speakers. I have no clue who said it, what the context was, or even when it was said. But a thought stuck with me...which I will try my best to remember and paraphrase:
"How mad are you about today's youth? How mad are you at how they are slowly turning from God and becoming like they are? How mad are you at how people have corrupted this generation, teaching them to hate their parents and despise each other, and just fend for themselves?
"How mad are you to do something about it?"
That's a powerful thought. And it's been coming back to me over and over again. And yet, I'm going to turn it on it's head.
How mad am I at how today's youth are turning from God...who are already Christians and in church? The answer, surprisingly, is for the most part, very mad.
I've lost track of the number of my peers who have rejected God. I'm sure it's just coincidence that most of these people came from highly judgemental and legalistic backgrouds. And yet, it's like there are two major paths my generation, coming from a Christian background, tends to walk. One- they accept the indoctrination (negative), or God in general (positive), completely. Or two- they turn their back on God and church and the Christian life completely. (negative, of course)
The stories I've heard are heartbreaking...
A leader in the youth group growing up goes to college, meets a man, has a baby, and runs crying to their parents for support.
Another girl spends her time jumping from boyfriend to boyfriend, constantly looking to herself, struggling to find any meaning in her life beyond the next fun attraction who will help pay her bills.
A guy graduates from college, starts experiencing the party lifestyle, hooks onto drugs, near impregnates his girlfriend, and contemplates suicide.
Then there are the people who actually do commit suicide. I am related to at least two of them, that I know of. Suicide and abortion are probably the two most touchiest subjects I know, and I am familiar with people who have gone through or known someone who has experienced them.
So what am I trying to say here? I don't think I'm saying that I need to become a youth pastor or anything. I have my doubts about many people who claim that they are destined for the ministry in one form or another. I am always curious how they just know "God is calling them" to such and such.
But...am I mad at what is becoming of Christians my own age...and people my own age in general?
Emphatically, expletively...YES.
And it all grates on me, and I feel powerless to do anything about it.
Jul 31, 2006
Jul 27, 2006
For Audra/JP and Amber/Pete and others expecting
Been meaning to post this for a while, and since I got some down time, no surprise, at the radio station, thought I'd share it.
Yes, my humor is..."different"...
Yes, my humor is..."different"...
Jul 26, 2006
Some quick quotes
"Humor is a prelude to faith, and laughter is the beginning of prayer." - Reinhold Niebuhr
"If humor without faith is in danger of dissolving into cynicism and despair, faith without humor is in danger of turning in arrogance and intolerance." - Conrad Hyers
"If humor without faith is in danger of dissolving into cynicism and despair, faith without humor is in danger of turning in arrogance and intolerance." - Conrad Hyers
Jul 16, 2006
Fox 9 News: Bringing You the "Summer Rain"
I have to give props out to Fox9 News tonight. During their 9 pm slot, they showed a brief clip of various rain and water images following a story on the fires at the Boundary Waters.
During the clip, they played the U2 song "Summer Rain." Now, this isn't a regular U2 song; this was a B-side on the single for "Beautiful Day." It's never been played live, never shown up on an album (except the limited edition U2:7 available at Target), so obviously a true U2 fan got to choose the music for that clip tonight.
...The other local affiliates are going to have to step it up now...
During the clip, they played the U2 song "Summer Rain." Now, this isn't a regular U2 song; this was a B-side on the single for "Beautiful Day." It's never been played live, never shown up on an album (except the limited edition U2:7 available at Target), so obviously a true U2 fan got to choose the music for that clip tonight.
...The other local affiliates are going to have to step it up now...
Jul 11, 2006
Sanitized movies is a violation of copyright law!!
http://movies.yahoo.com/mv/news/ap/20060708/115241712000.html
I consider this great news. It has always annoyed me that people are willing to just cut out any "objectionable" material in a movie or book. Reminds me of a girl I knew back in junior high who would cut out whole portions of her Bible because she didn't like them.
This reminds me of those annoying commercials you see in theatres or on dvd. "You wouldn't steal a car...You shouldn't steal a movie!" Now it's "You wouldn't cut out the Mona Lisa's smile...You shouldn't sanitize a movie!"
Word of advice- if you find something objectionable, choose not to see or rent that movie! But don't start santizing movies so that you can enjoy them better...movies such as Saving Private Ryan or Shindler's List wouldn't be as good or as historically accurate if you cut out the blood or profanity!
I consider this great news. It has always annoyed me that people are willing to just cut out any "objectionable" material in a movie or book. Reminds me of a girl I knew back in junior high who would cut out whole portions of her Bible because she didn't like them.
This reminds me of those annoying commercials you see in theatres or on dvd. "You wouldn't steal a car...You shouldn't steal a movie!" Now it's "You wouldn't cut out the Mona Lisa's smile...You shouldn't sanitize a movie!"
Word of advice- if you find something objectionable, choose not to see or rent that movie! But don't start santizing movies so that you can enjoy them better...movies such as Saving Private Ryan or Shindler's List wouldn't be as good or as historically accurate if you cut out the blood or profanity!
Jul 10, 2006
Speed Running
As most of you know, I enjoy videogames. I don't sit and play them all the time, I don't give up sleep or social interaction for them, I don't have a Level 40 War Dwarf or whatever in an online game, and in fact I've never played any online games (No Everquest, Ever!), and I don't any game memorized except for Tetris.
Yet I still play them and enjoy them, primarily because I grew up playing them. Bought a Gameboy with my own money waaaaay back in the late 80's, played it to death for years until it finally broke, and eventually bought my next videogame system, a Nintendo 64, in 98/99 (bought it used from a friend for only one game...The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time).
I'm sure I could devote a whole blog toward videogaming...pros and cons...the Christian argument...health issues, etc. However, I wish to bring to your attention something eles at this time.
http://speeddemosarchive.com/
SpeedDemosArchive is a site that hosts speed runs of videogames. A speed run is where someone tries to play through a game as quickly or as correctly as they can.
Good examples of this would be someone beating the original Super Mario Bros. game in 5 minutes; the original Legend of Zelda game in 33 minutes; getting a 100% completion rating in Metroid in under 20 minutes; beating a certain race in a racing game in the fastest time possible; etc etc.
If you have ever played a videogame, either recently or way back when your were a child (aka, younger), you should go check this site out. Look up the list of games, see if one that you remember playing is there, then find out what special thing someone did with the game. The videos are all easily downloadable and enjoyable.
Recommended vids from me include: that first Super Mario Bros run, the Mario 3 run, the Goldeneye run, and the Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time run (because it's one of my favorite games from recent years, and you can experience the whole game in about 2 and a half hours).
Enjoy.
EDIT- No matter what I do, I can't get hyperlinks in blogs...and I can't even edit those "links" things to the side of the blogs! Grr...
Yet I still play them and enjoy them, primarily because I grew up playing them. Bought a Gameboy with my own money waaaaay back in the late 80's, played it to death for years until it finally broke, and eventually bought my next videogame system, a Nintendo 64, in 98/99 (bought it used from a friend for only one game...The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time).
I'm sure I could devote a whole blog toward videogaming...pros and cons...the Christian argument...health issues, etc. However, I wish to bring to your attention something eles at this time.
http://speeddemosarchive.com/
SpeedDemosArchive is a site that hosts speed runs of videogames. A speed run is where someone tries to play through a game as quickly or as correctly as they can.
Good examples of this would be someone beating the original Super Mario Bros. game in 5 minutes; the original Legend of Zelda game in 33 minutes; getting a 100% completion rating in Metroid in under 20 minutes; beating a certain race in a racing game in the fastest time possible; etc etc.
If you have ever played a videogame, either recently or way back when your were a child (aka, younger), you should go check this site out. Look up the list of games, see if one that you remember playing is there, then find out what special thing someone did with the game. The videos are all easily downloadable and enjoyable.
Recommended vids from me include: that first Super Mario Bros run, the Mario 3 run, the Goldeneye run, and the Prince of Persia: the Sands of Time run (because it's one of my favorite games from recent years, and you can experience the whole game in about 2 and a half hours).
Enjoy.
EDIT- No matter what I do, I can't get hyperlinks in blogs...and I can't even edit those "links" things to the side of the blogs! Grr...
Jul 6, 2006
On U2, Christian music, and I
From a Christian music conference U2 attended in 1981...
"I would like to think that in U2, we are a very aggressive band, we are an emotional band, we are a live band. I think that's good, I think it's good in the Lord, because...John the Baptist and Jeremiah were very loud and quite aggressive, and yet glory-full," Bono says. "I think we have a love, an emotion, without the sort of flowers in our hair. And I think we have this sort of aggression without the safety pins in our noses."
Bono mentions Isaiah 40:3 -- "this is the Scripture that the Lord has basically shown us with regards to the band" -- and then reads it to the audience: "A voice is calling, 'Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain.'"
Isaiah 40:3 is a verse of instruction for Bono, he says, and for the band's future. "I see our position as Christians as to make way, make straight a path for the Lord for a second time. In that sense we have to make the rough smooth and get involved in making the rough smooth. But before the Lord can use the band...He has to sort of make our rough ends smooth and that's what the Lord had to do," Bono says.
Bono explains on the CD that some musicians are gifted to make praise songs to God and others are gifted to make music about God for reaching out to others.
"It is very important that people don't see themselves as outreach in the music world if they are playing the Christian circuit," Bono says. "What we've got to do in the music business is destroy the image that has got through...which has [given] God almighty and Jesus Christ...an image of a weakling. A slightly effeminate image. A sort of Sunday image. A religious image. This is not the case...this is something we're trying in U2 to do something about."
About 100 people were at the retreat and heard presentations from other musicians during the day, Mellor said. But it was Bono's talk that Mellor thinks is worth releasing now.
"Bono's incredible energy and passion communicated to the seminar delegates. A number of us had a real excitement in our spirit," Mellor said. He wants a new generation of Christian musicians to capture the excitement felt in the 1981 audience.
"I now feel that the time is right for the CD to be listened to by Christians for its sheer inspirational value," Mellor said. "I feel that what they had to say in 1981 is as fresh and relevant now as it was then."
Original source material-
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4320
------------------------------
Amazing stuff.
A long time ago, I was bitten by the "music bug," as it were. Going to church before my teenage years, the only part of the service I enjoyed was the music/worship part. I learned many hymns during this time, and to this day I still like hymns to a certain extent. At home, I was subjected to the musical rhymes of The Beatles and other classic "oldies" groups. I saw nothing at all wrong with either group of music.
My musical desire only intensified when I was introduced to U2, and eventually the current "secular" musical landscape: rap, hiphop, rock, hard rock, soft rock, arena rock, alternative rock, jazz, etc. I distinctively remember the first few times I saw or hung out with a local band of musicians; in this case, it was the quasi-hard rock act Fastest Turbo Fire Engines.
I was introduced to FTFE by their then bass player, Mike. Mike and I worked together at Davanni's and developed a friendship. One day he invited me to come with him and the band to a gig and "tech" for them, aka carry and help set up equipment, since I couldn't tune an instrument or anything. It was my first experience seeing a live rock band in a small setting.
And I was blown away, and I still am...by them, U2, and other local and national acts. There is just something about music that is incredibly compelling. I love live music. Even if the person playing was my best friend, I would probably just sit there and stare at the guitar, bass, or drumset that they are using, and watch them go. I am sucked in to it in a way that is hard to explain.
There is this huge desire in me to work, somehow, in the music industry. I don't have to be the lead singer or backup, I don't have to play an instrument, or even be a manager; I just want to be there, in some way, helping and experiencing.
One of the ways I've considered accomplishing this is by learning how to run a soundboard. Right now, I know a lot, but not enough. My brother wants me to come and run the soundboard for some praise and worship band that he knows one of the players for. I know I'm probably not gonna get paid at all for doing this, but frankly I don't care. I just want to do it for the love of it.
Bono's comments from back in '81 put some of my thoughts into focus. Christianity and I have a hard time getting along, especially when it comes to the CCM music scene. Frankly, most of the Christian music being written today is utter crap. I have no problem working in the so-called "secular" music industry. Being a person of Christian faith in that type of environment would work wonders for the Lord and for others. Salt is not as salty when it is surrounded by salt. Salt works best on it's own where it's been placed by the person who used it.
So I'm still trying to figure life out. This blog seems to be focused mainly on music and on school/jobs. Recently I've been feeling more and more a leaning toward an audio education, as opposed to a literary or English one.
I am a good writer. I know this. And yet I am not able to just sit down and write a story, go out and find a lead, or do any reporting. Partly due to laziness, partly due to my own lack of ability. Writing is something I'm good at.
But music and audio is what I love and want to do.
Is the decision really that simple?
In the meantime, I'm still relatively unemployed, and need a job and income desperately. So...pray that God either A- provides my needs, B- gets me a job so I can pay for things, C- sends me to school this fall, or D- gets me a really good job in audio/music that also pays good enough to pay for insurance/stuff and more schooling.
I pick D. Let's see what God does...
"I would like to think that in U2, we are a very aggressive band, we are an emotional band, we are a live band. I think that's good, I think it's good in the Lord, because...John the Baptist and Jeremiah were very loud and quite aggressive, and yet glory-full," Bono says. "I think we have a love, an emotion, without the sort of flowers in our hair. And I think we have this sort of aggression without the safety pins in our noses."
Bono mentions Isaiah 40:3 -- "this is the Scripture that the Lord has basically shown us with regards to the band" -- and then reads it to the audience: "A voice is calling, 'Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain.'"
Isaiah 40:3 is a verse of instruction for Bono, he says, and for the band's future. "I see our position as Christians as to make way, make straight a path for the Lord for a second time. In that sense we have to make the rough smooth and get involved in making the rough smooth. But before the Lord can use the band...He has to sort of make our rough ends smooth and that's what the Lord had to do," Bono says.
Bono explains on the CD that some musicians are gifted to make praise songs to God and others are gifted to make music about God for reaching out to others.
"It is very important that people don't see themselves as outreach in the music world if they are playing the Christian circuit," Bono says. "What we've got to do in the music business is destroy the image that has got through...which has [given] God almighty and Jesus Christ...an image of a weakling. A slightly effeminate image. A sort of Sunday image. A religious image. This is not the case...this is something we're trying in U2 to do something about."
About 100 people were at the retreat and heard presentations from other musicians during the day, Mellor said. But it was Bono's talk that Mellor thinks is worth releasing now.
"Bono's incredible energy and passion communicated to the seminar delegates. A number of us had a real excitement in our spirit," Mellor said. He wants a new generation of Christian musicians to capture the excitement felt in the 1981 audience.
"I now feel that the time is right for the CD to be listened to by Christians for its sheer inspirational value," Mellor said. "I feel that what they had to say in 1981 is as fresh and relevant now as it was then."
Original source material-
http://www.atu2.com/news/article.src?ID=4320
------------------------------
Amazing stuff.
A long time ago, I was bitten by the "music bug," as it were. Going to church before my teenage years, the only part of the service I enjoyed was the music/worship part. I learned many hymns during this time, and to this day I still like hymns to a certain extent. At home, I was subjected to the musical rhymes of The Beatles and other classic "oldies" groups. I saw nothing at all wrong with either group of music.
My musical desire only intensified when I was introduced to U2, and eventually the current "secular" musical landscape: rap, hiphop, rock, hard rock, soft rock, arena rock, alternative rock, jazz, etc. I distinctively remember the first few times I saw or hung out with a local band of musicians; in this case, it was the quasi-hard rock act Fastest Turbo Fire Engines.
I was introduced to FTFE by their then bass player, Mike. Mike and I worked together at Davanni's and developed a friendship. One day he invited me to come with him and the band to a gig and "tech" for them, aka carry and help set up equipment, since I couldn't tune an instrument or anything. It was my first experience seeing a live rock band in a small setting.
And I was blown away, and I still am...by them, U2, and other local and national acts. There is just something about music that is incredibly compelling. I love live music. Even if the person playing was my best friend, I would probably just sit there and stare at the guitar, bass, or drumset that they are using, and watch them go. I am sucked in to it in a way that is hard to explain.
There is this huge desire in me to work, somehow, in the music industry. I don't have to be the lead singer or backup, I don't have to play an instrument, or even be a manager; I just want to be there, in some way, helping and experiencing.
One of the ways I've considered accomplishing this is by learning how to run a soundboard. Right now, I know a lot, but not enough. My brother wants me to come and run the soundboard for some praise and worship band that he knows one of the players for. I know I'm probably not gonna get paid at all for doing this, but frankly I don't care. I just want to do it for the love of it.
Bono's comments from back in '81 put some of my thoughts into focus. Christianity and I have a hard time getting along, especially when it comes to the CCM music scene. Frankly, most of the Christian music being written today is utter crap. I have no problem working in the so-called "secular" music industry. Being a person of Christian faith in that type of environment would work wonders for the Lord and for others. Salt is not as salty when it is surrounded by salt. Salt works best on it's own where it's been placed by the person who used it.
So I'm still trying to figure life out. This blog seems to be focused mainly on music and on school/jobs. Recently I've been feeling more and more a leaning toward an audio education, as opposed to a literary or English one.
I am a good writer. I know this. And yet I am not able to just sit down and write a story, go out and find a lead, or do any reporting. Partly due to laziness, partly due to my own lack of ability. Writing is something I'm good at.
But music and audio is what I love and want to do.
Is the decision really that simple?
In the meantime, I'm still relatively unemployed, and need a job and income desperately. So...pray that God either A- provides my needs, B- gets me a job so I can pay for things, C- sends me to school this fall, or D- gets me a really good job in audio/music that also pays good enough to pay for insurance/stuff and more schooling.
I pick D. Let's see what God does...
Jul 3, 2006
I demand more Honor!!
It's a weird feeling you get when you finish a book. It's hard to describe, but it depends a lot on the type of book.
A few hours ago I just finished the 700 page novel "Echoes of Honor" by David Weber. This book took me literally months to read. I started it back in the school year, brought it along with me to Colorado, where I was about 200 pages into it, and then read about 300-400 pages just the last weekend.
It's tough when a book doesn't grab you. You want to read it, especially cause there is so much else you need to read too, so you just want to get this first book done with. But if the book doesn't grab you, you won't choose to read it over doing pretty much anything else.
But when things get moving past whatever slow dialogue or bad pacing exists (a good example is the Council of Elrond scene in "Fellowship of the Ring"), you get hooked. The small problem I had with "Echoes of Honor" was that they'd focus on the hero, Honor Harrington, for a few chapters, then jump around to another group of people, The Peeps (bad guys), and focus on them, then jump to the other good guys (RMN), and then finally back to Honor. I had a tough time reading through the Peep stuff because I wanted more Honor! And yet when you get hooked, you plow through and realize just how important each part of the book is.
David Weber's Honor Harrington series has been a mainstay for me for a while, although they are getting steadily tougher to read. I discovered the series I believe during the summer before my senior year of high school (first book, "Honor Harrington at Basilisk Station"); some of my classmates might remember me bringing one of the books on senior trip. I remember getting some weird looks from people because I was reading a book with a woman on the cover who was holding a pistol.
Essentially, the series is Tom Clancy in outer space. Basically, it follows the military career of the young woman Honor Harrington, dealing with her trials and tests as well as ongoing political issues and war between the Manticoran Star nation and the People's Republic (bad guys). And this is no heroine who escapes unscathed at the end of the book! So far in the series, she's been nearly raped (although chronologically, it took place before the first book), had her boyfriend/fiance brutally murdered, has been shot multiple times, got her arm blown off, lost half of her face when she got shot at close range, been the pawn of a politican and set up for a fall, and most recently been captured and beaten by her enemies and sent to the worse prison camp in the universe.
It's nice to have a hero who gets abused as well as gives abuse. Makes it more realistic.
I've finished seven books in the series (out of I believe 10 published so far), and while I need to take a break before reading another book that is just so long, the way the "Echoes of Honor" ended, I need to read at least the first few chapters of the next book, "Ashes of Victory." But no more! I need a break from long war novels.
Last week in one sitting I read through "Blue Like Jazz." I found it amusing that it had been waiting for me in my room when I got back from Colorado, because a number of people had been reading and commenting on it. It's a great book I discovered. Lots of little bits of wisdom (and fluff) for a Christian.
I'm in a little bit of debate as to what book I should read through next. Before the last Star Wars movie came out, I was trying to read all the books that bridged the gap, The Clone Wars, between Episodes 2 and 3. Well, school got in the way. I have the next book I need to read, but it doesn't even deal directly with Anakin or Obi-Wan or anyone else of any importance. I know I need to read it, but part of me doesn't want to.
There are a few other Star Wars novels I've been putting off reading. I could always pick up one of those, especially if it's a single book and not part of a series or trilogy. Or I could read something that's not sci-fi at all. Maybe another Anne Rice novel or an Enders novel; could also read the next Anita Blake book. I have options.
Reading is good and helps me, but it's hard to focus solely on reading when video games, dvds, tv, movies, and literally any other form of entertainment calls to you also. Discipline I guess.
And on a side note- until I read it in The Message, I had no clue what the book of Acts was really about, besides that it was boring and full of history. Thank God for Eugene Petterson and The Message; without it, most of the Bible would still remain boring dry literature to me. Now, I actually a clue what the early church and Paul went through.
Yet am I really reading the Bible, or is it just Peterson's understanding of the Bible?
A few hours ago I just finished the 700 page novel "Echoes of Honor" by David Weber. This book took me literally months to read. I started it back in the school year, brought it along with me to Colorado, where I was about 200 pages into it, and then read about 300-400 pages just the last weekend.
It's tough when a book doesn't grab you. You want to read it, especially cause there is so much else you need to read too, so you just want to get this first book done with. But if the book doesn't grab you, you won't choose to read it over doing pretty much anything else.
But when things get moving past whatever slow dialogue or bad pacing exists (a good example is the Council of Elrond scene in "Fellowship of the Ring"), you get hooked. The small problem I had with "Echoes of Honor" was that they'd focus on the hero, Honor Harrington, for a few chapters, then jump around to another group of people, The Peeps (bad guys), and focus on them, then jump to the other good guys (RMN), and then finally back to Honor. I had a tough time reading through the Peep stuff because I wanted more Honor! And yet when you get hooked, you plow through and realize just how important each part of the book is.
David Weber's Honor Harrington series has been a mainstay for me for a while, although they are getting steadily tougher to read. I discovered the series I believe during the summer before my senior year of high school (first book, "Honor Harrington at Basilisk Station"); some of my classmates might remember me bringing one of the books on senior trip. I remember getting some weird looks from people because I was reading a book with a woman on the cover who was holding a pistol.
Essentially, the series is Tom Clancy in outer space. Basically, it follows the military career of the young woman Honor Harrington, dealing with her trials and tests as well as ongoing political issues and war between the Manticoran Star nation and the People's Republic (bad guys). And this is no heroine who escapes unscathed at the end of the book! So far in the series, she's been nearly raped (although chronologically, it took place before the first book), had her boyfriend/fiance brutally murdered, has been shot multiple times, got her arm blown off, lost half of her face when she got shot at close range, been the pawn of a politican and set up for a fall, and most recently been captured and beaten by her enemies and sent to the worse prison camp in the universe.
It's nice to have a hero who gets abused as well as gives abuse. Makes it more realistic.
I've finished seven books in the series (out of I believe 10 published so far), and while I need to take a break before reading another book that is just so long, the way the "Echoes of Honor" ended, I need to read at least the first few chapters of the next book, "Ashes of Victory." But no more! I need a break from long war novels.
Last week in one sitting I read through "Blue Like Jazz." I found it amusing that it had been waiting for me in my room when I got back from Colorado, because a number of people had been reading and commenting on it. It's a great book I discovered. Lots of little bits of wisdom (and fluff) for a Christian.
I'm in a little bit of debate as to what book I should read through next. Before the last Star Wars movie came out, I was trying to read all the books that bridged the gap, The Clone Wars, between Episodes 2 and 3. Well, school got in the way. I have the next book I need to read, but it doesn't even deal directly with Anakin or Obi-Wan or anyone else of any importance. I know I need to read it, but part of me doesn't want to.
There are a few other Star Wars novels I've been putting off reading. I could always pick up one of those, especially if it's a single book and not part of a series or trilogy. Or I could read something that's not sci-fi at all. Maybe another Anne Rice novel or an Enders novel; could also read the next Anita Blake book. I have options.
Reading is good and helps me, but it's hard to focus solely on reading when video games, dvds, tv, movies, and literally any other form of entertainment calls to you also. Discipline I guess.
And on a side note- until I read it in The Message, I had no clue what the book of Acts was really about, besides that it was boring and full of history. Thank God for Eugene Petterson and The Message; without it, most of the Bible would still remain boring dry literature to me. Now, I actually a clue what the early church and Paul went through.
Yet am I really reading the Bible, or is it just Peterson's understanding of the Bible?
Jun 30, 2006
On spiders, mutants, and supermen
This is a rant about the film franchises of Spider-Man, Superman, and X-Men. These are my opinions and views at this present time, and I don't mean to attack any actor or director personally. Just my thoughts, nothing more. We can talk.
Worth noting- I read comic books. I know these franchises well.
Spoilers if you've never even heard of these films or characters.
------------------------------
Well, just got done with watching Superman Returns with my brother. SR is directed by Bryan Singer, who previously helmed Xmen and Xmen2 (X2). I personally consider X2 one of the best superhero films ever made. He was slated to direct the third X-Men movie, but when the chance to direct a new Superman movie came up, he switched over and brought all his writing and directing staff with him.
When the opening credits are one of the most exciting parts of the whole movie, you have got problems.
Simply put...Superman Returns kinda sucks. For a bunch of different reasons. To start, there is the obligatory cheese factor; the "wink" to the audience the film keeps on giving. The acting also comes in question, although before acting comes casting, and this certainly was NOT the best of Lois Lanes. Kate Bosworth is an excellent actor, but she is not Lois Lane. Perhaps Kate Beckinsale would have been a better choice.
Kevin Spacey is an excellent Lex Luthor though; not as good or as evil as Michael Rosembaum on Smallville, but still excellent. The problem is he's basing his character on Gene Hackman's Lex from the original movies. He's almost comic side relief, with a touch of "twirling mustache" villain thrown in. This is NOT Lex Luthor.
Brandon Routh is simply a clone of Christopher Reeves. Now, if you liked the original movies, that's a good thing. If you thought the original movies were comedies, not to be taken seriously, and were poor attempts at adapting one of the most well versed characters in history, well, you won't like Brandon Routh. Routh is the new Hayden Christensen; give him three movies, he will be a great actor. Just don't expect alot the first time through.
If Singer can get away from the original movies for the next installment, we might have an excellent trilogy coming. Do away with all the Krypton nonsense, bad Lex Luthor schemes...in fact, get a new villain. Lex is classic and all, but he's been done, ad hoc. Something new is needed, new locations, new scenarious, new plots, and new "rescues"; helicopters, people, cars, kittens...it's all been done before. Bring us something new.
In fact, bring us Superman Vs Batman. Routh vs Bale. Now that would be an excellent movie.
-------------------------------
The strangest thing has happened though. I liked Xmen3 better than Superman Returns. X2 has long been one of my favorite movies, X1 was "meh," and I had high hopes (and some fear due to the new director) about X3. I've noticed a lot of hate on the internet towards X3, most of it unwarranted.
X3 delivered something Singer never gave us. Superpowers. We finally got to see Wolvie, Storm, Colossus, and others just unleash and let fly. And not "unleash, stop, think and cry about something, converse, unleash, fade to black." No, we finally got to see a great and amazing X-MEN movie. Not simply Beverly Hills Mutants.
While I do love Singer's movies, I'm glad he didn't direct the third film, because we finally got to see what we hadn't before. And there was still plenty of character plot and development.
And Rogue still was a whiny little girl, hardly anything like her comic book character. But I'll let that slide, cause that started in the first film.
-----------------------
Since the teaser trailer for Spider-man 3 has finally hit the internet (the best thing quicktime.com is good for, hosting movie trailers), I decided to go and rent Spidey2.
Now, I hated Spidey1. It took me a while to get use to Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. Scratch that, he was a great Spidey. He was a horrible Peter Parker. I also felt that Kirsten Dunst was not in any way Mary Jane (kinda ugly too), and a Power Ranger villain was just a disappointment, however amazing Willem Dafoe is.
I'll just ignore the whole thing about following comic book continuity...forget about Gwen Stacy...forget about Goblin...forget about Parker meeting Mary Jane in college...forget about the in-grown web shooters...forget about it all. It's a movie, comics just don't work too well on the big screen...unless it's Sin City.
Spidey2 comes around and is a much better movie. Better villian, it doesnt' look CG when Spidey is swinging around, the subplot with Mary Jane was better, and it set up recurring characters for the third movie. Plus, the subway/skytrain scene is amazing.
But I had a major gripe with Spidey2. The love triangle. I'm all for love triangles in movies, it's worked before and can work again; it makes some compelling drama. But Spidey2 crossed a line.
If you've seen the movie, Mary Jane decides at the very last second to run away from her wedding and fiance in order to "devote" herself to Peter Parker/Spidey.
When I saw this movie, I was furious. And very saddened.
The scenes are filmed in such a way that we are supposed to feel like this is the right thing for her to do. Sunlight is streaming, she's running in slow motion, music is playing (Hallelujah chorus)...this is a good thing, right? She's finally getting together with Spider-Man, who's always loved her and is THE HERO.
What about her fiance? Who loves her, desires her, is devoted to her, and was hers up til Peter grew a pair?
Let me write the subplot to the movie you won't see filmed or probably even remotely addressed. Scene 1- The next morning. John Jameson, the heroic astronaut pilot, wakes up in bed, drunk from the previous night's failed wedding. He starts crying, staring at her picture, and the engagement ring sitting on his nightstand. He reaches over, opens a drawer, pulls out a .45,
And blows his brains out.
Scene. Fade to black, roll credits.
I have no sympathy or joy for Mary Jane/Peter Parker. He's a loser who just happens to have "great powers with great responsibilty," and she's an emotional wreck who's been used by nearly everyone and yet is cold and calculating enough to destroy her fiance.
And yet still, Spidey2 is one of the better superhero movies. And I'll be there opening day to see Spidey3 cause I enjoy watching them.
But the values these movies are teaching leave much to be desired. Unless it truly is ok to play with people's emotions and leave the one who loves you for the one you desire (um, adultery?), as long as it was "meant to be."
Am I making any sense?
------------------------------
Still, go watch them. They are great movies.
Worth noting- I read comic books. I know these franchises well.
Spoilers if you've never even heard of these films or characters.
------------------------------
Well, just got done with watching Superman Returns with my brother. SR is directed by Bryan Singer, who previously helmed Xmen and Xmen2 (X2). I personally consider X2 one of the best superhero films ever made. He was slated to direct the third X-Men movie, but when the chance to direct a new Superman movie came up, he switched over and brought all his writing and directing staff with him.
When the opening credits are one of the most exciting parts of the whole movie, you have got problems.
Simply put...Superman Returns kinda sucks. For a bunch of different reasons. To start, there is the obligatory cheese factor; the "wink" to the audience the film keeps on giving. The acting also comes in question, although before acting comes casting, and this certainly was NOT the best of Lois Lanes. Kate Bosworth is an excellent actor, but she is not Lois Lane. Perhaps Kate Beckinsale would have been a better choice.
Kevin Spacey is an excellent Lex Luthor though; not as good or as evil as Michael Rosembaum on Smallville, but still excellent. The problem is he's basing his character on Gene Hackman's Lex from the original movies. He's almost comic side relief, with a touch of "twirling mustache" villain thrown in. This is NOT Lex Luthor.
Brandon Routh is simply a clone of Christopher Reeves. Now, if you liked the original movies, that's a good thing. If you thought the original movies were comedies, not to be taken seriously, and were poor attempts at adapting one of the most well versed characters in history, well, you won't like Brandon Routh. Routh is the new Hayden Christensen; give him three movies, he will be a great actor. Just don't expect alot the first time through.
If Singer can get away from the original movies for the next installment, we might have an excellent trilogy coming. Do away with all the Krypton nonsense, bad Lex Luthor schemes...in fact, get a new villain. Lex is classic and all, but he's been done, ad hoc. Something new is needed, new locations, new scenarious, new plots, and new "rescues"; helicopters, people, cars, kittens...it's all been done before. Bring us something new.
In fact, bring us Superman Vs Batman. Routh vs Bale. Now that would be an excellent movie.
-------------------------------
The strangest thing has happened though. I liked Xmen3 better than Superman Returns. X2 has long been one of my favorite movies, X1 was "meh," and I had high hopes (and some fear due to the new director) about X3. I've noticed a lot of hate on the internet towards X3, most of it unwarranted.
X3 delivered something Singer never gave us. Superpowers. We finally got to see Wolvie, Storm, Colossus, and others just unleash and let fly. And not "unleash, stop, think and cry about something, converse, unleash, fade to black." No, we finally got to see a great and amazing X-MEN movie. Not simply Beverly Hills Mutants.
While I do love Singer's movies, I'm glad he didn't direct the third film, because we finally got to see what we hadn't before. And there was still plenty of character plot and development.
And Rogue still was a whiny little girl, hardly anything like her comic book character. But I'll let that slide, cause that started in the first film.
-----------------------
Since the teaser trailer for Spider-man 3 has finally hit the internet (the best thing quicktime.com is good for, hosting movie trailers), I decided to go and rent Spidey2.
Now, I hated Spidey1. It took me a while to get use to Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man. Scratch that, he was a great Spidey. He was a horrible Peter Parker. I also felt that Kirsten Dunst was not in any way Mary Jane (kinda ugly too), and a Power Ranger villain was just a disappointment, however amazing Willem Dafoe is.
I'll just ignore the whole thing about following comic book continuity...forget about Gwen Stacy...forget about Goblin...forget about Parker meeting Mary Jane in college...forget about the in-grown web shooters...forget about it all. It's a movie, comics just don't work too well on the big screen...unless it's Sin City.
Spidey2 comes around and is a much better movie. Better villian, it doesnt' look CG when Spidey is swinging around, the subplot with Mary Jane was better, and it set up recurring characters for the third movie. Plus, the subway/skytrain scene is amazing.
But I had a major gripe with Spidey2. The love triangle. I'm all for love triangles in movies, it's worked before and can work again; it makes some compelling drama. But Spidey2 crossed a line.
If you've seen the movie, Mary Jane decides at the very last second to run away from her wedding and fiance in order to "devote" herself to Peter Parker/Spidey.
When I saw this movie, I was furious. And very saddened.
The scenes are filmed in such a way that we are supposed to feel like this is the right thing for her to do. Sunlight is streaming, she's running in slow motion, music is playing (Hallelujah chorus)...this is a good thing, right? She's finally getting together with Spider-Man, who's always loved her and is THE HERO.
What about her fiance? Who loves her, desires her, is devoted to her, and was hers up til Peter grew a pair?
Let me write the subplot to the movie you won't see filmed or probably even remotely addressed. Scene 1- The next morning. John Jameson, the heroic astronaut pilot, wakes up in bed, drunk from the previous night's failed wedding. He starts crying, staring at her picture, and the engagement ring sitting on his nightstand. He reaches over, opens a drawer, pulls out a .45,
And blows his brains out.
Scene. Fade to black, roll credits.
I have no sympathy or joy for Mary Jane/Peter Parker. He's a loser who just happens to have "great powers with great responsibilty," and she's an emotional wreck who's been used by nearly everyone and yet is cold and calculating enough to destroy her fiance.
And yet still, Spidey2 is one of the better superhero movies. And I'll be there opening day to see Spidey3 cause I enjoy watching them.
But the values these movies are teaching leave much to be desired. Unless it truly is ok to play with people's emotions and leave the one who loves you for the one you desire (um, adultery?), as long as it was "meant to be."
Am I making any sense?
------------------------------
Still, go watch them. They are great movies.
Jun 26, 2006
Power Blog #2
Thoughts are flowing right now, so I'm just gonna write...
---------------------
As much as I love the newer Prince of Persia games, there is one little aspect that annoys me. Aggravates me. Causes me to lose sleep at night.
The wall-jumping. Not, jumping from wall to wall; swinging on a pole and then jumping to the wall, and then kicking off that wall to another pole or ledge. I cannot seem to do the kickoff! It must be my timing, but it plagued me in the first game (I would have beaten it far faster) and it's still plaguing me in the second game!
It seems I'm not the only one who has this problem though, as a google search shows...
-----------------------------
With the release of the new slim sets, I have finally gotten hooked on Stargate SG-1. The movie has long been a favorite of mine; good actors, great premise, attractive love interest, memorable moments...a great movie. The series was just something I could never get into. Any episodes I saw were from later seasons, so nothing made sense or was familiar.
When they announced this past spring they were going to be re-releasing all the seasons in new slimmer packaging, and probably for a cheaper price, I knew I had to get at least the first season just to see if I liked it. Well, I loved it, and now I want more. Plus I'm pissed at the poor quality of Star Trek and other sci-fi shows compared to it.
I need to scrounge together another $35 for season 3...paypal donations are accepted.
----------------------
And the 4400 still continues to be one of the best shows I've ever seen...and I really love the music on the show. The opening credits song is especially amazing.
----------------------
As some of you have probably heard, they are releasing the Star Wars Trilogy on dvd, again, this coming fall. What they are releasing this time is the 04 and 05 dvds, but as a bonus feature, the complete "unaltered, uncut" theatrical originals. Basically, the newer versions are the Special Editions and the theatricals are before Lucas started digitally tinkering with the movies.
However, in a slap of the face to the many fans who wrote in requesting dvds of the Original originals...the theatricals...LucasFilm is only releasing them in a horrible condition. They call them the originals, but only because they are available in the most basic Stereo sound (the way they originally were), the worse picture condition possible (the way they originally were), and without the Episode numbers (the way they...yeah).
Now, I'm glad I'll finally have dvds of the movies without all the changes. But the least Lucas could do would be to fix them up to optimal picture AND sound quality, as well as leaving in the Episodes IV, Episodes V, etc, that he put in when he first released them on VHS.
Plus, these aren't even mastered from the originals...they are a copy of a copy of a copy, on top of that! Lazy, slap in the face...
However, I will give them some props. The new covers they came up with are gorgeous, especially the one for Empire Strikes Back.
------------------------
One more Star Wars note...I'm finally at long lasting going to be getting my hands on the infamous MagnoliaFan edits of the Prequel Trilogy. Supposedly these make the movies ten times better, so I'm really looking forward to them.
-------------------------
It's of some amusement to me that I'm getting paid more doing menial work now than I ever did when I was actually working an on-air shift...
--------------------------
More and more I'm reminded of just how crappy The Unforgettable Fire the album is compared to the rest of U2's body of work. Some good songs, but a horrible album. It's their worse, in my mind. Even October was a better album...
I like how myspace says the album was released in 1990...hardly, it came out back in 84/85. Myspace needs to be fixed in some places...
-------------------------
There are a few people in this life that I do not ever want to see again if I had the choice. The reasons for this remain complicated.
I've noticed within circles that it is very, very unpopular to talk about such things as church discipline. I have gotten into several heated arguments with people about it. No matter how many scripture verses I throw at them, they refuse to believe that such a thing exists. People tend to believe in the concept of "grace" so much that any discipline or punishment is almost a sin.
The Bible has laid some very clear boundaries for church discipline. One to three people need to confront someone, and if that person ignores them or worse, they can be kicked out of the church until they've dealt with whatever sin or issue is their problem. Plus a pastor has a responsibilty to protect the church, and can ask people to leave who are harmful to the church.
It's pretty obvious that this power and responsibility can be abused. One of the questions I have regarding this is what happens when the person who is being kicked out, the "sinner," is in fact Biblically innocent of any wrongdoing. How does one respond when they are innocent but are being kicked out because of purely political reasons, or worse, some power play happening within the church?
I would argue that this same concept can be applied to your own personal life. There are a small number of people I know who, despite numerous attempts to point things out to them, have steadfastedly "hardened their hearts" or just chosen to listen and ignore. They make a huge pretense at being totally and completely holy, and yet drop their "guard" whenever it suits them and are revealed to be completely the opposite. Should we "throw these people out" of our circle of friends?
I've noticed that a lot of what I blog about could at face value be seen as exalting myself over others. Can I stress enough that that is hardly the case? I'm well aware of my faults, my sins, my flaws and shortcomings. At times there seems to be a line I walk between both sides of my nature and personality. It's more complicated than just a Christian side and a sinner side; redeemed vs unredeemed personalities. It's more than that. At times I can appear crude and to certain Christian eyes "backslidden" or even "heretical," and yet if you ask any of my Christian friends, they will tell you I am very grounded and have some pretty decent advise and wise worldviews to share. Many have come to me when they have questions about certain things.
I don't say these things to artificially puff me up or make me appear holier than thou; I say these things so that I don't have to bend over backwards in a pretense of humility when challenged by others. Plus I'm really tired of the attitude that I'm worthless and aren't studied enough to have valued opinions.
But onto the main matter. I have had several people call me various things to my face, including heretical and ungodly. As a Christian, it would seem to be my duty to listen to these complaints or observations against me, weigh them against Scripture, consult God/Spirit, and then act when needed. If they are proven wrong, what then?
When someone wrongs you, you forgive them. Simple as that. But does that mean you must have continual fellowship with this person? If someone wrongs you enough times, even if you forgive them, are you still expected to hang out with them or commune with them? I know several people who it seems cannot be in my presence without wronging me or slighting me in some sense. Either a spiritual attack, Biblical attack, personal attack, or indirect attack. I won't get into specifics.
So I try and pray to forgive. But must I still continue to see this person? To the people who the details are known to, it has been suggested on numerous times that I pack up and move away, either by finding a job in another state or going to a school elsewhere. Perhaps this would be a wise thing for me to do anyway. Life has gotten way too easy and comfty here.
Moving might be one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I look at people like Terry Lange and my friend Josh who have successfully moved crosscountry and are doing well because of it. Heck, Terry is married with a kid now and Josh is even engaged!
The solution does not seem to be to move into the frathouse. While I support Jelani in his decision to do so...something within me screams "NO!" whenever I think about it myself. The frathouse appears to be a deadend to me, or maybe better yet a funnel; you know whats gonna happen to you and where you will be when you come out of it. And I really don't think I can live with a bunch of Christians who I don't know well.
As far as living options, there seems to only be a few choices for me: 1- live alone, 2- live with a spouse and future kids, 3- live with old friends, and 4- live with people I have nothing in common with (although that's an extreme).
So maybe moving would be the ideal. A new place, new state, new people, new friends, new life. All the job opportunities I'd really like to pursue seem to be in either California or New York or Seattle anyway. Moving would also allow me to get away from certain people and in truth much of Christianity in general. I wouldn't turn my back on Christianity, but certain aspects of it.
So I really don't know, ultimately. It's something I'm going to have to pray about, and I'd like it if you can remember me too once in a while.
----------------------
I've written enough, and I'm tired of staring at this screen.
Oh, once last thing. I've been thinking way too much again, and it's come to my attention that perhaps buying myself a laptop would be one of the smartest and wisest buying decisions I could make. It'd give me a portable computer, a place to store any writing I'd like to do, a place to put all my music, and even give me an excuse to start playing my collection of CRPGs I've been stockpiling.
I figure a P4 with at least a 120 gig harddrive, dvd player, and internal networking card would be the minimum specs...maybe a decent soundcard and graphics card too...for under $600. Work and play and the future in one box...
---------------------
As much as I love the newer Prince of Persia games, there is one little aspect that annoys me. Aggravates me. Causes me to lose sleep at night.
The wall-jumping. Not, jumping from wall to wall; swinging on a pole and then jumping to the wall, and then kicking off that wall to another pole or ledge. I cannot seem to do the kickoff! It must be my timing, but it plagued me in the first game (I would have beaten it far faster) and it's still plaguing me in the second game!
It seems I'm not the only one who has this problem though, as a google search shows...
-----------------------------
With the release of the new slim sets, I have finally gotten hooked on Stargate SG-1. The movie has long been a favorite of mine; good actors, great premise, attractive love interest, memorable moments...a great movie. The series was just something I could never get into. Any episodes I saw were from later seasons, so nothing made sense or was familiar.
When they announced this past spring they were going to be re-releasing all the seasons in new slimmer packaging, and probably for a cheaper price, I knew I had to get at least the first season just to see if I liked it. Well, I loved it, and now I want more. Plus I'm pissed at the poor quality of Star Trek and other sci-fi shows compared to it.
I need to scrounge together another $35 for season 3...paypal donations are accepted.
----------------------
And the 4400 still continues to be one of the best shows I've ever seen...and I really love the music on the show. The opening credits song is especially amazing.
----------------------
As some of you have probably heard, they are releasing the Star Wars Trilogy on dvd, again, this coming fall. What they are releasing this time is the 04 and 05 dvds, but as a bonus feature, the complete "unaltered, uncut" theatrical originals. Basically, the newer versions are the Special Editions and the theatricals are before Lucas started digitally tinkering with the movies.
However, in a slap of the face to the many fans who wrote in requesting dvds of the Original originals...the theatricals...LucasFilm is only releasing them in a horrible condition. They call them the originals, but only because they are available in the most basic Stereo sound (the way they originally were), the worse picture condition possible (the way they originally were), and without the Episode numbers (the way they...yeah).
Now, I'm glad I'll finally have dvds of the movies without all the changes. But the least Lucas could do would be to fix them up to optimal picture AND sound quality, as well as leaving in the Episodes IV, Episodes V, etc, that he put in when he first released them on VHS.
Plus, these aren't even mastered from the originals...they are a copy of a copy of a copy, on top of that! Lazy, slap in the face...
However, I will give them some props. The new covers they came up with are gorgeous, especially the one for Empire Strikes Back.
------------------------
One more Star Wars note...I'm finally at long lasting going to be getting my hands on the infamous MagnoliaFan edits of the Prequel Trilogy. Supposedly these make the movies ten times better, so I'm really looking forward to them.
-------------------------
It's of some amusement to me that I'm getting paid more doing menial work now than I ever did when I was actually working an on-air shift...
--------------------------
More and more I'm reminded of just how crappy The Unforgettable Fire the album is compared to the rest of U2's body of work. Some good songs, but a horrible album. It's their worse, in my mind. Even October was a better album...
I like how myspace says the album was released in 1990...hardly, it came out back in 84/85. Myspace needs to be fixed in some places...
-------------------------
There are a few people in this life that I do not ever want to see again if I had the choice. The reasons for this remain complicated.
I've noticed within circles that it is very, very unpopular to talk about such things as church discipline. I have gotten into several heated arguments with people about it. No matter how many scripture verses I throw at them, they refuse to believe that such a thing exists. People tend to believe in the concept of "grace" so much that any discipline or punishment is almost a sin.
The Bible has laid some very clear boundaries for church discipline. One to three people need to confront someone, and if that person ignores them or worse, they can be kicked out of the church until they've dealt with whatever sin or issue is their problem. Plus a pastor has a responsibilty to protect the church, and can ask people to leave who are harmful to the church.
It's pretty obvious that this power and responsibility can be abused. One of the questions I have regarding this is what happens when the person who is being kicked out, the "sinner," is in fact Biblically innocent of any wrongdoing. How does one respond when they are innocent but are being kicked out because of purely political reasons, or worse, some power play happening within the church?
I would argue that this same concept can be applied to your own personal life. There are a small number of people I know who, despite numerous attempts to point things out to them, have steadfastedly "hardened their hearts" or just chosen to listen and ignore. They make a huge pretense at being totally and completely holy, and yet drop their "guard" whenever it suits them and are revealed to be completely the opposite. Should we "throw these people out" of our circle of friends?
I've noticed that a lot of what I blog about could at face value be seen as exalting myself over others. Can I stress enough that that is hardly the case? I'm well aware of my faults, my sins, my flaws and shortcomings. At times there seems to be a line I walk between both sides of my nature and personality. It's more complicated than just a Christian side and a sinner side; redeemed vs unredeemed personalities. It's more than that. At times I can appear crude and to certain Christian eyes "backslidden" or even "heretical," and yet if you ask any of my Christian friends, they will tell you I am very grounded and have some pretty decent advise and wise worldviews to share. Many have come to me when they have questions about certain things.
I don't say these things to artificially puff me up or make me appear holier than thou; I say these things so that I don't have to bend over backwards in a pretense of humility when challenged by others. Plus I'm really tired of the attitude that I'm worthless and aren't studied enough to have valued opinions.
But onto the main matter. I have had several people call me various things to my face, including heretical and ungodly. As a Christian, it would seem to be my duty to listen to these complaints or observations against me, weigh them against Scripture, consult God/Spirit, and then act when needed. If they are proven wrong, what then?
When someone wrongs you, you forgive them. Simple as that. But does that mean you must have continual fellowship with this person? If someone wrongs you enough times, even if you forgive them, are you still expected to hang out with them or commune with them? I know several people who it seems cannot be in my presence without wronging me or slighting me in some sense. Either a spiritual attack, Biblical attack, personal attack, or indirect attack. I won't get into specifics.
So I try and pray to forgive. But must I still continue to see this person? To the people who the details are known to, it has been suggested on numerous times that I pack up and move away, either by finding a job in another state or going to a school elsewhere. Perhaps this would be a wise thing for me to do anyway. Life has gotten way too easy and comfty here.
Moving might be one of the best things that has ever happened to me. I look at people like Terry Lange and my friend Josh who have successfully moved crosscountry and are doing well because of it. Heck, Terry is married with a kid now and Josh is even engaged!
The solution does not seem to be to move into the frathouse. While I support Jelani in his decision to do so...something within me screams "NO!" whenever I think about it myself. The frathouse appears to be a deadend to me, or maybe better yet a funnel; you know whats gonna happen to you and where you will be when you come out of it. And I really don't think I can live with a bunch of Christians who I don't know well.
As far as living options, there seems to only be a few choices for me: 1- live alone, 2- live with a spouse and future kids, 3- live with old friends, and 4- live with people I have nothing in common with (although that's an extreme).
So maybe moving would be the ideal. A new place, new state, new people, new friends, new life. All the job opportunities I'd really like to pursue seem to be in either California or New York or Seattle anyway. Moving would also allow me to get away from certain people and in truth much of Christianity in general. I wouldn't turn my back on Christianity, but certain aspects of it.
So I really don't know, ultimately. It's something I'm going to have to pray about, and I'd like it if you can remember me too once in a while.
----------------------
I've written enough, and I'm tired of staring at this screen.
Oh, once last thing. I've been thinking way too much again, and it's come to my attention that perhaps buying myself a laptop would be one of the smartest and wisest buying decisions I could make. It'd give me a portable computer, a place to store any writing I'd like to do, a place to put all my music, and even give me an excuse to start playing my collection of CRPGs I've been stockpiling.
I figure a P4 with at least a 120 gig harddrive, dvd player, and internal networking card would be the minimum specs...maybe a decent soundcard and graphics card too...for under $600. Work and play and the future in one box...
Jun 19, 2006
Summit Coda
So now I can say I've been to Summit. Been there, done that, chose not to buy the t-shirt (and ran out of time to get my autograph on it, too!). Didn't buy the dvd either, although if anyone has a copy, pass it around.
Summit was a great experience. I'm very glad I went, even with the high elevation and the obnoxious roommates...whom I still love. While my zeal and determination has kinda wained in the face of real normal life, I'm still determined to get my brother to go to Summit before he goes off to college, no matter which college he goes to. I might not push for my old youth group to go, although I should probably still swing everything by Josh.
I did not go to Summit to learn worldviews or anything else. I went mainly because I thought I could better understand a lot of what I'm being taught at church. I feel at times that I'm simply holding up a Bible and shouting "WHY DOES IT ALL NOT MAKE SENSE??"...while still trying to live a semi-normal life that does not live and breathe the Bible 24/7.
I'll be honest here; the idea of me sitting around and reading my Bible during every idle second of the day does not sound appealing to me at all. If that's the highest standard Christians should aspire to, well, I don't. And if I should, I better pray God changes me from the inside out.
But I have learned many things. I even have several books, a dvd, and a few sheets of paper that I need to find time to go over in detail and in prayer. And the Spirit is still knocking on my heart, asking me to let down all these Biblical and religious strongholds I have in my life and let Him in for a drink. And from what I've heard, when you and the Spirit get together for drinks, He will drink you under the table.
-----------------------------------
I should note that I've been having fewer "demon" dreams or whatever they were. When we went to Summit, everything just started to get more vivid and hyper-realistic. I don't know if it was just being there that gave me the dreams, or if it was a more clear and uncluttered focus on God, or a lack of music (the dreams did diminish after I started partaking before going to bed) and media...I'm not really sure. I've had a few weird dreams since coming back, but things seem to be getting closer to normal. Nothing super terrifying at least (watch me jinx myself now...).
-----------------------------
I feel the need to write more about "The Girl." The amount of crap/comments I've been receiving from people about her is amazing. People who I didn't even know could read are asking me whatever happened to her!!
Well, there's really not much to say. I saw an attractive girl at the Flying W, and kept on running into her throughout the night. Throughout the night I noticed her performing certain tasks with a certain type of Spirit behind them, and it spoke to me. Said some things, some that still sting, some that just remind.
As attractive as the girl was, she personally is really nothing (especially if she just graduated from highschool); she is more of an idea that anything else. Her actions and testimony remind of certain traits that I myself use to have. I use to always be the courteous one, the one who will always open the door, move the chair, volunteer, help out, or whatever. I did it partly because I wanted to and partly because it was needed.
Sadly, I've changed. I got way too tired of being stepped on, abused, counted on, demanded on, etc. It's part of the reason why I finally left Fourth Baptist and got so fed up with Davanni's. I was there every single day of the week helping out and doing something "for the Lord." "Storing up treasures in heaven." "Making the store run smooth." Etc. When you've held the door for 300-500 people, end up being the last in line, not had a place left waiting for you with your group of friends, or missed out on something important yet trivial....you get really tired of it really quick.
The Girl's actions kinda stung me a little. Still does, if I think about it too hard. I saw something in her that's missing in me, and not only did it convict me of what I need to be more like, but it made me realize that that was a character trait I want to see in others, or more importantly, the mythical "future wife."
And yes, I know the last will be first, etc. Still.
Another important fact that came out of The Girl is a strong sense or belief that a decent single Christian woman is out there somewhere in the world. For the longest time I've wanted nothing to do with Christian women, cause I find their "testimony" or life rather repulsive. I've seen too many Christian girls who are the worse lot of humanity.
Not that I am a saint by any means, far from it, but when Christians are commanded to marry other Christians, I plan on upholding my end of the bargain and be a decent person. The way you act is FAR more important than if you have a "born again" experience; it's only through actions that we can impact people. Actions shout louder than words, etc etc.
But while I don't know if The Girl in question is saved or not, she made me realize something. Somewhere out there is a person that God has put aside for me at a certain time that I will be 1- attracted to, 2- can respect, 3- will be a Christian, 4- will be a decent person, and 5- some unknown quality I can't put into words (yet).
AKA- She gave me hope, without saying a single word or pointing out a single verse. And that's precious.
The Girl is an ideal. Nothing more. While I wouldn't mind meeting her again, learning her name, if she's saved, etc...I don't have to. God can do that for me.
-------------------------------
Summit is probably going to be an ongoing experience. I'll probably blog when new things strike me or inspire. While this might be the bookend to all official Summit blogs, more will come.
Did I have fun? Fun is a hard thing for me to describe. I enjoyed my time at Summit; not all of it, but most of it. Could have done without some of the drama and people, and especially that stupid mandatory sports time (SOME OF US NEED TO SLEEP!!!).
So if "fun" is a ratio, amount of enjoyment to amount of misery, then yes, I definitely had fun, and would gladly do it again.
I give Summit a 70-75% fun experience on a 100% scale. However, add another 10 points if I'd actually allowed myself to become super interested in anyone (or inquire about anyone who was interested in me...I got some unwelcome hints). Add another 10 points if I had gotten to go eat at Popeyes...
In Summary- Summit was fun, inspirational, educational, edutainmental, tiring, and one of the better "camp" experiences I've ever been on. And a great place to meet some new friends.
Dave, you still owe me a cd, and Joe, you owe me like $22 or something...and Beau/Garrett, give me a call, we gotta hang out sometime.
That is all.
"Dear Prudence..."
Summit was a great experience. I'm very glad I went, even with the high elevation and the obnoxious roommates...whom I still love. While my zeal and determination has kinda wained in the face of real normal life, I'm still determined to get my brother to go to Summit before he goes off to college, no matter which college he goes to. I might not push for my old youth group to go, although I should probably still swing everything by Josh.
I did not go to Summit to learn worldviews or anything else. I went mainly because I thought I could better understand a lot of what I'm being taught at church. I feel at times that I'm simply holding up a Bible and shouting "WHY DOES IT ALL NOT MAKE SENSE??"...while still trying to live a semi-normal life that does not live and breathe the Bible 24/7.
I'll be honest here; the idea of me sitting around and reading my Bible during every idle second of the day does not sound appealing to me at all. If that's the highest standard Christians should aspire to, well, I don't. And if I should, I better pray God changes me from the inside out.
But I have learned many things. I even have several books, a dvd, and a few sheets of paper that I need to find time to go over in detail and in prayer. And the Spirit is still knocking on my heart, asking me to let down all these Biblical and religious strongholds I have in my life and let Him in for a drink. And from what I've heard, when you and the Spirit get together for drinks, He will drink you under the table.
-----------------------------------
I should note that I've been having fewer "demon" dreams or whatever they were. When we went to Summit, everything just started to get more vivid and hyper-realistic. I don't know if it was just being there that gave me the dreams, or if it was a more clear and uncluttered focus on God, or a lack of music (the dreams did diminish after I started partaking before going to bed) and media...I'm not really sure. I've had a few weird dreams since coming back, but things seem to be getting closer to normal. Nothing super terrifying at least (watch me jinx myself now...).
-----------------------------
I feel the need to write more about "The Girl." The amount of crap/comments I've been receiving from people about her is amazing. People who I didn't even know could read are asking me whatever happened to her!!
Well, there's really not much to say. I saw an attractive girl at the Flying W, and kept on running into her throughout the night. Throughout the night I noticed her performing certain tasks with a certain type of Spirit behind them, and it spoke to me. Said some things, some that still sting, some that just remind.
As attractive as the girl was, she personally is really nothing (especially if she just graduated from highschool); she is more of an idea that anything else. Her actions and testimony remind of certain traits that I myself use to have. I use to always be the courteous one, the one who will always open the door, move the chair, volunteer, help out, or whatever. I did it partly because I wanted to and partly because it was needed.
Sadly, I've changed. I got way too tired of being stepped on, abused, counted on, demanded on, etc. It's part of the reason why I finally left Fourth Baptist and got so fed up with Davanni's. I was there every single day of the week helping out and doing something "for the Lord." "Storing up treasures in heaven." "Making the store run smooth." Etc. When you've held the door for 300-500 people, end up being the last in line, not had a place left waiting for you with your group of friends, or missed out on something important yet trivial....you get really tired of it really quick.
The Girl's actions kinda stung me a little. Still does, if I think about it too hard. I saw something in her that's missing in me, and not only did it convict me of what I need to be more like, but it made me realize that that was a character trait I want to see in others, or more importantly, the mythical "future wife."
And yes, I know the last will be first, etc. Still.
Another important fact that came out of The Girl is a strong sense or belief that a decent single Christian woman is out there somewhere in the world. For the longest time I've wanted nothing to do with Christian women, cause I find their "testimony" or life rather repulsive. I've seen too many Christian girls who are the worse lot of humanity.
Not that I am a saint by any means, far from it, but when Christians are commanded to marry other Christians, I plan on upholding my end of the bargain and be a decent person. The way you act is FAR more important than if you have a "born again" experience; it's only through actions that we can impact people. Actions shout louder than words, etc etc.
But while I don't know if The Girl in question is saved or not, she made me realize something. Somewhere out there is a person that God has put aside for me at a certain time that I will be 1- attracted to, 2- can respect, 3- will be a Christian, 4- will be a decent person, and 5- some unknown quality I can't put into words (yet).
AKA- She gave me hope, without saying a single word or pointing out a single verse. And that's precious.
The Girl is an ideal. Nothing more. While I wouldn't mind meeting her again, learning her name, if she's saved, etc...I don't have to. God can do that for me.
-------------------------------
Summit is probably going to be an ongoing experience. I'll probably blog when new things strike me or inspire. While this might be the bookend to all official Summit blogs, more will come.
Did I have fun? Fun is a hard thing for me to describe. I enjoyed my time at Summit; not all of it, but most of it. Could have done without some of the drama and people, and especially that stupid mandatory sports time (SOME OF US NEED TO SLEEP!!!).
So if "fun" is a ratio, amount of enjoyment to amount of misery, then yes, I definitely had fun, and would gladly do it again.
I give Summit a 70-75% fun experience on a 100% scale. However, add another 10 points if I'd actually allowed myself to become super interested in anyone (or inquire about anyone who was interested in me...I got some unwelcome hints). Add another 10 points if I had gotten to go eat at Popeyes...
In Summary- Summit was fun, inspirational, educational, edutainmental, tiring, and one of the better "camp" experiences I've ever been on. And a great place to meet some new friends.
Dave, you still owe me a cd, and Joe, you owe me like $22 or something...and Beau/Garrett, give me a call, we gotta hang out sometime.
That is all.
"Dear Prudence..."
Jun 15, 2006
On being on stage and playing with U2
I'm sorry I haven't written the "Summit Coda" yet. I've been busy dealing with some minor health issues and other things, and just haven't sat down and typed it out yet. I really wanted all Summit stuff to be in one group, but alas, that can't be. I feel the need to post this in as many places as I can online.
Jelani had a dream a while back, maybe a week, where he was at the U2 concert with all of us. I know this because he told me. Not sure who the us is, really, but odds are, when U2 swings back into town, I'm going to be bringing maybe 4 or 5 people depending on cost, and I know Joe and David are probably gonna convince other people to go.
So from me bringing 2 other people to see U2 back in September, the next time we might have a group numbering 15 or more!
But back to Jelani's dream...of which I am really, really hoping it is prophetic in some small way. Jelani dreamed that I was on stage singing with Bono.
Now, that'd be awesome. If I were up to it, and I'd need some practice in order to even come close to singing some of their songs. But what would be even cooler is if I was singing AND playing with U2 on stage!
I figure I really have two shots at that. The first, would be to play handbell accompaniment on "Electrical Storm." That would require me to meet the band, talk it out with them, work out the song arrangment, and practice like crazy. And then rock the casbah, and with that song, preferably in an open-air stadium at night (obviously not the Metrodome). Check out the song to see what I mean.
The second shot I have would first require me to learn how to play acoustic guitar. And while there are many, many different acoustic songs U2 has played with fans over the years (they've always been famous for pulling an audience member on stage to play guitar with them), the song I'd really like to play with them (or rather, Bono on vocals and Adam on bass) would be "Flower Child," a song that was not on an album (strike one against it) but was on the Essential U2 ipod exclusive collection (strike two). And I guarantee that Bono forgot the lyrics (strike three).
Anyways, its an easy song to play on acoustic guitar, one I could easily learn and probably should, after I learn how to play first.
I figure I'll bring a big poster to the concert that says (Bono and I can make a "Flower Child") and in small letters (i brought lyrics).
Stranger things have happened at U2 shows, believe me.
I have a whole "Open Letter to U2" I've been planning on writing and posting online soon...but for now, enjoy the lyrics to "Flower Child."
If you want a copy of the song, let me know, I can upload it to you somehow.
"Flower Child"
On the fifth day of May
She was breaking away
When the moon came and sat on your shoulder
She was still young
Not yet high-strung
Which you need to be when you get older
George was the street
When you first faced defeat
You put money on the colour of her sky
Well the cold of her voice
Left you there with no choice
But to drink the liffy dry
The seeds that you sew
You want to watch them grow
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Here comes Holy Joe
Now, how would he know
How laughter can make a man cruel
Theres fire on fire
When lovers conspire
To either a duet or duel
When its fire on fire
The flames just get higher
The harder you work to put them out
Well, you know that youre similar
Sugar and weak
In a boat heading north facing south
The seeds that you sew
You want to watch them grow
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild
Whats on your breath
Is it fear of death
That makes such a man promiscuous
Your mouth was dry
Like when youre about to lie
And her lips are so lucous
Youve seen it before
Youre hurled at her door
Like a dog when she needed a man
Now she aches and she breaks
And she takes all the weight
Of your world, she almost can
The seeds that you sew
Well, you want to watch them growing
The wind, where will it blow
My flower child
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild
The sky was still gray
Up on Albion way
As the yellow hats took up the road
Didnt hear what she said
As the lights turned red
On a love that should have stayed gold
Gold
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Jelani had a dream a while back, maybe a week, where he was at the U2 concert with all of us. I know this because he told me. Not sure who the us is, really, but odds are, when U2 swings back into town, I'm going to be bringing maybe 4 or 5 people depending on cost, and I know Joe and David are probably gonna convince other people to go.
So from me bringing 2 other people to see U2 back in September, the next time we might have a group numbering 15 or more!
But back to Jelani's dream...of which I am really, really hoping it is prophetic in some small way. Jelani dreamed that I was on stage singing with Bono.
Now, that'd be awesome. If I were up to it, and I'd need some practice in order to even come close to singing some of their songs. But what would be even cooler is if I was singing AND playing with U2 on stage!
I figure I really have two shots at that. The first, would be to play handbell accompaniment on "Electrical Storm." That would require me to meet the band, talk it out with them, work out the song arrangment, and practice like crazy. And then rock the casbah, and with that song, preferably in an open-air stadium at night (obviously not the Metrodome). Check out the song to see what I mean.
The second shot I have would first require me to learn how to play acoustic guitar. And while there are many, many different acoustic songs U2 has played with fans over the years (they've always been famous for pulling an audience member on stage to play guitar with them), the song I'd really like to play with them (or rather, Bono on vocals and Adam on bass) would be "Flower Child," a song that was not on an album (strike one against it) but was on the Essential U2 ipod exclusive collection (strike two). And I guarantee that Bono forgot the lyrics (strike three).
Anyways, its an easy song to play on acoustic guitar, one I could easily learn and probably should, after I learn how to play first.
I figure I'll bring a big poster to the concert that says (Bono and I can make a "Flower Child") and in small letters (i brought lyrics).
Stranger things have happened at U2 shows, believe me.
I have a whole "Open Letter to U2" I've been planning on writing and posting online soon...but for now, enjoy the lyrics to "Flower Child."
If you want a copy of the song, let me know, I can upload it to you somehow.
"Flower Child"
On the fifth day of May
She was breaking away
When the moon came and sat on your shoulder
She was still young
Not yet high-strung
Which you need to be when you get older
George was the street
When you first faced defeat
You put money on the colour of her sky
Well the cold of her voice
Left you there with no choice
But to drink the liffy dry
The seeds that you sew
You want to watch them grow
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Here comes Holy Joe
Now, how would he know
How laughter can make a man cruel
Theres fire on fire
When lovers conspire
To either a duet or duel
When its fire on fire
The flames just get higher
The harder you work to put them out
Well, you know that youre similar
Sugar and weak
In a boat heading north facing south
The seeds that you sew
You want to watch them grow
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild
Whats on your breath
Is it fear of death
That makes such a man promiscuous
Your mouth was dry
Like when youre about to lie
And her lips are so lucous
Youve seen it before
Youre hurled at her door
Like a dog when she needed a man
Now she aches and she breaks
And she takes all the weight
Of your world, she almost can
The seeds that you sew
Well, you want to watch them growing
The wind, where will it blow
My flower child
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild
The sky was still gray
Up on Albion way
As the yellow hats took up the road
Didnt hear what she said
As the lights turned red
On a love that should have stayed gold
Gold
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Wild, you grow wild
You grow wild in my heart
Jun 6, 2006
Summit pics
Well, since I didn't bring a camera on the Summit trip, mainly due to money reasons and how our digital camera is kinda crappy...like a disposable...you all will have to go here,
http://www.pixagogo.com/8073725232
to have a look at all the wonderful things I and others were doing for two weeks.
Thanks be to Joe and especially Sarita for taking these pics and putting them online. Mucho gracias.
http://www.pixagogo.com/8073725232
to have a look at all the wonderful things I and others were doing for two weeks.
Thanks be to Joe and especially Sarita for taking these pics and putting them online. Mucho gracias.
Jun 2, 2006
Summit Update #3
"Free at last, free at last...THANK GOD ALMIGHTY, I'M FREE AT LAST!!!"
Don't start asking if I had a good time...I need some time to unwind/ponder/unwind/pray/unwind; I'll write a Summit Coda later. Emphasis on the unwind. By Wednesday night, I was ready to go home, and it's only by the grace of God that I've been able to enjoy myself the last few days. It seems some prayer does work...lol, just kidding. Still, I will be very glad to be home.
Summit is a great experience. I'm already planning on getting/paying for my brother to come here next summer, and I'm also scheming about how to get Fourth's youth group to come here. It's that important.
But for me, I unwind by being alone. If I could have a weekend off, just by myself, I would be ready for another two week stint at Summit. However, I will admit that I'm thinking about applying to work here some summer. It would be a great experience, and hopefully one God will bless.
----------------
Down the hall there is a party going on. Parties and me aren't exactly best of friends. While I can enjoy certain types of parties, the mass of people, the sweat, the heat, and the idiocity eventually just wear me down. Everyone has to take pictures with everyone, regardless who they are. (Or their age in relation to your own...) There are very few people here that I will honestly miss, and I've already made arrangements to keep in touch with them. There are a few people I will miss seeing and experiencing every day, but that's different. I miss Conan O'Brien, but it's not like he's a personal friend...yet (one day).
Am I being anti-social? Possibily. I don't know. I just know it's very hard for me to be "slow to anger" around a huge mass of people. You will always run into that one person who is just ignorant of his/her surroundings and has a big ego. I'm probably doing everyone a favor by not hanging around behind everyone and just listening to everyone talk because they never slow down for a second.
I'd rather just sit here and think and listen to Delirious on J's laptop...
"On Christ the solid Rock we will stand!/All other ground...is sinking sand"
----------------
Tomorrow we get up waaaaaay too early and drive back to Minnesota. If I'm lucky...I might get a chance to drive. Don't really know if that is wise though; I'm already under probation, and Jonathan has a reputation for being a "speed nazi" or something. But still...it would definitely be a nice change of pace, and I know I can last behind the wheel, especially if the speed control actually works.
Although...I imagine the seating arrangement will be the same as it was coming down. And although I do love Beau and Garrett (at times)...their taste in music and sermons leaves me a little bland at times. I somehow doubt I'll be able to just flip on the radio or turn on my cds and listen to what I want to; unless they are asleep.
Music parity...I should get a t-shirt saying "I DEMAND MUSIC PARITY!!"
But "lest ye offend..."
-----------------
There's a pretty heavy subject weighing on my heart right now. It's a subject that has slowly been building but nigh exploded last night. An event happened that I praise God for. But behind it is something else. I've been praying about it, and probably gonna be praying about it for a while. Wisdom is what I need. Do I just let this pass, or do I act on it? Will it be beneficial to anyone, or will it just cause harm?
I'm so tired of thinking and dealing with the tough and big questions...
Chris tells me that instead of reading a book/watching tv/listening to music/or anything else, he's rather just sit and think. Well...good for him. If that helps him, I support it. But for me, I am so tired of thinking...so weary...my mind won't shut down.
I use things to not think...and I thank God for them.
-------------------
Well, I better go rejoin civilization.
I need caffeine...
Don't start asking if I had a good time...I need some time to unwind/ponder/unwind/pray/unwind; I'll write a Summit Coda later. Emphasis on the unwind. By Wednesday night, I was ready to go home, and it's only by the grace of God that I've been able to enjoy myself the last few days. It seems some prayer does work...lol, just kidding. Still, I will be very glad to be home.
Summit is a great experience. I'm already planning on getting/paying for my brother to come here next summer, and I'm also scheming about how to get Fourth's youth group to come here. It's that important.
But for me, I unwind by being alone. If I could have a weekend off, just by myself, I would be ready for another two week stint at Summit. However, I will admit that I'm thinking about applying to work here some summer. It would be a great experience, and hopefully one God will bless.
----------------
Down the hall there is a party going on. Parties and me aren't exactly best of friends. While I can enjoy certain types of parties, the mass of people, the sweat, the heat, and the idiocity eventually just wear me down. Everyone has to take pictures with everyone, regardless who they are. (Or their age in relation to your own...) There are very few people here that I will honestly miss, and I've already made arrangements to keep in touch with them. There are a few people I will miss seeing and experiencing every day, but that's different. I miss Conan O'Brien, but it's not like he's a personal friend...yet (one day).
Am I being anti-social? Possibily. I don't know. I just know it's very hard for me to be "slow to anger" around a huge mass of people. You will always run into that one person who is just ignorant of his/her surroundings and has a big ego. I'm probably doing everyone a favor by not hanging around behind everyone and just listening to everyone talk because they never slow down for a second.
I'd rather just sit here and think and listen to Delirious on J's laptop...
"On Christ the solid Rock we will stand!/All other ground...is sinking sand"
----------------
Tomorrow we get up waaaaaay too early and drive back to Minnesota. If I'm lucky...I might get a chance to drive. Don't really know if that is wise though; I'm already under probation, and Jonathan has a reputation for being a "speed nazi" or something. But still...it would definitely be a nice change of pace, and I know I can last behind the wheel, especially if the speed control actually works.
Although...I imagine the seating arrangement will be the same as it was coming down. And although I do love Beau and Garrett (at times)...their taste in music and sermons leaves me a little bland at times. I somehow doubt I'll be able to just flip on the radio or turn on my cds and listen to what I want to; unless they are asleep.
Music parity...I should get a t-shirt saying "I DEMAND MUSIC PARITY!!"
But "lest ye offend..."
-----------------
There's a pretty heavy subject weighing on my heart right now. It's a subject that has slowly been building but nigh exploded last night. An event happened that I praise God for. But behind it is something else. I've been praying about it, and probably gonna be praying about it for a while. Wisdom is what I need. Do I just let this pass, or do I act on it? Will it be beneficial to anyone, or will it just cause harm?
I'm so tired of thinking and dealing with the tough and big questions...
Chris tells me that instead of reading a book/watching tv/listening to music/or anything else, he's rather just sit and think. Well...good for him. If that helps him, I support it. But for me, I am so tired of thinking...so weary...my mind won't shut down.
I use things to not think...and I thank God for them.
-------------------
Well, I better go rejoin civilization.
I need caffeine...
May 28, 2006
Summit Update 2.1
Few things I forgot...
First off, within the lower ages, it ain't good here. Too many cliques here for the wrong things with too many attitute problems. If the two leaders, affectionately dubbed "Buffy" and "Angel," were "taken out", the whole group dynamic would be different, and probably better.
Before coming here, I knew we would be the odd group. We are the troublemakers, the ones who dare to stand up and contradict a speaker. We have a reputation here even before we arrived; the leaders love us, the students seem to despise us. What I DIDN'T count on is the almost outright hostility some people give to us. I say almost cause it never quite crosses that invisible line.
The Bible says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This seems to be almost contradictory to some people here; they like the concept of a quick and easy salvation much easier. People seem almost willing to pounce on us when we say something that they don't quite agree with it; no matter what Scripture says. People need to realize what I realized a while ago= stop trying to argue with the Bible. Just accept what is written, learn, and move on.
And I have a confession to make. I am really tired and burnt out on all of these Christian pseudo-intellectual conversations that seem to continually be about the exact same arguments. I realize there importance, but I'm tired of hearing the same stuff over and over again. Today has been a nice rebreather, but I'm still gonna be praying that God will recharge my batteries and just give me some passion to discuss stuff with people.
Here's an example of what got ALOT of people up in arms. The first, which I can discuss later, is the concept of what is TRUE. JP Moreland argues that The Bible is not true. Obviously a inflammatory statement. However, he goes on to explain why, and at the end, it's discovered that the Bible is far more than just truth. It's a tough argument, you have to listen to the whole thing to explain it, but it makes sense both philosophically and Biblically.
I don't know about his belief that animals and plants have souls though...don't quite get that one...I'll call that dross.
Another good example- "Where two or three are gathered in my mind, I am there with with them." A verse about how Christ promises that He is there in Spirit whenever a small body is gathered, right? Wrong. Read the context. It has to do with church discipline and not a bible study. And if you took it literally, Christ is only present with two or three people, no more no less. Not quite true. Ultimately it has to do with church discipline, and as always, CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT.
Ok, dinner was turkey, decent, and I am full. Time to get Pepsi'd.
First off, within the lower ages, it ain't good here. Too many cliques here for the wrong things with too many attitute problems. If the two leaders, affectionately dubbed "Buffy" and "Angel," were "taken out", the whole group dynamic would be different, and probably better.
Before coming here, I knew we would be the odd group. We are the troublemakers, the ones who dare to stand up and contradict a speaker. We have a reputation here even before we arrived; the leaders love us, the students seem to despise us. What I DIDN'T count on is the almost outright hostility some people give to us. I say almost cause it never quite crosses that invisible line.
The Bible says to "work out your salvation with fear and trembling." This seems to be almost contradictory to some people here; they like the concept of a quick and easy salvation much easier. People seem almost willing to pounce on us when we say something that they don't quite agree with it; no matter what Scripture says. People need to realize what I realized a while ago= stop trying to argue with the Bible. Just accept what is written, learn, and move on.
And I have a confession to make. I am really tired and burnt out on all of these Christian pseudo-intellectual conversations that seem to continually be about the exact same arguments. I realize there importance, but I'm tired of hearing the same stuff over and over again. Today has been a nice rebreather, but I'm still gonna be praying that God will recharge my batteries and just give me some passion to discuss stuff with people.
Here's an example of what got ALOT of people up in arms. The first, which I can discuss later, is the concept of what is TRUE. JP Moreland argues that The Bible is not true. Obviously a inflammatory statement. However, he goes on to explain why, and at the end, it's discovered that the Bible is far more than just truth. It's a tough argument, you have to listen to the whole thing to explain it, but it makes sense both philosophically and Biblically.
I don't know about his belief that animals and plants have souls though...don't quite get that one...I'll call that dross.
Another good example- "Where two or three are gathered in my mind, I am there with with them." A verse about how Christ promises that He is there in Spirit whenever a small body is gathered, right? Wrong. Read the context. It has to do with church discipline and not a bible study. And if you took it literally, Christ is only present with two or three people, no more no less. Not quite true. Ultimately it has to do with church discipline, and as always, CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT.
Ok, dinner was turkey, decent, and I am full. Time to get Pepsi'd.
Summit Update #2
You'd think on the first day where nearly the whole day is free time, I'd get alot done. Not so. If you want to do laundry, plan out nearly an hour and a half. If you want to go to Wal-Mart, plan out nearly an hour and a half (for other ppl to do clothes hunting...sigh). If you want to sleep in...yeah, less hours there too. So basically, I've gotten little done, and yet what I have gotten done is very important.
Ooo...and I finally got to go to a Sonic. Not bad. Kinda like a drive in Culvers...with a pretty decent Green Chili Cheeseburger.
So...what's been happening since last update. Been sleeping better...although that's according to me, not according to others. They say I'm still screaming or whatever in my sleep. Heck, as long as I don't remember it, deal with it. Various verses people have been giving me seem to be helping too...as does the massive dose of music I listen to right before I go to bed. Helps me get into a spiritual mindset, tires me out, and clears my mind too. That no music rule here is ridiculous; I see no difference between someone playing tunes on a guitar and someone listening to tunes on a cd player. Unless it's rap music; that's just evil.
Went to the Flying W Ranch last night (also went to Garden of the Gods...hasn't changed in five years). Food- meh, Company-meh, Attractions- meh meh...but the Music- AMAZING. I grew up listening to some old country/western bluegrass type stuff, so I knew most of the songs. Managed to get away from all the group and hang out near the door in order to feel the breeze; it was hot in there. But the music was amazing. The band really did a good job.
At times I even started to tear up; it reminded me alot of my Papa (dad's dad) and just Colorado in general. I miss him alot when I come out here; it's just not the same anymore. And I've noticed that lately I've been praying that I will get to see him and Mema together in heaven one day. It sucks not to know.
The professors have been pretty good. One old school southern preacher got really old really fast. I wanted to sleep through his whole presentation on the authenticity of Scripture. Plus, I got strong KJV Only vibes from him the whole time, so that didn't help matters. He didn't expressly say it...but I saw his reaction when he called on someone to read some Scripture and they whipped out some newer translation. People never learn.
Roommates are doing ok. Nerves are started to get a little short. Jelani and I got into a little shouting match that I didn't want to have at the time; tried to get him to just shut up but he wouldn't. Eventually I just apologized for my part in what it was about; better to end it and be sincere than drag it out. Plus he was just plain wrong, and if I had gottten Joe and Nate involved, I would have won, but that's beside the point. I don't mind. Better to be humble than be right.
I keep on hearing from everyone that when the two weeks are up you will hate to leave and want to stay. Well, so far...that ain't the case. Enough of my freedoms have been taken from me that I will be more than happy to be back home. I miss driving the most probably; I just want to go cruising in my car. Plus it would be nice to not have people yelling at you in five minute intervals that lights out are at 11. And a shower that is not a drizzle is a luxury.
Maybe I just haven't met enough girls yet...that seems to be what everyone says they miss the most. Friends. I'm not here for that, although I have been several people I want to keep in contact with.
"Rise up with wings as eagles...higher!...higher!! BEAUTIFUL DAY!!" Sorry, just listening to some tunes on J's laptop. Good old U2 in Chicago. Speaking on U2, we are up to 3 Bono/U2 references from the pulpit/lecturn here. All positive. And I discovered that there is an entire room here that loves U2! I'm in the haters room it seems...one of the guys even has that U2 ipod (I'm bittersweet about that product).
In reference to girls...I had a unique encounter last night at the Flying W. Walking around before the dinner bell, I ran across this one girl. Features were slightly Spanish, prob with a touch of European in her somewhere. I thought she was really attractive, but everyone else was giving her the "meh." She was very tall; easily 6'1" or 6'2". Attractive physicque; she wasn't a booty or whatever girl, she was just perfectly proportionate.
Ok, enough of physical features...lol...that's hardly the most important thing.
But what made her stood out to me was something else. Let's call it her spirit. Throughout the night I kept on running into her or just observing her (save your comments). She was at the W with her whole family; parents, siblings, even grandparents. Throughout the night, I saw her do several things.
1- She cleaned up for her family. She carried her trash away and took care of it, then came back for others trash too. And I didn't see her complain or anything. Her expression on her face wasn't exactly "PRAISE JESUS I"M SO GIDDY AND HAPPY!!", but it wasn't bitter or unhappy either. Content, or just ...I don't know. She didn't seem to mind doing it, I guess.
2- After the music was over, she walked out of the big indoor room with her family. I saw her help her mother take care of the strollers and the babies and little children. Didn't see her complain at all.
3- For some unknown reason, I stopped and bought some of the music cds before heading to the bus. Because of that, I ended up finding a seat on the bus by myself, and had to sit up front. Thank God I did that. Out she came with her family. She was pushing her grandparent, and again, didn't seem to mind it.
So why didn't I run out and ask her her name or anything? She was wearing a shirt that said '06. Don't know if it was for highschool or college. But that was a hindrance, plus that little voice inside of me that kept on saying "you didn't come to Summit to meet girls"...and that other voice saying "God, PLEASE??!!!"
It made me think alot though. I know nothing about this girl, but she seemed to scream Christ to me the entire time. Just watching and observing her, I saw traits that I recognized as Christian. Traits that I rarely see in believers, male or female...or even in myself. I caught myself praying to God that she was a Christian, or that someone would go up to her and have the nerve to witness to her. She seemed to be something special.
I'd love to know her name. I'd love to ask her if she knows Jesus (in Colo Springs, odds are she does). I wonder what her interests are. With that height and body, I bet she plays sports. I wonder if she got a scholarship for volleyball or basketball anywhere. I wonder what her name is.
It made me think about all the things I want in a woman. Maybe not the physical things; but definitely the spiritual things. There was just something about her, something that made me sit up and take notice. An inner beauty. A humbleness. A gentle spirit. And a willingness to serve others.
Made me realize just how much I've changed. And how much I have to work toward to be.
I've mentioned this to several people, but up til maybe a year and a half ago, I wanted nothing to do with "Christian" women. I'd rather date an unsaved person who is a good person than a saved person who is despicable. Christian testimony comes in multiple flavors. To me, it's more important that you have fruit in your life than if you claim the name of Christ. I can think of several girls throughout the years who have either abused the name of Christ or have been the "golden girls" of churchs and yet are some of the worse people you could be around.
Obviously, things have changed. I want a good Christian woman right now. Within reason. And picked by God.
But I hope and pray that one day I run across this young lady again and get to ask her her name. Perhaps when we are both ready.
If you can't tell, she's been haunting me since last night; actions speak louder than words or physical appearance, and I can't get her out of my mind.
Hence, I'm on a "Mysterious Ways" binge.
That's all for now. Dinner is served in 5. Time to rustle the troops.
Ooo...and I finally got to go to a Sonic. Not bad. Kinda like a drive in Culvers...with a pretty decent Green Chili Cheeseburger.
So...what's been happening since last update. Been sleeping better...although that's according to me, not according to others. They say I'm still screaming or whatever in my sleep. Heck, as long as I don't remember it, deal with it. Various verses people have been giving me seem to be helping too...as does the massive dose of music I listen to right before I go to bed. Helps me get into a spiritual mindset, tires me out, and clears my mind too. That no music rule here is ridiculous; I see no difference between someone playing tunes on a guitar and someone listening to tunes on a cd player. Unless it's rap music; that's just evil.
Went to the Flying W Ranch last night (also went to Garden of the Gods...hasn't changed in five years). Food- meh, Company-meh, Attractions- meh meh...but the Music- AMAZING. I grew up listening to some old country/western bluegrass type stuff, so I knew most of the songs. Managed to get away from all the group and hang out near the door in order to feel the breeze; it was hot in there. But the music was amazing. The band really did a good job.
At times I even started to tear up; it reminded me alot of my Papa (dad's dad) and just Colorado in general. I miss him alot when I come out here; it's just not the same anymore. And I've noticed that lately I've been praying that I will get to see him and Mema together in heaven one day. It sucks not to know.
The professors have been pretty good. One old school southern preacher got really old really fast. I wanted to sleep through his whole presentation on the authenticity of Scripture. Plus, I got strong KJV Only vibes from him the whole time, so that didn't help matters. He didn't expressly say it...but I saw his reaction when he called on someone to read some Scripture and they whipped out some newer translation. People never learn.
Roommates are doing ok. Nerves are started to get a little short. Jelani and I got into a little shouting match that I didn't want to have at the time; tried to get him to just shut up but he wouldn't. Eventually I just apologized for my part in what it was about; better to end it and be sincere than drag it out. Plus he was just plain wrong, and if I had gottten Joe and Nate involved, I would have won, but that's beside the point. I don't mind. Better to be humble than be right.
I keep on hearing from everyone that when the two weeks are up you will hate to leave and want to stay. Well, so far...that ain't the case. Enough of my freedoms have been taken from me that I will be more than happy to be back home. I miss driving the most probably; I just want to go cruising in my car. Plus it would be nice to not have people yelling at you in five minute intervals that lights out are at 11. And a shower that is not a drizzle is a luxury.
Maybe I just haven't met enough girls yet...that seems to be what everyone says they miss the most. Friends. I'm not here for that, although I have been several people I want to keep in contact with.
"Rise up with wings as eagles...higher!...higher!! BEAUTIFUL DAY!!" Sorry, just listening to some tunes on J's laptop. Good old U2 in Chicago. Speaking on U2, we are up to 3 Bono/U2 references from the pulpit/lecturn here. All positive. And I discovered that there is an entire room here that loves U2! I'm in the haters room it seems...one of the guys even has that U2 ipod (I'm bittersweet about that product).
In reference to girls...I had a unique encounter last night at the Flying W. Walking around before the dinner bell, I ran across this one girl. Features were slightly Spanish, prob with a touch of European in her somewhere. I thought she was really attractive, but everyone else was giving her the "meh." She was very tall; easily 6'1" or 6'2". Attractive physicque; she wasn't a booty or whatever girl, she was just perfectly proportionate.
Ok, enough of physical features...lol...that's hardly the most important thing.
But what made her stood out to me was something else. Let's call it her spirit. Throughout the night I kept on running into her or just observing her (save your comments). She was at the W with her whole family; parents, siblings, even grandparents. Throughout the night, I saw her do several things.
1- She cleaned up for her family. She carried her trash away and took care of it, then came back for others trash too. And I didn't see her complain or anything. Her expression on her face wasn't exactly "PRAISE JESUS I"M SO GIDDY AND HAPPY!!", but it wasn't bitter or unhappy either. Content, or just ...I don't know. She didn't seem to mind doing it, I guess.
2- After the music was over, she walked out of the big indoor room with her family. I saw her help her mother take care of the strollers and the babies and little children. Didn't see her complain at all.
3- For some unknown reason, I stopped and bought some of the music cds before heading to the bus. Because of that, I ended up finding a seat on the bus by myself, and had to sit up front. Thank God I did that. Out she came with her family. She was pushing her grandparent, and again, didn't seem to mind it.
So why didn't I run out and ask her her name or anything? She was wearing a shirt that said '06. Don't know if it was for highschool or college. But that was a hindrance, plus that little voice inside of me that kept on saying "you didn't come to Summit to meet girls"...and that other voice saying "God, PLEASE??!!!"
It made me think alot though. I know nothing about this girl, but she seemed to scream Christ to me the entire time. Just watching and observing her, I saw traits that I recognized as Christian. Traits that I rarely see in believers, male or female...or even in myself. I caught myself praying to God that she was a Christian, or that someone would go up to her and have the nerve to witness to her. She seemed to be something special.
I'd love to know her name. I'd love to ask her if she knows Jesus (in Colo Springs, odds are she does). I wonder what her interests are. With that height and body, I bet she plays sports. I wonder if she got a scholarship for volleyball or basketball anywhere. I wonder what her name is.
It made me think about all the things I want in a woman. Maybe not the physical things; but definitely the spiritual things. There was just something about her, something that made me sit up and take notice. An inner beauty. A humbleness. A gentle spirit. And a willingness to serve others.
Made me realize just how much I've changed. And how much I have to work toward to be.
I've mentioned this to several people, but up til maybe a year and a half ago, I wanted nothing to do with "Christian" women. I'd rather date an unsaved person who is a good person than a saved person who is despicable. Christian testimony comes in multiple flavors. To me, it's more important that you have fruit in your life than if you claim the name of Christ. I can think of several girls throughout the years who have either abused the name of Christ or have been the "golden girls" of churchs and yet are some of the worse people you could be around.
Obviously, things have changed. I want a good Christian woman right now. Within reason. And picked by God.
But I hope and pray that one day I run across this young lady again and get to ask her her name. Perhaps when we are both ready.
If you can't tell, she's been haunting me since last night; actions speak louder than words or physical appearance, and I can't get her out of my mind.
Hence, I'm on a "Mysterious Ways" binge.
That's all for now. Dinner is served in 5. Time to rustle the troops.
May 24, 2006
Summit Update
Originally I was planning on going on a two week internet media fast, but since we discovered that this place has wi-fi, and Jelani brought his laptop, I am now pecking away at a rather crappy Mac keyboard...I hate laptops in general I guess...
So, lets see. So far, I am enjoying myself. The speakers have generally been excellent, I'm learning stuff, although honestly I learn more listening to Chris and others talk than I do the speakers. Most of the worldview stuff is old hat to me...although some of it is pretty new.
We got a pretty sweet room...Joe, J, Nate, and I. Got our own bathroom AND walk in closet, although the shower's water pressure leaves alot to be desired. And so far we are rocking a 99% cleaning average...only high scores for us.
Its worth pointing out that the dreams have started again. I've been having some crazy nightmares for a while, and the last two nights have not been that fun. First I had a dream where I was being chased through the Summitt hotel by dogs; Joe claims I kept on moaning "help...help..." before I woke up. He said he felt some demonic presence in the room...which would explain alot.
Last night was crazier. I fell to sleep...as I was going to sleep, all of a sudden the room was filled with a dark red light...red light was streaming through the blinds. The bunks changed, became cold and dark instead of wood. The other guys were gone, although 3 new people where in each of their places. I'm on the bottom bunk; the top above me all of a sudden had a bright glowing red scar in it.
Then I woke up. Began praying heavily for this to stop...or for meaning. Fell back asleep...slipped right back into the same place. Woke up, prayed. Plead. Fell asleep again...went to a place similar, but this time, a big pair of mechanical wind up party teeth (those clatterer things) was heading straight for Joe, and in blind panic and concern I woke up and grabbed his arm! If you know Joe, you know this freaks him out. So as I slowly lost sight of my "vision" or dream, we both seemed to calm each other down, and eventually fell asleep.
Needless to say, I am very tired of this nonsense. Chris is convinced it's demonic, the dreams at least, but also that I have some gift of sight into the spiritual world. Would explain A LOT to me. Yet when he mentions something like that, my first thought is, "Didn't Bruce preach against mysticism recently?" Obviously I need to do some researching, studying, and seeking of God on this.
But I just want to sleep peacefully without having to tire myself out first.
Other than that, Summitt is going good. I started praying early last week that this experience would not become the typical girl hunt/attraction thing that I and many seem to easily slip into. That said, if God is willing, please, by all means, let me know. There are some girls here who I would love to get to know better, but I'm not going to let myself because that is not why I came here...unlike some who are unnamed.
One important truth related to that: Beauty is deceptive. Yet on the flipside, a soul needs beauty for a soulmate. So...I'm not gonna be deceived anymore. Yeah...
On a lighter note- caffeine headaches are becoming a norm. Thankfully we were able to sneak off the compound and buy some RCs and Dew. And some bribes for the hotel staff, but that's a different story.
Wow but I feel old here...
Update Complete. Stay tuned for more...possibly.
So, lets see. So far, I am enjoying myself. The speakers have generally been excellent, I'm learning stuff, although honestly I learn more listening to Chris and others talk than I do the speakers. Most of the worldview stuff is old hat to me...although some of it is pretty new.
We got a pretty sweet room...Joe, J, Nate, and I. Got our own bathroom AND walk in closet, although the shower's water pressure leaves alot to be desired. And so far we are rocking a 99% cleaning average...only high scores for us.
Its worth pointing out that the dreams have started again. I've been having some crazy nightmares for a while, and the last two nights have not been that fun. First I had a dream where I was being chased through the Summitt hotel by dogs; Joe claims I kept on moaning "help...help..." before I woke up. He said he felt some demonic presence in the room...which would explain alot.
Last night was crazier. I fell to sleep...as I was going to sleep, all of a sudden the room was filled with a dark red light...red light was streaming through the blinds. The bunks changed, became cold and dark instead of wood. The other guys were gone, although 3 new people where in each of their places. I'm on the bottom bunk; the top above me all of a sudden had a bright glowing red scar in it.
Then I woke up. Began praying heavily for this to stop...or for meaning. Fell back asleep...slipped right back into the same place. Woke up, prayed. Plead. Fell asleep again...went to a place similar, but this time, a big pair of mechanical wind up party teeth (those clatterer things) was heading straight for Joe, and in blind panic and concern I woke up and grabbed his arm! If you know Joe, you know this freaks him out. So as I slowly lost sight of my "vision" or dream, we both seemed to calm each other down, and eventually fell asleep.
Needless to say, I am very tired of this nonsense. Chris is convinced it's demonic, the dreams at least, but also that I have some gift of sight into the spiritual world. Would explain A LOT to me. Yet when he mentions something like that, my first thought is, "Didn't Bruce preach against mysticism recently?" Obviously I need to do some researching, studying, and seeking of God on this.
But I just want to sleep peacefully without having to tire myself out first.
Other than that, Summitt is going good. I started praying early last week that this experience would not become the typical girl hunt/attraction thing that I and many seem to easily slip into. That said, if God is willing, please, by all means, let me know. There are some girls here who I would love to get to know better, but I'm not going to let myself because that is not why I came here...unlike some who are unnamed.
One important truth related to that: Beauty is deceptive. Yet on the flipside, a soul needs beauty for a soulmate. So...I'm not gonna be deceived anymore. Yeah...
On a lighter note- caffeine headaches are becoming a norm. Thankfully we were able to sneak off the compound and buy some RCs and Dew. And some bribes for the hotel staff, but that's a different story.
Wow but I feel old here...
Update Complete. Stay tuned for more...possibly.
May 15, 2006
Power Blog!!
Introducing the first of possibly many Power Blogs...meaning I write alot on various stuff and just do it all at once. Get bored at work...so I blog.
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More often then not, I'm able to find people who say the words I can't formulate. Here's a good example of one of my thoughts...from a list of the Top 10 Contributions Charasmatics have made to Christianity, taken from
http://timbayly.worldmagblog.com/timbayly/archives/024105.html
1. A focus on New Testament “gifts of the Spirit” such as healing, prophecy, and tongues.
I’m very much of a split mind on this since, although I’m not the normal reformed cessationist, the vast majority of what passes today in public as the practice of these gifts is, in my experience, fake. (How many times have I heard an overwrought matron prophesying, “O my people, I just want to love you and to gather you to my bosom, if you would only let me.” No thanks--this is no prophetic word, but only an overwrought matron.
I'm tending to agree. I really don't believe I have heard anyone truly speak in tongues since I started attending Marantha. However, I will admit that it's possible I have; I can think of one or two people whose occasional mutterings might have been legit. However, when someone can just "turn it on" or "speak it" in the Spirit...I admit I doubt it's true. To them, maybe; not to me.
And those prophetic words people like to blurt out during the songs...yeaaaahhhh...except for Dean's leading, I think they are just annoying. The words might be true, and the meaning and spirit (lower case) behind them are sincere, but they are hardly prophetic. If I said "God loves you," that's not prophetic; it's just Bible, and really, it's just
DUH.
Although the guy does go on to point out 1Corinthians 14:39...and I agree with that. And he makes some REALLY good points in the next bit...
Deadpan worship devoid of emotions and physical movement is the bane of reformed worship. God gave us emotions and bodies, and both should be active in worship. As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Scripture is filled with examples of the people of God in worship kneeling, shouting, dancing, falling on their faces, standing, lifting their hands, and so on. The absence of any body movement beyond standing and sitting in reformed worship is an indication of our worship of the intellect and our tendency to lift doctrine above practice. So you won’t be surprised to find out that I believe it’s sin, and that in our congregation we kneel, stand, lift our hands, and that I hope the day will come when we will dance and fall on our faces, too.
I'll just work on some emotion for the time being...maybe a hand raised...
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In other news, it's kinda funny that my screensaver on my computer provides a better focus point than President Bush's face. It's hard watching the guy at times; but I did listen/watch the Presidential address tonight. If there is one thing I can say about my years at community college is that it taught me the importance of paying attention to the world and the news. Thanks Jack, you've cemented me as a Fox watcher...much to your chagrin! (Don't worry, I check both sides...just trying to be fair and balanced...)
But in regards to his address and the whole issue...
I don't know.
He makes some good points...everyone makes some good points...but what's the best point?
Should we grant complete amnesty to any illegal who has had a child in our country? Probably not.
Should illegal workers be deported and forced to complete the immigration process if they want back in? I'd say yes. But then again, wouldn't half of Hollywood and our music industry be gone? LoL...
Amnesty vs total amnesty vs partial amnesty vs no amnesty. Which of these 4 views do I hold to? It's tricky...I'm probably leaning toward no amnesty...but on conditions, none of which have to do with the illegal immigrants specifically.
For example...one of the big arguments is that illegals do the work Americans won't do. Yet why won't Americans do the jobs? Could the fact that companies pay crap have anything to do with it? I'd be willing to be a "sanitation engineer" if I'm guaranteed more than $5-7 an hour. You just can't live off that. In today's society, if you are working a 40 hour week, it's probably MINIMUM to earn at least $10 an hour just in order to survive; and even then, you are probably have to live with 4 other people just to afford a 2 bedroom apartment that was made for cheaper than your monthly rent.
There are just too many problems with our society for any one solution to fix them all. Greed is just too prevalant, and too much power is in too few hands. Change is needed.
Or perhaps just grace and God...
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I must admit, I find sites like screenit.com offensive. It annoys me to no end that people are willing to base their discernment on a movie based on the number of cusswords, amount of violence, or hints of sexualness that are contained within a film or tv show. Maybe its my aspirations to be a filmmaker, tv producer, story writer, or just lover of fiction...I don't know.
If someone were to make a movie about the salvation of a prisoner on deathrow, and included his illegal and possibily murderous past, and wanted to make it lifelike...would he not use cusswords? Probably not. That's not reality. "I just don't feel comfortable exposing myself to such things." You mean you never walk underneath that sign in your church that says "You are now entering the mission field"?
Would a movie about a Christian martyr who stood up for his beliefs and got executed not include violence? Hardly. That's not reality.
And just how do you define sexual immorality? Nudity? Kissing? Bare shoulders? If a married couple, within the context of the story, kiss...does that offend you? Do you turn away in shame or, worse yet, in sin? "But they aren't married in real life." What if they were? Would you turn away at a marriage ceremony when the minister says "You may kiss the bride?" Where do you draw the line?
You know, I realize I'm just preaching to the backrows. You all have your set beliefs, and nothing less than the voice of God will change your mind...or my mind probably too...although we both will continue to shout at each other and get annoyed at each other. And then one of us will get tired of it, and start saying stuff like "well what works for you is between you and God, and this is just how I live MY life...but really, according to X scripture, you should..."
And eventually one of us will walk away from the room in disgust. And saddened that a God given opportunity for fellowship and discourse has been lost due to our "sinful nature."
So what it's worth...I apologize. I don't really want to be the party that causes others to stumble.
But I still just don't understand.
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And I know I might ruffle some feathers by saying this...but why is it that some people either seem to take delight in or feel it is their Godly duty to dig up and throw dirt on people's enjoyments?
Real life examples I've heard-
"You like Superman? Did you know he is the Anti-Christ, the exact opposite of all that Christ should be!! You should not expose such filth to your children."
"You own a gun? Oh, you enjoy hunting. Did you know the Bible says we shouldn't condone violence?" I still don't get that one...
"How can you drink out of a brown bottle? Oh, it's root beer? Well, the Bible I read says that you should avoid the appearance of evil and not tempt others, and it really looks like you are drinking some evil drink there. But, really, that's just what my Bible says..."
The worse of the lot...and I realize this doesn't apply anymore to alot of people, but I've still heard it-
"NIV? How can you be saved if you are reading an uninspired evil translation made by a council of devil worshippers and homosexuals? I don't care if you have been saved for years...unless you read the inspired King James Version of the Bible, you are NOT SAVED."
And my personal favorite: "You like U2? Did you know, ignoring the instruments and STYLE of music they play and the fact that they drink alcohol, that Bono once dressed up as the Devil and that he appeared nude once? Or that U2's lyrics say that salvation isn't all that is necessary in this world, that "they still haven't found what they are looking for," so obviously they are unBiblical as well as unsaved?
I just don't understand. And I can hear some of you thinking "the boy is just ticked off at everything" or "he must like being angry all the time"...well, really, I'm not, and I don't want to be. I'm saddened more than angry; frustrated or disheartened perhaps.
And after writing all this, pretty depressed...
--------------
And one final plug...the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Stadium Arcadia, a double disc, is actually not too bad. However, far too many of the songs can be fit under that "b-side" banner, but most of them are on the second of the two discs (second in my mind, not their mind). Still, it's an excellent album, well worth picking up if you enjoy good music.
And of course, for some truly excellent music, try U2 or Kaiser Chiefs.
------------------------
Thus concludes Power Blog...
----------------------
More often then not, I'm able to find people who say the words I can't formulate. Here's a good example of one of my thoughts...from a list of the Top 10 Contributions Charasmatics have made to Christianity, taken from
http://timbayly.worldmagblog.com/timbayly/archives/024105.html
1. A focus on New Testament “gifts of the Spirit” such as healing, prophecy, and tongues.
I’m very much of a split mind on this since, although I’m not the normal reformed cessationist, the vast majority of what passes today in public as the practice of these gifts is, in my experience, fake. (How many times have I heard an overwrought matron prophesying, “O my people, I just want to love you and to gather you to my bosom, if you would only let me.” No thanks--this is no prophetic word, but only an overwrought matron.
I'm tending to agree. I really don't believe I have heard anyone truly speak in tongues since I started attending Marantha. However, I will admit that it's possible I have; I can think of one or two people whose occasional mutterings might have been legit. However, when someone can just "turn it on" or "speak it" in the Spirit...I admit I doubt it's true. To them, maybe; not to me.
And those prophetic words people like to blurt out during the songs...yeaaaahhhh...except for Dean's leading, I think they are just annoying. The words might be true, and the meaning and spirit (lower case) behind them are sincere, but they are hardly prophetic. If I said "God loves you," that's not prophetic; it's just Bible, and really, it's just
DUH.
Although the guy does go on to point out 1Corinthians 14:39...and I agree with that. And he makes some REALLY good points in the next bit...
Deadpan worship devoid of emotions and physical movement is the bane of reformed worship. God gave us emotions and bodies, and both should be active in worship. As I’ve pointed out elsewhere, Scripture is filled with examples of the people of God in worship kneeling, shouting, dancing, falling on their faces, standing, lifting their hands, and so on. The absence of any body movement beyond standing and sitting in reformed worship is an indication of our worship of the intellect and our tendency to lift doctrine above practice. So you won’t be surprised to find out that I believe it’s sin, and that in our congregation we kneel, stand, lift our hands, and that I hope the day will come when we will dance and fall on our faces, too.
I'll just work on some emotion for the time being...maybe a hand raised...
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In other news, it's kinda funny that my screensaver on my computer provides a better focus point than President Bush's face. It's hard watching the guy at times; but I did listen/watch the Presidential address tonight. If there is one thing I can say about my years at community college is that it taught me the importance of paying attention to the world and the news. Thanks Jack, you've cemented me as a Fox watcher...much to your chagrin! (Don't worry, I check both sides...just trying to be fair and balanced...)
But in regards to his address and the whole issue...
I don't know.
He makes some good points...everyone makes some good points...but what's the best point?
Should we grant complete amnesty to any illegal who has had a child in our country? Probably not.
Should illegal workers be deported and forced to complete the immigration process if they want back in? I'd say yes. But then again, wouldn't half of Hollywood and our music industry be gone? LoL...
Amnesty vs total amnesty vs partial amnesty vs no amnesty. Which of these 4 views do I hold to? It's tricky...I'm probably leaning toward no amnesty...but on conditions, none of which have to do with the illegal immigrants specifically.
For example...one of the big arguments is that illegals do the work Americans won't do. Yet why won't Americans do the jobs? Could the fact that companies pay crap have anything to do with it? I'd be willing to be a "sanitation engineer" if I'm guaranteed more than $5-7 an hour. You just can't live off that. In today's society, if you are working a 40 hour week, it's probably MINIMUM to earn at least $10 an hour just in order to survive; and even then, you are probably have to live with 4 other people just to afford a 2 bedroom apartment that was made for cheaper than your monthly rent.
There are just too many problems with our society for any one solution to fix them all. Greed is just too prevalant, and too much power is in too few hands. Change is needed.
Or perhaps just grace and God...
-----------------------
I must admit, I find sites like screenit.com offensive. It annoys me to no end that people are willing to base their discernment on a movie based on the number of cusswords, amount of violence, or hints of sexualness that are contained within a film or tv show. Maybe its my aspirations to be a filmmaker, tv producer, story writer, or just lover of fiction...I don't know.
If someone were to make a movie about the salvation of a prisoner on deathrow, and included his illegal and possibily murderous past, and wanted to make it lifelike...would he not use cusswords? Probably not. That's not reality. "I just don't feel comfortable exposing myself to such things." You mean you never walk underneath that sign in your church that says "You are now entering the mission field"?
Would a movie about a Christian martyr who stood up for his beliefs and got executed not include violence? Hardly. That's not reality.
And just how do you define sexual immorality? Nudity? Kissing? Bare shoulders? If a married couple, within the context of the story, kiss...does that offend you? Do you turn away in shame or, worse yet, in sin? "But they aren't married in real life." What if they were? Would you turn away at a marriage ceremony when the minister says "You may kiss the bride?" Where do you draw the line?
You know, I realize I'm just preaching to the backrows. You all have your set beliefs, and nothing less than the voice of God will change your mind...or my mind probably too...although we both will continue to shout at each other and get annoyed at each other. And then one of us will get tired of it, and start saying stuff like "well what works for you is between you and God, and this is just how I live MY life...but really, according to X scripture, you should..."
And eventually one of us will walk away from the room in disgust. And saddened that a God given opportunity for fellowship and discourse has been lost due to our "sinful nature."
So what it's worth...I apologize. I don't really want to be the party that causes others to stumble.
But I still just don't understand.
--------------
And I know I might ruffle some feathers by saying this...but why is it that some people either seem to take delight in or feel it is their Godly duty to dig up and throw dirt on people's enjoyments?
Real life examples I've heard-
"You like Superman? Did you know he is the Anti-Christ, the exact opposite of all that Christ should be!! You should not expose such filth to your children."
"You own a gun? Oh, you enjoy hunting. Did you know the Bible says we shouldn't condone violence?" I still don't get that one...
"How can you drink out of a brown bottle? Oh, it's root beer? Well, the Bible I read says that you should avoid the appearance of evil and not tempt others, and it really looks like you are drinking some evil drink there. But, really, that's just what my Bible says..."
The worse of the lot...and I realize this doesn't apply anymore to alot of people, but I've still heard it-
"NIV? How can you be saved if you are reading an uninspired evil translation made by a council of devil worshippers and homosexuals? I don't care if you have been saved for years...unless you read the inspired King James Version of the Bible, you are NOT SAVED."
And my personal favorite: "You like U2? Did you know, ignoring the instruments and STYLE of music they play and the fact that they drink alcohol, that Bono once dressed up as the Devil and that he appeared nude once? Or that U2's lyrics say that salvation isn't all that is necessary in this world, that "they still haven't found what they are looking for," so obviously they are unBiblical as well as unsaved?
I just don't understand. And I can hear some of you thinking "the boy is just ticked off at everything" or "he must like being angry all the time"...well, really, I'm not, and I don't want to be. I'm saddened more than angry; frustrated or disheartened perhaps.
And after writing all this, pretty depressed...
--------------
And one final plug...the new Red Hot Chili Peppers album, Stadium Arcadia, a double disc, is actually not too bad. However, far too many of the songs can be fit under that "b-side" banner, but most of them are on the second of the two discs (second in my mind, not their mind). Still, it's an excellent album, well worth picking up if you enjoy good music.
And of course, for some truly excellent music, try U2 or Kaiser Chiefs.
------------------------
Thus concludes Power Blog...
May 10, 2006
E3 2006
As most of you are probably unaware, E3, the big Electronic Entertainment Expo, is currently underway in California.
This is the big event for anyone interested or working in video games. All the companies come out for a three day fest, revealing new hardware, games, designs, mergers, what have you. It's the biggest and wildest videogame party in the world. And it's exclusive to the industry, so not just anyone can get in...which is a shame.
Most of you probably don't care at all about videogames. "Waste of time" "Immature" "time better spent reading your Bible!", etc, I've heard it all. I don't need to defend videogames. Just because the industry is rivaling Hollywood and most videogames deliver a better story and entertainment experience ("Killing people is entertaining??"....so ignorant) than most movies...well, a stuck opinion won't change overnight.
HOWEVER! Nintendo is trying to change all that with it's new system, the...Wii. Terrible, terrible name, yes. It used to be codenamed the Nintendo Revolution, which is alot better. But anyways, it looks like its going to be really fun to play with Nintendo's Wii.
I could go into detail regarding why this new innovation and system is going to explode the gaming market...but rather, I'd just as assume you watch two short videos.
http://media.revolution.ign.com/articles/706/706429/vids_1.html
Fairly confident these are the videos...so much stuff is being updated on the website that it gets difficult to keep track of where everything goes.
Anyways...the Wii is amazing.
This is the big event for anyone interested or working in video games. All the companies come out for a three day fest, revealing new hardware, games, designs, mergers, what have you. It's the biggest and wildest videogame party in the world. And it's exclusive to the industry, so not just anyone can get in...which is a shame.
Most of you probably don't care at all about videogames. "Waste of time" "Immature" "time better spent reading your Bible!", etc, I've heard it all. I don't need to defend videogames. Just because the industry is rivaling Hollywood and most videogames deliver a better story and entertainment experience ("Killing people is entertaining??"....so ignorant) than most movies...well, a stuck opinion won't change overnight.
HOWEVER! Nintendo is trying to change all that with it's new system, the...Wii. Terrible, terrible name, yes. It used to be codenamed the Nintendo Revolution, which is alot better. But anyways, it looks like its going to be really fun to play with Nintendo's Wii.
I could go into detail regarding why this new innovation and system is going to explode the gaming market...but rather, I'd just as assume you watch two short videos.
http://media.revolution.ign.com/articles/706/706429/vids_1.html
Fairly confident these are the videos...so much stuff is being updated on the website that it gets difficult to keep track of where everything goes.
Anyways...the Wii is amazing.
Happy Birthday, Bono!!
Thanks for the songs and memories throughout the years...
Happy Birthday! Hope 46 is just as memorable as the previous 45!!
Happy Birthday! Hope 46 is just as memorable as the previous 45!!
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