So everyone is turning in their Best of 2010 lists pertaining to movies, music, bowel movements, and what-have-you, so I decided I'd try my hand at one. Since I bought so few albums in 2010, I decided instead to list what I listened to the most this past year. This should be very interesting. Here we go!
1. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
2. Thrice - Beggars
3. Abel - Lesser Men
4. mewithoutYou - It's All Crazy! It's All False! It's All A Dream! It's All Right!
5. Manchester Orchestra - Mean Everything To Nothing
6. We Shot The Moon - Fear And Love
7. Van Morrison - Moondance
8. The Exit - Home For An Island
9. Pink Floyd - Animals
10. The Heel, The Serpent - Salt Of The Earth
So what does this mean? Mostly, it means that I'm poor and can't afford to buy new music. Past that, I have no idea. What do you think, dear reader?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
On discipline, self-indulgence.
Islam, literally translated, means Duty.
as well it should.
everything about this life on earth is a discipline. some are easier than others. breathing, easy. eating, easy. not eating too much, not so easy. exercising, harder still.
even our world views are disciplines. whether christian, jewish, agnostic, atheist, whatever, we have to work to keep up our beliefs. we can't rest on our laurels, or we'll lose sight of what we're doing, where we're going.
it's that way with everything. as soon as we think there's nothing else to know, or learn, or do, we officially give up all desire to live. whether we get there by our victories and the ensuing pride and glory, or it's depression that brings us there, it all ends the same.
funny how that works out.
i've got so much left in me to do, so much to see, but i feel more and more like i'm running out of time. not an onset of death, mind you, just... that the season is ending sooner than i'd like.
that my time of youthfulness is soon to depart, leaving me with the settling of accounts that accompanies adulthood.
adulthood.
by all accounts, as my age indicates, i am an adult.
so why don't i feel like it? why can't i see myself as such?
i know i didn't intentionally do this to myself. but then, who's to blame? can any one party take all the blame, honestly? aren't all involved guilty, in some way?
aye, we are.
next question is, can i do anything about it?
am i prepared for it?
can i live an adult life? get a real job? buy a house? find a girl, get married?
why am i even thinking about this crap?
i'll take each day as it comes, trying to live the best i can, being the best me that i can be. and my God, i hope it's glorious!
as well it should.
everything about this life on earth is a discipline. some are easier than others. breathing, easy. eating, easy. not eating too much, not so easy. exercising, harder still.
even our world views are disciplines. whether christian, jewish, agnostic, atheist, whatever, we have to work to keep up our beliefs. we can't rest on our laurels, or we'll lose sight of what we're doing, where we're going.
it's that way with everything. as soon as we think there's nothing else to know, or learn, or do, we officially give up all desire to live. whether we get there by our victories and the ensuing pride and glory, or it's depression that brings us there, it all ends the same.
funny how that works out.
i've got so much left in me to do, so much to see, but i feel more and more like i'm running out of time. not an onset of death, mind you, just... that the season is ending sooner than i'd like.
that my time of youthfulness is soon to depart, leaving me with the settling of accounts that accompanies adulthood.
adulthood.
by all accounts, as my age indicates, i am an adult.
so why don't i feel like it? why can't i see myself as such?
i know i didn't intentionally do this to myself. but then, who's to blame? can any one party take all the blame, honestly? aren't all involved guilty, in some way?
aye, we are.
next question is, can i do anything about it?
am i prepared for it?
can i live an adult life? get a real job? buy a house? find a girl, get married?
why am i even thinking about this crap?
i'll take each day as it comes, trying to live the best i can, being the best me that i can be. and my God, i hope it's glorious!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
On love, Hell, and all points between.
This is a conversation I wish I had more often. *sigh*
God is love. Yes, Amen. But why would a loving God send anyone to Hell?
Good question! And it has a much simpler answer than you'd think.
Of all God's attributes, there's only one of which He's described as perfectly being. Holy. Revelation 4:8b: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Why does the holy thrice repeated mean God's perfect at being holy? Hebrew numerology. Three is the Hebrew number of perfection, seven is the number for completion. The numbers 12 and 40 also have significance, but not for this lesson.
Holy, Holy, Holy. Perfectly holy. Without blemish, without imperfection. And that's the key. Without imperfection.
One of the attributes of perfection is that it cannot stand or allow imperfection. It is intolerant of imperfection. Any imperfection in the presence of perfection makes the perfection imperfect as well.
An example: Let's say you buy a car, brand new off the assembly line, zero miles and not a speck of dust on it. It's perfect, yes? Now let's say there's a teeny tiny scratch under the back bumper where nobody can see unless they were looking for it. Is the car still perfect? No. It's damned close, but it's not. One tiny imperfection makes the whole thing imperfect.
So it is with God. Or close enough, rather. Any imperfection in God's presence would be burned away. It couldn't survive. So what's God to do with an imperfect race of people whom He desperately wants to embrace? He makes a way. He sends His son to be a perfect sacrifice, building a bridge to Him.
But, He only sees us as perfect because He sees His Son covering us. If we don't have the Son in us, He doesn't see us as perfect. We therefore cannot enter Heaven. Simple.
Perfection through salvation, in this light, is much like voting. You as an American-born citizen have the right to vote, but you don't have to. And honestly, wouldn't you complain if voting was forced upon you? You'd rebel, you'd leave the country, you'd fight just as hard for the right to not vote. So would you really rather God force salvation upon everyone? He desires for all to know Him, which is where the love comes in, but if you choose to walk away, then so be it. Just know that there's no amount of good you can do in this world that will buy the covering of His Son, the only thing that will allow you into His Presence.
God is love. Yes, Amen. But why would a loving God send anyone to Hell?
Good question! And it has a much simpler answer than you'd think.
Of all God's attributes, there's only one of which He's described as perfectly being. Holy. Revelation 4:8b: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is, and is to come."
Why does the holy thrice repeated mean God's perfect at being holy? Hebrew numerology. Three is the Hebrew number of perfection, seven is the number for completion. The numbers 12 and 40 also have significance, but not for this lesson.
Holy, Holy, Holy. Perfectly holy. Without blemish, without imperfection. And that's the key. Without imperfection.
One of the attributes of perfection is that it cannot stand or allow imperfection. It is intolerant of imperfection. Any imperfection in the presence of perfection makes the perfection imperfect as well.
An example: Let's say you buy a car, brand new off the assembly line, zero miles and not a speck of dust on it. It's perfect, yes? Now let's say there's a teeny tiny scratch under the back bumper where nobody can see unless they were looking for it. Is the car still perfect? No. It's damned close, but it's not. One tiny imperfection makes the whole thing imperfect.
So it is with God. Or close enough, rather. Any imperfection in God's presence would be burned away. It couldn't survive. So what's God to do with an imperfect race of people whom He desperately wants to embrace? He makes a way. He sends His son to be a perfect sacrifice, building a bridge to Him.
But, He only sees us as perfect because He sees His Son covering us. If we don't have the Son in us, He doesn't see us as perfect. We therefore cannot enter Heaven. Simple.
Perfection through salvation, in this light, is much like voting. You as an American-born citizen have the right to vote, but you don't have to. And honestly, wouldn't you complain if voting was forced upon you? You'd rebel, you'd leave the country, you'd fight just as hard for the right to not vote. So would you really rather God force salvation upon everyone? He desires for all to know Him, which is where the love comes in, but if you choose to walk away, then so be it. Just know that there's no amount of good you can do in this world that will buy the covering of His Son, the only thing that will allow you into His Presence.
On choosing, being chosen
"The important thing is not whether you believe in Santa Claus, but whether Santa Claus believes in you."
that's a bad joke i like to tell at Christmas time (obviously), but there's a ring of truth to it. and we'll get to that. but first, a history lesson:
First century jews went to school to learn the Torah. they had it memorized by the age of 10. after that, most went and learned their father's trade. but the apt pupils, the exceptional ones, went on and learned the rest of the Old Testament, Jewish Books of Law, up to Malachi, memorizing that by the age of 15. after that, most went and learned their father's trade. but the exceptional students, the ones who showed great aptitude for the Law, they left everything and sought a Rabbi, a great teacher, who they would follow, and learn from, and essentially, try to become.
when a young man found a rabbi, he'd ask the Rabbi to accept him as a disciple. the Rabbi would then grill (i meant GRILL) the young man on the books of the Law, and interpretations of those Laws, and so on and so forth. pretty grueling questioning, really. and only if this young student passed the Rabbi's exam with flying colours would that Rabbi accept the boy as a disciple. if not, the boy was told to resume plying his father's trade.
Rabbi's DID NOT ask to be followed. they never sought out a child, the child ALWAYS sought them.
Rabbi's were the most respected, most revered, most honoured men in town. you listened when a Rabbi spoke. always.
so when Jesus came over the hill and saw Peter and Andrew fishing, and called them, it was outrageous.
they threw down their nets and followed.
they were just asked by a Rabbi to follow. how fortunate they were, how honoured, how flattered, how flabbergasted.
then Jesus called James and John to follow Him. scandalous!
they jumped out of the boat, leaving their father and the hired hands, and followed Him.
then Jesus called Levi, a tax collecter. crazy.
i'll stop there.
first off.... did you catch the Santa Claus reference?
Jesus believed in those men, that's why He called them.
crazy.
and He believes in you.
but more on that later.
secondly, He called men of differing wealth.
look at Peter and Andrew. standing on the banks, casting a net into the water. they didn't have much money. they were doing everything by hand, the hardest way it could be done. ouch.
then, James and John. they had hired hands, and their father in the boat.
since their father was with them, they must have been young. 15, 20, maybe.
and hired hands? how good was their business that they could afford servants, employees? pretty good.
and Levi (also known as Matthew). a tax collector. and tax collectors were known for being rather well off. in fact, Matthew was a tax collector on the beach. which meant in a town who's main export was fish, and most everything was sent to them by water, whichever tax collector was on the beach, would be rather well off. that'd be Matt.
and that's only 5 disciples. crazy.
now on calling... or being chosen, rather...
a young man was once questioning a great Rabbi named Zusya on who was the greatest of the Biblical heroes, which one to model one's life after.
Zusya replied: "In the coming world they will not ask me: 'Why were you not Moses?' They will ask me: "Why were you not Zusya?'"
or to put differently, why spend time trying to be someone we're not, when who we are is so much greater. or great in a different way, i should say.
to speak lightly, our names will one day be in the same book as those of Moses and Paul and John.
what an honour. i cannot fathom it.
conversely, the names of Moses and Paul and John will one day be in the same book as ours.
what an honour for them.
we're all destined for great things, but all different things.
it does us no good to yearn for someone else's destiny, and thus deny our own.
things to do, lives to save, greatness to attain to.
all because Someone Up There believes in you.
crazy.
that's a bad joke i like to tell at Christmas time (obviously), but there's a ring of truth to it. and we'll get to that. but first, a history lesson:
First century jews went to school to learn the Torah. they had it memorized by the age of 10. after that, most went and learned their father's trade. but the apt pupils, the exceptional ones, went on and learned the rest of the Old Testament, Jewish Books of Law, up to Malachi, memorizing that by the age of 15. after that, most went and learned their father's trade. but the exceptional students, the ones who showed great aptitude for the Law, they left everything and sought a Rabbi, a great teacher, who they would follow, and learn from, and essentially, try to become.
when a young man found a rabbi, he'd ask the Rabbi to accept him as a disciple. the Rabbi would then grill (i meant GRILL) the young man on the books of the Law, and interpretations of those Laws, and so on and so forth. pretty grueling questioning, really. and only if this young student passed the Rabbi's exam with flying colours would that Rabbi accept the boy as a disciple. if not, the boy was told to resume plying his father's trade.
Rabbi's DID NOT ask to be followed. they never sought out a child, the child ALWAYS sought them.
Rabbi's were the most respected, most revered, most honoured men in town. you listened when a Rabbi spoke. always.
so when Jesus came over the hill and saw Peter and Andrew fishing, and called them, it was outrageous.
they threw down their nets and followed.
they were just asked by a Rabbi to follow. how fortunate they were, how honoured, how flattered, how flabbergasted.
then Jesus called James and John to follow Him. scandalous!
they jumped out of the boat, leaving their father and the hired hands, and followed Him.
then Jesus called Levi, a tax collecter. crazy.
i'll stop there.
first off.... did you catch the Santa Claus reference?
Jesus believed in those men, that's why He called them.
crazy.
and He believes in you.
but more on that later.
secondly, He called men of differing wealth.
look at Peter and Andrew. standing on the banks, casting a net into the water. they didn't have much money. they were doing everything by hand, the hardest way it could be done. ouch.
then, James and John. they had hired hands, and their father in the boat.
since their father was with them, they must have been young. 15, 20, maybe.
and hired hands? how good was their business that they could afford servants, employees? pretty good.
and Levi (also known as Matthew). a tax collector. and tax collectors were known for being rather well off. in fact, Matthew was a tax collector on the beach. which meant in a town who's main export was fish, and most everything was sent to them by water, whichever tax collector was on the beach, would be rather well off. that'd be Matt.
and that's only 5 disciples. crazy.
now on calling... or being chosen, rather...
a young man was once questioning a great Rabbi named Zusya on who was the greatest of the Biblical heroes, which one to model one's life after.
Zusya replied: "In the coming world they will not ask me: 'Why were you not Moses?' They will ask me: "Why were you not Zusya?'"
or to put differently, why spend time trying to be someone we're not, when who we are is so much greater. or great in a different way, i should say.
to speak lightly, our names will one day be in the same book as those of Moses and Paul and John.
what an honour. i cannot fathom it.
conversely, the names of Moses and Paul and John will one day be in the same book as ours.
what an honour for them.
we're all destined for great things, but all different things.
it does us no good to yearn for someone else's destiny, and thus deny our own.
things to do, lives to save, greatness to attain to.
all because Someone Up There believes in you.
crazy.
Monday, December 13, 2010
On discussing religion
No, I'm not an expert on facilitating discussions on religion, but sometimes it seems I'm expertly suited to starting fights about religion. Such is life.
On two separate occasions in the past few weeks I've been confronted with a friend telling me that they don't like discussing their religion with others. Both were Catholic, which I think holds some importance but I'll make no other mention of it. The reasons for their non-discussion policies were "fear of rejection, ridicule, and rebuke", and "avoiding the corruption of man that comes in due time to all communal religions", respectively.
Awesome reasons, both. /sarcasm
The idea of one's faith and beliefs being an individual thing, for just that person to know and ponder, is laughable. It's preposterous. It goes against the very nature of God and how He made us. Need proof?
"Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” - Gen 2:18.
"And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." - Acts 2:44-47
"All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
On two separate occasions in the past few weeks I've been confronted with a friend telling me that they don't like discussing their religion with others. Both were Catholic, which I think holds some importance but I'll make no other mention of it. The reasons for their non-discussion policies were "fear of rejection, ridicule, and rebuke", and "avoiding the corruption of man that comes in due time to all communal religions", respectively.
Awesome reasons, both. /sarcasm
The idea of one's faith and beliefs being an individual thing, for just that person to know and ponder, is laughable. It's preposterous. It goes against the very nature of God and how He made us. Need proof?
"Then the L
"And all the believers met together in one place and shared everything they had. They sold their property and possessions and shared the money with those in need. They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity, all the while praising God and enjoying the goodwill of all the people. And each day the Lord added to their fellowship those who were being saved." - Acts 2:44-47
"All the believers were united in heart and mind. And they felt that what they owned was not their own, so they shared everything they had. The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and God’s great blessing was upon them all. There were no needy people among them, because those who owned land or houses would sell them and bring the money to the apostles to give to those in need.
For instance, there was Joseph, the one the apostles nicknamed Barnabas (which means “Son of Encouragement”). He was from the tribe of Levi and came from the island of Cyprus. He sold a field he owned and brought the money to the apostles." - Acts 4:32-37
First, Adam was no good by himself. Then (skipping a bit), the first church post-Jesus functioned as a commune. Community. Iron sharpening iron (Proverbs 27:17). In fact, Paul verbally (and biblically) bitch-slapped Peter (okay, he rebuked him) for neglecting the Gentiles to eat with the Jews. (Long story short, Pete was being a racist). Paul had several heated encounters with fellow apostles stemming from translation and application of Scripture and the teachings of Jesus. If Paul did this to Peter (Peter, the "father of the modern-day church"; Peter, who knew Jesus personally; Peter, who was crucified upside down), don't you think it's worth discussing with your friends and family?
If you never discuss your faith, how will you ever know if you're wrong about something? Ah, I know what you're thinking:
"How can we truly know what's wrong and right in the eyes of God? I thought we weren't supposed to judge each other, lest we be judged."
Oh, to be sure, we'll all be judged, whether or not we judge anyone else. But that's not the point. Here's the point: If God is absolute, and His word is absolute, and His word is truth, then there is Absolute Truth in this world, and it is our job to find it. Once we find it, we spread it. God is not a god of relativism. He has standards set, behaviors He encourages, and actions He disdains. If you're wondering what those are, read the Bible. I'm not spelling them out here.
So now that we have acknowledged that there is wrong and right in this world, it's time to man up and not be afraid to be wrong. I have several longstanding debates with friends about certain Gifts of the Spirit that I could be wrong about. If I am, I'll apologize and mend my ways. It's that simple. God should be bigger than your pride. If He's not, you're doing it wrong.
Fun example time: Snake Handlers. Born from a single verse in the New Testament about the effects of the Indwelling of the Spirit. "They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.” Mark 16:18 That's the only verse in the New Testament mentioning handling snakes. Would you form an entire denomination around that? Neither would I. But nobody was there during the birth of this sect to tell them differently.
But God is also a God of grace and mercy. He gives you some leeway. I've had my share of wrong beliefs about Him and His ways, and I've paid the price for my stupidity, but He let me carry them until I was ready to learn the truth, to learn more, to dig deeper. And truth be told, I'm still learning.
Don't let anyone keep the truth from you. Read your bible. Find a church that teaches the Word, without compromise. That means that hard truths should hit hard and make you uncomfortable. That means they should encourage you to read, to find out for yourself, to share your knowledge and your journey with others.
Let someone sharpen your iron.
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