Everlasting

Removed for submission to magazine

What You Don't Seem To Understand

It means touching
Everyone
Not just the clean
The neat
The socially acceptable
The ones you would approve of
It means loving
Loving everyone
Learning to walk again
Over and over again
Mile by mile
In their shoes
Until their eyes are your eyes
And you cry for the same reasons they do
It means believing
That whatever measure you meet
It will be measured back to you
So just stop it
Stop measuring them
And me
By your preconceived idea of perfection
And your faulty ideals that have killed innocents
It means making
Making your measure the measure of love
It means making your measure
The measure of forgiveness
Of kindness
Of acceptance
It means when you're commanded to go a mile
You go another
Of your own volition
These are the words of the Teacher
And you say you love Him so
It's time to put your money where your mouth is
Show me by your works
Love the way He loved
Because isn't it funny
And funniest that it's true
That he ate with the greatest "sinners"
But the only sins he called
Were yours
My beloved little Pharisee
So set in your ideas
I will not always be with you
Rejoice while the bridegroom is here
Or else too soon
You'll taste the bitter salt of mourning
When he's gone and its too late
Even you have a little Nicodemus in you
If you'd just try to understand

Why I am not interested in Christian Nonfiction like The Shack or Self Help Books

Why I am not interested in Christian NonFiction or Self Help Books

I am an intellectual person, in that research and study and reading and pondering and seeking out knowledge and wisdom has always been a deep part of who I am. Because of this, people have long thought that I would be interested in all kinds of books relating to intellectual discussion. These have ranged far and wide, from research papers to theological theses to philosophical allegories to self help books. However, time and time again, I have gotten books from people, have read only a small part, and never read them again.

Now, before I continue, if you are one of these people, please do not take this as some kind of angry rant. It’s not. I am thankful to have people in my life who take enough interest my own interests to wish to provide something entertaining and thought provoking or even spiritually uplifting for me. I also understand that often when someone is truly touched, moved, or encouraged by a book, they will be passionate about sharing that experience with others. So, please, understand that this does not come from bitterness towards people or hatred for self help books. This is merely me explaining my personal position, in order to A) answer a question for myself, B) provide meaningful and thought provoking discussion, and C) hear what your opinions are on this topic.

Of all these various kinds of books, the ones I get recommended and handed to me the most are Christian Self Help Books. Even as I write that, the laundry list that comes to mind is staggering. So many books that people have wanted me to read, many of which I have never even cracked the spine of. Why? What do I have against them?

Nothing. These books are fine. Most are reasonably well written, and cover topics which are most definitely relevant to me. So why do I not read them? Because there are two things that any Christian Self Help Book is trying to do. They are either out to convince you to think about life and issues the way they do, or they are there to help you better your own life, either your internal issues or your external relationships.

The first general type is then more theoretical, theological, and philosophical. The problem I have with this is simple: History teaches us that theology and theories have harmed the church more than anything else, marring the bride of Christ, and staining the reputation of the church and of Jesus even to our own day. What am I referring to?

Throughout history, from the very inception of the church, there have been people who have gained spiritual insight and revelation for their lives. But while they were passionate, they were also fools. They insisted that the revelation God gave them specifically, was meant for all, that any who did not agree with them must be false messengers from Satan. They approached life with such a dualistic viewpoint, and they and their followers acted from it. War after war, witch burning after witch burning, crusade after crusade, they desecrated the name of God by taking “Holy Wars” in his name. They were no better then the Muslims who bombed the Twin Towers on 9-11.

So excuse me if I am cautious about following people who claim to have special revelation. I understand that not all are like. In fact, I believe that a large majority of people who write books like these only have the readers’ best interest at heart. I am not saying that all Christian Self Help Books are out to get you to go on a Crusade. What I am saying is that many view their way of approaching or dealing with life as the ONLY way. And that is a dangerous mindset to have.

(Here I should probably add a sidenote that I am not saying that there are many ways to God…. but…. then again, there are many ways to God. In fact, each person has a very unique and special way to God that no other person will ever take. All these ways pass through the cross at some point or another, but they are not all the same way. If you really want to take what I say out of context, I will be giving you SO much opportunity that this will really be my one and only sidenote in my defense. If you have any issues or problems with what I say, please, feel free to voice them in the comments area. I love to hear other opinions because it either helps me come to a better conclusion or strengths the one I already have. Either way, it make me better, so please, let me know where I go wrong. :D )

Anyway, moving right along. The other reason I don’t read theologically or philosophically inclined books is quite elementary. If it’s basic theology, then its something I have probably heard a million times before in Christian school, sermons, chapels, and Max Lucado books. Why on earth would I want to subject myself to mind numbing repetitious phrasing of the same basic phrases and thoughts, ESPECIALLY IF I ALREADY AGREE WITH IT!!!! And, if its not basic theology, and its some kind of strange, out there, new way of looking at and approaching the world, I will begin to argue with the author as I read through it, mainly because the only reason books like it (aka The Shack) are written is to ignite people into arguing about issues. Personally, I find that when I argue about things, when I am aggressive in my pursuit of knowledge, I become closed minded to what other have to say, defensive about what I have to say (irregardless if it is right or not), and in general, my spirit becomes grieved. Why on earth would I want to subject myself to that type of situation? Life is complicated enough already and has enough trials that I do not need to go creating any more for myself. I will not seek out aggression, aggravation, or give myself over to be manipulated by any author. The moment I detect it, I put the book down and take a step back. If it keeps happening, I stop reading the book altogether. Usually, but not always.

That covers the fist type of book. The ones with special knowledge, revelation, or outlook on life that they want to force everyone else to except. Obviously, the Holy Spirit can use the book to speak to a person’s life and bring correction. But the Holy Spirit can also use a sunrise, a billboard on the side of the highway, a commercial for Comcast, or even (God forbid!) a Michael Jackson song. It’s not about the source material, its ALL about our ability to discern the voice of the Holy Spirit in our lives. If we have that, then we can be in the middle of the desert, a million miles away from any written word, and we will read God’s revelation for our lives upon creation itself.

Moving right along, there are the other types of self help books in the Christian community, and I have slightly just touched on them with that last paragraph. The other type is the ones who say that they have knowledge or wisdom to help you either internally work through your own issues inside your own life, or externally work on your issues with other people you encounter. These are actual self help books.

(Okay, I promise this is the last side note, but basically, just have to say, that when you look at the basic premise of these self help books (fix internal/external) you realize that you don’t need any book other than the Bible. In fact, you don’t even need the whole Bible. All you need is two short phrases. Love God with everything you have. Love people like you love yourself. If you can do that, you won’t have any problems internally or externally. And I doubt I have ever met anyone who had even mastered those two simple things.)

As I just pointed out previously, when you are sensitive to the Holy Spirit, then God will reveal the areas in your life that you need to adjust. The amazing thing about the presence of God is that as you drawn near to Him, He draws closer to you, even if you can’t feel it, and when He draws near, the mountains melt, the islands are moved, the heavens roar, and we are rightly put in our place. Or, as one Biblical writer put it, all our righteousness becomes like filthy rags.

When we are actively pursuing God, we will become aware of His presence. The more we are in His presence, the more we realize just how wrong and messed up we are. The more we realize what we are doing wrong, the more we can stop doing it, and begin to do what is right. But once again, this only comes if we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will warn us when we are about to enter into temptation. The Holy Spirit will plead with us as we are making the decision to sin or not to sin. The Holy Spirit will convict us afterwards when we have sinned and point out exactly where we went off the path. And the Holy Spirit will guide us back to the straight and narrow. All this, and SO MUCH MORE, He is willing and able and waiting to do, and is doing even right now, all we have to do is be able to hear him. All we have to do is listen. Really listen. And if it all happens so organically when we are drawing close to God why would we need a self help book?

But the opposite is true too. If I was not actively seeking God, why on earth would I ever read a Christian self help book? As a Christian, I knew very well when my life is not on track. If I’m not working to fix it, it means I am running away from it, like Jonah. I am aware of what I am doing. I am aware that I am making mistakes and that I am not right with God. And in that place, I know that a Christian self help book would only convict me back on the right track. So why would I read it if I am purposely trying not to think about God?

So if my relationship with God is good, there is no need for a Christian Self Help Book. If my relationship with God is bad, there is no way I would read it. Therefore, a Christian self help book serves no purpose in my life. Maybe it’s different for other people. I can understand and respect that. But for me, personally, I prefer not to drink rock filtered, fluoride added, flavored water. I would much rather drink deep from the sweet, fresh, pure source, untouched by the taint of human thought or emotion. I would rather get insight directly from the Holy Spirit, in a way that is specifically applicable for what I am personally going through at this exact moment in time. I would rather have the Holy Spirit’s constant prodding and direction in orchestrating my life every second of every day, than have a manual telling me what I already know, that I forget as soon as I close its back cover.

But as I said before, these are all simply my opinions and how I understand the world, both the physical and the spiritual, to work in regards to my own life and my own journey. Maybe you see things differently. Maybe you have experienced different results and different feelings. Please, share them. I won’t make fun of you. I won’t ridicule or insult you. I probably won’t even respond to your comment. But if you don’t voice how you feel, then there may be errors that go uncorrected in my life and the lives of those who read this. And if no one disagrees with me on anything then it means I must be perfect and have a perfect understanding of this, which I most definitely am and do not. So, how do you personally feel about Christian Self Help Books?

Fools in our Lives

"Go from the presence of a foolish man when thou perceivest not in him the lips of knowledge." - Proverbs 14:7 (KJV)

"[Love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." I Cor 13:7-8a (NKJV)

We all have them. Those friends, family members, or coworkers who are always making one bad decision after another. You know their kind: the ones who make decisions without thinking of the consequences, who live life as if the moment was all the existed, who regularly say and do things which are completely moronic and have no idea that they do. They are the ones who make Type B people look bad. They are what the Bible calls, fools.

Now, there's nothing wrong with a little foolishness now and again. Finding joy out of simplicity is one of the ways in which we, as humans, cope with the constant stress of actually being alert to our actions and words and their effects on others. The key difference is that for a fool, that foolish behavior and lack of foresight, has become such an integral part of who they are, that it is the source of their identity. They are not called the "farmer who does foolish things" or the "son who acts foolishly", they are called "fools" because that has become the entirety of their identity.

At this point, you probably have some names floating around in your head. I know I'm doing my best not to and still have them there. That is another consequence that being a fool has, and that they are so blissfully unaware of, that everyone they encounter can plainly tell that they are fools and that it will work to sabotage their lives and futures. In the long run, there really are no benefits that arise from being a fool.

So the question then becomes, how do we respond to these fools in our lives. Their actions set them on a course that leads to disaster. The Word makes it clear over and over again that the paths of fools leads to poverty, wickedness, and destruction. What are we, as Christians, suppose to do about them?

The Bible is interesting in that it provides two answers to this, the above verses. And like so many things in life that are more complicated than we truly realize, at first glance, it would seem that the two contradict each other. The one verse is a summation of the entire book of Proverbs, and any book of wisdom in the Bible (James, et al) which states that those who are wise should not waste their time on the fools. The other verse sums up what could be considered to sum up the books of grace (Pauline Epistles, Psalms, et al) when it states that our love for others should endure and bear all things. This presents a dilemma.

It is infinitely wiser to abandon a fool for the simple reason that they walk a different path than the wise. It is the same principle of being unequally yoked in any labor. A fool will waste a wise individual's time, and wasting time is one of the worst things we can do, since time is one of our most precious resources here on earth. The Bible talks a lot about "cast[ing] pearls before swine" and giving the "children's bread to the dogs", essentially, giving something of value to those who will never appreciate the value of it. A fool will waste your time, energy, and resources and will never even think about it. And that is only the beginning. Fools not only bring destruction into their own lives, but those around them as well. A wise person should follow the advice of Solomn when he says, "depart from a fool when you realize he lacks knowledge."

And yet, through all of these things, love can persevere. Love suffers for a very long time at the hands of the fools and is still kind to them. Love is not puffed up in its own conceited wisdom, and so does not think evil of anyone. Love reaches out to those who need it the most, regardless of their situation, position, or past. Love keeps no record of wrongs. Love stems from a root of grace, and so has grace for all. Love conquers all.

So which do we do then? Are we to love people regardless and persevere with them, or are we to recognize a fool for a fool, and depart from their ways which lead to destruction? Which path do we take: the path of wisdom or the path of love? In many places in scripture the two paths do diverge strongly. When one loves somebody, the way God loves them, you cannot help but be moved to some form of action. That is true love. Yet often the actions that are the fruit of love, are contradictory to what would be a wise use of time/energy/resource/life. God calls us to love but He also calls us to wisdom. So which is the better path then?

Like many things in life, the answer cannot be computed down to a simple binary yes/no. The Word talks often about loving someone enough to NOT interfere, to allow some chastisement to come into their life. Even God does it to us, allowing us to bear the consequences of some of our actions so we may learn from them and grow closer to Him. And similarly, when we have true wisdom, we cannot help but be moved to compassion when we gain understanding of the circumstances that often make a person a fool. No one truly chooses to be one. So we see that the situation is more complex than simply picking a path.

If we were to choose just one method of dealing with a fool, we would ourselves descend into foolishness. Essentially, most things, when kept in moderation and administered within the bounds of God established institutions, are beneficial to humans. It was not for naught that God said, "It is very good" when He was finished making the earth. What makes a fool is essentially their decision to overindulge in foolishness, until it becomes their very identity. They are out of balance. But to choose only one method of addressing them (as the problem), is equally as foolish.

The reason for this is simple. To live in our temporal world is to change. We equate life with it. Yes, there is still a measure of constance and endurance in many things, but one of the most sure things we are certain of on earth is that things always change. The best and most applicable example of this are the seasons. As they change, the world changes with them in their constant pattern. So also, we go through various seasons in our lives, and our fools go through seasons in their lives. Recognizing this is essential in deciding how to address them.

There will be times when we will have to take steps to help them, even when we feel we do not want to. There will be times when we will have to step back, even when we desperately want to intervene. God uses them and uses their situation in our lives to grow us, but only as long as we remain sensitive to His word. Sometimes He may ask us to do teh unwise thing, to allow them into a place in our heart and trust them in a way where they have let us down and hurt us before. As hard as it is, love keeps no record of wrongs. And that same love that drives us to take action, must sometimes be tempered with wisdom to recognize that inaction can be a form of action in and of itself, as a method to wait and let the Lord do what we cannot. In all of this, God dictates the seasons and God will dictate the path that we must take during it. Staying sensitive to His word and His will is what will ultimately guide us to the place where wisdom and love are united in our lives and in our actions.

"Call to me and I will answer and show you great and unsearchable things which you have not known." - Jeremiah 33:3 (NIV)

On Pacifism

On Pacifism

Pacifism, as an idea, as a concept, as a creed and a standard and a life defining principle, is essentially a reaction to war. Therefore, in order to understand pacifist and their reasoning one must first understand war and its reasoning. Only by grasping what pacifism is reacting to can one understand why it advocates for the things it does, why it has gained so much popularity, and why some individuals feel threatened by it.

War is a type of conflict, and therefore, before a full understanding of war can be grasped conflict must first be defined and understood. The reason why people, especially Christians, have an instant emotional reaction against pacifism often arises out of this failure to understand the nature of conflict.

Throughout human civilized history and society, there has existed an ideal tranquility or harmony that all civilized societies strove to reach. The ancient Egyptians named it Ma’at, the concept that there was a divine order that society needed in order to function. To abandon this concept of order, was to abandon civilization and would lead to chaos and uncertainty. This ordered, structured, societal neutral medium called civilization consists basically of the idea that one looks to one’s own (tribe/household/family/self) while allowing others to do likewise without interference.

However, this ideal structure of society begins to fall apart when one’s own interest or gain, comes at the expense or in competition, with that of another. This is the birth of conflict. Within all conflict there exists these two parties. The Initiator, is the party that decides to challenge the status quo of the ideal structure, and therefore strives to affect and change that. The second party, however, is just as vital to the creation of conflict, the Reactionary. The Reactionary is the kindling to the spark of the Initiator. Reactionaries may simply uphold the status quo, or be challengers of it as well, but in a manner in contest with the Initiator. Without either of these there is no conflict.

Since conflict is composed of these two parties, there then develops three ideal forms of conflict resolution. In the Socratic Model, both parties involved in conflict approach it with the intent of reaching a common ground/goal/good. In his model, Socrates implied that conflict should be aimed at reaching a resolution in which both parties “win”. This form of conflict resolution, the “win-win” form, often takes the most time and effort, things humans loath to part with, and so, is not commonly found in historical endeavors for resolution of conflicts.

In the Common Model of resolution, one party gains victory while the other is left to defeat. This is by far the most commonly used conflict resolution strategy as it takes less time, less effort, and allows for more aggression. The common form has often been the immediate response of humanity, because of the inherit selfishness of human nature, to simply demand or force ones own right or way, without thought or regard to the state of others/competitors/rivals. However, this form of conflict resolution is not particularly stable, as often the “loosing” party will not accept the “winners” new status quo and therefore, the “loosing” party will become Initiators in another conflict. This is clearly seen with the end of WWI, in which the Allied demands attached to the Treaty of Versailles not only drove the formation of the Axis power, but actually led to the rise of Hitlter’s power and then WWII. Therefore, the common model is prone to instability, although it is still the preferred method of conflict resolution.

The final model of conflict resolution is essentially war. During war, both parties, Initiators and Reactionaries, go into the conflict expecting to loose money, resources, and lives. When war is chosen as a model, it appears that its result is similar to the Common Model, “win-loose” but in fact, in war, there are no winners. Both Initiators and Reactionaries loose when war is the medium of conflict resolution. The reasoning behind it is as follows.

Firstly, during a war, lives are lost. There have been very few bloodless battles in history, and no bloodless wars, at least in what constitutes a war. Even the loss of a single life to a nation, people, tribe, group, or clan is disadvantageous. That one individual’s potential to aid society and humanity has been cut short. While it’s true that most soldiers would not end up being the next Socrates, Galileo, Leonardo Da Vinci, or Shakespeare, there is no certain way of guaranteeing that they aren’t. All individuals who have added to human culture and humanity as a whole have been just that, individuals. Therefore, the loss of a single individual, while often considered minute, may in fact be the greatest loss a society, people group, or nation suffers. Many great writers, painters, poets, philosophers, thinkers, inventors, sculptors, and engineers have all had military service, and had they been killed in battle, their life’s work would not have been left for us today.

In relation to this, there has never been a time when the cost of war was only felt by the Initiators and Reactionaries. The cost of war, emotionally, physically, mentally, and developmentally has always impacted spectators, civilians, bystanders, children, and those who had no part in the conflict. Children especially have suffered because of war. Whether they have been the children of soldiers killed in battle, left to grow up without a parent, or the children who are raped, killed, enslaved, tortured, or brutalized as “spoils” of war. While many societies have attempted to curb this cost on the innocent with codes of war (Samurai code, Chivalric code, Geneva Convention, etc.) historically their attempts have failed. Even today that is clearly seen in the “spoils of war” that American troops collected when they took over the Abu-Grebe prison and its political prisoners, many of whom were Christians who had been sent there by Saddam Hussein. The impact of war on children has further repercussions, as they are then desensitized to violence at a young age and brought up in a culture in which war and revenge are then portrayed as the socially acceptable means of conflict resolution. This then leads to further wars, and creates a never-ending cycle.

This illustrates another aspect in which the War Model of conflict resolution fails. All conflict is meant to have an end. The purpose of conflict is goal orientated, namely, for either one or both parties to change the status quo and thereby become “winners”, by attaining a different status quo or reaching a place where the current status quo is now acceptable. Whoever, because of War’s affect in creating two sides who both feel the status quo is unacceptable, this makes war endless. Current conflicts in North and South Korea, as well as in Pakistan, Afganhistan, Darfur, Sudan, and Iraq all illustrate this, as they have no foreseeable end. In the example of the War in Iraq, the more the war goes on, the more the militant forced in Iraq are justified in their struggle and the more they fight. The more of them the US kills, the more their children take up arms against the US in retaliation. The more US soldiers they kill creates a greater sympathy for the war, and justifies it in the political system and the general public’s eye, thereby increasing troop numbers. Theoretically, the only way for a war to actually end is for one side to completely wipe out the other side, thereby establishing their dominance without leaving anyone that can retaliate. Obviously, this is not an acceptable model of conflict resolution.

Even historically, wars have been endless. An example is the war between the English and the Irish, which is still going on from its inception in the early 12th century. It has been officially declared and officially ended time and time again, however, neither side has ever reached a place of forgiveness, and instead retaliation and revenge by the unacceptable status quo enforced afterward has caused its most recent incarnation, the Irish Troubles, to end with an uneasy peace and a renewal of conflict soon afterwards. Like all other wars, this 800 year long war has found most of its casualties in the form of innocent civilians.

To return to the larger issue, many people have ideas that all conflict is either good or bad. To believe that all conflict is good, means that peace and tranquility is undesirable. To believe all conflict is bad, means that submission and injustice must be tolerated. Neither of these situations are acceptable, because neither of them come from an understanding of what conflict is. As shown above, there are many forms of conflict, some more desirable and affective than others. Conflict comes from humans and so it has the very human nature to be either good or bad, depending on how it is used.

Conflict can end oppression. Conflict can heal old wounds. Conflict can actually be the vehicle for greater peace, understanding, and love in a society. However, conflict can bring death, destruction, misunderstanding, great harm, great injustice, great oppression, and great hate. Conflict is neither good nor evil. To turn to conflict as an answer to all problem or to shun its use completely are both foolish ways of using it. Conflict is a tool. It is up to humanity to decide whether to build bridges or break heads with it.

War is a type of conflict in which there is no resolution. War is a type of conflict in which there is no healing. War is a type of conflict in which neither party is, as Socrates put it, searching for common understanding and mutual enlightenment to understand a problem and overcome it. War is a cheap out with a great expense. War is the easy path, which leads to suffering that never ends. War is by nature, not a good form of conflict resolution.

That doesn’t mean that there have not been some good side affects of war. Wars have general increased nationalism, which in some areas have led to increased culture and art, though heavily influenced by propaganda and government censorship. Wars have also stimulated economies which were on the verge of self destruction. However, in the current global economic market, that is no longer a viable way of economic reform, as wars no longer increase production, only expenses. Wars have at times temporarily alleviated the human situation, as found at the end of WWII, with the stop of Hitler’s eradication of the Jewish, disable, immigrant, homosexual, and Christian sections of European population. However, wars are at their core profit, not principle, motivated. As for alleviating the human situation, other forms of conflict have shown much greater progress with lasting change, such as the boycotts of the civil rights movement in the USA, or the hunger protests led by Ghandi for Indian Independence.

For all these reasons and many more, War is not a rational decision to make. For something to be a purely rational decision, the benefits must outweigh the costs. There are very few benefits that come from war, and even less that have lasting impact. The true cost of war is incalculable in that the effects and repercussions of wars last for generations. Even just a purely financial cost for wars is uncountable, in the amount of potential economic stimulus lost by the lives lost, brain drain affect by lives lost and defectors during war time, and resources depleted with minimal or no gain. And then that is just the beginning, as future conflicts that arise from the treaties made at the end of wars in order to cover part of the massive expenses then lead to further wars whose expenses can then be traced to that war and should be included as a cost of that war. Some people may quip at the “money wasted by NGOs such as the UN” but compared to the cost of war, it is a very minute price to pay. War is an irrational decision as the cost is just too great.

While war is irrational, it is also not simply an emotional reaction. Emotionally, war is traumatic. War is brutal. It involves massive amounts of death, carnage, destruction, hatred, anger, aggression, fear, and repression. Emotionally, war is one of the unhealthiest things a person can do. Those leaders who start wars no longer take part in them, for a very good reason. They need the emotional distance to make the decision they make. If they knew each soldier they sent into battle personally, and had to watch as they died, they would probably commit suicide or go insane. From a psychological stand point, in order to “make” a soldier who can act under the pressure of war and deal with the amount of emotional trauma that any normal, healthy, human would experience during battle, the person’s mind, will, and emotions must be completely broken down and rebuilt so that they see the entire world from a dualistic paradigm, therefore breaking down where they may question what is right and wrong, and on a mental level, giving them the same kind of psychological barrier to face reality that is found in serial killers. They perform essentially the same activities, and require the human mind to be insulated in the same way otherwise they would not be able to carry out their acts. This is not to perjorate soldiers, but to show that aside from those mental barriers of dualism, which say that anyone who isn’t on my side is my enemy and is evil and deserves to die, the only type of human being who would be able to wage war would be a psychopath or sociopath whose mind is already unable to register empathy or human suffering. War is therefore not emotionally acceptable to healthy human beings either.

If war is neither logical nor emotionally driven, then why do individuals go to war? Many have postulated that it seems to be the only answer humanity has had for a long time. Since ancient Egyptian times, when they worshiped the tranquil order or Ma’at, humans have viewed war as being a last resort of sorts, when all others fail, in order to preserve ourselves, our culture, and our tranquility. War has been labeled a necessary evil in order to preserve the greater good. In tribal or Abrahamic times, this may very well have been the case, that people had no other choice but to choose violence as a means of self defense and self preservation. However, during those times people also trekked from place to place in a nomadic lifestyles, herded goats, lacked toilets and toilet paper, did not brush their teeth, married at young ages, died at younger ages, killed girl children when they wanted sons, had none of our modern conveniences, could not read, and in general lived and functioned much differently then we do today. To justify war based on tribal times would be equivocal to justify infanticide based on those same practices at those same times. Humanity is set apart from animals in that we progress. We are not the same we were 2,000 years ago, or 200 years ago or even 20 years ago. Why should our method for dealing with conflict remain the same?

Pacifism may be taken too far in some cases, with people who will not allow any kind of conflict. However, that is not true pacifism. That is simply a person who struggles with people pleasing and who wants to make everyone happy. A pacifist knows there are times to be an Initiator of conflict, but that they will remain in control of the conflict they initiate, that they will not allow it to progress into a lesser form of conflict resolution. They seek to allow not only themselves to benefit from the resolution, but everyone, the Reactionary and even non-participants. A true pacifist see the need to take their eyes of their own situation and circumstance, and understand the other parties involved in the conflict too. A pacifist draws a wider circle around themselves, taking care not only of their own, but of everyone. We are not tribal anymore. We build larger buildings that last longer. We have larger cities that look grander. We make larger plans for the distant future. Can we not, then, take a larger view when it comes to conflict? Can we not recognize that everyone is human? That everyone wants to win? That everyone wants that Ma’at, that peace? There was a time when this was merely a dream. But no more. We have the UN. We have ambassadors. We have cultural ties. We have no more excuses to go to war.

A Note on Christians and Pacifism

From a Christian stand point, there is even further evidence of the need for pacifism. While the Old Testament was full of warriors who killed the enemies of God, we find in the New Testament that our weapons are not carnal but meant to cast down spiritual strongholds. We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against spiritual things. Make no mistake, there is a time for peace and a time for war, but that time for war is a spiritual war when we are called to step out and take authority and break the strongman, e.g. Satan and his forces. Even in the Old Testament times, God said that David could not build His house because he was a man of bloody hands. Jesus commands us to love our enemies, bless them that curse us, and do good to those that despitefully use us or persecute us. We are commanded to turn the other cheek, to forgive, to love. The Early Church, which was suppose to be the closest example of what Jesus wanted the church to be like, would pray for and love their persecutors even as they were persecuted. They did not fight back. They submitted. They loved. They died. And there were added thousands to their numbers daily because of it. The Bible makes it clear, he who lives by the sword will die by it. Even if the world does not accept pacifism, we as Christians should, as it was one of the clear principles established not only by the New Testament writers but by Jesus himself. All of the reasons for war are discredited by the Bible. We are not to take revenge because vengeance is our Gods. We are not to defend ourselves because the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard. We are not to worry about tomorrow, what it will bring or how we will defend ourselves because the Lord our God, Jehova-Jireh will provide a defense. And as Paul writes, we are to have a perspective that to live is Christ and to die is gain. Not that we are to seek death (especially in warfare) but that we are to keep that perspective that life is temporal and loving people is the only thing that lasts. One of the key emotions that justifies war is fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power, and a sound mind. A sound mind, as has been shown above, would not accept war. The Bible makes it clear, war and violence are two things that came to the cross and did not go through it. They are part of an older system that we need to leave at the cross and instead pick up love, forgiveness, and the peace of the Lord which surpasses all understanding.

23 and me

The LORD is my shepherd, the one who watches over and guides my path and protects me from the dangers of the world, therefore, I shall not want.

He makes me to lie down in green pastures, the places where I shall have more than enough provision, and leads me beside the still waters where I can find peace in Him and then through Him, He restores my very soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness, where I could not walk on my own, for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, no matter where His path may take me, I shall fear no evil, for You, LORD, are with me.

Your rod and staff, Your word and spirit, Your conviction and Your dicipline which guides, corrects, and protects me, are a comfort to my soul, because they show that You love me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies, because with You nothing can touch me and I have peace in my spirit.

You annoint my head with oil, because You have a plan and a purpose for me and a calling and a mantle for my life.

My cup runs over with blessings, because You will provide all I shall need or desire as long as my heart is turned towards You.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for great length of days until eternity.

What I saw

I saw them all gather,
Travel from near and far
They came by means many,
Boat, bus, plane, or car.

I saw the look in their eyes,
Excitement tinged with joy,
The Spirit of Life was with them,
On woman, man, girl, and boy.

I saw what they came for,
Why they waited for hours on end.
They sacrificed much to be here,
Something waited round the bend

I saw my generation.
And those who came before,
With eager faces, grip worn Bibles,
As they raced down through the doors.

I saw them worship You,
Thousands of voices as one.
And though there were many divisions
All came to praise the Son.

I saw them turn the pages,
Notebooks, Bibles, and hearts.
As You spoke to them of commitment,
Human nature, and grace’s art.

I saw a sea of faces,
As the call was made for the broken.
So many. O God, there are so many,
Lives now awoken.

In them I saw a quick glimpse,
A fleeting, shiver of light,
Before tears filled my eyes,
I saw Your eternity that night

The Prayer of 'Erg'

Well after that last post of course I would get convicted again...

And reminded of the age old command,

"Love your enemies, do good to them that hate you, pray for them that despitefully use you or persicute you."

So all I can say is "erg!" out of frustration...

Dear Lord,

Help the despised one to have an epiphany about the true nature of the rose. Help him to get an 'ivory tower' perspective on her winking eyes and wandering gaze. Let him expand in wisdom and knowledge and may his eyes be open to understanding so that he may save himself from plummeting to his death. Help us to remain faithful and loving servants of you and show that same faithful love towards him, even though he does not deserve it, for you also loved us even when we did not deserve your love. Lord, give strength to the faithful one, and bless him for his endurance. Lord, give healing to the tall one whose pain remains locked in secret places of his heart. Lord, bring maturity to the rose, so that its gaze stops wandering and its heart be turned only to you. Lord, give the despised one humility and a brainstem.

Amen.


Okay thats my best attempt. You can't say I didn't try. :D

Little Catholic Kids Say the Darndest Things!

PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE WORDING AND SPELLING. THESE COME FROM A CATHOLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOL TEST. KIDS WERE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. THE FOLLOWING STATEMENTS ABOUT THE BIBLE WERE WRITTEN BY CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN RETOUCHED OR CORRECTED. INCORRECT SPELLING HAS BEEN LEFT IN.

1. IN THE FIRST BOOK OF THE BIBLE, GUINESSIS. GOD GOT TIRED OF CREATING THE WORLD SO HE TOOK THE SABBATH OFF.

2. ADAM AND EVE WERE CREATED FROM AN APPLE TREE. NOAH'S WIFE WAS JOAN OF ARK NOAH BUILT AND ARK AND THE ANIMALS CAME ON IN PEARS.

3. LOTS WIFE WAS A PILLAR OF SALT DURING THE DAY, BUT A BALL OF FIRE DURING THE NIGHT.

4. THE JEWS WERE A PROUD PEOPLE AND THROUGHOUT HISTORY THEY HAD TROUBLE WITH UNSYMPATHETIC GENITALS.

5. SAMPSON WAS A STRONGMAN WHO LET HIMSELF BE LED ASTRAY BY A JEZEBEL LIKE DELILAH.

6. SAMSON SLAYED THE PHILISTINES WITH THE AXE OF THE APOSTLES.

7. MOSES LED THE JEWS TO THE RED SEA WHERE THEY MADE UNLEAVENED BREAD WHICH IS BREAD WITHOUT ANY INGREDIENTS.

8, THE EGYPTIANS WERE ALL DROWNED IN THE DESSERT. AFTERWARDS, MOSES WENT UP TO MOUNT CYANIDE TO GET THE TEN COMMANDMENTS.

9. THE FIRST COMMANDMENTS WAS WHEN EVE TOLD ADAM TO EAT THE APPLE.

10. THE SEVENTH COMMANDMENT IS THOU SHALT NOT ADMIT ADULTERY.

11. MOSES DIED BEFORE HE EVER REACHED CANADA . THEN JOSHUA LED THE HEBREWS IN THE BATTLE OF GERITOL.

12. THE GREATEST MIRICLE IN THE BIBLE IS WHEN JOSHUA TOLD HIS SON TO STAND STILL AND HE OBEYED HIM.

13. DAVID WAS A HEBREW KING WHO WAS SKILLED AT PLAYING THE LIAR. HE FOUGHT THE FINKELSTEINS, A RACE OF PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN BIBLICAL TIMES.

14. SOLOMON, ONE OF DAVIDS SONS, HAD 300 WIVES AND 700 PORCUPINES.

15. WHEN MARY HEARD SHE WAS THE MOTHER OF JESUS, SHE SANG THE MAGNA CARTA.

16. WHEN THE THREE WISE GUYS FROM THE EAST SIDE ARRIVED THEY FOUND JESUS IN THE MANAGER.

17. JESUS WAS BORN BECAUSE MARY HAD AN IMMACULATE CONTRAPTION.

18. ST. JOHN THE BLACKSMITH DUMPED WATER ON HIS HEAD.

19. JESUS ENUNCIATED THE GOLDEN RULE, WHICH SAYS TO DO UNTO OTHERS BEFORE THEY DO ONE TO YOU. HE ALSO EXPLAINED A MAN DOTH NOT LIVE BY SWEAT ALONE.

20. IT WAS A MIRICLE WHEN JESUS ROSE FROM THE DEAD AND MANAGED TO GET THE TOMBSTONE OFF THE ENTRANCE.

21. THE PEOPLE WHO FOLLOWED THE LORD WERE CALLED THE TWELVE DECIBELS.

22. THE EPISTELS WERE THE WIVES OF THE APOSTLES.

23. ONE OF THE OPPOSSUMS WAS ST. MATTHEW WHO WAS ALSO A TAXIMAN.

24. ST. PAUL CAVORTED TO CHRISTIANITY, HE PREACHED HOLY ACRIMONY WHICH IS ANOTHER NAME FOR MARRAIGE.

25. CHRISTIANS HAVE ONLY ONE SPOUSE. THIS IS CALLED MONOTONY.

Hope that made your day brighter. :)

The Way I See Them

Dimples, freckles, messy heads of curly hair,
Big smiles, big hearts, small fingerprints everywhere
In the mud, in the sun, in your own land of pretend,
Trusting heart, helping hands, why must this springtime end...

The bloom of spring has been buried, deep in their old eyes,
Look, He says sadly, my children pretending to be all grown,
I see them, not as they seem but as they truly are, and were.
Can you, with eyes of love, see the blossom under all life's snow

Tearful eyes, broken hearts, sorrow pouring in dry tears,
Where's mommy, where's daddy, My heart breaks with you my dears,
Hungry souls, thirsty hearts, such an empty cavity
No hand envelops yours, as you walk across the street.

Oh My children, how I have yearned, over and over again,
To gather you all tightly, within My steady arms of love,
As a mother hen, covers her brood neath her soft warm wings,
Then He says to me, can you see, that the way I see them, each and everyone.


So today was a very active day... that would be positive speak for tiring! But as I was on my way home, riding the streetcar, max, and bus, I began to speak to God. And he spoke this to me. Not exactly in those words, but somewhat along those lines. And he asked me if I could look with the same eyes of love and see the people around me as He saw them. That the bag lady with her bulging eyes and stringy gray hair will always be his little fairy princess who played tea party out behind the house. That the dirty drunk, with his yellowed teeth and grizzly beard will always be the little bright eyed boy who wanted to be an astronaut like his uncle when he grew up. God really opened my eyes to how He really sees everyone, as His children. As He was speaking I just took this snapshot of what he was showing me. I'm not even sure myself which parts of this is suppose to be me talking and which are God's voice, but in the end, if we are his bride and the husband and wife are one then it doesn;t really matter anyway. So yeah, just thought I'd share my orientation day revelation.

Christian Music Secular Music

Music is important. It is one of the creative arts, an aspect of our "in the image of God" special creation nature. Music has the ability to move our hearts, and souls, and minds, and emotions. Music is one of the few things which can actually prepare a place for the presence of God, and has been linked with the house of God since before humankind. Music has for millenia been reserved simply for religious settings, whether Biblical or pagan. Music only recently (in the last 1,000 years) became disassociated from the religious setting and moved into the secular setting. Music is powerful, it can carry with it any number of spirits and open doors in people's lives.

So, with music being so powerful, my question to you is this:

Where do you draw the line when it comes to music?

Of course there are certain obvious lines, such as songs with cursing in the lyrics or with blatant sexually related lyrics, but what about the grey area. Not to be like a Pharisee, being all religious and condemning, I'm just curious as to where everyone draws teh line, because there is a large grey area, a lot of space to draw lines.

You can't just draw the line at Christian music anymore. It used to be "all good" but recent groups like Reliant K or Falling Up, while claiming to be Christian have songs that are all just about "my girlfriend" and "he said, she said" type songs. There's no diffrence between them and the world. Which begs the question, should there be any difference between Chirstian Music and Secular Music and what should that diffrence be?

Some people go all out (and this use to be me too) and only listen to Worship Music (a separate genre from Christian Music; Worship Music places focus on worshiping God (eg tree63, hillsong, david crowder band, jonathan stockstill), Christian Music places focus on issues people face from a Chirstian Perspective (eg Switchfoot, DC talk, grits, et al)) I have to say that teh times when my life have gone teh best and that I have grown closets to God was during those time is only listened to worship music.

Right now I'm still deciding where to draw my own line. So, where do you guys draw the line?

What happens at Camp...

So I may not have gone to camp but this week I set aside and sanctified as special time with God. I have gone deeper in the word, have been fasting on more than one level, have been seeking God's face, and have been expecting Him to speak to me. He has and this is one of several things that I got from him this week. This was a song:

(Um, not mine, someone elses... just to clarify)

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Wasnt it far beyond my reach?
Give me your heart for the once forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

-Give Me Your Eyes
Brandon Heath
What If We

This is one of the main things God has been speaking to me about recently. Whether its from the pulpit at Church, my meetings with Ben, the songs I'm listening to on the radio, or simply the verse I'm reading in my devotions, there has been a common theme that God has been speaking to me recently. Loving people like he does.

I ride the bus. Through the years I have seen small children whose parents are drunk on the bus, letting them run around and fall down as teh bus lurches to stops. I have seen teenage mothers with three or four small chrildren trying to board the bus while their babies are crying and they're talking to their friends back at high school on their cells. I've seen young men who have thrown their lives away, giving in to drugs, sitting on the bus on the way to their box under the Hawethorn Bridge. And I have seen so many beautiful people with Down's Syndrome taking the trip from their house to McDonalds, trying so hard to live a normal life. I have seen so much pain, so much sorrow, and so many broken lives, that there is no way I coudl ever reach out to any of them. There are just too many and I just don't have enough time to help any of them.

So I did the only thing I could think of doing. I shut them out. Tried to ignore the hurt around me. I smiled when they looked up and made eye contact but that was it. And I felt my love, my compassion, drying up. And then it was gone.

But then today I was readng Mark. I read the story of how Jesus after doing great miracles and being very weary, went across the lake to the oterh side so that he and his deciples could get some rest. But then when they came to teh other side, Jesus saw the people had aticipated his move and had gathered there and so when he saw them he had compassion on them.

This is the essence of it. Jesus himself got weary from helping people and yet he still found compassion for the ones who needed him. I have come to realise that I might not be able to help all the people I encounter, but I can still have compassion, can still try and help as many as possible. The one thing I can't do is shut them out. Jesus didn't and neither can I.

So this is the thing that has been on my heart lately. I have decided that I want to help as many people as possible, though I'm not sure how yet. I'm thinking about world vision, and maybe helping out with one of Portland's homeless shelters, but I'm not sure which yet. If you guys have any ideas I'll gladly take them.

Know Thy Adversary

I recently posted a review of Adam by Ted Dekker in which I made some remarks about the author that, to some people, seemed to be a bit inappropriate. I have decided to clarify my standing on the darkness that is creeping into modern Christian fiction.

In a recent interview with Christianity Today and previously with Charisma, Ted Dekker was quoted as saying, “In order to fully understand the power of God, you must understand the darkness he conquered.”

I disagree.

And I’m not even going to try and use tact with this. If you disagree with me, feel free to leave a comment and GOOD REASONING behind your stance. In the meantime, let me tell you why Mr. Dekker needs to go back and read his Bible.

A) “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start…”

Ah yes, the garden. Glorious Eden, the literal paradise on earth, where man and woman dwelt in perfect harmony with their Creator and His creations. In this hallowed horticultural haven, there was a tree. You know the story. Snake gets smart. Snake beguiles woman. Woman eats of tree and tells husband, who is a moron, to eat as well. Husband eats and world is cursed. What you may have over read, is the name of the tree. THE TREE OF THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOOD AND EVIL. Now, after God created the world, He said, in his immutable and infallibleness, IT IS VERY GOOD. So, the knowledge of good was already present. What was lacking? The knowledge of EVIL!!! So original sin was what… the acquisition of the knowledge of evil.

B) “Is it secret? Is it safe?”

What is the main premise behind exploring darkness in order to bring glory to God? Basically, that it’s safe to explore the darkness. NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! If anyone ever tells you that, you better ask for your money back because their trying to sell you something that’s complete bull. Two Biblical examples. There were the seven sons of Zebedee who tied to cast out a demon which then attacked them and pulled of their clothes and sent them crying to their daddy. They had used the name of Jesus to try and cast the demons out. The second example is in Matthew when a child is brought to Jesus’ disciples, WHO HAVE ALREADY BEEN COMISSIONED AND EMPOWERED TO CAST OUT DEMONS, and who could not cast it out. They went to Jesus and part of his reply was that there are some demons who only come out with prayer and fasting. The main point I’m trying to make is that even with the name of Jesus, which does cause the demons to tremble, you are still not safe when you enter their dominion, and if you are doing actual spiritual warfare to take their dominion you better not be doing it alone. Is it safe then to explore the dark knowledge if you have to go into his domain to obtain it?

C) “This is you brain. This is your brain on drugs.”

Now, some would say “I’m not going to go and interview Satanists or Wiccans” or “I’m not going to do research on the devil, all I want to do is explore the idea of evil in the safe context of a book/film/play/etc.” But here’s the problem. Even if you don’t go into the devil’s domain you are still at risk. The reason is that when you “explore” the enemy in a book or film, you have to inadvertently begin to focus on the darkness. This is essentially what Dekker is doing and why I have a problem with his works. Peretti does address the enemy and actually show a very deep understanding of the ways of the light and darkness but he does it all while still focusing on the light. Internally this is how you work: you focus on something. The something begins to fill your heart, if you’ll let it, which is hard to control with books because their whole purpose is to full your heart. Then, with your heart filled with this, your mind begins to dwell on it, your words begin to echo it, and eventually is has become an obsession. An idol. Now, many people will just dismiss that as a slippery slope mentality but its true. The Bible speaks volumes about your heart and how it is connected to your mind, your actions, your words, the things that are dear to you, the things you are focusing on, etc, and how we should guard it. The Bible also speaks volumes about guarding our eyes, and in this sense, our focus. We are to put our eyes on things that are above, things that are godly and good, to focus on running our race, pressing towards God, seeking His will, following His Word. Our mind, our heart, our focus, is important. The devil wants it because with it he can get our worship. And that’s why exploring the darkness never brings glory to God.

D) “Much fear I sense in this one.”

The final point I have to make regards fear. The enemy wants to do one thing and that is to bring fear into your life, because it will eat you up and consume you. Fear breeds doubt and unbelief. Fear causes rash actions and decisions, and leads to even worse consequences. Fear is a festering petridish of potential sin, suffering, and destruction, the perfect antithesis of love.

First of, the entire idea of exploring/understanding the darkness is meant to show God’s glory and strength in overcoming it, I understand the logic behind it. However, the Bible talks in great detail about giving footholds for the enemy, opening doors for the enemy, allowing the enemy to build strongholds, and giving him room to work in your life. Make no mistake, when you begin to look at the enemy in closer detail, you are opening a door for fear. That’s why scary movies and horror novels are so destructive to a healthy individual’s spiritual life. It grieves the Holy Spirit because you are inviting an unclean spirit into your life.

Second, what makes you think you are even reaching the goal of making God greater by making the enemy seem powerful? If you give the enemy room to appear powerful, then you have to realize he will use it. He will make himself appear stronger than he really is, especially to Christians who are new in their faith or to those who have some kind of opening in their armor for the devil to access their lives. The devil wants one thing: to destroy us. If he can get us to somehow believe he is greater, stronger, or more powerful than God, or even on the same level for that matter, he can destroy us, our faith, and our love. New believers and those who are spiritually immature do not have roots as deep as ours and cannot withstand the same level of demonic warfare. As a Christian author we are placed in a very precarious position because we must make sure we do not cause our brethren or sisteren to stumble because of our actions, and we must realize not everyone is on our level.

And with that, I am now exhausted and in need of sleep. If I remember anything else that I wanted to add I’ll let you know.

Sipping Saints?....

Well, recently I have had a very intresting discussion with one of my beloved buddies. As you have probably guessed from the title of this post is had to do with Christians and drinking. Let's just say that he made some good points and I made some good refutations, so I decided to post some of it. Names have been changed to protect the guilty, er I mean innocent. :)

1) Jesus drank wine.

Okay, so let's make a few points clear. Back in ancient times water was brought to cities via aquaducts. The channels were lined with lead* so that the water would flow faster. Needless to say, by drinking this water the population in general grew weary of water so that it came to the point that water was considered dangerouse by the people of the early Roman Empire (when Jesus lived). Ergo the water to wine miracle.
*BTW, lead is poisenous.

The Greek word translated as wine can also be translated simply as juice, and in the Bible there is frequently a diffrence made between "wine" and "intoxicating drink". Therefore, there is a very real and very possible chance that Jesus was just drinking grape juice.

And finally, Jesus said he was God, yet we don't. Jesus dinned with prostitutes, but we don't. Jesus never married yet we marry. It's safe to say that there were somethings Jesus did that were done because he was the perfect and holy Son of God.

2) The Bible says that 'nothing that enters a man can defile him'.

Well, if you are going to quote that verse read the whole verse and get the context. Its all about washing your hands before you eat not drinking wine. Not just that but it misses the whole point of the conversation. This is not about being clean or dirty because in Christ we are all purified. What this comes down to is whether it is morally acceptible for a Christian who wants to follow God wholeheartedly to drink.

3) The Bible never calls it a sin

Just because something isn't spelled out as a sin doesn't retract from its immorality. Paul says, "Everything is lawful to me, but not everything is expedient/acceptible unto me...I will not be mastered by anything" and what that comes down to is plain, simple, old fasioned wisdom.

Is it wise to open a door to the enemy in your life? Is it wise to expose yourself to alcoholism, especially IF YOUR FAMILY HAS A HISTORY OF ALCOHOLISM!!!! Is it wise to threaten the safety and security of your self and your family by doing something for no good reason.

4) There are places in Leviticus and in Thessalonians and Timothy where it talks about wine, in an alcoholic sence, and encourages drinking.

First the Leviticus one. This is said in relation to widows as a means of releaving their distress over the loss of a husband. Second is Paul stating that he'll need some for his stomach and later he recomends the same to Timothy for his stomach. So what's going on?

Let's have another history lesson. In ancient times a very common practice was to soak medicinal herbs in wine and letting the essential oils dissipate into the drink. This was medicinal drinking not social drinking. Not only that but it was always done in small doses and infrequently, usually with some kind of physician overseeing the process. The widows would have been drinking anti-depressant infused wine while Paul and Timothy would both be drinking carmative (e.g. digestive system cleansing) wine. These are not the same as drinking for dumb reasons.

5) But a glass of red wine is suppose to be good for you.

Actually according to the FDA two glasses of red wine a night decreases your risk of heart desease. BUT, one cup of green tea does the same and it's not addictive at all, except for the minute traces of caffeine depending on how long you seep it. And one vegetabletarian (e.g. no meat lots of veggies and a few carbs) meal a day does four times the good the two glasses of wine do. So if this was REALLY about health then why do the people advocating this still eat meat three times daily.

And what's more my friend Phil ate at Carls Jr. and Taco Bell everyday so if this was really about health I'm no doctor but its logical sense that eating better would be far more helpful than beginning to drink.

There was more than this, but what it comes down to, in reagrds to the morality of Christians drinking, are three very simple priciples.

1) The Devil is not your friend.

This is basic doctrine 101, and I hate doctrine, so this pains me to quote it. But its true. Yet I think sometimes we forget that. Right now, he is planning, doing his best to ensnare and trap us, get us addicted to something, or caught in some kind of cycle of destruction.

When, and its only a matter of when, you get drunk, you loose control of yourself, your actions, and your words. And worse of all you think you're still in control but you're not. Its the same as when you're high on pot or dope or some mind altering hallucinigen, or even a cigar. You are in the EXACT same place as a person tampering with a oija board or tarrot card set or who is part of a seance. You have literally opened your soul for demonic opression.

So, just to be clear, Christians can't be possessed by a demon, but they can be oppressed, e.g. not controlled but influenced, by one. How do you open yourself to opression? Why, simply by exposing yourself to the occult and occultic practices or by willfully giving up control of your body to the enemay, which is what happens when you're high or drunk.

2) Why?

Seriously ask yourself this. Why do I have to drink? It's not medicinally worth the risk of addcition, its not socially worth the risk of humiliation when you're drunk, and its not spiritually worth the cost of opression. So, why do it? Instead of asking me "Well how come a Christian can't drink" I ask you to give me one good reason to start drinking if you are a Christian.

And please don't tell me its for evangelism. That's been the excuse for everyone from the poor STD stricken Indian missionary who just wanted to reach out to the prostitutes, to the slave owners who just wanted the slaves to inherit the earth by forcing them to be meek, to Mr. Ted Haggart himself and all his...stuff. Let's not kid ourselves, we reach out to the world not by imitating their behavior but by lifting up a standard and reaching down to help lift them up. I'm not saying condemn them, duh. But I'm saying we are salt and light BECAUSE WE ARE DIFFERENT!

3) The Sin

Oh yes, you thought I said it wasn't a sin, but there is actually a place where this does go into the realm of sin. If you have children and you drink you are sinning. Studies over the last century have repeatedly shown that children who grow up in a home where there is alcohol present, even in minute quantities, are more likely to start drinking at a younger age and suffer from alcoholism.

If you have children and you get drunk, you are held responsible before God for whatever actions and words you take while in that drunken stupor because it could have been avoided if you had simply had the foresight not to drink.

And, if you, either by your drinking example or by your drunken actions cause one of these little ones to stumble well you're in for more trouble then even hell can contain. You remeber sweet, mild mannered Jesus who skipped through the green meadows and preached sermons on love and forgiveness and the heart? Well, his response was that it would be better for you to have a millstone placed around your neck and be thrown into the sea then to face the White Throne someday when all your actions will be made known and you will have to face the consequences of your decision just to have a small drink.

In the end, I'm not trying to judge, but I come from a family with alcoholism on both sides and I have seen the scars where fathers have beaten their sons to a bloody pulp and mothers have disfigured their beautiful daughters while drunk. I have seen what drinking leads to and I can't believe people still sit around and discuss it like they would the latest release of a movie. This is serious and the point of this post is to get across the very serious nature of a very avoidible action.

Please don't feel like I am judgeing any of you who read this. If you have decided to drink, or if someone in your family has decided to drink, then I honestly pray that God protect you from meeting that end result. I am not in a position to judge anyone, and frankly don't want to. All I want is for you to ask yourself this question:

Why do I really want to drink and is it worth the risk to myself and my family?

BTW, if you feel diffrently about this topic or just havea diffrent opinion feel free to post. It's always good to hear more than one side of an arguement and the WHOLE point of this post is to generate discussion. I promise I won't flame you or sent a hitman to your home. Well, not unless you make a valid point . :)

Comforter

When things happen I don't understand, when life seems so wrong, I have found that there is one place I find comfort. This may sound straneg but I find comfort in old hymns. There are several that God really uses to speak to me through. I thought I'd share them.

It Is Well With My Soul

"When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.


Refrain:
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, with my soul,
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
Even so, it is well with my soul."

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville Du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with another ship, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the telegram, "Saved Alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, the captain stopped the boat where his daughters had died, and when asked to say a word for all who had died, he sang this song.

You Raise Me Up

"When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary;
When troubles come and my heart burdened be;
Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,
Until you come and sit awhile with me.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

There is no life - no life without its hunger;
Each restless heart beats so imperfectly;
But when you come and I am filled with wonder,
Sometimes, I think I glimpse eternity.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;
You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;
I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;
You raise me up... To more than I can be.

You raise me up... To more than I can be."

When I listen or sing these songs, they act as a statement. A statement of faith. That no matter what life brings, no matter what I must endure, no matter how wrong life seems at times, ...It is still well with my soul and God will raise me up to rise above it.

Thank You Jesus.

You are good, all the time. And all the time...

Today I found some old Lakewood church music. All I can say is "awesome!" I can't believe how good these songs were/are. Right now I'm listening to "You Are Good" and it's so simple and yet it seems the simple truths are the hardest to comprehend.

Chorus:
"We worship You,
Halleluja! Halleluja!
We worship You,
For who You are!"

Bridge:

"You are good, all the time.
And all the time, You are good."


Stop!

Stop what your doing. Stop what your thinking, listening to, who your talking with, what ever it is that might draw your attention elsewhere.

Now. Say this out loud:

"God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good."

Think about what that means.

"God is good." In our world, when things go wrong, people do stupid things, we do stupd things, life seems stupid and the world/culture/country seems full of evil its nice to be able to say, and mean it, and know it's true. God is good.

"All the time!" So you've probably skipped ahead to this part already and figured out that it's not only amazing that God is good, but that he stays good forever. The other great thing about this simple truth is that He doesn't change.

If He is good. If He in His goodness wants to pour out blessings on my lfe, or keep them from me because He knows I'm better off without them. If He loves me with his loving kindness and has nothing but my best in mind. If nothing can touch me but by Him allowing it. If nothing can come against me that He won't give me victory over. If He will always love me. If He will always forgive me. If He is good, then nothing else matters anymore, as long as I keep my eyes on Him.

Because, not only is my Father/Councilor/Friend/Comforter/Healer/Lover-God good, but He is good ALL THE TIME.

BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD!!!!!

If you haven't heard yet, today I went for my second interview at Starbucks and I got the job!!!!

...well, basically. The manager said that he would have his assitent call to schedual the time for the training day, and that all I have to do is impress her on the phone! I got a really good fealing teh whole time we talked. It went great and he even showed me a bit of the machine and how Starbucks has upgraded the machine to make it better quality. Anyway... but I basically have the job.

For the longest time now I haev been in a place where I have had to remind myself of Job's statement, "Naked I came into the world and naked I will depart. The LORD gives and the LORD takes away. Blessed be the name of the LORD" and had to keep thanking God during the hard times. But now finally I can declare that the LORD does not only take away be He also adds. There is a time not only for tearing down but also for building up. Nefore I said this statement in submission to God's plan, and in the hope of His eventual blessing. Now I can say this as a testimony of what God did. My miracle during this season of miracles we are believing for as a church has come to pass. During the midst of a recession, while Starbuckses were closing down and laying off, I got a job at Starbucks. God is so good.

I write this, partially as a testimony to the glory of God, and partially as a reminder to myself. I know that seasons change and later on there will probably be another time of lack or need. These times help remove pride and force me to trust on God whole heartedly. But during those times, I will not allow teh enamy to bring in hopelessness and disspare. I will remeber the good works of the LORD and the wonders of His loving kindness. I will meditate on His goodness and His miraculous provision. I write this now, for my future self, as a reminder that God is good. He has provided in teh past, He will provide in the future. He is the same yesterday and forever and He alone causes the seasons to change. Whatever you may be going through remeber the wisdom God revealed to Solomn. "For everything there is a time and a season for those that live under the Son." and aslo the words of Paul, "Do not grow weary in well doing for in due season you shall reap if you faint not."

Potted Plants

Just a random thought God has been speaking to me about lately. I have several friends who are at Master's Commission this year, and a few others that are planning on going to Portland Bible College next year. For some reason God keeps sending me out into the world, like right now at PCC or next year at PSU, even though I would love nothing more than to go to one of those good Christian places. I was tossing it around in my mind when God brought an analogy to me.

We are like potted shrubs.

When we are out in the world, exposed to the elements we grow slowly and steadily, bit by bit through each experience. Our bark gets thicker, our roots dig deeper, and we learn to depend completely on our Gracious Gardener.

Sometimes, He knows that we need shelter or recovery or fast growth and so He'll remove us from the world and its harsh environment and place us inside a greenhouse. These greenhouses are places were we are continually fed a steady diet of Bible, basking in the warmth of the Holy Spirit at all times, and can grow much faster. In the greenhouses, our branches and our dreams grow higher, our wounds heal, and we start becoming what our Gardener intended us to look like.

However, the greenhouse is not a permanent place of residence. A greenhouse is there for a period of growth, then we must be acclimated to the harsh world again. If a healthy plant is kept in a greenhouse too long, it can't grow higher, or dig its roots deeper. Disease begins to spread from the stagnant air, and eventually a place of life can become a place of death if change doesn't occur.

But if we do get removed from the greenhouse, and endure the conditions of the world, we can then thrive like we would never have been able to in the greenhouse. We reach higher pressing in closer to God. Our roots dig deeper as we cement ourselves deeper in his Word. And we move from being a small shrub to a mammoth tree. We start doing the job God made us to do, changing the atmosphere of the world.

Sweet! aka my first devotional post

So this is pretty cool! I'll try and blog a bit just for the heck of it. Not that there's really anyone who will read my blog...

I guess that I should start my blog off on the right foot. God's been talking to me lately about Gideon. Gideon starts off as the youngest in his father's house. He is therefore a consumer. But at the same time, because of the attacks of the enemy (mideanites) he had to rise up and become a producer. That is why in Judges chapter 12 we find him threashing wheat behind (or in, depending on your translation) the wine press. God talks to him and tells him that he is producing and he has surplus, but God wants him to rise up to a new level and take the mantle of leadership and become a person of super-surplus, having a continual flowing in and out of the Holy Spirit in his life and into the lives of the peopel around him, meeting the needs of not just few but many.

Lately Pastor Ben has been talking to me about becoming a leader of leaders. I started meditating on that concept and it occured to me. There are so many diffrent kinds of leaders and places that they are all in that you need to have a super surplus in order to meet them all. There are some people who are born leaders and want to lead, but they have no place to lead and they need a leader of leaders to help them facilitate their leadership takents. A good biblical example would be Paul. Other people want to lead but don't have the skills needed and so they need guidance from more experianced leaders. Then there are the ones like Gideon, who are called to leadership but don't really want it. They need to be led out, trained, encouraged, etc. and that is anotehr function that a leader of leaders would have to provide.

On the other hand, being a leader of leaders doesn't mean adding more stress to an already stressful position. By leading leaders, I think you actually lessen your stress because leaders, you would hope, are responsible or at least more so than followers. This in itself decreases your worrying about tasks being finished or done right. Again this is just speculation, I think a leader of leaders does have to work harder but at the same time God will provide them with more strength, more energy, and more wisdom. I know from experiance that on Wednesdays when I am on my way to church I am exhausted after a long day of school (7:30am-4:30pm). But as soon as I see the church, its like seeing your house after a long vacation. Literally the second I step into the building I feel the presence of God energizing and restoring me for the night and really for the next few days that energized feeling will stick with me.

In the end, by saying "become a leader of leaders" Ben may have simply meant something like, "Get a couple of guys in the cafe that can do what you do and delegate." But from what God has been speaking to me, especially in a Gideon sort of way of stepping out of my comfort zone, rising up a new level where I am not just producing for thsoe around me but for everyone that comes in contact with me, and becoming a leader that God has called me to be, I think its time that I start picking up the mantle that has lain in the dust for so long. Right now, I don't feel that I have the time to increase my boundries as Jabez said, but I think that God works that way. He gives you a small area to work with, and just when you have gotten to the point where you are barely using 100% of your resources he takes you up another level and gives you even more I think that way you never do what you do out of your own strength or resources but know that you are always doing it all simply by God's grace and provision. If God calls me up higher, which I feel he has been the last month now, then I will rise up, and trust him to give me the time, the energy, the resources, the strength, and the wisdom.

So thats my deep thought of the day, er week. I will probably only be posting on Mondays and Wedesdays so yeah until Monday.