A Truth...

I have to admit that my faith in the Lord has gathered a lot of cobwebs over the last few months (actually, if I'm honest, since I graduated college in May of 2008). It is easy to put God in the passenger seat or on the back burner when life is going well. The harder truth is to find joy and happiness in the Lord when disaster strikes.

Thankfully, God does something miraculous to our hearts when life is at it's worst: He gives us the opportunity to rest completely in Him. And I have to say: these past few months have been really tough. Last April, I was diagnosed with another incurable disease that attacks my bladder. Clint's beloved Grandpa Bill passed away in October. My dear Grandma is undergoing a throat procedure that will leave her unable to talk for three weeks. And just this past Friday, Clint was laid off from work. My first reaction to these trials was to sinfully question God: Why me? Haven't I suffered enough? This isn't fair!!

Wrong reaction. Those questions reveal how spoiled I really am, and how prideful. In reality, we all deserve eternal damnation. The fact that I have life, and not only life, but dear husband, a wonderful family, and amazing friends, attests already to the overwhelming grace of God. But beyond that, these trials attest to His goodness. Why? Because God promises that the Christian life WILL be one of suffering. And that suffering is meant to 1) strengthen our resolve and faith in Christ and 2) trust in His mighty provision and wisdom. These valleys are a time to really see and reflect in His Sovereign Will--because nothing happens outside of His perfect plan. And most importantly we NEVER face anything alone when we have Christ.

For those reasons, I am truly thankful for the current spot God has placed me and Clint in. It has awakened and renewed my faith in Him, and I am actually joyful. I do not know how God is going to lead us through or out of our current valley, but that's just it: I don't need to know. God is completely in control and is giving us the opportunity to rest completely in Him. No, we may not know how we're going to pay the bills next month, but we do know that God will provide something. He always has.

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"“God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks to us in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” - C.S. Lewis

A Recipe...

1 Book (preferably by Jane Austen, C.S Lewis, or Charlotte Bronte)
1 Cup of coffee
1 Blanket
2 Slippers
1 Sunset (optional)
Candles


Preheat room with heater and/or fire at 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Mix ingredients well. Add candles to taste. Bake for at least 2 hours. Top with plenty of dark chocolate and music of choice (Ingrid Michaelson, Michael Buble, and Regina Spektor come highly recommended). Serve and enjoy.

A Reflection...

It's come to my attention lately that everyone wants one thing: to be the ruler of their own universe. Not that I didn't already know this--growing up, I was often reminded by Mom and Dad that, contrary to my own beliefs, I did NOT control the world--but thanks to Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs, etc...we are daily able to see just how selfish we all are.

Aside from the fact that the Internet Age offers a unique glimpse into original sin (and our collective desire to do anything and everything in opposition to God) it also throws a spotlight on this: we are all huge, giant hypocrites. We all have an opinion. And we're dying for others to know. Whether it be about fashion, the latest Obama speech, a recently-released film, or the coworker we dislike, we want YOU to know exactly what we're thinking and feeling.

But this word-vomit cannot accomplish anything--thereby making us hypocrites unless we're willing to take action. Our culture has lost all interest in the importance of hard, honest work. Need proof? No problem. We just rewarded our President with the Nobel Peace Prize for his expected achievements, not actual accomplishments. To put it even more plainly, President Obama was given a coveted honor because he is a great speaker. He says things that we want to hear. And based on the experience of Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Blogs, etc....isn't that an easy thing to do??

I think this realization affords a great opportunity to live by our words. Especially for Christians. I am extremely frustrated (and convicted) by a lot of the behaviors exhibited by self-proclaimed Christians on the Internet (Facebook in particular). It is dangerously easy to believe that our religious knowledge makes us better than those around us. God-forbid we EVER use the Internet as a means to lord our theology over others. That makes us WORSE than anything or anyone we are railing against; they do not understand the Grace that has saved us. We do (or at least we claim to). So when we beat our fellow non-believers over the head with our convictions (which are rooted in GRACE), that makes us the worst kind of hypocrites. Christ-followers who do not live like Christ. I don't know, but something tells me that hypocrisy does very little to grow the Body of believers.

Just some things to think about.

A Collaboration...

I've always admired teamwork (probably because I'm terrible at it, haha). This video, made by students at the University of Quebec, speaks to some AMAZING collaboration and teamwork. The whole video is composed of one long shot...incredible.

Not to mention, it's just plain fun. Enjoy!

A Rant...

I don't know exactly where I'm going with this post, so bear with me. It is, after all, a rant. I've been extremely upset by something I see happening within the Christian community lately, and I need to get some thoughts out before they drive me crazy.

Let me begin by saying that as a Christian, I have not forgotten the first and greatest commandment Jesus gave us in Matthew 22:36-40: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments." Knowing, understanding, and living by these verses is hugely important, and something I try (very imperfectly) to do each and every day.

My specific problem is this: I think Christians have misinterpreted and misrepresented the second half of that verse. In an effort to love their neighbors (good), I see a lot of Christians ignoring the TRUTH (bad), in favor of melding in with the accepted cultural norm (also bad). The USA has undergone some major shifts within the last 50 years, the greatest being that our media and celebrity culture are almost entirely responsible for influencing the way we think. There is an overwhelming call from our larger community to live by one rule alone: TOLERANCE. The modern-day interpretation of love.

I think this 21st century concept is one of Satan's most brilliant lies. Instead of allowing for a distinction between RIGHT vs. WRONG and GOOD vs. EVIL, we are taught to accept and "love" everything and everyone. Tolerance, BY ITS DEFINITION, calls us to uphold, accept, and protect where there is NO truth, NO trust, and NO faith.

This way of thinking is SO dangerous, and is one of the biggest problems facing the Church today. We have forgotten that part of LOVING those around us means that we will take a stand AGAINST evil when and where we see it. For example: the overwhelming support for Polanski and his "artistic contributions" is just plain wrong. The man drugged and raped a minor. That is evil, and he should face the proper punishment under the law. The tendency (among Christians specifically) to advocate socialism? Also wrong. It is simply not a Christian concept. We are ALL sinners, and are totally bent on moving away from God. A political theory that bases its success in the inherent GOODNESS of man, therefore, is not only WRONG, it's prideful. Remember the 2 Kingdom concept: Kingdom of God vs. the Kingdom of Man. We need to keep the distinction between the two.

Now, what I'm NOT saying here is that we should ignore helping those in need, stop working with people in opposition to our faith, or forget our calling to be servants to our fellow man. No. What I AM saying is that Christians CANNOT uphold our culture's definition of love and tolerance in PLACE of the Gospel. There is real evil in the world, and we need to take a stand against it. Now.

A Moonman...

The MTV VMAs are a yearly spectacle, and have been since 1984. While I appreciate musical talent and good music, I think this awards show serves only as a window into the ever-increasing decadence and frivolity of the pop-culture world. It's a "one-stop shop" experience for the eye and ear, featuring no-holds-barred performances, self-indulgent (and uninformed) political and social commentary, and idolizing fans.

At this year's VMAs, it's no question what event caused a scandal. Two words: Kanye West. From the moment he interrupted Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for Video of the Year to loudly proclaim Beyonce the "real winner," it has caused a media upheaval, the likes of which we haven't seen since MJs untimely death. News stations and sites across the country made it the headlining story. Countless celebrities updated their Twitter accounts, loudly defaming Kanye for his actions. President Obama even took time away from his health care plan to call the rap artist a "jackass."

My response to all of this, instead of the typical shock and horror, is to ask, "who cares?" Yes, I do understand that Kanye's actions violated our propriety norms, and in that sense, I empathize with Taylor Swift for being the victim of his bad behavior. Her "moment" (as Beyonce coined it) was robbed from her. But what kind of a "moment" are we talking about? An occasion to gratefully reflect on a God-given talent? A chance to mention the many musical artists who influenced her? An opportunity to showcase her gift through a modest performance? No. An MTV Moonman Award is 100% about the "carnal self": how hot and desirable you are, and how well you paraded your sexuality throughout your latest music video. In other words, a Moonman defines shallow superficiality.

Rather obviously, this exhibits the MTV Awards as a navel-gazing free-for-all, which is exactly why I don't care about this supposed "scandal." It was a rude thing for Kanye to do. But his behavior was merely an outward reflection of the inner mindset of all the celebrities there: me, myself, and I. Don't forget what the show, in its entirety, is about: worship. Celebrities worshiping themselves for their celebrity. Yes, even Taylor Swift, in all of her victimized, "pity-me" sweetness.

My only concern regarding the VMAs is this: why do we need them? Self-worship should be BORING. It's the smallest, most abusive form of love. Reserve it all for self-indulgence and self-adoration and it immediately degrades its meaning to the lowest possible point. We were created to adore and worship God, so love is really about serving someone outside yourself. And that reality is almost completely ignored in our culture today.

Now, to answer my own question. Why do I think we "need" shows like the MTV VMAs? Simple. It's easy to pretend you're the center of your own created universe. Being held accountable to God? THAT'S hard.

A Pipe Dream...

Many of us heard President Obama's speech last night, addressing his health care reforms. It was about time. Most Americans, after all, have loudly protested the government-supported health care movement from the start. Unfortunately, President Obama changed nothing about his plan. His speech did not move Congress any closer to reforms that would put patients first.

Instead, President Obama did what he was famous for: orated in his favor. Rather then address the valid concerns of the people (regarding a health plan that does not uphold America as a republic), the President openly accused his critics of "scare tactics," and told the American people that if we don't get behind his plan - which he calls doing "nothing" - "more will die as a result." What a brazen attempt to lay guilt on people for having a (valid) differing opinion.

So what is Obama's heath care "reform", where, supposedly, nothing will change (begging the question: so of what use is the word "reform"?)? Just this: a public, government-controlled health insurance plan; a new federal definition of acceptable health insurance; an individual mandate that everyone purchase that insurance OR face a tax; and an employer mandate increasing the burden on the engine of jobs. Hmm. That does not sound like "nothing" to me.

President Obama ended by saying that his "door is always open" to discuss alternatives to his plan. So far, however, we have seen little consideration given to the types of reforms we have openly supported - such as buying health insurance across state lines, tax credits for Americans of all incomes, etc. These are real reforms that would work for real people. Unfortunately, as we've seen before, President Obama seems to care more about furthering his agenda. So the people lose.

I honestly wish that the president's quasi-socialist plan would work. And it would, if socialism was a successful theory of social organization. But as history has proven, time and again, socialism CANNOT work. Why? Because it relies on the inherent goodness of man; something that Christians (in particular) know to be false. We are a fallen world, full of fallen people. We will never band together as equals (on this side of eternity), because there will always be the few who do not work as hard to earn the privileges that socialism provides. Am I saying that we shouldn't look after the well being of our fellow man? Of course not. After all, Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.

What I am saying is that we cannot place our hope or trust in a political theory that has been tried, tested, and has failed. That's confusing the two kingdoms: the City of Man vs. the City of God. At it's most basic, we cannot operate as if man was inherently GOOD, when we know the opposite to be true.

What we need politically is what capitalism offers: INCENTIVE. Our democracy has always stood strong under the weight of that political ideal, so let's not drop it now, when we most need it.