Monday, March 31, 2008

Discipled By A Bug

Last night I was sitting around a chimenea, with a couple buddies, talking, when I noticed this bug that kept flying to the chimea, obviously attracted to the light of the fire. As soon as he hit or landed on the outside of the chimenea, though, the heat would get him, and he would quickly fly away. In a few minutes, though, he'd be back, sometimes in the same general area he flew to before, sometimes he'd try a different spot. But each time the same thing happened, he'd get burned and fly away.

After I watched him do this several times, it hit me how much like that dumb bug I am when it comes to sins that I keep going back to over and over again (I'm not believing the gospel enough yet to list those here). I see the flame, and "Oooo, it's so pretty." I attempt to fly to it, and as soon as I land, I get burned, and fly away. But, sooner or later, I'll see the flame again, and head right back for it with as much enthusiasm as the previous time, totally forgetting that my feet are still smoking from the previous burn. Just like that bug, over and over again, the pattern continues.

Here's the thing: I'm a Christian who's attracted to sin, especially those sins that have been with me a long time and are on my "Favs List" (sorry T-Mobile.) Now, I'm hoping and praying that as the gospel melts and reshapes my life, I'm becoming less and less attracted to them over time, but it's definitely not been an instantaneous thing in my life, and there are more times than I'd like when I fly back them with all my might, just like that dumb bug flew to the flame over and over again. I know I'll get burned, but the flame is just so captivating.

Thursday, March 27, 2008

This is a Test

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23814032/

This story presents what I think is a classic dilema for believers: do we spend our time arguing about whether or not this is morally right or acceptable thing, or do we build our case for biblical understanding from the point that this test is a wanted thing, something people are buying, and a reality in our world?

Here's the thing: there are so many issues like this, and sometimes it's hard to know, not what to argue, but how to argue in a way that reflects a real understanding of the world we live in and one that will resonate with those we're trying to reach.

The Sound-ness of Music

So, I'm not a huge fan of "Christian music." I see so many theological and cultural issues with having a sub-culture of music labeled "Christian," that it just bugs me. I won't rant about that here, mostly because I'm pretty sure my ranting isn't beneficial and may itself have many theological and cultural issues! But, here's the thing, when there's a song that I hear that's sound and ministers to me, I want to share it, "Christian" or not, here's one I'm loving right now:

"You Are Being Loved" by Stephen Curtis Chapman
(From the album, This Moment)
So you think love is only for the good enough
And one thing you're never gonna be worthy of
But there's a song being sung over you
By the One who breathes life into you
Refrain
You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now at this very moment
You are being loved
You are being loved
Right now you are being loved, loved, loved
You are being loved, loved
You are
You ought to see the smile You're bringing to your Father's face
You ought to hear Him sing His version of Amazing Grace
'cause that's the song being sung over you
By the God who breathes life into you Refrain
With every breath that you're taking
And every beat of your heart
Even while this song is playing
Whatever you do
Wherever you are
There's a song being sung over you Refrain
You are loved, loved, loved
You are being loved, loved,
You are
You are being, you are being, you are being loved
You are being, you are being, you are being loved right now
There's a song being sung over you
There's a song being sung over you
There's a song being sung over you
There's a song being sung over you
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
You are being loved (There's a song being sung over you)
Right now
There's a song being sung over you
There's a song being sung over you
There's a song being sung over you
There's a song being sung over you
Right now
It's hard to imagine a song that conveys more truth and potential to melt our hearts in praise than this one. Hope you enjoy it, let it preach to you the next time the world and Satan are takin' swings at you.

Wednesday, March 26, 2008

Gotta "Lava" It!

Okay, you gotta read this story http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23809963/. Is there anybody out there who thinks for a minute that if lava comes and destroys these poeple's houses/community that they won't sue either the National Park Service for not telling them how unsteady the volcano really is, or whatever emergency notification system is available for not warning them in time? Here's the thing: just because a volcano hasn't erupted in the traditional way for 25 years, doesn't mean it won't. It's still a freakin' volcano! And just because people can do soemething like build a house on hardnened lava, doesn't mean they should be allowed to.

It sounds so nice, though, doesn't it? Sippin' cocktails, sittin' in the lounge chair, watching the lava ooze towards your driveway. Geez.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

2, 4, 6, 8. . .

Don't know if you've heard about this or not, but over the weekend, Hillary Clinton described a trip she made to Bosnia while first lady (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23789011/). Using it to tout herself as having experience with difficult foreign policy situations, she told a story about flying into the airport under gunfire and running from the airplane to her car, with her head down, trying to avoid getting shot by snipers. Great story. Problem is, it looks like it's not true. There are photos, reporters who were on the trip, and video footage that all seem to indicate Senator Clinton was making it up. Okay, she probably lied. That's wrong. She should tell the truth.

Here's the things I've noticed, though, as this story's unfolded over the past two days. First, is just how quickly the media has turned on Senator Clinton, who conservatives have always complained got a free pass on most things from the "liberal media." Folks, never think for one minute there's not anyone the media won't go after if there's a story in it. It's their job to tell it and seemingly our joy to watch it. The second thing I've noticed is how giddy conservatives are over this. Relishing in the fact that she has been caught lying and is being turned on by people who've appeared to give her a break. "Guess she can't be above the law on this one!" "Finally, she's getting the kind of treatment she's given others over the years!" "Ha, ha. See, told you she was a fake!"

The stadium bleachers are full and getting loud. Rah! Rah! Rah! Is pathetic too strong a word?

Living With the Oxen

One of my favorite verses of Scripture is Proverbs 14:4, "Where there are no oxen, the manger is clean, but abundant crops come by the strength of the ox." This is a verse I come back to over and over again, whenever I get frustrated with the people I'm around, whether friends, family, co-workers, whomever. I mean, we all know what oxen (and other animals, for that matter) do in the manger, right? They eat and poop. Mangers, stables, barns are not clean places when they are full of animals. They're messy, smelly, and if you're not careful, you're likely to step right in the middle of something.

Here's the thing: the same is true of life with people. It's messy, smelly, and lots and lots of times I find myself stepping right in the middle of something very unpleasant. And yet, this verse reminds me that God has not intended me to live my life in isolation. He wants me to be around other people. He made me to be around other people. He designed humans as communal beings, because he himself, existing as the Trinity (Father, Son, and Spirit) is communal. This is not some kind of cosmic, "it takes a village" kind of deal. Instead it's a real, biblical realization that the Christian life is tough. It's a struggle, not only against the tangible hardships of life on this earth, but it's also an invisible, though very real, struggle against the supernatural forces that seek to destroy the children of God. How in the world could I think I could embark on a journey like that alone?

And so, at the end of the day, I'll take the dirty oxen. . . and be so thankful I'm another dirty member of the herd.

Thursday, March 20, 2008

Say Che-e-e-ese!

There was a story on "Today" this morning, about a new service that allows you to pay, $250 for a half hour, for your own personal paparazi to follow you, take pictures of you, and then put them in a fake tabloid. Okay, no big surprise that anyone can look at this and see people who want things to be all about them so badly and want to live the lives of other people so much that they're actually willing to pay for something like this. And $250 for thirty minutes, no less. Where I live, in 30 minutes, I guess the paparazi could get some good shots of me driving in my car, 'cause that's about standard travel time to anywhere I'd be going on a Friday night. Again, this is obvious narcissim, easy to spot and easy to laugh at and condemn. But what about the subtle forms of narcissim that we commit everyday. A little bit harder to spot, and much easier to justify and play off. Is it just habit not to turn on your blinker when you're changing lanes, or do you just really not give a crap about the people behind you who have no idea what you're doing? (After all, you don't know them, and they'll adjust, right?)

Here's the thing: I love myself. . . a lot. I spend most of my day, whethere I'm aware of it or not, working hard to make sure that Jason is happy, Jason is satisfied, Jason is not put out in any way, by anyone. I want people to cater to me. I want people to notice me. And, so it doesn't seem too great a leap in my mind to simply pay a couple of guys to follow me around a take pictures. Sure, it might seem strange at first, but my guess is I'd get used to it quicker than I'd like to admit, and actually enjoy it a whole lot more than I should. And there should be no smiles in that picture.

Monday, March 17, 2008

Is This Normal?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23671580/

This is a wonderful story about a couple who recently celebrated their 83rd wedding anniversary! As I was watching this story, I was struck by how matter-of-fact the wife spoke about their marriage. When asked about the secret to staying together all these years, "Mrs. Mayme" answered, “You take your vows, for better or for worse, for richer or for poorer,” Mayme said. “I guess you just stick to it, come what may.” You just stick to it. Hmm, let's see, you make a promise-a vow-to someone, and you just stick to it. Nothing fancy, nothing unusual, just living up to the commitment you made, come what may.



Here's the thing: our society will likely look at this story in one of two ways. They'll either see this as "cute" and reduce it to puppy-in-the-window status, or they'll look at it and shake their heads, amazed at something this rare. But the reality is, this should be the norm, not the exception. Oh sure, it's exceptional because of their age and the amount of years they've been married, but the fact that a couple sees marriage as a commitment, not necessarily because they want it to be, but because they promised it would be, shouldn't strike us as odd. And if it does, we probably ought to take a long hard look at our perspective on things. The fact that over half of marriages end in divorce might make it "the norm" statistically and culturally, but it shouldn't make it the norm inevitably. As Christians we should be shocked, surprised, and astounded when marriages fall apart, not when they last! One of the hardest parts of being in the world, is not buying into the world's ideas about things and start thinking the way it thinks.

Stories like this are a good reminder and checkpoint for me to guage just how "in-step" with the world I often times am.

What's So Funny?

This is a link to an article from MSNBC.COM about how late night comics have had a field-day with Eliot Spitzer's situation in NY: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23583275/. Okay, we're not surprised by this, right? This is, for better or worse, what these guys do for a living. They see a situation in which someone has built his profession life as a moral crusader, prosecuting cases with "righteousness," and now it's discovered he's been doing some of the very things he seemed to be against all these years, and they tap into what most people feel when secrets like this are exposed, and we thankfully discover they're not our own: we're shocked, we shrug our shoulders, and then, we laugh.

What's sad is that I fear many Christians may have the same reaction, or worse. We may go past laughing into self-righteousness and hypocrisy. "Well, that's what happens when you live that kind of life." We sit back, so relieved that our own sins are not the ones being paraded on the front page of The New York Times, talked about by Matt and Meredith on the Today show, and being joked about by Letterman, that we easily listen to the lies of Satan who whispers, "Look, we all know you've got issues in your life, but you're sins aren't as bad as Spitzer's, right? I mean, really, you're better than him." And we take the bait.

I have no idea whether Gov. Spitzer is a believer or not. I have no idea whether there is anyone in his life right now, trying desperately to love him to Christ. What I do know is, that it's not funny. It's not even a little bit humorous, and I open myself up to any of you for rebuke if you hear me making light of this situation in the future.

See, here's the thing: I'm a mess, and I need lots and lots of help. . . and realizing that and admitting that doesn't make me more spiritual. Hopefully though, it will make me more humble.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

Hypocrisy is an Art

I guess I'm a blogger now. I never really thought I would be. The appeal of things like Facebook and MySpace have tended to fly over my head. I'm still of the age where e-mail and text messages have been about as impersonal a form of communication as I've wanted to use, and to be honest, blogging has always seemed a little arrogant to me: "Hello, world, listen to what I have to say. . . it's worth it!"

Funny thing is, I don't really hesitate sending out mass e-mails with my thoughts on anything and everything. And therein, lies the hypocrisy and an insight into my personality and character. In a mass e-mail sent to my friends and family--which will help clutter up their Inbox until they read or delete it--I will decry the arrogance of bloggers, publishing their thoughts as if their thoughts are worth reading. Assuming all the while that they have been waiting on my e-mail, wondering, fretting even, over what Jason thinks about blogging, so they can structure their worldview accordingly.

Here's the thing: obvious hypocrisy is easy and requires little talent. It's the layered, subtle "two-facedness" that requires years of practice, and a little bit of flare, and the fact that I'm so good at it, scares me to death!