It seems to me that the Christian Church these days talks a lot about promises that God has made. Promises like, "The Holy Spirit will comfort you!",
"God will bless your tithe money and turn it on your enemies!",
"He'll complete the work he started!",
"He's forgiven you your sins!",
"The last shall be first!",
"He is a good father that will give you good things!".
And then there's the blessings: "Blessed is he who fears God",
".. who worships God",
".. who praises God",
"Blessed are the poor in spirit... are those who morn... are the meek... are the peacemakers".
But first of all what does "blessed" really mean? and second, did we forget the other promises?
Sometimes the Church presents these blessings as ease of life, little trials, an unhindered peace of mind, or a permanent assurance. But I don't really know if that's true. Blessed could just mean that God looks at them with favor and acceptance and love. It could mean their heavenly mansions are just bigger. I could just mean spiritually their better off, but leaves the natural state untouched. I haven't done my research on any of this, haven't had the time, just thinking a loud. So we'd have to find out what is really meant by "blessed". But now what about those other commonly forgotten blessings?
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake." - Luke 6:22
"Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness," - Matt. 5:10
"Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name's sake." - Matt 24:9
"Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law;" - Ps. 94:12
"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles" - Matt. 10:16-18
To name a few that I found. And didn't almost all of the Apostles, Christ's little chosen band, get crucified, stoned, imprisoned, and/or executed. Yep.
At the end of most of these verses are also some words of encouragement about the promise of perseverance or guidance or whatever but this is the point: It's like this, the passage goes, "all things work together for good.." not, "All things work together for temporal good.." In my experience I have seen these Christians that run around thinking that because their good or that God loves them or that "blessings" is strictly temporal or that they've already suffered much, that they have good things coming to them or that they deserve temporal good things. But is this really the testimony of the Scripture? It promises sure temporal trials, tribulations, back-stabbings, an endless war against sin, earthquakes, wars, disease, famine, death, persecution, and powers and principalities all about us. But it seems the blessings and promises that we often mistake as temporal are actually very much spiritually minded. He gives us faith, strength, love, perseverance- whose climax is at death-, sanctification-whose climax is at death-, and the ultimate promise, that of salvation that also climaxes at death. Where do we get the notion that God's going to give us money, fame, power, physical comfort (all of these Proverbs strictly warns against), or perfect parents or children? I wonder.
I am surprised the Christian doesn't expect more trials in life, as God promises. I am surprised that when trials do come the Christian usually is shaken and cries out, "Why!?". I am surprised the usual Christian assumes the blessings are temporal. But of course he would, he's a physical being, right? How can he understand a spiritual God? I am surprised the Christian isn't surprised when life is good, shouldn't then he say, "Why!? What did I do? I am a sinner! I don't deserve a bit of this!"? And why am I not surprised that I am preaching to myself?
5.19.2010
5.06.2010
Of The Frontal Cortex
Tonight my head rests between worlds,
Plains of the open and closed eye.
Where still images dance in jubilee,
And time spins its desperate lies.
Rock and Water beseech my head,
Campaigning their inimical ways.
Each pleading, this night I swallow them,
But the size of I is one stoke of fate.
The river clear and graceful flows,
If elemental cleave is overt.
Still, earth must also truly guide,
Life's veins to prudently discern.
By misplaced stone and lax surge,
They rage about each other.
Tumult is born and physics matures,
Yet Time takes the chaos downriver.
Plains of the open and closed eye.
Where still images dance in jubilee,
And time spins its desperate lies.
Rock and Water beseech my head,
Campaigning their inimical ways.
Each pleading, this night I swallow them,
But the size of I is one stoke of fate.
The river clear and graceful flows,
If elemental cleave is overt.
Still, earth must also truly guide,
Life's veins to prudently discern.
By misplaced stone and lax surge,
They rage about each other.
Tumult is born and physics matures,
Yet Time takes the chaos downriver.
4.20.2010
Of Grandes
WHA-POW! *Three knuckle punch to the face* So I drank a Grande a few hours ago and I think it got stuck inside me someplace. But that's ok! This post is going to be different from my other because I think it's actually what your supposed to use this cyber-site for. Personal updates. Any-hoot, here's the low down.
Had a phone interview with Amazon.com today and came away from it muttering: "Fail." and I was down for a bit feeling like I knew nothing for all my education and that I'd been out of the game for awhile. Yet, have no fear! Because then I thought, "Wait, you don't even want a job, so use your time foo'!" So then what did I do? I went to Barnes N(and?, 'n'?, 'N?, an'?) Nobles. And drank a while chocolate mocha over The Ultimate Proof of Creation and Stones Into Schools for an hour or two. Then came home thinking, "Rise and rise again!" So I devised a plan for doctors to fight this whole healthcare mess, got my dad to agree to talk his doctor about what we can do about it, and emailed two different pastors on how to carry out my near-future goals:
- Be a camp counselor at Camp Hope (both Jr and Teen sessions).
- Pass out copies of Ultimate Questions to my community.
Not to mention I want to:
- Take another mission trip to Lakeshore.
- Take a trip to Mexico or Haiti.
- Help out with my churches booth at the summer/spring fairs.
And I wished I'd:
- Became a doctor instead (had I only know the present was the past's future!) Or,
- Went into politics.
- Done internships...
But I feel 21 (and have since school ended). I have a perfect job that let's me be as flexible as I want (Helly Hansen- God bless them) and I want to do almost everything! I want to be the Greg Mortenson of Mexico, Haiti, or, heck- anywhere! Loose me! I want to make change and the- *passes out*
Had a phone interview with Amazon.com today and came away from it muttering: "Fail." and I was down for a bit feeling like I knew nothing for all my education and that I'd been out of the game for awhile. Yet, have no fear! Because then I thought, "Wait, you don't even want a job, so use your time foo'!" So then what did I do? I went to Barnes N(and?, 'n'?, 'N?, an'?) Nobles. And drank a while chocolate mocha over The Ultimate Proof of Creation and Stones Into Schools for an hour or two. Then came home thinking, "Rise and rise again!" So I devised a plan for doctors to fight this whole healthcare mess, got my dad to agree to talk his doctor about what we can do about it, and emailed two different pastors on how to carry out my near-future goals:
- Be a camp counselor at Camp Hope (both Jr and Teen sessions).
- Pass out copies of Ultimate Questions to my community.
Not to mention I want to:
- Take another mission trip to Lakeshore.
- Take a trip to Mexico or Haiti.
- Help out with my churches booth at the summer/spring fairs.
And I wished I'd:
- Became a doctor instead (had I only know the present was the past's future!) Or,
- Went into politics.
- Done internships...
But I feel 21 (and have since school ended). I have a perfect job that let's me be as flexible as I want (Helly Hansen- God bless them) and I want to do almost everything! I want to be the Greg Mortenson of Mexico, Haiti, or, heck- anywhere! Loose me! I want to make change and the- *passes out*
4.08.2010
Of Writing Wants
I want to write.
Though I don't know what about.
One book said to take the ordinary things in your life and weave them into something extraordinary.
But with such an ordinary, typical life, what makes any of this so extraordinary?- or is that the catch?
One paragraph said you should usually write about things outside yourself.
But aren't you always going to be better to write things about yourself, seeing as you are you?
The things you know best are going to be the things you can most accurately describe to your readers, yes?
The soldier writes about the war- outside and inside of himself.
The reporter writes about the battle and reads the story aloud around the dinner table.
The general writes about the death toll and how to improve casualty model.
The civilian writes about the violence- in his community and in his kids.
The politician writes about the success- claiming the good; blaming the bad; embodying the ugly.
But what can I write about?
Well, I know myself very well, I guess.
I know the emotions I feel- love, frustration, loneliness, joy- are all just emotions, but true ones at that.
I know the struggles I have between letting go and holding on, just to list one of the hundreds.
I know about my love of creativity and the outlets so brilliantly designed for me to let them out of my head (and why i believe it was designed in the first place).
I guess don't really know much about politics, social changes, world poverty, or war- and I wish I did.
But I have this blog, and I know I want to write- so I do, and just did.
Though I don't know what about.
One book said to take the ordinary things in your life and weave them into something extraordinary.
But with such an ordinary, typical life, what makes any of this so extraordinary?- or is that the catch?
One paragraph said you should usually write about things outside yourself.
But aren't you always going to be better to write things about yourself, seeing as you are you?
The things you know best are going to be the things you can most accurately describe to your readers, yes?
The soldier writes about the war- outside and inside of himself.
The reporter writes about the battle and reads the story aloud around the dinner table.
The general writes about the death toll and how to improve casualty model.
The civilian writes about the violence- in his community and in his kids.
The politician writes about the success- claiming the good; blaming the bad; embodying the ugly.
But what can I write about?
Well, I know myself very well, I guess.
I know the emotions I feel- love, frustration, loneliness, joy- are all just emotions, but true ones at that.
I know the struggles I have between letting go and holding on, just to list one of the hundreds.
I know about my love of creativity and the outlets so brilliantly designed for me to let them out of my head (and why i believe it was designed in the first place).
I guess don't really know much about politics, social changes, world poverty, or war- and I wish I did.
But I have this blog, and I know I want to write- so I do, and just did.
3.11.2010
Of The Easy Road
I just had a thought. And I haven't posted anything in a really long time. So I'm going to share. I heard a song the other day which had a line that went, "And I don't have to love a thing to much". I'd heard this song many times but right then, I heard that lyric.
It's so much easier not to love.
It's so much easier to just be selfish and pursue one's own passions and not consider those who might be depending on you. It's so much easier to not have to commit to anything so that your never obligated to do something uncomfortable. It's so much easier to steal and cheat your way to the finish line and the prize without actually running the race. It's so much easier to just turn your back on someone who has offended you and leave them behind. It's so much easier not to forgive than to give the offender mercy and grace. It's so much easier not to open up to someone and subject yourself to accountability or possible rebuke. It's so much easier to lay in a cookie-cutter and be a surface-talker never knowing anyone and never being known, never sharing your beliefs, never doing anything different. It's so much easier to appease your minuet-emotions rather than stop your desires to consider the end effect. It's so much easier to self analyze your own contradictions all the time and not challenge yourself with any action.
It's so much easier not to love.
But is it?
Does life become any easier when you choose not to forget the offenses of your neighbor so that you sit and are reminded of them and they pain you as long as you hold them. Does it really become any easier when after you've got the trophy and are heading home, the law comes collecting and you face the consequences? Is it really any easier to hide your beliefs and convictions so that sooner or later you feel unknown by those around you and insecure about who you are? Does it become any easier the longer you self analyze and then one day look back to find all that time has gone and you've got nothing to show for it? Does it really become easier to ignore those who depend on you or have invested time into you until they finally leave and take they're support with them? Does it really become easier when after you've appeased your momentary urges you have to deal with sour seeds you've sown around you?
It's so much harder to invest and sacrifice in a brighter future, than to live loveless and expect you'll get a good share somehow.
But by God, in the end of the day, it's worth it.
It's so much easier not to love.
It's so much easier to just be selfish and pursue one's own passions and not consider those who might be depending on you. It's so much easier to not have to commit to anything so that your never obligated to do something uncomfortable. It's so much easier to steal and cheat your way to the finish line and the prize without actually running the race. It's so much easier to just turn your back on someone who has offended you and leave them behind. It's so much easier not to forgive than to give the offender mercy and grace. It's so much easier not to open up to someone and subject yourself to accountability or possible rebuke. It's so much easier to lay in a cookie-cutter and be a surface-talker never knowing anyone and never being known, never sharing your beliefs, never doing anything different. It's so much easier to appease your minuet-emotions rather than stop your desires to consider the end effect. It's so much easier to self analyze your own contradictions all the time and not challenge yourself with any action.
It's so much easier not to love.
But is it?
Does life become any easier when you choose not to forget the offenses of your neighbor so that you sit and are reminded of them and they pain you as long as you hold them. Does it really become any easier when after you've got the trophy and are heading home, the law comes collecting and you face the consequences? Is it really any easier to hide your beliefs and convictions so that sooner or later you feel unknown by those around you and insecure about who you are? Does it become any easier the longer you self analyze and then one day look back to find all that time has gone and you've got nothing to show for it? Does it really become easier to ignore those who depend on you or have invested time into you until they finally leave and take they're support with them? Does it really become easier when after you've appeased your momentary urges you have to deal with sour seeds you've sown around you?
It's so much harder to invest and sacrifice in a brighter future, than to live loveless and expect you'll get a good share somehow.
But by God, in the end of the day, it's worth it.
12.06.2009
Of Souls for Sale
Soul for sale! Soul for sale!
Does someone need a soul? Do tell!
For the Devil would take it
I couldn’t push it in his hands,
He said, “Boy you must have me mistaken,
I only purchase useful lots of land.”
And dear Jesus wouldn’t buy it
I couldn’t bribe him with two pence of pain
He said, “Son you must have me mistaken,
I only save those souls which call my name.”
Oh, Soul for sale! Soul for sale!
Will anyone take this soul? Do tell!
For the butcher and barber
Both just shook their heads in shame
I guess they have no use for souls
Who give them no great gain
And the King and Queen and peasants
Oddly gave all the same reply:
“What good is swapping souls my friend?
It won’t change your choices in the end.”
Soul for sale! Soul for sale!
Please! Will you take this soul? Do tell!
So I asked the dead poets and Rhyme if indeed
First, this claim was true, and then what I would need
And they all agreed and conveyed to me
That to sell my soul was like not loving you
This they said-
“The actions one takes is never based on the future,
Nor the present-
And with the exception of when unchecked feelings surge,
The history of the memories and eyes of the owner,
Are the two dominate tools used for most common sinners.
So you see why you cannot stop loving that soul?
While the future is bleak, the past overflows!
And you, being you, are in a particular bind,
For better or worse, to the worse you are blind.
And so with only good memories of everyone else
You are bound to love them, though as for yourself,
Seems not so fortunate as it’s your soul you would sell
And for two pence of pain? Come, you’d better listen up well
See, whether or not your soul is crooked or straight
All you can do to improve the choices you make,
Is to not rely on your own strength to carry this weight,
For only by losing your life, eternity will you gain.”
Does someone need a soul? Do tell!
For the Devil would take it
I couldn’t push it in his hands,
He said, “Boy you must have me mistaken,
I only purchase useful lots of land.”
And dear Jesus wouldn’t buy it
I couldn’t bribe him with two pence of pain
He said, “Son you must have me mistaken,
I only save those souls which call my name.”
Oh, Soul for sale! Soul for sale!
Will anyone take this soul? Do tell!
For the butcher and barber
Both just shook their heads in shame
I guess they have no use for souls
Who give them no great gain
And the King and Queen and peasants
Oddly gave all the same reply:
“What good is swapping souls my friend?
It won’t change your choices in the end.”
Soul for sale! Soul for sale!
Please! Will you take this soul? Do tell!
So I asked the dead poets and Rhyme if indeed
First, this claim was true, and then what I would need
And they all agreed and conveyed to me
That to sell my soul was like not loving you
This they said-
“The actions one takes is never based on the future,
Nor the present-
And with the exception of when unchecked feelings surge,
The history of the memories and eyes of the owner,
Are the two dominate tools used for most common sinners.
So you see why you cannot stop loving that soul?
While the future is bleak, the past overflows!
And you, being you, are in a particular bind,
For better or worse, to the worse you are blind.
And so with only good memories of everyone else
You are bound to love them, though as for yourself,
Seems not so fortunate as it’s your soul you would sell
And for two pence of pain? Come, you’d better listen up well
See, whether or not your soul is crooked or straight
All you can do to improve the choices you make,
Is to not rely on your own strength to carry this weight,
For only by losing your life, eternity will you gain.”
11.06.2009
Of Studio 7
I had a concert tonight... it was good, one of the things I love about ameture gigs is that you get to hear other musicians that arn't popular and mainstream and you get to see which ones are going to be the good undiscovered bands that no one may ever hear about, but you were there to play with them and give them your regards. Most of them have just EP's out so most of the their songs remain unrecorded, and I don't know there is something about being privilaged to hear songs live that no one else has heard, might here. It makes you feel pretty special. Tonight, these gentlemen named Dear Penny caught me with a cover song. It's called "Come Back Down" by Ivory but they did an excellent, simple, moving version...
"i know sometimes, people say it'll be all right.
but i have to think, it's not that way in her mind.
and everything's not fine, so don't tell her it takes time.
cause everywhere she looks, she's reminded of his life, his life
it was dark that night, but she could still see his eyes
shining upon her, the stars in the sky
and it was so bright, giving life to the sky
reminding her lover, of all the color in his life, his life
can you come back down
you two can ride your bikes
and dance, and laugh, and forget about such thing as time
can you come back down
you two can have the nights
and dance, and laugh, and forget about such thing as time
can you come back down
and bring her back a smile
and take her with you
at least I think that's what
she'd like .."
"i know sometimes, people say it'll be all right.
but i have to think, it's not that way in her mind.
and everything's not fine, so don't tell her it takes time.
cause everywhere she looks, she's reminded of his life, his life
it was dark that night, but she could still see his eyes
shining upon her, the stars in the sky
and it was so bright, giving life to the sky
reminding her lover, of all the color in his life, his life
can you come back down
you two can ride your bikes
and dance, and laugh, and forget about such thing as time
can you come back down
you two can have the nights
and dance, and laugh, and forget about such thing as time
can you come back down
and bring her back a smile
and take her with you
at least I think that's what
she'd like .."
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