Pastor Grant Fishbook made an interesting point today. He asked us what sermon we were going to preach this week. We'd like to think that no one elses opinion matters. That may be fine for a non-Christian. But if we Christ followers subscribe to that opinion, we're kidding ourselves. Our reputations and how we live do matter. A lot. We can say we love God all we want, but if our lives and actions don't reflect it, our faith is dead. Alluding to the "vine" analogy, such branches are cut off, thrown into the fire and burned.
This is something that I've had to think a lot about this year. I tend to meet people. Everywhere. And they need to know through my actions and words within the first five minutes of knowing me that I'm a really happy, really outgoing guy. More importantly, I have to reflect Christ to them.
So, I want to preach about love this week. And forgiveness that's only found in Christ. I want people to walk away from me at the rock wall, or my slackline, or whatever, feeling like they met someone that actually gives a hoot about them. And hopefully, they'll see me again, hop on the line, and I can help them know I stand for love in a world that could really care less most of the time.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
218-My Body Always Seems to Hurt After the Weekend
So I have some stuff to do. One of these things is a large amount of reading. I don't own the book, or I'd be reading right now. After dinner. I promise. I'll be in the library a very long time. It's not hard reading, actually. It was written by this guy looking for an adventure in the early 1930's, so he decided to relocate to the Soviet Union. I can't say that it was the best idea in the world, but had I been alive in the 1930's with the same ambitions as I do now, I would finish school and then do what he did. Which may have led to my end, but we won't go there.
My brother Evan and friend Simon came up on Friday night. It was a really good time, and it was great having them up here. We played Settlers, which I didn't win, but to me was not about winning. It was about having 5 other people in my room at once and watching them all interact, which isn't something that flies on a normal weekend. Went on a hike the next day, and was really tired from that when we set up a slackline and screwed around in the grass for awhile.
Night came. I crashed.
Church this morning.
Then climbing.
then laundry.
Then this.
My back is sort of sore. I didn't realize that climbing worked the back so much. I am still trying to get my upper arms to equal each other. My right is bigger than my left, which to my in-some-ways-OCD self just isn't cool.
My brother Evan and friend Simon came up on Friday night. It was a really good time, and it was great having them up here. We played Settlers, which I didn't win, but to me was not about winning. It was about having 5 other people in my room at once and watching them all interact, which isn't something that flies on a normal weekend. Went on a hike the next day, and was really tired from that when we set up a slackline and screwed around in the grass for awhile.
Night came. I crashed.
Church this morning.
Then climbing.
then laundry.
Then this.
My back is sort of sore. I didn't realize that climbing worked the back so much. I am still trying to get my upper arms to equal each other. My right is bigger than my left, which to my in-some-ways-OCD self just isn't cool.
Friday, April 25, 2008
216
I've been climbing, sometimes twice a day, for the last 6-7 days in a row. Goodness, I'm going to hurt myself. And yet I can't stop! I got a route last night that I have been trying the last 3 weeks, so I finally just said "I'm not leaving until I get this one," since they swap out the holds and the routes on that section Saturday. It felt amazing to finish that one.
So it's a hazy, bright morning in Bellingham. It's looking like it's gonna clear up and I'm not gonna take a break today either.
Nothing epic to talk about today. I'm sorry, I feel myself thinking, but I have no idea what about...
So it's a hazy, bright morning in Bellingham. It's looking like it's gonna clear up and I'm not gonna take a break today either.
Nothing epic to talk about today. I'm sorry, I feel myself thinking, but I have no idea what about...
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
214
I really should just stop. Really. One of these days my body is just going to not want to move anymore. And still I have yet to feel direct pain as a result of my activity. So I'm gonna keep going today and see where that takes me.
This quarter is going SO fast. Way faster than I want it to. Six and a half weeks left of school...then I've got to pack up the Chevy and roll on out of here. There's nothing wrong with that, but I'll be anxious to get back up here in early September, even if it is for RA training. Money's gonna be tight FOR SURE. COME ON tax return, I need you buddy!
Can I just say here, though, that I have pretty much felt amazing the last few weeks, with the exception of one or two low points. I'm out having fun, learning cool things (even if my political science class feels like I've been returned to high school due to its formatting,) meeting a ton of really cool people in this really beautiful place. My body is in that constant state of good-sore. Man, Bellingham is RAD.
I think happiness is directly proportional to the amount of sun.
Today I still feel good, but it's kinda gross outside. That's ok though, because yesterday it was about 60 degrees and bluebird.
WOOT.
This quarter is going SO fast. Way faster than I want it to. Six and a half weeks left of school...then I've got to pack up the Chevy and roll on out of here. There's nothing wrong with that, but I'll be anxious to get back up here in early September, even if it is for RA training. Money's gonna be tight FOR SURE. COME ON tax return, I need you buddy!
Can I just say here, though, that I have pretty much felt amazing the last few weeks, with the exception of one or two low points. I'm out having fun, learning cool things (even if my political science class feels like I've been returned to high school due to its formatting,) meeting a ton of really cool people in this really beautiful place. My body is in that constant state of good-sore. Man, Bellingham is RAD.
I think happiness is directly proportional to the amount of sun.
Today I still feel good, but it's kinda gross outside. That's ok though, because yesterday it was about 60 degrees and bluebird.
WOOT.
Monday, April 21, 2008
212
Some of you may know that whatever literature I choose to read tends to fall within the realm of utopian discourse. Novels like 1984 and Farenheit 451 are a few of my favorites. The reason I like them: They take situations that many would consider ideal and switch the perspective around to fit someone who finds the world in which they live utterly terrible.
Such is the argument for a theocracy. I've heard numerous times that the founding fathers of the United States had God in mind when designing our Constitution and that people originally came to this country to worship free from the tyranny of the Anglican church. I don't feel these two aspects of American history are entirely accurate, but that's not my argument. My argument is this: THANK GOODNESS this country isn't a theocracy. And may it never until God takes us home and rebuilds this place.
Some may feel it beneficial to all to make the Bible our Constitution. That's actually what sparked this in my mind. There are people running around these days claiming to fly the flag of Christ that are showing up to funerals of soldiers that were killed in action in Iraq. There may seem to be no harm in this. However, when you're hanging out in the back waving a sign around that says "God Hates Fags," we've got issues. Granted, the Bible that I know exhorts us to love others like Christ loves us and has nothing to do with what these folks are claiming. However, should a theocracy be our chosen form of government here on earth, the government could get behind something like that if they felt it were justified enough.
I'm just saying. It could happen.
But the main issue I take with this is on the issue of corruption. If, theoretically speaking, everyone in the United States was evangelical Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Bahai, what have you. Someone has to be at the top of the ladder leading the country. You may even have a council of some kind. This is beside the point. As long as there is sin in this world, people will make stupid decisions. People let power get to their head, no matter how holy they seem to be, or how holy they try to be. That is human nature.
I had a professor tell me we are all fundamentally good the other day. My mind said an emphatic no. This world seems to have so much to offer, so much that we can see and touch and feel. And that is precisely why God's heaven and New Earth are the only way this could ever work. When all corruption is gone and it's destruction is entirely evident. When God's sent Satan packing and all of his wily ways to the bottom of the freakin' lake of fire.
Under these circumstances, and these circumstances only will a God-honoring theocracy actually work, and only then will everyone actually be ok with it. Imagine that...
Utopia without a dissenting view.
I'm expecting comments on this one, so gimme whatever you've got, I'll do my best to explain my perspective.
Such is the argument for a theocracy. I've heard numerous times that the founding fathers of the United States had God in mind when designing our Constitution and that people originally came to this country to worship free from the tyranny of the Anglican church. I don't feel these two aspects of American history are entirely accurate, but that's not my argument. My argument is this: THANK GOODNESS this country isn't a theocracy. And may it never until God takes us home and rebuilds this place.
Some may feel it beneficial to all to make the Bible our Constitution. That's actually what sparked this in my mind. There are people running around these days claiming to fly the flag of Christ that are showing up to funerals of soldiers that were killed in action in Iraq. There may seem to be no harm in this. However, when you're hanging out in the back waving a sign around that says "God Hates Fags," we've got issues. Granted, the Bible that I know exhorts us to love others like Christ loves us and has nothing to do with what these folks are claiming. However, should a theocracy be our chosen form of government here on earth, the government could get behind something like that if they felt it were justified enough.
I'm just saying. It could happen.
But the main issue I take with this is on the issue of corruption. If, theoretically speaking, everyone in the United States was evangelical Christian, Catholic, Muslim, Bahai, what have you. Someone has to be at the top of the ladder leading the country. You may even have a council of some kind. This is beside the point. As long as there is sin in this world, people will make stupid decisions. People let power get to their head, no matter how holy they seem to be, or how holy they try to be. That is human nature.
I had a professor tell me we are all fundamentally good the other day. My mind said an emphatic no. This world seems to have so much to offer, so much that we can see and touch and feel. And that is precisely why God's heaven and New Earth are the only way this could ever work. When all corruption is gone and it's destruction is entirely evident. When God's sent Satan packing and all of his wily ways to the bottom of the freakin' lake of fire.
Under these circumstances, and these circumstances only will a God-honoring theocracy actually work, and only then will everyone actually be ok with it. Imagine that...
Utopia without a dissenting view.
I'm expecting comments on this one, so gimme whatever you've got, I'll do my best to explain my perspective.
A thought on 212, but not the big post to which I referred earlier
I was looking through the online NY Times this morning so I could know what was going on in the world, when I noticed a topic near and dear to my heart right on the front page. Jimmy Carter talking to Hamas.
Ok. A few things come to mind here. Some good, some bad. I'll start with the good, and I have about 10 minutes to communicate this, so I'm sorry if it's unclear.
The good: Jimmy Carter has a history of doing things like this, and while people fling him crap for his foreign policy while he was president, he tried, and I feel like he had something (or someone) working against him. Yeah. I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist.
I feel bad for the Palestinians, and I think someone needs to advocate their position. Whatever God's plan is in this, they still need love, because he created them and loves them just as much as anyone. I'm glad someone seems to be (I suspect there's some political motive on the part of whichever candidate he is supporting [Obama?] who said at the beginning of his candidacy that he would be open to talks with anyone regardless of affiliation) loving them and interested in what they want.
The bad: I am by no means a fan of George Bush (there, I said it,) but I would like to know under what political authority Carter is acting, and as such what legitimacy his remarks actually have.
Carter is saying that Hamas would agree to the 1967 borders if approved by a vote amongst the Palestinian people.
Question: how does someone organize that? You have (last I checked) two separate Palestinian states as well as Israel itself. And they can't agree on anything anyway. How in the WORLD are you going to cover every (maybe not...) ethnic Palestinian in this vote? And even if you can organize it, what happens if the Palestinian vote doesn't agree with the 1967 borders? You now have an even more emboldened Hamas, working with a "mandate of the people."
Carter was President for awhile. That merit alone means he knows WAY more than I do. He knows what he's doing, but this seriously just looks like election season remarks against the Establishment. My guess is it's political.
I'll post something actually worth reading later today. Hopefully it doesn't amount to wasted bandwidth.
Ok. A few things come to mind here. Some good, some bad. I'll start with the good, and I have about 10 minutes to communicate this, so I'm sorry if it's unclear.
The good: Jimmy Carter has a history of doing things like this, and while people fling him crap for his foreign policy while he was president, he tried, and I feel like he had something (or someone) working against him. Yeah. I'm a bit of a conspiracy theorist.
I feel bad for the Palestinians, and I think someone needs to advocate their position. Whatever God's plan is in this, they still need love, because he created them and loves them just as much as anyone. I'm glad someone seems to be (I suspect there's some political motive on the part of whichever candidate he is supporting [Obama?] who said at the beginning of his candidacy that he would be open to talks with anyone regardless of affiliation) loving them and interested in what they want.
The bad: I am by no means a fan of George Bush (there, I said it,) but I would like to know under what political authority Carter is acting, and as such what legitimacy his remarks actually have.
Carter is saying that Hamas would agree to the 1967 borders if approved by a vote amongst the Palestinian people.
Question: how does someone organize that? You have (last I checked) two separate Palestinian states as well as Israel itself. And they can't agree on anything anyway. How in the WORLD are you going to cover every (maybe not...) ethnic Palestinian in this vote? And even if you can organize it, what happens if the Palestinian vote doesn't agree with the 1967 borders? You now have an even more emboldened Hamas, working with a "mandate of the people."
Carter was President for awhile. That merit alone means he knows WAY more than I do. He knows what he's doing, but this seriously just looks like election season remarks against the Establishment. My guess is it's political.
I'll post something actually worth reading later today. Hopefully it doesn't amount to wasted bandwidth.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
211- The Weekend
I won't lie. I looked at this weeked thinking it would be really boring. Ya know. Things like snow in town tend to put a "damper" (pun intended) on things for guys like me that like to be outside and goof off.
I was wrong. And I was glad I was.
On Friday night, I was really bored until about 8:00, when I found out that I had places to be. I went and hung out at a friend's dorm, then it worked out that a friend from Vancouver came up for the night, so we went and chilled in town. I also introduced him to some of my homies up here, and we made a trip down to the grocery store at 1:00 AM.
Saturday I feel like I didn't do a whole lot, but I don't particularly remember feeling bored. I went and saw a movie called "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," which I shouldn't have gone and seen, which was immediately evident five minutes into the fim. I wouldn't recommend it at all, at least to people that care at all about what goes into their head.
Anyway.
This morning I did some work on a history paper, which I came back to throughout the day in between climbing at the gym with my friend Meagan, meals, and exploring and climbing Larrabee State Park with my friend Juliet. We found a really cool traverse route away from the water a bit so we didn't get the water noise, but it was definitely more relaxing than the rock gym. I love real rocks.
Oh. Here, I must give a shout out to the fine folks at REI. I bought a pair of leather lace-up climbing shoes there about a month and a half ago. I climb just about every day, and the thing with leather shoes is that they tend to stretch. When I bought the things, I kept this in mind, and my feet barely fit in them, and it hurt like crazy to walk. Enter today's experience. I went into REI to see what my options were on getting a pair that fit me, because I had been assured when I bought into REI that they stood behind anything they sold, and that if it wasn't meeting my needs it was a refund or exchange pretty much without question. Come to find out this is lifetime of the object in question. Golden. As a result, without any pestering, I was able exchange my beat up ones to get a pair that fit me and don't stretch as much. So KUDOS for sure. I worked retail for awhile, and that's not something that happens everyday.
Oh. One other thing. Everyone needs to know that Gardettos makes a bag that is entirely rye chips. You have no idea how exciting this is for me. I already had a bag earlier. I seem to recall a conversation where the flavor of the rye chips was thought to be based on the flavor of the items around it. NOPE. They're the same.
Ok. Interesting topic tomorrow. Maybe a bit edgy, and a little controversial, even for me.
Until then. Cheers.
I was wrong. And I was glad I was.
On Friday night, I was really bored until about 8:00, when I found out that I had places to be. I went and hung out at a friend's dorm, then it worked out that a friend from Vancouver came up for the night, so we went and chilled in town. I also introduced him to some of my homies up here, and we made a trip down to the grocery store at 1:00 AM.
Saturday I feel like I didn't do a whole lot, but I don't particularly remember feeling bored. I went and saw a movie called "Forgetting Sarah Marshall," which I shouldn't have gone and seen, which was immediately evident five minutes into the fim. I wouldn't recommend it at all, at least to people that care at all about what goes into their head.
Anyway.
This morning I did some work on a history paper, which I came back to throughout the day in between climbing at the gym with my friend Meagan, meals, and exploring and climbing Larrabee State Park with my friend Juliet. We found a really cool traverse route away from the water a bit so we didn't get the water noise, but it was definitely more relaxing than the rock gym. I love real rocks.
Oh. Here, I must give a shout out to the fine folks at REI. I bought a pair of leather lace-up climbing shoes there about a month and a half ago. I climb just about every day, and the thing with leather shoes is that they tend to stretch. When I bought the things, I kept this in mind, and my feet barely fit in them, and it hurt like crazy to walk. Enter today's experience. I went into REI to see what my options were on getting a pair that fit me, because I had been assured when I bought into REI that they stood behind anything they sold, and that if it wasn't meeting my needs it was a refund or exchange pretty much without question. Come to find out this is lifetime of the object in question. Golden. As a result, without any pestering, I was able exchange my beat up ones to get a pair that fit me and don't stretch as much. So KUDOS for sure. I worked retail for awhile, and that's not something that happens everyday.
Oh. One other thing. Everyone needs to know that Gardettos makes a bag that is entirely rye chips. You have no idea how exciting this is for me. I already had a bag earlier. I seem to recall a conversation where the flavor of the rye chips was thought to be based on the flavor of the items around it. NOPE. They're the same.
Ok. Interesting topic tomorrow. Maybe a bit edgy, and a little controversial, even for me.
Until then. Cheers.
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