Tuesday, April 29, 2008
One of those days
You ever have one of those days when people are just really nice to you? Maybe you get an unexpected compliment or someone randomly helps you out or offers kind words. Well, I had one of those days today. It was nice. :)
Monday, April 28, 2008
Tears
There are lots of things that can occasionally make me cry, mostly depending on the day, how much sleep I had the previous night, and other circumstances like that. However, there are very few things that I can think of that almost always cause me to tear up, and I think that most of those things fit into two categories:
1. Heaven/Eternity
I don't think that I've had any one really close to me die, so at the funerals I've gone to, I find that I am only partly weeping because of how that person will be missed. More, though, at least at the funerals of Christians, I weep for the joy of the hope of seeing them again, for the joy they have right now in the presence of the Lord, and for the example their lives have been. It may seem backwards, but I think the reason that I am weeping in light of all that joy is that there is still sorrow mixed in. There is good to come, but this is not the way its supposed to be right now. Then, when I think of how all will be made right, the sorrow and joy just overflow into tears.
Here are some other things in this vein that generally make me cry:
-The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis. Again, ironically, the battle doesn't really make me cry. It's what's beyond the door of the stable that gets me.
-Some songs about heaven.
-Various missionary stories or stories of martyrs such as Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. Yeah, even thinking about the title of that one makes my eyes mist a little.
Which brings me to the second category of things that make me cry (they overlap a bit).
2. Missions (especially if children are involved)
Every year my church has a missions conference, and every year during that time we have the flag ceremony where various people carry the flags of the countries they represent. It's hard to explain why its so moving, but it is. I think it's partly the thought of the completion of all things (see reason #1) -- the thought of every tribe, tongue, and nation singing together to the glory of God. Add to that thought the visual representation of all these people of different nationalities carrying their flags and the sound of the whole church singing and praising God. It's like a little taste of heaven. Which is perhaps why it makes me cry.
Again, other related things that bring tears to my eyes:
-It's corny, but the Operation Christmas Child videos make me cry.
-Missions songs, especially when accompanied by pictures, especially when the pictures are of children.
Perhaps the emotion here is more poignant because the tears shed for these reasons are less selfish than those shed when I'm upset for myself?
I suppose in reality these two groups could be put into one. For both I feel a sorrow that the world is not as it should be, but for both I also feel a hope that this is not the way things will always be. It's like a minor chord which is achingly beautiful (and makes you glad because of it's beauty), but equally sorrowful. Somehow it reminds you that the curse is still in effect but it will not always be so.
This last Sunday night we had a concert with a bunch of songs about heaven, and that's what started me on this topic. I think I am expressing myself badly, but I wanted to at least write it out and perhaps someday I'll be able to explain my thoughts in this area better.
1. Heaven/Eternity
I don't think that I've had any one really close to me die, so at the funerals I've gone to, I find that I am only partly weeping because of how that person will be missed. More, though, at least at the funerals of Christians, I weep for the joy of the hope of seeing them again, for the joy they have right now in the presence of the Lord, and for the example their lives have been. It may seem backwards, but I think the reason that I am weeping in light of all that joy is that there is still sorrow mixed in. There is good to come, but this is not the way its supposed to be right now. Then, when I think of how all will be made right, the sorrow and joy just overflow into tears.
Here are some other things in this vein that generally make me cry:
-The Last Battle by C. S. Lewis. Again, ironically, the battle doesn't really make me cry. It's what's beyond the door of the stable that gets me.
-Some songs about heaven.
-Various missionary stories or stories of martyrs such as Through Gates of Splendor by Elisabeth Elliot. Yeah, even thinking about the title of that one makes my eyes mist a little.
Which brings me to the second category of things that make me cry (they overlap a bit).
2. Missions (especially if children are involved)
Every year my church has a missions conference, and every year during that time we have the flag ceremony where various people carry the flags of the countries they represent. It's hard to explain why its so moving, but it is. I think it's partly the thought of the completion of all things (see reason #1) -- the thought of every tribe, tongue, and nation singing together to the glory of God. Add to that thought the visual representation of all these people of different nationalities carrying their flags and the sound of the whole church singing and praising God. It's like a little taste of heaven. Which is perhaps why it makes me cry.
Again, other related things that bring tears to my eyes:
-It's corny, but the Operation Christmas Child videos make me cry.
-Missions songs, especially when accompanied by pictures, especially when the pictures are of children.
Perhaps the emotion here is more poignant because the tears shed for these reasons are less selfish than those shed when I'm upset for myself?
I suppose in reality these two groups could be put into one. For both I feel a sorrow that the world is not as it should be, but for both I also feel a hope that this is not the way things will always be. It's like a minor chord which is achingly beautiful (and makes you glad because of it's beauty), but equally sorrowful. Somehow it reminds you that the curse is still in effect but it will not always be so.
This last Sunday night we had a concert with a bunch of songs about heaven, and that's what started me on this topic. I think I am expressing myself badly, but I wanted to at least write it out and perhaps someday I'll be able to explain my thoughts in this area better.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
The Rainbow
Friday night we had the first thunder storm of the "spring." I was watching from my window, and it was beautiful.Most of the sky was overcast, but the sun was still shining. Then it started raining and I went outside because I love rain. And there was the rainbow, beautiful as always.
What is it about rainbows that appeals to us? The colors? The way they "magically" appear? Yet, like everything else in creation, its easy for us to take them for granted. It's too easy to forget the origin of the rainbow and the awesome promise that was given with it. God is so good to give us these reminders of His glory and goodness. May we take advantage of them more often and refuse to lose our child-like wonder.
What is it about rainbows that appeals to us? The colors? The way they "magically" appear? Yet, like everything else in creation, its easy for us to take them for granted. It's too easy to forget the origin of the rainbow and the awesome promise that was given with it. God is so good to give us these reminders of His glory and goodness. May we take advantage of them more often and refuse to lose our child-like wonder.
The Rainbow
by William Wordsworth
My heart leaps up when I behold
A rainbow in the sky:
So was it when my life began;
So is it now I am a man;
So be it when I shall grow old,
Or let me die!
The Child is father of the Man;
I could wish my days to be
Bound each to each by natural piety.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
To illustrate...
To illustrate the weather here.... This is what the Bridgers looked like yesterday when I stopped on my way home from work to take a picture. Nothing has turned green yet, but it was not very white either.
And this is what they looked like today on my way home. I love weather here!
And this is me, and my snowman Harold. Isn't he cute? :)
I love how God created the world to have seasons and different weather. Perhaps the weather as it is now is somewhat less than ideal due to the curse, but there is still so much to enjoy about it. Right now I am enjoying the snow, knowing that forest fires won't be as much of a threat this summer and that next year I might not get to play in the snow.
And this is what they looked like today on my way home. I love weather here!
And this is me, and my snowman Harold. Isn't he cute? :)
I love how God created the world to have seasons and different weather. Perhaps the weather as it is now is somewhat less than ideal due to the curse, but there is still so much to enjoy about it. Right now I am enjoying the snow, knowing that forest fires won't be as much of a threat this summer and that next year I might not get to play in the snow.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Spring!
Hooray! I think spring is finally here...at least this week. And the hallmark of spring? Last night, I slept with my window open -- first time this year! :)
April 15, 2008
Oops! Well, as Elizabeth has already commented, I must give an addendum to this posting. It's winter again! I woke up to a snow-covered landscape this morning....I love Montana weather! But, in all fairness, it is definitely a spring snow, so I'm still going to say that spring is here...even though spring here sort of has it's own definition.
April 15, 2008
Oops! Well, as Elizabeth has already commented, I must give an addendum to this posting. It's winter again! I woke up to a snow-covered landscape this morning....I love Montana weather! But, in all fairness, it is definitely a spring snow, so I'm still going to say that spring is here...even though spring here sort of has it's own definition.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Post-modernism
This past week I have heard no less than five presentations on something relating to post-modernism (relativism, pluralism, etc.). Four of them were, of course, senior thesis presentations. The odd thing was that the fifth one (presented by Gale Heidi) was actually part of a Creation conference this last weekend. It's just kind of weird how things like that happen. It helps my thoughts fit together a bit more. (Disclaimer: This is not at all my field of expertise, so please forgive my stumbling as I attempt to explain my thoughts.)
Gale's presentation was basically on post-modernism, how it followed logically from modernism, and how both philosophies affect the way Christians defend the faith (especially as it relates to creation). He talked about the beginning of modernism with Descartes. The two pillars of modernism as presented by Gale (if I remember correctly) are the autonomy of the individual and reason. He then went through and briefly demonstrated how, even though post-modernism seems like the antithesis of modernism, in another way, it's really the logical conclusion of it. If we are all autonomous, we can all individually use our reason to decide what is right for us individually, and it's okay if our reason leads us to a different conclusion that someone else...it's all relative.
The really ironic thing is that as Christians, we often tend to fight post-modernism relativism with modernistic reason. If modernism leads logically to post-modernism, then that's like trying to fight a fire by tossing gasoline on it. This is not to say that reason itself is wrong or useless. By itself, though, it's not enough.
As Gale was talking about this, I began to realize how much of a modernist I am in much of my thinking and that it's not really the Biblical way to go. Reason is not bad, but as Christians, our basis of knowledge cannot be reason. Human reason is too shaky of a foundation to build upon. The only thing strong enough to build upon is the revealed Word of God. We can even undermine that foundation by trying to prove how "reasonable" it is. We cannot trust the word of God simply because our reason tells us to. If we do that, we will find ourselves on the path back to post-modernism.
As I was trying to digest these ideas, my mind went back to the senior thesis presentations. While the seniors all argued well and logically, at the time I remember being vaguely disappointed that none of them spent much time talking about the Bible and how it applied to their arguments. (I don't know the specific assignment, so perhaps they were required to defend their point of view without the Bible. However, for the sake of this discussing, I'll assume that use of the Bible was allowed.) They all applied the reasoning of modernism to the fallacious arguments of the post-modernist points of view they were debating. Again, I don't think this is necessarily wrong. However, I still don't think it's enough.
I was really rather disturbed by the fact that when questioned, none of the seniors really took us back to the Bible or to the character of God as revealed in the Bible. For example, the question of 'which morality is the correct one' came up a couple times. One culture does this, another culture does that. How do we know which to accept as a standard of morality? I don't think anyone gave the obvious answer: "We look at the Bible!" Perhaps that answer is seen as too simplistic, and it certainly does not automatically eliminate every disagreement between cultures. However, I think that if we correctly apply it in all areas, it will help us settle those disagreements. We are to be people of the Book. Too often we are content to take the precious treasure that God has given us in the Bible and trade it for the costume jewelry of reason.
One last note. I know that some of my students read this blog at times, and I hope that you will not be offended by this. My intention is not at all to tear you down, though I wouldn't mind urging you to make God's word more central in your life. :)
Gale's presentation was basically on post-modernism, how it followed logically from modernism, and how both philosophies affect the way Christians defend the faith (especially as it relates to creation). He talked about the beginning of modernism with Descartes. The two pillars of modernism as presented by Gale (if I remember correctly) are the autonomy of the individual and reason. He then went through and briefly demonstrated how, even though post-modernism seems like the antithesis of modernism, in another way, it's really the logical conclusion of it. If we are all autonomous, we can all individually use our reason to decide what is right for us individually, and it's okay if our reason leads us to a different conclusion that someone else...it's all relative.
The really ironic thing is that as Christians, we often tend to fight post-modernism relativism with modernistic reason. If modernism leads logically to post-modernism, then that's like trying to fight a fire by tossing gasoline on it. This is not to say that reason itself is wrong or useless. By itself, though, it's not enough.
As Gale was talking about this, I began to realize how much of a modernist I am in much of my thinking and that it's not really the Biblical way to go. Reason is not bad, but as Christians, our basis of knowledge cannot be reason. Human reason is too shaky of a foundation to build upon. The only thing strong enough to build upon is the revealed Word of God. We can even undermine that foundation by trying to prove how "reasonable" it is. We cannot trust the word of God simply because our reason tells us to. If we do that, we will find ourselves on the path back to post-modernism.
As I was trying to digest these ideas, my mind went back to the senior thesis presentations. While the seniors all argued well and logically, at the time I remember being vaguely disappointed that none of them spent much time talking about the Bible and how it applied to their arguments. (I don't know the specific assignment, so perhaps they were required to defend their point of view without the Bible. However, for the sake of this discussing, I'll assume that use of the Bible was allowed.) They all applied the reasoning of modernism to the fallacious arguments of the post-modernist points of view they were debating. Again, I don't think this is necessarily wrong. However, I still don't think it's enough.
I was really rather disturbed by the fact that when questioned, none of the seniors really took us back to the Bible or to the character of God as revealed in the Bible. For example, the question of 'which morality is the correct one' came up a couple times. One culture does this, another culture does that. How do we know which to accept as a standard of morality? I don't think anyone gave the obvious answer: "We look at the Bible!" Perhaps that answer is seen as too simplistic, and it certainly does not automatically eliminate every disagreement between cultures. However, I think that if we correctly apply it in all areas, it will help us settle those disagreements. We are to be people of the Book. Too often we are content to take the precious treasure that God has given us in the Bible and trade it for the costume jewelry of reason.
One last note. I know that some of my students read this blog at times, and I hope that you will not be offended by this. My intention is not at all to tear you down, though I wouldn't mind urging you to make God's word more central in your life. :)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Questions about the brain
"Only the Greatest of all can make Himself small enough to enter Hell. For the higher a thing is, the lower it can descend--a man can sympathise with a horse but a horse cannot sympathise with a rat. Only One has descended into Hell." ~C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce
This is a concept that has often crossed my mind in a variety of different circumstances since I first read it here. "The higher the thing is, the lower it can descend." Satan certainly exemplifies this. He was the highest created being, until pride grabbed him, and now he is the most evil being in creation. Another example may be found in sex. It was created to be a beautiful and wonderful thing, but few things are more misused in our world today, and the outcome is much pain and suffering.
Most recently, with our play on my mind, I was thinking about this quote in relation to acting ability. Most actors are not actually doctors or scientists or accountants or whatever they are pretending to be, but they still must act like they are, and they must be believable. So, for someone to be a good actor (especially to play many different parts) do they need have an intelligence near (or above) that of the sort of person they are playing? Would a very intelligent person be able to act like a mentally challenged person better than someone with average intelligence? Or, perhaps acting ability and intelligence are only slightly (or not at all) related. I really don't know.
I really wish I knew more about how the brain works. What it is that makes person X great at math while person Y can compose amazing songs and person Z can write stories that move thousands? What causes minds to think differently? Is it genetics? How you were raised? The schooling and training you get? A combination of all of those?
Maybe someday I'll find out. I do know, however, that God did an amazing thing when He created the human brain. So, for now, I'll praise God for making such a variety of people with a variety of gifts and talents.
This is a concept that has often crossed my mind in a variety of different circumstances since I first read it here. "The higher the thing is, the lower it can descend." Satan certainly exemplifies this. He was the highest created being, until pride grabbed him, and now he is the most evil being in creation. Another example may be found in sex. It was created to be a beautiful and wonderful thing, but few things are more misused in our world today, and the outcome is much pain and suffering.
Most recently, with our play on my mind, I was thinking about this quote in relation to acting ability. Most actors are not actually doctors or scientists or accountants or whatever they are pretending to be, but they still must act like they are, and they must be believable. So, for someone to be a good actor (especially to play many different parts) do they need have an intelligence near (or above) that of the sort of person they are playing? Would a very intelligent person be able to act like a mentally challenged person better than someone with average intelligence? Or, perhaps acting ability and intelligence are only slightly (or not at all) related. I really don't know.
I really wish I knew more about how the brain works. What it is that makes person X great at math while person Y can compose amazing songs and person Z can write stories that move thousands? What causes minds to think differently? Is it genetics? How you were raised? The schooling and training you get? A combination of all of those?
Maybe someday I'll find out. I do know, however, that God did an amazing thing when He created the human brain. So, for now, I'll praise God for making such a variety of people with a variety of gifts and talents.
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