I've been struggling lately with my brain. You see, I was raised with a lot of head knowledge about God and the Bible. I was on the Bible Quiz team and had to memorize a stack of 500 questions and answers related to Bible verses and facts (yes, I had to memorize the questions AND the answers. You could buzz in on the beginning of the question, finish it and then answer it to get points... if you were that good.) I was in church every Sunday and every Wednesday and we listened to tapes of preachers in the car and at home throughout the week and went to their meetings when they came to town. My parents referenced the Bible often and I remember my Mom and Dad both, after quoting a verse that applied to a certain situation or topic almost always pulling out a Bible and reading the text and the verses around it, just to make sure they were remembering right and to give it some context.
Because of all this knowledge and my always-contemplating, critically-thinking mind, I love debate. I love it just for the sake of it and I love winning. I'll debate almost anything I know enough about and I'll even question someone about a topic they like even if I don't really have a firm grasp of it. I exchanged over 30 full pages of emails with a college friend of mine over Christmas break one year debating the topic of my faith. I like posers. I like games that make you think. I'm wired to find mistakes in others' writings, sermons, etc. and it gives me a little thrill when I do. (see post; The Muffin Police)
I was raised to have a relationship with God too, not just know things about Him. I asked Jesus to come into my heart when I was two. I rededicated my life to God and remember speaking in tongues for the first time when I was about 7. I was eager to get baptized, but the pastor said I couldn't explain it to him well enough and would have to wait. I was baptized at, like, 8. I participated in youth group. I was a stellar child (this is according to my parents). I witnessed to my friends.
I never rebelled as a teen. I went to a party college, but never partied. I got involved in a local church and was part of their dance ministry as well as a campus ministry. All my friends in college knew where I stood and Who I stood with. I didn't date or kiss anyone throughout college. (There was one guy who tricked me and stole a kiss. Yes, you can actually steal a kiss.) I married the first guy I dated and we're still happily married.
This is all just to give you the backdrop of my life as you read the rest of my thoughts and struggles as of late.
Here are the Biblical references that frame my struggles.
1 Peter 3:15 - Always be ready to give a logical defense to anyone who asks you to account for the hope that is in you
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 - 1 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
2 And if I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And if I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profiteth me nothing.
Romans 13 :10-13 - 10 Love does no wrong to others, so love fulfills the requirements of God’s law. 11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is almost gone; the day of salvation will soon be here. So remove your dark deeds like dirty clothes, and put on the shining armor of right living. 13 Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see.
Ephesians 5:16-17 - 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
More to come...
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
Jonas Brothers
I know I've been delinquent with Favorite Friday's. I'll make it one of my New Year's resolutions to be better about posting them.
During the New Year's Rockin' Eve party, the Jonas Brothers performed. I've heard them on the radio and was vaguely aware that I like pretty much every song I've heard from them. I know they're trying to portray good values as well, which is nice to see in young men. Publicity stunt or not, I'm glad someone's going against the flow.
This video has caused my interest in them to continue to grow. The story line is so sweet and the tune is catchy. The lyrics aren't Shakespeare, but sometimes simple works.
I'm not the right age to go ga-ga for them, but I can enjoy thier music anyway right?
Sorry about the Office Max sponsorship bar...
During the New Year's Rockin' Eve party, the Jonas Brothers performed. I've heard them on the radio and was vaguely aware that I like pretty much every song I've heard from them. I know they're trying to portray good values as well, which is nice to see in young men. Publicity stunt or not, I'm glad someone's going against the flow.
This video has caused my interest in them to continue to grow. The story line is so sweet and the tune is catchy. The lyrics aren't Shakespeare, but sometimes simple works.
I'm not the right age to go ga-ga for them, but I can enjoy thier music anyway right?
Sorry about the Office Max sponsorship bar...
Jesus Christ Superstar
The Jesus Christ Show.
Oh yes, you can listen to Jesus speak directly to listeners by tuning into your radio the same time each week. Call in with your greatest need, your unanswered questions, your worries... and hear your answer directly from the Man/God Himself.
Sound crazy? Sound interesting?
I was offended the first time I saw the title and didn't even bother to click on the link to see the interview about it. I assumed it would be completely irreverent. I saw the same link again today and decided to give it a moment of my time. This guy, Neil Saavedra, a born-again Christian since age 17, has begun to host a radio show where he plays Jesus and answers callers questions by referencing Jesus' words in the Bible.
I have VERY mixed feelings about this, but mostly negative ones (and I'll warn you that I haven't organized them, so this post may be long and scattered). When callers address Mr. Saavedra, they call him "Lord" or "Jesus." This makes sense since that's his character for the duration of the show, but I would NEVER want anyone to address me with the name of God in any serious manner.
Then I thought, what about acting the part of Jesus for a film? Is that something I wouldn't do? Mr. Saavedra calls his show a type of interactive theatre. He is completely upfront about the fact that he is not God and he knows it. He only inhabits the character for the show. It still disturbs me. In a movie or play, one is speaking lines and portraying a character, not directly answering real people's real questions, some of which have haunted them for years.
The danger is that instead of people talking to Jesus, they will call in and talk to Neil because that is a more "real" experience for them. They're talking with flesh and blood and they can get some kind of immediate answer to something they really want to know. Yes, he's referencing the Bible and yes, he says outside of the show that all his answers are obviously based on his point of view and express only his opinion, but I'm seeing shades of the Catholicism he was raised in.
Strict Catholics go to a priest instead of straight to God and, as far as I know are generally not encouraged to study the Word for themselves. When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn. We have DIRECT access to the throne; access to God's very Word, those words full of life that can separate bone from marrow, soul from spirit. Then I thought about pastors, mentors, therapists, people that Christians go to and ask questions or discuss their lives. Those people might reference scripture, give their opinions to answer questions, even say "Here's what Jesus had to say about this." Isn't this man just another form of mentor for people that call in?
So is this radio show (on a popular secular station) a God-inspired new way to reach the masses that might not otherwise seek Christian counsel for the questions in their lives and don't know how to start to find answers in the Word? I don't know. I don't know his heart and I'm not judging him as a person. (And by the by, the fact that he has struggled with rebellion and is admittedly not living by all of Jesus' teachings himself doesn't help me like the program more, but ultimately that doesn't play into this at all because nobody's perfect.) All I can say is that it seems dangerous to play a role that Jesus should be playing in people's lives. It could cause people to depend on a man that knows a lot about what Jesus said instead of the omniscient One who died for us and actually spoke the Word and can still speak directly to hearts.
I've got many more thoughts on the matter and it would make for excellent discussion, but I'll stop writing and let you read an article about it for yourself.
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16741/what-would-jesus-say-radio-host-takes-on-godly-persona-gives-life-advice
Oh yes, you can listen to Jesus speak directly to listeners by tuning into your radio the same time each week. Call in with your greatest need, your unanswered questions, your worries... and hear your answer directly from the Man/God Himself.
Sound crazy? Sound interesting?
I was offended the first time I saw the title and didn't even bother to click on the link to see the interview about it. I assumed it would be completely irreverent. I saw the same link again today and decided to give it a moment of my time. This guy, Neil Saavedra, a born-again Christian since age 17, has begun to host a radio show where he plays Jesus and answers callers questions by referencing Jesus' words in the Bible.
I have VERY mixed feelings about this, but mostly negative ones (and I'll warn you that I haven't organized them, so this post may be long and scattered). When callers address Mr. Saavedra, they call him "Lord" or "Jesus." This makes sense since that's his character for the duration of the show, but I would NEVER want anyone to address me with the name of God in any serious manner.
Then I thought, what about acting the part of Jesus for a film? Is that something I wouldn't do? Mr. Saavedra calls his show a type of interactive theatre. He is completely upfront about the fact that he is not God and he knows it. He only inhabits the character for the show. It still disturbs me. In a movie or play, one is speaking lines and portraying a character, not directly answering real people's real questions, some of which have haunted them for years.
The danger is that instead of people talking to Jesus, they will call in and talk to Neil because that is a more "real" experience for them. They're talking with flesh and blood and they can get some kind of immediate answer to something they really want to know. Yes, he's referencing the Bible and yes, he says outside of the show that all his answers are obviously based on his point of view and express only his opinion, but I'm seeing shades of the Catholicism he was raised in.
Strict Catholics go to a priest instead of straight to God and, as far as I know are generally not encouraged to study the Word for themselves. When Jesus died, the curtain in the temple was torn. We have DIRECT access to the throne; access to God's very Word, those words full of life that can separate bone from marrow, soul from spirit. Then I thought about pastors, mentors, therapists, people that Christians go to and ask questions or discuss their lives. Those people might reference scripture, give their opinions to answer questions, even say "Here's what Jesus had to say about this." Isn't this man just another form of mentor for people that call in?
So is this radio show (on a popular secular station) a God-inspired new way to reach the masses that might not otherwise seek Christian counsel for the questions in their lives and don't know how to start to find answers in the Word? I don't know. I don't know his heart and I'm not judging him as a person. (And by the by, the fact that he has struggled with rebellion and is admittedly not living by all of Jesus' teachings himself doesn't help me like the program more, but ultimately that doesn't play into this at all because nobody's perfect.) All I can say is that it seems dangerous to play a role that Jesus should be playing in people's lives. It could cause people to depend on a man that knows a lot about what Jesus said instead of the omniscient One who died for us and actually spoke the Word and can still speak directly to hearts.
I've got many more thoughts on the matter and it would make for excellent discussion, but I'll stop writing and let you read an article about it for yourself.
http://www.religionnewsblog.com/16741/what-would-jesus-say-radio-host-takes-on-godly-persona-gives-life-advice
Thursday, January 01, 2009
Let Them Eat Cake
We celebrated Eden's first birthday
again last night by taking her to Macaroni Grill and getting
her a huge bowl of shells and cheese
and a cup of apple juice.
She ate a good portion of it before she decided she'd had enough and she drank about 3/4 of the juice (more than she's ever had in one sitting). I wanted them to do a birthday song so I could get her surprised expression on video when the staff came out clapping and singing to the table.
Macaroni Grill is boring.
Four of the wait staff gathered at our table and slowly and gently sang "Happy Birthday" in Italian. It's Chuck's fault. He picked the restaurant. If we had gone to Applebee's or Chili's, they would have done some peppy, cheesy number and it would have been funnier. The good part was the dessert they brought. They set this HUGE brownie, fudgey, cakey thing in front of her with two lit candles. It was yuuuuuummy. Daddy was able to blow out the candles just as a pudgy baby finger was about to make contact with the flames and then baby chowed down on chocolate icing and whipped cream while we ate a few bites of the scrumptious cake.We celebrated yet again one last time tonight. I had made lemon cupcakes yesterday for her to have when we got home from the restaurant, but the chocolate dessert we had there was plenty of sugar for one evening. We had our own little moment with one little cupcake and our own "Happy Birthday" song. She tackled the icing again. We pulled what was left of the treat away as soon as we turned the video camera off. Are we mean? I hope not. I just want her (and us) to sleep tonight.
I keep thinking that even though I didn't really want a party and kept saying that she has no idea what a first birthday is anyway, that I'll regret something about her experience. We're planning on doing this all one more time, but that's the only first birthday our first baby girl will ever have.I could really get in some deep doo-doo thinking that way.
Talk about pressure.
I can't create what I think is the perfect experience for her all the time, not even some of the time. It doesn't really matter either, as long as she's getting the love she needs and we're all together as a family.
And there's some cake. :)
Attention: Ornament Manufacturers...
My husband pointed out a Christmas ornament to me today at the mall. It was a little man in a white coat with a stethescope and clipboard. He said it wouldn't be an appropriate ornament to represent him. I asked why that guy couldn't represent a radiologist and his answer would make a very unappealing ornament. He said radiologists are fat from sitting around all day and have big eyes (like marsupials) from sitting in the dark looking at films. Um... ick.
Hopefully he'll break the mold.
Hopefully he'll break the mold.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Talent
My daughter is an undiscovered voice-over talent. She could be a hawk for a nature program, a baby pig fighting for milk, screeching tires on a car in an action film, or the best screamer any horror movie could ever hope for. You get the picture, er... sound. You might be thinking "Not that sweet little doll baby with the big pink cheeks!" Oh yes, the kind of sounds I imagined when I thought about the "weeping and gnashing of teeth" as described in Matthew do emanate from my angel baby.
On a sweeter note. She learned the sign for "milk" today. She had learned the sign for "drink" before. We mistakenly used it as the sign for "milk." But it turns out to be convenient to assign a different gesture to cow's milk, which she had for the first time today, to differentiate it from formula. I showed her the udder-squeezing motion once and gave her the sippy cup. She drank some and then made the sign herself. My very own baby Einstein... or baby hawk, depending on her mood.
On a sweeter note. She learned the sign for "milk" today. She had learned the sign for "drink" before. We mistakenly used it as the sign for "milk." But it turns out to be convenient to assign a different gesture to cow's milk, which she had for the first time today, to differentiate it from formula. I showed her the udder-squeezing motion once and gave her the sippy cup. She drank some and then made the sign herself. My very own baby Einstein... or baby hawk, depending on her mood.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Bragging
I'll do a Christmas-wrap-up post, but I have to brag a minute on my one-year-old. Yep, she's one today and learning by leaps and bounds. No, she's not walking, but she's concetrating on other important stuff like communicating. I have no idea how this compares with other signing one-year-olds, but I'm pretty impressed with her sign arsenal.
She's known for a while: eat, more, all done, milk. Then she learned how to say: dog, please, thank you and hat. Most recently: baby, night-night, phone, cheese, and excuse me. Just yesterday, I was feeding her turkey and she signed "more cheese eat." Her first signed simple sentence! I am so impressed.
As far as verbal expression, she's pretty happy with all her made-up babblings. She is, as of yesterday, saying "uh oh" when she drops something. She's working on associating "Dada" with the man himself and she actually tried to say "Papa" this morning when I showed her a picture of him (after I said it, of course). I think we may be started on the fast track to learning more words. We'll soon find out.
Happy 1st Birthday Eden, my Dede, my baby. You're such a pretty, smart, happy little girl and Daddy and I are so proud of you and so happy you are ours. We love you so much and can hardly believe we have a one-year-old daughter. Keep up the good work! Jesus loves you!
She's known for a while: eat, more, all done, milk. Then she learned how to say: dog, please, thank you and hat. Most recently: baby, night-night, phone, cheese, and excuse me. Just yesterday, I was feeding her turkey and she signed "more cheese eat." Her first signed simple sentence! I am so impressed.
As far as verbal expression, she's pretty happy with all her made-up babblings. She is, as of yesterday, saying "uh oh" when she drops something. She's working on associating "Dada" with the man himself and she actually tried to say "Papa" this morning when I showed her a picture of him (after I said it, of course). I think we may be started on the fast track to learning more words. We'll soon find out.
Happy 1st Birthday Eden, my Dede, my baby. You're such a pretty, smart, happy little girl and Daddy and I are so proud of you and so happy you are ours. We love you so much and can hardly believe we have a one-year-old daughter. Keep up the good work! Jesus loves you!
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