I haven't written on this blog in over a year and a half. is that telling of my life at all? probably. Mostly I just haven't given myself the time (the right kind of time) to sit and blog. so I figured why not today? I've been home for almost three days sick with some sort of cold, and I have completely exhausted all episodes of any show that I would be remotely interested in on Hulu. So what am I supposed to do now? Well, feeling slightly better, I am now at Starbucks. I'm supposed to be studying, but after finishing typing up an 8 page study guide, I felt that I needed an intellectual break. So I cruised Facebook for a while, catching up on the goings-ons of my friends and family. As fun as it is, it's also pretty sad. A lot of people that i was close with back in the day are no longer who they used to be. That's typical, I guess, but the type of people that they've become are not "better versions of their earlier selves", so to speak. Again, neither am I necessarily, but I feel like I'm trying. Some seem to have given up, given in, or burnt out. Bummer, right?
Good thing no one really reads this...because I don't have anything important to say today. Seriously, I just wanted to type something other than "theanthropic" and "hypostatic" and ... shoot, I'm writing those words again. Stop it hands...just stop it. Alright, I'm done. Blogging is hard when you don't have anything to say...
j
Friday, October 15, 2010
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Good Books
I just finished my newest book series "the Word and the Void", and I am now feeling a certain sense of loss. This particular series ended so beautifully, that I think it will be hard to find a book that will match it any time soon. This blog is a sort of "synthesize my thoughts" on the series.
The first thing I liked about this series was that it took place in modern day America. Terry Brooks is a fantasy author. The blending of the two worlds really worked in this series. The first really impactful aspect of these books was the presence of "demons" in the midst of normal, every day life. The demons would try to bend people to their will, manipulating and deceiving and even controlling them. I was struck by that fact that this really is real life. We are continually influenced by outside sources, most of which are trying to sway us to give in or give up. I was reminded of the Rob Bell video on "tomatoes" (I think). There is a guy in the video that hangs out with all the other people, encouraging them to get mad, get even, or give in. This is a very good visual of the demons in our midst. We cannot forget that.
The books also had the very distinct feel of "good vs. evil", always a plus in novels. One of the main characters, John Ross, is commissioned by the Word (the good side) to fight against the Void (the bad side). He is given special skills (magic) and special insight. From there, he has to go out and fight against all the demons in the world. In book two, he decides to give up his life of commitment to the Word and tries to have a normal life. It ends disastrously, with his true love turning out to be a demon in disguise. He is encouraged and saved by his friend Nest, who is a powerful ally for the Word. In the end, John Ross gives his life for the fight. The ending was so powerful because I had just been taken on a three book struggle to find purpose and to influence the world for good or evil. The characters were so conflicted at times, but they would always end up choosing to stand for what they new was needed and right. They were asked to give their whole lives, to risk it all, for the cause. I am reminded of Bonhoffer's book "the Cost of Discipleship", and how he says that we are asked to "come and die" by Christ. John Ross' life was not his own. He could not have a normal life, normal friends, or even normal relationships. He was one hundred percent sold out to the service of the Word. I may not be asked to give up my life, but I am asked to be sold out for the cause.
It is not our own strength that makes us strong. It is not our own conviction that causes us to act as we should. It is the power of Christ in us that will convict, guide and strenghten us. But that does not mean that we need to shy away from the battle. We are called to go into all the world. We cannot deny that call, or else we risk denying our God. Thank the Lord that we are not called to act on our own strength, for the strenght of men is weakness in God's eyes. I have to end with this, my favorite quote from Lord of the Rings:
Gandalf: "It is in the world of men that we must now trust."
Elrond: "Men? Men are weak"
So true. But God is strong.
j
The first thing I liked about this series was that it took place in modern day America. Terry Brooks is a fantasy author. The blending of the two worlds really worked in this series. The first really impactful aspect of these books was the presence of "demons" in the midst of normal, every day life. The demons would try to bend people to their will, manipulating and deceiving and even controlling them. I was struck by that fact that this really is real life. We are continually influenced by outside sources, most of which are trying to sway us to give in or give up. I was reminded of the Rob Bell video on "tomatoes" (I think). There is a guy in the video that hangs out with all the other people, encouraging them to get mad, get even, or give in. This is a very good visual of the demons in our midst. We cannot forget that.
The books also had the very distinct feel of "good vs. evil", always a plus in novels. One of the main characters, John Ross, is commissioned by the Word (the good side) to fight against the Void (the bad side). He is given special skills (magic) and special insight. From there, he has to go out and fight against all the demons in the world. In book two, he decides to give up his life of commitment to the Word and tries to have a normal life. It ends disastrously, with his true love turning out to be a demon in disguise. He is encouraged and saved by his friend Nest, who is a powerful ally for the Word. In the end, John Ross gives his life for the fight. The ending was so powerful because I had just been taken on a three book struggle to find purpose and to influence the world for good or evil. The characters were so conflicted at times, but they would always end up choosing to stand for what they new was needed and right. They were asked to give their whole lives, to risk it all, for the cause. I am reminded of Bonhoffer's book "the Cost of Discipleship", and how he says that we are asked to "come and die" by Christ. John Ross' life was not his own. He could not have a normal life, normal friends, or even normal relationships. He was one hundred percent sold out to the service of the Word. I may not be asked to give up my life, but I am asked to be sold out for the cause.
It is not our own strength that makes us strong. It is not our own conviction that causes us to act as we should. It is the power of Christ in us that will convict, guide and strenghten us. But that does not mean that we need to shy away from the battle. We are called to go into all the world. We cannot deny that call, or else we risk denying our God. Thank the Lord that we are not called to act on our own strength, for the strenght of men is weakness in God's eyes. I have to end with this, my favorite quote from Lord of the Rings:
Gandalf: "It is in the world of men that we must now trust."
Elrond: "Men? Men are weak"
So true. But God is strong.
j
Monday, February 16, 2009
First blog...maybe the last
It's been raining here quite a bit the past few weeks, and I love it. It reminds me of being up north, like in Seattle or on the Oregon Coast. The smell of fresh rain and wet earth, a cup of coffee in your hand, a melancholy song that makes you think about life...that's what I like about rain. Lately I've been listening to my brother-in-law Alex's cd. It's fantastic, and keeps the melancholy mood going (is that good or bad?...not sure).
Deep breath.
Sigh.
It's those deep breaths and sighs that help me slow down for a second and take stock of my life. I probably do it way too much, so much that I forget to get work done, but that's alright. Work will get done. My work, though it is always important, will fade soon enough. No point stressing about that. Kids will still hear God's Word, programs will still run, and people will still forget to come to church because it's raining outside.
Deep breath.
Sigh.
I wish I could just sit here in the Talbot lounge all day. Only, I wish it was a Starbucks, and I wish I had a coffee, and I wish I didn't have to go to class in 10 minutes. But I think part of what makes us successful is remembering that we can't sit all day and "reflect". That's what philosophers do, and some (actually most) of them are crazy. But it's good to take a little time to take stock of life. My conclusion about my life? Well, it's pretty darn good. I have a loving wife, a fantastic job, a great family, a roof over my head, and my health. Now if i could just get some friends, I'd be set. But that's another blog for another rainy, melancholy day.
Deep breath.
Sigh.
j
Deep breath.
Sigh.
It's those deep breaths and sighs that help me slow down for a second and take stock of my life. I probably do it way too much, so much that I forget to get work done, but that's alright. Work will get done. My work, though it is always important, will fade soon enough. No point stressing about that. Kids will still hear God's Word, programs will still run, and people will still forget to come to church because it's raining outside.
Deep breath.
Sigh.
I wish I could just sit here in the Talbot lounge all day. Only, I wish it was a Starbucks, and I wish I had a coffee, and I wish I didn't have to go to class in 10 minutes. But I think part of what makes us successful is remembering that we can't sit all day and "reflect". That's what philosophers do, and some (actually most) of them are crazy. But it's good to take a little time to take stock of life. My conclusion about my life? Well, it's pretty darn good. I have a loving wife, a fantastic job, a great family, a roof over my head, and my health. Now if i could just get some friends, I'd be set. But that's another blog for another rainy, melancholy day.
Deep breath.
Sigh.
j
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