Thursday, September 17, 2009
Unmelted
Good news! My computer is unmelted! For those who don't know, a week before school started my computer melted in mid use. It was kind of scary because I was watching the news at the time and they were talking about a guy who died because his laptop exploded. lol, luckily there was no exploding, just melting. Dell sent it back with a new casing, heat sync, hard drive, web cam, operating system and a whack of other stuff that I don't even know what it is! it almost seems like it would have been cheaper for them to give me a new computer. None the less I'm back in action! plus I'm in school so I will have lots of new knowledge and experience to fill you guys in on! lucky you...
Monday, September 7, 2009
My Hedonistic Christianity
Hedonism
[heed-n-iz-uhm]
–noun
1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good.
2. devotion to pleasure as a way of life: The later Roman emperors were notorious for their hedonism.
When I think of hedonism, often the thought of some Caesarian, toga wearing king with an olive branch for a crown being fed grapes by semi-naked women. Which is not far off from the intention of the word, so I found it sort of odd as I ran this morning, reflecting on my mini-labourday-vacation that the term "Hedonistic Christianity" popped into my head.
I am not a stranger to hedonism, in the truest sense of the word. As a young man (well, youngER man) I would wake up, have an actors breakfast of coffee and cigarettes, and maybe some McDonalds, go to work, make crude jokes with the guys and laugh at inconsiquential things, then after work I would head to the bar or to a party, or go play a show and I would drink to my fill, often flirting with older women who might buy me a drink. I would get home at 3 in the morning, smoke another 3 cigarettes before going into the house and then fall asleep on my couch (I didn't do beds back then... I don't know why...) Then I would wake up in between 11 and 3 and do it all over again. Expensive? yes. Fun? yes. Satisfying? hmmm...
Sarah didn't have too much of a different youth than I did, in fact when we met part of the attraction was that we were both beautiful broken people.
Lately Sarah and I have become the couple who would rather watch Grey's Anatomy and go to bed at 11, a big change for us, but not nescesarilly a bad one. So when we were invited by some friends this weekend to go to a bar where there would be sexy dressed people, dancing and cigarettes, we were hesetant to agree, but something from our past started pulling us towards our old lifestyle. After much persistance we agreed to meet them at the bar later. Once we got home however we began talking about how, although we aren't opposed to going out once in a while, we didn't feel tonight was the night. We didn't want to be thrown into the same temptations of our old life, which although were fun, would ultimately leave us unsatisfied.
Needless to say our friends were disapointed by our no-show, and our phone call to let them no we weren't coming was met with more than a little animosity.
"I don't know why she's so mad..." Sarah said.
"She'll get over it." I said.
"I just wish she could realize that I've changed. I'm a little more conservative, but it's not that I'm a prude... My past speaks to that. I'm just... happier now."
That's probably where the seed for "Hedonistic Christianity" was first planted. If happyness is pleasurable, and being more conservative made us happy, then wouldn't the pursuit of that happiness be at it's basist level, a true act of hedonism? In which case the rejection of the pleasures most comonly associated with hedonism is actually the embrace of hedonism.
Romans 6:1-3
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
and it doesn't end there either! When you deny yourself to help others and you get a good feeling from that, that's also hedonism! In fact, I am most happy when full heartedly following the will of Christ! Which is a complete rejection of physical pleasure, and a complete rejection of self! An act of whole hearted love, which spreads like wild fire, and comes back to you. and when the love comes back to you that is another form of pure pleasure!
so I encourage you, reject the selfish hedonism of the past, embrace this new, selfless, wonderfull hedonsim. A hedonism that gives pleasure to all at it's most base and most complex forms. This wonderfull Christian Hedonism.
Matthew 25:40
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
[heed-n-iz-uhm]
–noun
1. the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good.
2. devotion to pleasure as a way of life: The later Roman emperors were notorious for their hedonism.
When I think of hedonism, often the thought of some Caesarian, toga wearing king with an olive branch for a crown being fed grapes by semi-naked women. Which is not far off from the intention of the word, so I found it sort of odd as I ran this morning, reflecting on my mini-labourday-vacation that the term "Hedonistic Christianity" popped into my head.
I am not a stranger to hedonism, in the truest sense of the word. As a young man (well, youngER man) I would wake up, have an actors breakfast of coffee and cigarettes, and maybe some McDonalds, go to work, make crude jokes with the guys and laugh at inconsiquential things, then after work I would head to the bar or to a party, or go play a show and I would drink to my fill, often flirting with older women who might buy me a drink. I would get home at 3 in the morning, smoke another 3 cigarettes before going into the house and then fall asleep on my couch (I didn't do beds back then... I don't know why...) Then I would wake up in between 11 and 3 and do it all over again. Expensive? yes. Fun? yes. Satisfying? hmmm...
Sarah didn't have too much of a different youth than I did, in fact when we met part of the attraction was that we were both beautiful broken people.
Lately Sarah and I have become the couple who would rather watch Grey's Anatomy and go to bed at 11, a big change for us, but not nescesarilly a bad one. So when we were invited by some friends this weekend to go to a bar where there would be sexy dressed people, dancing and cigarettes, we were hesetant to agree, but something from our past started pulling us towards our old lifestyle. After much persistance we agreed to meet them at the bar later. Once we got home however we began talking about how, although we aren't opposed to going out once in a while, we didn't feel tonight was the night. We didn't want to be thrown into the same temptations of our old life, which although were fun, would ultimately leave us unsatisfied.
Needless to say our friends were disapointed by our no-show, and our phone call to let them no we weren't coming was met with more than a little animosity.
"I don't know why she's so mad..." Sarah said.
"She'll get over it." I said.
"I just wish she could realize that I've changed. I'm a little more conservative, but it's not that I'm a prude... My past speaks to that. I'm just... happier now."
That's probably where the seed for "Hedonistic Christianity" was first planted. If happyness is pleasurable, and being more conservative made us happy, then wouldn't the pursuit of that happiness be at it's basist level, a true act of hedonism? In which case the rejection of the pleasures most comonly associated with hedonism is actually the embrace of hedonism.
Romans 6:1-3
1What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?
and it doesn't end there either! When you deny yourself to help others and you get a good feeling from that, that's also hedonism! In fact, I am most happy when full heartedly following the will of Christ! Which is a complete rejection of physical pleasure, and a complete rejection of self! An act of whole hearted love, which spreads like wild fire, and comes back to you. and when the love comes back to you that is another form of pure pleasure!
so I encourage you, reject the selfish hedonism of the past, embrace this new, selfless, wonderfull hedonsim. A hedonism that gives pleasure to all at it's most base and most complex forms. This wonderfull Christian Hedonism.
Matthew 25:40
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Like the Wind
You are weird God.
Duck billed platapus? Lemmings? Even sheep are pretty weird looking, we're just more used to them.
But weirdest of all is this pink, flabby, lanky ball of flesh that for some reason you love. This odd thing that for some reason is alowed each day to keep breathing.
How did you design me? How did you know exactly which pieces to put where? How did you know how to make my brain the way it is? That it would respond to this stimulae and that? trigger this thought, then that one?
You are so weird...
Psalm 8:4
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
I hate excercise, I love to sit and be lazy. Under my own strength, with my own will, I could run 50 feet...maybe.
How is it then, that when I think about you, about your word, and praise your name that the kilometers melt away? And no pain resides in my body, and my body disapears and I feel only a reflection of your spirit?
How is it that when I focus on your word, your promises, your greatness, you can take this pink, flabby, gangly thing and turn it into wind?
Early in the morning, when the moon and the sun still fight for a place in the sky, how can you transfrom me?
And so your praises flow from my mouth, albeit dry, parched, breathless, non-existent.
Exodus 4:11
"Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ?"
When my mind is focused upon your glory, my body transends itself, it breaks it's bonds of lazyness and becomes a slave to my mind, which is bond servant to Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
So praise be to God, the God of transformation, who can take this weak flesh and make it strong, who can take this weak will and make it his,
who can take this
pink.
flabby.
gangly.
thing.
and make it
Like the Wind
Duck billed platapus? Lemmings? Even sheep are pretty weird looking, we're just more used to them.
But weirdest of all is this pink, flabby, lanky ball of flesh that for some reason you love. This odd thing that for some reason is alowed each day to keep breathing.
How did you design me? How did you know exactly which pieces to put where? How did you know how to make my brain the way it is? That it would respond to this stimulae and that? trigger this thought, then that one?
You are so weird...
Psalm 8:4
what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
I hate excercise, I love to sit and be lazy. Under my own strength, with my own will, I could run 50 feet...maybe.
How is it then, that when I think about you, about your word, and praise your name that the kilometers melt away? And no pain resides in my body, and my body disapears and I feel only a reflection of your spirit?
How is it that when I focus on your word, your promises, your greatness, you can take this pink, flabby, gangly thing and turn it into wind?
Early in the morning, when the moon and the sun still fight for a place in the sky, how can you transfrom me?
And so your praises flow from my mouth, albeit dry, parched, breathless, non-existent.
Exodus 4:11
"Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ?"
When my mind is focused upon your glory, my body transends itself, it breaks it's bonds of lazyness and becomes a slave to my mind, which is bond servant to Christ.
1 Corinthians 9:27
No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.
So praise be to God, the God of transformation, who can take this weak flesh and make it strong, who can take this weak will and make it his,
who can take this
pink.
flabby.
gangly.
thing.
and make it
Like the Wind
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Job follow-up
Upon re-evaluation of the text in the book of Job, I have come to realize that the purpose of the book is to define the majesty of God. Whereas the image of a sinless and suffering Job is something we flock to as Christians it is in fact just a means of displaying the true glory of the saviour/friend we find in God. Truth is Job didn't deserve what happened to him, but it's what he did with his frustration that put him in the wrong. Not that God isn't big enough or understanding enough to hear our frustrations with him, he is. Look at the Psalms or the prophets, or even the Septuagint and see that God is bigger than our complaints against him. However we need to big enough to take God's response, or lack there of, or seeming lack there of, whatever the circumstances. Know that you are never alone, though sometimes it feels like it. The spirit never leaves you, but makes itself scarce for a time to test your character. Do you pass the test? luckily, I have found in my experience there is always a makeup exam. Job isn't about how much it sucks to be Job, or about how if we are faithful in times of trial God will reward us. It's about how God is so much bigger than anything we're going through. I wish I caught that earlier.
Job 38:12-15
12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.
Job 38:12-15
12 "Have you ever given orders to the morning,
or shown the dawn its place,
13 that it might take the earth by the edges
and shake the wicked out of it?
14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal;
its features stand out like those of a garment.
15 The wicked are denied their light,
and their upraised arm is broken.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
WTF Job?
I recently read Job, and until I really got into it I was pretty sure I had read it before. As it turns out I had only read probably the first five chapters. Now, I have heard several sermons on Job throughout my life, and what I found disappointing while reading it is that I'm pretty sure all of the speakers I've heard preach on the subject have also only read the first 5 chapters. It's been a lot about "life can be hard, but look at poor Job, endure and be blessed." However what I've never heard anyone speak on is the bulk of the book. From about chapter 6 to chapter 38 it goes back and forth between Job talking about how much of a dick he thinks God is, to his friends accusing him of every sin under the sun. Eventually God shows up and sets everyone straight, but where is the sinless Job from all the sermons I've heard? I find as Christians we're so ingrained in a mixture of tradition, common understanding and a sort of false theology bread from ignorance that we often close ourselves off from truth. Everything needs to be candy coated. But I pose this to you: If something is different than you thought it was, but true in your new understanding of it, and it doesn't negate the majesty of Christ, or God the father, then how can it be dangerous?
A friend of mine was teaching Adult Sunday School classes at his church, and happened to point out that the Hebrew word for Angel is the same as the word for Messenger. So occasionally, when the Bible says Angel, it could mean messenger. As he pointed this out one of the students became quite angry with him, and shouted "that makes no sense!" This fact however, gives us a better understanding of the text, it neither negates or degrades the verity of the messenger's words. It is still a message from God to his people.
2 Timothy 3:16 says
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"
so why as Christians are we so afraid of scripture? If by reading and examining the scriptures will we unweave the fabric of God? On the contrary the in depth study of scripture can only affirm the true nature of God in his righteousness.
Job 38:1-3
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
Job 42:1-6
1 Then Job replied to the LORD :
2 "I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."
A friend of mine was teaching Adult Sunday School classes at his church, and happened to point out that the Hebrew word for Angel is the same as the word for Messenger. So occasionally, when the Bible says Angel, it could mean messenger. As he pointed this out one of the students became quite angry with him, and shouted "that makes no sense!" This fact however, gives us a better understanding of the text, it neither negates or degrades the verity of the messenger's words. It is still a message from God to his people.
2 Timothy 3:16 says
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,"
so why as Christians are we so afraid of scripture? If by reading and examining the scriptures will we unweave the fabric of God? On the contrary the in depth study of scripture can only affirm the true nature of God in his righteousness.
Job 38:1-3
1 Then the LORD answered Job out of the storm. He said:
2 "Who is this that darkens my counsel
with words without knowledge?
3 Brace yourself like a man;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.
Job 42:1-6
1 Then Job replied to the LORD :
2 "I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.
4 "You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you,
and you shall answer me.'
5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.
6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes."
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
a follow up to weird dreams
Okay, I'm not so sure if this coincides with my dream or not, BUT it is eerily coincidental.
So today at work I'm standing there, greeting people at the door, when this guy and his girlfriend walk in. I greet them, then stop for a second and say "Jon?" It was a friend of mine from way back in high school, I barely recognized him (you will recall in my last post that I thought I recognized the guy and the girl but it turns out I didn't) Jon attends a church I used to attend called TACF, a church that I now (or at least when I left) fundamentally disagree with their worship and leadership structure. When I asked Jon what he was doing he told me he was the youth pastor at one of the TACF church plants in Brampton (you will recall from my last post that when I asked the unfamiliar guy and girl what they were doing they laughed and said "planting a church")
any way, that was about the extent of the conversation with him. I told him about Tyndale and how I got married and that was about it. I don't think the dream was about them... I don't think I do anyway... Just something to think about.
So today at work I'm standing there, greeting people at the door, when this guy and his girlfriend walk in. I greet them, then stop for a second and say "Jon?" It was a friend of mine from way back in high school, I barely recognized him (you will recall in my last post that I thought I recognized the guy and the girl but it turns out I didn't) Jon attends a church I used to attend called TACF, a church that I now (or at least when I left) fundamentally disagree with their worship and leadership structure. When I asked Jon what he was doing he told me he was the youth pastor at one of the TACF church plants in Brampton (you will recall from my last post that when I asked the unfamiliar guy and girl what they were doing they laughed and said "planting a church")
any way, that was about the extent of the conversation with him. I told him about Tyndale and how I got married and that was about it. I don't think the dream was about them... I don't think I do anyway... Just something to think about.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
honesty and weird dreams.
I've been having a rough time of things lately. But I started this blog to be honest, and there's no point being honest about the good stuff if I'm not honest about the bad. I've been having a hard time with my thoughts lately, namely keeping them Christlike. I find I'm getting more and more frustrated with myself because my thoughts keep going back to sinful things. I don't meditate on them, but it's frustrating to have them go there. Manly gossip or slander, occasionally lust. The most frustrating part is I know how to over come all of this and I'm too stubborn to go there. I never had these problems when I did a daily morning devotional and prayer time. I stopped asking God to guide my footsteps and it seems he has. I feel too busy. Not that I am, I have time to watch TV in the morning, I have time to Blog. I have time to pray I just don't take it. Two verses I need to live:
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Two Verses I Need to Trust:
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Philippians 1:3-6
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I had a weird dream last night. I have these every once in a while, scary, nightmarish, almost prophetic dreams that leave me rattled. Whenever I wake up from them I feel like I've been release from a paralysis.
In the dream I ran into Carlos Whittaker who writes a Blog called Ragamuffin Soul. He needed to use my cell phone and he needed a ride, so I let him drive my car. We were driving by Lake Ontario (that might sound weird but I live right by there so it's familiar territory to me) and some one called my name. I told Carlos to stop the car, and there was this guy there trying to pee on the car. He wasn't the one who called my name. I told Carlos to move the car over more towards a girl and a guy who were digging in some sand. They were the ones who called me. He moved the car, and the guy followed us to pee on the car. When question on if he needed to pee on the car he said "yup." I ignored him and walked towards the diggers. I thought I recognized the girl, but as I got closer I realized I didn't. They also stopped speaking in human voices and now sounded like demons. They kept digging a hole, putting a seed in, filling the hole with sand again, then patting it down, then in the same spot would do the whole thing over. When I asked them what they were doing they laughed (still in demon voices) and said "We're planting a church." then I woke up. I have no idea what it means. I am open to interpretations if anyone has one. Interpreting dreams is not my gift, but discernment is, so if you think you have an interpretation, I will be able to discern whether it is from God or not. anyways, that's it.
Quid Pro Quo: You pray for me, I'll pray for you.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Joshua 1:8
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.
Two Verses I Need to Trust:
2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
Philippians 1:3-6
3I thank my God every time I remember you. 4In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
I had a weird dream last night. I have these every once in a while, scary, nightmarish, almost prophetic dreams that leave me rattled. Whenever I wake up from them I feel like I've been release from a paralysis.
In the dream I ran into Carlos Whittaker who writes a Blog called Ragamuffin Soul. He needed to use my cell phone and he needed a ride, so I let him drive my car. We were driving by Lake Ontario (that might sound weird but I live right by there so it's familiar territory to me) and some one called my name. I told Carlos to stop the car, and there was this guy there trying to pee on the car. He wasn't the one who called my name. I told Carlos to move the car over more towards a girl and a guy who were digging in some sand. They were the ones who called me. He moved the car, and the guy followed us to pee on the car. When question on if he needed to pee on the car he said "yup." I ignored him and walked towards the diggers. I thought I recognized the girl, but as I got closer I realized I didn't. They also stopped speaking in human voices and now sounded like demons. They kept digging a hole, putting a seed in, filling the hole with sand again, then patting it down, then in the same spot would do the whole thing over. When I asked them what they were doing they laughed (still in demon voices) and said "We're planting a church." then I woke up. I have no idea what it means. I am open to interpretations if anyone has one. Interpreting dreams is not my gift, but discernment is, so if you think you have an interpretation, I will be able to discern whether it is from God or not. anyways, that's it.
Quid Pro Quo: You pray for me, I'll pray for you.
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