*** Warning! Contains Spoilers!***
You've been warned.
Ok, so yesterday I posted my review for Captain America: The Winter Solider. Well worth reading. Today, I'm going more for the message of Captain America.
Cap learns in the beginning of the movie that Nick Fury, Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., commissioned three new helicarriers. Only these three were linked to satellites. These satellites took up information on everyone on the planet, things like spending records and who they talked to. They tracked google searches, text messages, and GPS locations. In doing so, they were able to compile information on everyone, like who they voted for, or whether or not they would lead people.
Kinda sound familiar, doesn't it? Not so fictitious, is it?
Then you have this conversation.
Fury- "We're going to start a lot of threats before they even happen."
Cap- "I thought the punishment usually came after the crime."
Cap ends up having to go on the run, hunted be the government, because he wouldn't help them propagate this kind of behavior. They declare him an enemy, and everyone is hunting him with the intent to kill.
I bet the IRS audited him for being a patriot too.
As it turns out, many of the leaders where secret working for Hydra, who was seeking to bring order to the world. People, they decided, couldn't be trusted with freedom. So they decided to push the world to chaos so that they could create order. They did things like ruined the economy, instituted socialist Health Care, and allowed terrorists to roam free, calling it things like "workplace violence" instead of terrorism.
Apparently Obama, Reid, and Pelosi are members of Hydra.
Remember those helicarriers? They were sent after people, not terrorists, but those view as true enemies of Hyrda, proponents of liberty. So they were going to do drone strikes on anyone that might become a leader of people that had values other than their own.
Remember when Obama said that conservatives, not terrorists where the greatest threat to America? Hail Hydra.
In the end, Captain America was willing to risk and even end his life in defense of freedom. And he called on others to do the same. "The cost of liberty is high, but it's a price I'm willing to pay."
Captain America is a conservative (this is something from the comics, especially seen in the Marvel Civil War). He believes in conservative values like freedom and choice. As opposed to so-called liberals, who believe in the government and have a war on liberty.
How long until Hydra comes knocking at your door? Will you fall in lock step, or pay the price?
Hail Hydra, or fight with Captain America. I know what I'd rather do.
Showing posts with label Sacrifice. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sacrifice. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Thursday, September 20, 2012
PC stupidity
The ACLU threatened to sue Rhode Island schools on behalf of a mother. Why? What had they done? Had they supressed free speech? No. Religion? Nuh-uh.
They had annual dances.
OH NO! That's terrible!
That's right, they were suing over the annual father-daughter and mother-son dances. The schools, fearful of the lawsuit, cancelled the traditional dance.
The ACLU claims that it is disciminatory. The mother is a single mom, and her daughter has no one to take her.
By that logic, we should outlaw marriage, because I am single. We should outlaw sex, because I'm a virgin. We should outlaw the NBA, because I suck at basketball. We should outlaw skinny people, because I am fat.
This selfish stupidity is gonig way out of hand. "It makes me sad because my daughter doesn't have a dad. Therefore I'm going to make everyone ELSE miserable." This is stupid. And shame on RI for not fighting it. And shame on the ACLU for supporting it. How is this liberty? Or did you forget what the "L" stands for? This isn't Sharia Law. No one is threatening the girl with harm. An uncle, or trustworthy friend could take her. Heck, she could go with one of her friend's dads, just to be able to dress up and go.
Across the world, people are burned alive for their religous belief or their ethnicity. Women are raped and murdered because they are seen as objects instead of people. Maybe we should be more worried about that than dances and free birth control.
Maybe, just maybe, all these idiots should spend a year overseas serving people who have real troubles. Then maybe they would stop being so self-centered and start caring about things that really matter.
They had annual dances.
OH NO! That's terrible!
That's right, they were suing over the annual father-daughter and mother-son dances. The schools, fearful of the lawsuit, cancelled the traditional dance.
The ACLU claims that it is disciminatory. The mother is a single mom, and her daughter has no one to take her.
By that logic, we should outlaw marriage, because I am single. We should outlaw sex, because I'm a virgin. We should outlaw the NBA, because I suck at basketball. We should outlaw skinny people, because I am fat.
This selfish stupidity is gonig way out of hand. "It makes me sad because my daughter doesn't have a dad. Therefore I'm going to make everyone ELSE miserable." This is stupid. And shame on RI for not fighting it. And shame on the ACLU for supporting it. How is this liberty? Or did you forget what the "L" stands for? This isn't Sharia Law. No one is threatening the girl with harm. An uncle, or trustworthy friend could take her. Heck, she could go with one of her friend's dads, just to be able to dress up and go.
Across the world, people are burned alive for their religous belief or their ethnicity. Women are raped and murdered because they are seen as objects instead of people. Maybe we should be more worried about that than dances and free birth control.
Maybe, just maybe, all these idiots should spend a year overseas serving people who have real troubles. Then maybe they would stop being so self-centered and start caring about things that really matter.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Vow of the Modern Knight
The Knight
We live in a day when we are in need of knights. We need warriors who are willing to fight for things that truly matter. As a knight for today, I take this oath.
A knight does not serve himself. He serves a king. I surrender myself totally to the King of Kings. I will obey him in every area of my life. I withhold nothing from myself. I completely and totally surrender. I will obey His every command. I will go on every quest, no matter how dangerous, no matter how deadly, no matter the cost to myself.
Isaiah 6:8, Luke 9:23, 12:51, Romans 6:22-23, 12:1, Rev 19:11-16
A knight is a warrior. We live in a world at war. I pledge to fight. I pledge to defend myself from the attacks of Satan, using the armor God has given me. I will use the weapons God has given me, the sword of His Word and prayer. I will not fight alone, but with my King. I was not meant to fight alone, but alongside my fellow knights. I will lead when others will only follow. I will not get caught alone and be an easy target for the Enemy and his minions. I will fight alongside others. I will defend those who cannot defend themselves. I will join the King on His mission to storm the gates of Hell itself and set free those held captive there. I understand that this is a dangerous mission and that many have fallen in the undertaking of it. That is why I will surround myself with prayer, with the armor of the King, and with knights who do the same.
Exodus 15:3, Ephesians 6:10-18, Romans 8:37-39, Rev. 20:10
The Virtues of the Knight
The first virtue of the knight is integrity. Someone once said, “Integrity is doing the right thing when no one is looking.” I will strive to be a man of integrity. I will be the same man whether I am being watched or not. Whether I am with my family, with my church, with my friends, or with myself, I will do the right thing. I will live my life built on a foundation of the King of Kings and His Word. I vow have integrity in every area of my life. I will obey the King in every area of my life. No area will be off limits to Him. I will have integrity in even the small things. No exceptions, just obedience.
Matthew 7:24-27, Psalm 24:3-5, Psalm 25:21, 41:12, Proverbs 10:9, Titus 2:7-8
A knight will be a man of courage. I will not let fear hold me. I refuse to be imprisoned by its power. Fear is a great weapon of the Enemy. I will not stay a hostage of my fear. The Enemy cannot stand with the power of the King. The servants of the King are far stronger than the minions of the Enemy. The Enemy is already defeated. His tactics are of the weak and desperate. I will not let my fear control me. There is no bravery without fear. I refuse to surrender. I refuse to die. I will be a man of courage.
Proverbs 28:1, Hebrews 13:6, 2 Timothy 1:7, 1 Corinthians 16:13, Matthew 14:27, 2 Kings 6:16
I will be a knight of compassion. I will seek to truly help the poor, not just give a token dollar to appease guilt. I will fight for justice for those who are oppressed. I will strive for freedom for slaves. I will try to provide food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty. And I will treat those that I meet daily with compassion.
Luke 4:18-19, Isaiah 58:6, Matthew 25:31-46, 1 John 3:17-18, James 1:27
As a knight, I will strive for self-control. I will discipline my body, my mind, and my heart. Satan will try to take me out of the fight through self-indulgence. I will fight him through self-discipline. I will read and memorize Scripture. I will read devotional books and books to help me lead others. I will keep my guard up. I will flee temptation. I will control my body and my weight. I vow to discipline myself.
1 Timothy 4:8, Galatians 5:22-23, 2 Peter 1:5-8, Hebrews 12:11, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27
A knight will speak with honesty. I will not tell a lie, no matter how small it seems. My world will be my bond. I will keep the commitments that I make to the best of my ability. I will in no way deceive anyone for any reason. My “yes” will mean yes and my “no” no. My word will be trustworthy.
Ephesians 4:15,25, Ephesians 6:14, Matthew 5:33-37
As a knight, I will strive for humility. I will remember that I am only a servant of the King. I will think more of others than I do myself. I will give glory to Jesus in all things. Max Lucado wrote, “Humility is not thinking less of yourself. It is thinking of yourself less.”
Matthew 20:25-28, Philippians 2:3, Colossians 3:12, James 3:13, 1Peter 5:5, Psalm 8:3-4,
Proverbs 16:18
As a knight, I will live with purity. I will keep my mind and body pure. I will not allow myself to be diluted by the lusts and desires of the world. Many things in this world are intended to corrupt man and take away the pureness of his heart, mind, and soul but I will fight against these things to keep my purity. I will keep my eyes clean. I will keep my mind pure by memorizing the Word. I will also be pure in my devotion to the One and Only King in Heaven. No other idols will take me captive or break my whole devotion to the King of Kings.
1 Corinthians 6:18-20, Psalm 119:9, 1 Timothy 4:12, Mark 7:21-23, Matthew 5:48
Another virtue of the knight is perseverance. This world has many hardships. I will joyfully endure them, seeking only to be transformed more into the likeness of the King. No matter the trail, I will seek only to be obedient and to become the man I was meant to be. No matter the battle, I will continue to fight. I will endure and help others to endure. I will seek out relationships that will help me keep to the path.
James 1:2-4, James 1:12, 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, Hebrews 12:1, Romans 5:1-5, Matthew 7:24-27
A knight will strive for patience. A knight will show understanding. I will let mistakes go, since I have made my share. I will try to empathize with others, especially in their anger, to see things from their perspective and attempt to root out the deeper issues, knowing that sometimes people just need an ear to listen.
Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians 4:2, Galatians 5:22-23, James 1:19
Another virtue of the knight is loyalty. I swear allegiance to the King. I will let nothing stand between Him and me. I will loyally defend my brothers and sisters in Christ through accountability, transparency, and prayer.
1 Samuel 20:42, Hosea 6:6 (NASB), 1 Chronicles 29:18
A knight will work with excellence. In all things, I will work to please the king, and therefore do my best. Hard work is also a virtue of the knight. I will not flinch. I will not hesitate. I will not leave it for others. I will do the work that needs done. I will be a servant for all. I will work not to earn the love of my King, since I cannot do so, but I will work as my act of gratitude for what the king has done for me.
Ephesians 2:10, Ephesians 6:7-8, Matthew 25:14-46, Luke 17:7-10, Revelation 2:2
Relationships of the Knight
The King. I will obey the king in all areas of my life. And I will love the king with everything that I am and everything that I do. I will study His Word and apply it to my life. I will seek daily to build a closer walk with Him.
Deuteronomy 6:4-5
The lady. I will treat women with respect, as daughters of the King. I will only seek deeper relationships with those that will help me grow closer to the King. I will seek to do the same for her. I will put her above myself and my work, understanding that the first person I should serve is her. And I will love her with self-sacrifice and undying commitment despite wavering emotions or what I get out of it. I seek not a servant nor a princess, but a partner.
Ephesians 5:25-33
Children. I will disciple my own kids. I will make it my first priority to help them to be loyal to the King. The best way to love them is to love their mother. I will help sons to see their strength and to become warriors. I will help daughters to see their beauty and their value.
Ephesians 6:4
Church. I will lead the church by being a servant. I will stand as a shepherd to guide, and a watchman to protect. It is not my church, but the King’s. I understand that I cannot lead from above; I must be with them. I will feed them. I will make disciples. I will seek others with whom I can walk through life. And I will train up other leaders to serve the King and His church.
Jeremiah 23:1-2, Ezekiel 3:17-19,
The lost. I will follow the King in His mission to seek and save the lost, by whatever means necessary. I will remember that I am not superior to them, but “a fellow beggar showing others where to find bread.”
Matthew 28:18-20, Acts1:8
The World. I will not be swayed, deterred, or distracted by the world and following the crowd. No matter how unpopular, I will obey the King as He leads me. I will not seek the world’s interests or possessions.
Exodus 23:2a, Galatians 1:10, 1 John 2:15-17
The Enemy. I will fight the enemy until all my strength is spent, and then I will rely on the strength of the King. I will seek to storm his strongholds and set free his captives. I know that he has lost the war. I will still fight the battles.
Ephesians 6:10-12, Revelation 20:10
Psalm 119
In adding my name in comment, I take this vow.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Wiggle thinking
This past week, I had a great time. It's all summerized by a few words. "It's Da Wiggles." Wiggles is my neice. And she loves her uncle. We had Wiggle Time every morning. She would giggle and squeal and had a great time.
My normal stoic self cannot help but love this little girl. I nearly cried the morning that I had to leave, because the next time I will see her, she will be a year old. She might be walking and talking. She will be so much bigger. She will see flashes of her uncle. Instead of being a part of her life, I will look through a window and see glances of it.
This got me thinking about my college roommate. He's a Marine. He's an officer. He was in Afghanistan when his daughter was born. And he is overseas once more as his wife prepares to have a son. As hard as it was to leave my neice, why did he leave a wife, daughter, and son?
Because it is his duty. To his country? Maybe. To his family? Yes. To his God? Definately. And he goes to that duty to protect and provide for his family. He goes obediently to what many of us would not do because it is where God led him.
A good friend is in China. He left everything he knew because God led him there.
I have other friends who started their family in West Africa because God led them to a people who don't know Jesus.
A young man could have a very successful career, perhaps in pro baseball, but is going into ministry because that's where God wants him.
I moved to Virginia for little pay because that's where God wants me. Now my story may be small compared to the others, but the point isn't me. The point is God. God might lead you to something big, like the mission field or the Marines. God might lead you to go become friends with your next door neighbor. The point is to go where God leads you. Matthew 28:19 best translated "As you are going, make disciples of all nations." God assumes we are going, and he will lead us. He might lead you to other nations, or your own. The point is GO and follow God.
My normal stoic self cannot help but love this little girl. I nearly cried the morning that I had to leave, because the next time I will see her, she will be a year old. She might be walking and talking. She will be so much bigger. She will see flashes of her uncle. Instead of being a part of her life, I will look through a window and see glances of it.
This got me thinking about my college roommate. He's a Marine. He's an officer. He was in Afghanistan when his daughter was born. And he is overseas once more as his wife prepares to have a son. As hard as it was to leave my neice, why did he leave a wife, daughter, and son?
Because it is his duty. To his country? Maybe. To his family? Yes. To his God? Definately. And he goes to that duty to protect and provide for his family. He goes obediently to what many of us would not do because it is where God led him.
A good friend is in China. He left everything he knew because God led him there.
I have other friends who started their family in West Africa because God led them to a people who don't know Jesus.
A young man could have a very successful career, perhaps in pro baseball, but is going into ministry because that's where God wants him.
I moved to Virginia for little pay because that's where God wants me. Now my story may be small compared to the others, but the point isn't me. The point is God. God might lead you to something big, like the mission field or the Marines. God might lead you to go become friends with your next door neighbor. The point is to go where God leads you. Matthew 28:19 best translated "As you are going, make disciples of all nations." God assumes we are going, and he will lead us. He might lead you to other nations, or your own. The point is GO and follow God.
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Anthem stupidity
There was a guy (who shall remain nameless for this blog) who yesterday spoke about the National Anthem. Now I don't know if he's really this dumb of if he said it for ratings, but he criticized the Anthem, and did it poorly.
First, he said he didn't know why it had military themes. "Rockets red glare/ Bombs bursting in air." Uh... because it is a poem that Francis Scott Key wrote while on a british ship watching an American fort get the crap bombarded out of it. He was watching to see if they surrendered ("Does the banner still wave?"). People liked it and set it to music. It became popular, and was declared our national anthem. Read some history you moron.
Second, he went after "Home of the Brave." He said "Are we the only country with brave people?" Yesterday, as he spoke, it was June 6th. Again, read history. Yesterday was D-Day, when the Allies landed on five beaches of a region of northern France, called Normandy. They were invading Nazi occupied territory. There were allies from England, France, Canada, and yes, America. The other Allies landed on virtually unguarded beaches. We landed on the only two heavily defended beaches, none more than Omaha. Now, our allies didn't know that the bunkers were empty, but still, we took the worst of the fighting. Our boys lost more men on that day, than any other single day in the European Theater. They had to get past machine gun nests, artillery, masses of foot soldiers, and yes, even the piles of their fellow soldiers. They had to ascend cliffs unprotected and blow up concrete bunkers. Said the commanding generals on both sides, the war in Europe was won or lost on Omaha. And the greatest generation took the beach.
If you don't like the Anthem, that's your right. But don't be stupid about it.
First, he said he didn't know why it had military themes. "Rockets red glare/ Bombs bursting in air." Uh... because it is a poem that Francis Scott Key wrote while on a british ship watching an American fort get the crap bombarded out of it. He was watching to see if they surrendered ("Does the banner still wave?"). People liked it and set it to music. It became popular, and was declared our national anthem. Read some history you moron.
Second, he went after "Home of the Brave." He said "Are we the only country with brave people?" Yesterday, as he spoke, it was June 6th. Again, read history. Yesterday was D-Day, when the Allies landed on five beaches of a region of northern France, called Normandy. They were invading Nazi occupied territory. There were allies from England, France, Canada, and yes, America. The other Allies landed on virtually unguarded beaches. We landed on the only two heavily defended beaches, none more than Omaha. Now, our allies didn't know that the bunkers were empty, but still, we took the worst of the fighting. Our boys lost more men on that day, than any other single day in the European Theater. They had to get past machine gun nests, artillery, masses of foot soldiers, and yes, even the piles of their fellow soldiers. They had to ascend cliffs unprotected and blow up concrete bunkers. Said the commanding generals on both sides, the war in Europe was won or lost on Omaha. And the greatest generation took the beach.
If you don't like the Anthem, that's your right. But don't be stupid about it.
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Memorial Day
I have a Memorial Day tradition, known as AMC. That's right. I wake up and watch war movies all day. Why? Movies touch the heart. They help us to understand the emotion, the sacrifice, of those who we are supposed to be remembering.
Therefore, I'm making a list of suggestions.
Great Escape
The Great Raid
U-571
HBO miniseries Band of Brothers
Sand of Iwo Jima
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Midway
We Were Soldiers
The Longest Day
Bridge over the River Kwai
You may not like war movies. That's ok. Watch them anyway. Watch and remember. I think they've earned it.
Therefore, I'm making a list of suggestions.
Great Escape
The Great Raid
U-571
HBO miniseries Band of Brothers
Sand of Iwo Jima
Tora! Tora! Tora!
Midway
We Were Soldiers
The Longest Day
Bridge over the River Kwai
You may not like war movies. That's ok. Watch them anyway. Watch and remember. I think they've earned it.
Monday, March 5, 2012
I will praise You in the storm...
I grew up in the area where the tornadoes struck on Friday. My mother had to wait for the one that later struck Henryville (an EF4) to pass by. I know Henryville well. There is a garden there with some of the biggest variety of plants I have ever seen. There is a little truck stop right off the interstate. It does not look like much, but it's a little hole-in-the-wall that all the construction workers go to for lunch (they know all the best secret places to eat). It was well worth going out of your way to drive there because they had the best pie.
Among the death and devastation, there are amazing stories. I have some friends that just a few days prior found out that their first child is a little girl. Now their home is destroyed, but they weren't home. They went to a friend's house because they had a basement.
The high school let the kids out early to attempt to race the storms home. That was a good call, as the high school was destroyed. One bus driver saw the tornado and turned back, offloading herself and the remaining eleven kids into the office, which was the safest place to be. Another three buses saw it coming and pulled into a hardware store. The store manager said they counted 81 people they housed through the storm. The store is the only building untouched in a large radius.
There was a man who threw himself over his wife. She survived because of his sacrifice. A mom threw herself over her two kids. They survived. She lost a leg but is stable. So many stories.
If you've never seen the damage of a tornado first-hand, it is really hard to imagine. The pictures seem fake if you've never seen it in person. I know it sounds cliche, but you just can't understand the power of a sudden gust of wind. It is unreal otherwise. I've seen it as tornadoes are all too common in that part of Indiana.
There is a worship song that says "I will praise you in the storm." There are miraculous stories of survival, people making it when there is no earthly reason they should have. But most of all, we can praise God for his church. One of the largest congregations in the world, Southeast Christian Church, is located close to Henryville. In fact, they have a church camp which was untouched. They are gathering the homeless and giving them a place to stay, a central point to get help: from clothes and a hot meal to minor medical attention for scraps and bruises, allowing the hospitals to deal with the overwhelming number of serious injuries. Other local congregations are teaming up together to help provide those hot meals and other things. The church (not a church, the church) is an amazing powerful thing. When earthquakes struck Haiti, it was the church leading efforts to help people while politicians had to deal with agreements and embargoes. The church was in New Orleans days before FIMA. The church was in Japan and Indonesia for the tsunami relief. And the church has ever been there for the earthquakes that hit our country regularly. Even the Salvation Army and Red Cross have roots as Christian organizations helping people. There is nothing greater than the church being what the church should be. So we praise God for this amazing gift of the church and for allowing us to be a part of it.
Among the death and devastation, there are amazing stories. I have some friends that just a few days prior found out that their first child is a little girl. Now their home is destroyed, but they weren't home. They went to a friend's house because they had a basement.
The high school let the kids out early to attempt to race the storms home. That was a good call, as the high school was destroyed. One bus driver saw the tornado and turned back, offloading herself and the remaining eleven kids into the office, which was the safest place to be. Another three buses saw it coming and pulled into a hardware store. The store manager said they counted 81 people they housed through the storm. The store is the only building untouched in a large radius.
There was a man who threw himself over his wife. She survived because of his sacrifice. A mom threw herself over her two kids. They survived. She lost a leg but is stable. So many stories.
If you've never seen the damage of a tornado first-hand, it is really hard to imagine. The pictures seem fake if you've never seen it in person. I know it sounds cliche, but you just can't understand the power of a sudden gust of wind. It is unreal otherwise. I've seen it as tornadoes are all too common in that part of Indiana.
There is a worship song that says "I will praise you in the storm." There are miraculous stories of survival, people making it when there is no earthly reason they should have. But most of all, we can praise God for his church. One of the largest congregations in the world, Southeast Christian Church, is located close to Henryville. In fact, they have a church camp which was untouched. They are gathering the homeless and giving them a place to stay, a central point to get help: from clothes and a hot meal to minor medical attention for scraps and bruises, allowing the hospitals to deal with the overwhelming number of serious injuries. Other local congregations are teaming up together to help provide those hot meals and other things. The church (not a church, the church) is an amazing powerful thing. When earthquakes struck Haiti, it was the church leading efforts to help people while politicians had to deal with agreements and embargoes. The church was in New Orleans days before FIMA. The church was in Japan and Indonesia for the tsunami relief. And the church has ever been there for the earthquakes that hit our country regularly. Even the Salvation Army and Red Cross have roots as Christian organizations helping people. There is nothing greater than the church being what the church should be. So we praise God for this amazing gift of the church and for allowing us to be a part of it.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
The Cost
Right now I'm going through Luke 14, writing my own Bible Study materials (available to anyone upon request). I've come over the last few years to really love Luke 14. Jesus tells this parable (a story told to teach a lesson) about a wealthy man. He's throwing the party to end all parties. It is going to be everything that a party should be. He's invited the guests, but when he sends his servants out to say "Food's ready; come on," the guests have all these excuses why he can't come. The host gets mad, and so he has the beggars, the disabled, the homeless, and the "outsiders" come in. Then he basically says "When those I invited first hear how great the party is and finally show up, don't let them come."
In the parable, God is the host. He invites the wealthy, religous people in first, but when the refuse to come, he invites the broken and the outsiders (like me). This parable is meant as a warning to the religous people. We can't say, "Yeah, I'm going to follow you God. But later. First, I have to..." The Pharisees made excuses, so Jesus went to sinners and prostitutes. When asked why, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son.
But to the Pharisees (and to us) he says, "Be sure to count the cost. Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." It's easy to say that we're Christians. But are we willing to pay the price? Our money, our jobs, our homes, our hobbies, our families, our lives. Are we willing to pay the price to follow Jesus?
In the parable, God is the host. He invites the wealthy, religous people in first, but when the refuse to come, he invites the broken and the outsiders (like me). This parable is meant as a warning to the religous people. We can't say, "Yeah, I'm going to follow you God. But later. First, I have to..." The Pharisees made excuses, so Jesus went to sinners and prostitutes. When asked why, Jesus told the story of the Prodigal Son.
But to the Pharisees (and to us) he says, "Be sure to count the cost. Anyone who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." It's easy to say that we're Christians. But are we willing to pay the price? Our money, our jobs, our homes, our hobbies, our families, our lives. Are we willing to pay the price to follow Jesus?
Monday, May 30, 2011
Memorial Day
Happy Memorial Day. As we participate in cookouts and the like, it is important to take a moment to recognize how blessed we are, and those that sacrificed for so much. I am so thankful that despite all the friends that I have who entered the service, none do I have to remember today.
I know that everyone has their own traditions. Mine is usually simple. I stay home and watch channels like AMC and TMC which air movies honoring the fallen, like Sands of Iwo Jima, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Midway, and especially The Longest Day. I also have DVDs like The Great Escape and The Great Raid. I've also repeatedly watched Band of Brothers. You may notice a theme, World War II, the Greatest Generation. So much darkness in the world from both Germany and Japan. Many don't realize that the Japanese were more brutal, more racist than the Nazis.
Anyway, these are things that I use to remember those who sacrificed everything for the ideal of freedom. I highly recommend the same to others.
I know that everyone has their own traditions. Mine is usually simple. I stay home and watch channels like AMC and TMC which air movies honoring the fallen, like Sands of Iwo Jima, Tora! Tora! Tora!, Midway, and especially The Longest Day. I also have DVDs like The Great Escape and The Great Raid. I've also repeatedly watched Band of Brothers. You may notice a theme, World War II, the Greatest Generation. So much darkness in the world from both Germany and Japan. Many don't realize that the Japanese were more brutal, more racist than the Nazis.
Anyway, these are things that I use to remember those who sacrificed everything for the ideal of freedom. I highly recommend the same to others.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
What can we do?
This post is dedicated to my friend John. We were talking on the phone, when John said, "You know, the more I read my Bible, and the more I look at the culture, I think we cannot live in both." I agreed. "So what do we do?"
That's a tough question. The toughest, perhaps. It is asked repeatedly in Scripture. John answered with things like "If you have two cloaks, give one away to someone who has none." Peter answered with "Repent and be baptized."
It is a difficult question entirely. For starters, I wonder if the question is bad. This is a problem, because we want a list of things we have to do, mostly because we want the bare minimum of things we have to do, so that we don't have to do more. Maybe instead of doing we should be. See, because instead of trying to complete a checklist, who we are should define our actions. Guilt is a lousy motivator, as is fear. Ask yourself, "Who am I? Who do I want to be? And who does God want me to be?" Then ask "What do I have to do to become that person?"
But that's not exactly helpful is it? That is a question that must be asked daily, and should be a defining question. But I think what we need is more practical answers. We need options.
1) The first option is to do what some have done, like the Puritans, Quakers, Mennonites, and Amish. You form your own culture, completely separate from the world, and attempt to make a Utopian religious society. There are several problems with this. First, it won't be perfect as long as there are people. It can last maybe 5 days before the first greed will provoke a leader to oppress those below them. Second, it is unbiblical. I've often thought it would be better to live a monastic lifestyle, but the problem is Jesus commissions his followers from the beginning to be "fishers of men," to invite men to the freedom he offers. If you create an isolated society, you fail in the many commands to spread the good news.
2) The second option is the state of many in the American church today. That is to just go with the culture. There is a problem with this. Mostly, it requires lipservice to God. You can maybe go to church, but you certainly are not allowed to actually practice what you say you believe, because that might make you an individual which is intolerable in our culture. This makes you fake, a hypocrite (the Greek word for actor). Bottom line it, you give up everything that you were saved to in order to get back what you were saved from. That is unacceptable. I am not willing to give up my reason for living to chase the misery that follows a life spent seeking temporary things like money. As I said, this is the sad state of many who sit in church on Sunday morning, as is evidenced by the fact that statistically there is no difference between people who go to church or don't in regards to how likely they are to steal, commit adultery, use pornography, cheat on their taxes, get a divorce, use foul language, etc.
3) The third option is to be "in the world but not of it." This expression has been passed around church circles for decades, possibly centuries. The problem is no one knows what it means (which led many to option 2). We have to be counter-cultural. Our job is to be subversive, not in the traditional sense of leading some type of violent rebellion. This is about living differently. This subversion is to live an example of a better life, of freedom from the slavery of our culture. As John the Baptist said, use extremism in generosity, love, and forgiveness. Extremism in peace and respect for your fellow man. Extremism in compassion and selflessness, and justice for all.
That's a tough question. The toughest, perhaps. It is asked repeatedly in Scripture. John answered with things like "If you have two cloaks, give one away to someone who has none." Peter answered with "Repent and be baptized."
It is a difficult question entirely. For starters, I wonder if the question is bad. This is a problem, because we want a list of things we have to do, mostly because we want the bare minimum of things we have to do, so that we don't have to do more. Maybe instead of doing we should be. See, because instead of trying to complete a checklist, who we are should define our actions. Guilt is a lousy motivator, as is fear. Ask yourself, "Who am I? Who do I want to be? And who does God want me to be?" Then ask "What do I have to do to become that person?"
But that's not exactly helpful is it? That is a question that must be asked daily, and should be a defining question. But I think what we need is more practical answers. We need options.
1) The first option is to do what some have done, like the Puritans, Quakers, Mennonites, and Amish. You form your own culture, completely separate from the world, and attempt to make a Utopian religious society. There are several problems with this. First, it won't be perfect as long as there are people. It can last maybe 5 days before the first greed will provoke a leader to oppress those below them. Second, it is unbiblical. I've often thought it would be better to live a monastic lifestyle, but the problem is Jesus commissions his followers from the beginning to be "fishers of men," to invite men to the freedom he offers. If you create an isolated society, you fail in the many commands to spread the good news.
2) The second option is the state of many in the American church today. That is to just go with the culture. There is a problem with this. Mostly, it requires lipservice to God. You can maybe go to church, but you certainly are not allowed to actually practice what you say you believe, because that might make you an individual which is intolerable in our culture. This makes you fake, a hypocrite (the Greek word for actor). Bottom line it, you give up everything that you were saved to in order to get back what you were saved from. That is unacceptable. I am not willing to give up my reason for living to chase the misery that follows a life spent seeking temporary things like money. As I said, this is the sad state of many who sit in church on Sunday morning, as is evidenced by the fact that statistically there is no difference between people who go to church or don't in regards to how likely they are to steal, commit adultery, use pornography, cheat on their taxes, get a divorce, use foul language, etc.
3) The third option is to be "in the world but not of it." This expression has been passed around church circles for decades, possibly centuries. The problem is no one knows what it means (which led many to option 2). We have to be counter-cultural. Our job is to be subversive, not in the traditional sense of leading some type of violent rebellion. This is about living differently. This subversion is to live an example of a better life, of freedom from the slavery of our culture. As John the Baptist said, use extremism in generosity, love, and forgiveness. Extremism in peace and respect for your fellow man. Extremism in compassion and selflessness, and justice for all.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Priveledge
Privilege is one of my biggest pet peeves lately. It seems to permeate everywhere. It is this "I deserve it" mentality. Let's look at some examples from recent memory.
Edit 6/12/11: In light of recent events, check out part 2.
Washington: Politicians honestly believe that they are better than everyone else. They don't care what promises they make, because the rules don't apply to them. Charlie Rangle is a great example. He's on the finance commitee, but is being brought up on ethics charges for tax evasion. If that was me, the IRS would have taken me for everything I am worth. Him? Well, his response is "I'm not going anywhere." He deserves to be there, and you should vote for him because he deserves to be there.
Even with the Health Care thing. Virtually everyone was opposed to it, but Pelosi, Obama, and insiders of both parties have this "father knows best" mentality and passed it anyway. If you are so stupid that you cannot understand that paying more for crappier health care is good for you, well, who cares? They don't.
Finances: So stupid. I know a family that the dad works two full time jobs and walks to work. The wife stays at home and sits on her rear, but has to have the car just in case she wants to go somewhere. She spends money like its going out of style. She won't cook, so the family goes out to a different all-you-can-eat buffet each night. She doesn't bathe her kids, so they smell. Her grandmother comes over once a week to make sure the teenage son showers each week, and cleanes house while the mom sits on her enormous rear. I was one of many people who helped this family move recently, and the mom sat in her recliner and watched us work.
Plus, I know two families who ask us to pray for their finances, but take frequent vacations because "they deserve it." After all, their lives are so bad they need these vacations. Maybe if they would WORK and STAY AT HOME their finances wouldn't be in bad shape. God has already provided what they need, so I won't pray for that anymore until they are willing to obey. No one deserves a vacation. It is a luxury that most of the world can't afford. If you can, do it. But it is not right for your kids to suffer because you feel the need to drive to Colorado for a fishing trip.
Same with the housing crash. People deserved that house they couldn't afford. How dare that bank expect them to honor that contract! They knew they couldn't afford it, so the bank should have known that they couldn't and not expected them to pay.
The church: This one makes me the sickest, and I have been dealing with the most lately. I am constantly harassed by people who don't want to serve, but wish to have more fellowship events where they can sit with the same friends they sit with on Sunday. They deserve it. And they don't like all these new people coming, because they don't "know everyone anymore."
In essence, they are saying "we're full. They rest of you have to go to hell now." If they want to know what they deserve, it isn't the church they want. THEY DESERVE TO BURN IN THE FIRES OF HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY. Eternal loneliness and torture for forever. If we EVER forget that even for a second, we spit in the face of God, call the death of Jesus worthless, and tell the Holy Spirit we don't need him and don't want him interfering with us.
I don't know about you, but I don't want to send people to the Hell I deserve because I'm too lazy to get off my fat butt and serve another human being with the kind of love God showed me. They don't deserve it, but God does. The Holy One, God Almighty, the LORD is the ONLY one who deserves anything good. If he is willing to give up his rights to come to earth and be rejected and tortured to death by the people he came to save and then turn around and forgive them, then why can't we give up our "rights" that only exist in our own minds?
Edit 6/12/11: In light of recent events, check out part 2.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Respect and honor
This week I spent some time in and around DC this week. One of the first stops was Arlington. Walking that sacred ground, it was impossible not to be taken in by the enormity. Rows of white stones ran on forever. So many had sacrificed so much for what? For a country? A flag? For an ideal. An ideal of freedom, equality, and life. Since Westerners first started to settle this continent, people have risked everything for this ideal. People risked storms, diseases, and untold dangers to come here and escape poverty, persecution, and oppression.
Almost immediately, that ideal was polluted. Slavery, persecution of the natives, war, and governing tyrrany were all contrary to this ideal. Dark, imperfect history, warts and all. So much sacrificed for the ideal. Such fields of the dead, those who have given everything for this ideal, and each other.
Also in DC, I went to see the WWII Memorial. Like Arlington, this place was very sacred to me. The Nazis and Japanese were people of great cruelty. Both viewed themselves as genetically and racially superior. Both decided that other nations were vermin, dogs, less than human. Both viciously attacked other nations (the Germans killed well, everyone. The Japanese did so to Americans and especially Chinese). It was one of the darkest times of human history. If you think its exaggerated, go to the Holocast Museum in DC. In that time, men and women of all nations rose to a greatness capable of conquering the darkness. When everything is darkest, the light shines the brightest. The Greatest Generation. That is why that place meant so much to me.
I must do a slight rant. I just can't get over that they let commerical airliners fly over Arlington. We saw the changing of guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As we walked away, Taps came floating over the hill. It seemed ghostly. Everyone around us stopped moving, and became silent in respect. The fact that for convenience planes can desecrate that sacred place with noise pollution is disgusting.
Show some respect and honor. Even if you don't agree with war, honor the sacrifices of so many. Try to find a way to live the ideals of our nation, in a world that it is becoming harder to do so.
Almost immediately, that ideal was polluted. Slavery, persecution of the natives, war, and governing tyrrany were all contrary to this ideal. Dark, imperfect history, warts and all. So much sacrificed for the ideal. Such fields of the dead, those who have given everything for this ideal, and each other.
Also in DC, I went to see the WWII Memorial. Like Arlington, this place was very sacred to me. The Nazis and Japanese were people of great cruelty. Both viewed themselves as genetically and racially superior. Both decided that other nations were vermin, dogs, less than human. Both viciously attacked other nations (the Germans killed well, everyone. The Japanese did so to Americans and especially Chinese). It was one of the darkest times of human history. If you think its exaggerated, go to the Holocast Museum in DC. In that time, men and women of all nations rose to a greatness capable of conquering the darkness. When everything is darkest, the light shines the brightest. The Greatest Generation. That is why that place meant so much to me.
I must do a slight rant. I just can't get over that they let commerical airliners fly over Arlington. We saw the changing of guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. As we walked away, Taps came floating over the hill. It seemed ghostly. Everyone around us stopped moving, and became silent in respect. The fact that for convenience planes can desecrate that sacred place with noise pollution is disgusting.
Show some respect and honor. Even if you don't agree with war, honor the sacrifices of so many. Try to find a way to live the ideals of our nation, in a world that it is becoming harder to do so.
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