Quite frequently, I listen to the radio as I am driving, either music or public radio.
When I have passengers, I have a dilemma though. I can enjoy the company of my passengers with small-chat or intellectual discussions, relative to who is actually in the vehicle. Or, I can have the radio on softly to take away unpleasant small-chat but permit discussion. Or, I can wipe out all discussion by turning the radio louder than one can interject with discussion.
Since I do not find conversations awkward and actually invite others to feel uneasy, my real problem is that when the radio is on softly and the song is universally familiar each person is enticed to hum along, not so much as to sing so not to interfere with others.
Said humming may continue for sometime. Everyone knows the song and is clearly eager to sing it, but out of respect for said dilemma #1, the music is not loud in light of the possibility of meaningful conversation. And thus, the humming continues.
At this point, do you turn up the music so as to encourage singing? Or do you leave the music where it is at for the time and permit the humming to continue in case meaningful conversation takes place?
Each of these possibilities is clearly engorged when those in the backseat already cannot hear those in the front.
Maybe you don't analyze such situations as much as I do, but thankfully I have analyzed the situation for you and have no clear distinctive resolution for said dilemma.
Perhaps humming is like praying in your heart rather than out loud; just as meaningful, only presentably startling when you begin to talk to someone while they are engaged in such activity.
Monday, September 27, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Tolerant Love
Our society demands tolerance. My God demands love.
If I am to love, I love the truth and tolerate nothing less.
I love by sharing the truth in love.
He has not called me to tolerate; He has called me to love.
His love meant delivering Christ for all people.
His love meant not tolerating the world, that is, sin.
His love meant dying for those He did not tolerate, that is, sinners.
His love meant conquering death for those He did not tolerate, that is, those who pierced him.
His love means reigning eternally for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them heirs.
His love means offering grace and redemption of sins for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them children.
His love means forgiveness and salvation for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them beloved.
Our society demands tolerance. My God demands love.
He came and did not tolerate complacency and ignorance.
The Lord tolerates nothing less than His offering of grace and redemption, truth.
May the same be true of me and my love.
If I am to love, I love the truth and tolerate nothing less.
I love by sharing the truth in love.
He has not called me to tolerate; He has called me to love.
His love meant delivering Christ for all people.
His love meant not tolerating the world, that is, sin.
His love meant dying for those He did not tolerate, that is, sinners.
His love meant conquering death for those He did not tolerate, that is, those who pierced him.
His love means reigning eternally for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them heirs.
His love means offering grace and redemption of sins for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them children.
His love means forgiveness and salvation for those He did not tolerate; now He calls them beloved.
Our society demands tolerance. My God demands love.
He came and did not tolerate complacency and ignorance.
The Lord tolerates nothing less than His offering of grace and redemption, truth.
May the same be true of me and my love.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani
"You are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the Lord, "and I am God." Isaiah 43:10-12
There are not many times in my life where I feel exasperation and desperation, and yet, those are my feelings when I continue to read the news reels about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
Sakineh is an Iranian widowed woman who, four years ago, was convicted of adultery. For that conviction, she has been sentenced to death by stoning, as is customary in this Islamic theocracy. This is not the end of her plight. A month ago, a newspaper in the United Kingdom printed a picture of another Iranian woman, who lives in Sweden, not wearing a head-covering, which is mandated for all women of Iran. However, Iranian officials misidentified the woman in the picture and thought the picture to be that of Sakineh not wearing a head-covering. For this, Sakineh was lashed 99 times in addition to her continued death sentence.
I have heard many stories of the Holy Spirit moving in Islamic culture during the last several years. Revealing Himself to Muslims in visions and dreams, many Muslims have seen Christ without ever knowing some intricate details they envision. CBN produced a short article about the Holy Spirit's work.
Please pray with me for Sakineh, her family, and the people of Iran. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to reveal Himself and that God would make His name known in such a restricted Islamic society where belief in Christ means severe persecution and death. Specifically pray that God would reveal Himself to Sakineh during her imprisonment.
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:18 ESV
There are not many times in my life where I feel exasperation and desperation, and yet, those are my feelings when I continue to read the news reels about Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani.
Sakineh is an Iranian widowed woman who, four years ago, was convicted of adultery. For that conviction, she has been sentenced to death by stoning, as is customary in this Islamic theocracy. This is not the end of her plight. A month ago, a newspaper in the United Kingdom printed a picture of another Iranian woman, who lives in Sweden, not wearing a head-covering, which is mandated for all women of Iran. However, Iranian officials misidentified the woman in the picture and thought the picture to be that of Sakineh not wearing a head-covering. For this, Sakineh was lashed 99 times in addition to her continued death sentence.
I have heard many stories of the Holy Spirit moving in Islamic culture during the last several years. Revealing Himself to Muslims in visions and dreams, many Muslims have seen Christ without ever knowing some intricate details they envision. CBN produced a short article about the Holy Spirit's work.
Please pray with me for Sakineh, her family, and the people of Iran. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to reveal Himself and that God would make His name known in such a restricted Islamic society where belief in Christ means severe persecution and death. Specifically pray that God would reveal Himself to Sakineh during her imprisonment.
Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me. Philippians 2:18 ESV
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Investments
There is no doubt that financial investments are important for one's livelihood. Investments provide fiscal security and advancement. These investments can last a lifetime if wisely implemented and sustained. At the end of a lifetime, these investments also end, although they may theoretically be invested for another's investments.
Greater than financial investments are those investments in others. Most prominently, the investment of a relationship with Christ has the most riches and satisfaction to last eternity. Investments in relatives, friends, and acquaintances alike are immensely important and reap more benefits than any financial investment.
I am eternally grateful for my relationship with Christ. There is no greater joy in my life. There is no greater security, something FDIC and Wall Street cannot provide. There is no greater reward, salvation. I am also equally grateful for my relationships with others. Friends and acquaintances from all aspects of my life, at home, at school, and even my summer work life have richly invested in me and I have been blessed.
The paychecks, the bonds, and CDs have provided me no eternal joy, only the joy sustained by the world. My joy today is that from the great investment of my relationship with Christ and the investments made and received through the many blessings He has given me along this path of life.
The investments in others and Christ are scary; perhaps more scary than financial investments because they have eternal consequences. Nonetheless, the investments must be made daily, by the minute, so that those investments are not for personal gain but for the worshipful investment for the Almighty. May the investments I make and receive never be about me, but only about His grace, love, and power so that He is glorified.
Tomorrow I leave behind a summer in Minnesota and a week at home as I return to Taylor University. I am so excited about the investments during the year ahead to worshipfully praise the One who deserves all glory.
Greater than financial investments are those investments in others. Most prominently, the investment of a relationship with Christ has the most riches and satisfaction to last eternity. Investments in relatives, friends, and acquaintances alike are immensely important and reap more benefits than any financial investment.
I am eternally grateful for my relationship with Christ. There is no greater joy in my life. There is no greater security, something FDIC and Wall Street cannot provide. There is no greater reward, salvation. I am also equally grateful for my relationships with others. Friends and acquaintances from all aspects of my life, at home, at school, and even my summer work life have richly invested in me and I have been blessed.
The paychecks, the bonds, and CDs have provided me no eternal joy, only the joy sustained by the world. My joy today is that from the great investment of my relationship with Christ and the investments made and received through the many blessings He has given me along this path of life.
The investments in others and Christ are scary; perhaps more scary than financial investments because they have eternal consequences. Nonetheless, the investments must be made daily, by the minute, so that those investments are not for personal gain but for the worshipful investment for the Almighty. May the investments I make and receive never be about me, but only about His grace, love, and power so that He is glorified.
Tomorrow I leave behind a summer in Minnesota and a week at home as I return to Taylor University. I am so excited about the investments during the year ahead to worshipfully praise the One who deserves all glory.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Alley
There is an alley near my home that is not particularly interesting or artistically intriguing. In fact, this alley is very small. Only a half a dozen homes border its path. Nonetheless, I recently have had a desire to drive down this alley rather than the typical route to my home.
The alley is the way less traveled. It doesn't fit the mold of assumption and habit. I think that I prefer the alleyway because of the change in pace and the slight excitement of traveling along a path less chosen.
I am typically stuck in my ways and instinctively take the same roads time and again. In doing so, I nearly forget that the other roads exist. I pass by much of what exists simply because I do the things that I do time and again along the same path.
What alleys do we pass by each day? Who do we neglect? What opportunities do we pass? Whatever your alley may be...
The alley is nearly threatened to be forgotten by traditionalism, habitualness, and comfortability. There is always more to be explored than that which has been the traditional way of traveling, living, learning, and loving.
The alley near my home has nice bird houses.
The alley is the way less traveled. It doesn't fit the mold of assumption and habit. I think that I prefer the alleyway because of the change in pace and the slight excitement of traveling along a path less chosen.
I am typically stuck in my ways and instinctively take the same roads time and again. In doing so, I nearly forget that the other roads exist. I pass by much of what exists simply because I do the things that I do time and again along the same path.
What alleys do we pass by each day? Who do we neglect? What opportunities do we pass? Whatever your alley may be...
The alley is nearly threatened to be forgotten by traditionalism, habitualness, and comfortability. There is always more to be explored than that which has been the traditional way of traveling, living, learning, and loving.
The alley near my home has nice bird houses.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Summer
الصيف
夏天
sommer
summer
kesä
été
Sommer
estate
夏
여름
sommer
verão
лето
verano
sommar
That explains "summer." Well, at least thirteen weeks of it. As I embarked to write this, I thought philosophical reflections would surely be included. Alas, I include 15 languages to describe my summer working at an international language camp.
夏天
sommer
summer
kesä
été
Sommer
estate
夏
여름
sommer
verão
лето
verano
sommar
That explains "summer." Well, at least thirteen weeks of it. As I embarked to write this, I thought philosophical reflections would surely be included. Alas, I include 15 languages to describe my summer working at an international language camp.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Minnesota Tales
Before I floated down three miles of the Mississippi River today, my father and I passed a man walking alongside the road. He was wearing blue scrubs, carrying a black book, and wearing a black hat. "Let's see if he needs help," my father suggests. I proceed to slow down and we ask him if he needs a ride. He proceeds to tell us where he is going and we offer to take him two miles to the next road where we are turning another direction.
"Did you run out of gas or something?"
"Oh, no, I prefer to walk in the natural environment rather than artificial roadways. Let me tell you what I mean. There is going to be a galactic war..."
Let's stop there a second. When a man wearing scrubs gets in your vehicle, you think maybe he is a doctor who needs a ride. You rarely jump to the conclusion that he knows about a galactic war that you've never heard about.
"...and I don't want you to be scared, that's why I have to tell you about it. The governments of the world have destroyed the environment with plastic and removing the plankton of society. Now they will attack and the environment will take over again. The galactic societies will seek to destroy us one by one."
I pull the car to the side of the road where we are turning and this seemingly harmless, but potentially ill man, beings to get out of the vehicle.
"Don't be scared when the government tries to draft you, just stand strong and don't fight."
What surprises me most about this adventure was that it lasted about three minutes and he didn't give us the chance to get one word in. He was definitely on a mission to tell us about this galactic war. I guess I'm glad that I know about this war, but it probably won't deter me from getting plastic next time I'm at the grocery.
-----
A few weeks back my aunt and her family invited a husband and wife acquaintance for dinner. A retired professor and international teacher of English, the couple had amazing stories of international education. They spent several years in China during the 1990s and it gave me great insight to the cost of textbooks, a much dreaded cost for all students.
According to this man, when there was a cultural political upheaval in China the government pushed all educated individuals out of cities and brought in peasants to fulfill their roles. Librarians were included in this push-out while peasants came to replace them.
The government told these peasant-librarian replacements, "Take care of the books and don't let them get hurt." To the peasants, that meant not to let them be read, touched, hardly to be looked at with a cross eye. In fact, this professor traveled to China to do research and he went to a library requesting a book.
"I need [title of the book]." Ironically, he can see the very book he needs right behind the librarian's desk.
"I'm sorry, we don't have that book."
"It's right behind you."
"I'm sorry, we don't have that book."
This continued for over an hour with a translator.
The professor finally got the book when the translator lied about the professor's entitlements, but this means something significant for the Chinese people in a communistic society. The availability of educational texts is limited if not impossible due to governmental restrictions. The cost of fair and accessible education in China must be immensely expensive.
I began to contemplate this story when I bought my textbooks online. The cost for textbooks is undoubtedly a ridiculous amount of money for one book. The monopolizing of the textbook industry with new editions, authors, and editors practically paralyzes the availability of educational accessible material for a large portion of American peoples unable to pay for tuition, let alone textbooks. Nonetheless, the cost is nothing compared to that of a restrictive governmental society. What a blessing that I can pay hundreds of dollars each semester for a half a dozen textbooks!
-----
Of the seventeen years of existence of Camp Baker, it is rumored that this is the year of the poorest fishing. Although we certainly have not gone hungry, fishing has been a struggle like I have never remembered before. I suppose there are many environmental and biological logical reasons for this fishing decline, but maybe the fish are helping us to curb our human problems.
With a play on the words of Bruce from Finding Nemo, "I am a nice [human], not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food."
I hope that the fish don't hold out too long though because I'm not sure I want to buy as many groceries next summer.
"Did you run out of gas or something?"
"Oh, no, I prefer to walk in the natural environment rather than artificial roadways. Let me tell you what I mean. There is going to be a galactic war..."
Let's stop there a second. When a man wearing scrubs gets in your vehicle, you think maybe he is a doctor who needs a ride. You rarely jump to the conclusion that he knows about a galactic war that you've never heard about.
"...and I don't want you to be scared, that's why I have to tell you about it. The governments of the world have destroyed the environment with plastic and removing the plankton of society. Now they will attack and the environment will take over again. The galactic societies will seek to destroy us one by one."
I pull the car to the side of the road where we are turning and this seemingly harmless, but potentially ill man, beings to get out of the vehicle.
"Don't be scared when the government tries to draft you, just stand strong and don't fight."
What surprises me most about this adventure was that it lasted about three minutes and he didn't give us the chance to get one word in. He was definitely on a mission to tell us about this galactic war. I guess I'm glad that I know about this war, but it probably won't deter me from getting plastic next time I'm at the grocery.
-----
A few weeks back my aunt and her family invited a husband and wife acquaintance for dinner. A retired professor and international teacher of English, the couple had amazing stories of international education. They spent several years in China during the 1990s and it gave me great insight to the cost of textbooks, a much dreaded cost for all students.
According to this man, when there was a cultural political upheaval in China the government pushed all educated individuals out of cities and brought in peasants to fulfill their roles. Librarians were included in this push-out while peasants came to replace them.
The government told these peasant-librarian replacements, "Take care of the books and don't let them get hurt." To the peasants, that meant not to let them be read, touched, hardly to be looked at with a cross eye. In fact, this professor traveled to China to do research and he went to a library requesting a book.
"I need [title of the book]." Ironically, he can see the very book he needs right behind the librarian's desk.
"I'm sorry, we don't have that book."
"It's right behind you."
"I'm sorry, we don't have that book."
This continued for over an hour with a translator.
The professor finally got the book when the translator lied about the professor's entitlements, but this means something significant for the Chinese people in a communistic society. The availability of educational texts is limited if not impossible due to governmental restrictions. The cost of fair and accessible education in China must be immensely expensive.
I began to contemplate this story when I bought my textbooks online. The cost for textbooks is undoubtedly a ridiculous amount of money for one book. The monopolizing of the textbook industry with new editions, authors, and editors practically paralyzes the availability of educational accessible material for a large portion of American peoples unable to pay for tuition, let alone textbooks. Nonetheless, the cost is nothing compared to that of a restrictive governmental society. What a blessing that I can pay hundreds of dollars each semester for a half a dozen textbooks!
-----
Of the seventeen years of existence of Camp Baker, it is rumored that this is the year of the poorest fishing. Although we certainly have not gone hungry, fishing has been a struggle like I have never remembered before. I suppose there are many environmental and biological logical reasons for this fishing decline, but maybe the fish are helping us to curb our human problems.
With a play on the words of Bruce from Finding Nemo, "I am a nice [human], not a mindless eating machine. If I am to change this image, I must first change myself. Fish are friends, not food."
I hope that the fish don't hold out too long though because I'm not sure I want to buy as many groceries next summer.
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