The Explosive Combinations

Comparisons vs. Combinations

Comparisons happen all the time. Sometimes I think we are unconciously raised to compare ourselves to everyone around us. Everything is a challenge that must be won.
It's impossible to be truly good friends with someone, however, if you are constantly jealous of them or trying to outdo them. It is also hard to be friends if you think only your way is the right way and everything they do is ridiculous. As we shall see, not everyone has the same gifts given to them by God. This means not everyone will have the same calling or go about things the same way you do.

I have been thinking about 1st Corinthians. The book speaks about fellowship in the body of Christ a lot!
How do we get along with one another if we are constantly comparing ourselves to each other?
Paul says "Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? ³⁰ Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? ³¹ But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way." (12:29-31)
   If our own individual gifts are not what matter the most, what does? What is the more excellent way?
  When I was younger, I memorized the next verses. I memorized them thinking that the passage describing love was about "being in love." If I wanted to have a good marriage, I needed to be kind, suffer long, not behave rudely to my husband, etc. I think you do need those things for a good marriage, but I now realize that Paul was talking to the entire church of Corinth. He was telling friends (and maybe people who don't get along so well) to suffer long in love for each other. To bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, endure all things. Not to endure things for the sake of being in love, like Romeo and Juliet, but to proclaim what love really is. Love is not seeking its own, but is being transformed by Christ's love to serve others.
    If I am going to love His body, I am going to have to swallow my pride and admit my way is not the standard for all living: His way is. You can assume all you want about people, and talk about it behind their backs, but when you actually talk to them about it, you may realize they are trying to serve Him the only way they know how. And isn't that a blessing to the Church? Afterall, we are to desire the good gifts, which means desiring people to have gifts that are different than yours, but not any less inferior. So thank God for our differences. For not only would this Earth be an incredibly boring place if we were all the same, but it is through our combined strengths that we shall rebuild this world.

Random Motivating Thoughts

I've been thinking lately, which is typically a good thing.
My Pastor always says that everyone goes through a time of discouragement and darkness in their lives.
For myself, I know I get discouraged or frustrated at God sometimes. I wonder why things are happening the way they do. David seemed to do this a lot in the Psalms. "How long, oh Lord...."
   Even though I get down sometimes, I was born and taught to be a very optimistic person. I can't stay in the depths for long. My biggest enemy is passiveness. Sometimes I just don't want to do anything. Once I begin something for someone else I try to do it with my best abilities. If I'm doing something for someone else I take it very seriously. Why then, do I have such a hard time doing things for myself? Especially finishing things.  I believe it is my mindset that is the problem.
   I am not doing all these little things for myself. I am doing them for Christ and through the Spirit.
God is the one who I do it for, and He is also the one who helps me succeed. He has empowered me to change the world for Him. Why should I get caught up in petty arguments in my head about who I am doing what for? Oh pride, how I loathe thee!

He Saved Others

Good Friday, 1987

Jesus, You know I do not understand

Your love, Your sacraments, Your sufferings,

Your grace exalting me with priests and kings

Reigning forever in the Promised Land.

I am a child who takes his father’s hand

Walking along the beach, who while he clings

Fears not the surf, but begs a tale that brings

Him dreams of sailing far beyond the strand.

O tell me once again and I’ll receive

The things I cannot know and count them true:

How if I were the only man to grieve

The heart of God, You’d take Your cross anew

(I do not understand, but I believe)

To die for me, that I might live for You.

--Philip Rosenbaum

Quite a few years ago, when I was in my teens and going through a poetry phase, I was able to purchase a book of sonnets. It was sold by James Jordan, an amazing Pastor and scholar, and written by a man named Philip Rosenbaum. Every year I try to read through my Holy Week Sonnets. They have been such an encouragement to me. Check out http://christianpoet.org/Poetry_of_Philip_Rosenbaum/Home.html to read more of them.

Good Friday is indeed a good day. It was also the worst day in the life of our Savior. Today I was meditating on what our Lord went through. When I read Mark 15, this part stuck out to me:
"Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said,
 'He saved others; Himself He cannot save.'" (vs. 31)
      What's funny about this passage is, even though the pharisees and scribes were mocking Jesus, what they said was true. Jesus did save others. He saved His chosen people, and He was in the process of saving others while He was on the cross. He could not save His loved ones if He only cared about saving Himself. Christ is the epitomy of unselfishness. He couldn't save Himself even if He wanted to, because He had put His life in His Father's hands: "Thy will be done!"
     Isn't this how God created life to work? The only way we can save ourselves is by saving other people.
 It is a beautifully strange truth. "Lose your life, and you will find it..."
                                              =) Happy Good Friday!

How Could It Be Any Better Than This?

What do I have to do
To try to make you see
Trying to be like you
Isn’t good enough for me

I wont let you go
I wont let you down
I wont give you up

Don’t you give up on me now



Some people wonder why Lifehouse is my favorite band. Lifehouse's lyrics make me think, and their music always matches their lyrics. It's not thinking just in a logical mental state, but also in a relational way. Their music makes you think about relationships from the inside and the outside. God is logical and emotional. Indeed, He is much more than that. I think it's hard for us to be both at the same moment. I might be logical one minute and super crazy the next. God's world, however, is beautiful and complex all at the same time.
    Researching where Jason Wade (lead singer and song writer for LH) came from puts much more meaning into each of his songs. His songs are his reactions and ideas revolving around his most important relationships. Indeed, they tell the story of his life in an abstract way. I think a good composer is able to tell a story with their songs. Jason's stories have been some of the best encouragements to me, and that is why I will always be thankful for Lifehouse.
   Jason's parents were missionaries when he was younger. It wasn't till their divorce, which really affected him, that he turned to poetry and music for support. He lived in Portland, then moved to Washington, then finally to Los Angeles. It was in LA where he met his bass player Sergio and started a worship band called Blyss.  Blyss eventually evolved to Lifehouse, with Rick playing the drums. Over the years Lifehouse has changed. The band had a breakup with Sergio. Rick, however, is still there rockin' and being as goofy as ever. Bryce, awesome Canadian bass player, joined the team, and their latest member is Ben, who is a great Australian guitarist, mate!
    No Name Face was their first CD, and it was a huge success. The songs off that album are really straight from Jason's soul, expressing his frustrations and his faith in God. Jason writes music hoping others will be able to relate to it and be encouraged. He doesn't write music to force ideas down someone's throat. It used to bug me that he wouldn't talk more about God, till I realized the impact his family's breaking up had on him. Still, his songs all have incredible messages, and I think that is how he communicates his worldview the best.

Lifehouse's definition of Love is interesting. Some of the main themes running through their songs are:
Holding on, not giving up
Changing for the relationship
Believing in second chances

Jason has been married to his wife Braeden for ten years. He says that they try not to be apart for more than two weeks at a time, which is tricky since Jason is on the road most of the time. He brought her on his last tour, and he says they are childhood sweethearts, best friends, and still madly in love. Now they're thinking about having kids. :)
     As for Lifehouse, currently they have 5 CDs released, and are still touring around.
I've seen them three times in concert. Amazing every time. Did I mention I have their autographs, pictures, posters, shirts, and have talked to them?

I'm not obsessed, just in love.

 Jason and Braedon

My pic at their last concert

Arise Sleeper

So the captain came to him, and said to him, "What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God; perhaps your God will consider us, so that we may not perish." Jonah 1:6

I was struck by this verse a couple days ago when I read it and I can't get it out of my head.
     It got me thinking, have I been sleeping in my tasks, or have I risen up?
If I am completing a task without thanking God or beseeching His help, am I acting asleep?

When I forget to call on God in my hardships, it is as if I was asleep.

If you structure this verse it could become:
           What do you mean, sleeper?
                     Arise,
                               Call on your God
                             Perhaps your God
                     Will consider us
            So that we may not perish

Chiastically structering the verse this way shows that the first half is what we are to do, and the second half is God's response. Return to the Lord, and He will return unto you it says in Zechariah.
   It also shows it is completely out of our control. God may just consider us. Or He may not.
Sleeper is tied to perish. Arise with consider and call with perhaps.
  Oh, Lord, may we pray to You each day. Hear us, Lord.

                  

Remember your Creator in the days of your youth

I was thinking about birthdays this week. I'm the type of person who doesn't think three different parties is extravagant.
 Especially if you had a: 1. Family party 2. Friends party 3. BFF party
(all parties with different people)
 Afterall, a birthday is a real reason to celebrate each year. Not everyone can party all the time, nor should they. I am of the opinion that everyone should celebrate their birthday each year. Here are some reasons why:

1. Getting older is a blessing from God. Our culture is so obsessed with staying young that sometimes people gripe and complain about another year being gone. Complaining about our age is like complaining that God made us and sustains us. Celebrating your birthday can help you delight in the present time and make you thankful.

2. Celebrating birthdays promotes community. One of the best reasons to get together is to celebrate your loved ones birthdays. We have so many people in our family, we almost celebrate a birthday every month now! It's great!

3. Celebrating a birthday isn't just about the birthday person. It is, however, a good opportunity to let your birthday friend know how much you love them. When it's my own birthday, I try to bless others through my  parties. Dispite what some people say, having a birthday doesn't mean you get to do whatever the heck you want. It also doesn't give you permission to go out and get smashed. You also shouldn't expect presents. Afterall, you wouldn't be born if it wasn't for your parents. Maybe you should give them a present on your birthday. ;)

So go out there and party!!!!

Women and Thorns

Postmodern Ethics

I just spent the last few days finishing a paper for school. This paper was for an Ethics class I am required to take. Unfortunately, the things I have learned in that class scare me.

What I learned is that Post-modernism is evolving. It used to be, only a couple years ago when I first started school that the humanistic books I had to read still believed in the innate goodness of man. In my recent ethics class, I’ve discovered that no longer can we condemn Hitler for his crimes against humanity. Before there was an “every belief is equal as long as it doesn’t hurt mankind” mentality. Nowadays, goodness depends on the culture and everyone is free to make any sort of decision they want to.

Some ethical theories claim that man is completely egotistical, and will always act on that. Others claim that only through caring can we fulfill our beliefs. But caring about everything leads us nowhere.

My answer for all of this is Total Depravity and Christ’s Grace. Yes, every single one of us is born with a sin filled heart. This does not mean we can’t be constantly transformed by the grace of God.

Women in the Workforce

My paper is about the Ethics of Caring and women in the workforce. This is an ethical theory created by women in the 1970s to now that explores the differences between men’s and women’s ethics. Professor Gilligan spoke about an idea she had called Difference Feminism:

Difference Feminism is not like equality feminism, where women try to be more and more like men. Equality feminism is backfiring in our current generation. Girls are climbing up the work place by becoming like men and losing their “voices” in the process. In contrast difference feminism embraces the real dissimilarities between men and women. These differences are not based on mere sociological or biological characteristics, but are physiologically grounded.

–my paper

The corporate world was completely structured by men. I’m not saying that is a bad thing, since men are the ones who are to go out and toil:

Cursed is the ground because of you;
   through painful toil you will eat food from it
   all the days of your life.
¹⁸ It will produce thorns and thistles for you,
   and you will eat the plants of the field.
¹⁹ By the sweat of your brow
   you will eat your food—Genesis 3

In 2009, 46% of workers in the United States were women. That number is increasing each year. They are being thrown into the man’s world of business. Instead of growing and learning from this, most male dominated companies seem to pretend the women are men (except management positions are excluded). The problem is, women do not think the way men do. Also, the Bible says a man is to be head over his wife, not every man over every woman.

 Instead of turning into men, women should help transform the working environment. After all, it’s a woman’s job to be a helper for her husband, and a single woman’s job to change the world for Christ. Transformation only happens through justice and compassion. I’m not asking women to turn their workplace into a gossip hall, but they can add their own unique gifts, like attention to detail and compassion, to improve the work environment.  

Ignoring Difference Feminism can have even worse effects on women. Women don’t have any problems getting jobs now, but they are still trained to think like men. It’s one thing to be equal to men; it’s another thing to be exactly the same. Women shouldn’t be upset when there are more men in a certain field of work. We were all made to do different things. What women should be upset about is when they see their friends behave like men. Women have amazing gifts of sharing compassion with others. We can’t lose that when we join the workforce. We can’t be afraid to speak up.

The woman from Proverbs considers a field then buys it. Looks like men aren’t the only ones to toil in a field. Notice it doesn’t mention any thorns involved. ;)