Senior 25: Philosophical - On Truth

The following is the link for a friend's blog--one that I found interesting and on which I commented.

http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=82059846&blogID=159596367&indicate=1

Blessings,

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"God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world.

Senior 24: Home and Belonging

“HOME IS WHERE IT’S impossible to overstay and you can’t wear out your welcome.”

Reflecting on this truth (which one of my mentors shared with me) has been wonderfully rewarding and encouraging for me this week. I was also reading (and shared in a brief devotional about) John 15; in the first seventeen verses of that chapter, Jesus makes various statements about abiding in the vine, abiding in Christ’s love, bearing fruit, making requests of God, keeping God’s commandments, being friends of Christ, and loving one another.

As I reflected on this aphorism and the short scripture passage, I was heartened by the strong sense of "belonging" that emerged. So much of life seems to be driven by expectations--of teachers, friends, family, or even oneself. We are positively obsessed with hitting the mark, making the deadline, meeting the quota, and reaching that level; and when we fail, frustration, discouragement, and bitterness often follow. We all sense that critical eye--watching us, evaluating us, measuring and appraising us.

How freeing would it be to escape that critical, condemning eye? To live in the true reality of security, warmth, and well-being?

This is, in part, the picture that emerges in John 15: a branch abiding in the vine. That sense of "belonging" naturally emerges, along with dependence, reliance, and sustenance. And Jesus assures His disciples, "he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit". We don't have to worry about the results; that will be taken care of.

Jesus also says, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." Talk about presumption! Me, ask for whatever I wish!?! Who would endure it? --Apparently, God would. The image of a child asking her parents for a gift comes to mind; there is no presumption in this image because it is quite right and appropriate for a child to make requests of her parents.

And finally, "No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you." He calls us "friends." There is no criticism, no evaluation. Instead, acceptance and a loving embrace.

"Home is where it's impossible to overstay and you can't wear out your welcome." Home is where you belong, where familial love is at the center and there is neither presumption nor imposition. And this is the relationship that we have with our Heavenly Father.

ASIDE: It seems to me that this is also the environment most conducive to solid growth. John 15 also speaks of obeying God's commandments; but this instruction cannot be separated from the context.

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TODAY WAS MY LAST day of work at APU Facilities Management. About eight of the staff and student employees took me out to lunch at a small Mexican restaurant. The APU custodial department has an all-around great staff. If you're in the dorms during the morning or see one of them around campus, do say, Hello. And if you have more time, talk to them. (And always be conscientious about flushing toilets, throwing trash away in the proper receptacles, and cleaning up after yourself).

THIS WEEKEND BEGINS MEN'S Chorale choir camp. Interacting with the other two chaplains has been very exciting; I'm really looking forward to this year.

ALRIGHT, THAT'S ENOUGH FOR now.

Blessings, all

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"God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world."

Senior 23: Still Sans Driver's License

FOR THOSE FRIENDS AND family who were rooting for me in my quest to acquire my driver's license (finally, at the age of 21), I must regrettably serve notice that I am still "NDL" (No Driver's License). I took the behind-the-wheel test this morning and, if I read this recondite and indecipherable score sheet correctly, only made four errors. But when I drove over a dip a little too fast and the car bottomed out, my fate was effectively sealed.

I will not be able to retake until 05 September 2006. (Here insert fervent and impassioned declamations against the DMV and its accursed bureaucracy!) I was rather devastated to not have passed over something so easily avoidable. I suppose I was riding on very high hopes and expectations.

But time heals all wounds (and "Pinky and the Brain" helps to expedite that process). And when viewed with a larger perspective, this is but a small hiccup amongst a great many goods (even if it is wretchedly inconvenient and disappointing).

I GOT A NEW cell phone. And I needed it too. (The antenna on my old cell phone broke and the battery was slowly-but-surely fading into nothing.) It's a camera phone--which is fun.

I'M ALSO LEARNING TO ride a bicycle.
_____"You've never ridden a bicycle before???"
_____"No, I've never ridden a bicycle before."
At least, not before this past Tuesday. But Brian and Melissa took the time to help me out and get me started. (Thank you, Lord God, for wonderful friends!) I just rode around the parking lot of the Pinery. Different people stopped at intervals to watch. Everyone was encouraging; and I even got a cheer from one of the upstairs' windows.

AND WHILE I'M ON the topic of good things, I have to say a word about my parents. I'm not inserting this just because they also read my blog, but because they really are wonderful and I appreciate, so much, all that they do for me.

My dad brought my bicycle out of storage and paid for a tune-up and all the accessories that I needed. He's been teaching me to drive, taken care of arranging the insurance, and taught me about automotive care, and is doing so much more besides. My mom always stands by me, lending her love and time and support. In small gifts and words of encouragement, she is so uplifting. My dad is wise, intelligent, and discerning; I love talking with him about all sorts of things. And my mom is a model of Christian devotion-- dedicated, thoughtful, and attentive; she is an inspiration. I am so thankful to God for both of them.

AND FOR FRIENDS--THANK you, God, for good friends! Tuesday was game night at Rebecca's and Lisa's and Leah's and Dayna's apartment. Thank God for monkey bread! I got to meet Jack, who spent some time in Oxford, and hear more about Dayna's time in the UK. We played Cranium and talked and watched a video of Rebecca's music students' Christmas show and it was great.

Then I saw Andrea and Sean on Wednesday at the end of Andrea's tour with the Continentals.

And there are more familiar faces showing up around campus. It's wonderful.

HMM... THREE MORE THINGS: First, I'm very excited about the Men's Chorale. I'll be serving as one of three chaplains AND as the baritone section leader. I am anticipating that that, quite apart from my class and work load, will keep me very busy; but I am very excited about the opportunity to minister and serve. Please keep me in your prayers as I move into those responsibilities over these coming weeks.

SECOND, I GOT MY work schedule for the fall. I think everything will work out well, which makes me very happy. This is my schedule, as it stands now, written out in blocks of time.

FINALLY, A LITTLE PHILOSOPHICAL musing for those who like that. (Like always it will be brief and truncated. I will not go through everything explicitly and systematically. Contact me if you have questions about my thought processes and Biblical interpretations.)

I've been thinking recently about two, I think, closely related issues (though they might not appear so at first glance): Christian charity and the Great Reversal.

"Great Reversal" is describes the pattern that emerges in Jesus' teachings about the places and positions of people in the Kingdom of Heaven. In the gospels he often says things like:

"The last shall be first and the first last."
"If anyone wants to be greatest, he must be the least of all."
"Anyone who makes themselves like this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven"
"How hard it is for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God."
"Blessed are the poor," and "Woe are the rich."
"I say to you Pharisees, the tax collectors and prostitutes are entering the Kingdom of Heaven ahead of you."
"Many will come from the East and West to sit at the Banquet in the Kingdom of Heaven, but the subjects of the Kingdom will be cast out."
"I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
(These are all loose paraphrases from memory.)

As I have studied these passages and read about some of them, I have come to realize how they reflect the universal accessibility of Jesus Christ and the Gospel. No one is to be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven if only they will repent and follow Christ. But I believe that these sorts of passages can be misinterpreted, and, their message in the Christian community, misapplied so that they actually become another set of rules for distinguishing between those who are 'in' and those who are 'out.'

(Paul gives an excellent treatment of the Great Reversal, as it applies to the nation of Israel and the Gentile Church, in the book of Romans. My thanks to John--from the International Christian Fellowship--for showing that to me.)

The situation can be easily illustrated by considering the relationship between the rich and the poor. In first-century Israel, wealth was considered to be a sign of God's favor; thus the wealthy were those who were on good terms with God, it was thought. Then Jesus came along and turned the tables on his followers and disciples. He said, "It is hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. I tell you the truth, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God." (also paraphrase) Many have unfortunately taken this to mean that wealth is an inherently bad thing (or at least inherently 'problematic.') In doing so, they have created a whole new class of people who are "excluded" from the Kingdom. Before it was the poor who were excluded. Now it is the rich who are excluded (in some circles of Christianity). But neither of these views captures the truth of Christ's earth-shattering, soul-liberating message. Jesus came to give life to ALL. No one is excluded; the Life Eternal is available to anyone who will accept it. And THAT is a reversal that is every bit as mind-blowing and even more so because it so challenges our human sensibilities.

Now, I believe that this "false reversal" instantiates itself in many, many ways. How ironic that in desiring to love everyone, to love even the unlovable, one can sometimes create whole new classes of unlovable and untouchable people. This is where true Christian charity comes in. And this is where the challenge comes in. Who do I think is irretrievably lost to the Kingdom of Heaven? Who do I think can't possibly qualify? Put another way: Who do I not like? Who frustrates me? Who annoys me? Do I extend, even to them, the full extent of God's love and charity?

Well that will do for now.

Richest blessings to you all,

-----

"God is in this place,
And that reality, seen and understood by the grace of God in Christ Jesus through the work of the Holy Spirit, makes all the difference in the world."

Senior 22: Pondering

SO THERE ARE TWO KINDS of 'pondering': (1) the kind that is conducted in the ivory towers and learned halls of academia and (2) the kind that is conducted every night in a certain mouse cage at the Acme Laboratories, especially concerning ingenious and intricate plans for taking over the world.

I was both surprised and pleased when my dad bought the first volume of Steven Spielberg's "Pinky and the Brain" on DVD. I am quite certain that nine of every ten popular, cultural, political, and historical references is lost on me, but it's still fun to watch. And after rewatching only three episodes, I can once again recall the entire theme song from memory perfectly. Perhaps some would call that a 'lesser' accomplishment, but I still got a kick out of it.

ON SUNDAY, I ATTENDED THE Duarte Church of Christ. That was an experience, quite different from that to which I am accustomed.

A COUPLE WEEKS AGO I took the GRE (Graduate Records Exam); it's like the SAT for graduate school. Like the SAT, it includes a Verbal and Quantitative section, but it also incorporates an Analytic Writing section (consisting of two essays to be written in 30 and 45 minutes, approximately). I received my final results this week with mixed feelings. My raw verbal score was not as high as I would have initially liked, but I found out that my performance actually placed me in the 94th Percentile for that section. (Huzzah!) My Analytic Writing score (4.5 on a 6.0 scale) was in the 54th Percentile. (Not-so-huzzah!) But I think I'll just live with that rather than paying $115 to retake the whole test with the possibility of going higher or lower. (It's hard to beat the 94th Percentile.) I'll just work really hard on my Application Writing Sample. Praise God!

Please be praying for me with regard to all things grad-school-related. I'm both excited and extremely anxious. But "God is good all the time."

AND TODAY--I VISITED THE Getty Museum. Five of us went and had a great time. I do look forward to seeing everyone again once school has started. Gradually close friends are returning from trips and travels and I am so excited to see them all.

FINALLY, FOR THIS ENTRY, MY time at the Getty spurred much interesting reflection. In my last blog I said I might write about 'choice'. On Monday, I thought I might write about 'oppression'. Then about 'fear'. And today, my mind is so full of thoughts and ideas and connections that there is virtually no hope of successfully and coherently articulating them.

My friend, Michael, helped me sift through many of the ideas. He also pointed out the problem of lack-of-appropriate-context in blogging. But I've decided to throw this all out there anyway. And it may not make sense; some of it may even be incorrect (that's part of drafting), so just remember that this is just me musing and batting around incomplete thoughts:

Most of the art at the Getty dates from before 1900. For the most part, I like art from that time, especially paintings from the late Middle Ages and Renaissance. But the last exhibit we saw at the museum was from the early 20th Century, titled: "A Tumultuous Assembly: Visual Poems of the Italian Futurists." In the years preceding and during the first World War, these artists and poets were especially active. The following is an excerpt from the exhibit's description:

"In 1909 a handful of artists and poets under the age of 30, led by Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, published "The Founding and Manifesto of Futurism". Meant to scandalize, incite, and amuse, the manifesto declares that scientific and technological inventions have altered concepts of time and psace, caused a deep change in the psyche, and in effect created a new humanbeing. The Futurists prescribe war as "hygiene" to rejuvenate society and argue that new kinds of art will arise to reflect the modern world. Italy, they proclaim, with its burdensome legacy of ancient and Renaissance art and its numerous museums that "cover her like so many cemeteries," has to destroy its cultural institutions and create new ones. / The Futurists eventually extended their polemic into all areas of politics and culture, issuing manifestos describing how to reinvent painting, music, cooking, clothing, architecture, design, warfare, education, courtship, and government. / In three manifestos written from 1912 to 1914, the Futurists set forth the technical features of the words-in-freedom [the Futurist literary style], arguing that syntax and punctuation would have to be destored so that words could be set free. On the one hand, they would strip down language; on the other, they would enrich it with devices from nonlinguistic domains." (JoAnne Paradise and Annette Leddy, Exhibition Curators, Getty Research Institute)

At first I found myself disturbed and perturbed by these statements and the 'visual poems'. They were disorienting and contrary and challenging. And I started to think about the different approaches to art. It has been said by some that the purpose of art is to challenge the way that we see the world. But how far should it go and where will it end? And no less disquieting is the question raised by so many alternative presentations of reality: "Am I certain that my way is the right way?"

I've noticed a pattern among my friends who are studying sociology and anthropology. They frequently comment on how their exposure to so many different cultures, lifestyles, and ways of living, has given them pause in thinking about their own lives and worldviews. To step outside of the American scene and see others living in radically different settings and following radically different patterns, often quite successfully, leads one to reevaluate one's own life-pattern. Similar reflections are made in religion and philosophy.

I've been reading about 'fear' and 'anxiety' in a book on Theological Anthropology by F. LeRon Shults. These seem to be an essential part of the human condition, of our finitude. The breadth of the Unknown is overwhelming, the size of the universe and its enormous diversity. We find ourselves in this place and are staggered by its immensity.

It seems to me that this 'anxiety' IS a part of the human condition, a natural outgrowth of our innate finitude. BUT, I am unwilling to accept agnosticism; everything within me cries out against being loosed, anchorless, to drift aimlessly across a sea of uncertainty. There must be Truth out there, the Answer, Bedrock, Foundation.

The tools of philosophy may be helpful on this point, by reminding us that Truth is not decided by the masses. And sociology/anthropology, while quite apt at collecting and describing all sorts of behavioral and phenomenal data, is NOT suited to EVALUATE that data; at least, not apart from some transcendent system of criteria.

That's why I'm a philosopher (*impish grin)--because it is one of the jobs of Philosophy to consider and evaluate just those sets of criteria. But before we can establish a set of criteria, we must identify what it is that we are evaluating. And looking at the Futurists or the great religions of the world, there appears to be this understanding that humanity has a problem and is in need of a solution.

...

*Sigh. I'm not yet half way through and the, so called, "Final" portion of this blog entry has already grown to over 400 words (and it's now well past my bed-time). If you've actually read this far, that is very encouraging to me. Perhaps I will continue this in a later entry. Perhaps you would like to speak with me directly on these topics. Perhaps someone who actually knows something about art and art history would like to step in and educate me because, the fact is, I am grossly ignorant. But these are just some of my thoughts and musings.

The end result is this: over the last several weeks and months, I have grown more and more convinced that the only hope for mankind is to be found in Jesus Christ, alone. I suppose I've known that for some time now. But as I grow and learn and walk and live, the fulness of that reality--that apart from Christ we can do nothing, but with Him all things are possible (paraphrase)--has become more and more real. The Good News of Jesus Christ, God incarnate, who lived, died, was resurrected and offers New Life in His Name is the best and only solution to the problems of humanity, corporately and individually.

How's that for a thesis?

Good night,
Richest blessings,