Wednesday, May 30

quoting and thinking

"I'm not sitting here at my computer, for example, because I was here ten minutes ago--or because once upon a time my parents gave me being. I'm here because right now God is bringing me out of nothing into being. And so it is with you, and your dog, and your shoes, and everything else in the universe." ~Robert F. Capon.

Considering the fact that we are dependant upon no other person nor force for our existence, we are pleased to be found in the present state of accumilating post-ex nihilo stuff for our household. If our furniture exists in the mind of God before it enters our house, then o how full are all those blank walls and corners and kitchen floors! We spent all of Memorial Day discovering the store that boasted on cartoonish banners "CLEARANCE SALE" "MEMORIAL DAY SALE" "END OF SEASON SALE." We entered with the wariness of purchasers who have precious hard earned money to spend and the scepticism of penny pinchers practicing hard to please. A hour later, we left the store with refreshing hope and the happiness of a vision. We saw pub tables around which to host our friends, rugs combining the antiquity of wool fibers with modern abstract colour, and a salesman we could trust (even with all our inexperienced youth). Thus, we experienced into the future the idea of possessions held in existence even now until we should pile them into our truck bed and subject them to the beating of everyday life as we live in growing and changing community with our neighbours.

Saturday, May 26

More Thoughts On Postmodernity

Denis Haack, who along with his wife Margie, are the directors of Ransom Fellowship; a ministry that is committed to developing discernment and deepening discipleship within the Church.

Mr. Haack has written a very good response to a young lady who is struggling with the Church's lack of interaction with our Postmodern culture. He has mixed criticism with grace, and given sound wisdom we all would be wise to heed.

Friday, May 25

Blast From the Past


This should be a fun movie to watch...Jay was one of my upper-classmen at Annapolis. He yelled at me quite a bit during my Plebe year, and then flew with me quite a bit after.

Don't worry, he has has been made fun of amply for the "docudrama" being done on him.

Sunday, May 20

Postmodern Epistemology


We have both been enjoying the band Keane as of late. Keane is an eclectic mix of folk/alternative/new age rock that blends a fun mix of sounds that both cause one to think as well as be bolstered by their upbeat sounds.

One of their recent works, Under The Iron Sea, contains the song "Is it Any Wonder." Have a look at the lyrics:

"I always thought that I knew
I'd always have the right to
Be living in the kingdom of the good and true and so on
But now I think I was wrong
and you were laughing along
and now I look a fool for thinking you were on my side

Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder that I don't know what's right?

Sometimes it is hard to know where I stand
It's hard to know where I am
Well maybe it's a puzzle I don't understand
Sometimes I get the feeling that I'm
stranded in the wrong time
Where love is just a lyric in a children's rhyme

Is it any wonder I'm tired?
Is it any wonder that I feel uptight?
Is it any wonder that I don't know what's right?

This song is a great example of how post modern thought is so prevalent in the very ideas and lyrics of our culture. And so, it is imperative that we, the Church, understand where our friends are coming from and thus be able to provide the answers to what is right, show a reason to stand, and show that there really is a kingdom of the good and true. Indeed, we should not just have the answers, but live the answers.

Friday, May 18

What I am thinking right now.




Friday, May 11

the unthanked guest

I remember it every time I look at the photo of my groom and me on my dresser. In a frame of Waterford crystal with a wavy heart pattern (as if saying "may waves of love wash over your hearts when worn and weary as on this heart-warming day"), the picture is held secure. The giver is entirely unknown, the casulty of a war with Bed, Bath and Beyond tissue and their complementary, miniscule gift tags. Maybe we'll meet again when in conversation with some old family friend, they mention how they always give crystal frames to newlyweds and surely we have one in our permanent decor?

Thursday, May 10

Joyful Living


Living joyously and expectantly are just two of the ways that we as Christians are called to fulfill our cultural mandate. Unfortunately we really don't do a good job worshipping our Lord joyfully. How to adequately celebrate events such as the Sabbath is a question that is deserving of much contemplation. I found this website on Greg Wilbur's blog. While it does not answer all of my questions, it does give me a good start.

Tuesday, May 8

On The Other Hand...

Do you notice how often folks are asked to apologize for things these days? I mean, there are always news events reported on that are demanding an apology for some offense taken. (Imus anyone?) What good does this apology do for us, or for the offended? The party line would state that confession is good for the soul and that the individual, or peoples, or ethnic group, et al who have been apologized to feel better.

At best, this is a half truth. At worst, a gross lie. If you really think about it true repentance can only mean that the time for the repair of one's life is over and you are in greater need of an embalmer than a physician. Robert Capon mentions in his book Between Noon and Three that it is "simply pointless to confess to anybody unless you are either prepared to stay dead or be sure that the person you are dealing with is capable of, and committed to, raising the dead. Anyone committed to less than that will just insist, glumly or gladly, on shoveling dirt onto your coffin".

However, does this mean that we should not apologize for committing a wrong? No...because of Grace. Grace has died, is dying, and will die for our life. Our omissions kill, and our joy consequently comes from Another. Consequently, unless we accept the forgiveness of the One who is able to raise the dead, our confessions are worthless. They become nothing more than the last desperate gasps of western civilization as she tries to hold on to some false morality.

Sunday, May 6

Look: it's "sweet pinky nose"!