Fine . . . . . I'll be serious

First off I would like to say Thank You to all you people who commented on my lack of posting. Sometimes, in this world, its nice to know you've been missed.

These last few weeks have been extremely eventful for me. I've had tons of new experiences and have mostly loved them. I've served on a federal jury, helped plan and work in a Missions Conference, finally figured out where my parents stand on Brittany (more ups and downs than a roller coaster), traveled to and from Ohio, had Thanksgiving with Justin's family, saw James and Aisling Solarek and burned my throat out from the chlorine in their hot tub, actually got to see Dale and Jess a little bit and realized I haven't read a good book in months (by far the longest time in my life - previously it was maybe two weeks).

Back at Maranatha I was extremely tired of the politics involved with the college. I was tired of having rules all around me that - while they made sense and were possibly necessary - were not at all what I believed in. I was almost physically ill with the way that people were destroyed because of the way they didn't fit into the 'good kid' mold. And I was upset that the system in place had no way for me as a person to voice my concerns in a way that would not be construed as rebellious and sinful.

Because of these things (and because I'm twenty-two and ready to get on with my life) I was very happy that God plopped the opportunity to go to Shannon into my lap. But I was concerned because of what I would be giving up, I wouldn't see any of my friends, I was moving away from an established routine, I wouldn't be able to see much of Britt, etc. Now I can see that - just as I needed to gain perspective from Falls before I could judge it accurately - I also needed space from Maranatha and all that I had known to be able to accurately understand what it had meant to me. I don't profess to understand everything, I can't even understand myself 90% of the time but I do know that I've started to be able to judge effectively for my own self for the first time. (sorry for the syntax of that sentence - but I try never to rewrite).

I have seen that it is possible in a staunch Midwestern community to have a traditional fundamental church that does well. But more importantly I've seen that the importance isn't the preaching or the music or the knowledge or the standards that make this difference. Its the people, the people here are genuine, there belief in the tradition that makes up most of fundamentalism is still real and unjaded. Its because of this belief that the church works - because they haven't forgotten about people and because they haven't forgotten that mistakes are part of being a human. Now I'm not really saying that I'm a traditional fundamentalist - because I'm not and I really can't stand the stigma that's attached to the title. What I'm saying is that it is very encouraging for me to see Christian faith in action; with a group of people who are truly passionate about what they believe.

And now its your turn. Is it possible that the move to postmodernism in Christianity is driven by people who are disillusioned with fundamentalist modernity, or by the desire for change, or is it possible that there really is no change in Christianity, only a rewording and retradionalizing?


p.s. Dale - this discharges me from having to write anything serious for a long time.

Whatever I feel like saying

So I realize I haven't blogged in a while (for me, not for you other retards who don't ever blog, or for those people who don't tell me their blog so I can't go and read while they can read mine!! - that's right, you know who you are).

I served on a federal jury all of last week, really quite an interesting experience. I kept thinking about Shakespeare and theatrics and staging and all sorts of odd things. I also was learning about drugs and distribution schemes, I heard the word "cumulative" enough in those five days to last me the rest of the year, I sat for five days straight and then ate and then sat, I got to spend a couple of nights with Dale and Jess in their really cool new place, I only made Jess mad at me once or twice and Dale and I argued with each other over everything - good times all round. I also drove a lot.

I think that this Thursday will either be
a) unqualifiedly (is this a word?), unbelievably, stupendously amazing. Or,
b) horrible

I also had to help get a missions conference ready (sorry Pastor Tim for not being here last week), and try to help run said missions conference.

I talked to Justin from Ironwood on Monday night so that was really cool. Dude might be going to Oxford this summer - I'm completely totally jealous. Really I am - it almost ruined the conversation with him (ok, maybe not - sarcasm doesn't communicate in print very well does it).

I'm almost sick to my stomach with terror.

I haven't been this nervous since my junior recital.

I love you all - some more than others but I still love everyone.

going to print reports, distribute reports, cut prayer sheets, set up video equipment, teach piano lessons and not fall asleep.

I would address you by name if any of you were able to communicate anything going on in your life through your blog - but since your not I think your all idiots.

(thats sarcasm)

I now will attempt to ruin every joke on my blog by explaining it ad nauseam thereby creating a commentary on the irrelevance of your actions and my actions and promoting the atrophy of the collective American brain.

Did you know that Bill Gates made some comments saying that America needs to make it harder to graduate from high school (while I tend to agree with him) its ironic coming from the richest man in the world . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . who's a high school dropout.

bye

Space

Ok, so I was able to take this astronomy class once and I loved it. The teacher and I got along great there was a math major in my lab group so I never thought in numbers, the tests made sense, the sky was cloudy so I wasn't up till all hours of the night doing observations, and I took it in summer school so it was over in about 3 weeks. (did I mention that I got an A in it?) All in all a great class. I tell you this to let you know that I tend to find space fascinating (see sci-fi post) and I really love space photographs (may Hubble live forever!!!) And so there's this photograph which, honestly, is incredible. Space, in my estimation, is one of the great proofs of God. Because of its complexity, incredibly vast distances and amazing beauty I can not help but look at it and see God. (I do realize that other people see other things - but there wrong and I'm not). So heres the picture, take a moment to marvel at the amazingness of the beauty God has given us.




By the way: this is a picture of Saturn eclipsing Sol, taken from the Cassini spacecraft. The camera was facing back into the solar system and if you can zoom in on the picture (try clicking on it). you can see Earth at the 10 o'clock position (Saturns the clock face) just inside the outermost circle.

Why do we have to settle?

What is wrong with a society that consistently denigrates and mocks one of the true achievements of mankind. Why do we feel consistently inclined to mock people who choose to spend years of their lives investing their entire beings to know the unknowable. Music is one of God's great gifts, and over time their have been men and women who have devoted themselves to the skillful (key word here) construction of music. I am consistently amazed that people who consider (and sometimes are) themselves reasonably intelligent people will ridicule classical music. Now, admittedly I am biased in this case (horribly so, in point of fact). I grew up with classical music - I get classical music - I love classical music. But!!!!! that doesn't mean that you should ignore what I'm saying here. I'm not saying that you need to like it. I'm completely fine with you not enjoying classical music and with you not understanding it. Frankly, if everyone 'got' classical music it wouldn't be a hard thing to be a musician. But why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, do you feel the need to mock the music or the musicians? Really, for those people who have actually taken the time to understand what they're talking about your just making yourself look like an idiot. The level of complexity in the philosophy, technical details, performance details, history, and performers far surpasses anything that the 'pop' realm has ever offered. There's a reason that its called a 'fine art'. It's comparable to a chef and a Mcdonalds worker. Sure, your going to get fed at both of them - but one of them will fill you up with chemicals and grease, (thereby killing you) and one of them will give you a range of flavors and tastes that will satisfy your palate and your stomach, oh, and it won't lessen your lifespan either.
Now, I will confess to listen (and even enjoy) non-classical music. Some of it is even well done. (although we're discussing 10 songs out of every million - and no, thats not an exaggeration).
But just like Mcdonalds, too much is a really, really bad thing. And too much is a very small number.
And, I think that its even worse when the people mocking it are Christians. Seriously, who else in the world should tolerate and encourage things of value if not for the Christians? In fact, its strangely ironic that I'm credited with a higher degree of respect amongst secular people for being a classical musician than I am amongst the Christians that I've met.

And now its your turn. Tell me about how I shouldn't make fun of people who like something thats not cultured. Defend yourself by saying "I guess I'm just stupid". Tell me that I'm not being tolerant while preaching for tolerance.
In reply to this I say that it is never appropriate to settle for 'good enough'. It is never right to not push your mind to the limits. It is never right to mock anything that God has given to us.