Wrecked lives of ridiculous hope

I just finished watching the movie Freedom Writers. Its a story of a woman who teaches at a school overrun with sub-par students mixed up in gangs, drugs, and other poor inner-city struggles. Against great odds, she believes there is hope for these students, and gives herself endlessly, working extra jobs to pay for books and trips, even to the detriment of her own marriage. Its a story, ultimately, of redemption.

I fear that often times it is far too easy to settle down into our lives as Christians. Our initial decision to follow Jesus is radical. It takes us somewhere new. Its fresh. There are new people to meet and new things to learn. But over time it becomes...normal. Stale. Somehow, it becomes possible for me to begin to take grace for granted. A gospel that is supposed to be life-shattering is tamed. Gratitude recedes into a pitiful state of routine.

What is inspiring about the story in Freedom Writers is that its about normal people; a normal teacher and some normal students. Its refreshing to see someone devote themself to a dream of something better, to hope for something hopeless - and to see that this is not in vain.

It's never easy. It wrecked her life.

As followers of the risen Jesus, may we live "wrecked lives" of ridiculous hope.

A good use of time

We're supposed to climb this sucker sometime in the next five years...who is in?

From dust to death

44 days ago on Ash Wednesday, I was reminded that I am merely dust, and to dust I will return.

Today I am reminded of a cross of sacrifice with an unimaginable, unfathomable amount of love behind it.

The contrast is mind-boggling

A lesson from prostitutes, tax collectors, and sinners

Some of Jesus' comments are confusing to me. "The least will be greatest". "Blessed are the poor in spirit". "Those forgiven much will love much". "Be like a child". "How hard it is for the rich". "The tax collectors and sinners are entering the Kingdom before you". Its almost like what Jesus teaches is backward. It's not like how our world operates.

In Sunday school, I used to hear about how Jesus spent so much time with the tax-collectors and other sinners. For crying out loud, a prostitute...cried on his feet. I always thought that Jesus liked these people because "he came to seek and save the lost", and I thought that these people were happy to be around Jesus cause he was...well...Jesus. I'm not so sure that's the case though. I think these people loved Jesus because they loved everyone. They welcomed anyone. They would eat with whoever. They had no image to maintain, no religion to bow to. They were simple people, sinful - yes, but real. Jesus was digging it. And I'm sure he loved being loved.

There's this one story about Jesus where the religious elite are questioning him about why he spends so much time eating with sinners (I actually searched "sinner" in NIV and nearly all references in Matthew reference who Jesus is dining with). His response is worth noting - a quote from an ancient Jewish prophet: I desire mercy, not sacrifice.

Could Jesus really mean that? Maybe there's something to be learned from the tax-collectors and sinners...because really, we aren't all that different, are we?

Why I'm Not a Nerd

Nerd noun - Slang
1. an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd.
2. an insignificant student who is ridiculed as being affected or boringly studious [syn: swot]
3. an intelligent but single-minded expert in a particular technical field or profession

For one to be explicitly categorized as a nerd, I would assume that and analysis of the party in question would have to meet most - if not all - of the standards used in defining one as such. So here is my analysis of myself by the aforementioned criteria:

Intelligent - well yes, I am probably the smartest person that I know or that you know, with a few exceptions (Akash, BLee, a few others ;). Of course, I regularly make statements and then immediately contradict myself within the same sentence, so I feel I am disqualified on that regard - yet still a genius!

Non-social hobby - You mean like writing on a blog? No way. I like climbing rocks.

Boringly studious - I slept through about 60 percent on my college classes, and graduated from the University of Georgia. I think we can put this one to rest.

So in conclusion, while I might work in IT and know how to open those little black windows on the computer, use Firefox as my browser instead of Internet Explorer, and have a friend named Akash...I feel that it would be an act of disregard for those who meet the criteria of nerdness to include myself among their ranks. I'm sure no nerds will take exception to this, as they are all too busy playing World of Warcraft to even care.

St. Patty Drinks Green Beer?

Something in me is saddened when a holiday is robbed of its meaning and intended purpose. It seems that is the pattern of humanity. Something great is done. Later, someone is deeply influenced by the event and they attempt to re-capture and celebrate the event. Yet as generations pass, the original passion behind the celebration begins to diminish and to fade. Soon nobody knows or remembers what is being celebrated and why. But since there is so much money to be made, the tradition continues and the purpose is reinvented.

Such is the case with St. Patrick's Day. On a day that was intended to honor and celebrate a Saint who is credited with the evangelism of Ireland, who's work indirectly saved Christianity from the darkness of the middle ages, we instead celebrate beer. Or green. Or green beer. Weird.

My hope is that Holy Week and its sacred days of remembrance never meet the same fate that St. Patrick's Day, and others, have met.

I guess I don't know everything

I always thought tornadoes didn't hit big cities. I guess I was wrong...

Silence...

Silence is golden. Gold is good because you can buy stuff with it. Therefore silence is good.
(For Zack)

Silence.
Worship.
Beloved.
Rest.
Reflection.

Silence. Thats what I wish I had more of. Too bad I live next to the interstate...

Something worth remembering

I've never been real big on quotes. Some people can rattle them off. "Well Winston Churchill once said" or "Ghandi was famous for saying...". I wish I was one of those people sometimes. I usually don't remember quotes from what I read. I do remember how to get to Sand Rock so I think I'm doing pretty good.

There is one quote that I've known for a long time, but its significance has recently hit me. I'm not the kind of person who enjoys oversimplification, but I feel like the goal of my life could probably be summed up in this one phrase.

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others as better than yourselves."

I should keep this generic

I started a blog because I like to write. I like to write because I like words. And I like to type. I like words because they convey ideas. I like ideas.

I like eloquence.

I hope I get it some day.

Schmuck of the Day

Congratulations to the first Schmuck of the Day, Samuel Colt! Our dear friend Mr. Colt invented and - in 1836 - patented the first revolver.

Previous to this invention, warfare primarily required skill and tactics, as most combat was hand to hand. Extensive training was necessary to master the arts of combat with specialized skill sets developing in different cultures around the world. There were, of course, previous developments in "firearms" following the invention of gun powder. However, with Colt's revolver, it now became possible to kill your neighbor on a whim and annihilate your enemy without ever looking them in the face and taking note of their humanity. Whether intentional or "by accident", killing has become far too convenient. No man should take the life of another without looking him in the eye as he passes. And besides, wouldn't the world be a better place if people were running around with swords?

So thank you, Mr. Colt, for your wonderful contribution to humanity. And congratulations on being voted "Schmuck of the Day".