You know, sometimes I pray, and I feel like there is not enough time in the world to pray, because, really, there isn't. But I start to get antsy and anxious about it, I actually start to tense up, like "Oh no, I just don't have enough time, I can't pray about everything." It's almost like I'm afraid if I don't pray about something God won't take care of it. This actually happens to me. Does it happen to you?
Now, I think I definitely don't spend enough time praying, that in fact I would get everything done, even if I took a little extra time to pray more, and that maybe I should pray a little more instead of watching 24, those things are true, prayer is wonderful and POWERFUL and effective. But, that aside, fact is, I will NEVER be able to pray for everything, I will never be able to "pray enough."
But here is what is beautiful, even when we haven't prayed enough, the Holy Spirit "helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words." (Romans 8:26) Also, Jesus himself is praying for us(v.34). So, we do need to pray. I do need to pray more. But at the same time, I can trust in God to do his will, and to take care of me, and of others, and of His church, and to do His work in me, because even when I don't pray enough, or pray poorly, God himself is praying for me, in His will, and perfectly. I no longer have to be anxious, but I can pray freely, and with joy, knowing that God is at work in me and in the world, and my prayers are simply Him at work in His own way. Praise Jesus for being the God who prays for us, and for taking care of us even when we don't pray well. Because of him we no longer have to be anxious, if we will rest in Him.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Education and Vocations in the Arts Justified
Disclaimer: I'm a musician, I am going to deal with music. I'm not meaning to shortchange anyone. Apply this to all arts by switching out artists and terms.
I really want to edit this and really work it into something more well written and professional. But this is a blog, so here's a start.
There will be a presentation on this next semester that may be the beginning or a seminar series on Christianity and the Arts/Vocation. Stay tuned for date and times!!!
We have so many arts in the world. There are people who argue that all arts have "purpose," and while I agree, when I say that, I don't mean it the way they do.
Since mostly Christians will read this, I'll write that first. If you're not a Christian, let me explain to you that if you've heard that Christians aren't for the arts, or think they only turn out really bad Christianized art, well, for a great deal of "Christian art" and people, YOU ARE RIGHT . . . but THEY ARE WRONG. In fact, I propose that Biblical Christianity (which may look nothing like the Christianity you've encountered in the past) is the only world view that actually, consistent with itself, justifies allowing the arts to truly flourish.
That's a big statement, but stick with me, if for nothing else than to disagree with me.
The Bible teaches that the world is good. The one you're sitting on, the chair you're sitting in, the computer you're using to read this. It's GOOD.
This good creation is broken, however. This guy, named Adam, who was the first Man God created rebelled against God and did something evil, what Christians call sin, and when he did, the whole universe cracked like an egg and shifted 15 degrees to the left. (See Genesis 2 and 3 in the Bible, continue reading to find just how bad it really was/is, brothers killing brothers, that sort of thing.) It was bad. Death entered the world, people started hating each other, tornadoes started tearing down people's houses (regardless of whether they were a "good" or "bad" person, don't buy any of that "God sent Katrina to punish America" stuff), and your best friend started spreading gossip about you to everyone. All that cause some guy ate a piece of fruit. But God is perfectly Holy, and told Adam to do ONE thing, and Adam disobeyed. Whether you like it or not, the entire human race was being represented by one guy. You can complain, the way you do about ambassadors to other countries not really representing you, but, fact is, legally, they do. Same thing here. This broke the entire creation, because the creation rebelled against God. Justice demanded punishment and death. But God is a God "merciful and gracious, forgiving the sins of many." Ultimately God, being merciful, yet perfectly just, had to pay the price of justice Himself, and sent his only Son, who paid the price of justice by hanging on a cross, so the sins of God's people (that is, anyone who had faith in God's promise of a Messiah, Jews and those who converted then, Christians now) could be forgiven, while God's justice was left intact. How does this play into the arts?
God is actually redeeming this broken messed up world. That's actually what Jesus is doing now, 2000 years after He rose from the dead, as He works through His Church. He's not waiting for his people to die so He can have them in Heaven, he's actually redeeming where we are right now. In fact, it will exist for all eternity, the sun will never go supernova and end the human species, the galaxy will never collapse in on itself, but all this broken stuff like death, and your boyfriend cheating on you, and breaking your arm, that's going to go away and the Earth will be the NEW Earth and it will be perfect (at least, there will be no more sadness, sin, and brokenness, only God is perfect), without sin and without suffering and all of us are going to actually come back to life, and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will live on this Earth, doing stuff like building cities, writing symphonies, having bike races, and worshiping God FOREVER. That may not be the Christianity you've heard about, except that last part about worshiping. But the worship will look different than what you may have heard, because it's all this cultural stuff that we do every day as it is, writing books, exercising, putting on concerts, inventing stuff, and building roads. Only our motivation for doing all these things will be perfectly geared towards loving, praising, and glorifying God.
Well, it's true.
There is something weird about this redemption though. God doesn't do it in the same order we would. If someone asked you how you think God should redeem the world, you'd probably say something like "Well, he should feed everyone, get everyone in a modern house, and stop all war." Good answer. God is going to do that. All of it. But, what about let us master music and flourish as individual human beings and communities with culture? Sounds nice, but I have a feeling that wasn't at the top of your list of things you want to see in the world, though you do want to see those things. Well, GOD DOES TOO! The God of the BIBLE. That probably surprises you if you've ever been to a (bleeped to protect the guilty) church. God wants us to write symphonies and take photographs and paint pictures and put on plays and all of it! What's more, it's actually part of the redeeming of the world!!! Whoa! How? Well, okay, so, you think redemption should look like all of that ending of pain stuff, which it should, but the thing is, God wants far more for us than that. He wants us FLOURISH, which, is one of those things that happens in culture. All culture, form the arts to the art of great cooking to the art of running a business, it all matters and it's all a part of us fulfilling our place in this world. Yep, the cliche is true. We all have a place in the world. But the reason is because whatever it is you've been called to do glorifies God, pleases Him, and until that redemption is complete, is a part of redeeming the creation. (After the redemption, all this stuff will continue, but without sin, and we will go on flourishing for eternity, with every day being better with greater things than the day before!) If that doesn't sound crazy awesome, whether you believe it or not, I don't know what does.
So, for a trumpet player like me, I've got all eternity to get better at trumpet (assuming that's my calling), painters have eternity to get better at painting, etc.
And doing that stuff is important because it is part of glorifying God. We also want to be feeding the poor and clothing people and ending suffering. That's really high on the agenda for God. But, for whatever reason, God decided to do all this at once, and not quite in order, but all sort of parallel to each other. That's sort of the mysterious part. I can't defend why God did it in this order instead of the order we'd prefer. That's not my province.
I really want to edit this and really work it into something more well written and professional. But this is a blog, so here's a start.
There will be a presentation on this next semester that may be the beginning or a seminar series on Christianity and the Arts/Vocation. Stay tuned for date and times!!!
We have so many arts in the world. There are people who argue that all arts have "purpose," and while I agree, when I say that, I don't mean it the way they do.
Since mostly Christians will read this, I'll write that first. If you're not a Christian, let me explain to you that if you've heard that Christians aren't for the arts, or think they only turn out really bad Christianized art, well, for a great deal of "Christian art" and people, YOU ARE RIGHT . . . but THEY ARE WRONG. In fact, I propose that Biblical Christianity (which may look nothing like the Christianity you've encountered in the past) is the only world view that actually, consistent with itself, justifies allowing the arts to truly flourish.
That's a big statement, but stick with me, if for nothing else than to disagree with me.
The Bible teaches that the world is good. The one you're sitting on, the chair you're sitting in, the computer you're using to read this. It's GOOD.
This good creation is broken, however. This guy, named Adam, who was the first Man God created rebelled against God and did something evil, what Christians call sin, and when he did, the whole universe cracked like an egg and shifted 15 degrees to the left. (See Genesis 2 and 3 in the Bible, continue reading to find just how bad it really was/is, brothers killing brothers, that sort of thing.) It was bad. Death entered the world, people started hating each other, tornadoes started tearing down people's houses (regardless of whether they were a "good" or "bad" person, don't buy any of that "God sent Katrina to punish America" stuff), and your best friend started spreading gossip about you to everyone. All that cause some guy ate a piece of fruit. But God is perfectly Holy, and told Adam to do ONE thing, and Adam disobeyed. Whether you like it or not, the entire human race was being represented by one guy. You can complain, the way you do about ambassadors to other countries not really representing you, but, fact is, legally, they do. Same thing here. This broke the entire creation, because the creation rebelled against God. Justice demanded punishment and death. But God is a God "merciful and gracious, forgiving the sins of many." Ultimately God, being merciful, yet perfectly just, had to pay the price of justice Himself, and sent his only Son, who paid the price of justice by hanging on a cross, so the sins of God's people (that is, anyone who had faith in God's promise of a Messiah, Jews and those who converted then, Christians now) could be forgiven, while God's justice was left intact. How does this play into the arts?
God is actually redeeming this broken messed up world. That's actually what Jesus is doing now, 2000 years after He rose from the dead, as He works through His Church. He's not waiting for his people to die so He can have them in Heaven, he's actually redeeming where we are right now. In fact, it will exist for all eternity, the sun will never go supernova and end the human species, the galaxy will never collapse in on itself, but all this broken stuff like death, and your boyfriend cheating on you, and breaking your arm, that's going to go away and the Earth will be the NEW Earth and it will be perfect (at least, there will be no more sadness, sin, and brokenness, only God is perfect), without sin and without suffering and all of us are going to actually come back to life, and everyone who believes in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord will live on this Earth, doing stuff like building cities, writing symphonies, having bike races, and worshiping God FOREVER. That may not be the Christianity you've heard about, except that last part about worshiping. But the worship will look different than what you may have heard, because it's all this cultural stuff that we do every day as it is, writing books, exercising, putting on concerts, inventing stuff, and building roads. Only our motivation for doing all these things will be perfectly geared towards loving, praising, and glorifying God.
Well, it's true.
There is something weird about this redemption though. God doesn't do it in the same order we would. If someone asked you how you think God should redeem the world, you'd probably say something like "Well, he should feed everyone, get everyone in a modern house, and stop all war." Good answer. God is going to do that. All of it. But, what about let us master music and flourish as individual human beings and communities with culture? Sounds nice, but I have a feeling that wasn't at the top of your list of things you want to see in the world, though you do want to see those things. Well, GOD DOES TOO! The God of the BIBLE. That probably surprises you if you've ever been to a (bleeped to protect the guilty) church. God wants us to write symphonies and take photographs and paint pictures and put on plays and all of it! What's more, it's actually part of the redeeming of the world!!! Whoa! How? Well, okay, so, you think redemption should look like all of that ending of pain stuff, which it should, but the thing is, God wants far more for us than that. He wants us FLOURISH, which, is one of those things that happens in culture. All culture, form the arts to the art of great cooking to the art of running a business, it all matters and it's all a part of us fulfilling our place in this world. Yep, the cliche is true. We all have a place in the world. But the reason is because whatever it is you've been called to do glorifies God, pleases Him, and until that redemption is complete, is a part of redeeming the creation. (After the redemption, all this stuff will continue, but without sin, and we will go on flourishing for eternity, with every day being better with greater things than the day before!) If that doesn't sound crazy awesome, whether you believe it or not, I don't know what does.
So, for a trumpet player like me, I've got all eternity to get better at trumpet (assuming that's my calling), painters have eternity to get better at painting, etc.
And doing that stuff is important because it is part of glorifying God. We also want to be feeding the poor and clothing people and ending suffering. That's really high on the agenda for God. But, for whatever reason, God decided to do all this at once, and not quite in order, but all sort of parallel to each other. That's sort of the mysterious part. I can't defend why God did it in this order instead of the order we'd prefer. That's not my province.
Friday, September 24, 2010
A Short Blog About Tension in the Bible (And an after thought about me needing to say more with less)
Some relevant facts before I begin:
The Bible never contradicts itself. If you think it does, let's have coffee. I'm willing to listen to you if you're willing to listen to me. What I'm talking about today has more to do with lessons of how to live (see paradoxes in Proverbs, which I think aren't contradictory, but are teaching that life take biblical wisdom, and that both can be true) than any apparent historical contradictions.
The definition of paradox is NOT "something which is self contradictory." Let me give you the actual definition:
Merriam-Webster's: "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true"
I also read somewhere by someone smart who I don't remember that a paradox was something that appeared to be a contradiction but in reality wasn't.
The Blog
I've been thinking about a particular contradiction because of some sermons I've been listening to that has to do with work and rest. That is it's own issue. But some reflection on the tension of things and ideas of "balance" that we all love to talk about, me especially, made me decide I'd write a short (yeah, you're laughing, I'm never short. Maybe my next post should be how I need to learn to say everything that I often say in a minute or two in 10 seconds or less. Or maybe the rule is 10 words or less, main thing is, I know that I need to learn to say more with fewer words and less time. AFTER I WROTE THIS: Well, this post turned into that, oh well.)
Most of you who read this probably already agree with me and it's nothing new, but, eh, that happens, once again, that's another post about further reflecting on the legitimacy of blogging.
All my asides aside, I will now actually say what I came here to say.
Every point in the Bible seems to need three sermons, one of which never gets preached. One to present one extreme (in my case, we are all called to work and redeem the creation, but we're all lazy, me especially), one to present this other extreme (we are all called to rest, particularly to rest in Jesus, but also rest in the general sense, and none of rest enough, especially me, and especially so not in Jesus); pause, here is the paradox, two statements which make opposite statements but are both true; and one to actually teach the balance, the living out of the paradox. This third one never gets given. And maybe it doesn't actually need to be, but, I feel like some people need to be taught about this tension thing, or it needs to get mentioned that there is an opposite, that you can go too far one way in a lot of issues which we present extremes on. Now, I get it, we teach extremes to make points. I do it all that time. I'm not actually against the practice, I'm just saying that we need to remember from time to time to remind people that there is always an flip side of the coin, and teach them how to deal with that. While I doubt this is an issue anyone who will ever read this faces because we've been taught good biblical thinking, there are many who don't get what I'm talking about.
Someone, somewhere, smarter than me, who I don't remember, has written, or maybe gave a sermon, talking about tension. And I'm just realizing that there is a never ending tension in life. In fact, maybe I'm recalling a point that was made to me, if I am, that's okay, I already knew this was nothing revolutionary or new when I started writing it, I digress. There is always tension in life. In fact, if you don't feel tension, you are probably leaning to far one way on this or that. So, now, we have to learn how to live with the tension. To take the extremes, which are both true, and find through biblical wisdom where living life falls between the two sermons.
That's all I wanted to say.
Yep, I've got to figure out how to say things with fewer words. In Bible study yesterday I really became aware of this. I was saying something, and trying to say it eloquently, but if I don't faster, I think I probably lose people. And fact is, good communicators just say what needs to be said without a bunch of extra, or unnecessary. I've got to start identifying what is necessary and what isn't. How to communicate my meaning effectively and not bore people or take forever. I just always want to say it well and illustrate my point and make sure I'm understood . . . and then I feel like I have to justify or defend things as I say them. Now doesn't that say something about a problem I have. Yes, yes it does.
The Bible never contradicts itself. If you think it does, let's have coffee. I'm willing to listen to you if you're willing to listen to me. What I'm talking about today has more to do with lessons of how to live (see paradoxes in Proverbs, which I think aren't contradictory, but are teaching that life take biblical wisdom, and that both can be true) than any apparent historical contradictions.
The definition of paradox is NOT "something which is self contradictory." Let me give you the actual definition:
Merriam-Webster's: "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is perhaps true"
I also read somewhere by someone smart who I don't remember that a paradox was something that appeared to be a contradiction but in reality wasn't.
The Blog
I've been thinking about a particular contradiction because of some sermons I've been listening to that has to do with work and rest. That is it's own issue. But some reflection on the tension of things and ideas of "balance" that we all love to talk about, me especially, made me decide I'd write a short (yeah, you're laughing, I'm never short. Maybe my next post should be how I need to learn to say everything that I often say in a minute or two in 10 seconds or less. Or maybe the rule is 10 words or less, main thing is, I know that I need to learn to say more with fewer words and less time. AFTER I WROTE THIS: Well, this post turned into that, oh well.)
Most of you who read this probably already agree with me and it's nothing new, but, eh, that happens, once again, that's another post about further reflecting on the legitimacy of blogging.
All my asides aside, I will now actually say what I came here to say.
Every point in the Bible seems to need three sermons, one of which never gets preached. One to present one extreme (in my case, we are all called to work and redeem the creation, but we're all lazy, me especially), one to present this other extreme (we are all called to rest, particularly to rest in Jesus, but also rest in the general sense, and none of rest enough, especially me, and especially so not in Jesus); pause, here is the paradox, two statements which make opposite statements but are both true; and one to actually teach the balance, the living out of the paradox. This third one never gets given. And maybe it doesn't actually need to be, but, I feel like some people need to be taught about this tension thing, or it needs to get mentioned that there is an opposite, that you can go too far one way in a lot of issues which we present extremes on. Now, I get it, we teach extremes to make points. I do it all that time. I'm not actually against the practice, I'm just saying that we need to remember from time to time to remind people that there is always an flip side of the coin, and teach them how to deal with that. While I doubt this is an issue anyone who will ever read this faces because we've been taught good biblical thinking, there are many who don't get what I'm talking about.
Someone, somewhere, smarter than me, who I don't remember, has written, or maybe gave a sermon, talking about tension. And I'm just realizing that there is a never ending tension in life. In fact, maybe I'm recalling a point that was made to me, if I am, that's okay, I already knew this was nothing revolutionary or new when I started writing it, I digress. There is always tension in life. In fact, if you don't feel tension, you are probably leaning to far one way on this or that. So, now, we have to learn how to live with the tension. To take the extremes, which are both true, and find through biblical wisdom where living life falls between the two sermons.
That's all I wanted to say.
Yep, I've got to figure out how to say things with fewer words. In Bible study yesterday I really became aware of this. I was saying something, and trying to say it eloquently, but if I don't faster, I think I probably lose people. And fact is, good communicators just say what needs to be said without a bunch of extra, or unnecessary. I've got to start identifying what is necessary and what isn't. How to communicate my meaning effectively and not bore people or take forever. I just always want to say it well and illustrate my point and make sure I'm understood . . . and then I feel like I have to justify or defend things as I say them. Now doesn't that say something about a problem I have. Yes, yes it does.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Blogging Opportunities: Narcissistic or Community Building?
I blogged once. Basically I just told what was going on in life. People read it, commented on it. It was neat. I was in high school and wanted attention. Don't get me wrong, I still do. I very much have an idol of being noticed and loved. Because of this and my lack of time I didn't blog. I sort of kept a journal of thoughts for myself and to give to pastors or friends when I needed to let things out. This blog is not going to be that, that will still exist for it's purpose, but I have a million thoughts that I sometimes wind up going "Man, I'd love to rant to someone about this." Part of that is narcissism and thinking I have great ideas, and part of that is, hey, I'm a smart guy and have some ideas, and I'd like to share. So, today, I decided, I will hopefully with some semblance of a pure motive begin a blog. My first topic: blogging.
I really like being listened to, and I don't spend enough time listening. I know that more than ever now that I'm married, and as I reflect on some wisdom a good friend has imparted to me a couple of times. So, I've decided to start blogging. I'll be honest, I will actually probably be a little depressed if no one ever reads my blog. If this isn't a sign of an idol, I don't know what is. God, grant me the grace to actually fight an idol and instead use this for godly reflection. That prayer being made, I have some friends who have some super popular blogs (well, at least, within certain circles, relatively many people read them. See: Jasper Abbott(this is actually several posters on a forum) or Katie Tracy for example) I personally really enjoy reading people's blogs. It's interesting to see what they're thinking. Normally they're not delving into the most personal parts of their lives (which they shouldn't in this public forum) but making interesting observations and quandaries concerning different aspects of life, and it's interesting to see what they're thinking about and what they think about it. So, knowing this, I've decided I'd start my own. But, before I did, I really spent some time pondering, is blogging essentially a narcissistic activity?
It CAN be. But isn't necessarily. Why it can be is obvious. You can be a person just trying to get attention, wanting to rant and rave about your life, being all about you telling your story with no thought of its value beyond your own personal expression. Now, this can have a place in its own right that is not necessarily sinful or a character flaw or whatever. We don't want to be self-centered people, but we do have a self, and some of us just happen to choose that as a form of expression. I think the real question is the motive behind it. And, this is a finicky thing, I can't really identify where that line is between healthy motives and not. But its somewhere.
But, blogging also has the potential for being one of your expressions into the community, of encouraging others, expressing ideas, etc. I am thankful I live in a community where this is so. Reading Doug Serven or Katie Tracy's blogs, for example, is often encouraging to me, or reading Tim Graf's or Becky Myers is often incredibly mind provoking (or Tim's case just HILARIOUS, which has value in its' own right). While I have my own fair share of narcissism going on, which any of you who know me already know, my prayer is that this blog will be one of those. A community building blog, that brings forth encouragement and conversation.
Lots of you who know me hear me talk about the things I'm thinking about, that are often off the wall, or at least, well, esoteric, possibly irrelevant. You've heard me talk about my paper I'm writing that I want to get published about how the Christian worldview is the only one that is consistent with itself in propagating the arts (feel free to contest this, it would be a great conversation) because God doesn't redeem the world in the same order we would. Well, things like that, that I'm thinking about, that's what will go here. I have something for my personal stuff, so don't worry, you won't find that here. This is about getting my thoughts about great conversation topics out there, that sort of things. And yes, most of the time, I will be applying the Christian worldview to every day life. It's just the kind of guy I am.
Andy Crouch actually talked about blogs being a type of power, social capital, if you will, in a talk at Covenant Seminary last semester. I heard it via podcast. It's fantastic. Everyone should read his book Creating Culture. He's not talking about power as a bad thing, but as a reality, we all have it. Rather than power, maybe a better word is cultural capital. People have power, somewhere, in some community, somehow. President Obama has power over the nation and Mike Biggs has power over Christ the King and someone has power over their groups of friend. Not necessarily authoritative power, but, for instance, Stephen Hawking has power of the science community or Tim Keller has power over the Reformed Presbyterian people. Not authority, but for example, the more people that read your blog, the more power, or cultural capital, you have. So, I'm a smart guy, a few of you guys respect me and might find my ideas interesting, I'm here to influence the world in some small way. That's right, I am actually suggesting that what I write here on this blog will actually in some incredibly small way, be my exercise of power in the world, fulfilling the cultural mandate, and in fact be a part of God's redemption of the Creation. I'm not kidding or exaggerating, I'm dead serious. So, I hope at least 2 or 3 people will read this semi-regularly. Yes, for my ego's sake, I admit, but also so that it can actually whatever incredibly small influence on the world, and, give me a place to get all my ideas out so maybe I'll be slightly less likely to spout them at you the next time I have you captured for a conversation.
That's what I'm going to do here and why. So, here goes. . .
I really like being listened to, and I don't spend enough time listening. I know that more than ever now that I'm married, and as I reflect on some wisdom a good friend has imparted to me a couple of times. So, I've decided to start blogging. I'll be honest, I will actually probably be a little depressed if no one ever reads my blog. If this isn't a sign of an idol, I don't know what is. God, grant me the grace to actually fight an idol and instead use this for godly reflection. That prayer being made, I have some friends who have some super popular blogs (well, at least, within certain circles, relatively many people read them. See: Jasper Abbott(this is actually several posters on a forum) or Katie Tracy for example) I personally really enjoy reading people's blogs. It's interesting to see what they're thinking. Normally they're not delving into the most personal parts of their lives (which they shouldn't in this public forum) but making interesting observations and quandaries concerning different aspects of life, and it's interesting to see what they're thinking about and what they think about it. So, knowing this, I've decided I'd start my own. But, before I did, I really spent some time pondering, is blogging essentially a narcissistic activity?
It CAN be. But isn't necessarily. Why it can be is obvious. You can be a person just trying to get attention, wanting to rant and rave about your life, being all about you telling your story with no thought of its value beyond your own personal expression. Now, this can have a place in its own right that is not necessarily sinful or a character flaw or whatever. We don't want to be self-centered people, but we do have a self, and some of us just happen to choose that as a form of expression. I think the real question is the motive behind it. And, this is a finicky thing, I can't really identify where that line is between healthy motives and not. But its somewhere.
But, blogging also has the potential for being one of your expressions into the community, of encouraging others, expressing ideas, etc. I am thankful I live in a community where this is so. Reading Doug Serven or Katie Tracy's blogs, for example, is often encouraging to me, or reading Tim Graf's or Becky Myers is often incredibly mind provoking (or Tim's case just HILARIOUS, which has value in its' own right). While I have my own fair share of narcissism going on, which any of you who know me already know, my prayer is that this blog will be one of those. A community building blog, that brings forth encouragement and conversation.
Lots of you who know me hear me talk about the things I'm thinking about, that are often off the wall, or at least, well, esoteric, possibly irrelevant. You've heard me talk about my paper I'm writing that I want to get published about how the Christian worldview is the only one that is consistent with itself in propagating the arts (feel free to contest this, it would be a great conversation) because God doesn't redeem the world in the same order we would. Well, things like that, that I'm thinking about, that's what will go here. I have something for my personal stuff, so don't worry, you won't find that here. This is about getting my thoughts about great conversation topics out there, that sort of things. And yes, most of the time, I will be applying the Christian worldview to every day life. It's just the kind of guy I am.
Andy Crouch actually talked about blogs being a type of power, social capital, if you will, in a talk at Covenant Seminary last semester. I heard it via podcast. It's fantastic. Everyone should read his book Creating Culture. He's not talking about power as a bad thing, but as a reality, we all have it. Rather than power, maybe a better word is cultural capital. People have power, somewhere, in some community, somehow. President Obama has power over the nation and Mike Biggs has power over Christ the King and someone has power over their groups of friend. Not necessarily authoritative power, but, for instance, Stephen Hawking has power of the science community or Tim Keller has power over the Reformed Presbyterian people. Not authority, but for example, the more people that read your blog, the more power, or cultural capital, you have. So, I'm a smart guy, a few of you guys respect me and might find my ideas interesting, I'm here to influence the world in some small way. That's right, I am actually suggesting that what I write here on this blog will actually in some incredibly small way, be my exercise of power in the world, fulfilling the cultural mandate, and in fact be a part of God's redemption of the Creation. I'm not kidding or exaggerating, I'm dead serious. So, I hope at least 2 or 3 people will read this semi-regularly. Yes, for my ego's sake, I admit, but also so that it can actually whatever incredibly small influence on the world, and, give me a place to get all my ideas out so maybe I'll be slightly less likely to spout them at you the next time I have you captured for a conversation.
That's what I'm going to do here and why. So, here goes. . .
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