God?

I shake my head in wonder that the Greeks’ polytheistic worldview. How can they worship these gods who can be killed, deceived, are not omniscient, are not in complete control, and are limited by both time and space? I can’t comprehend their logic and faith. To me, this defies the very definition of god – a being that isn’t limited by his own creation and is in control of all things rather than being controlled by anything. He does things for his own perfect purpose, desires all things to be perfect, and is the ultimate authority. He is infinite and is not confined by the laws of time and space. This is how I define “god.” I don’t understand how anyone could lower their standards and worship anything less than this while continuing to love and respect them. For example, when I traveled in India for a month, I saw many Hindu temples, one with a tiny lump of wood. This is that the locals sacrificed and prayed to. How can a person be so blind as to worship something created by human hands? Where’s the glory and power in this?

However, I realized that often times we make or strive for things that become our own personal “gods.” They control and consume our minds, our lives, and our actions, and become our “lords,” which is just another word for a boss, or someone in authority. What were once goals, we have now become dependent upon and define us. Yet, somehow we have the nerve to laugh at the Greeks and their gods, claiming they had a primitive state of mind. Perhaps it’s about time we removed the plank from our own eye.

Pride

Explanation: I just read The Illiad for literature class and had to write and journal entry.

One trend I observed throughout The Illiad was the destructive consequences of pride and selfishness that ultimately led to pain, conflict, and unjust suffering. These consequences affect not only the person who was the original source of arrogance, but an innumerable amount of people. For example, the book begins with Agamemnon being too prideful to admit that he had done wrong. When confronted about it by the Seer, he made excuses for his actions before accusing the Seer of being wrong and unfair. Why? Because what the Seer said was not beneficial to him. This attitude seems to be an unfortunate disease in our society. Less and less people seem to be taking responsibility for their actions. If a person makes a mistake, there’s always an excuse or blame can be pushed onto someone else as being the main contributor. If we see that we’ve hurt someone, either emotionally or physically, we justify our actions and claim that somehow the victim deserved it – maybe they hurt us first and we sought revenge. I know that I have hurt countless friends, family members, and acquaintances through my rude, selfish, prideful, self-seeking actions and attitude. How much longer will we go on considering ourselves better and more important than others in our lives, never realizing the damage we have inflicted? Will we be like Achilles who was unwilling to forgive the pride of Agamemnon, which in turn caused Achilles to be prideful? His lack of response resulted in the unnecessary loss of lives. Will the breaking point come only from the death or injury, physical or emotion, of a loved one? Is it only then that we will look in the mirror and realize the damage our prideful heart has done, costing the lives of innocent people, mere bystanders in the fight against ourselves? Is it only then that we will finally be broken enough to surrender our pride?

Happily Ever After

This is a story my niece wrote on the marker board in the kitchen:

Once upon a time there was a frog and a princess. The frog kissed the princess who turned into a frogette, and they lived happily ever after. The end.

I don't want to get all philosophical but aside from making me laugh, this story has good lesson to teach.  But I'm not going to get all philosophical so I'm not going to explain what that lesson is.  Ha.

Even a Fool

"Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue."

For years I've applied this saying to my life. In my last blog post I said something about me not being much of a talker. One big reason is because I say a lot of stupid things and I'm embarrassed afterwards. So by keeping silent I fool people into thinking that I'm not a fool. Ha!

Here's one more big reason: honestly, I just don't think fast enough to contribute much wit, humor, or meaningfulness to most of the conversations I find myself in. I used to label myself "conversationally inept." I don't anymore because... I don't know. I used to be a very awkward nerdy person but Janna disagrees about the "used to" part, so maybe I still am.

About a year and half ago I decided to collect tips from people more socially skilled than I. I was thinking the other day, and I randomly remembered the tips and decided to post some of them, so here you go.

• Look people in the eye when you talk to them, and look interested when they're talking.

• Try to listen more and talk less.

• Let the other person talk about himself. People love that the most, I think. For extra points actually ask questions about them. People always have something to say about themselves, so when you can't think of anything to talk about ask what they like, or where they've been, etc. This is a lot better than talking about the weather.

• Don't interrupt. That's negative points.

• If you daydream, pray they don't ask you about something they just said.

• If you talk about yourself don't brag. Terrible negative points. People don't like it and quickly become disinterested when you start bragging. Bad, bad, bad.

• Try to find something you have in common to talk about. It's usually easy to have a good conversation with someone if you are both passionate about the topic.

• Try to remember their name if you just met them. When you run into them again it's easier to start up a conversation if you know their name.

Finally, be yourself. If you're awkward like me don't try to act like you're not. Just get over it. If you're real and embrace the fact that you're unique you won't be as awkward or uncomfortable. And don't worry what people think about you. They're also probably worrying too much about what others think to notice a lot from you.

Okay, that's it for now. Get off the internet you antisocial bum and go talk to someone.

Hummus

I ate hummus today... and carrots.  It was scrumptious.

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

I wonder what talk radio, television news, and dinner table conversations would sound like if those involved stood firm to the above quote.

Words are very powerful.  Could I have written a more dull and obvious fact?  However, we don't treat them like they're powerful.  We throw them about without a care whose heart they may stab into.  We utter ridiculous things which we would never utter if we knew how silly or stupid they made us sound.  We vomit both distasteful and lovely terms alike so many times we become desensitized to their harshness or beauty.

I often keep my mouth shut.  Recently someone asked me "do you ever talk".  I wish I had just nodded, it would have been funny.  Anyhow, if I let my words flow as quickly as my thoughts I suspect I would frequently be in trouble, make new enemies, and be in a constant state of embarrassment.  I realize I should talk more, but I want to speak meaningful and wholesome words.  I don't want all that trash to come out.  Its getting harder and I emit garbage anyway, so why do I even bother?

Maybe it would be easier if I truly understood how my words effect those around me.  I am learning, though, and being reminded of how important my words really are.  A simple encouraging praise can brighten someone's dismal day.  Its amazing how little I compliment people.  I really should do it (more).

Biting your tongue when a passionate disagreement occurs can save you.  A rampant, and hurtful, activity that should desperately be avoided and is curiously easy to find yourself partaking in is gossip.  I could go on but I want to end on a funny note.  I found this quote by Will Rogers (I think its by him):

"After eating an entire bull, a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring. He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him. The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut."

P.S. If you're wondering about the photo, I was going to write a bit about living long, prospering, and consumerism, but I changed my mind.  I'll try to write about that someday.

Keeping the Law

Disciples asked the maggid (teacher) of Zlotchov: "In the Talmud we read that our Father Abraham kept all the laws. How could this be, since they had not yet been given to him?"

"All that is needful," he said, "is to love God. If you are about to do something and you think it might lessen your love, then you will know it is sin. If you are about to do something and think it will increase your love, you will know that your will is in keeping the will of God. That is what Abraham did."


Thoughts?

Confession

I have a confession: I am not perfect. I make mistakes, I fail, I hurt people, I say things when I shouldn't, I have sinful thoughts. . . you know, I could probably write several books as to why I'm not perfect.

I thought about this a lot last semester, due to God revealing some things to me. It's really caused me to stop and think about who I am, who I'm representing, and how I'm portraying this to the people in my life.

Who am I? I am a sinner, saved by grace, through faith given to me by God. I am to represent Christ, to set an example for others, through my life, my love, my faith, and my purity. My actions and attitude should mirror those of Christ. Far too often I fail at this, and it's usually when I'm trying to do things on my own instead of allowing Christ's love to flow from me.

Anyway. Last semester I had the opportunity of watching friends in various situations that arose in me a variety of different thoughts and emotions. It really began to discourage and disgust me that people could so willingly, so easily discuss their beliefs and faith, yet refuse to practice and live out what they said. I got a bit resentful, thinking, "Yes, you've said 8 times now that you believe in God, you're a Christian, but so what? The demons do too. What difference does believing make in your life?" I began to judge them, desiring to be the one to deliver to them a revelation: "The way you're living and acting is giving just as much honor and reverence to God as the demons actions are. There is no fear of God before their eyes. Yet, you expect to come before the throne of God and be accept by him, he whom you have rejected over and over again through your actions, your attitudes, your words, your lifestyle, etc. How can you claim to love God, yet live a life in rebellion to him? There's no such thing as partial obedience."
- "You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of the demons too; you cannot have a part in both the Lord's table and the table of demons." 1 Corinthians 10:21 NIV

I suppose it was fake lifestyles that exasperated me. I got tired of the complaining that surrounded me. "We are to do everything without complaining or arguing, in order to be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation. . . in which we shine like the stars of the universe as we hold the word of life." How are we to respond to the things in life that we don't like? "We are to rejoice in the LORD always." "Our gentleness is to be evident to all." "The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Why are we, humans, so afraid to live out our faith? Why do we fear earthly consequences? Our citizenship is in heaven. If God is for us, who can be against us? Whom shall we fear? Why, why are we so afraid to live out the life given to us so abundantly? Like Maggie Harden said, if God asks/tells us to do something for him, he is not going to turn around and ditch us, leaving us alone to fend for ourselves. No, he'll be there with us, he will provide for us and will sustain us even when it gets hard; nothing is too great or difficult for God. Why are we afraid of people and persecution? Do we fear rejection by temporary man more than we fear rejection by the eternal, sovereign God? Do we fear persecution? God will be there with us, he will never leave us nor forsake us. God knows our pain. To be persecuted, mentally or physically, is an honor. "Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" I like what Paul says, preach out of love. The important thing is that Christ is preaches. Without being frightened by any who oppose you . . granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him. Phil 1:9.

Again, why do so few of us neglect living out our faith in Christ Jesus? Why do we fearlessly profess but fearfully live? I want people to know me as a disciple through my love, my actions, my faithfulness, my words, my attitude, my gentleness, etc. I don't want to be labeled, I simply want to be. I want to fulfill the desires of God for my life, for me individually as well as that which he's asked of everyone, which is to preach the gospel to all the world - by preaching out of love - to win souls for him and bring glory to him in all that I do. Christ's sacrifice has opened a door, a pathway for me to do great things for God. . . but only through Christ who has strengthened me. But instead, I sit back and do nothing. I knock on a door, waiting for it to be opened, but when God finally opens it, I stand back, not trusting God enough to step beyond the frame of the door and into the abundant promises and plans he has for me. I too am guilty.

photo-a-day

I am currently doing a photo a day for my photography class. Here is the link to the flickr page:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jesse_daniel/
and one of the photos:

I'll be posting a photo every day for most of the rest of this semester.