Just the other day, at yet another convo lecture, I caught my mind wandering off to an issue that has occupied my thoughts for some time now. I began to think about our culture and what it says about us, and in my pondering I found myself asking the foreboding question: “What does our culture say about us?”
What does our culture say about us? In a society where we pay more attention to a wardrobe malfunction than to a genocide that has killed upwards of 50,000 people; what does our culture say about us? In a world where Americans and Europeans spend $17 billion a year on pet food -- $4 billion more than the estimated annual additional total needed to provide basic health and nutrition for everyone in the world, what does our culture say about us?
Let’s face it, we are living in the days of fast food, one-stop shopping, homogenization, capitalism, globalization, instant gratification, conditioned responses, reality TV, and “infotainment”. We live in a society of people who will spend upwards of $300 on a tacky Luis Vuitton purse, but will throw a fit over minimal tax increases that would provide better education for their children. If, as a global community, we were to have a motto, it would certainly be: “What’s in it for me?”
Woody Allen believed in the power of distraction, C. S. Lewis said that we are far too easily pleased; but I think author Rebecca Pippert states it best by saying that “Our sociology reflects our theology.” Assuming this statement is true, what does our culture say about us? If the decisions we make as a culture truly reflect our value system, then I fear the message that we are portraying to others. I fear the legacy that we are leaving behind. How will we, as a generation be remembered? Which way will the pendulum swing next? Or is there even a pendulum at all? Could it be that we are merely sliding down a slow hill claiming “progress” in the name of being politically correct?
When most people think about the 60’s they think about war, pot, hippies, social reform, integration, assassinations, affirmative action..etc. Is our generation all that different? Have we really evolved , or will people simply think about our times and remember war, ecstasy, anti-war protestors, terrorism, scandals, etc?
I’ve grown used to being labeled as an idealist, a left-wing socialist who has no grasp on reality, in fact, often such remarks make me smile. (After all, I think Jesus was a liberal in his day.) Well I might be “liberal” and I am an idealist, but I haven’t completely lost touch with reality yet. Even Jesus admitted that as long as the world remained there would be suffering, and pain, and, from this one can only deduce that selfishness, and greed will always have a dominant place in society as well. However, this fact did not keep Jesus from being compassionate. Too often I hear people use the fact that suffering will always be around as an excuse to remain ignorant, or as a reason not to take action. Personally, I don’t think that Jesus believed in excuses, I know for a fact that he never used one. He simply came and said, this is how things are and this is how things will be, but this is how YOU are to be, this is the ideal…”be holy as I am holy.”
Our society is hardly “holy,” and it never will be, at least not 100%… but as Christians, we are called to holiness. We are to make a radical difference through our radical identification with the world. Some doubt the influence that we can have on a society as self-centered as ours, to these skeptics, I’d ask you to consider the gospels. Here were 12 men and leader whom many labeled as a heretic, and now more than 2000 years later, we are still studying their lives! Suppose they copped out with the excuse that the world would always be evil… where would we be today?
When we think about what our culture says about us, the conclusions that we come to are rarely pleasant. In fact, generally they are depressing, disheartening, and painful. But this should not keep us from being the example that God called us to be. Nor should it cause us to give up on the world all together. Imagine where we would be if God took that approach with us! His patience should be our example.
All of this to say that, at the end of the day, there is always hope. Just think…Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lived in a time when the thought of an integrated society seemed impossible, even foolish. But now, not even 40 years later, thanks to the hard work of thousands and the cooperation of many, we have managed to make the impossible dream come to life. Unfortunately, all too often we sell ourselves short. Stereotyping “hope” as some childhood dream, rather than claiming it with all we have.
“Remember, Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.”
~The Shawshank Redemption…
“I have come to believe that by and large the human family all has the same secrets, which are both very telling and very important to tell. They are telling in the sense that they tell what is perhaps the central paradox of our condition - that what we hunger for perhaps more than anything else is to be known in our full humanness, and yet that is often just what we also fear more than anything else.” - Frederick Buechner
9.28.2004
9.19.2004
Why me?
So I went to see Wimbledon the other night, because for some reason I felt like torturing myself. Nonetheless, it was a cute movie.
But even cuter was when I was telling people that I had gone to see it, and their response was, "Wimbledon..hmm that's strange, so, is that like, the dude's last name?"
No joke. Not even kidding.
So anyhow, in other news... I got my computer back! Yay! After dropping it off on August 9th, my computer returned to me safely on September 15th. And for only $400. Wohoo!
One small problem... it's still BROKEN!
Oh yeah, not happy about this one. So I took the computer in BACK IN AUGUST, because there was major static/feedback/whatever and you couldn't hear anything, it wouldn't play music, dvd's or any other "thing" that involved sound. Now, after over a month of waiting/suffering/gnashing my teeth, i receive the computer, and lo and behold! there is no static, oh no...now there is no sound AT ALL! What did I pay these people for? I could have unplugged the speakers if I had wanted no sound! Geez! people these days. They put in a new motherboard, and I really don't knwo why they did this.. you would think that if they were going to go to all that trouble, that they would at least be sure to make sure that it had sound!
The worst part is that they aren't going to do anything about it. They suggested that I reinstall Windows XP, but I don't have the CD, which would mean that I would have to go buy one, and that I would have to back up my entire computer before attempting to fix things MYSELF! Shouldn't they have tested this out first? Did I mention that I paid $400 for NOTHING?Goodness. They finally agreed to install the software for me for free if I went out and bought it.. but that's just ridiculous! I know how to install software, and that's not the point. The point is.. THEY DIDN"T DO ANYTHING AND I PAID $400! AHHHHHHHHH
I HATE COMPUTERS.
AND I REALLY DON"T LIKE COMPUTER PEOPLE RIGHT NOW!
AamComp... YOU'RE GOING DOWN!
But even cuter was when I was telling people that I had gone to see it, and their response was, "Wimbledon..hmm that's strange, so, is that like, the dude's last name?"
No joke. Not even kidding.
So anyhow, in other news... I got my computer back! Yay! After dropping it off on August 9th, my computer returned to me safely on September 15th. And for only $400. Wohoo!
One small problem... it's still BROKEN!
Oh yeah, not happy about this one. So I took the computer in BACK IN AUGUST, because there was major static/feedback/whatever and you couldn't hear anything, it wouldn't play music, dvd's or any other "thing" that involved sound. Now, after over a month of waiting/suffering/gnashing my teeth, i receive the computer, and lo and behold! there is no static, oh no...now there is no sound AT ALL! What did I pay these people for? I could have unplugged the speakers if I had wanted no sound! Geez! people these days. They put in a new motherboard, and I really don't knwo why they did this.. you would think that if they were going to go to all that trouble, that they would at least be sure to make sure that it had sound!
The worst part is that they aren't going to do anything about it. They suggested that I reinstall Windows XP, but I don't have the CD, which would mean that I would have to go buy one, and that I would have to back up my entire computer before attempting to fix things MYSELF! Shouldn't they have tested this out first? Did I mention that I paid $400 for NOTHING?Goodness. They finally agreed to install the software for me for free if I went out and bought it.. but that's just ridiculous! I know how to install software, and that's not the point. The point is.. THEY DIDN"T DO ANYTHING AND I PAID $400! AHHHHHHHHH
I HATE COMPUTERS.
AND I REALLY DON"T LIKE COMPUTER PEOPLE RIGHT NOW!
AamComp... YOU'RE GOING DOWN!
9.16.2004
Religiously Speaking...
Last week during one of our Convocation hours, I had the priviledge of hearing Kevin Twit's (our campus RUF pastor) discourse on Theology and Pop culture. Unfortunately, having arrived late, I got to enjoy the lecture from the hallway. Despite the occasional missed word or two I left the session feeling oddly stimulated.
Now let me just take a moment to confess that I have always been a believer in the idea that Christians all too often segregate themselves, and this, in my opinion, was never God's intention. Disagree? Take a look at John 17:15. Call me crazy, but I have a feeling that God might be pro-integration.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking faith-based organizations or anything, I myself support several. But the idea of a "Christian Industry" or a "Christian Market" baffles me! I might be wrong (and I'm sure someone will let me know if I am) but I always assumed that industry is industry. Seriously, what's next? Christian fast food? Christian Roller Skating Rinks?
I will admit that part of the problem is that today's society is too quick to "label" things, be they people, ideas, or Fortune 500 companies. For example, if a large corporation had a brass that consisted entirely of Christian individuals, it would quickly become identified as a "Christian Company;" and sadly, in this day in age, it would probably be pigeon-holed as a conservative corporation too!
Think about it. Do we really need "Christian Bookstores?" Are Christian books and music too good to be sold in normal bookstores when the only thing that separates them from everything else is content? I've yet to see a chain of rap music stores.
Sadly, all too often it seems as though it is Christians who are stereotyping themselves! I have heard of Christians who have opened a "Christian Coffee House" and consider themselves to be part of the "Christian Market." But I have never heard of a group of Satanists who have opened a "Hell's Brewery" and go around advertising their business as part of the "Satanist Industy."
All of this in mind, I can't help but imagine what could be accomplished if Christians would stop relying on the false safety net of "Christian Industry." Just think, Jesus came to earth in human form, he walked around as one of us for 33 years! He didn't hide out in synagogues or open up his own little "Christian Carpentry Store." No, he went places very few others would go, he associated with the "unclean." I honestly believe that if Jesus came down for a visit today, we would be more likely to find Him hanging out in Greenwich village than in a LifeWay bookstore. But that's just me...
As Christians God has called us to be IN the world, but not of it. He did not call us to be out of the world, nor did he suggest that we attempt to create our own "Christian utopia." Therefore, as Christians we have the responsibility to transform the world from the inside out by sharing our LIVES with people... not our savvy business sense. We were called to serve others, and let's be honest. By segregating ourselves and refusing to join the rest of society, who are we serving? Ourselves... or others?
Now let me just take a moment to confess that I have always been a believer in the idea that Christians all too often segregate themselves, and this, in my opinion, was never God's intention. Disagree? Take a look at John 17:15. Call me crazy, but I have a feeling that God might be pro-integration.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking faith-based organizations or anything, I myself support several. But the idea of a "Christian Industry" or a "Christian Market" baffles me! I might be wrong (and I'm sure someone will let me know if I am) but I always assumed that industry is industry. Seriously, what's next? Christian fast food? Christian Roller Skating Rinks?
I will admit that part of the problem is that today's society is too quick to "label" things, be they people, ideas, or Fortune 500 companies. For example, if a large corporation had a brass that consisted entirely of Christian individuals, it would quickly become identified as a "Christian Company;" and sadly, in this day in age, it would probably be pigeon-holed as a conservative corporation too!
Think about it. Do we really need "Christian Bookstores?" Are Christian books and music too good to be sold in normal bookstores when the only thing that separates them from everything else is content? I've yet to see a chain of rap music stores.
Sadly, all too often it seems as though it is Christians who are stereotyping themselves! I have heard of Christians who have opened a "Christian Coffee House" and consider themselves to be part of the "Christian Market." But I have never heard of a group of Satanists who have opened a "Hell's Brewery" and go around advertising their business as part of the "Satanist Industy."
All of this in mind, I can't help but imagine what could be accomplished if Christians would stop relying on the false safety net of "Christian Industry." Just think, Jesus came to earth in human form, he walked around as one of us for 33 years! He didn't hide out in synagogues or open up his own little "Christian Carpentry Store." No, he went places very few others would go, he associated with the "unclean." I honestly believe that if Jesus came down for a visit today, we would be more likely to find Him hanging out in Greenwich village than in a LifeWay bookstore. But that's just me...
As Christians God has called us to be IN the world, but not of it. He did not call us to be out of the world, nor did he suggest that we attempt to create our own "Christian utopia." Therefore, as Christians we have the responsibility to transform the world from the inside out by sharing our LIVES with people... not our savvy business sense. We were called to serve others, and let's be honest. By segregating ourselves and refusing to join the rest of society, who are we serving? Ourselves... or others?
9.11.2004
...
Generally it's not making the right decision that is difficult, it's learning how to handle the consequences of doing the right thing that's painful.
~DFM
~DFM
9.08.2004
It's that time again!!
Yes folks, that's right, it's senioritis time! And this time, I've got it BAD! Seriously, I am COMPLETELY unmotivated! Too bad I'm only a junior and this is only the 2nd full week of school!! Geez!
I have been sick all weekend. Yuck! Of course, if I didn't stay out all night like I did Saturday, I might have gotten better quicker.
Recently I began to notice that I have turned into the "Rule Nazi." Sure, it's part of being an RA.. but still! I'm beginning to make enemies! This is not good! Did I mention that this is only the 2nd full week of school?
Oh, and for the record... if you call me after midnight on a school night because you locked yourself out of your apartment, I will probably be nice to you and tell you that it's no big deal.. but NEWS FLASH! I'm just being NICE! It IS a big deal! I was sleeping and I am sick, HELLO! Get a clue. And YES, you will be charged $5. End of story.
I've been thinking more and more about how I want to see the world and do everything before I die... and well, I came to a conclusion. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't want to live to be old. (gross!) SO, since a 1/4 of my life is already over, I've got to get BUSY! I'm running out of time! Here I am wasting away in college, when all I really want to do is go to Africa and China and Israel and Fiji and Cambodia and Cuba and Haiti and Japan and everywhere else. Sigh... there just simply isn't enough time. Story of my life.
As I was thinking about how I want to go to every 3rd world country, I was reminded of my sickness and how awful it has been for me lying around half-dead in my air conditioned apartment with pure (if you can call Nashville water pure) water and a working toilet.. and I thought to myself... "gee, I'm gonna have to toughen up if I ever wanna make it to Peace Corps."
Ahh.. somedays the thought of becoming a rock star seems so much easier. But then again, I'm not sure if I have the stomach for that yet either... =)
I came across an interesting situation this past Sunday... After staying out quite late on Saturday night, and waking up feeling quite ill on Sunday morning, I still managed to pull myslef together and make it to church. Yay! Sunday School and all! (granted, I ended up leaving after SS, but that's not the point) So there I am, half-dead, sitting in Sunday School with a room full of Trevecca kids who barely know me. Suddenly I look down, and what is that on my hands? Yup, that's right. 2 big black x's, one for each, left and right. As anyone who has ever lived in a city would know, this sign meant 1 thing: Someone underage went out last night. Granted, it's really no big deal, I mean, it's not illegal or anything but at the same time I felt as though everyone was staring at me and my big black faded X's that just wouldn't come off!! Let me just tell you, Hester Prynne had nothing on me. Then, sure enough someone had the audacity to ask me where I went! So I answer, feeling as though I had to explain, and the girl next to her says.. "oh it's a dancing place, hehe, we're telling"
WHAT? WHAT?
Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking!
I have been sick all weekend. Yuck! Of course, if I didn't stay out all night like I did Saturday, I might have gotten better quicker.
Recently I began to notice that I have turned into the "Rule Nazi." Sure, it's part of being an RA.. but still! I'm beginning to make enemies! This is not good! Did I mention that this is only the 2nd full week of school?
Oh, and for the record... if you call me after midnight on a school night because you locked yourself out of your apartment, I will probably be nice to you and tell you that it's no big deal.. but NEWS FLASH! I'm just being NICE! It IS a big deal! I was sleeping and I am sick, HELLO! Get a clue. And YES, you will be charged $5. End of story.
I've been thinking more and more about how I want to see the world and do everything before I die... and well, I came to a conclusion. Anyone who knows me knows that I don't want to live to be old. (gross!) SO, since a 1/4 of my life is already over, I've got to get BUSY! I'm running out of time! Here I am wasting away in college, when all I really want to do is go to Africa and China and Israel and Fiji and Cambodia and Cuba and Haiti and Japan and everywhere else. Sigh... there just simply isn't enough time. Story of my life.
As I was thinking about how I want to go to every 3rd world country, I was reminded of my sickness and how awful it has been for me lying around half-dead in my air conditioned apartment with pure (if you can call Nashville water pure) water and a working toilet.. and I thought to myself... "gee, I'm gonna have to toughen up if I ever wanna make it to Peace Corps."
Ahh.. somedays the thought of becoming a rock star seems so much easier. But then again, I'm not sure if I have the stomach for that yet either... =)
I came across an interesting situation this past Sunday... After staying out quite late on Saturday night, and waking up feeling quite ill on Sunday morning, I still managed to pull myslef together and make it to church. Yay! Sunday School and all! (granted, I ended up leaving after SS, but that's not the point) So there I am, half-dead, sitting in Sunday School with a room full of Trevecca kids who barely know me. Suddenly I look down, and what is that on my hands? Yup, that's right. 2 big black x's, one for each, left and right. As anyone who has ever lived in a city would know, this sign meant 1 thing: Someone underage went out last night. Granted, it's really no big deal, I mean, it's not illegal or anything but at the same time I felt as though everyone was staring at me and my big black faded X's that just wouldn't come off!! Let me just tell you, Hester Prynne had nothing on me. Then, sure enough someone had the audacity to ask me where I went! So I answer, feeling as though I had to explain, and the girl next to her says.. "oh it's a dancing place, hehe, we're telling"
WHAT? WHAT?
Yes, that's exactly what I was thinking!
9.06.2004
9.01.2004
Randomness.. what else?
Wow. It has been such a busy 2 weeks... it's really ridiculous. My computer STILL isn't fixed, and at this point I'm looking into buying a new one rather than paying the $600+ for a motherboard plus $73 an hour that it will cost me to get my old one fixed. It's either iBook or Dell at this point. Sigh, why is it that everytime I actually have money, something breaks? I just fixed my car too, now it's as though I didn't work at all this summer! Just think, all that sufferring for nothing! How depressing.
On another note, things have been going well for me thus far. For the first time in a long time, I feel happy. I can't really explain it, I'm just content I guess. (and no, I'm not dating.. so that's not it)
... But speaking of dating.... Since we last spoke, Celesta and Megan got engaged (not to each other). Ashley and Jordan cancelled their wedding, and Katie&Josh tied the knot. (just to fill you in) Right now I am satisfied with my "single" status (even though 5 out of 7 of the RA's in my complex are dating/engaged).. that's not to say that I would object to any interruption of my life, but at the same time I've come to accept the fact that I am just too unique (aka: weird). I mean look at me! I'm all over the place. I want to travel to places like Haiti and Cambodia, I want to join the Peace Corp, I want to work for Disney, I want to be on Broadway, I want to sell art.. in short, I want too many things! And they aren't even normal things.. and I have to be with someone who can handle that, and my experience has told me that this leaves me with a very, very small pile to choose from! I'm not saying that there isn't someone out there for me... there could be, but I'm not about to disillusion myself into thinking that I'll meet them anytime soon..as much as I would like to. Sometimes I wonder if my "standards" are too high, but when I really think about it, I know that they aren't. In all honesty they're just practical. (for a more detailed list see me) Anyhow, long story short... right now, I'm ok with whatever, and I think that's a good place to be. I highly recommend it to all of you.
Wow.. That was soapbox 2135 ladies and gentlemen....MOVING ON....
RAing is fun, but completly PSYCHO! People are so retarded.. I'm not even kidding. It looks as though I'll be posting a list of "Retarded Things College Students Say/Ask/Do/Attempt to Do.." soon. No joke.
Well, I guess that's it for now... Until next time...
On another note, things have been going well for me thus far. For the first time in a long time, I feel happy. I can't really explain it, I'm just content I guess. (and no, I'm not dating.. so that's not it)
... But speaking of dating.... Since we last spoke, Celesta and Megan got engaged (not to each other). Ashley and Jordan cancelled their wedding, and Katie&Josh tied the knot. (just to fill you in) Right now I am satisfied with my "single" status (even though 5 out of 7 of the RA's in my complex are dating/engaged).. that's not to say that I would object to any interruption of my life, but at the same time I've come to accept the fact that I am just too unique (aka: weird). I mean look at me! I'm all over the place. I want to travel to places like Haiti and Cambodia, I want to join the Peace Corp, I want to work for Disney, I want to be on Broadway, I want to sell art.. in short, I want too many things! And they aren't even normal things.. and I have to be with someone who can handle that, and my experience has told me that this leaves me with a very, very small pile to choose from! I'm not saying that there isn't someone out there for me... there could be, but I'm not about to disillusion myself into thinking that I'll meet them anytime soon..as much as I would like to. Sometimes I wonder if my "standards" are too high, but when I really think about it, I know that they aren't. In all honesty they're just practical. (for a more detailed list see me) Anyhow, long story short... right now, I'm ok with whatever, and I think that's a good place to be. I highly recommend it to all of you.
Wow.. That was soapbox 2135 ladies and gentlemen....MOVING ON....
RAing is fun, but completly PSYCHO! People are so retarded.. I'm not even kidding. It looks as though I'll be posting a list of "Retarded Things College Students Say/Ask/Do/Attempt to Do.." soon. No joke.
Well, I guess that's it for now... Until next time...
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