Sunday, December 18, 2016
Some Holiday Family Fun
Yesterday my family and I went to see the Nutcracker at the University of Lincoln Lied Center. For a Christmas gift, we bought tickets for my parents so that they could join us for the experience. It was a really wonderful experience that all of us were able to enjoy. My son enjoyed the first half, especially the fight between the the Nutcracker, the two soldiers and the Rat King and his minions. My daughter, who is in ballet, loved it all.
I love watching the performing arts, listening to classical music, going to an art museum, etc. Part of the reason why I enjoy such things is because of the amount of time I have invested myself in them. All through middle school and until the end of my sophomore year in high school, I played the trumpet in band. I loved playing in the orchestra/concert band and even did jazz band for a year. That was very different and a real thrill! But, I did not enjoy marching band.
Not only was I in band, but I took numerous art classes. In fact, I took at least one semester of art every year from 8th grade until I graduated from college. I have dabbled in several different medias (types of art), from ceramics to pencil, to colored pencil, to Conté Crayons, to paint ( many types), to pen and ink, etc. In fact, some of the only medias that I have not done are metal, stone, an glass blowing.
And, on top of all of this, I have been in several plays, not counting the Christmas plays that I have been in over the years. My German class (first year in College) put on a play (auf Deutsch, naturlich... in German, of course...) that my parents attended. I was a stage hand of the play "To Kill a Mockingbird" and played several 'minor roles' in the play "Mother Courage (and all of Her Children)." It was a lot of hard work and took a lot of time to practice and get things correct. But, it was all worth it in the end.
I really enjoyed the dancing, though I have to admit, I was often focusing a lot more on the music. The music was done by Nebraska Symphony Orchestra, and I simply loved it. Because of the time I spent in band, I can really appreciate all of the hard work that they put into it. To me, the music not only had exceptional tone quality, but seemed to seamlessly blend from one point to another. Even though I really did enjoy watching the performers do the ballet, I just seemed to be drawn much more to the music.
The other thing that I was really drawn to was all of the art work. I seemed to be especially intrigued by the creation of the 'palace' background during the second scene. They did a stupendous job with all of the stage art work, in my opinion. However, my eyes felt especially drawn in to the background work during the 'palace scene' because of how well it has been done. Although it was clearly a scene painted onto a canvas surface, my eyes still were drawn into it. The people who created it did a very good job with their one point perspective. And, they also added some reflective/sparkly items to the backdrop, so as to give it the illusion of sparkling jewels. This detail just added to the depth and enjoyment of the ballet overall.
As I soaked up as much of the experience as I could, I was often reminded of my experiences while studying German at Centre College. Part of the uniqueness of 'the Centre Experience' is there emphasis on experiencing many different things. In fact, each year full-time students have to attend 12 convocations, which range from concerts, special movies (because of their emphasis on cross-cultural experiences), various lectures, etc. There are so many different options that this is not hard to do. I have to admit, I miss attending such things that enrich one culturally. I will take what I can get.
What was more special about this situation was that I was enjoying it with my family. Both my wife and I really enjoy going to concerts, plays, etc., as well as my parents. It's a way that we can experience other times and other cultures. At least, get a 'snap shot' through their artifacts, art, music, etc. It's something that my wife and I are trying to cultivate in our children. Since my children's interests vary quite a bit, this can sometimes be a challenge. But, it is something that we try to do, to cultivate a love for learning about other people and cultures. This can of love of learning has helped me to grow as a person, and as a Christian.
How has it helped me to grow as a Christian? Several ways. First of all, it has helped me to appreciate and the historical and cultural influences/context of when Scripture was written. Each part of the Bible was written by a specific person, addressing specific historical and cultural situations, with a given language. And, not only was each person writing to a specific audience, but each person had their own unique way of writing. Understanding all of this helps one to understand what the original message was to what kind of audience and how they would have probably received it. That, in turn, informs us how we can apply these historical and spiritual truths to our lives.
Another way all of this has enriched me is how I prayerfully try to interact with others. In learning about the history of others, I have gained a better appreciation to the importance of know an individual or a group's historical background. There are reasons why people have done different things. Many different and significant (though not always obvious) influences have led up to different actions and decisions. Understanding this has helped me on numerous occasions with guiding me with how I deal with certain people. And, it's not always easy to do. But, it is still very important.
During this Advent Season, I hope that all of you are take time to make special memories with you family and friends. It can be very challenging at times. But, the hard work will pay dividends in the future. And, if you can learn more culturally through art, music, etc., all the better. At least, that what I believe.
Sunday, December 4, 2016
Some Musings
This evening I took our two kids out to do some crafts, meet Santa, and watch a living Nativity. But, since it was getting colder, they had school in the morning, and we still had to eat supper, so we left early. Interestingly enough, both kids were disappointed that we didn't see the whole thing. So, I agreed to put on a video about the birth of Jesus after we go some supper.
Unfortunately, mos4 movies about the Birth of Christ are 2 1/2 to 3 hours long. So, I started thinking of other options. I was hoping that one of my personal favorites, "The Drummerboy" was on Netflix. Just my luck, it wasn't. But, I knew that we had the Veggie Tales movie about the real St. Nicholas. So, that is what we watched.
We all have our favorite shows during the holidays. One of mine is "A Christmas Carol." It is a person tradition to warch it at least once each Christmas. Another one (that I have on DVD) is "Jack Frost." To me, it is an entertaining story.
To me, most holiday movies are not every interesting. I prefer to focus on the real reason for Christmas. That is, "...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) The original meaning of advent is Latin for "to-come". As Christians, we celebrate the seaaon of Advent as a way for preparing ourselves for Emanuel, "God is with us." For me, Chrismas is just as sacred and important as Easter and Pentecost. For, if Jeses had not came into this world (dully man and fully Divine), then He could not have died for our sins and then raised again for our justification. And, that in turn means that there would not have been Pentacost.
Each of us have our own personal and family traditions. How ever you choose to celebrate, I encourage you to explore the Christian roots. For me, I give gifts toothers because God gave us the gift of eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Putting up a Chrisrmas tree and decorating it is a fun family tradition, but not one I like to do until After Advent begins. My wife, however, wants to put it up as soon as she can. So, I let her.
Anotjer tradition that my family has is the sending of Christman letters. For those who are not familiar with this custom, I will explain. Since Christmas is near the end of the calender year, many people will summarize the events for them and their family for the past year. I enjoy writing them, and reading about the highlights of the lives of others.
We all have pur favorite traditions. It is my hope that the help you become a more loving andgivong person, as well as draw you closer to Christ. I hope that Advent is a season of 'eager preparation.' Not just for the presants, the candy and cookies, family gatherings, etc. But, also a time preparation for celebrating Christ's birth.
Unfortunately, mos4 movies about the Birth of Christ are 2 1/2 to 3 hours long. So, I started thinking of other options. I was hoping that one of my personal favorites, "The Drummerboy" was on Netflix. Just my luck, it wasn't. But, I knew that we had the Veggie Tales movie about the real St. Nicholas. So, that is what we watched.
We all have our favorite shows during the holidays. One of mine is "A Christmas Carol." It is a person tradition to warch it at least once each Christmas. Another one (that I have on DVD) is "Jack Frost." To me, it is an entertaining story.
To me, most holiday movies are not every interesting. I prefer to focus on the real reason for Christmas. That is, "...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14) The original meaning of advent is Latin for "to-come". As Christians, we celebrate the seaaon of Advent as a way for preparing ourselves for Emanuel, "God is with us." For me, Chrismas is just as sacred and important as Easter and Pentecost. For, if Jeses had not came into this world (dully man and fully Divine), then He could not have died for our sins and then raised again for our justification. And, that in turn means that there would not have been Pentacost.
Each of us have our own personal and family traditions. How ever you choose to celebrate, I encourage you to explore the Christian roots. For me, I give gifts toothers because God gave us the gift of eternal life through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. Putting up a Chrisrmas tree and decorating it is a fun family tradition, but not one I like to do until After Advent begins. My wife, however, wants to put it up as soon as she can. So, I let her.
Anotjer tradition that my family has is the sending of Christman letters. For those who are not familiar with this custom, I will explain. Since Christmas is near the end of the calender year, many people will summarize the events for them and their family for the past year. I enjoy writing them, and reading about the highlights of the lives of others.
We all have pur favorite traditions. It is my hope that the help you become a more loving andgivong person, as well as draw you closer to Christ. I hope that Advent is a season of 'eager preparation.' Not just for the presants, the candy and cookies, family gatherings, etc. But, also a time preparation for celebrating Christ's birth.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Foreign Memories
This morning has been spent relaxing at home. After wrestling with knee and lower back pain all week, it is a welcomed break. Got some extra rest, and then started going through some magazines that have been piling up. Since I work 12 hour shifts for fouy days straight at a prison, have a wife and two young kids, and teach a Bible Study, I ofen do not have time to just sit and read for fun. This morning is one of those exceptions.
The first magazine that I picked up was from my Alma Mater, Centre College, in Danville, Kentucky. The focus of this fall edition was on the Centre-in-Strasbourg experience. To my surprise, it started 25 years ago, in the fall of 1991. I knew that it was a fairly new program when I took part in it, but had forgotten how young it was.
I had my 'Centre-in-Strasbourg' experience during thw fall of 1993. I was a sophomore at Centre and a German major. Because Strasburg is near the French-German boarder and Kehl, Germany, is about 20 minutes by train, studying there made perfect sense. I do have a lot of mixed feelings about my experiences there. But, it was a good experience overall.
I have always loved traveling. My parents and I visited several distant cousins in Germany and Holland when I was 14. This was not their first trip, just mine. That experience as a teenager really solidified my love for traveling and experiencong other cultures.
While with the Army, I have deployed to Iraq three times and to Qatar once. That is on top of two vacations in Germany (once with my parents and once on my own) and my Strasbourg experience. Though each of those experiences had some difficult times, they were overwhelmingly good.
Because of all of these experiences and a strong desire to learn about other cultures, I have found it easier to interact with those who have a different cultural and ethnic background. This has helped me in many different ways.
It definitely has helped me in better understanding life in general. It has also given me better insight into other people's experiences and a deeper appreciation for the historical context of Scripture. As I read Scripture, I try very hard to understand what the historical context was when it was written, the important linguistical aspects of the original language, as well as the cultures of Ancient Israel, Ancient Roam, etc. All of these things give a much fuller picture of what the original author of the passage was trying to tell the original audience. This, in turn, helps us to better understand the applications for us today.
When we watch the news or meet someone from another country, trying to understand at least some of their culture, history, and how they view things (their ethnical, cultural and religious values) can aid us in seeing a more whole person or event. This understanding does not mean you necessarily agree with them, or even like how they act. But, it means you are taking the time to understand who they are and how they see the world around them.
When we take the time to better understand how others perceive their world, this can help you to better understand your own experiences and how they have shaped you. I have found this to be true on many occasions. In studying German and learning the basics of French, Spanish, biblical Hebrew and Greek, and some Arabic, I have a great appreciation and respect for those who try to learn English. And, I have slowly gleaned the benefits of studying a foreign language, especially with getting a better understanding of my own mother language and how language can influence thought.
In life, we experience many different things. How I experience something may not be how someone else experiences it. If I at least try to understand how others have experienced things, I may earn the respect of them to try to understand my perspective.
During this Advent Season, let us seek to learn and grow. Part of this will include being stretched by 'foreign experiences' be it through travel to another place for the first time, or meeting someone different than ourselves. Are we going to open oursleves up for them?
The first magazine that I picked up was from my Alma Mater, Centre College, in Danville, Kentucky. The focus of this fall edition was on the Centre-in-Strasbourg experience. To my surprise, it started 25 years ago, in the fall of 1991. I knew that it was a fairly new program when I took part in it, but had forgotten how young it was.
I had my 'Centre-in-Strasbourg' experience during thw fall of 1993. I was a sophomore at Centre and a German major. Because Strasburg is near the French-German boarder and Kehl, Germany, is about 20 minutes by train, studying there made perfect sense. I do have a lot of mixed feelings about my experiences there. But, it was a good experience overall.
I have always loved traveling. My parents and I visited several distant cousins in Germany and Holland when I was 14. This was not their first trip, just mine. That experience as a teenager really solidified my love for traveling and experiencong other cultures.
While with the Army, I have deployed to Iraq three times and to Qatar once. That is on top of two vacations in Germany (once with my parents and once on my own) and my Strasbourg experience. Though each of those experiences had some difficult times, they were overwhelmingly good.
Because of all of these experiences and a strong desire to learn about other cultures, I have found it easier to interact with those who have a different cultural and ethnic background. This has helped me in many different ways.
It definitely has helped me in better understanding life in general. It has also given me better insight into other people's experiences and a deeper appreciation for the historical context of Scripture. As I read Scripture, I try very hard to understand what the historical context was when it was written, the important linguistical aspects of the original language, as well as the cultures of Ancient Israel, Ancient Roam, etc. All of these things give a much fuller picture of what the original author of the passage was trying to tell the original audience. This, in turn, helps us to better understand the applications for us today.
When we watch the news or meet someone from another country, trying to understand at least some of their culture, history, and how they view things (their ethnical, cultural and religious values) can aid us in seeing a more whole person or event. This understanding does not mean you necessarily agree with them, or even like how they act. But, it means you are taking the time to understand who they are and how they see the world around them.
When we take the time to better understand how others perceive their world, this can help you to better understand your own experiences and how they have shaped you. I have found this to be true on many occasions. In studying German and learning the basics of French, Spanish, biblical Hebrew and Greek, and some Arabic, I have a great appreciation and respect for those who try to learn English. And, I have slowly gleaned the benefits of studying a foreign language, especially with getting a better understanding of my own mother language and how language can influence thought.
In life, we experience many different things. How I experience something may not be how someone else experiences it. If I at least try to understand how others have experienced things, I may earn the respect of them to try to understand my perspective.
During this Advent Season, let us seek to learn and grow. Part of this will include being stretched by 'foreign experiences' be it through travel to another place for the first time, or meeting someone different than ourselves. Are we going to open oursleves up for them?
Monday, October 24, 2016
Time Wit Family
Just so you all know, I have not fallen off the face of the Earth. I have been spending the past week with my family.
Though this past week has been very draining, it has also been good. I will share more in a later post, though.
Next week will be Halloween. I am sure many of you here in the US are looking forward to that holiday. Especially if you have kids and/or a kid at heart. But, did you know that the next day, November 1st, is All Saint's Day? For those that are not familiar with the day, it is a day to pause and remember the saint's (fellow brothers an sisters in Christ) who have already died and gone to be with Jesus. We especially remember those who gave their lives for their faith. That is, those who were martyred.
For a while, I did not celebrate Halloween at all, because of the spiritualism associated with it. These days, I celebrate it with my family, somewhat. I choose to focus more on All Saint's Day.
Well, I need to close for now. I will try to write another entry tonight or tomorrow.
Though this past week has been very draining, it has also been good. I will share more in a later post, though.
Next week will be Halloween. I am sure many of you here in the US are looking forward to that holiday. Especially if you have kids and/or a kid at heart. But, did you know that the next day, November 1st, is All Saint's Day? For those that are not familiar with the day, it is a day to pause and remember the saint's (fellow brothers an sisters in Christ) who have already died and gone to be with Jesus. We especially remember those who gave their lives for their faith. That is, those who were martyred.
For a while, I did not celebrate Halloween at all, because of the spiritualism associated with it. These days, I celebrate it with my family, somewhat. I choose to focus more on All Saint's Day.
Well, I need to close for now. I will try to write another entry tonight or tomorrow.
Wednesday, October 5, 2016
Changes
Well, the first day of fall was last Thursday, September 22, 2016. It wasn't until a few days later that the weather really started feeling like fall, though. For me, fall and spring and the most enjoyable times of the year. Everything in nature is changing, the weather is more mild, and seasonal activities are drawing to a close or just starting.
I am not sure which I enjoy more, spring or fall. Both bring about all sorts of awesome changes. Animals start migrating, leaves either change color due to dying off or buds are starting to appear, etc. I especially love the cooler weather. We can often leave the windows open all day long and the house stays cool. Little to no need for using the AC or furnace. At an extra layer of clothing like a long sleeved shirt, a sweater or light jacket, and you can walk around outside very comfortably.
We all experience things in life differently. We all have our different perspectives and experiences that color how we perceive the world around us. We all appreciate different things about nature, other people, animals, even the world around us. Because of these rich differences, some will enjoy one thing while others will enjoy something else.
While some people focus on cleaning out their house during the spring, I am doing some of that this fall. Going through piles and piles of boxes, getting rid of things that are no longer wanted or needed. It can be a real challenge sometimes, especially if someone doesn’t like change.
But yet, change is unavoidable. It will happen. Throughout life, our bodies change. We change from babies, to toddlers, to children, to teens, to adulthood, etc. Our bodies go through stages of becoming stronger and then slowly growing weaker due to injury, illness, or even old age. Change can come gradually, throughout a lifetime, or suddenly because of the birth of a child, a change in employment, or a sudden illness or injury.
Just as the seasons will change, so will our lives. Relationships will come and go. We will get new jobs, get promoted, laid off, or something else. In fact, favorite hobbies and genre of music can change greatly over time. We will never know until that change comes.
Though change will come, one thing will always stay the same. God’s holiness and God’s love for us. God will always be a holy and righteous God, punishing evil and sin, and seeking justice for those who are oppressed. And, God will always be loving and compassionate, willing to forgive those who repent.
Though there will always be change in our lives, is it not wonderful that God never changes?! I encourage each of you, as you rake the leaves, dig out the long sleeved clothes, find your sweaters, brew your hot apple cider and/or coco, etc., take time to reflect on this. Even if fall might not be your favorite season, do take some time to admire how God is painting a different scene around you. Take time to breath in all of the new smells, feel the changes of weather, etc. Also reflect on how God has brought you from where you used to be, to where you are now. Even if you are facing many difficult, seemingly overwhelming challenges, God does not change. What He has brought you through so far, He will continue to bring you through. The changes and victories may be small, even unknowable right now. Just like the slow, subtle changes in the weather, the length of day, etc. But, over time, may God open your eyes to all that He has done, and still will do.
I am not sure which I enjoy more, spring or fall. Both bring about all sorts of awesome changes. Animals start migrating, leaves either change color due to dying off or buds are starting to appear, etc. I especially love the cooler weather. We can often leave the windows open all day long and the house stays cool. Little to no need for using the AC or furnace. At an extra layer of clothing like a long sleeved shirt, a sweater or light jacket, and you can walk around outside very comfortably.
We all experience things in life differently. We all have our different perspectives and experiences that color how we perceive the world around us. We all appreciate different things about nature, other people, animals, even the world around us. Because of these rich differences, some will enjoy one thing while others will enjoy something else.
While some people focus on cleaning out their house during the spring, I am doing some of that this fall. Going through piles and piles of boxes, getting rid of things that are no longer wanted or needed. It can be a real challenge sometimes, especially if someone doesn’t like change.
But yet, change is unavoidable. It will happen. Throughout life, our bodies change. We change from babies, to toddlers, to children, to teens, to adulthood, etc. Our bodies go through stages of becoming stronger and then slowly growing weaker due to injury, illness, or even old age. Change can come gradually, throughout a lifetime, or suddenly because of the birth of a child, a change in employment, or a sudden illness or injury.
Just as the seasons will change, so will our lives. Relationships will come and go. We will get new jobs, get promoted, laid off, or something else. In fact, favorite hobbies and genre of music can change greatly over time. We will never know until that change comes.
Though change will come, one thing will always stay the same. God’s holiness and God’s love for us. God will always be a holy and righteous God, punishing evil and sin, and seeking justice for those who are oppressed. And, God will always be loving and compassionate, willing to forgive those who repent.
Though there will always be change in our lives, is it not wonderful that God never changes?! I encourage each of you, as you rake the leaves, dig out the long sleeved clothes, find your sweaters, brew your hot apple cider and/or coco, etc., take time to reflect on this. Even if fall might not be your favorite season, do take some time to admire how God is painting a different scene around you. Take time to breath in all of the new smells, feel the changes of weather, etc. Also reflect on how God has brought you from where you used to be, to where you are now. Even if you are facing many difficult, seemingly overwhelming challenges, God does not change. What He has brought you through so far, He will continue to bring you through. The changes and victories may be small, even unknowable right now. Just like the slow, subtle changes in the weather, the length of day, etc. But, over time, may God open your eyes to all that He has done, and still will do.
Sunday, September 11, 2016
Toxic Bread and Circus
References:
• Native American Protest
• Jeremiah 23:9-20 NAS
• Micah 6:1-8 NAS
• Fox News Search
• CNN News Search
• Google search on “Native American Protest”
Oh, the joys of having a puppy… I was woken up by our ‘big pup,’ a black and tan coon dog, at about 0130 hours (1:30 AM) this morning. After taking her out so that she could use the bathroom, I tried to get back to bed. But, like so often is the case, my mind would not let me fall back to sleep. Instead, my mind kept running in circles about how frustrating my life often is right now and the fact that I am very unsatisfied with quite a few things. Though my mind was focusing more on my current career, a broader sense of frustration with the ‘status quo’ came to mind. To those of us who are extremely sensitive to injustices and ‘doing the right thing,’ a focus on a ‘status quo’ that focuses on blaming others, talking around issues, and penalizing (even criminalizing) those are trying to create positive change, really irks us. It is a real ‘toxic bread and circus’ for all of us, but some of us see it more easily.
Some of you might not be familiar with the phrase ‘bread and circus.’ It comes from the Latin phrase ‘panis et cirenses’ and was coined by the Roman satirist, Juvenal. In a nutshell, he was criticizing the Roman government and populace. He criticized the government because they were giving out free food (panis or bread) and lots of public entertainment (circenses or ‘circus’) so that peoples’ attention was diverted from important issues of the time. And he was criticizing the people because they were so willing to chase after the free food and entertainment instead of being concerned about the many issues at stake with the country of Rome. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bread-and-circuses)
For me, there are many things that come to my mind when I think of a ‘toxic bread and circus.’ Some issues that affect me personally is the number of issues with the Nebraska Department of Corrections, safety for all involved (Inmates, staff, and the public at large), pay, and discipline. Because of how things are being handled at the prison where I work and the State of Nebraska, effective change is not happening. Another example that I often see happens in churches and denomination. Many say that they want effective growth and change. However, many within the local church and the denomination as a whole would rather talk about change as a big group, but push a small group (often the local pastor) to ‘effectively deal with the problem.’ For example, I have often lead small group studies to help other followers to learn and grow as fellow disciples so that they, in turn, could go out and be facilitators of change. Such Bible Studies were very poorly attended, if at all.
Although those examples are meaningful to me, they deserve blog entries of their own. For me right now, the most telling example has to do with the Native Americans actively protesting the gross disregard for their customs and beliefs. Although this is nothing new, there is a current issue that is really emphasizing this. It has to do with plowing through a Native American sacred land, including burial grounds, in the Lake Oahe area. During a recent protest by many Native Americans from the US and Canada, many of them to harassed and assaulted with ‘attack dogs’ and pepper.
Is this news to you? I spent a little time looking up the issue on the two main news agencies, Fox News and CNN. The main page and the US sub-area did not have any news about this issues. When I did a search for “Native American Protest” on both sites, I got the results that I referenced above. When I Googled the same broad topic, the first page of results included either specialty news sources (earthables.com), ABC.com, foreign news sources (BBC.com), or some newspaper articles (like www.huffingtonpost.com and www.washingtonpost.com). That’s pretty telling… My wife pointed the www.returntonow.net article only because someone has posted it on her Facebook page. Since she is a dedicated Libertarian, she often sees news articles that the main news sources do not touch.
What is the ‘big news’ right now? Some NFL player ‘protesting’ racial issues by sitting down during the National Anthem, Hilary and Trump (pretty much nothing on the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson), the 15 year 9/11 ‘anniversary’ (little if any real change has happened with that), etc. Though some of those things are important (Presidential election and fighting terrorism is important), a lot of important national issues are being ‘swept under the rug.’ Do you not find this disturbing? I do!
Just like Rome during Juvenal’s time (?60-?140 AD) (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/juvenal), our current culture is obsessed with ‘bread and circus.’ We would rather be entertained by tv shows, movies, sports, etc., and get as much as our ‘food’ (here I am referring to news and politics) to be handed to us from the primary ‘trusted’ sources. If something isn’t just ‘handed to us’ or tickles our fancy, many today have no interest or stomach for it. And, unless more of us ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ to what is happening around us, this toxic status quo will continue to push us to destruction. Though the destruction might feel like it is ‘just happening to someone else, far away,’ eventually it will be felt by you and me. What is your choice?
In all honesty, it is very easy to get focused on ‘trivial things.’ I have been on vacation (more of a ‘stay-cation) since September 3rd. But, between trying to take care of issues with my back, spend some time with my family, and relax, I have not been very production a lot of the time. Instead, I have been ‘surfing’ Facebook, watching TV shows, or reading ‘trivial articles’ on the Internet about movies, comic book characters, etc. All of us need quiet time to relax, recharge, and get refocused, but we can’t focus on that all of the time. But, that has to be balanced with being aware with things around us, taking care of errands/home duties, etc. It requires effort, and sometimes a lot of it. But, I believe that it is worth it.
• Native American Protest
• Jeremiah 23:9-20 NAS
• Micah 6:1-8 NAS
• Fox News Search
• CNN News Search
• Google search on “Native American Protest”
Oh, the joys of having a puppy… I was woken up by our ‘big pup,’ a black and tan coon dog, at about 0130 hours (1:30 AM) this morning. After taking her out so that she could use the bathroom, I tried to get back to bed. But, like so often is the case, my mind would not let me fall back to sleep. Instead, my mind kept running in circles about how frustrating my life often is right now and the fact that I am very unsatisfied with quite a few things. Though my mind was focusing more on my current career, a broader sense of frustration with the ‘status quo’ came to mind. To those of us who are extremely sensitive to injustices and ‘doing the right thing,’ a focus on a ‘status quo’ that focuses on blaming others, talking around issues, and penalizing (even criminalizing) those are trying to create positive change, really irks us. It is a real ‘toxic bread and circus’ for all of us, but some of us see it more easily.
Some of you might not be familiar with the phrase ‘bread and circus.’ It comes from the Latin phrase ‘panis et cirenses’ and was coined by the Roman satirist, Juvenal. In a nutshell, he was criticizing the Roman government and populace. He criticized the government because they were giving out free food (panis or bread) and lots of public entertainment (circenses or ‘circus’) so that peoples’ attention was diverted from important issues of the time. And he was criticizing the people because they were so willing to chase after the free food and entertainment instead of being concerned about the many issues at stake with the country of Rome. (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/bread-and-circuses)
For me, there are many things that come to my mind when I think of a ‘toxic bread and circus.’ Some issues that affect me personally is the number of issues with the Nebraska Department of Corrections, safety for all involved (Inmates, staff, and the public at large), pay, and discipline. Because of how things are being handled at the prison where I work and the State of Nebraska, effective change is not happening. Another example that I often see happens in churches and denomination. Many say that they want effective growth and change. However, many within the local church and the denomination as a whole would rather talk about change as a big group, but push a small group (often the local pastor) to ‘effectively deal with the problem.’ For example, I have often lead small group studies to help other followers to learn and grow as fellow disciples so that they, in turn, could go out and be facilitators of change. Such Bible Studies were very poorly attended, if at all.
Although those examples are meaningful to me, they deserve blog entries of their own. For me right now, the most telling example has to do with the Native Americans actively protesting the gross disregard for their customs and beliefs. Although this is nothing new, there is a current issue that is really emphasizing this. It has to do with plowing through a Native American sacred land, including burial grounds, in the Lake Oahe area. During a recent protest by many Native Americans from the US and Canada, many of them to harassed and assaulted with ‘attack dogs’ and pepper.
Is this news to you? I spent a little time looking up the issue on the two main news agencies, Fox News and CNN. The main page and the US sub-area did not have any news about this issues. When I did a search for “Native American Protest” on both sites, I got the results that I referenced above. When I Googled the same broad topic, the first page of results included either specialty news sources (earthables.com), ABC.com, foreign news sources (BBC.com), or some newspaper articles (like www.huffingtonpost.com and www.washingtonpost.com). That’s pretty telling… My wife pointed the www.returntonow.net article only because someone has posted it on her Facebook page. Since she is a dedicated Libertarian, she often sees news articles that the main news sources do not touch.
What is the ‘big news’ right now? Some NFL player ‘protesting’ racial issues by sitting down during the National Anthem, Hilary and Trump (pretty much nothing on the Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson), the 15 year 9/11 ‘anniversary’ (little if any real change has happened with that), etc. Though some of those things are important (Presidential election and fighting terrorism is important), a lot of important national issues are being ‘swept under the rug.’ Do you not find this disturbing? I do!
Just like Rome during Juvenal’s time (?60-?140 AD) (http://www.dictionary.com/browse/juvenal), our current culture is obsessed with ‘bread and circus.’ We would rather be entertained by tv shows, movies, sports, etc., and get as much as our ‘food’ (here I am referring to news and politics) to be handed to us from the primary ‘trusted’ sources. If something isn’t just ‘handed to us’ or tickles our fancy, many today have no interest or stomach for it. And, unless more of us ‘wake up and smell the coffee’ to what is happening around us, this toxic status quo will continue to push us to destruction. Though the destruction might feel like it is ‘just happening to someone else, far away,’ eventually it will be felt by you and me. What is your choice?
In all honesty, it is very easy to get focused on ‘trivial things.’ I have been on vacation (more of a ‘stay-cation) since September 3rd. But, between trying to take care of issues with my back, spend some time with my family, and relax, I have not been very production a lot of the time. Instead, I have been ‘surfing’ Facebook, watching TV shows, or reading ‘trivial articles’ on the Internet about movies, comic book characters, etc. All of us need quiet time to relax, recharge, and get refocused, but we can’t focus on that all of the time. But, that has to be balanced with being aware with things around us, taking care of errands/home duties, etc. It requires effort, and sometimes a lot of it. But, I believe that it is worth it.
Monday, September 5, 2016
Silently Testifying
For those who live in the Great Plains, or have traveled through it, old homesteads and old farms are a regular part of the scenery. Since I have lived in one part of the Great Plains or another for over half of my life, I sometimes don't notice them while traveling through. But yesterday (Sunday, 04SEP2016) was different. I had been in Kansas for a family reunion and was driving home. Using Google Maps, I was driving on a road that I don't recall driving on before. Being the Labor Day Weekend, and the typical Sunday in the Country, not a whole lot of people were out. So, I have a very quiet drive.
My daughter had fallen asleep, so I was drinking in the open roads, the country music that I had playing on my iPod, and watching the scenery roll by. It was a very relaxing time for me.
Just sound of the Nebraska boarder on Kansas HWY 99, I saw something that really perked my interested. As I crested a hill, an series of old farm buildings appeared before me. Seeing that the road was empty, I slowed down and took a series of pictures. Yes, I often looked around to make sure that things were safe. No a single car appeared during this time. It was as if God was purposefully wanting me to really drink this experience up. It also really got me thinging...
To what were these buildings silently testifying to? What kind of joys were celebrated here? What kind of sorrows were grieved here? Did the generations that lived here have thankful hearts to how God provided? Did they have challous hearts because of the hardships they had to endure?
Why was the farm abandoned? Did the children loose interest in making things grow? Did they feel called to different careers? Or, did they simply want what they felt would be an easier life doing something else?
Judging by the size of the house, they were doing well at some point in time. When people first started farming in the Great Plains, especially the original Homesteaders, the original homes were not big at all. Often times, they were little more than simple cabins or sod houses. But, if God blessed the people enough that they could afford to build something nicer, then they often would. Or, in the case of a simple cabin orignally, they would consistantly add on as the family grew and they could afford to do so.
Those of us who have lived here on the Plains for any length of time know how challenging it can be. From the hot, sometimes dry summers, to the sometimes bitter cold winters with very dangerous blizzards. Some families have kept their homesteads for generations. Some have even grown and grown. Still others have struggled, sold parcel after parcel of land off, until they have little to nothing left.
Being someone who loves history, I have learned that each place has many, many stories to tell. Even famous places like Gettysburg, PA; Salem, MA; The Alamo, TX; and others each have a history that they are famous for. But yet, each of them have very personal histories. Histories that are unique as each and every individual who lives there.
Over the years, my interest in world history has gradually evolved into an interest in family history. That is, geneology. Just like history, geneology is a science and an art. There are many things that you can discover through painstaking research. But, there are things that you will never know for sure. For example, you can learn for sure what a person's address was at a specific time, and possibly which church he/she attended (or was a member of) and what kind of job he/she might have had. You may be lucking to find a newspaper article or two that describes something that they did or said. But, more often than not, things like the friends that they had, how much they enjoyed life, what they though of the house or apartment that they lived in, etc., are things you have to guess at.
Because I was coming home from a family reunion, these kinds of thoughts were fresh in my mind. Maybe the family that lived in the modern house across the highway were decendants of the family that once lived on the old farm? Or, maybe the family has long moved on? Maybe someone in the family had kept a diary of their experiences? Maybe someone in the family enjoys geneology and has written about their experiences? Or, maybe the buildings will forever silently testify to what happened within their walls?
One last thought... We all have stories to tell. We all have experiences that have greatly touched our lives. Some of them are good, some of them are painful, some of them are down right histarical. But, stories we have none-the-less. For those of us who are followers of Christ, we have many stories about what He has done in our lives. These are stories that we should be willing to share, too. Whether they are joyful ones, sad ones, or times of great frustration with God, they are still our stories, our testamonies, as to what He has done in our lives. You never know how God can use your personal experiences in the life of someone else. I know that He has often surprised me!
This weekend as we celebrate Labor Day, let's take some time to reflect together on our personal experiences. During our get-togethers with friends and families, let us share these joys and sarrows. Not only do shared experiences help one generation bond with another, but they can be a key that unlocks something in the life of someone else. You just never know what God will do. Just know and trust that He will do something.
Monday, August 29, 2016
A Justifiable Death
References:
• The Larger Catechism, Specifically Questions and Answers 134-136 (It will be towards the middle of the Web Page.)
• Exodus 20:1-17 NAS
• Exodus 23:1-9 NAS
• Deuteronomy 5:4 NAS
• Micah 6:6-16 NAS
• abortion definition
**Notice**
The topics of abortion and the death penalty are very touchy items for many, many people. The way that I have tried to approach this is from a biblical world view that focus on what God considers to be justice. I know that many people, because of the pain that they have experienced in their own lives, have very strong opinions on these issues. I also know that some people will look down upon anyone who does not share their particular view point. It is not my intention to ‘look down upon’ others. Whether you agree with the death penalty, are pro-choice or pro-life, read at your own discretion. My goal is simply to share what I have learned from studying Scripture over the years. To be honest, there are times where God convicts my heart of things while I learn and grow as a Christian. It is very, very challenging to walk with God.
Remember, God's Grace is amazing. He can always reach you where you are, forgive you for all of your past mistakes. God wants to have a personal relationship with you, and His Grace is greater than anything you have done or could do though. Seek His Grace for what you have done and seek His wisdom with what you need to do.
Over the years I have been asked concerning my stance on the death penalty and abortion. When I state that I am pro-life and pro-death (penalty), many people have told me “you can’t be pro-life and pro-death!” or “You are either for abortion and the death penalty, or you are only for life!” To do try to explain why I can be against abortion and for the death penalty, but many people refuse to believe it. Being a strong introvert, it is more difficult for me to verbally explain what I believe and why. This is especially with those who are extremely extroverted and/or love to argue things. Because I am much better and explaining myself via writing, I will highlight what I believe. And, as I have mentioned many times before, this is not a thorough explanation of what I believe, just an overview.
For those who did not grow up in a Christian denomination that studies various early church writings like the Short and Larger Catechisms and various confessions, like the Westminster Confession of Faith, I will offer a brief explanation of what they are and their importance. During the Early Church, various church leaders gathered together to write various works to explain the Christian faith and correct unorthodox beliefs. Things like the Apostles Creed, Shorter and Larger Catechisms, etc., were the results. Such writings do not take precedence over Scripture. They are used to help understand Scripture. If you have not explored these important writings of the Early Church, I highly, highly encourage you to do so.
With the Larger Catechism, I was to specifically look at Question/Answer 136. It is explained exactly what we are to do, and not to do, in order to honor the 6th Commandment. In a nutshell, we are not to take an ‘innocent life.’ What is an ‘innocent life?’ An innocent life is one that has not committed a crime that should be punished by death. For example, doing such things as lying, stealing food or books, verbally insulting someone, etc., are crimes hardly worthy of being put to death. Instead, it would be more justifiable if the person who committed such acts paid restitution, spent time in prison, or something else reasonable.
However, in situations where a person commits forced rape, killing numerous people through gross negligence (for example, driving while intoxicated and causing an accident that kills several people), or intentionally killing a person out of anger, envy, or to try and hide a crime. All of these examples are one where a person chooses to cause great injury, pain, and even the death of someone else. Though the death penalty may not be the right sentence for everyone it should be an option. Especially for those who choose to do something out of the anger/malice of their hearts, have a history of hurting or abusing other people, or kill the person in such a way as to show that they were hiding another crime, trying to cause excessive suffering, etc.
Of course, care must be taken to make sure that the correct person is being sentenced for a crime that had been committed. This goes for any crime, serious or not. The punishment needs to be appropriate for the crime that had been committed. But, when the evidence has been closely examined and weighed, and a verdict of guilty has been rendered, one other very important thing has to be considered. Just how much of a threat is this person to society? What kind of justice would be most appropriate so that the friends and family of the victim(s) could get closure? It isn’t just the threat to society that one has to worry about. It is also the threat he/she holds to those who work in the prison system.
For example, is the person going to be a significant threat to other inmates and staff within the prison system? Are they extremely callous, or do they show signs of repentance? Do they have a history of violence? If they are in a gang, especially one who is already high up in the ranks or wanting to move up, no matter at what cost, how likely are they to engage in violent behavior while incarcerated? All of these are very serious questions that need to be carefully examined. It’s not just about ‘justice’ for what he/she did to a person or a group of people, but also justice for those directly affected by the death and the people that will have to deal with him/her while in prison.
In summary, the Death Penalty is a method for a State or country to enforce laws and to protect the members of society. Those who work as corrections professionals (custody staff, unity staff, maintenance staff, amongst many others who work in corrections and with Inmates on a daily basis) have families, too. This is probably something many people either don’t understand or choose to ignore. If you choose to not sentence a violent person in their 20’s or 30’s to death, but just give them life, the staff have to deal with that person for decades to come. Yes, some people do change. However, not everyone does. And, as I have explained to many people, the few hours that an Inmate has with friends and family during visitation, while in court, or attending a religious activity, is just one face of an Inmate. From personal experience, I have seen numerous Inmates put on a very convincing front about being apologetic and remorseful about their crimes and very pious. Even very loving and caring towards others. However, I have seen many Inmates show a very angry and vengeful attitude towards staff.
Though some Inmates change, many do not. And, it is not an easy decision. One that needs to be made very, very carefully. But, all of these things need to be taken in consideration. Not just the heinousness of the crime and its impact on community, but the person’s history and the threat that he or she will be towards those who have to deal with him on a daily basis in prison. To ignore any of these, especially those who work in a prison, is to make light of or totally disregard them.
Now, concerning abortion… What is abortion, but the ending the life of a fetus (unborn baby) while it is still growing within the mother. If we take into consideration what justifiable homicide is verses murder, there is a significant difference. One involves the taking of a life in defense of oneself or someone else, and one involves the killing of someone who has not done anything wrong. In Deuteronomy 5:17 and Exodus 20:13, the same Hebrew word is used, רצח (raw-tsakh') (Lexicon number 7532 or http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/ratsach.html) primarily means to murder or slay a person.
In the Micah 6 passage, we see two important things. One is the evil that is being done to other people. The other, in Micah 6:8, we see how God calls us to live. We are “…to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…” That is, we are to protect others, show love and kindness to others, and to walk in total dependence with God. As I argued earlier, there is a time and place where a person who has committed a grievous crime against someone else (especially murder), where the death penalty would be a justifiable sentence. However, if we are to ‘love justice,’ would the killing of a fetus be ‘justifiable?’
Let’s seriously think about this for a moment. Did the fetus commit a heinous crime against the mother, or against someone else, or was the woman (or girl’s) pregnancy the result of someone else’s sin? Did the woman become pregnant because she stole food, verbally slandered someone, or because she got into a fight and accidently injured or killed someone? Or, did a woman or girl become pregnant because either they choose to have sex with someone or someone forced them to have sex? What will be the end result of ending the life of the fetus (who is the innocent bystander here)? Will it be justice, or will it be revenge?
I know that many of those who push ‘pro-choice’ emphasize the very volatile and emotion driven topic of women and children being raped and becoming pregnant. Therefore, if the child is from an unwanted relationship, it should be up to the woman or girl as to if the fetus should be allowed to live or to die. To me, whether or not the fetus (again, unborn baby) we created from consensual or nonconsensual sex, is beside the point. If we are to act justly with something, we have to punish those who have committed a crime. Since a fetus is the result of a bad choice (consensual sex) or the result of being sexually assaulted, it did not commit a crime.
In life, there are times when we have to make very, very difficult choices. Things that can have a huge impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. And these choices can be laden with all sorts of very, very strong emotion. During these times, it can be very difficult to make wise decisions. However, if we are to live by God’s standards, we have to be very, very careful how we choose to do things. It is wrong in God’s eyes for us to not protect the innocent. Throughout Scripture, God condemns the oppression of ‘the widow, the orphan, the alien.’ God calls us to uphold justice. With that, we are to punish those who commit evil in a manner that evil or revengeful. The other side of the coin is that, if we are ‘to live justly,’ we are to protect those who have not committed a crime.
A final thought… I do not get excited about people being put to death. I would rather see people repent of the evil that they have done. However, from what I have learned from studying human nature and my experiences as a MP and in Corrections, I know that many people choose not to change. No prison will perfectly protect the community at large. Inmates have known to escape from time-to-time. Not just that, but violent prisoners are still a daily danger to other inmates and the staff that enforce the rules and provide programing to help those who want to change.
• The Larger Catechism, Specifically Questions and Answers 134-136 (It will be towards the middle of the Web Page.)
• Exodus 20:1-17 NAS
• Exodus 23:1-9 NAS
• Deuteronomy 5:4 NAS
• Micah 6:6-16 NAS
• abortion definition
**Notice**
The topics of abortion and the death penalty are very touchy items for many, many people. The way that I have tried to approach this is from a biblical world view that focus on what God considers to be justice. I know that many people, because of the pain that they have experienced in their own lives, have very strong opinions on these issues. I also know that some people will look down upon anyone who does not share their particular view point. It is not my intention to ‘look down upon’ others. Whether you agree with the death penalty, are pro-choice or pro-life, read at your own discretion. My goal is simply to share what I have learned from studying Scripture over the years. To be honest, there are times where God convicts my heart of things while I learn and grow as a Christian. It is very, very challenging to walk with God.
Remember, God's Grace is amazing. He can always reach you where you are, forgive you for all of your past mistakes. God wants to have a personal relationship with you, and His Grace is greater than anything you have done or could do though. Seek His Grace for what you have done and seek His wisdom with what you need to do.
Over the years I have been asked concerning my stance on the death penalty and abortion. When I state that I am pro-life and pro-death (penalty), many people have told me “you can’t be pro-life and pro-death!” or “You are either for abortion and the death penalty, or you are only for life!” To do try to explain why I can be against abortion and for the death penalty, but many people refuse to believe it. Being a strong introvert, it is more difficult for me to verbally explain what I believe and why. This is especially with those who are extremely extroverted and/or love to argue things. Because I am much better and explaining myself via writing, I will highlight what I believe. And, as I have mentioned many times before, this is not a thorough explanation of what I believe, just an overview.
For those who did not grow up in a Christian denomination that studies various early church writings like the Short and Larger Catechisms and various confessions, like the Westminster Confession of Faith, I will offer a brief explanation of what they are and their importance. During the Early Church, various church leaders gathered together to write various works to explain the Christian faith and correct unorthodox beliefs. Things like the Apostles Creed, Shorter and Larger Catechisms, etc., were the results. Such writings do not take precedence over Scripture. They are used to help understand Scripture. If you have not explored these important writings of the Early Church, I highly, highly encourage you to do so.
With the Larger Catechism, I was to specifically look at Question/Answer 136. It is explained exactly what we are to do, and not to do, in order to honor the 6th Commandment. In a nutshell, we are not to take an ‘innocent life.’ What is an ‘innocent life?’ An innocent life is one that has not committed a crime that should be punished by death. For example, doing such things as lying, stealing food or books, verbally insulting someone, etc., are crimes hardly worthy of being put to death. Instead, it would be more justifiable if the person who committed such acts paid restitution, spent time in prison, or something else reasonable.
However, in situations where a person commits forced rape, killing numerous people through gross negligence (for example, driving while intoxicated and causing an accident that kills several people), or intentionally killing a person out of anger, envy, or to try and hide a crime. All of these examples are one where a person chooses to cause great injury, pain, and even the death of someone else. Though the death penalty may not be the right sentence for everyone it should be an option. Especially for those who choose to do something out of the anger/malice of their hearts, have a history of hurting or abusing other people, or kill the person in such a way as to show that they were hiding another crime, trying to cause excessive suffering, etc.
Of course, care must be taken to make sure that the correct person is being sentenced for a crime that had been committed. This goes for any crime, serious or not. The punishment needs to be appropriate for the crime that had been committed. But, when the evidence has been closely examined and weighed, and a verdict of guilty has been rendered, one other very important thing has to be considered. Just how much of a threat is this person to society? What kind of justice would be most appropriate so that the friends and family of the victim(s) could get closure? It isn’t just the threat to society that one has to worry about. It is also the threat he/she holds to those who work in the prison system.
For example, is the person going to be a significant threat to other inmates and staff within the prison system? Are they extremely callous, or do they show signs of repentance? Do they have a history of violence? If they are in a gang, especially one who is already high up in the ranks or wanting to move up, no matter at what cost, how likely are they to engage in violent behavior while incarcerated? All of these are very serious questions that need to be carefully examined. It’s not just about ‘justice’ for what he/she did to a person or a group of people, but also justice for those directly affected by the death and the people that will have to deal with him/her while in prison.
In summary, the Death Penalty is a method for a State or country to enforce laws and to protect the members of society. Those who work as corrections professionals (custody staff, unity staff, maintenance staff, amongst many others who work in corrections and with Inmates on a daily basis) have families, too. This is probably something many people either don’t understand or choose to ignore. If you choose to not sentence a violent person in their 20’s or 30’s to death, but just give them life, the staff have to deal with that person for decades to come. Yes, some people do change. However, not everyone does. And, as I have explained to many people, the few hours that an Inmate has with friends and family during visitation, while in court, or attending a religious activity, is just one face of an Inmate. From personal experience, I have seen numerous Inmates put on a very convincing front about being apologetic and remorseful about their crimes and very pious. Even very loving and caring towards others. However, I have seen many Inmates show a very angry and vengeful attitude towards staff.
Though some Inmates change, many do not. And, it is not an easy decision. One that needs to be made very, very carefully. But, all of these things need to be taken in consideration. Not just the heinousness of the crime and its impact on community, but the person’s history and the threat that he or she will be towards those who have to deal with him on a daily basis in prison. To ignore any of these, especially those who work in a prison, is to make light of or totally disregard them.
Now, concerning abortion… What is abortion, but the ending the life of a fetus (unborn baby) while it is still growing within the mother. If we take into consideration what justifiable homicide is verses murder, there is a significant difference. One involves the taking of a life in defense of oneself or someone else, and one involves the killing of someone who has not done anything wrong. In Deuteronomy 5:17 and Exodus 20:13, the same Hebrew word is used, רצח (raw-tsakh') (Lexicon number 7532 or http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/ratsach.html) primarily means to murder or slay a person.
In the Micah 6 passage, we see two important things. One is the evil that is being done to other people. The other, in Micah 6:8, we see how God calls us to live. We are “…to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God…” That is, we are to protect others, show love and kindness to others, and to walk in total dependence with God. As I argued earlier, there is a time and place where a person who has committed a grievous crime against someone else (especially murder), where the death penalty would be a justifiable sentence. However, if we are to ‘love justice,’ would the killing of a fetus be ‘justifiable?’
Let’s seriously think about this for a moment. Did the fetus commit a heinous crime against the mother, or against someone else, or was the woman (or girl’s) pregnancy the result of someone else’s sin? Did the woman become pregnant because she stole food, verbally slandered someone, or because she got into a fight and accidently injured or killed someone? Or, did a woman or girl become pregnant because either they choose to have sex with someone or someone forced them to have sex? What will be the end result of ending the life of the fetus (who is the innocent bystander here)? Will it be justice, or will it be revenge?
I know that many of those who push ‘pro-choice’ emphasize the very volatile and emotion driven topic of women and children being raped and becoming pregnant. Therefore, if the child is from an unwanted relationship, it should be up to the woman or girl as to if the fetus should be allowed to live or to die. To me, whether or not the fetus (again, unborn baby) we created from consensual or nonconsensual sex, is beside the point. If we are to act justly with something, we have to punish those who have committed a crime. Since a fetus is the result of a bad choice (consensual sex) or the result of being sexually assaulted, it did not commit a crime.
In life, there are times when we have to make very, very difficult choices. Things that can have a huge impact on our lives and the lives of those around us. And these choices can be laden with all sorts of very, very strong emotion. During these times, it can be very difficult to make wise decisions. However, if we are to live by God’s standards, we have to be very, very careful how we choose to do things. It is wrong in God’s eyes for us to not protect the innocent. Throughout Scripture, God condemns the oppression of ‘the widow, the orphan, the alien.’ God calls us to uphold justice. With that, we are to punish those who commit evil in a manner that evil or revengeful. The other side of the coin is that, if we are ‘to live justly,’ we are to protect those who have not committed a crime.
A final thought… I do not get excited about people being put to death. I would rather see people repent of the evil that they have done. However, from what I have learned from studying human nature and my experiences as a MP and in Corrections, I know that many people choose not to change. No prison will perfectly protect the community at large. Inmates have known to escape from time-to-time. Not just that, but violent prisoners are still a daily danger to other inmates and the staff that enforce the rules and provide programing to help those who want to change.
Monday, August 22, 2016
Physical and Spiritual Fitness
References:
• Our Daily Bread Devotional for 06JUL2016
• 1 Timothy 4:6-11
• Hebrews 12:1-3
• Physical and Spiritual Nutrition
I am writing this blog entry as a follow up on one that I wrote on September 13, 2015, as well as a commentary on an Our Daily Bread devotional that I read a while back. They are both related because you cannot have good physical fitness without good nutrition. Our bodies will not be healthy without good, nutritious food, and our spiritual health will not be good without good spiritual nutrition.
My wife and I have recently purchased FitBit watches (https://www.fitbit.com/) in order to better track our physical activities and the calories that we burn. The phone app and online web page that we log into helps us to track the food that we eat, how much water we drink each day, our heart rate, our sleep, etc. All of it has been extremely helpful with living a more healthy life.
While I was deployed to Qatar last year, I was disciplining myself with running three times a week. At first a 5K (approximately 3.1 miles) was the farthest that I would run. But, having ran the All American 10 Miler back in 2004, I choose to push myself to run farther. By early summer, I was running a 10K (approximately 6.2 miles) once a week. It was an exciting time for me because I was steadily improving my run time.
On top of the running, I also did calisthenics two or three times a week. Add to that, the fact that I walked to my destinations most of the time, I was physically in very good shape. It took a lot of self-discipline to do so. I had to allow time for walking to the different places on base; I had to choose to exercise, even when I didn’t feel like it; and I and to make sure that I was eating good, healthy food.
The summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have come to a close. There, athletes from all over the world compete against each other in various events. Each of these athletes have to train for years in order to compete on the level that they do. It takes many, many years of practice, self-discipline, sacrifice, etc. The end results can be astonishing feats of athletic abilities that can garner great pride and honor. But yet, for those of us who follow Christ, there is so much more to life than one’s physical abilities.
Eventually, all of us grow old. The things that we used to be able to do with ease will eventually become very difficult, if not impossible. Some people are blessed with excellent healthy, endurance, and fitness throughout their life. But, that is not always the case. For many, illness, injury, and/or lifestyle decisions hamper what one can physically and mentally do as they get older. Though it is important to maintain as healthy of a lifestyle as one can, there is more to life than that. That would be spiritual fitness.
Paul drew a parallel between physical fitness and spiritual fitness. Having seen what Roman soldiers were capable of, having seen athletes compete, etc., Paul had a good understanding of the benefits of physical exercise. Having been a Pharisee and scholar, Paul also knew the important of spiritual discipline. Saul would never have become an important member of the religious establishment in Jerusalem without years of hard work and study. After become a Christian, that vast knowledge and intense self-discipline greatly helped him as a traveling missionary. It is something we should aspire to, I believe.
Not all of us will become biblical scholars who are gifted in one ancient language or another. Not all of us will be able to understand ancient history with how it relates to Scripture. Though some people may be gifted in memorizing Scripture or teach Scripture to others, this is not the case for everyone. God has a role for all of us to play in His plans for us and the Church Universal (the Body of Christ). While how we serve God will vary greatly, there is one that is important to all of us. That is knowing Christ in a personal way and deepening that relationship.
I strive to do devotions every day. I do admit, though, there are times where I do better at doing devotions more regularly than others. One thing that I seem to do very well is maintaining a prayerful attitude (praying without ceasing). While in seminary, I was introduced to the idea of prayer walking. That is, while walking around a particular neighborhood, pray for those around you, whatever God brings to your mind. I also make it a point to pray for at least half of my 20 minute commute to work. Each of these things have been very helpful with maintaining and deepening my relationship with Christ. They are not the only things that I do, just some examples.
Just like it takes a lot of self-discipline and time before you will see major results in physical fitness, the same can be said for spiritual fitness. There will be times where it seems like no matter what you do, things seem stagnate. The same happens when you plateau with your physical fitness for a time. In spite of these challenges, continue to seek to know God deeply and intimately. Though physical fitness does have many benefits, there are eternal benefits (and consequences) for our spiritual health. It’s a lifelong challenge, with many plateaus, mountain top experiences, and deep valleys. Are you ready for the challenge?
• Our Daily Bread Devotional for 06JUL2016
• 1 Timothy 4:6-11
• Hebrews 12:1-3
• Physical and Spiritual Nutrition
I am writing this blog entry as a follow up on one that I wrote on September 13, 2015, as well as a commentary on an Our Daily Bread devotional that I read a while back. They are both related because you cannot have good physical fitness without good nutrition. Our bodies will not be healthy without good, nutritious food, and our spiritual health will not be good without good spiritual nutrition.
My wife and I have recently purchased FitBit watches (https://www.fitbit.com/) in order to better track our physical activities and the calories that we burn. The phone app and online web page that we log into helps us to track the food that we eat, how much water we drink each day, our heart rate, our sleep, etc. All of it has been extremely helpful with living a more healthy life.
While I was deployed to Qatar last year, I was disciplining myself with running three times a week. At first a 5K (approximately 3.1 miles) was the farthest that I would run. But, having ran the All American 10 Miler back in 2004, I choose to push myself to run farther. By early summer, I was running a 10K (approximately 6.2 miles) once a week. It was an exciting time for me because I was steadily improving my run time.
On top of the running, I also did calisthenics two or three times a week. Add to that, the fact that I walked to my destinations most of the time, I was physically in very good shape. It took a lot of self-discipline to do so. I had to allow time for walking to the different places on base; I had to choose to exercise, even when I didn’t feel like it; and I and to make sure that I was eating good, healthy food.
The summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro have come to a close. There, athletes from all over the world compete against each other in various events. Each of these athletes have to train for years in order to compete on the level that they do. It takes many, many years of practice, self-discipline, sacrifice, etc. The end results can be astonishing feats of athletic abilities that can garner great pride and honor. But yet, for those of us who follow Christ, there is so much more to life than one’s physical abilities.
Eventually, all of us grow old. The things that we used to be able to do with ease will eventually become very difficult, if not impossible. Some people are blessed with excellent healthy, endurance, and fitness throughout their life. But, that is not always the case. For many, illness, injury, and/or lifestyle decisions hamper what one can physically and mentally do as they get older. Though it is important to maintain as healthy of a lifestyle as one can, there is more to life than that. That would be spiritual fitness.
Paul drew a parallel between physical fitness and spiritual fitness. Having seen what Roman soldiers were capable of, having seen athletes compete, etc., Paul had a good understanding of the benefits of physical exercise. Having been a Pharisee and scholar, Paul also knew the important of spiritual discipline. Saul would never have become an important member of the religious establishment in Jerusalem without years of hard work and study. After become a Christian, that vast knowledge and intense self-discipline greatly helped him as a traveling missionary. It is something we should aspire to, I believe.
Not all of us will become biblical scholars who are gifted in one ancient language or another. Not all of us will be able to understand ancient history with how it relates to Scripture. Though some people may be gifted in memorizing Scripture or teach Scripture to others, this is not the case for everyone. God has a role for all of us to play in His plans for us and the Church Universal (the Body of Christ). While how we serve God will vary greatly, there is one that is important to all of us. That is knowing Christ in a personal way and deepening that relationship.
I strive to do devotions every day. I do admit, though, there are times where I do better at doing devotions more regularly than others. One thing that I seem to do very well is maintaining a prayerful attitude (praying without ceasing). While in seminary, I was introduced to the idea of prayer walking. That is, while walking around a particular neighborhood, pray for those around you, whatever God brings to your mind. I also make it a point to pray for at least half of my 20 minute commute to work. Each of these things have been very helpful with maintaining and deepening my relationship with Christ. They are not the only things that I do, just some examples.
Just like it takes a lot of self-discipline and time before you will see major results in physical fitness, the same can be said for spiritual fitness. There will be times where it seems like no matter what you do, things seem stagnate. The same happens when you plateau with your physical fitness for a time. In spite of these challenges, continue to seek to know God deeply and intimately. Though physical fitness does have many benefits, there are eternal benefits (and consequences) for our spiritual health. It’s a lifelong challenge, with many plateaus, mountain top experiences, and deep valleys. Are you ready for the challenge?
Monday, August 8, 2016
Thoughts on 2nd Thessalonians 2
References:
• 2nd Thessalonians 2
• oανομια (anomia an-om-ee'-ah)
• αποστασια (apostasia ap-os-tas-ee’-ah)
Last week and this week, the Bible Study that I lead has been looking at 2nd Thessalonians. It is a short letter by Paul, but still very full of important, theological information. During the Bible Study, we talked about quite a few things. But, for the purposes of this blog entry, I will focus on some main themes of 2nd Thessalonians 2. As I have mentioned before, the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament (Joshua, Joel, Habakkuk, etc.) may be small as far as length of writing, but they are not short in theology! It is not unusual for those of us doing the study to spend a week or two on each chapter, due to their content. With that in mind, I will be just doing an overview.
In 1st Thessalonians, Paul writes the young church about several things, including Christ’s Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead. These two themes are actually repeated in Paul’s 2nd Letter to the churches in Thessalonica. When Paul received feedback as to how the members of the churches in Thessalonica were applying what he has instructed, he felt obligated to write them again. This was in order to emphasize and clarify things.
Paul writes in detail about the Second Coming of Christ and the rise of the antichrist (or ‘lawless one’). He needed to help the young church to understand what the future held. Though they were experiencing all sorts of persecution now, this will be small compared to the kind of persecution that believers will experience before Christ’s Second Coming.
Many theologians and scholars have argued over the centuries as to when Christ will return. And, we will continue to speculate on this. Some do so out of a sense of awe and excitement for being with Christ for all eternity. Others do so because of the influence, prestige, and attention making such claims gives them. The thing is, Christ has repeatedly warned that we will never know when His return will happen until it actually does happen. As Paul writes in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3, Christ will come suddenly, when none of us expects it. In 2nd Thessalonians 2, he goes into a little more detail.
In 2 Thess. 2:3-6, Paul emphasizes that until the ‘man of lawlessness’ is reveal, Christ will not return. This ‘man of lawlessness’ has to come first. In reading Scripture as a whole, we see that Paul is referring to the antichrist. This is the one that, from what we read in Revelation, is the person that unites the whole world against God’s Children (the nation of Israel and the Body of Christ) and makes war against them. Upon the completion of this ‘time of lawlessness,’ Christ will return.
It is interesting that Paul uses the Greek word oανομια (anomia, an-om-ee'-ah). This Greek work means both to ‘to be ignorant’ of the law, as well as to be in contempt of it, violating it because of one’s wickedness. I believe that Paul is clearly indicating the second definition, violating or being in contempt of the law by choice. It is because of the antichrist’s lawless, wicked heart, that he (or possibly she) leads people away from God intentionally. This is related, I believe, to Paul’s use of the work ‘apostasy’ earlier in 2 Thess. 2:3. This Greek word, (αποστασια, ap-os-tas-ee’-ah) can either mean ‘a falling away’ or ‘defection.’ The ‘a falling away’ is more of a passive action. Like a car slowly coming to ruin because it was not properly maintained. Or, a relationship slowly dies because one or both people do not choose to invest in it on a regular basis. The other sense of the word, ‘defection,’ is a choice. It would be a conscious turning away from.
In verse 7, we see that this ‘spirit of lawlessness’ is already at work. This can be understood in two different ways. First of all, it is a reference to our sinful nature. Scripture teaches that we are all born sinners, that our very nature is in rebellion to God. Paul goes into depth on this in Romans 1-3, so I won’t go into depth here. Lawlessness is, by definition, a disregard or total absence of law. But, the ‘spirit of lawlessness’ is also demonic forces at work in this world that actively fight against God’s Laws, justice, and against His Followers. So, in one sense, it has been happening since Adam and Even were forced out of the Garden of Eden until today. And, it is also true that it is an event that is yet to come.
Over the years that I have been alive, I heard many people claim that they are the Messiah. From David Koresh (http://www.biography.com/people/david-koresh-9368416), to Jim Jones (http://www.biography.com/people/jim-jones-10367607), to many others. Each of these people have claimed to either be the ‘returning Messiah,’ or that he/she knows exactly when Jesus will return. With both World Wars I and II, as well as the coming of 2000, many people were saying that ‘the End Times’ are coming.
It is very easy to get sucked into the trap of believing them. Whether they have ‘fancy degrees,’ are very charismatic, or seem to be gifted in ‘reading the times,’ we must choose not to believe them. When Christ returns, we will all know of it happening. It will be blatantly obvious for everyone all over the world that Jesus has returned.
Now, God calls us all to prepare ourselves and to live our lives as if His return will happen soon. This challenges us to be more obedient now. It also is a stern reminder that we never know when we will die. In one sense of this theological concept, we knew know when ‘Christ’s Second Coming’ will happen for each of us. That is, we never knew when we will die. Even for those who are exceptionally healthy, live very careful lives, and take as many precautions as they can, any day can be it’s last. We all must choose to live in such a way as to be always prepared to ‘meet our maker.’
Paul’s letters are just as relevant now as at the time that they were written. We all experience things like persecution, the struggle with living a life of obedience, the constant knowledge that any day could be our last, the eager hope and expectation of one day being with Christ for all eternity, etc. Following Christ has never been, and never will be easy. It will always be fraught with dangers. We all need to prayerfully prepare ourselves and help others to be ready. We are at war with our own sinful nature, and we are at war with the spiritual forces of evil all around us. We all struggle against 'falling away' and turning our backs to God. We are all challenged with correcting others in love. Are you up for the challenge?
• 2nd Thessalonians 2
• oανομια (anomia an-om-ee'-ah)
• αποστασια (apostasia ap-os-tas-ee’-ah)
Last week and this week, the Bible Study that I lead has been looking at 2nd Thessalonians. It is a short letter by Paul, but still very full of important, theological information. During the Bible Study, we talked about quite a few things. But, for the purposes of this blog entry, I will focus on some main themes of 2nd Thessalonians 2. As I have mentioned before, the Minor Prophets in the Old Testament (Joshua, Joel, Habakkuk, etc.) may be small as far as length of writing, but they are not short in theology! It is not unusual for those of us doing the study to spend a week or two on each chapter, due to their content. With that in mind, I will be just doing an overview.
In 1st Thessalonians, Paul writes the young church about several things, including Christ’s Second Coming and the resurrection of the dead. These two themes are actually repeated in Paul’s 2nd Letter to the churches in Thessalonica. When Paul received feedback as to how the members of the churches in Thessalonica were applying what he has instructed, he felt obligated to write them again. This was in order to emphasize and clarify things.
Paul writes in detail about the Second Coming of Christ and the rise of the antichrist (or ‘lawless one’). He needed to help the young church to understand what the future held. Though they were experiencing all sorts of persecution now, this will be small compared to the kind of persecution that believers will experience before Christ’s Second Coming.
Many theologians and scholars have argued over the centuries as to when Christ will return. And, we will continue to speculate on this. Some do so out of a sense of awe and excitement for being with Christ for all eternity. Others do so because of the influence, prestige, and attention making such claims gives them. The thing is, Christ has repeatedly warned that we will never know when His return will happen until it actually does happen. As Paul writes in 1st Thessalonians 5:1-3, Christ will come suddenly, when none of us expects it. In 2nd Thessalonians 2, he goes into a little more detail.
In 2 Thess. 2:3-6, Paul emphasizes that until the ‘man of lawlessness’ is reveal, Christ will not return. This ‘man of lawlessness’ has to come first. In reading Scripture as a whole, we see that Paul is referring to the antichrist. This is the one that, from what we read in Revelation, is the person that unites the whole world against God’s Children (the nation of Israel and the Body of Christ) and makes war against them. Upon the completion of this ‘time of lawlessness,’ Christ will return.
It is interesting that Paul uses the Greek word oανομια (anomia, an-om-ee'-ah). This Greek work means both to ‘to be ignorant’ of the law, as well as to be in contempt of it, violating it because of one’s wickedness. I believe that Paul is clearly indicating the second definition, violating or being in contempt of the law by choice. It is because of the antichrist’s lawless, wicked heart, that he (or possibly she) leads people away from God intentionally. This is related, I believe, to Paul’s use of the work ‘apostasy’ earlier in 2 Thess. 2:3. This Greek word, (αποστασια, ap-os-tas-ee’-ah) can either mean ‘a falling away’ or ‘defection.’ The ‘a falling away’ is more of a passive action. Like a car slowly coming to ruin because it was not properly maintained. Or, a relationship slowly dies because one or both people do not choose to invest in it on a regular basis. The other sense of the word, ‘defection,’ is a choice. It would be a conscious turning away from.
In verse 7, we see that this ‘spirit of lawlessness’ is already at work. This can be understood in two different ways. First of all, it is a reference to our sinful nature. Scripture teaches that we are all born sinners, that our very nature is in rebellion to God. Paul goes into depth on this in Romans 1-3, so I won’t go into depth here. Lawlessness is, by definition, a disregard or total absence of law. But, the ‘spirit of lawlessness’ is also demonic forces at work in this world that actively fight against God’s Laws, justice, and against His Followers. So, in one sense, it has been happening since Adam and Even were forced out of the Garden of Eden until today. And, it is also true that it is an event that is yet to come.
Over the years that I have been alive, I heard many people claim that they are the Messiah. From David Koresh (http://www.biography.com/people/david-koresh-9368416), to Jim Jones (http://www.biography.com/people/jim-jones-10367607), to many others. Each of these people have claimed to either be the ‘returning Messiah,’ or that he/she knows exactly when Jesus will return. With both World Wars I and II, as well as the coming of 2000, many people were saying that ‘the End Times’ are coming.
It is very easy to get sucked into the trap of believing them. Whether they have ‘fancy degrees,’ are very charismatic, or seem to be gifted in ‘reading the times,’ we must choose not to believe them. When Christ returns, we will all know of it happening. It will be blatantly obvious for everyone all over the world that Jesus has returned.
Now, God calls us all to prepare ourselves and to live our lives as if His return will happen soon. This challenges us to be more obedient now. It also is a stern reminder that we never know when we will die. In one sense of this theological concept, we knew know when ‘Christ’s Second Coming’ will happen for each of us. That is, we never knew when we will die. Even for those who are exceptionally healthy, live very careful lives, and take as many precautions as they can, any day can be it’s last. We all must choose to live in such a way as to be always prepared to ‘meet our maker.’
Paul’s letters are just as relevant now as at the time that they were written. We all experience things like persecution, the struggle with living a life of obedience, the constant knowledge that any day could be our last, the eager hope and expectation of one day being with Christ for all eternity, etc. Following Christ has never been, and never will be easy. It will always be fraught with dangers. We all need to prayerfully prepare ourselves and help others to be ready. We are at war with our own sinful nature, and we are at war with the spiritual forces of evil all around us. We all struggle against 'falling away' and turning our backs to God. We are all challenged with correcting others in love. Are you up for the challenge?
Sunday, August 7, 2016
Focusing on Other Things
I know that I have not written much at all these last two months. My family has had a number things come up that have required our attention. Between these issues, getting a new puppy a few weeks ago, my on going work at the prison (working 4 12 hour shifts in a row), etc., I have not had much free time. In fact, today is really the first day in quite a while where I feel like I can just sit back and relax.
I know thatsome people struggle with priorities on a very regular basis. The more things that you have to deal with,the more stressed a person can feel. Especially when conflicts arise on what needs to be more importnt. Some people thrive on that kind of challenge. Other people tear themselves apart from the emotional, physical and spiritual stress. How many people do you know who have made themselves emotionally, even physically ill, from the real (or imagined) stress in their lives?
I know that I have been stressed out at times these past several weeks. Though I have set aside a number of articlesto blog on, I have had little time or interest in doing so. And this is coming from someone who loves to write. This is part of the reason why I am purposely relaxing today. I know that my body needs the break. I am sure many of you can relax.
I know that a big part of life is learning how to balance responsibilities and choosing healthy outlets for stress. It can be very difficult to find that healthy balance, let alone maintain it. And, unfortunately, our jobs, the schools that one's children attend, church (or other religious worship communities), local communities, etc., all vie for our attention. It is a never ending cycle of getting some sense of balance, then something comes in and steals that precious balance. Your are then forced, all over again, to find that balance.
In my own life, I have found that taking time to just relax and read, spend time in prayer and Bible study, listeningto music that I enjoy, and breaking projects down into more manageable pieces, and purposely being with others (not near them, but actually ingaging them in meaningful conversations) all help in my life.
There are several things that are not on my plate anymore, but I still have a lot going on. Since I do this blog more as an outlet and not as a source of income, other things have to take priority. But, I hope to be a little more regular and consistant in my blogging. Though that seems possible now, in a few days or weeks, the opposite could be true.
Not only is this a mental and spiritual outlet for me, but I have noticed that I have a bit of a following. According to the stastics that Blogspot keeps, I have people from all over the world visit my blog. How many of them are regulars, I do not know. But, China, Germany, Russia, TThe Netherlands, and (of course) the US are regular cou tries from where people visit. I know that there is always a spike when I post on Facebook about a new entry. That is to be expected. But, even during times when I do am not inspired to write, or just too busy, I still get visits. It fascinates me, and encourages me. It is my hope and prayer that not only do people enjoy reading what I write, but find it encouraging and helpful.
Just so you know, I am writing this entry on my tablet. So, if there are any obsurd spelling or grammer mistakes, I do apologize. I have been able to correct several mistakes that I have caught, but I am sure that I have missed many.Perhaps some of these errors will give you the chuckle that you might have needed.
I know thatsome people struggle with priorities on a very regular basis. The more things that you have to deal with,the more stressed a person can feel. Especially when conflicts arise on what needs to be more importnt. Some people thrive on that kind of challenge. Other people tear themselves apart from the emotional, physical and spiritual stress. How many people do you know who have made themselves emotionally, even physically ill, from the real (or imagined) stress in their lives?
I know that I have been stressed out at times these past several weeks. Though I have set aside a number of articlesto blog on, I have had little time or interest in doing so. And this is coming from someone who loves to write. This is part of the reason why I am purposely relaxing today. I know that my body needs the break. I am sure many of you can relax.
I know that a big part of life is learning how to balance responsibilities and choosing healthy outlets for stress. It can be very difficult to find that healthy balance, let alone maintain it. And, unfortunately, our jobs, the schools that one's children attend, church (or other religious worship communities), local communities, etc., all vie for our attention. It is a never ending cycle of getting some sense of balance, then something comes in and steals that precious balance. Your are then forced, all over again, to find that balance.
In my own life, I have found that taking time to just relax and read, spend time in prayer and Bible study, listeningto music that I enjoy, and breaking projects down into more manageable pieces, and purposely being with others (not near them, but actually ingaging them in meaningful conversations) all help in my life.
There are several things that are not on my plate anymore, but I still have a lot going on. Since I do this blog more as an outlet and not as a source of income, other things have to take priority. But, I hope to be a little more regular and consistant in my blogging. Though that seems possible now, in a few days or weeks, the opposite could be true.
Not only is this a mental and spiritual outlet for me, but I have noticed that I have a bit of a following. According to the stastics that Blogspot keeps, I have people from all over the world visit my blog. How many of them are regulars, I do not know. But, China, Germany, Russia, TThe Netherlands, and (of course) the US are regular cou tries from where people visit. I know that there is always a spike when I post on Facebook about a new entry. That is to be expected. But, even during times when I do am not inspired to write, or just too busy, I still get visits. It fascinates me, and encourages me. It is my hope and prayer that not only do people enjoy reading what I write, but find it encouraging and helpful.
Just so you know, I am writing this entry on my tablet. So, if there are any obsurd spelling or grammer mistakes, I do apologize. I have been able to correct several mistakes that I have caught, but I am sure that I have missed many.Perhaps some of these errors will give you the chuckle that you might have needed.
Monday, July 25, 2016
Just Some Thoughts
Good evening... At least, it is evening for me while I am writing this blog entry. And, just to warn you, I am dping so on my phone. So, it will probably not be as pretty as it usually is. I hope you don't mind too much.
These last few weeks have been pretty long for me and our family. I have had several flare-ups with back, so that has made things even more challenging. My family also adopted another dog. A puppy, really. So, that brings another set of challenges to the mix.
My work with the Department of Corrections continues. Still see quite a mix of people who are sticking to change and those who are allowing their hearts to become even more hardened. It is both encouraging and depressing. On one hand, I see people seeking to better themselves and to find healing in their lives. But with others, they allow their fear and anger to fester and grow. They are physically alive, but emotionally and spiritully dead, consumed by bitterness.
Think g about this reminded me of an intestine incident that happened. I had to escorts a lawyer so that he could get a signiture. This particles inmate continued to ask questions, make comments, etc, for a good 20 minutes. The attorny finally was finished and we were able to leave.
During our walk back to the front entrance the attorney started apologin for the long, dragged out session that he had. I let him know that I appreciated the apology, but I was just doing my job. After over 8 years, I was used to things like that.
Our conversation eventually drifted to the topic of ethics concerning prison terms, how inmates are treated after being released from prison, etc. I shared with him that one of my favirile seminary classes had been on ethics. This really seemed to perk his interest.
Because of his interest, I told the attorney about an interesting book that I had done a paper on. In this paper, I examined the overall plot from a condensed, abridged view, and one from a well informed perspectives. The attorney really liked that approach and, as he left, stated that he was going to look for that book.
Looking back, I know that was a "God thing." That is, it was a very unique situation that God had set up so that He could touch someone's life through me. An otherwise irritating series of events that morning became a place of encouragement and blessing.
Isn't it amazing how God can take a situation that is negative and turn it into something good? Even though I have experienced it many times, God still surprises me with those experiences.
That has gotten me thinking about current events. There have been numerous terrorust attacks in Europe, brazen attacks on Law Enforcement Officers who are doing their jobs, etc. It is easy to start feeling depressed and hopeless just watching or reading about them. Especially in our information saturated world. But, the Bible Study that I led this evening was an encourager.
In both 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul directly addresses Christ''s second coming. Though persecution will grow, Crust will come again. No matter what we may experience, no matter how high of a cost, Christ will one day take us home.
That is the hope that we have. That God came into our world to not just redeem us, but to bring ourselves for His blessing. We will always ge
These last few weeks have been pretty long for me and our family. I have had several flare-ups with back, so that has made things even more challenging. My family also adopted another dog. A puppy, really. So, that brings another set of challenges to the mix.
My work with the Department of Corrections continues. Still see quite a mix of people who are sticking to change and those who are allowing their hearts to become even more hardened. It is both encouraging and depressing. On one hand, I see people seeking to better themselves and to find healing in their lives. But with others, they allow their fear and anger to fester and grow. They are physically alive, but emotionally and spiritully dead, consumed by bitterness.
Think g about this reminded me of an intestine incident that happened. I had to escorts a lawyer so that he could get a signiture. This particles inmate continued to ask questions, make comments, etc, for a good 20 minutes. The attorny finally was finished and we were able to leave.
During our walk back to the front entrance the attorney started apologin for the long, dragged out session that he had. I let him know that I appreciated the apology, but I was just doing my job. After over 8 years, I was used to things like that.
Our conversation eventually drifted to the topic of ethics concerning prison terms, how inmates are treated after being released from prison, etc. I shared with him that one of my favirile seminary classes had been on ethics. This really seemed to perk his interest.
Because of his interest, I told the attorney about an interesting book that I had done a paper on. In this paper, I examined the overall plot from a condensed, abridged view, and one from a well informed perspectives. The attorney really liked that approach and, as he left, stated that he was going to look for that book.
Looking back, I know that was a "God thing." That is, it was a very unique situation that God had set up so that He could touch someone's life through me. An otherwise irritating series of events that morning became a place of encouragement and blessing.
Isn't it amazing how God can take a situation that is negative and turn it into something good? Even though I have experienced it many times, God still surprises me with those experiences.
That has gotten me thinking about current events. There have been numerous terrorust attacks in Europe, brazen attacks on Law Enforcement Officers who are doing their jobs, etc. It is easy to start feeling depressed and hopeless just watching or reading about them. Especially in our information saturated world. But, the Bible Study that I led this evening was an encourager.
In both 1 and 2 Thessalonians, Paul directly addresses Christ''s second coming. Though persecution will grow, Crust will come again. No matter what we may experience, no matter how high of a cost, Christ will one day take us home.
That is the hope that we have. That God came into our world to not just redeem us, but to bring ourselves for His blessing. We will always ge
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
Independence Day Thoughts
References:
• Freedom definition
• Independence definition
• Jude 1:1
• John 8:34-44
I have been thinking long and hard about this blog entry. Because we were out until well after supper on July Fourth, I was not able to write anything. Yesterday, I was taking care of the kids and doing typical household chores while my wife worked. Again, I was not able to sit down and write anything. But, I was thinking about what to write throughout the day. Today, because my lower back is really bothering me, I am home resting it, trying to stay on top of the pain. It is never a good day when my back acts up, because it affects all that I do. However, since sitting at a computer for short periods of times is something that I can do. So, I am finally getting a chance to put my thoughts into words.
My wife and I talked quite a bit about what we were going to do in celebration of Independence Day. After several discussions, we decided to visit the Homestead National Monument, just outside of Beatrice, Nebraska. It is not the first time we’ve been there. But, being Independence Day, we figured with would be appropriate. That is, celebrating what our Founding Fathers gave us to inherit, this vast country to settle and live in relative freedom.
But, do we really live ‘in freedom?’ That is a very subjective word. What freedom means to one person will not be the same for someone else. According to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we freedom of the press, freedom of religious practice, freedom of assembly, freedom to keep and bear arms, etc. Because of the tyranny that our Founding Fathers, like George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, amongst many others, lived under, they put in many, many checks and balances within the Constitution to help ensure that future generations enjoy the same freedoms. And, to some extent, we are.
The thing is, we are never really ‘free.’ Think about it, we will eventually suffer the consequences of the decisions that we make. If we make positive choices, we should experience positive repercussions. If we make bad decisions, we should experience negative consequences. This is not always the case. One can easily read through crime and political stories and see that many people suffer bad consequences for making good choices or make bad decisions but yet are not held accountable. For those of us who believe in the importance of justice, that is a great heartache.
But, all of that aside, we really are not free. Though we may have more freedoms to speak our minds (though Political Correctness is a hindrance to that), worship how we choose, etc., they are all really limited. We are constrained by what is available to us where we live and work. For example, I am in the Army Nation Guard. Though I can participate in elections, I have to be very careful what I say and do in and out of uniform. I am held to different standard, due to the nature of my work. I am also very much constrained in how I critique my leadership. It’s against the Uniformed Code of Military Justice to speak of my leadership in a negative manner that impacts the morale and welfare of the US Military as a whole.
If I were ordained within a denomination (let’s say, Presbyterian Church USA, since that is the denomination that I grew up in) and challenged decisions that the PC USA leadership had made, they could (depending on what I said and how I said it), take me to court (Judicial hearings) and, could either reprimand me, prevent me from being able to accept a call to another church, revoke my ordination credentials, or even excommunicate me. Believe it or not, the PC USA can excommunicate someone. In a nutshell, the denomination, if it so chooses, will have every church that the excommunicated member attended and have them erase all references of their attendance, having been confirmed and/or being on any ministry boards, etc. Such a person would not be able to transfer their membership to any other church; they would literately have to start all over.
However, each and every one of us is truly not free. We all have a sinful nature and pushes us to make bad, selfish decisions. We all easily choose to do things that harm ourselves and others. Some people flaunt their sinful passions while others seek to restrain them. But, it is something we all have. We are either slaves to our sinful passions, or we are servants of Christ. That is, we willingly submit ourselves to His Lordship, seeking to be obedient in service to Him. Whether we choose to be servants to our sinful nature or seek to be faithful servants of Christ, we are not ‘kings or queens’ or our own life.
We are never ‘truly free.’ We have to submit ourselves to those that we work for. We have to submit ourselves to the rules and regulations of the local town, state, and even country that we live in, etc. While in school getting an education, we have to submit ourselves to their rules for attending classes, getting good grades, taking the courses we need to graduate, etc. We are always having to submit ourselves to someone or something (organization). We also either submit our choices to our sinful nature, or we prayerfully seek to be led by God via the Holy Spirit. What is our choice?
• Freedom definition
• Independence definition
• Jude 1:1
• John 8:34-44
I have been thinking long and hard about this blog entry. Because we were out until well after supper on July Fourth, I was not able to write anything. Yesterday, I was taking care of the kids and doing typical household chores while my wife worked. Again, I was not able to sit down and write anything. But, I was thinking about what to write throughout the day. Today, because my lower back is really bothering me, I am home resting it, trying to stay on top of the pain. It is never a good day when my back acts up, because it affects all that I do. However, since sitting at a computer for short periods of times is something that I can do. So, I am finally getting a chance to put my thoughts into words.
My wife and I talked quite a bit about what we were going to do in celebration of Independence Day. After several discussions, we decided to visit the Homestead National Monument, just outside of Beatrice, Nebraska. It is not the first time we’ve been there. But, being Independence Day, we figured with would be appropriate. That is, celebrating what our Founding Fathers gave us to inherit, this vast country to settle and live in relative freedom.
But, do we really live ‘in freedom?’ That is a very subjective word. What freedom means to one person will not be the same for someone else. According to the Constitution and the Bill of Rights, we freedom of the press, freedom of religious practice, freedom of assembly, freedom to keep and bear arms, etc. Because of the tyranny that our Founding Fathers, like George Washington, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, amongst many others, lived under, they put in many, many checks and balances within the Constitution to help ensure that future generations enjoy the same freedoms. And, to some extent, we are.
The thing is, we are never really ‘free.’ Think about it, we will eventually suffer the consequences of the decisions that we make. If we make positive choices, we should experience positive repercussions. If we make bad decisions, we should experience negative consequences. This is not always the case. One can easily read through crime and political stories and see that many people suffer bad consequences for making good choices or make bad decisions but yet are not held accountable. For those of us who believe in the importance of justice, that is a great heartache.
But, all of that aside, we really are not free. Though we may have more freedoms to speak our minds (though Political Correctness is a hindrance to that), worship how we choose, etc., they are all really limited. We are constrained by what is available to us where we live and work. For example, I am in the Army Nation Guard. Though I can participate in elections, I have to be very careful what I say and do in and out of uniform. I am held to different standard, due to the nature of my work. I am also very much constrained in how I critique my leadership. It’s against the Uniformed Code of Military Justice to speak of my leadership in a negative manner that impacts the morale and welfare of the US Military as a whole.
If I were ordained within a denomination (let’s say, Presbyterian Church USA, since that is the denomination that I grew up in) and challenged decisions that the PC USA leadership had made, they could (depending on what I said and how I said it), take me to court (Judicial hearings) and, could either reprimand me, prevent me from being able to accept a call to another church, revoke my ordination credentials, or even excommunicate me. Believe it or not, the PC USA can excommunicate someone. In a nutshell, the denomination, if it so chooses, will have every church that the excommunicated member attended and have them erase all references of their attendance, having been confirmed and/or being on any ministry boards, etc. Such a person would not be able to transfer their membership to any other church; they would literately have to start all over.
However, each and every one of us is truly not free. We all have a sinful nature and pushes us to make bad, selfish decisions. We all easily choose to do things that harm ourselves and others. Some people flaunt their sinful passions while others seek to restrain them. But, it is something we all have. We are either slaves to our sinful passions, or we are servants of Christ. That is, we willingly submit ourselves to His Lordship, seeking to be obedient in service to Him. Whether we choose to be servants to our sinful nature or seek to be faithful servants of Christ, we are not ‘kings or queens’ or our own life.
We are never ‘truly free.’ We have to submit ourselves to those that we work for. We have to submit ourselves to the rules and regulations of the local town, state, and even country that we live in, etc. While in school getting an education, we have to submit ourselves to their rules for attending classes, getting good grades, taking the courses we need to graduate, etc. We are always having to submit ourselves to someone or something (organization). We also either submit our choices to our sinful nature, or we prayerfully seek to be led by God via the Holy Spirit. What is our choice?
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Some Thoughts on 1 Thessalonians
In the adult Bible Study that I lead, we have been looking at the shorter Letters from Paul and other Apostles. So far, we have finished Titus and 1 Thessalonians. It's been slow going with some classes having been canceled due to weather or holidays. Nice that we do not have to worry about specific time constraints.
One of the things that I have noticed in my preparation for the Bible Studies is that there is a lot one can learn from each of these 'Minor Letters.' Just like the Minor Prophets that I did a series of studies on while in Qatar last year, though they may be short, they are still very rich in theology. The Bible Studies that I have led have been fairly in depth. But, of course, we do not cover all that we could have.
Paul probably write 1 Thessalonians in approximately 51 AD, while in the city of Corinth (Life Application Study Bible, NASB. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI, 2000. p. 2110-12.) From what I read in the Book of Acts, 1 Thessalonians, and several different commentaries, after Paul, Timothy and Silas had been forced out of Thessalonica (see acts 17:1-9), they eventually arrived in the city of Corinth. Due the circumstances with which they had been forced out of Thessalonica, Paul and his companions were very concerned with how the churches in Thessalonica were doing. Eventually, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how they were doing. After a while, Timothy returned form this trip with news as to how well the house churches in Thessalonica were doing, as well as a number of questions that they had. Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in order to encourage them and answer a number of these questions.
There are four main themes in 1 Thessalonians. They are persecution, Paul's ministry, hope, and being prepared (for Christ's Second Coming). According to the notes in my Life Application Study Bible, 1 Thessalonians can be divided into two main parts. The first one, 1 Thess. 1:1-3:13 is about faithfulness to God. The second part, 1 Thess. 4:1-5:28 is about 'Watchfullness for the Lord.' That is, maintaining an attitude of being ready for Christ's imminent return.
For those who have studies Scripture and have read about the Early Church, persecution was something Paul and the Apostles experienced on a regular basis. It would range anywhere from verbal harassment, to physical attacks, to imprisonment, even death. Quite frankly, Christians all over the work are experiencing persecution, just like the Early Church. For those of us in America, it will often be in the form or verbal harassment from family, friends, co-workers, etc., when we take a stand against sexual immorality, sanctity of life, the right to worship, etc. In other countries, persecution takes many darker, more evil forms. You can read more about the Persecuted Church at Open Doors.
To me, one of the key words in the first section of 1 Thessalonians 1:4, "...beloved by God, His choice of you." The Greek word used here (translated as '...His choice') is εκλογε (ek-log-ay'). It is where we get the theological word 'election.' It is defined as:
"Why is this so important?" you might be asking. To me, much. The idea that God has chosen us to serve Him and be His representatives on Earth is incredible and awe inspiring! Think about it, the God of all Creation, Who is not limited by time as space (things that He created) was to have a personal relationship with each of us. We are that important to Him. God, being holy, righteous, loving and forgiving, brings people to Himself through other believers. While facing harsh persecution, including being cut off from friends family, loss of work and income, even imprisonment and death, such encouragement can help a person endure the trials and tribulations.
And that is something that Paul really emphasizes. As Followers of Christ, we are to expect to experience persecution. Though it may not be as horrific as what some people in the Middle East experience, those of us in the 'Free World' will still experience it. Sometimes it will only be in the form of people making fun of us for our faith, or looking down on us for our 'old fashioned moral beliefs.' For me, passages like this and Romans 8:28-39 are of sweet encouragement. No matter what kind of problems I face, God will see me through. He called me for a personal relationship with Him for a reason, my life has purpose, there are things God wants to do through me, lives He wants to touch through my life, and He will see things through to the end.
Is that not wonderful news? It is to me.
One of the things that I have noticed in my preparation for the Bible Studies is that there is a lot one can learn from each of these 'Minor Letters.' Just like the Minor Prophets that I did a series of studies on while in Qatar last year, though they may be short, they are still very rich in theology. The Bible Studies that I have led have been fairly in depth. But, of course, we do not cover all that we could have.
Paul probably write 1 Thessalonians in approximately 51 AD, while in the city of Corinth (Life Application Study Bible, NASB. Zondervan Publishing House. Grand Rapids, MI, 2000. p. 2110-12.) From what I read in the Book of Acts, 1 Thessalonians, and several different commentaries, after Paul, Timothy and Silas had been forced out of Thessalonica (see acts 17:1-9), they eventually arrived in the city of Corinth. Due the circumstances with which they had been forced out of Thessalonica, Paul and his companions were very concerned with how the churches in Thessalonica were doing. Eventually, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how they were doing. After a while, Timothy returned form this trip with news as to how well the house churches in Thessalonica were doing, as well as a number of questions that they had. Paul wrote 1 and 2 Thessalonians in order to encourage them and answer a number of these questions.
There are four main themes in 1 Thessalonians. They are persecution, Paul's ministry, hope, and being prepared (for Christ's Second Coming). According to the notes in my Life Application Study Bible, 1 Thessalonians can be divided into two main parts. The first one, 1 Thess. 1:1-3:13 is about faithfulness to God. The second part, 1 Thess. 4:1-5:28 is about 'Watchfullness for the Lord.' That is, maintaining an attitude of being ready for Christ's imminent return.
For those who have studies Scripture and have read about the Early Church, persecution was something Paul and the Apostles experienced on a regular basis. It would range anywhere from verbal harassment, to physical attacks, to imprisonment, even death. Quite frankly, Christians all over the work are experiencing persecution, just like the Early Church. For those of us in America, it will often be in the form or verbal harassment from family, friends, co-workers, etc., when we take a stand against sexual immorality, sanctity of life, the right to worship, etc. In other countries, persecution takes many darker, more evil forms. You can read more about the Persecuted Church at Open Doors.
To me, one of the key words in the first section of 1 Thessalonians 1:4, "...beloved by God, His choice of you." The Greek word used here (translated as '...His choice') is εκλογε (ek-log-ay'). It is where we get the theological word 'election.' It is defined as:
1. the act of picking out, choosing
• of the act of God's free will by which before the foundation of the world he decreed his blessings to certain persons
• the decree made from choice by which he determined to bless certain persons through Christ by grace alone
2. a thing or person chosen
• of persons: God's elect
(taken from here.)
"Why is this so important?" you might be asking. To me, much. The idea that God has chosen us to serve Him and be His representatives on Earth is incredible and awe inspiring! Think about it, the God of all Creation, Who is not limited by time as space (things that He created) was to have a personal relationship with each of us. We are that important to Him. God, being holy, righteous, loving and forgiving, brings people to Himself through other believers. While facing harsh persecution, including being cut off from friends family, loss of work and income, even imprisonment and death, such encouragement can help a person endure the trials and tribulations.
And that is something that Paul really emphasizes. As Followers of Christ, we are to expect to experience persecution. Though it may not be as horrific as what some people in the Middle East experience, those of us in the 'Free World' will still experience it. Sometimes it will only be in the form of people making fun of us for our faith, or looking down on us for our 'old fashioned moral beliefs.' For me, passages like this and Romans 8:28-39 are of sweet encouragement. No matter what kind of problems I face, God will see me through. He called me for a personal relationship with Him for a reason, my life has purpose, there are things God wants to do through me, lives He wants to touch through my life, and He will see things through to the end.
Is that not wonderful news? It is to me.
Monday, June 13, 2016
The Orlando Shooting -- My Response
References:
• 2 Timothy 3:1-9
• Libertarian Nominee: We must not 'politicize' Orlando shooting
• Five Rules for Coping with Tragedy
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting
• Orlando Shooting, What We Know and Don’t Know
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting (Terror Ties)
After learning about the horrific shooting in Orlando this morning, I knew that I would be writing a blog entry on it. I just took my time prayerfully deciding how I would address it. And, a ‘conversation’ on Facebook inspired the contents of this blog. I really do enjoy the INFJ group that I am in. Although we have a tendency to have some heated ‘conversations’ about things that we are passionate about, the majority of the time we sit down and clearly write out what we believe and why. More of a ‘discussion’ than a ‘debate,’ though both do happen. But, I digress a little…
I was saddened and upset by the attack, but not at all surprised. Over a year ago, various radical Islamist groups have pushed the idea of ‘lone wolf’ attacks. That is, someone who is either a member or just idealizes a group, finds a good ‘target,’ prepares for attacking it, and then follows through if they can. Sometimes, such a person can get training from other radical Islamist (or whatever radical group they affiliate themselves with), other times it is mostly, or even entirely, on their own. Such kinds of terrorist are much harder to discover, track, and intercept before they actually attack.
I have been in the US Army (Active Duty and the National Guard) for just over 15 years, having been a MP (Military Police) since about 2009, and having worked in corrections for over 8 years. Before I became a MP, I was trained as a Military Intelligence Analyst. Over the years, I have had a lot of training in research, analyzing patterns, enforcing laws, and working with criminals. This is all on top of my theological training. And, because of this broad training and experience, I believe that gun legislation is not the answer. It only creates more victims.
I do believe that background checks for purchasing firearms in necessary, that proper training in firearms safety and use are critical, and that allowing people to carry a firearm for their personal defense, and the defense of others, is important. For those who do not wish to own a firearm, or to carry if you do, that is your choice. I personally believe that God not only calls me not to take an innocent life, but to protect other innocent people.
As for the shooting in Florida, the man did his homework. He picked a place that, since it sold alcohol, it would be illegal to have a concealed (or openly carried) firearm. Unless there was someone there who was paid (or volunteer) security and did not drink while on duty, there would have been no one who could have immediately stopped the threat. And, since law enforcement take 5-15 minutes to respond, anyone who has done sparring, gone shooting, done 'crisis training,' etc., know that a lot can happen in 1-2 minutes, let alone 10-15 minutes.
The man chose something we in the military call a 'soft target.' Something that has a 'high pay off' and low risk. It was a ‘high payoff target’ do to the fact that it was something that he was religiously opposed to, something that those whom he idolized would quickly affirm, and there would be a lot of people who would be there. And, since it was a club, many people would be intoxicated, dancing, engaged in conversations, and totally distracted, not paying attention to what was happening around them until it was too late. And, it was a ‘soft target’ because there was no security (except for maybe unarmed bouncers), so he would be able to shoot a lot of people and leave safely, before the police arrived.
People who have an evil (sinful) heart will find a way to carry out their wicked plans. Whether it is to obtain a firearm (legally or illegally), create a homemade explosive device, commit arson, or use a table knife or baseball bat, they will find a way. Sometimes, they just have to get creative. Having worked at a Maximum Security Prison for 8+ years, I have seen some pretty creative weapons, as well as some 'standard improvised' ones (i.e. a lock in sock). Of the statistics that I looked at from the FBI (https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/crimestats/) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (http://www.bjs.gov/), firearms are often used to commit crimes. They are also often used in ‘justifiable homicide,’ where someone killed someone committing a felony against themselves or someone else. In fact, I noticed something interesting…. In 2014, there were 11,961 people murdered. Of that number, 8,124 were murdered by a firearm, 1,576 were murdered via a knife or other cutting instrument, 435 were murdered via a blunt object, and 660 were murdered by ‘personal weapons’ (hands, feet, fist, shoving, etc.) in the United States. Now, how many of these murders were actually gang on gang crimes, how many of them were gang related, how many were ‘crimes of passion,’ I don’t know (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_9_murder_victims_by_age_by_weapon_2014.xls). But, when compared to the 2014 statistics on justifiable homicide (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_14_justifiable_homicide_by_weapon_law_enforcement_2010-2014.xls), one sees that the use of a firearm in self-defense was almost 1/10 of the actual murder use. It is also interesting that, in some of the States that have the highest gun control laws, like California, Washing DC, Illinois, etc., (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-20) we see that they have very high murder rates. I wonder how many few murders there would be if more people were able to use a firearm to protect themselves.
One group that I am a member of publishes stories week about people who use firearms, be it a pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc., to protect themselves and/or someone else. Many times, the simple fact that they either tell the person attempting to commit a felony, or aim the firearm at the person committing a felony, is enough to stop the crime from being committed. Many people committing crimes are not stupid. If they realize that they will get injured or killed trying to assault, rape, rob, etc., someone, they will go someplace else to commit their crime. They want an ‘easy target,’ someone who is not going to fight back. Sometimes, a person will have to use force to protect themselves or someone else. Thankfully, many times that is not always the case.
The answer is not gun legislation, I believe. The answer lies in good people being willing to stop evil people. Whether it is correcting or confronting the person, calling the police, or actively engaging a murderous person with what ever weapon one can find, doing something positive instead of hindering others from protecting themselves or others is the answer.
There is something else that we all have to keep in mind. People like Omar Mateen are called ‘lone wolf attackers.’ That is, they have little to no official ties to any particular radical/extremist group. Instead, they do most of their training, research, surveillance, etc., on their own. Because they have so little ties with radical groups, including communication, they are much harder to recognize, let alone track. Unless they get put on someone’s radar (local Law Enforcement, FBI, etc.), they will not ‘get noticed.’ That means, when they do plan on attacking, people, including local Law Enforcement, will be reacting to the threat, possibly after they start finding the injured and wounded. In such cases, having citizens there who are willing to lay their life on the line to protect others, enable them to get good training in order to protect themselves and others, and encourage them to do some in as many places as possible, give such people few targets.
Think about it. Would you want to commit a crime or terrorist attack, in an area where there is a possible to very high likely hood of someone stopping you? Not just the possible threat of someone or a group of people trying to tackle you to keep you from hurting more people, but actually can engage you with lethal force, would you want to attack there? Or, would you rather go some place where the people might not, or will not be able to fight back?
It is my opinion that ‘stricter laws’ on firearms, gun bans, ‘high capacity bans,’ etc., are not only ineffective, but create more dangers than the protections that they give. I also believe that places that are ‘gun free zones’ only invite people to commit crimes. What we need are more people who are willing to take good training in order protect themselves and others. I would encourage those who can, to take classes in self-defense, take some shooting classes, learn from others how to have better situational awareness so that you become less of a target to those who want to commit crimes, learn about the laws in your area so that you know what you can and cannot do to protect yourself and others, take first aid/CPR courses, etc. Those of us to genuine care about others and have the training and means to defend ourselves and others have a responsibility to do so. We also have a responsibility to do so wisely. I continue to train to make myself better. What are you willing to do?
• 2 Timothy 3:1-9
• Libertarian Nominee: We must not 'politicize' Orlando shooting
• Five Rules for Coping with Tragedy
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting
• Orlando Shooting, What We Know and Don’t Know
• Orlando Nightclub Shooting (Terror Ties)
After learning about the horrific shooting in Orlando this morning, I knew that I would be writing a blog entry on it. I just took my time prayerfully deciding how I would address it. And, a ‘conversation’ on Facebook inspired the contents of this blog. I really do enjoy the INFJ group that I am in. Although we have a tendency to have some heated ‘conversations’ about things that we are passionate about, the majority of the time we sit down and clearly write out what we believe and why. More of a ‘discussion’ than a ‘debate,’ though both do happen. But, I digress a little…
I was saddened and upset by the attack, but not at all surprised. Over a year ago, various radical Islamist groups have pushed the idea of ‘lone wolf’ attacks. That is, someone who is either a member or just idealizes a group, finds a good ‘target,’ prepares for attacking it, and then follows through if they can. Sometimes, such a person can get training from other radical Islamist (or whatever radical group they affiliate themselves with), other times it is mostly, or even entirely, on their own. Such kinds of terrorist are much harder to discover, track, and intercept before they actually attack.
I have been in the US Army (Active Duty and the National Guard) for just over 15 years, having been a MP (Military Police) since about 2009, and having worked in corrections for over 8 years. Before I became a MP, I was trained as a Military Intelligence Analyst. Over the years, I have had a lot of training in research, analyzing patterns, enforcing laws, and working with criminals. This is all on top of my theological training. And, because of this broad training and experience, I believe that gun legislation is not the answer. It only creates more victims.
I do believe that background checks for purchasing firearms in necessary, that proper training in firearms safety and use are critical, and that allowing people to carry a firearm for their personal defense, and the defense of others, is important. For those who do not wish to own a firearm, or to carry if you do, that is your choice. I personally believe that God not only calls me not to take an innocent life, but to protect other innocent people.
As for the shooting in Florida, the man did his homework. He picked a place that, since it sold alcohol, it would be illegal to have a concealed (or openly carried) firearm. Unless there was someone there who was paid (or volunteer) security and did not drink while on duty, there would have been no one who could have immediately stopped the threat. And, since law enforcement take 5-15 minutes to respond, anyone who has done sparring, gone shooting, done 'crisis training,' etc., know that a lot can happen in 1-2 minutes, let alone 10-15 minutes.
The man chose something we in the military call a 'soft target.' Something that has a 'high pay off' and low risk. It was a ‘high payoff target’ do to the fact that it was something that he was religiously opposed to, something that those whom he idolized would quickly affirm, and there would be a lot of people who would be there. And, since it was a club, many people would be intoxicated, dancing, engaged in conversations, and totally distracted, not paying attention to what was happening around them until it was too late. And, it was a ‘soft target’ because there was no security (except for maybe unarmed bouncers), so he would be able to shoot a lot of people and leave safely, before the police arrived.
People who have an evil (sinful) heart will find a way to carry out their wicked plans. Whether it is to obtain a firearm (legally or illegally), create a homemade explosive device, commit arson, or use a table knife or baseball bat, they will find a way. Sometimes, they just have to get creative. Having worked at a Maximum Security Prison for 8+ years, I have seen some pretty creative weapons, as well as some 'standard improvised' ones (i.e. a lock in sock). Of the statistics that I looked at from the FBI (https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/crimestats/) and the Bureau of Justice Statistics (http://www.bjs.gov/), firearms are often used to commit crimes. They are also often used in ‘justifiable homicide,’ where someone killed someone committing a felony against themselves or someone else. In fact, I noticed something interesting…. In 2014, there were 11,961 people murdered. Of that number, 8,124 were murdered by a firearm, 1,576 were murdered via a knife or other cutting instrument, 435 were murdered via a blunt object, and 660 were murdered by ‘personal weapons’ (hands, feet, fist, shoving, etc.) in the United States. Now, how many of these murders were actually gang on gang crimes, how many of them were gang related, how many were ‘crimes of passion,’ I don’t know (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_9_murder_victims_by_age_by_weapon_2014.xls). But, when compared to the 2014 statistics on justifiable homicide (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/expanded-homicide-data/expanded_homicide_data_table_14_justifiable_homicide_by_weapon_law_enforcement_2010-2014.xls), one sees that the use of a firearm in self-defense was almost 1/10 of the actual murder use. It is also interesting that, in some of the States that have the highest gun control laws, like California, Washing DC, Illinois, etc., (https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/ucr/crime-in-the-u.s/2014/crime-in-the-u.s.-2014/tables/table-20) we see that they have very high murder rates. I wonder how many few murders there would be if more people were able to use a firearm to protect themselves.
One group that I am a member of publishes stories week about people who use firearms, be it a pistol, rifle, shotgun, etc., to protect themselves and/or someone else. Many times, the simple fact that they either tell the person attempting to commit a felony, or aim the firearm at the person committing a felony, is enough to stop the crime from being committed. Many people committing crimes are not stupid. If they realize that they will get injured or killed trying to assault, rape, rob, etc., someone, they will go someplace else to commit their crime. They want an ‘easy target,’ someone who is not going to fight back. Sometimes, a person will have to use force to protect themselves or someone else. Thankfully, many times that is not always the case.
The answer is not gun legislation, I believe. The answer lies in good people being willing to stop evil people. Whether it is correcting or confronting the person, calling the police, or actively engaging a murderous person with what ever weapon one can find, doing something positive instead of hindering others from protecting themselves or others is the answer.
There is something else that we all have to keep in mind. People like Omar Mateen are called ‘lone wolf attackers.’ That is, they have little to no official ties to any particular radical/extremist group. Instead, they do most of their training, research, surveillance, etc., on their own. Because they have so little ties with radical groups, including communication, they are much harder to recognize, let alone track. Unless they get put on someone’s radar (local Law Enforcement, FBI, etc.), they will not ‘get noticed.’ That means, when they do plan on attacking, people, including local Law Enforcement, will be reacting to the threat, possibly after they start finding the injured and wounded. In such cases, having citizens there who are willing to lay their life on the line to protect others, enable them to get good training in order to protect themselves and others, and encourage them to do some in as many places as possible, give such people few targets.
Think about it. Would you want to commit a crime or terrorist attack, in an area where there is a possible to very high likely hood of someone stopping you? Not just the possible threat of someone or a group of people trying to tackle you to keep you from hurting more people, but actually can engage you with lethal force, would you want to attack there? Or, would you rather go some place where the people might not, or will not be able to fight back?
It is my opinion that ‘stricter laws’ on firearms, gun bans, ‘high capacity bans,’ etc., are not only ineffective, but create more dangers than the protections that they give. I also believe that places that are ‘gun free zones’ only invite people to commit crimes. What we need are more people who are willing to take good training in order protect themselves and others. I would encourage those who can, to take classes in self-defense, take some shooting classes, learn from others how to have better situational awareness so that you become less of a target to those who want to commit crimes, learn about the laws in your area so that you know what you can and cannot do to protect yourself and others, take first aid/CPR courses, etc. Those of us to genuine care about others and have the training and means to defend ourselves and others have a responsibility to do so. We also have a responsibility to do so wisely. I continue to train to make myself better. What are you willing to do?
Monday, May 23, 2016
Suicide: A Serious Look
References (Military):
• Five Myths About Military Suicides
• Suicide in the Military
• The Truth About 22 Veteran Suicides A Day
References (Corrections):
• Suicide Among Corrections Officers: It’s Time for an Open Discussion
• Beating The Odds
• Prison Officers Need Help, But They Won’t Ask For It
• Correctional Suicides: Doing Time Takes its Toll
Suicide Prevention
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Military One Source
• Suicide Prevention Program from Indian Health Service
• CDC Feature on Preventing Suicide
• Veterans Affairs Crisis Line/Resources
Honestly, this is a blog entry that I have been thinking about for almost 1 ½ years now. It is a topic that I am very concerned about, especially from a Military and Corrections standpoint. But, not exclusively. Let me start out by telling you a personal story…
Back in the mid ‘80s, my parents and I were living in Crestwood, KY. It was probably my senior year, sometime in the month of December. Though I don’t remember the exact date, I remember very clearly what I was doing. I was sitting in our living room and watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, “A Christmas Carol.” The version that I was watching was a black-and-white film, probably from the 1950’s. Like usual, I was totally engrossed with it. Then, the phone rang…
I got up and the woman on the line introduced herself as one of the members of our church, Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church. The reason for the call was to inform me that our pastor had committed suicide. I remember just standing there, numb, while I finished talking with the lady from our church. The pastor and I had become pretty good friends over the last year and a half, and had talked about quite a few things.
Here I was, getting ready to celebrate Christmas with my family and… Our pastor was gone… I remember hanging up the phone on the wall, standing there for a while, then I remember I had been watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, so I went back to the sofa to finish it. I am guessing that I was about half through. I just sat there watching for maybe 5 minutes. Then, I decided to just turn it off. I no longer felt like watching it. I just felt so numb… I can’t remember for sure what I did do after I got up and turned off the t.v., not that it mattered. I do remember feeling numb for a day or so.
A few years ago, I learned of the death of a friend of mine who used to work at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Todd and I had been friends for at least three years and really enjoyed working together and talking with each other. Todd had moved from Nebraska to Kansas and, from what I knew, was doing well. I knew that he had left Corrections because of issues that he had with some of the staff, as well as some of the Inmates. What I didn’t know was that, because of all the issues that he had been having, he had abused alcohol so much that his body essentially stopped working correctly and he died. He was born in 1966 and died in March of 2013. His sister had contacted me via Facebook to give me the sad news. She had known of our friendship even though we had never met. She also explained why Todd had died. ‘Feeling sad’ really didn’t describe how I felt.
I am sure that each of you reading this blog entry have been touched by suicide. I am sure each of you have been left wondering, “What went wrong?” Or maybe, “What should I have done differently?!” Or possibly “Why did I miss the warning signs?!” It is easy to not just think about those things, but to become focused on them.
People commit suicide for different reasons. Usually it is because they are trying to find a way stop the physical, emotional, or mental pain that they are feeling at the time. There have been many studies on why people commit suicide, and it is not what this blog is about.
I have been in the US Army (both Active Duty and with the Nebraska National Guard) for 15 years now. I have been with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for about 8 1/3 years now. Both of those are very high stress jobs. Although I am often thanked for my Service, not everyone understands the kind of experiences that I have had. Unfortunately, I rarely, if ever, get any kind of ‘thanks’ for my service in Corrections outside of my immediate family and close circle of friends.
I knew going into Corrections that it would probably be a ‘thankless’ job. Back in 2006 when I first started my Corrections training, Law Enforcement professionals were already been looked down upon. I knew that working in a prison would be a hard job to do, and many around me did not leave me disappointed. The stress that Custody (or Line) Staff have to deal with on a daily basis, plus a society that often misunderstand us or grossly dislikes us, can easily lead to lots of stress and the impression that there are few outlets out there for dealing with it. The same can be true for those in our Armed Forces.
The thing is, there are those out there who do genuinely care, both in Corrections and in the Military. In the Army, we have Peer-to-Peer trained soldiers and those who have had ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), myself being one who has both. Annually, those of us who work for the Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS) take refresher training on suicide prevention. Though it focuses more on dealing with Inmate suicide, the concepts there can be used with co-workers, too.
The thing is, there are many people out there who genuinely care. There are many people out there who want to help out. Even if they do not understand what you are going through, they still want to help and support you. The important thing is to keep asking, to keep searching for those who do care.
There are two analogies that I have learned concerning how things build up to wanting to commit suicide. The first one is the ‘blinders’ analogy. Have you ever seen a horse pulling a buggy? Over the eyes of the horse are what’s called ‘blinders.’ They are items to ‘blind’ the horse to things that are happening around it, keeping it focused straight ahead. As a person goes through life and stress and pain start building, a person can develop blinders that hinder him or her from seeing the ‘whole picture.’ As time goes on, he or she becomes more and more focused on the source of their pain (emotional, physical, etc.) and less and less on the options available. Maybe not the best analogy, but one that help.
Another good analogy that I found came from my ASIST training (site is https://www.livingworks.net/). Picture in your mind a dam with a large reservoir behind it, the canyon walls off to the sides in front of the dam, and then a pump house at the base. The reservoir symbolizes all that is in your mind (thoughts, feelings, memories, etc.). The pump house symbolizes the way that you process everything. The dam is, well, you. When a person is effectively regulating one’s emotions, thoughts, etc., the water behind the dam and the water coming out of the pump house work effectively. However, when there gets to be an excess of water within the reservoir and/or the pump house has problems regulating everything, cracks can start forming within the dam, water can start spilling out around the dam wall, the water can start flowing over the dam wall, etc. This can be a slow build up, caused by a traumatic event(s), created or aggravated by drug and/or alcohol abuse, etc. As the well becomes more and more overwhelmed, the odds of something ‘rash’ to deal with everything becomes more and more likely.
Again, these are only analogies. And I feel the need to emphasize that each and every one of us are dealing with different things in our lives. What may not really bother one person can greatly affect someone else. Some people thrive in environments of challenge, conflict, etc. Others excel and grow in areas of calm and quiet. We are all different, and we each react to things differently. But, no matter how difficult things may be, no matter how dark your life might seem right now, there are many out there who do care and want to help. And if one doesn’t understand what you are feeling or are not sure with how to help, the do want to help and at least walk with you during this challenging time. Keep searching and asking until one does help you.
• Five Myths About Military Suicides
• Suicide in the Military
• The Truth About 22 Veteran Suicides A Day
References (Corrections):
• Suicide Among Corrections Officers: It’s Time for an Open Discussion
• Beating The Odds
• Prison Officers Need Help, But They Won’t Ask For It
• Correctional Suicides: Doing Time Takes its Toll
Suicide Prevention
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
• Military One Source
• Suicide Prevention Program from Indian Health Service
• CDC Feature on Preventing Suicide
• Veterans Affairs Crisis Line/Resources
Honestly, this is a blog entry that I have been thinking about for almost 1 ½ years now. It is a topic that I am very concerned about, especially from a Military and Corrections standpoint. But, not exclusively. Let me start out by telling you a personal story…
Back in the mid ‘80s, my parents and I were living in Crestwood, KY. It was probably my senior year, sometime in the month of December. Though I don’t remember the exact date, I remember very clearly what I was doing. I was sitting in our living room and watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, “A Christmas Carol.” The version that I was watching was a black-and-white film, probably from the 1950’s. Like usual, I was totally engrossed with it. Then, the phone rang…
I got up and the woman on the line introduced herself as one of the members of our church, Pewee Valley Presbyterian Church. The reason for the call was to inform me that our pastor had committed suicide. I remember just standing there, numb, while I finished talking with the lady from our church. The pastor and I had become pretty good friends over the last year and a half, and had talked about quite a few things.
Here I was, getting ready to celebrate Christmas with my family and… Our pastor was gone… I remember hanging up the phone on the wall, standing there for a while, then I remember I had been watching one of my favorite Christmas movies, so I went back to the sofa to finish it. I am guessing that I was about half through. I just sat there watching for maybe 5 minutes. Then, I decided to just turn it off. I no longer felt like watching it. I just felt so numb… I can’t remember for sure what I did do after I got up and turned off the t.v., not that it mattered. I do remember feeling numb for a day or so.
A few years ago, I learned of the death of a friend of mine who used to work at Tecumseh State Correctional Institution. Todd and I had been friends for at least three years and really enjoyed working together and talking with each other. Todd had moved from Nebraska to Kansas and, from what I knew, was doing well. I knew that he had left Corrections because of issues that he had with some of the staff, as well as some of the Inmates. What I didn’t know was that, because of all the issues that he had been having, he had abused alcohol so much that his body essentially stopped working correctly and he died. He was born in 1966 and died in March of 2013. His sister had contacted me via Facebook to give me the sad news. She had known of our friendship even though we had never met. She also explained why Todd had died. ‘Feeling sad’ really didn’t describe how I felt.
I am sure that each of you reading this blog entry have been touched by suicide. I am sure each of you have been left wondering, “What went wrong?” Or maybe, “What should I have done differently?!” Or possibly “Why did I miss the warning signs?!” It is easy to not just think about those things, but to become focused on them.
People commit suicide for different reasons. Usually it is because they are trying to find a way stop the physical, emotional, or mental pain that they are feeling at the time. There have been many studies on why people commit suicide, and it is not what this blog is about.
I have been in the US Army (both Active Duty and with the Nebraska National Guard) for 15 years now. I have been with the Nebraska Department of Corrections for about 8 1/3 years now. Both of those are very high stress jobs. Although I am often thanked for my Service, not everyone understands the kind of experiences that I have had. Unfortunately, I rarely, if ever, get any kind of ‘thanks’ for my service in Corrections outside of my immediate family and close circle of friends.
I knew going into Corrections that it would probably be a ‘thankless’ job. Back in 2006 when I first started my Corrections training, Law Enforcement professionals were already been looked down upon. I knew that working in a prison would be a hard job to do, and many around me did not leave me disappointed. The stress that Custody (or Line) Staff have to deal with on a daily basis, plus a society that often misunderstand us or grossly dislikes us, can easily lead to lots of stress and the impression that there are few outlets out there for dealing with it. The same can be true for those in our Armed Forces.
The thing is, there are those out there who do genuinely care, both in Corrections and in the Military. In the Army, we have Peer-to-Peer trained soldiers and those who have had ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training), myself being one who has both. Annually, those of us who work for the Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS) take refresher training on suicide prevention. Though it focuses more on dealing with Inmate suicide, the concepts there can be used with co-workers, too.
The thing is, there are many people out there who genuinely care. There are many people out there who want to help out. Even if they do not understand what you are going through, they still want to help and support you. The important thing is to keep asking, to keep searching for those who do care.
There are two analogies that I have learned concerning how things build up to wanting to commit suicide. The first one is the ‘blinders’ analogy. Have you ever seen a horse pulling a buggy? Over the eyes of the horse are what’s called ‘blinders.’ They are items to ‘blind’ the horse to things that are happening around it, keeping it focused straight ahead. As a person goes through life and stress and pain start building, a person can develop blinders that hinder him or her from seeing the ‘whole picture.’ As time goes on, he or she becomes more and more focused on the source of their pain (emotional, physical, etc.) and less and less on the options available. Maybe not the best analogy, but one that help.
Another good analogy that I found came from my ASIST training (site is https://www.livingworks.net/). Picture in your mind a dam with a large reservoir behind it, the canyon walls off to the sides in front of the dam, and then a pump house at the base. The reservoir symbolizes all that is in your mind (thoughts, feelings, memories, etc.). The pump house symbolizes the way that you process everything. The dam is, well, you. When a person is effectively regulating one’s emotions, thoughts, etc., the water behind the dam and the water coming out of the pump house work effectively. However, when there gets to be an excess of water within the reservoir and/or the pump house has problems regulating everything, cracks can start forming within the dam, water can start spilling out around the dam wall, the water can start flowing over the dam wall, etc. This can be a slow build up, caused by a traumatic event(s), created or aggravated by drug and/or alcohol abuse, etc. As the well becomes more and more overwhelmed, the odds of something ‘rash’ to deal with everything becomes more and more likely.
Again, these are only analogies. And I feel the need to emphasize that each and every one of us are dealing with different things in our lives. What may not really bother one person can greatly affect someone else. Some people thrive in environments of challenge, conflict, etc. Others excel and grow in areas of calm and quiet. We are all different, and we each react to things differently. But, no matter how difficult things may be, no matter how dark your life might seem right now, there are many out there who do care and want to help. And if one doesn’t understand what you are feeling or are not sure with how to help, the do want to help and at least walk with you during this challenging time. Keep searching and asking until one does help you.
A Lifelong Journey
Many years ago, I was in seminary and working on becoming ordained with the Presbyterian Church (USA). One of the many requirements that I had to fulfill was attend a multiple day workshop with several career counselors. If I remember correctly, it took place during a weekend, not that it matters too much for this story.
I was not the only one participating in this career counseling session. There were at least three other people involved. Being that it took place almost 20 years ago, I can't remember a lot of the details. If memory serves me correctly, there was at least one 'group counseling session,' an individual counseling session, a battery of questionnaires, and quite a few group discussions. I believe that one of the questionnaires was on the Gifts of the Spirit and another one was the Meyers Briggs personality test. I know that one of the results of that test was being introverted. At this time, I cannot remember what the other three letters were of my 'type.'
During one of the discussions, we had to draw a picture of how we viewed our currently relationship with God. Each of us had a large piece of paper (something along the line of 24 inches by 36 inches, maybe a little smaller) to draw on. Of course, each of us drew something different. That's to be expected.
Not only did we have to draw the pictures, but we had to explain what it meant. And, I was more than willing to do so. The woods symbolized a brief period in my life where I faced a lot of challenges. Part of which was the room situation that I had endured several years prior with two of my four roommates. It was a very difficult time for me, but one I will discuss in another blog entry. Suffice to say, the pain and difficulties I had experience in Strasbourg, France, helped to facilitate my turning to Christ the following January.
Although I did not how to exactly explain it, I drew me by myself because that is how I often was. Not that because I felt I didn't need others. On the contrary, I do. However, being more introverted, I do a lot of things alone in order to be able to better enjoy being with others. I also tried to explain that though I was standing by myself at the top of the wooded hill, I wasn't completely alone. The picture was through the eyes of someone else.
Being at the top of a hill and the foreground being out of sight symbolized the fact that I didn't know what all the future held. Though I could see a little ways in front of me, I could not see all where the path would lead. There were other hills, valleys, streams, etc., in front of me that I was catching glimpses of. They had been hidden form me until I had reached that hill top. But, the person behind me still had the perspective that I just had. The one of not knowing what the future would hold. To myself and the person behind me, things are being revealed very slowly, by bits and pieces.
You are probably wondering why I would draw something like that. Well, a lot of it is because of the things that I experienced while growing up. The vacations that we took as a family and my love for walking, exploring new places, learning new things, etc., were all influential with developing this 'life is a journey' outlook.
I grew up a preacher's kid, the son of a Presbyterian (USA) minister. Each and every summer we would go on vacation and visit different places. Most summer vacations included visiting relatives, but not always. It was almost always by car, when traveling from place to place. Like a typical kid, I would sometimes get bored and ask, “Are we there yet?!” But, a lot of the times, my parents and I would play games to help make it seem that time was going by faster.
Having traveled all over the United States, I developed a real love for seeing different sights and learning about different places. I remember one especially challenging summer vacation when I was 10 years old. My parents, my Dad's cousin and his godson, and myself hiked the Grand Canyon. We went down the south rim and up the north rim. It was physically very demanding for all of us. I remember being very tired every day, but loving all of the sights, smells, experiences.
All of these many experiences, even traveling to Europe three times, have helped me to develop the mindset of life being a journey. It starts when we are born and ends when we die. The sights that we see, the people that we meet, and the choices that we make all influence what our journey will be like and how it will end. Sometimes things happen along our journey of life that are unexpected, painful and not of our choosing. Even though such difficulties are hard to accept, it is a part of life. We can make one wonderful choice after another and enjoy the beauty that God has created around us. But, because of sin in the world, things can go wrong and we suddenly experience pain, sadness, anger, bitterness, even death. That is, unfortunately, a part of life as a whole.
But, there is great beauty, if we take time to enjoy it. Although I usually have a quick pace, I have learned the importance of stopping from time-to-time, and just taking in my surroundings. Taking them in, savoring them, experiencing all that is around me. Being more introverted than extroverted, I usually have the preference of doing things on my own. That way I can emotionally and mentally recharge while I am enjoying life around me. But, just like everyone else, I need to love and be loved. I need to spend time with others so that I grow as a person and fully enjoy all that is around us. No person is an island. We cannot permanently separate ourselves from others. We all need time alone, those some need more than others. We all need loved ones in our lives to share in this journey.
I don't know if my parents understood that I was an introvert back then, or what that meant for me. I do know that they did allow me the space that I needed most of the time, often without question. This enabled me to ponder things, organize my thoughts, sort things out, so that I could better understand what I was thinking and feeling. And again, all of this walking and think, mental sorting, helped to develop my sense of life being a journey. One that I sought to enjoy as much as possible.
One of the things that bring me great satisfaction is walking with a person who is struggling with something. Although I am sure that this has happened a lot over the years, it became more apparent to me while I was in college. I gave my life to Christ in January of 1994. During the following fall, I had several 'odd' experiences. While walking to and from different classes, someone would start walking with me. Not only would they walk with me, they would start sharing something that was bothering them. I was stunned that this was happening to me. During each conversation, I would listen and share my observations, make suggestions, or whatever else I felt led to do. This happened several times over a period of two weeks. And, as time went by, I noticed how much satisfaction I got out of helping others. Even if I only listened to they share their burdens, I felt good about it. It was through these experiences that I felt God calling me to attend seminary.
As my journey continued over the years, I found myself 'journeying' with others. Sometimes it would be for a brief period of time. Other times it would be multiple conversations. No matter how long the 'shared journey' goes, I almost always feel a deep sense of satisfaction that I had helped someone, even in a small way. Even today, I find myself willingly walking '100 miles' with someone who has a burden that they need to share. When it comes to arguments and debates, I reach my limit very, very quickly. But, for someone who has a genuine need, I can walk a long ways with them.
I know that God gives different Spiritual Gifts to different people. To some God enables them to have deep insights and lots of knowledge. To others, He gives a Gift of prophecy (more 'forth-telling' of God's Word than 'fore-telling'). Still others receive a Gift of leadership. At least one of the Spiritual Gifts that God has given me is pastoring. That is, to mentor, protect, nurture, help, etc. Like what a shepherd does with his/her flock. It is something that I do naturally due to my personality.
Quite a glimpse into who I am, huh? And to be honest, this is just a small bit of me. Over the decades, God has been enabling me to discover new things about myself, new things about others, and new things about Him. It has been an incredible, ‘journey of discovery.’ Not everything I have learned has been pleasant. But, it has all been important for one reason or another.
Have you ever taken time to examine your faith walk and what you have learned over the years? Even if you have been a Follower of Christ for a few months or just a year or so, you have had a faith journey. I encourage you to think about it. It may be quite the eye opener!
I was not the only one participating in this career counseling session. There were at least three other people involved. Being that it took place almost 20 years ago, I can't remember a lot of the details. If memory serves me correctly, there was at least one 'group counseling session,' an individual counseling session, a battery of questionnaires, and quite a few group discussions. I believe that one of the questionnaires was on the Gifts of the Spirit and another one was the Meyers Briggs personality test. I know that one of the results of that test was being introverted. At this time, I cannot remember what the other three letters were of my 'type.'
During one of the discussions, we had to draw a picture of how we viewed our currently relationship with God. Each of us had a large piece of paper (something along the line of 24 inches by 36 inches, maybe a little smaller) to draw on. Of course, each of us drew something different. That's to be expected.
Not only did we have to draw the pictures, but we had to explain what it meant. And, I was more than willing to do so. The woods symbolized a brief period in my life where I faced a lot of challenges. Part of which was the room situation that I had endured several years prior with two of my four roommates. It was a very difficult time for me, but one I will discuss in another blog entry. Suffice to say, the pain and difficulties I had experience in Strasbourg, France, helped to facilitate my turning to Christ the following January.
Although I did not how to exactly explain it, I drew me by myself because that is how I often was. Not that because I felt I didn't need others. On the contrary, I do. However, being more introverted, I do a lot of things alone in order to be able to better enjoy being with others. I also tried to explain that though I was standing by myself at the top of the wooded hill, I wasn't completely alone. The picture was through the eyes of someone else.
Being at the top of a hill and the foreground being out of sight symbolized the fact that I didn't know what all the future held. Though I could see a little ways in front of me, I could not see all where the path would lead. There were other hills, valleys, streams, etc., in front of me that I was catching glimpses of. They had been hidden form me until I had reached that hill top. But, the person behind me still had the perspective that I just had. The one of not knowing what the future would hold. To myself and the person behind me, things are being revealed very slowly, by bits and pieces.
You are probably wondering why I would draw something like that. Well, a lot of it is because of the things that I experienced while growing up. The vacations that we took as a family and my love for walking, exploring new places, learning new things, etc., were all influential with developing this 'life is a journey' outlook.
I grew up a preacher's kid, the son of a Presbyterian (USA) minister. Each and every summer we would go on vacation and visit different places. Most summer vacations included visiting relatives, but not always. It was almost always by car, when traveling from place to place. Like a typical kid, I would sometimes get bored and ask, “Are we there yet?!” But, a lot of the times, my parents and I would play games to help make it seem that time was going by faster.
Having traveled all over the United States, I developed a real love for seeing different sights and learning about different places. I remember one especially challenging summer vacation when I was 10 years old. My parents, my Dad's cousin and his godson, and myself hiked the Grand Canyon. We went down the south rim and up the north rim. It was physically very demanding for all of us. I remember being very tired every day, but loving all of the sights, smells, experiences.
All of these many experiences, even traveling to Europe three times, have helped me to develop the mindset of life being a journey. It starts when we are born and ends when we die. The sights that we see, the people that we meet, and the choices that we make all influence what our journey will be like and how it will end. Sometimes things happen along our journey of life that are unexpected, painful and not of our choosing. Even though such difficulties are hard to accept, it is a part of life. We can make one wonderful choice after another and enjoy the beauty that God has created around us. But, because of sin in the world, things can go wrong and we suddenly experience pain, sadness, anger, bitterness, even death. That is, unfortunately, a part of life as a whole.
But, there is great beauty, if we take time to enjoy it. Although I usually have a quick pace, I have learned the importance of stopping from time-to-time, and just taking in my surroundings. Taking them in, savoring them, experiencing all that is around me. Being more introverted than extroverted, I usually have the preference of doing things on my own. That way I can emotionally and mentally recharge while I am enjoying life around me. But, just like everyone else, I need to love and be loved. I need to spend time with others so that I grow as a person and fully enjoy all that is around us. No person is an island. We cannot permanently separate ourselves from others. We all need time alone, those some need more than others. We all need loved ones in our lives to share in this journey.
I don't know if my parents understood that I was an introvert back then, or what that meant for me. I do know that they did allow me the space that I needed most of the time, often without question. This enabled me to ponder things, organize my thoughts, sort things out, so that I could better understand what I was thinking and feeling. And again, all of this walking and think, mental sorting, helped to develop my sense of life being a journey. One that I sought to enjoy as much as possible.
One of the things that bring me great satisfaction is walking with a person who is struggling with something. Although I am sure that this has happened a lot over the years, it became more apparent to me while I was in college. I gave my life to Christ in January of 1994. During the following fall, I had several 'odd' experiences. While walking to and from different classes, someone would start walking with me. Not only would they walk with me, they would start sharing something that was bothering them. I was stunned that this was happening to me. During each conversation, I would listen and share my observations, make suggestions, or whatever else I felt led to do. This happened several times over a period of two weeks. And, as time went by, I noticed how much satisfaction I got out of helping others. Even if I only listened to they share their burdens, I felt good about it. It was through these experiences that I felt God calling me to attend seminary.
As my journey continued over the years, I found myself 'journeying' with others. Sometimes it would be for a brief period of time. Other times it would be multiple conversations. No matter how long the 'shared journey' goes, I almost always feel a deep sense of satisfaction that I had helped someone, even in a small way. Even today, I find myself willingly walking '100 miles' with someone who has a burden that they need to share. When it comes to arguments and debates, I reach my limit very, very quickly. But, for someone who has a genuine need, I can walk a long ways with them.
I know that God gives different Spiritual Gifts to different people. To some God enables them to have deep insights and lots of knowledge. To others, He gives a Gift of prophecy (more 'forth-telling' of God's Word than 'fore-telling'). Still others receive a Gift of leadership. At least one of the Spiritual Gifts that God has given me is pastoring. That is, to mentor, protect, nurture, help, etc. Like what a shepherd does with his/her flock. It is something that I do naturally due to my personality.
Quite a glimpse into who I am, huh? And to be honest, this is just a small bit of me. Over the decades, God has been enabling me to discover new things about myself, new things about others, and new things about Him. It has been an incredible, ‘journey of discovery.’ Not everything I have learned has been pleasant. But, it has all been important for one reason or another.
Have you ever taken time to examine your faith walk and what you have learned over the years? Even if you have been a Follower of Christ for a few months or just a year or so, you have had a faith journey. I encourage you to think about it. It may be quite the eye opener!
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