(This will be written as I originally wrote it about 1.5 days ago. Things have been a little busy, so I haven’t been able to post this blog entry until now. I hope that you enjoy it.)
At the time of putting ‘pen-to-paper,’ it is almost 3 AM, Sunday, February 18, 2018. I have just sat down after brewing some tea so that I can write down what my mind has been pondering for a good hour. I don’t get times like this very often, where I feel inspired to write and can sit down to write it down.
There has been tragedy in the news, once again. There was another school shooting in Florida, with 17 killed and maybe 50 injured. All done by one angry, young man. Who may or may not have ties to white supremacist. I don’t know much of the details because I have been very busy with work, family, dealing with some really bad back pain, etc. But, truth be known, I probably won’t read much from the main news networks because I am getting pretty sick and tired of all the special interest groups hijacking the events for their own agendas.
Pretty much every day, be it on tv, on Facebook, on LinkedIn, or some other place, I see one article after another take an event, be it current or not, and make it fit their particular agenda. Those wanting stricter gun control will focus on the details that support their agenda. Those touting a ‘armed everybody” will focus on those details that give credence to theirs. The list goes on and on.
And while we are allowing the special interest groups to pull us one way or another, there are still many people still bleeding, still hurting, still mourning, still screaming, Why God, why?!” and still people ready to stone others who don’t see life their way, etc. To me, that is the greatest tragedy.
I am in my mid-forties and will be celebrating a birthday soon. I have served in the US Army, both Active Duty and in the Nebraska National Guard. Although my current job is with the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, I have worked as a church pastor, done sales floor at Office Depot, done landscaping, worked as a lifeguard, etc. Each of these events are a part of me. Though some aspects might have a greater influence, they are all a part of me.
It saddens me that this happens so often, but id doesn’t surprise me at all. On the rare occasion where this “addenda hijacking” doesn’t happen, it’s like a breath of fresh air! I try to enjoy it as much as I can, even if it’s a perspective that I don’t necessarily agree with or can relate to. And, I am naturally angered when my perspective, my narrative is hijacked for someone else’s agenda.
About two decades ago, I was attending Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary and working on becoming an ordained minister with the Presbyterian Church (USA). As part of the ordination process, I had to attend a three day ‘career counseling workshop.’ My experience was a very negative one because of how they ‘evaluated’ me. One example that I will share is thus…
We were to spend some time drawing how we saw ourselves at this point and time in our lives, and give a narrative why we saw ourselves that way. We each had a large piece of newprint paper (probably 24x36 inches, and very thin paper) and a lot of pens, pencils, crayons, etc. My picture was of me hiking on a trail in the woods, complete with backpack, walking stick, and a hat. I was on a pat that was lined by trees, and on a hill. My narrative was that I was on a hill during this journey of my life, and that I could see a lot before me. Because I was in a forest with lots of hills, my exact route was hidden. I new which direction I needed to go (ministry), but the exact details were hidden. I also added in my narrative that I could occasionally see bits and pieces of my path, but mostly unknown. And, most of all, I was excited about everything!
After we all shared our narratives, those leading the discussion/session, gave their ‘observations.’ Bare in mind that I have always been an introvert, very introspective, a lover of nature and exploring, and a lover of learning. Although I had grown up in the church as a pastor’s kid, my personal relationship with Christ was just starting to really brow and blossom. The ‘career counselors,’ though, interpreted my narrative very differently. You see, they only saw a young man who was lost, alone, and afraid. And, I needed ‘professional help’ to get read of my ‘shyness’ and become ‘more outgoing,’ as well as to deal with many (supposed) issues with adoption and other things. I was angry then.
A few weeks later, when I receive their 8ish page ‘report,’ I was outraged! When I shared it with my small group of close friends (felt more like a family), they barely recognized the person in the report. This is based on their experiences with me over more than 6 months of being together. A couple of brothers-in-Christ sat down with me at different times to discuss what I could use to better myself and what was not worth keeping.
Although my time at LPTS was often very difficult, I was blessed with my wonderful friends and many enriching experiences. And, I will share one of my more positive experiences with you.
During my senior year, I took an ethics class on Frederick Douglass. Some of the books were written by the former slave who became a major voice with the US abolitionist movement before and during the American Civil War. Other books were written about him. In our class, there was the instructor and 10-12 students. All of us students ranged from very conservative to very liberal in theology and politics. We also varied in age from 20-something to over 50. A very diverse group, indeed! Though our Professor might not have always agreed with our observations or perspectives, he encouraged us to share them. He also challenged us with, “have you considered this perspective,” or “Okay, why did this impact you so much?” He also kept the discussion on the topic and minimized the rabbit trails and personal agendas. It was a challenging, but deeply enriching experience!
Now, I have done my own ‘agenda hijacking’ to an event and used it to push forward something that is important to me. That is, try to learn all you can from the whole situation. Don’t just let people speak, but listen to what they are saying. Be there to help them. Even if you disagree with their life stories, listen. In listening to what people are saying, we can learn and grow. By at least trying to understand their perspective, maybe we can help others to heal and grow, too.
Right now, there is a tragedy unfolding before our eyes. A tragedy so terrible more lives could be lost. A tragedy of anger, maybe even pride and/or deep lostness. A tragedy of a very young man so angry, who became so bitter, that he chose to take the lives of at least 17 people, some of whom ma not hae had any role in this ager, his malice. A young many with the intestinal fortitude to take ownership with what he did, not deny it.
Where his actions wrong? Absolutely! Should he be held accountable for his actions? Yes! Should we cast him a way and do nothing more with him? May it never be! He needs healing in his live, just like those who were injured or lost loved ones need healing in theirs. His friends and family need help with their own grief, mourning, anger, confusion, etc. Each of them are a human being, each made in the Image of God. Each of them deserves love and compassion.
Are we brave enough to help each of them? Or, will we choose to just follow some easy path/agenda that pleases us or is comfortable. Our chose will have repercussion in the future. What kind of future do we want for ourselves and our children?
Showing posts with label evil. Show all posts
Showing posts with label evil. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 20, 2018
Wednesday, July 5, 2017
Dealing with Evil Hearts
References:
• June 23 article on Wis. Youth facility
• June 24 article on Wis. Youth facility
I read the first article concerning the Wisconsin youth facility, writing on June 23, 2017, a few days ago. Having worked in corrections for almost 10 years now, I was both concerned about how the Inmates were being treated and alarmed about how others who have no clue what our job is like (like the lawyers of the ACLU) want to make our job more dangerous. While looking the first article up, I found the second one, which was written on the next day (written on June 24, 2017). That make me a bit more upset.
I started working for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) in January of 2006. I briefly left in 2011 in order to pursue a ministry career. When that fell through, God reopened the same position (custody staff) with the NDCS. I have been with them ever since.
To be honest, it is a very difficult job, fraught with great risks. There can be great rewards as one sees lives changed. But, many choose to not change, in spite of all of the opportunities and programs that they are given. While I have only worked at a men’s facility, I have talked with several co-workers who work in the youth facility here in Nebraska. From the conversations that I have had with them over the years, they face many of the same challenges that we do. That is, they deal with Inmates that are often just as manipulative and physically dangerous as those that I deal with. And, being teenagers, they have a higher tendency to lash out than adults because of the fact that they do not have the same impulse control as some adult Inmates do. Though some of the youth may not be as physically strong as an adult, they are often in better shape due to their age. This is especially so with those of us who are over 40 years old and work in corrections.
Some people go to prison because they made one mistake and they were caught. Other have made living out of committing crimes. For those who have made it a lifestyle out of committing crime, who have anger issues, have had drug and/or alcohol abuse issues, etc., those of us who represent law and order become their targets. As anyone who has spent time working in a jail or prison, we have to be constantly aware of our surroundings, because of the dangerous people that we deal with.
Most of us who work in corrections genuinely care about others and want to help them make good changes in their lives. That is our goal. Those who want to work in Corrections (or any other Law Enforcement position) because of having power over others usually do not last very long. Such people either get fired from their job, get shunned by those of us who do care enough that they choose to leave (I personally have no tolerance for such people), or they become the focus of the Inmates’ ire and are assaulted. In the case of the latter, when such staff member realizes that they no longer have the power over others that they crave, they leave for ‘greener pastures.’
Don’t get me wrong, there are staff who are cruel and vindictive people who stay within Corrections. However, they are a very small minority. Just like in the military, Law Enforcement, working in the health care system, such people rarely last very long before they are forced out, choose to leave, or are seriously injured or killed.
One of the things that I am proud about with my training with NDCS is how it has adapted over the years concerning Inmate control that is safe and humane. Our primary always has been and always will be our interpersonal skills. The better training Corrections Professionals (including Custody Staff, Unit Staff, administration and support staff, etc.) have in de-escalation, the safer everyone is. However, de-escalation does not always work. For Inmates who have either lost control of their ability to reason (due to anger issues, currently being under the influence of a drug or alcohol, a vindictive/anti-social attitude, etc.), other means of maintaining control have to be used. That is how life is for us.
The wonderful thing about using pepper spray (or similar item) is that it does not cause long-term medical problems, are temporary, and usually cause the Inmate to surrender so that little to no physical force has to be used. When little to no physical force has to be used, it is a win-win situation. Why is that? Because neither staff nor the Inmate receive physical injuries.
In the training that I have received with the Nebraska National Guard as a MP, as well as with NDCS, I had to be exposed to the same chemical agents that we use. That way, not only do we know that we can work, in spite of the agents, but we also know how it affects the Inmate. Any time we have to use chemicals in order to gain control of an aggressive Inmate, we get exposed too. It sucks for them, and it sucks for us.
As I have contemplated the articles that I read, I have to wonder… Is the issue with the staff with how they use force, or is it with the Inmates trying to use the legal system to remove effective tools from the staff? Think of it this way… If two Inmates are fighting are determined to cause serious bodily injury to the other, do you think that they will stop fighting with three, four, or more staff show up? Youth or adult it doesn’t matter. Such Inmates who genuinely want to cause serious bodily injury to the other won’t just stop fighting when staff show up. Physical force will have to be used. Now, do you want to try and restrain a person who is very angry and wants to injure others with just physical strength? I don’t if I absolutely do not have to. If I can use chemical agents so that they decide to stop fighting, then it becomes much safer to intervene.
Restraints, restrictive housing, and chemicals are all tools that we in Corrections use to maintain control and keep ourselves and other Inmates safe. Having good training with the proper use of such things, good training with verbal de-escalation skills, clear guidance with how they should be applied, good programs available to give Inmates tools to more effectively deal with life, stress, anger, etc., those are things that keep all of us safe. Taking such tools away from us so that we are more likely to have to use physical force to stop dangerous behavior (to us, to other Inmates, to the public, and to the Inmate him/herself), that puts all of us in a more dangerous situation.
There is something else that I have often wondered… Those who are trying to champion Inmates by taking away effective tools from staff, do they have any clue as to how dangerous of a job that we have? I very seriously doubt it. All that they know is what the Inmate tells them. And, whenever a lawyer from the ACLU talks with an Inmate, it is always from the perspective as a lawyer for brief periods of time. Just like with the clergy that visit Inmates, their friends and family when they visit, lawyers and the media, they only see the mask that most of them put on for them. They do not see the day-to-day decisions, attitudes, etc., that we see on a daily basis.
I am all for programming to help those who are incarcerated to gain tools to change their lives. However, they will want to have to change. Just because they are given tools does not mean that it will make them make better choices. It may take time for the change to come, or it may never come. But, when good programming is available, then access to the tools for positive changes are there. But, there will always be those who will not change. For those who take a long time to change, if at all, staff have to have the tools necessary to keep everyone safer. Not all tools will work. There is always a high risk for injury or death at a prison, for staff and other Inmates. It will always be that way. But, the betters that staff have, and better programming for Inmates, the less the change for danger and the better the chances for everyone staying healthy and alive.
One last thought… For those who like to champion the “poor and abused” Inmates, here’s a radical thought. Why don’t you actually spend a few years working in Corrections. Not on the premise of, “oh, I am a lawyer but I want to see how things are for a little while.” If you take such an approach, you will see the façade that they give to the public and not see the darkness in their hearts. Have the mindset that you will ‘set the lawyer’ aside and ONLY work as a Corrections Professional. Go through our training, deal with the angry outburst (over legitimate things, and ridiculous ones), be on our uses of force, see them without their masks as they interact with other Inmates and with staff. If you want me to take your advice seriously, then you need to understand just how dangerous my job is.
In the almost ten years, I have seen many Inmates seek to make positive changes in their lives. For some, it took many years for the seeds of change to take root and to grow. For some others, the change came more quickly. For many others, it has not come at all. When you have all three mixed together, you have the high potential for great danger. To them and to staff. That is the nature of our job as Corrections Professionals. Enable us to do our job better, not make it harder. There are some staff that I enjoy working with more than others. No matter what, I want all of us to be able to go home to our friends and family safely each night (or morning if you work the night shift). We all have loved ones that want us to come home safely each night. Helps us to do our jobs better and more safely, not make it more dangerous.
• June 23 article on Wis. Youth facility
• June 24 article on Wis. Youth facility
I read the first article concerning the Wisconsin youth facility, writing on June 23, 2017, a few days ago. Having worked in corrections for almost 10 years now, I was both concerned about how the Inmates were being treated and alarmed about how others who have no clue what our job is like (like the lawyers of the ACLU) want to make our job more dangerous. While looking the first article up, I found the second one, which was written on the next day (written on June 24, 2017). That make me a bit more upset.
I started working for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) in January of 2006. I briefly left in 2011 in order to pursue a ministry career. When that fell through, God reopened the same position (custody staff) with the NDCS. I have been with them ever since.
To be honest, it is a very difficult job, fraught with great risks. There can be great rewards as one sees lives changed. But, many choose to not change, in spite of all of the opportunities and programs that they are given. While I have only worked at a men’s facility, I have talked with several co-workers who work in the youth facility here in Nebraska. From the conversations that I have had with them over the years, they face many of the same challenges that we do. That is, they deal with Inmates that are often just as manipulative and physically dangerous as those that I deal with. And, being teenagers, they have a higher tendency to lash out than adults because of the fact that they do not have the same impulse control as some adult Inmates do. Though some of the youth may not be as physically strong as an adult, they are often in better shape due to their age. This is especially so with those of us who are over 40 years old and work in corrections.
Some people go to prison because they made one mistake and they were caught. Other have made living out of committing crimes. For those who have made it a lifestyle out of committing crime, who have anger issues, have had drug and/or alcohol abuse issues, etc., those of us who represent law and order become their targets. As anyone who has spent time working in a jail or prison, we have to be constantly aware of our surroundings, because of the dangerous people that we deal with.
Most of us who work in corrections genuinely care about others and want to help them make good changes in their lives. That is our goal. Those who want to work in Corrections (or any other Law Enforcement position) because of having power over others usually do not last very long. Such people either get fired from their job, get shunned by those of us who do care enough that they choose to leave (I personally have no tolerance for such people), or they become the focus of the Inmates’ ire and are assaulted. In the case of the latter, when such staff member realizes that they no longer have the power over others that they crave, they leave for ‘greener pastures.’
Don’t get me wrong, there are staff who are cruel and vindictive people who stay within Corrections. However, they are a very small minority. Just like in the military, Law Enforcement, working in the health care system, such people rarely last very long before they are forced out, choose to leave, or are seriously injured or killed.
One of the things that I am proud about with my training with NDCS is how it has adapted over the years concerning Inmate control that is safe and humane. Our primary always has been and always will be our interpersonal skills. The better training Corrections Professionals (including Custody Staff, Unit Staff, administration and support staff, etc.) have in de-escalation, the safer everyone is. However, de-escalation does not always work. For Inmates who have either lost control of their ability to reason (due to anger issues, currently being under the influence of a drug or alcohol, a vindictive/anti-social attitude, etc.), other means of maintaining control have to be used. That is how life is for us.
The wonderful thing about using pepper spray (or similar item) is that it does not cause long-term medical problems, are temporary, and usually cause the Inmate to surrender so that little to no physical force has to be used. When little to no physical force has to be used, it is a win-win situation. Why is that? Because neither staff nor the Inmate receive physical injuries.
In the training that I have received with the Nebraska National Guard as a MP, as well as with NDCS, I had to be exposed to the same chemical agents that we use. That way, not only do we know that we can work, in spite of the agents, but we also know how it affects the Inmate. Any time we have to use chemicals in order to gain control of an aggressive Inmate, we get exposed too. It sucks for them, and it sucks for us.
As I have contemplated the articles that I read, I have to wonder… Is the issue with the staff with how they use force, or is it with the Inmates trying to use the legal system to remove effective tools from the staff? Think of it this way… If two Inmates are fighting are determined to cause serious bodily injury to the other, do you think that they will stop fighting with three, four, or more staff show up? Youth or adult it doesn’t matter. Such Inmates who genuinely want to cause serious bodily injury to the other won’t just stop fighting when staff show up. Physical force will have to be used. Now, do you want to try and restrain a person who is very angry and wants to injure others with just physical strength? I don’t if I absolutely do not have to. If I can use chemical agents so that they decide to stop fighting, then it becomes much safer to intervene.
Restraints, restrictive housing, and chemicals are all tools that we in Corrections use to maintain control and keep ourselves and other Inmates safe. Having good training with the proper use of such things, good training with verbal de-escalation skills, clear guidance with how they should be applied, good programs available to give Inmates tools to more effectively deal with life, stress, anger, etc., those are things that keep all of us safe. Taking such tools away from us so that we are more likely to have to use physical force to stop dangerous behavior (to us, to other Inmates, to the public, and to the Inmate him/herself), that puts all of us in a more dangerous situation.
There is something else that I have often wondered… Those who are trying to champion Inmates by taking away effective tools from staff, do they have any clue as to how dangerous of a job that we have? I very seriously doubt it. All that they know is what the Inmate tells them. And, whenever a lawyer from the ACLU talks with an Inmate, it is always from the perspective as a lawyer for brief periods of time. Just like with the clergy that visit Inmates, their friends and family when they visit, lawyers and the media, they only see the mask that most of them put on for them. They do not see the day-to-day decisions, attitudes, etc., that we see on a daily basis.
I am all for programming to help those who are incarcerated to gain tools to change their lives. However, they will want to have to change. Just because they are given tools does not mean that it will make them make better choices. It may take time for the change to come, or it may never come. But, when good programming is available, then access to the tools for positive changes are there. But, there will always be those who will not change. For those who take a long time to change, if at all, staff have to have the tools necessary to keep everyone safer. Not all tools will work. There is always a high risk for injury or death at a prison, for staff and other Inmates. It will always be that way. But, the betters that staff have, and better programming for Inmates, the less the change for danger and the better the chances for everyone staying healthy and alive.
One last thought… For those who like to champion the “poor and abused” Inmates, here’s a radical thought. Why don’t you actually spend a few years working in Corrections. Not on the premise of, “oh, I am a lawyer but I want to see how things are for a little while.” If you take such an approach, you will see the façade that they give to the public and not see the darkness in their hearts. Have the mindset that you will ‘set the lawyer’ aside and ONLY work as a Corrections Professional. Go through our training, deal with the angry outburst (over legitimate things, and ridiculous ones), be on our uses of force, see them without their masks as they interact with other Inmates and with staff. If you want me to take your advice seriously, then you need to understand just how dangerous my job is.
In the almost ten years, I have seen many Inmates seek to make positive changes in their lives. For some, it took many years for the seeds of change to take root and to grow. For some others, the change came more quickly. For many others, it has not come at all. When you have all three mixed together, you have the high potential for great danger. To them and to staff. That is the nature of our job as Corrections Professionals. Enable us to do our job better, not make it harder. There are some staff that I enjoy working with more than others. No matter what, I want all of us to be able to go home to our friends and family safely each night (or morning if you work the night shift). We all have loved ones that want us to come home safely each night. Helps us to do our jobs better and more safely, not make it more dangerous.
Saturday, April 15, 2017
A Dark and Stormy Night
References:
• Matthew 27:33-54 NAS
• Mark 15:22-39 NAS
• Luke 23:33-49 NAS
For those who don’t know me, there are some things that I really enjoy that others may not like at all. For example, I enjoy a good thunderstorm. Having grown up in northeastern Kansas (almost 10 whole years), I came to enjoy ‘God’s light show,’ the patter of rain on the windows, looking for rainbows, etc. No, I have not met Dorothy or Toto.
Something else that I really enjoy is a good suspense thriller or horror movie. Now, I do not care for the ‘slasher films’ that are so popular. For me to enjoy the movie, there has to be an intelligent plot, good character development, and unexpected plot twists are always a plus. One example would be the Showtime series “Penny Dreadful” that is on Netflix. I found the series to be a very interesting and unique retelling of various horror stories like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, etc. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.
I do know that some Christians believe that it is evil to watch horror movies because of their portrayal of witchcraft, promotion of evil deeds, etc. There have been a number of movies that I stopped watching because of reasons similar to these. But, for the most part, just like science fiction, I know that they are fictitious, not real, and that they are not (normally) based on Scripture but on myths, pagan beliefs, etc. And, having experience real spiritual warfare myself over the years, I find myself often laughing at how things are portrayed.
Quite frankly, my wife and I will sometimes watch a poorly based horror movie and entertain ourselves with making fun of it. Her experiences are very different than mine when it comes to spiritual warfare. Because of this, there are times where I will seek her thoughts on something, or she will ask me for my input. Our different experiences, personalities (I am an INFJ and she is the polar opposite, an ESTP), training, etc., help us to become better together.
The thunderstorms that we have been experiencing the last few days, including today, helped inspire this blog entry. That, and the fact that I have been watching a number of pretty good horror/thriller movies lately. That, and it’s the night before Easter.
Why am I making these connections? It’s something that I, as an INFJ, do very easily. It’s how my mind works. But, there is a real logic to all of this, if you will just bare with me a little more. Spiritual warfare is essentially the legions of Satan fighting against God and trying to keep each of us away from God’s love and mercy. Whether it is more subtle attacks against our faith in God through friends and family concerning our faith in Christ and belief in Scripture, or they are made manifest in attacks on our character or even our bodies. It all has roots in the spiritual world. It is not something that we see (unless God grants us the ability to see into the spiritual realm), but it’s something that we feel the effects of.
Think about it. Christ’s crucifixion was greatest battle in the eternal war between God and Lucifer (now known as Satan). Up until Jesus’ death and resurrection, we were all spiritually dead, eternally separated from God because of our sinful nature. We belonged to Satan, the ruler of this world. On Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, Satan genuinely believed that he had won the battle, and the war. It wasn’t until Sunday morning, when Jesus rose again from the dead, that Satan realized that he not only lost that battle, but he also lost the war.
I work for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, have been there for almost 10 whole years now. Because of the evil within a lot of the Inmates, every day is intense emotionally and spiritually for me. Not every Inmate is ‘evil-incarnate,’ but quite a few are. Also, because of the sin that many have lived in, demonic forces dwell around, and sometimes within. It’s an environment that I walk within almost daily. Because I have spent about half of my career working within the segregation unit, dealing with people who tend to do evil things on a regular basis, often ‘just of kicks’ or for pure enjoyment, it is sometimes very, very intense.
Although this job can be very dark and morbid, a lot, God does touch lives through me, both staff and inmates. God has used me to encourage those who do follow Him in their individual walks, and He has used me to point others to Him. Both staff and Inmates. God’s love, grace, and peace do indeed shine in the life of several staff members and a number of Inmates. Though they may be just as guilty as the two thieves that hung on either side of Jesus (just as all of us are), some have turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)
Scripture testifies to the evil within our hearts. Scripture testifies to the incredible holiness of God. Scripture also testifies to God’s ‘steadfast love’ for each of us. On that dark, dark day, when Jesus was crucified, the veil in the Temple (a very thick and heavy curtain) was torn in two from top to bottom, the eternal separation between a holy God and sinful human race, was torn open. Two thieves died along with that Glorious Savior. One mocking Him, when acknowledging his sinfulness and seeking His mercy. Which are you?
• Matthew 27:33-54 NAS
• Mark 15:22-39 NAS
• Luke 23:33-49 NAS
For those who don’t know me, there are some things that I really enjoy that others may not like at all. For example, I enjoy a good thunderstorm. Having grown up in northeastern Kansas (almost 10 whole years), I came to enjoy ‘God’s light show,’ the patter of rain on the windows, looking for rainbows, etc. No, I have not met Dorothy or Toto.
Something else that I really enjoy is a good suspense thriller or horror movie. Now, I do not care for the ‘slasher films’ that are so popular. For me to enjoy the movie, there has to be an intelligent plot, good character development, and unexpected plot twists are always a plus. One example would be the Showtime series “Penny Dreadful” that is on Netflix. I found the series to be a very interesting and unique retelling of various horror stories like Dracula, Frankenstein’s Monster, etc. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure.
I do know that some Christians believe that it is evil to watch horror movies because of their portrayal of witchcraft, promotion of evil deeds, etc. There have been a number of movies that I stopped watching because of reasons similar to these. But, for the most part, just like science fiction, I know that they are fictitious, not real, and that they are not (normally) based on Scripture but on myths, pagan beliefs, etc. And, having experience real spiritual warfare myself over the years, I find myself often laughing at how things are portrayed.
Quite frankly, my wife and I will sometimes watch a poorly based horror movie and entertain ourselves with making fun of it. Her experiences are very different than mine when it comes to spiritual warfare. Because of this, there are times where I will seek her thoughts on something, or she will ask me for my input. Our different experiences, personalities (I am an INFJ and she is the polar opposite, an ESTP), training, etc., help us to become better together.
The thunderstorms that we have been experiencing the last few days, including today, helped inspire this blog entry. That, and the fact that I have been watching a number of pretty good horror/thriller movies lately. That, and it’s the night before Easter.
Why am I making these connections? It’s something that I, as an INFJ, do very easily. It’s how my mind works. But, there is a real logic to all of this, if you will just bare with me a little more. Spiritual warfare is essentially the legions of Satan fighting against God and trying to keep each of us away from God’s love and mercy. Whether it is more subtle attacks against our faith in God through friends and family concerning our faith in Christ and belief in Scripture, or they are made manifest in attacks on our character or even our bodies. It all has roots in the spiritual world. It is not something that we see (unless God grants us the ability to see into the spiritual realm), but it’s something that we feel the effects of.
Think about it. Christ’s crucifixion was greatest battle in the eternal war between God and Lucifer (now known as Satan). Up until Jesus’ death and resurrection, we were all spiritually dead, eternally separated from God because of our sinful nature. We belonged to Satan, the ruler of this world. On Good Friday, when Jesus was crucified, Satan genuinely believed that he had won the battle, and the war. It wasn’t until Sunday morning, when Jesus rose again from the dead, that Satan realized that he not only lost that battle, but he also lost the war.
I work for the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, have been there for almost 10 whole years now. Because of the evil within a lot of the Inmates, every day is intense emotionally and spiritually for me. Not every Inmate is ‘evil-incarnate,’ but quite a few are. Also, because of the sin that many have lived in, demonic forces dwell around, and sometimes within. It’s an environment that I walk within almost daily. Because I have spent about half of my career working within the segregation unit, dealing with people who tend to do evil things on a regular basis, often ‘just of kicks’ or for pure enjoyment, it is sometimes very, very intense.
Although this job can be very dark and morbid, a lot, God does touch lives through me, both staff and inmates. God has used me to encourage those who do follow Him in their individual walks, and He has used me to point others to Him. Both staff and Inmates. God’s love, grace, and peace do indeed shine in the life of several staff members and a number of Inmates. Though they may be just as guilty as the two thieves that hung on either side of Jesus (just as all of us are), some have turned to Jesus and said, “Jesus, remember me when You come in Your kingdom!” (Luke 23:42)
Scripture testifies to the evil within our hearts. Scripture testifies to the incredible holiness of God. Scripture also testifies to God’s ‘steadfast love’ for each of us. On that dark, dark day, when Jesus was crucified, the veil in the Temple (a very thick and heavy curtain) was torn in two from top to bottom, the eternal separation between a holy God and sinful human race, was torn open. Two thieves died along with that Glorious Savior. One mocking Him, when acknowledging his sinfulness and seeking His mercy. Which are you?
Wednesday, April 12, 2017
Spring Thoughts
References:
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 NAS
• Galatians 6:10-18 NAS
The other day, my wife went outside to work in our yard. It is something that she really loves to do. In fact, if the weather is decent and there are not other pressing things to do, she will often work outside when given the chance. Although I enjoy being outside and enjoying nature, doing yard work, gardening, etc., are things that I do not enjoy at all. It is something that I really appreciate about my wife.
It is interesting to me that Easter is in the Spring. Interesting and awesome, in my opinion. Think about it. In Spring, we celebrate plants seemingly ‘come back to life.’ Grass becomes green again, deciduous trees start budding and new leaves come out, the days become warmer, the days become longer, flowers start to appear and bloom, etc. It can almost be like the world is ‘coming back to life!’
During Easter, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who was fully Man and fully Divine, so that our sins could be forgiven and we could have a new life. As Christians, we believe that so that a sinful person could have a personal relationship with a holy and righteous God, something had to atone for our sins. Because of God’s great and unfathomable love for us, He chose to take our place on that cross.
Think about it… A holy and righteous God cared so much for a fallen and rebellious people that He took our place! Here is a way to put it into context. Imagine a person who lives an abundant life, caring and loving others, lives with integrity, is always honest and speaks in a compassionate manner. Does this not sound like someone who you would want to emulate?
Now, say an evil man or woman, who has tortured and killed many people is finally arrested. This particular person is accused of torturing and killing more than 30 people who did noting wrong. In fact, this evil person went out of their way to find people who sought to live a good life to murder in very painful, even excruciating ways, making it last days if possible. This person is tried and found guilty and has earned the death penalty because of the horrendous crimes that he/she has committed. And, let’s assume that there is absolutely no question of his/her guilt because this person was so evil at heart that he/she videotaped many of their ‘sessions,’ DNA evidence clearly links this person to the numerous crimes, etc. You probably expect, even hope, that such a person would be “thrown in prison and that they throw away the key” at the very least, if not publicly execute him/her for all of the evil that he/she did.
Now, let’s say that the ‘righteous man,’ the outstanding citizen mentioned above, chooses to have compassion on this evil person, who is now pleading for mercy and swearing that he/she will totally change their ways. This ‘righteous person’ not only pleads with the judge for clemency for the wicked person, but voluntarily will take their place with the death sentence. If you were the judge, would you accept this man’s offer? If you were one of the victims of this ‘monster,’ would you be willing to accept the ‘righteous man’s offer’ to take place of the man or woman who was, without question, found guilty of torturing and killing your loved one?!
If this sounds to horrendous to consider, that’s the point. Because, whether or not we want to believe it, we are all like that ‘horrendous and evil killer.’ Why? Because in thought, word, and deed, we rebel against God’s authority in our lives and ‘murder’ others in our hearts by hating others. We all break each and every one of God’s 10 Commandments in thought, word, and deed, each and every day of our lives. Each of us.
As a holy and righteous God, when Adam and Eve first sinned, God would have been justified in permanently ending our existence right then and there. Or God could have chosen to have done nothing and allow us to perpetually live separated from Him in this life and in eternity. Instead, God allowed us to endure the consequences of our sins by being physically alive and spiritual dead until He could, at the right time, remove the consequences of our sins for those who trust in Him and His forgiving love. There is a cost for us, though. In exchange for receiving His free grace, God expects us to repent of our sins and to turn away from them. We are not alone in doing this, though. Upon repenting of our wickedness and receiving God’s love and grace, He in turn dwells within us via His Holy Spirit. In living through us, God helps us to change, learn and grow in faith and become more like Him.
Imagine that… Though we are broken, have wicked hearts with evil intentions, and by nature do not want to obey God, He wants to change us. That is what we celebrate this Easter. It’s not about colorfully decorated eggs, it’s not about a bunny delivering baskets (Hasenpfeffer, anyone?!), it’s about God taking our sins upon Himself so that we could live with Him for eternity.
• 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 NAS
• Galatians 6:10-18 NAS
The other day, my wife went outside to work in our yard. It is something that she really loves to do. In fact, if the weather is decent and there are not other pressing things to do, she will often work outside when given the chance. Although I enjoy being outside and enjoying nature, doing yard work, gardening, etc., are things that I do not enjoy at all. It is something that I really appreciate about my wife.
It is interesting to me that Easter is in the Spring. Interesting and awesome, in my opinion. Think about it. In Spring, we celebrate plants seemingly ‘come back to life.’ Grass becomes green again, deciduous trees start budding and new leaves come out, the days become warmer, the days become longer, flowers start to appear and bloom, etc. It can almost be like the world is ‘coming back to life!’
During Easter, we celebrate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who was fully Man and fully Divine, so that our sins could be forgiven and we could have a new life. As Christians, we believe that so that a sinful person could have a personal relationship with a holy and righteous God, something had to atone for our sins. Because of God’s great and unfathomable love for us, He chose to take our place on that cross.
Think about it… A holy and righteous God cared so much for a fallen and rebellious people that He took our place! Here is a way to put it into context. Imagine a person who lives an abundant life, caring and loving others, lives with integrity, is always honest and speaks in a compassionate manner. Does this not sound like someone who you would want to emulate?
Now, say an evil man or woman, who has tortured and killed many people is finally arrested. This particular person is accused of torturing and killing more than 30 people who did noting wrong. In fact, this evil person went out of their way to find people who sought to live a good life to murder in very painful, even excruciating ways, making it last days if possible. This person is tried and found guilty and has earned the death penalty because of the horrendous crimes that he/she has committed. And, let’s assume that there is absolutely no question of his/her guilt because this person was so evil at heart that he/she videotaped many of their ‘sessions,’ DNA evidence clearly links this person to the numerous crimes, etc. You probably expect, even hope, that such a person would be “thrown in prison and that they throw away the key” at the very least, if not publicly execute him/her for all of the evil that he/she did.
Now, let’s say that the ‘righteous man,’ the outstanding citizen mentioned above, chooses to have compassion on this evil person, who is now pleading for mercy and swearing that he/she will totally change their ways. This ‘righteous person’ not only pleads with the judge for clemency for the wicked person, but voluntarily will take their place with the death sentence. If you were the judge, would you accept this man’s offer? If you were one of the victims of this ‘monster,’ would you be willing to accept the ‘righteous man’s offer’ to take place of the man or woman who was, without question, found guilty of torturing and killing your loved one?!
If this sounds to horrendous to consider, that’s the point. Because, whether or not we want to believe it, we are all like that ‘horrendous and evil killer.’ Why? Because in thought, word, and deed, we rebel against God’s authority in our lives and ‘murder’ others in our hearts by hating others. We all break each and every one of God’s 10 Commandments in thought, word, and deed, each and every day of our lives. Each of us.
As a holy and righteous God, when Adam and Eve first sinned, God would have been justified in permanently ending our existence right then and there. Or God could have chosen to have done nothing and allow us to perpetually live separated from Him in this life and in eternity. Instead, God allowed us to endure the consequences of our sins by being physically alive and spiritual dead until He could, at the right time, remove the consequences of our sins for those who trust in Him and His forgiving love. There is a cost for us, though. In exchange for receiving His free grace, God expects us to repent of our sins and to turn away from them. We are not alone in doing this, though. Upon repenting of our wickedness and receiving God’s love and grace, He in turn dwells within us via His Holy Spirit. In living through us, God helps us to change, learn and grow in faith and become more like Him.
Imagine that… Though we are broken, have wicked hearts with evil intentions, and by nature do not want to obey God, He wants to change us. That is what we celebrate this Easter. It’s not about colorfully decorated eggs, it’s not about a bunny delivering baskets (Hasenpfeffer, anyone?!), it’s about God taking our sins upon Himself so that we could live with Him for eternity.
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?
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?
Sunday, April 17, 2016
Dangers and Protection
References:
• Matthew 10:16-23 NAS
• Psalm 91 NAS
• Psalm 23 NAS
• שּׂבּﬨ (shay'-bet)
• משענה (mish-ay-naw')
• Our Daily Bread: Refuge
This past week has seen two assaults upon staff by inmates in two different state prisons. This is not the first time that such an assault has taken place within one of the several Nebraska Department of Corrections prisons. In fact, almost a year ago, there was a major riot on Mother’s Day in 2015. Our work is an inherently dangerous one because of the people that we work with. Every day, we go to work with a cautious and alert attitude, knowing that anything can happen.
Over my 40+ years, I have worked many different jobs. Ranging from camp counselor at a Church Camp, to being a student pastor at a church, to doing ministry to children at an inpatient treatment center (while in seminary), to being an Airborne paratrooper, to being a MP with the Nebraska national Guard. With each of these different jobs, I faced rewards and challenges unique to each environment. Between my almost 15 years with the US Army, between Active Duty and time with the Nebraska National Guard, I have been deployed four times. Three times to Iraq and once to Qatar. Of course, there were significant dangers with each of these deployments. Facing danger definitely isn’t new with me.
To be honest, each of us face dangers of one sort or another. Whenever we wake up each day and go to school or work, walk around town, go to church, go shopping, etc., there are always risks involved. There is always the chance that a we could get into an accident, slip one something, large branch could fall from a tree upon our head, be bitten by some dangerous insect or animal, have a severe allergic reaction to something, etc. We live in a fallen world, plagued with decay and death. But, some jobs seem to have more risks and dangers than others.
When I joined the military or joined NDCS, I went through training to prepare my physically and mentally for the challenges and dangers that I might face. Though all of the training is helpful and absolutely necessary, things always seem different when you are faced with a dangerous situation in real life.
While I drive to work each morning, I prayerfully put on God’s spiritual armor (Ephesians 6) and ask God watch over and protect myself and all of my co-workers. Along with that, I ask God to help us to be aware of things around us. Being alert is paramount!
I know that everyone prays to a god of whatever religious persuasion they follow for help, guidance, protection, etc. Whenever I do, I always remind myself that God always answers prayers, but not always the way that I expect.
Many Soldiers over the decades have found Psalm 91 to be exceedingly comforting. It is sometimes referred to as “The Soldier’s Psalm.” I have found comfort and encouragement in this particular Psalm on several occasions. But, Psalm 23 comes to my mind more often.
Almost 20 years ago, I was in seminary and took a Hebrew reading class. It was one of the few classes that I did extremely well in. Throughout the short semester, we would take various passages from the Old Testament and carefully research the Hebrew text. Afterwards, we would then translate the passage. As long as we could justify the word choice, the professor would accept it. While I was working on Psalm 23, something very interesting stood out to me. The words that are typically translated as ‘rod’ and ‘staff’ very interesting meanings. The first word, שּׂבּﬨ (shay'-bet), can mean ‘staff’ or ‘club.’ The other word, משענה (mish-ay-naw'), does mean ‘staff.’
Since I have a very vivid imagination (one of the strengths of being an INFJ), I pictured in my mind how this might look. In my mind, I saw a flock of sheep with a shepherd or two mingling amongst them. The shepherds watched the sheep, guiding them from place to place. They showed them where to graze on healthy grass and drink from clean water. Then I pictured a wild animal, let’s say a wolf, approach the flock. At first the shepherd would ‘reach out’ to the wolf with the sling and stone if they could. If they missed or there wasn’t time to get a stone ready, they would attack the wolf with the long staff. If that missed, or if the wolf was too close, the shepherd still had the rod (or club) to defend themselves and the sheep with.
That got me thinking just how God might protect me and others, from dangers that may be far away or those that may be right next to us. Just like any protective armor or weapon used for self-defense, they do not always work. Some people, though very highly protected, still get injured or killed. Though a person goes through years of training and become very skilled in protecting themselves and others, it doesn’t always work that way.
In both Psalm 23 and Psalm 91, we see that God is there to protect us, strengthen us, guide us. But, in real life, we also experience pain and death in spite of all the draining and safety precautions that we take. Sometimes we are in awe with how God miraculously saved us or someone else from harm when they should have been hurt or killed. But yet, not always.
It is a struggle when we so earnestly plead with God for safety for ourselves and others, but they are injured or killed. It is painful to see someone train hard for years, do everything right, purposely are careful, and still get hurt or die. We often wonder, “Why?”
What is comforting to me is, that no matter what the outcome will be, God will be there with me. I have been in several situations where I could have been seriously hurt or killed, but yet God miraculously protected me. But though God has done incredible things for me, He has also allowed pain and suffering to happen to myself or those around me. In 2006, a very good friend of mine died in Afghanistan from a IED (improvised explosive device). Several friends of mine within the Nebraska Department of Corrections have been injured while at work.
We all face danger each and every day. We all have a responsibility to think carefully, get the education and training that we need to be safer, to be aware of what is happening around us, etc. But in spite of all we do right, there is no guarantee that the outcome will be what we want. God never promised that. He only promised that He would be there with us, guiding us as we let Him. Just knowing that God will be with me, no matter what I go through, is great encouragement. I do not know what God will allow me to experience in the future. But, I know that God will be there with me, no matter what.
With whatever you are experiencing today, I encourage you to seek God’s help, His blessings, and His protection. Trust that He will answer your prayer. Just understand that His answer may not be what we are hoping or wanting. Let us remember that God loves us more than we can understand. He sees the ‘big picture.’ And, no matter what happens in our lives, let us radically trust God to use our obedience to accomplish His will. Though we may never fully understand the ‘why,’ let us walk in faith that He does. And may God give us the knowledge we need to make decisions we need to make, may He give us wisdom with how to do them, and the strength and courage to do them. And, if necessary, the strength and courage to do it alone, or to lay down our lives.
• Matthew 10:16-23 NAS
• Psalm 91 NAS
• Psalm 23 NAS
• שּׂבּﬨ (shay'-bet)
• משענה (mish-ay-naw')
• Our Daily Bread: Refuge
This past week has seen two assaults upon staff by inmates in two different state prisons. This is not the first time that such an assault has taken place within one of the several Nebraska Department of Corrections prisons. In fact, almost a year ago, there was a major riot on Mother’s Day in 2015. Our work is an inherently dangerous one because of the people that we work with. Every day, we go to work with a cautious and alert attitude, knowing that anything can happen.
Over my 40+ years, I have worked many different jobs. Ranging from camp counselor at a Church Camp, to being a student pastor at a church, to doing ministry to children at an inpatient treatment center (while in seminary), to being an Airborne paratrooper, to being a MP with the Nebraska national Guard. With each of these different jobs, I faced rewards and challenges unique to each environment. Between my almost 15 years with the US Army, between Active Duty and time with the Nebraska National Guard, I have been deployed four times. Three times to Iraq and once to Qatar. Of course, there were significant dangers with each of these deployments. Facing danger definitely isn’t new with me.
To be honest, each of us face dangers of one sort or another. Whenever we wake up each day and go to school or work, walk around town, go to church, go shopping, etc., there are always risks involved. There is always the chance that a we could get into an accident, slip one something, large branch could fall from a tree upon our head, be bitten by some dangerous insect or animal, have a severe allergic reaction to something, etc. We live in a fallen world, plagued with decay and death. But, some jobs seem to have more risks and dangers than others.
When I joined the military or joined NDCS, I went through training to prepare my physically and mentally for the challenges and dangers that I might face. Though all of the training is helpful and absolutely necessary, things always seem different when you are faced with a dangerous situation in real life.
While I drive to work each morning, I prayerfully put on God’s spiritual armor (Ephesians 6) and ask God watch over and protect myself and all of my co-workers. Along with that, I ask God to help us to be aware of things around us. Being alert is paramount!
I know that everyone prays to a god of whatever religious persuasion they follow for help, guidance, protection, etc. Whenever I do, I always remind myself that God always answers prayers, but not always the way that I expect.
Many Soldiers over the decades have found Psalm 91 to be exceedingly comforting. It is sometimes referred to as “The Soldier’s Psalm.” I have found comfort and encouragement in this particular Psalm on several occasions. But, Psalm 23 comes to my mind more often.
Almost 20 years ago, I was in seminary and took a Hebrew reading class. It was one of the few classes that I did extremely well in. Throughout the short semester, we would take various passages from the Old Testament and carefully research the Hebrew text. Afterwards, we would then translate the passage. As long as we could justify the word choice, the professor would accept it. While I was working on Psalm 23, something very interesting stood out to me. The words that are typically translated as ‘rod’ and ‘staff’ very interesting meanings. The first word, שּׂבּﬨ (shay'-bet), can mean ‘staff’ or ‘club.’ The other word, משענה (mish-ay-naw'), does mean ‘staff.’
Since I have a very vivid imagination (one of the strengths of being an INFJ), I pictured in my mind how this might look. In my mind, I saw a flock of sheep with a shepherd or two mingling amongst them. The shepherds watched the sheep, guiding them from place to place. They showed them where to graze on healthy grass and drink from clean water. Then I pictured a wild animal, let’s say a wolf, approach the flock. At first the shepherd would ‘reach out’ to the wolf with the sling and stone if they could. If they missed or there wasn’t time to get a stone ready, they would attack the wolf with the long staff. If that missed, or if the wolf was too close, the shepherd still had the rod (or club) to defend themselves and the sheep with.
That got me thinking just how God might protect me and others, from dangers that may be far away or those that may be right next to us. Just like any protective armor or weapon used for self-defense, they do not always work. Some people, though very highly protected, still get injured or killed. Though a person goes through years of training and become very skilled in protecting themselves and others, it doesn’t always work that way.
In both Psalm 23 and Psalm 91, we see that God is there to protect us, strengthen us, guide us. But, in real life, we also experience pain and death in spite of all the draining and safety precautions that we take. Sometimes we are in awe with how God miraculously saved us or someone else from harm when they should have been hurt or killed. But yet, not always.
It is a struggle when we so earnestly plead with God for safety for ourselves and others, but they are injured or killed. It is painful to see someone train hard for years, do everything right, purposely are careful, and still get hurt or die. We often wonder, “Why?”
What is comforting to me is, that no matter what the outcome will be, God will be there with me. I have been in several situations where I could have been seriously hurt or killed, but yet God miraculously protected me. But though God has done incredible things for me, He has also allowed pain and suffering to happen to myself or those around me. In 2006, a very good friend of mine died in Afghanistan from a IED (improvised explosive device). Several friends of mine within the Nebraska Department of Corrections have been injured while at work.
We all face danger each and every day. We all have a responsibility to think carefully, get the education and training that we need to be safer, to be aware of what is happening around us, etc. But in spite of all we do right, there is no guarantee that the outcome will be what we want. God never promised that. He only promised that He would be there with us, guiding us as we let Him. Just knowing that God will be with me, no matter what I go through, is great encouragement. I do not know what God will allow me to experience in the future. But, I know that God will be there with me, no matter what.
With whatever you are experiencing today, I encourage you to seek God’s help, His blessings, and His protection. Trust that He will answer your prayer. Just understand that His answer may not be what we are hoping or wanting. Let us remember that God loves us more than we can understand. He sees the ‘big picture.’ And, no matter what happens in our lives, let us radically trust God to use our obedience to accomplish His will. Though we may never fully understand the ‘why,’ let us walk in faith that He does. And may God give us the knowledge we need to make decisions we need to make, may He give us wisdom with how to do them, and the strength and courage to do them. And, if necessary, the strength and courage to do it alone, or to lay down our lives.
Friday, December 18, 2015
A Spiritual Awakening
References:
• Force Awakens Movie
• Star Wars page for Force Awakens
• Kylo Ren
• 1 Peter 5:6-9 NAS
• Ephesians 4:17-32 NAS
• Romans 7:14-25 NAS
Last night I watched the movie, “The Force Awakens.” I have been a Star Wars fan ever since I was 4 years old and saw “A New Hope” when it first came out in the theaters. I loved it back then, and I love it now. Like many people, I was not sure how good it would be. I know that J.J. Abrams did an awesome job (in my opinion) of rebooting the Star Trek franchise. So I was hoping that he would do a good job with “The Force Awakens.” And it was a very well done movie.
I thoroughly enjoyed the return of many of the original characters, including Han Solo, Luke, Leia, etc. And, think that the new characters like Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren were done well and have awesome potential. Over the years, I have read many of the novels from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Although I am a little disappointed that J.J. Abrams didn’t totally go that direction, I do think he did a good job with the direction that he went. And, like usual, I am eagerly looking forward to reading the novel that is based on the movie. I always find the differences between the visual movies and the written novels to be fascinating and informing. (The movies focus on the visual interpretations of what the characters do while the novel give insight into the ‘why’ they did things or “What the heck were you thinking!”)
Like most movies, I watched “The Force Awakens” both from an entertainment perspective and an analytical one. And, like usual, there were a few things that really stuck out to me. I have my opinions on several of the character reactions that were shown in the movie. But, since the movie just opened and many people haven’t seen it yet and don’t like spoilers, I will perhaps talk about them in a later blog entry.
One thing that really stood out to me was the moral wrestling that one of the main characters went through during the movie. Instead of one of the main evil characters being just ‘purely evil,’ Kylo Ren repeatedly grappled with the evil that he wanted to do and what his heart wanted. In other words, he wanted to emulate his ‘hero,’ Darth Vader and follow the Dark Side (evil) of the Force. However, throughout the movie, he kept feeling the draw back to the Light Side (good). I found this wrestling that he did to be a very good plot and character development.
Think about it… How many of us want to do go and yet wrestle with our sinful impulses? I know that I do. Paul wrote about it in his letter to the Christians in Rome (mentioned above). He knew what was write and wanted to do it (things that pleased God), but yet his sinful nature constantly pushed him to rebel against God’s Commands. Whether we want to admit to this or not, it is something that we all do. Although we know the ‘right’ things to, our nature is contrary to this. It is easier to fulfill the sinful/selfish desires of our hearts than it is to think of others.
Here we have Kylo Ren, a young man who is thirsting after the (felt) power that the Dark Side of the Force has to offer. He has heard stories (and probably read many a Star Wars universe version newspapers, magazines, and books) about his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker. The Dark Lord becomes someone he wants to emulate, becomes a real hero for. Yet, as he continues to walk down his ‘dark path,’ he continuously feels the Light Side (good) call him. On many occasions he calls to Darth Vader, to Supreme Leader Snoke, etc., for ‘help’ to help him maintain his path to the Dark Side.
While studying theology, working as a MP, and while working as Custody Staff with the Nebraska State of Corrections, I have seen many people strive to do this. Although they feel their conscience tell them that what they are doing is wrong, yet they still seek to do it. They want to enjoy the (temporary) ‘good feeling’ that indulging their sinful desires produces. And even they are constantly trying to ‘sear their conscience,’ they still feel that conviction. They still feel that conviction that what they are doing is wrong, that they are heading down the wrong path, etc.
God gave all of us a conscience to help us realize when we are doing something wrong. Just like His Laws, our conscience is there to guide us in right living. But yet, how often do we seek to ‘silence that nagging voice’ so that we can do things that gratify our sinful desires? It is a constant struggle that we all experience. Even those of us who have been walking with God for many years still feel this struggle. Someone wrongs us and we feel the ‘urge’ to exact revenge. We see something pleasing to the eye and we not just entertain thoughts about it, but want to act out on those desires. We see something that belongs to someone else and we seek to take it four ourselves.
As this year comes to a close and we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on just how much God loves us. As John chapter 1 points out so clearly, God lowered Himself in such an incredible way. An infinite and all-powerful God allowed Himself to be born of a simple peasant girl, Mary, to grow up in a very fragile body, experiences pain, hunger, all sorts of human suffering. He chose to do this, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. So that He could redeem us from our sinfulness and enable us to have everlasting life with Him. As we wrestle with our sinful nature, as we seek to be obedient to Christ our Savior, let us remember that He has given us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, working in conjunction with our conscience, is there to draw us way from the ‘Dark Side’ and back to ‘the Light.’ Let us strive to be obedient and rejoice that He still calls us back to Him. No matter how far away we may have been walking, He is always there to draw us back to Himself.
• Force Awakens Movie
• Star Wars page for Force Awakens
• Kylo Ren
• 1 Peter 5:6-9 NAS
• Ephesians 4:17-32 NAS
• Romans 7:14-25 NAS
Last night I watched the movie, “The Force Awakens.” I have been a Star Wars fan ever since I was 4 years old and saw “A New Hope” when it first came out in the theaters. I loved it back then, and I love it now. Like many people, I was not sure how good it would be. I know that J.J. Abrams did an awesome job (in my opinion) of rebooting the Star Trek franchise. So I was hoping that he would do a good job with “The Force Awakens.” And it was a very well done movie.
I thoroughly enjoyed the return of many of the original characters, including Han Solo, Luke, Leia, etc. And, think that the new characters like Finn, Rey, and Kylo Ren were done well and have awesome potential. Over the years, I have read many of the novels from the Star Wars Expanded Universe. Although I am a little disappointed that J.J. Abrams didn’t totally go that direction, I do think he did a good job with the direction that he went. And, like usual, I am eagerly looking forward to reading the novel that is based on the movie. I always find the differences between the visual movies and the written novels to be fascinating and informing. (The movies focus on the visual interpretations of what the characters do while the novel give insight into the ‘why’ they did things or “What the heck were you thinking!”)
Like most movies, I watched “The Force Awakens” both from an entertainment perspective and an analytical one. And, like usual, there were a few things that really stuck out to me. I have my opinions on several of the character reactions that were shown in the movie. But, since the movie just opened and many people haven’t seen it yet and don’t like spoilers, I will perhaps talk about them in a later blog entry.
One thing that really stood out to me was the moral wrestling that one of the main characters went through during the movie. Instead of one of the main evil characters being just ‘purely evil,’ Kylo Ren repeatedly grappled with the evil that he wanted to do and what his heart wanted. In other words, he wanted to emulate his ‘hero,’ Darth Vader and follow the Dark Side (evil) of the Force. However, throughout the movie, he kept feeling the draw back to the Light Side (good). I found this wrestling that he did to be a very good plot and character development.
Think about it… How many of us want to do go and yet wrestle with our sinful impulses? I know that I do. Paul wrote about it in his letter to the Christians in Rome (mentioned above). He knew what was write and wanted to do it (things that pleased God), but yet his sinful nature constantly pushed him to rebel against God’s Commands. Whether we want to admit to this or not, it is something that we all do. Although we know the ‘right’ things to, our nature is contrary to this. It is easier to fulfill the sinful/selfish desires of our hearts than it is to think of others.
Here we have Kylo Ren, a young man who is thirsting after the (felt) power that the Dark Side of the Force has to offer. He has heard stories (and probably read many a Star Wars universe version newspapers, magazines, and books) about his grandfather, Anakin Skywalker. The Dark Lord becomes someone he wants to emulate, becomes a real hero for. Yet, as he continues to walk down his ‘dark path,’ he continuously feels the Light Side (good) call him. On many occasions he calls to Darth Vader, to Supreme Leader Snoke, etc., for ‘help’ to help him maintain his path to the Dark Side.
While studying theology, working as a MP, and while working as Custody Staff with the Nebraska State of Corrections, I have seen many people strive to do this. Although they feel their conscience tell them that what they are doing is wrong, yet they still seek to do it. They want to enjoy the (temporary) ‘good feeling’ that indulging their sinful desires produces. And even they are constantly trying to ‘sear their conscience,’ they still feel that conviction. They still feel that conviction that what they are doing is wrong, that they are heading down the wrong path, etc.
God gave all of us a conscience to help us realize when we are doing something wrong. Just like His Laws, our conscience is there to guide us in right living. But yet, how often do we seek to ‘silence that nagging voice’ so that we can do things that gratify our sinful desires? It is a constant struggle that we all experience. Even those of us who have been walking with God for many years still feel this struggle. Someone wrongs us and we feel the ‘urge’ to exact revenge. We see something pleasing to the eye and we not just entertain thoughts about it, but want to act out on those desires. We see something that belongs to someone else and we seek to take it four ourselves.
As this year comes to a close and we prepare to celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on just how much God loves us. As John chapter 1 points out so clearly, God lowered Himself in such an incredible way. An infinite and all-powerful God allowed Himself to be born of a simple peasant girl, Mary, to grow up in a very fragile body, experiences pain, hunger, all sorts of human suffering. He chose to do this, not because He had to, but because He wanted to. So that He could redeem us from our sinfulness and enable us to have everlasting life with Him. As we wrestle with our sinful nature, as we seek to be obedient to Christ our Savior, let us remember that He has given us His Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, working in conjunction with our conscience, is there to draw us way from the ‘Dark Side’ and back to ‘the Light.’ Let us strive to be obedient and rejoice that He still calls us back to Him. No matter how far away we may have been walking, He is always there to draw us back to Himself.
Only Celebrating the Christmas Good
References:
• 1 Peter 5:1-11 NAS
• Matthew 12:22-29 NAS
• ST Nickolas
• Krampus
This may come as a real shock to some people, but I do enjoy a good horror movie once in a while. I am not talking about the ‘slasher’ films like ‘Friday the 13’ or Freddy Kruger movies. I am talking about the suspenseful, supernatural ones. Just some of the ones that I have enjoyed are “The Village,” “Dark Valley” (more of a suspenseful movie), “The Walking Dead” series, “An Amish Murder,” (again, more suspenseful), “The Others,” amongst others. Such a movie has to have a really good plot, otherwise I will probably not finish watching it. There are quite a few movies on Netflix that I have started, but soon lost interest in.
One horror movie that I saw in the theaters this week was Krampus. ‘Who is Krampus?’ you may ask? Basically, Krampus is the demonic twin brother of ST Nickolas, according to German folklore. What’s interesting to me is that, up until this past week, I had never heard of Krampus. In college, I was a German Studies major and read quite a bit about German history. I do know that there is a strong druid-like spiritual history (as far as ancient pagan religious customs go), but I had not heard of ‘Krampus,’ before. Learn something new every day….
Every year at this time here in America, all we hear about is Santa Claus, that ‘jolly ole’ elf.’ And we are told that he knows if we’ve been ‘naughty or nice.’ Yes, I am quoting a very popular Christmas song, “Santa Clause is Coming to Town.” According to tradition, ‘good’ little boys and girls get gifts and ‘bad’ little boys and girls get lumps of coal. I don’t know about you, but while I was growing up, I usually followed the rules, but not all of the time. I always got gifts each Christmas. And, there were quite a few kids that I knew who were bullies. And I never heard of them getting coal for Christmas. Not much incentive to be good, huh?
According to German folklore, Krampus would go around Austria and southern Germany and take away all of the bad boys and girls. According to the “Who is Krampus” page, a Krampus-like character has been around for more than 2,000 years. Potentially longer. During ancient times, I am sure that some children disappeared and, because they weren’t found and no other explanation was available, it was believed that Krampus had done it. In more modern times, that is probably not believed.
It doesn’t surprise me that, here in the US, that such characters like Krampus do not become part of the mainstream culture. As people have immigrated here from other countries, many have striven to get rid of what is perceived by them (or by others) as negative aspects of their culture. Or, even though the first generation or two intended on maintaining all of their culture, it eventually got lost within the mixed culture of the United States as a whole. When ethnic groups live together within the same geographical area, there is a stronger tendency for them to maintain more of the unique aspects of their culture. The farther away they are, the less likely they are to maintain them.
But, I have noticed a more disappointing, even disturbing trend that this parallels. I grew up within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and still consider myself to be Reformed in my theology. At age three, I was adopted by a PC(USA) minister and his wife. Because of this, I grew up being very involved with church life. During this time, I learned about how we are all fallen and sinful creatures. However, I knew almost nothing about Satan, demons, Spiritual Warfare, etc. It wasn’t until I gave my life to Christ (a Road to Emmaus experience) that I really started learning about this.
Up until I gave my life to Christ in 1994, about all I knew about Satan, demons, and the like, was what I read in books and saw in movies. Most of what I was exposed to was either that they are all a farce, not real, or just a figment of one’s imagination; something that was folklore and superstition, and now have been ‘proven by science’ to not be real; or something similar. At times, they were portrayed as real, but either not very powerful or exceptionally powerful and that there was no god (or that God was not powerful enough to stop them, almost like Greek or Roman mythology).
While I was in college, I started learning how to apply all that I had learned growing up with my walk with Christ. I started learning how to discern between what was Scripturally sound and what was not. I also realized that God was calling me to ministry. So, I attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) in order to fulfill that calling. Although I knew that the seminary was predominantly moderate to liberal in theology, I was expecting a good theological education. At LPTS, the predominate theology that was taught was ‘process theology.’ (Definitions can be found here and here for your understanding.) I liken ‘process theology’ to ‘processed cheese.’ Though it has some of the right, natural (correct) beliefs, it is full of artificial ingredients, making it, as a whole, ‘impure.’ (You can find definitions/explanations here and here, and here is a side-by-side comparison for you to digest.) Not only was it taught that there was no such thing as Satan or demons, I was often looked down upon for believing that they were real. And, it was during this time that I gained a lot of ‘practical experience’ in Spiritual Warfare.
Although I believe it is important to protect children from things that are harmful, but there needs to be a balance. If one only exposes children to ‘good things’ and hides all of the bad and evil in the world from them, then you are setting them up for failure. There needs to be a wise balance with helping children understand the evil that is in the world. Life is like a rose. You have the beautiful flower, but you also have the sharp thorns. If people do not know about, and therefore do not understand, the evil, hatred, and sadness that is a part of life, then they will not be equipped with the skills necessary to deal with them. Eventually, all of us will be confronted by the evil in the world and the sinful nature within each of us. If we are not prepared to deal with it, it will rule over us. In fact, if we are not prepared to deal with such things, it will destroy us. Do we really want to set our children up for failure, for emotional and spiritual destruction?
• 1 Peter 5:1-11 NAS
• Matthew 12:22-29 NAS
• ST Nickolas
• Krampus
This may come as a real shock to some people, but I do enjoy a good horror movie once in a while. I am not talking about the ‘slasher’ films like ‘Friday the 13’ or Freddy Kruger movies. I am talking about the suspenseful, supernatural ones. Just some of the ones that I have enjoyed are “The Village,” “Dark Valley” (more of a suspenseful movie), “The Walking Dead” series, “An Amish Murder,” (again, more suspenseful), “The Others,” amongst others. Such a movie has to have a really good plot, otherwise I will probably not finish watching it. There are quite a few movies on Netflix that I have started, but soon lost interest in.
One horror movie that I saw in the theaters this week was Krampus. ‘Who is Krampus?’ you may ask? Basically, Krampus is the demonic twin brother of ST Nickolas, according to German folklore. What’s interesting to me is that, up until this past week, I had never heard of Krampus. In college, I was a German Studies major and read quite a bit about German history. I do know that there is a strong druid-like spiritual history (as far as ancient pagan religious customs go), but I had not heard of ‘Krampus,’ before. Learn something new every day….
Every year at this time here in America, all we hear about is Santa Claus, that ‘jolly ole’ elf.’ And we are told that he knows if we’ve been ‘naughty or nice.’ Yes, I am quoting a very popular Christmas song, “Santa Clause is Coming to Town.” According to tradition, ‘good’ little boys and girls get gifts and ‘bad’ little boys and girls get lumps of coal. I don’t know about you, but while I was growing up, I usually followed the rules, but not all of the time. I always got gifts each Christmas. And, there were quite a few kids that I knew who were bullies. And I never heard of them getting coal for Christmas. Not much incentive to be good, huh?
According to German folklore, Krampus would go around Austria and southern Germany and take away all of the bad boys and girls. According to the “Who is Krampus” page, a Krampus-like character has been around for more than 2,000 years. Potentially longer. During ancient times, I am sure that some children disappeared and, because they weren’t found and no other explanation was available, it was believed that Krampus had done it. In more modern times, that is probably not believed.
It doesn’t surprise me that, here in the US, that such characters like Krampus do not become part of the mainstream culture. As people have immigrated here from other countries, many have striven to get rid of what is perceived by them (or by others) as negative aspects of their culture. Or, even though the first generation or two intended on maintaining all of their culture, it eventually got lost within the mixed culture of the United States as a whole. When ethnic groups live together within the same geographical area, there is a stronger tendency for them to maintain more of the unique aspects of their culture. The farther away they are, the less likely they are to maintain them.
But, I have noticed a more disappointing, even disturbing trend that this parallels. I grew up within the Presbyterian Church (USA) and still consider myself to be Reformed in my theology. At age three, I was adopted by a PC(USA) minister and his wife. Because of this, I grew up being very involved with church life. During this time, I learned about how we are all fallen and sinful creatures. However, I knew almost nothing about Satan, demons, Spiritual Warfare, etc. It wasn’t until I gave my life to Christ (a Road to Emmaus experience) that I really started learning about this.
Up until I gave my life to Christ in 1994, about all I knew about Satan, demons, and the like, was what I read in books and saw in movies. Most of what I was exposed to was either that they are all a farce, not real, or just a figment of one’s imagination; something that was folklore and superstition, and now have been ‘proven by science’ to not be real; or something similar. At times, they were portrayed as real, but either not very powerful or exceptionally powerful and that there was no god (or that God was not powerful enough to stop them, almost like Greek or Roman mythology).
While I was in college, I started learning how to apply all that I had learned growing up with my walk with Christ. I started learning how to discern between what was Scripturally sound and what was not. I also realized that God was calling me to ministry. So, I attended Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary (LPTS) in order to fulfill that calling. Although I knew that the seminary was predominantly moderate to liberal in theology, I was expecting a good theological education. At LPTS, the predominate theology that was taught was ‘process theology.’ (Definitions can be found here and here for your understanding.) I liken ‘process theology’ to ‘processed cheese.’ Though it has some of the right, natural (correct) beliefs, it is full of artificial ingredients, making it, as a whole, ‘impure.’ (You can find definitions/explanations here and here, and here is a side-by-side comparison for you to digest.) Not only was it taught that there was no such thing as Satan or demons, I was often looked down upon for believing that they were real. And, it was during this time that I gained a lot of ‘practical experience’ in Spiritual Warfare.
Although I believe it is important to protect children from things that are harmful, but there needs to be a balance. If one only exposes children to ‘good things’ and hides all of the bad and evil in the world from them, then you are setting them up for failure. There needs to be a wise balance with helping children understand the evil that is in the world. Life is like a rose. You have the beautiful flower, but you also have the sharp thorns. If people do not know about, and therefore do not understand, the evil, hatred, and sadness that is a part of life, then they will not be equipped with the skills necessary to deal with them. Eventually, all of us will be confronted by the evil in the world and the sinful nature within each of us. If we are not prepared to deal with it, it will rule over us. In fact, if we are not prepared to deal with such things, it will destroy us. Do we really want to set our children up for failure, for emotional and spiritual destruction?
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Living a Lie
References:
- Romans 3:9-20 NAS
- 1 John 1:5-10 NAS
- The Village (2004)
I finished watching a very interesting movie not to long ago called, “The Village (2004).” It was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. I know that not everyone out there likes spoilers, so I will try to not tell too much. According to the IMDB page, it is considered to be a mystery, drama and a romance movie. Those descriptions definitely do fit. But, I believe there is a very important theological bent to this movie, too. The theological concept of human kind and human nature.
One of the first things that we learn in the movie is that the members of The Village have a pact or truce of sorts. It seems that there is some sort of intelligent creature living in the woods surrounding the village. The agreement comes to light that, as long as they do not wear 'the bad color' and do not venture into the woods, the creatures will not come into their Village and cause harm. This underlined fear of the creatures in the woods in one of the main themes driving the movie. The fear of these creatures and the evil of 'people in the other towns' keep the members of this community totally isolated from anyone else. In fact, there is a continuous fear that if anyone were to visit one of 'those towns,' it could destroy their 'innocent community.'
Watching the movie, set in 'olde Pennsylvania,' we see what appears to be a genuine utopia. There are no weapons seen at all. One starts to wonder if we are observing an Amish-like culture. There are definitely Judeo Christian values, though nothing really overt. At one point in the movie, a young man who has some sort of mental problems is seen hitting some other boys with a stick in a playful manner, and then they all start wrestling. It is soon broken up and the young boy who was 'playing roughly' with the other kids is threatened with punishment. Although things seem a little odd (at least to me), it's all believable.
Two things soon happen that seem to jeopardize everything. One is that two members of the community venture into the woods. One due to the fact that he lacks understanding, the other who chooses to do so. The other threat to everyone's existence is an 'accident' that happens. Because of a love triangle one person is almost fatally injured. The governing counsel must now decide what to do because of the choices that others have made. And, it turns out, a lot of things are not what they seem.
One of the words that is used a lot during the movie is the term “innocence.” It is the hope that The Village Elders that this status quo of 'innocence' is maintained. They go to great lengths to make sure that people do not violate 'the pact' by crossing the boarder/perimeter. They also make sure that people are living good lives of loving each other and not harming others. Although throughout the first half of the movie, things seem to go well. Though there are jealousies and arguments, there does not seem to be any 'overt sin.' But yet, eventually, we realize that evil is still present and a terrible act (this 'accident') happens. Everyone is affected, and it threatens to destroy everything. People seem to be panicky and at wits end with how to deal with all of the events without showing evil.
All in all, I did enjoy the movie. I knew enough of the plot that I was able to pick up on many of the 'hints' throughout the film. But, it also really got me thinking. How often do we try to play this game? That is, how often do we pretend that we can overcome our own evil, sinful nature through our own strength? Many religions teach this idea. That by self-discipline, one can distance ourselves from our sinful nature so as to not act out on it. Throughout Scripture, we see that we are complete incapable of doing so. Sin will rear its ugly head sooner or later. And, there will be consequences when this happens.
Now, it is important to discipline ourselves. We are called to live our life of obedience to God's Laws. The thing is, Scripture teaches is that it is not by our own strength that we can do this. As Jesus tells the Pharisee Nicodemus, one has to be 'born again' or 'born from above.' (John 3:1-21) It is only when the Holy Spirit dwells within us and seek to let It control our lives that we can live a life pleasing to God. The thing is, we will never be 'perfect' and live a 'sinless life' in this world. We will always struggle with sin. But, in our journey in life, as we seek to let God guide our lives, we can become 'more Christ-like.' The theological term for this is sanctification. A good definition of this word is:
Movies are wonderful for entertainment. And they can be very good tools for teachings important lessons in life. But, it is important that we take the teachings of God's Word as the foundation of our lives. So relax and read a good book or watch a good movie. They can be wonderful entertainment. But, be discerning in what you take in. Let God's Spirit guide each of us as we learn and grow.
- Romans 3:9-20 NAS
- 1 John 1:5-10 NAS
- The Village (2004)
I finished watching a very interesting movie not to long ago called, “The Village (2004).” It was written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan. I know that not everyone out there likes spoilers, so I will try to not tell too much. According to the IMDB page, it is considered to be a mystery, drama and a romance movie. Those descriptions definitely do fit. But, I believe there is a very important theological bent to this movie, too. The theological concept of human kind and human nature.
One of the first things that we learn in the movie is that the members of The Village have a pact or truce of sorts. It seems that there is some sort of intelligent creature living in the woods surrounding the village. The agreement comes to light that, as long as they do not wear 'the bad color' and do not venture into the woods, the creatures will not come into their Village and cause harm. This underlined fear of the creatures in the woods in one of the main themes driving the movie. The fear of these creatures and the evil of 'people in the other towns' keep the members of this community totally isolated from anyone else. In fact, there is a continuous fear that if anyone were to visit one of 'those towns,' it could destroy their 'innocent community.'
Watching the movie, set in 'olde Pennsylvania,' we see what appears to be a genuine utopia. There are no weapons seen at all. One starts to wonder if we are observing an Amish-like culture. There are definitely Judeo Christian values, though nothing really overt. At one point in the movie, a young man who has some sort of mental problems is seen hitting some other boys with a stick in a playful manner, and then they all start wrestling. It is soon broken up and the young boy who was 'playing roughly' with the other kids is threatened with punishment. Although things seem a little odd (at least to me), it's all believable.
Two things soon happen that seem to jeopardize everything. One is that two members of the community venture into the woods. One due to the fact that he lacks understanding, the other who chooses to do so. The other threat to everyone's existence is an 'accident' that happens. Because of a love triangle one person is almost fatally injured. The governing counsel must now decide what to do because of the choices that others have made. And, it turns out, a lot of things are not what they seem.
One of the words that is used a lot during the movie is the term “innocence.” It is the hope that The Village Elders that this status quo of 'innocence' is maintained. They go to great lengths to make sure that people do not violate 'the pact' by crossing the boarder/perimeter. They also make sure that people are living good lives of loving each other and not harming others. Although throughout the first half of the movie, things seem to go well. Though there are jealousies and arguments, there does not seem to be any 'overt sin.' But yet, eventually, we realize that evil is still present and a terrible act (this 'accident') happens. Everyone is affected, and it threatens to destroy everything. People seem to be panicky and at wits end with how to deal with all of the events without showing evil.
All in all, I did enjoy the movie. I knew enough of the plot that I was able to pick up on many of the 'hints' throughout the film. But, it also really got me thinking. How often do we try to play this game? That is, how often do we pretend that we can overcome our own evil, sinful nature through our own strength? Many religions teach this idea. That by self-discipline, one can distance ourselves from our sinful nature so as to not act out on it. Throughout Scripture, we see that we are complete incapable of doing so. Sin will rear its ugly head sooner or later. And, there will be consequences when this happens.
Now, it is important to discipline ourselves. We are called to live our life of obedience to God's Laws. The thing is, Scripture teaches is that it is not by our own strength that we can do this. As Jesus tells the Pharisee Nicodemus, one has to be 'born again' or 'born from above.' (John 3:1-21) It is only when the Holy Spirit dwells within us and seek to let It control our lives that we can live a life pleasing to God. The thing is, we will never be 'perfect' and live a 'sinless life' in this world. We will always struggle with sin. But, in our journey in life, as we seek to let God guide our lives, we can become 'more Christ-like.' The theological term for this is sanctification. A good definition of this word is:
“involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man”. reference here
Movies are wonderful for entertainment. And they can be very good tools for teachings important lessons in life. But, it is important that we take the teachings of God's Word as the foundation of our lives. So relax and read a good book or watch a good movie. They can be wonderful entertainment. But, be discerning in what you take in. Let God's Spirit guide each of us as we learn and grow.
Saturday, September 12, 2015
The Art of Creating
References:
- Genesis 1; Genesis 2
- John 1:1-18 NAS
- Dickblick art supplies
- Pebble Mosaic idea
- German artist Albrecht Durer
I have a question for you… What do you get when two shutterbugs get married and go off to a State Park for their honeymoon? Answer… A lot of joking banter of whose turn it was to use the camera and almost 1,000 pictures taken within a week. Granted, we were using a digital camera so we didn't have to buy film, but still… That is a lot of pictures, isn't it?
Thing is, that is my wife and myself. We love taking pictures. She has taken an actual photography course on the science behind good photography. I, on the other hand, have not. My use of the camera has been primarily to recording significant events (like pictures of family and friends, vacations, holidays, etc.) and to gather possible references for drawings or paintings. Yes, I do love art. I have taken an art class just about every year of middle school, high school, and college. I am definitely not a Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo (and I don't mean TMNT), or an Albrecht Durer. But, I do have good artistic talent. I have never tried pursuing art as a career, just as a way to express myself.
I have worked with many different mediums, or types of art. For example, I have done a lot with charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, ceramics, painting, etc. For what ever reason, I don't seem to be as strong working with colors as I am working with black-n-white mediums. That is, my quality of work is not as good when I working with colors, like pastels, as it is working in black-n-white, charcoal for example. Usually I will use a reference for my art work. It can either been a photograph that I have taken, a picture from a magazine, or a still-life that I put together. Sometimes I draw from my imagination.
Whether it's drawing, painting, using pastels, or photography, art as a hobby can be expensive. I have no idea how much I have paid in my art supplies over the years. And, I have quite a few supplies! And, I admit, some of them are the cheap end of a certain medium. This is more often the case with my colored pencils or pastels. I don't use them a lot and I am not as strong in that medium. So, I am not going to invest nearly as much money as I would in something like a camera or a pen set. In fact, a good friend of mine in college had a very nice pen set. He was a psychology and art double major and pen-n-ink was one of his favorite mediums to work with. He let me use his pen set for one of my art projects and I fell in love with their quality. I told my parents about it and, the next thing I knew, I had my own set for Christmas. Except it was a 7 pen set. Each pen had a nib of a different thickness, enabling me to draw more exact lines. I still have that pen set today and try to use it on occasion.
Over the last few years, I have done a lot more 'artistic work' with writing than I have with drawing. I have always had good talent with creative writing, be it writing prose or poetry. No, I have not done much in the realm of poetry lately. But, I have done a lot of creative writing over the last few years. This blog is just one example of creative writing for me. I journal at times, though not very regularly. I also have done a lot with sermon and Bible Study writing. For me, they are no different than writing a good story. You have a message to deliver and you have to do it effectively. Although I usually organize my sermons and Bible Studies in an outline form, I have used those outlines to create blog entries on occasion. My blog on Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one example.
We all have artistic skills of some sort. For some, it is cooking. Others are gifted in story telling. Still others are gifted in how they arrange things in the home. Still others are gifted in music, be it singing, playing an instrument, etc. Some have amazing gifts in a certain area, and others don't seem to be 'as strong.' But yet, we all have some sort of artistic talent.
I believe that this is because the God that created the world and all that we see is the Author of 'being creative.' I mean, think about it… Think about the huge variety of animal and plant life that is around you. Ever think how many different kinds of butterflies there are? Or how many different kinds of spiders? Not only do they have very different coloring and size, but their favorite habitat or favorite food greatly differs.
Also taken into consideration how many different shades of skin the human race has! There's black, white, tan (like Asian), medium brown for Native American or Middle Eastern, or black. In fact, there are many variations of each! Not just skin color, but also eye and hair color.
When I look around and the many different kinds of flowers one can see in the Prairie alone, I am amazed. At the Homestead National Monument, they have a large area set aside for allowing the plants that used to grow on the Prairie. Each time I have walked through that area, I have been astounded that the rich variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Needless to say, I have taken many pictures of that area alone. I don't know of anyone who can create like that! Many have tried, and have created wonderful works of art. But yet, to me, nothing a person can do compares to what God has already done.
It amazes me just how talented some people are. It also greatly saddens me when people use their talents to hurt others. For example, some people are very gifted at singing. But, instead of writing songs to inspire others, they write songs to hurt others. The same thing goes with drawing or humor. Instead of using their talents to be a blessing onto others, they use their skills to put others down to feed their own egos or the egos of their 'race.' They use their skills to feed their negative stereotypes and promote more hatred instead of using their gifts to bring people together.
We all have choices to make, and there will always be consequences to our choices. They can either be positive consequences or negative consequences. We can either sow the seeds of love, joy, and peace through the things we do. Or, we can use our time and talents to sow seeds of anger, hatred, discontent. The choice is up to us. Even when we are using art as a way to express the sadness or anger that a person is feeling, care needs to be used with how it is expressed. Sometimes, something has to be drawn or written to put those feelings into down so that they can be processed. But then, because of how hurtful they are, they need to be thrown away, burned, shredded, or the like. As a way of letting go of the anger or sadness that one feels.
As I mentioned earlier, a close friend of mine in college was a dual major in psychology and art. His hope was to use art as a means of helping people to heal. There have been times where I have written a poem or drawn a picture to express what I am feeling. But, because of the nature of what I have written or drawn, and the fact that it is something negative that I am letting go, very few people have seen them. In fact, most were never meant to be shared with others. They were meant as a way of letting go with what I was angry or sad about. Although it hasn't always helped, there have been times where it has. Not just is the act of writing or drawing, but also in the tearing up or shredding. Though I still have the memories, those acts of doing something creative to express them in a controlled manner, and then purposely 'letting them go' has helped to lessen the impact those memories have on me today.
While in seminary, I participated in what is called CPE, Clinical Pastoral Education. Its a type of intense 'on the job training' for doing ministry. Typically, it is done in a high stress environment, like in a prison or hospital. Usually, half the day is spent in a class setting, learning more about ways to minister to those who are hurting. The other half is the actual ministry. I did my CPE at a Level One Trauma hospital in Louisville, Ky. I saw all sorts of people come in with very wide range of sickness and injuries. Some looked like slabs of meat that used to be a person. Others were those who were deathly ill with cancer, poisoning of some sort, or a serious infection. During my time there, I learned that ministering to those who are hurting is a real art. Although there are scientific ideas and research behind different disciplines of ministry, how you apply it is a real art. No two situations are the same. One method of ministering to one person my be extremely effective, all the while being totally ineffective in another situation.
During this time, I learned that times of prayer, either by myself or with others, can be like a form of art. We see that in the Book of Psalms. Some Psalms express deep sadness and distress. Others express great rage at a person or group of people. Others express awe and wonder towards God and all He has created. But, all of them are someone's expression of what they were feeling, written down as a prayer to God. A classmate of mine did a class on prayer that included some hand motions. I have to admit, it I was a bit skeptical of what I would get out of that class. But, I did find it rewarding. From a book she had read, she learned that sometimes, while confessing one's sins and shortcomings, a person should try holding one's hands out, hands open, and facing downwards. The reason for this is you are physically representing the fact that you are trying to let go of something and give it to God. Then, when you are asking for God's help and blessings, you change your hand position. Now, hold your hands straight out or at an upward angle, with your hands held like cups. This is to express your hearts desire of receiving God's blessings. It was an artistic expression of prayer, something that I was impressed with and have used on occasion.
The other night, my wife shared an article with me that she had found on the Internet. In the Facebook post, she asked me if I could see myself doing it. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical of whether I could see myself doing a 'pebble mosaic.' But, as I read through the article, I soon was picturing myself doing just that. Or, at least trying to. I started picturing how I could use something common and every day, like a river pebble, and making something beautiful out of it. Having done some really neat works of art by carving clay, I knew that I could do something in 3D. Might be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.
But, it also got me thinking about something else. Something very awesome that God does. For those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, God becomes even more of an Artist. He takes something that was broken, dull, or even evil, and creates something beautiful out of it. Think about it… A favorite example I like to use is the life of John Newton, the author of the song 'Amazing Grace.' I mean, here was a man who sold fellow human beings into slavery. After his conversion to Christ, God used him to impact the lives of countless millions through his sermons and songs. Eventually, God also used him to help end slave trade in England. Something that used to be a source of income for him, he helped to end. Astounding, isn't it?!
And that is something God can do with each and everyone one of us. If we are willing to allow Him to work in our lives and through us. We can either choose to live life our own way, or we can choose to be God's instruments. One of the main reasons why I have this blog is so that God can touch the lives of others through me. Although it is an effective way for me to express myself creatively, it is more than that. It is a way for me to touch the lives of others. People I may never have been able to impact face-to-face. People that, because of how I write something, or what I feel inspired to write about, can impact them in a way that someone else might not be able to do. On this side of Heaven, I know that I will never fully understand how God has used this blog to touch the lives of others. Just like I will not know, in this life, how a 'chance meeting' to me was something God used to change someone's life. All I can do is walk in faith, trusting that God will use me. And, it is a form of art, I think, to prayerfully and actively walk with God and to be used by Him. Something that takes the common, the uninteresting, even the broken or evil, and something beautiful is made. May that be a reality in your life.
- Genesis 1; Genesis 2
- John 1:1-18 NAS
- Dickblick art supplies
- Pebble Mosaic idea
- German artist Albrecht Durer
I have a question for you… What do you get when two shutterbugs get married and go off to a State Park for their honeymoon? Answer… A lot of joking banter of whose turn it was to use the camera and almost 1,000 pictures taken within a week. Granted, we were using a digital camera so we didn't have to buy film, but still… That is a lot of pictures, isn't it?
Thing is, that is my wife and myself. We love taking pictures. She has taken an actual photography course on the science behind good photography. I, on the other hand, have not. My use of the camera has been primarily to recording significant events (like pictures of family and friends, vacations, holidays, etc.) and to gather possible references for drawings or paintings. Yes, I do love art. I have taken an art class just about every year of middle school, high school, and college. I am definitely not a Van Gogh, Rembrandt, Raphael, Leonardo, Michelangelo (and I don't mean TMNT), or an Albrecht Durer. But, I do have good artistic talent. I have never tried pursuing art as a career, just as a way to express myself.
I have worked with many different mediums, or types of art. For example, I have done a lot with charcoal, pastels, pen and ink, ceramics, painting, etc. For what ever reason, I don't seem to be as strong working with colors as I am working with black-n-white mediums. That is, my quality of work is not as good when I working with colors, like pastels, as it is working in black-n-white, charcoal for example. Usually I will use a reference for my art work. It can either been a photograph that I have taken, a picture from a magazine, or a still-life that I put together. Sometimes I draw from my imagination.
Whether it's drawing, painting, using pastels, or photography, art as a hobby can be expensive. I have no idea how much I have paid in my art supplies over the years. And, I have quite a few supplies! And, I admit, some of them are the cheap end of a certain medium. This is more often the case with my colored pencils or pastels. I don't use them a lot and I am not as strong in that medium. So, I am not going to invest nearly as much money as I would in something like a camera or a pen set. In fact, a good friend of mine in college had a very nice pen set. He was a psychology and art double major and pen-n-ink was one of his favorite mediums to work with. He let me use his pen set for one of my art projects and I fell in love with their quality. I told my parents about it and, the next thing I knew, I had my own set for Christmas. Except it was a 7 pen set. Each pen had a nib of a different thickness, enabling me to draw more exact lines. I still have that pen set today and try to use it on occasion.
Over the last few years, I have done a lot more 'artistic work' with writing than I have with drawing. I have always had good talent with creative writing, be it writing prose or poetry. No, I have not done much in the realm of poetry lately. But, I have done a lot of creative writing over the last few years. This blog is just one example of creative writing for me. I journal at times, though not very regularly. I also have done a lot with sermon and Bible Study writing. For me, they are no different than writing a good story. You have a message to deliver and you have to do it effectively. Although I usually organize my sermons and Bible Studies in an outline form, I have used those outlines to create blog entries on occasion. My blog on Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one example.
We all have artistic skills of some sort. For some, it is cooking. Others are gifted in story telling. Still others are gifted in how they arrange things in the home. Still others are gifted in music, be it singing, playing an instrument, etc. Some have amazing gifts in a certain area, and others don't seem to be 'as strong.' But yet, we all have some sort of artistic talent.
I believe that this is because the God that created the world and all that we see is the Author of 'being creative.' I mean, think about it… Think about the huge variety of animal and plant life that is around you. Ever think how many different kinds of butterflies there are? Or how many different kinds of spiders? Not only do they have very different coloring and size, but their favorite habitat or favorite food greatly differs.
Also taken into consideration how many different shades of skin the human race has! There's black, white, tan (like Asian), medium brown for Native American or Middle Eastern, or black. In fact, there are many variations of each! Not just skin color, but also eye and hair color.
When I look around and the many different kinds of flowers one can see in the Prairie alone, I am amazed. At the Homestead National Monument, they have a large area set aside for allowing the plants that used to grow on the Prairie. Each time I have walked through that area, I have been astounded that the rich variety of colors, shapes and sizes. Needless to say, I have taken many pictures of that area alone. I don't know of anyone who can create like that! Many have tried, and have created wonderful works of art. But yet, to me, nothing a person can do compares to what God has already done.
It amazes me just how talented some people are. It also greatly saddens me when people use their talents to hurt others. For example, some people are very gifted at singing. But, instead of writing songs to inspire others, they write songs to hurt others. The same thing goes with drawing or humor. Instead of using their talents to be a blessing onto others, they use their skills to put others down to feed their own egos or the egos of their 'race.' They use their skills to feed their negative stereotypes and promote more hatred instead of using their gifts to bring people together.
We all have choices to make, and there will always be consequences to our choices. They can either be positive consequences or negative consequences. We can either sow the seeds of love, joy, and peace through the things we do. Or, we can use our time and talents to sow seeds of anger, hatred, discontent. The choice is up to us. Even when we are using art as a way to express the sadness or anger that a person is feeling, care needs to be used with how it is expressed. Sometimes, something has to be drawn or written to put those feelings into down so that they can be processed. But then, because of how hurtful they are, they need to be thrown away, burned, shredded, or the like. As a way of letting go of the anger or sadness that one feels.
As I mentioned earlier, a close friend of mine in college was a dual major in psychology and art. His hope was to use art as a means of helping people to heal. There have been times where I have written a poem or drawn a picture to express what I am feeling. But, because of the nature of what I have written or drawn, and the fact that it is something negative that I am letting go, very few people have seen them. In fact, most were never meant to be shared with others. They were meant as a way of letting go with what I was angry or sad about. Although it hasn't always helped, there have been times where it has. Not just is the act of writing or drawing, but also in the tearing up or shredding. Though I still have the memories, those acts of doing something creative to express them in a controlled manner, and then purposely 'letting them go' has helped to lessen the impact those memories have on me today.
While in seminary, I participated in what is called CPE, Clinical Pastoral Education. Its a type of intense 'on the job training' for doing ministry. Typically, it is done in a high stress environment, like in a prison or hospital. Usually, half the day is spent in a class setting, learning more about ways to minister to those who are hurting. The other half is the actual ministry. I did my CPE at a Level One Trauma hospital in Louisville, Ky. I saw all sorts of people come in with very wide range of sickness and injuries. Some looked like slabs of meat that used to be a person. Others were those who were deathly ill with cancer, poisoning of some sort, or a serious infection. During my time there, I learned that ministering to those who are hurting is a real art. Although there are scientific ideas and research behind different disciplines of ministry, how you apply it is a real art. No two situations are the same. One method of ministering to one person my be extremely effective, all the while being totally ineffective in another situation.
During this time, I learned that times of prayer, either by myself or with others, can be like a form of art. We see that in the Book of Psalms. Some Psalms express deep sadness and distress. Others express great rage at a person or group of people. Others express awe and wonder towards God and all He has created. But, all of them are someone's expression of what they were feeling, written down as a prayer to God. A classmate of mine did a class on prayer that included some hand motions. I have to admit, it I was a bit skeptical of what I would get out of that class. But, I did find it rewarding. From a book she had read, she learned that sometimes, while confessing one's sins and shortcomings, a person should try holding one's hands out, hands open, and facing downwards. The reason for this is you are physically representing the fact that you are trying to let go of something and give it to God. Then, when you are asking for God's help and blessings, you change your hand position. Now, hold your hands straight out or at an upward angle, with your hands held like cups. This is to express your hearts desire of receiving God's blessings. It was an artistic expression of prayer, something that I was impressed with and have used on occasion.
The other night, my wife shared an article with me that she had found on the Internet. In the Facebook post, she asked me if I could see myself doing it. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical of whether I could see myself doing a 'pebble mosaic.' But, as I read through the article, I soon was picturing myself doing just that. Or, at least trying to. I started picturing how I could use something common and every day, like a river pebble, and making something beautiful out of it. Having done some really neat works of art by carving clay, I knew that I could do something in 3D. Might be a bit of a challenge, but not impossible.
But, it also got me thinking about something else. Something very awesome that God does. For those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior, God becomes even more of an Artist. He takes something that was broken, dull, or even evil, and creates something beautiful out of it. Think about it… A favorite example I like to use is the life of John Newton, the author of the song 'Amazing Grace.' I mean, here was a man who sold fellow human beings into slavery. After his conversion to Christ, God used him to impact the lives of countless millions through his sermons and songs. Eventually, God also used him to help end slave trade in England. Something that used to be a source of income for him, he helped to end. Astounding, isn't it?!
And that is something God can do with each and everyone one of us. If we are willing to allow Him to work in our lives and through us. We can either choose to live life our own way, or we can choose to be God's instruments. One of the main reasons why I have this blog is so that God can touch the lives of others through me. Although it is an effective way for me to express myself creatively, it is more than that. It is a way for me to touch the lives of others. People I may never have been able to impact face-to-face. People that, because of how I write something, or what I feel inspired to write about, can impact them in a way that someone else might not be able to do. On this side of Heaven, I know that I will never fully understand how God has used this blog to touch the lives of others. Just like I will not know, in this life, how a 'chance meeting' to me was something God used to change someone's life. All I can do is walk in faith, trusting that God will use me. And, it is a form of art, I think, to prayerfully and actively walk with God and to be used by Him. Something that takes the common, the uninteresting, even the broken or evil, and something beautiful is made. May that be a reality in your life.
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Walking Amongst Wolves
Please read the following:
- Matthew 7:15-23 NAS
- Matthew 10:16-23 NAS
- Acts 20:17-38 NAS
- Matthew 25:31-46 NAS
I have contemplated writing this blog entry for quite a while. Because it is something of a 'sore spot' for me, it's taken several years to be willing to even consider writing it. To some extent, it is a continuation of my blog entry “Grow Where You Are Planted”. But, it is also more than that. As I mentioned in that previous post, my job with the Nebraska Department of Corrections was one that I did not desire to have. But, since I asked God to only open the door to the employment that He wanted me to have, He honored that prayer.
All together, I have worked with the Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS) at least 8 years. During that time, I have interacted with many different kind of people, both staff and inmates. Since returning to working with NDCS, I have prayerfully sought to see it as a place of ministry instead of 'just a job.' And, God has answered that prayer, too. Part of it has been God opening the door to be the Religious Coordinator Assistant. Although it is a 'facilitator' kind of job instead of a 'ministry' job, like I would prefer, it is still a position that I very much enjoy working.
It is my experience that quite a few people in prison are not there because they are 'hell bent' on destroying the lives of others. Instead, they are in prison because they made a bad choice. For example, let's say someone with a good family and career was celebrating a milestone in his/her life. A promotion or raise, perhaps. And during the course of that celebration, he/she had quite a few alcoholic drinks and then decided to drive home instead of having a non-drinking friend or a taxi take him/her home. And, in the course of driving home they cross into the other lane and have a head on collision with another car, killing one or more occupants. This person did not intend to cause harm to others. However, because he/she made a bad decision to drive after drinking, he/she is not spending many years in prison for manslaughter (unintentionally killing someone else).
There are other cases where someone was in such emotional pain that he or she lashed out at a loved one and now is in prison for assault. Or, another example could be someone was without employment or under employed and stole something. Again, they made a bad choice and are now suffering the consequences. But, their hearts are not bent towards doing evil, they just made a bad choice, or series of bad choices.
Although not all people in prison have a heart bent on doing evil, quite a few are. Some of the inmates that I deal with are master manipulators. Others have little to no ability to emphasize with others. That means, if they cause emotional, spiritual, and/or physical pain to someone else, they have great difficulty feeling sorry for what they did. They also have difficulty understanding the pain they caused in the other person. Others are sadist, in that they get enjoyment out of causing pain (again physical, emotional, and/or spiritual) in others. Though this isn't the case of many in prison, there are those that I have dealt with who would be willing to cause great bodily harm or even kill staff or another inmate in order to get a temporary gain. And, committing that act would not cause them to loose any sleep at night.
It is a challenge to work with this type of person, one who is either so calloused or sadistic that causing harm to others either doesn't bother them or actually excites them. Some of them walk around in general population. Others spend long periods of time in the Special Management Unit (SMU) because of their actions. There are those who spend years in Intensive Management because of how dangerous they can be. (Intensive management cells have their own enclosed yard and shower so that they are kept more separated from others.)
It is amongst such people that I work on a daily basis. Thankfully, most days they choose not to cause problems. However, that is not always the case. I couldn't tell you how many times I have been a part of a use of force team or had to respond to an emergency. Some emergencies were medical emergencies, but quite a few of them were because of inmates fighting. Although I have not been physically injured during one of these uses of force, I know staff who have been. It is always a risk with where I work, that either I or someone else could be assaulted. Although having fecal matter or urine thrown on me is considered a form of assault, I am not including it here.
Whether I like it or not, that is the environment that God has called me to minister to. Although I would prefer to work as a Religious Coordinator (or Religious Coordinator Assistant), my primary job is custody staff. That means I am interacting with the inmates on a regular basis. In fact, I am often within easy reach or one or more inmates who may or may not have a weapon on them. It is my duty to enforce rules, which easily makes me a 'lightning rod' for an inmate's anger. That is my job and I prayerfully ask for God's help in staying safe and doing my job well.
But here is a humbling thought. My life as custody staff at a maximum security prison that we specifically built for the more dangerous and more difficult to manage inmates is nothing compared to what some people endure on a regular basis each and every day. Are you wondering who could have it worse than me? Christians who live in countries that actively persecute them for their faith have it worse.
I regularly get E-mails and Facebook posts from Christian organizations that share the stories of Christians who are persecuted for their faith. They are a daily reminder that, even on a bad day for me, it is nothing compared to what many of them go through on a daily basis. One such story was on my Facebook page this morning. It is about a former Muslim Imam who turned from Islam and embraced Christ. You can read his story here. In many Muslim countries, Christians are forced to worship behind closed doors. In these countries, if a person converts from Islam to Christianity (or any other religion), they are often arrested and harshly punished. Death by hanging or beheading is not uncommon, either. Each and every day, Christians in many nations, not just Muslim nations, face discrimination and even active persecution. Women are often sexually assaulted and forced to 'convert' to the 'national religion' and marry someone of that religion to 'seal the conversion.' Others are sexually assaulted and left to live with that shame. Any who seek to hold the attackers accountable are often lucky to even be given the opportunity to be heard. Most attackers are, unfortunately, celebrated.
One set of statistics from Open Doors are per month: 322 Christians are killed for their faith, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians (such as beatings, rapes, forced marriages, arrests, etc.). (stats found here: http://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/) Think about it… These people suffer all sorts of horrific experiences because they choose to follow Christ. As a comparison, we will look at the crime rates of a city here in America. According to one web site, Chicago is rated as being one of the most dangerous places to live (having a safety measurement of 11% where 100 is most safe). According to the site's FAQ, they were using the 2013 crime statistics. The stats include 24,469 violent crimes (including assault, rape, robbery, etc.), 9.00 crimes per 1,000 residents, 415 murders, unreported number of rapes, unreported number of assaults, etc. Now, keep in mind, Chicago has a lot of gang activity, which would account for some of these violent crimes. The number of Christians, on average, that are murdered for their faith each month is about ¾ of those that were murdered in Chicago throughout 2013. And, that is only counting the number of Christians that we know who were murdered for their faith.
To help Christians (and others who might wish to know), better see which countries are worse with their persecution of Christians, Open Doors puts together a 'World Watch List'. This list rates the 50 most dangerous countries for a Christian to live in. According to the most current list, the top 5 countries for persecuting Christians are: 1. North Korea, 2. Somalia, 3. Iraq, 4. Syria, and 5. Afghanistan. Each of these countries actively persecute anyone claiming to follow Christ who is a member of that country. Any Christian who comes into the country and shares their faith may be lucky to just be sent home and banned from coming into the country ever again.
For my job with the Nebraska Department of Corrections, I walk amongst many dangerous people on a regular basis. Although there is a low staff to inmate ratio, there are many safety factors in place to protect us. Things like radios, armed staff in towers and roving patrols, OC spray, etc., help to keep us safe. Also, inmates will face charges (either institutionally or via the state, depending on the crime) for assaulting other inmates or staff. If they assault someone, they will loose what few freedoms that they have. That helps to make our job safer. Although we walk amongst wolves, we have layers of protection. And, when our shift is done, we get to go home. And usually, where we live is a much safer place.
For most Christians in countries like North Korea, Somalia, etc., there is no such thing as a safe place. They are in grave danger at work, they are in grave danger at home, while shopping, etc. Sometimes it is a co-worker or neighbor who assaults, harasses, or murders a Christian in one of these countries. But, it can just as easily be a family member. A bad day at work is just that, a bad day at work. For many Christians around the world, it is a day-to-day experience. Let us not forget that. Let us remember to pray for all have to live in such environments. And, let us pray that those of us in 'Christian' counties not become complacent, lest we allow it become reality where we live.
- Matthew 7:15-23 NAS
- Matthew 10:16-23 NAS
- Acts 20:17-38 NAS
- Matthew 25:31-46 NAS
I have contemplated writing this blog entry for quite a while. Because it is something of a 'sore spot' for me, it's taken several years to be willing to even consider writing it. To some extent, it is a continuation of my blog entry “Grow Where You Are Planted”. But, it is also more than that. As I mentioned in that previous post, my job with the Nebraska Department of Corrections was one that I did not desire to have. But, since I asked God to only open the door to the employment that He wanted me to have, He honored that prayer.
All together, I have worked with the Nebraska Department of Corrections (NDCS) at least 8 years. During that time, I have interacted with many different kind of people, both staff and inmates. Since returning to working with NDCS, I have prayerfully sought to see it as a place of ministry instead of 'just a job.' And, God has answered that prayer, too. Part of it has been God opening the door to be the Religious Coordinator Assistant. Although it is a 'facilitator' kind of job instead of a 'ministry' job, like I would prefer, it is still a position that I very much enjoy working.
It is my experience that quite a few people in prison are not there because they are 'hell bent' on destroying the lives of others. Instead, they are in prison because they made a bad choice. For example, let's say someone with a good family and career was celebrating a milestone in his/her life. A promotion or raise, perhaps. And during the course of that celebration, he/she had quite a few alcoholic drinks and then decided to drive home instead of having a non-drinking friend or a taxi take him/her home. And, in the course of driving home they cross into the other lane and have a head on collision with another car, killing one or more occupants. This person did not intend to cause harm to others. However, because he/she made a bad decision to drive after drinking, he/she is not spending many years in prison for manslaughter (unintentionally killing someone else).
There are other cases where someone was in such emotional pain that he or she lashed out at a loved one and now is in prison for assault. Or, another example could be someone was without employment or under employed and stole something. Again, they made a bad choice and are now suffering the consequences. But, their hearts are not bent towards doing evil, they just made a bad choice, or series of bad choices.
Although not all people in prison have a heart bent on doing evil, quite a few are. Some of the inmates that I deal with are master manipulators. Others have little to no ability to emphasize with others. That means, if they cause emotional, spiritual, and/or physical pain to someone else, they have great difficulty feeling sorry for what they did. They also have difficulty understanding the pain they caused in the other person. Others are sadist, in that they get enjoyment out of causing pain (again physical, emotional, and/or spiritual) in others. Though this isn't the case of many in prison, there are those that I have dealt with who would be willing to cause great bodily harm or even kill staff or another inmate in order to get a temporary gain. And, committing that act would not cause them to loose any sleep at night.
It is a challenge to work with this type of person, one who is either so calloused or sadistic that causing harm to others either doesn't bother them or actually excites them. Some of them walk around in general population. Others spend long periods of time in the Special Management Unit (SMU) because of their actions. There are those who spend years in Intensive Management because of how dangerous they can be. (Intensive management cells have their own enclosed yard and shower so that they are kept more separated from others.)
It is amongst such people that I work on a daily basis. Thankfully, most days they choose not to cause problems. However, that is not always the case. I couldn't tell you how many times I have been a part of a use of force team or had to respond to an emergency. Some emergencies were medical emergencies, but quite a few of them were because of inmates fighting. Although I have not been physically injured during one of these uses of force, I know staff who have been. It is always a risk with where I work, that either I or someone else could be assaulted. Although having fecal matter or urine thrown on me is considered a form of assault, I am not including it here.
Whether I like it or not, that is the environment that God has called me to minister to. Although I would prefer to work as a Religious Coordinator (or Religious Coordinator Assistant), my primary job is custody staff. That means I am interacting with the inmates on a regular basis. In fact, I am often within easy reach or one or more inmates who may or may not have a weapon on them. It is my duty to enforce rules, which easily makes me a 'lightning rod' for an inmate's anger. That is my job and I prayerfully ask for God's help in staying safe and doing my job well.
But here is a humbling thought. My life as custody staff at a maximum security prison that we specifically built for the more dangerous and more difficult to manage inmates is nothing compared to what some people endure on a regular basis each and every day. Are you wondering who could have it worse than me? Christians who live in countries that actively persecute them for their faith have it worse.
I regularly get E-mails and Facebook posts from Christian organizations that share the stories of Christians who are persecuted for their faith. They are a daily reminder that, even on a bad day for me, it is nothing compared to what many of them go through on a daily basis. One such story was on my Facebook page this morning. It is about a former Muslim Imam who turned from Islam and embraced Christ. You can read his story here. In many Muslim countries, Christians are forced to worship behind closed doors. In these countries, if a person converts from Islam to Christianity (or any other religion), they are often arrested and harshly punished. Death by hanging or beheading is not uncommon, either. Each and every day, Christians in many nations, not just Muslim nations, face discrimination and even active persecution. Women are often sexually assaulted and forced to 'convert' to the 'national religion' and marry someone of that religion to 'seal the conversion.' Others are sexually assaulted and left to live with that shame. Any who seek to hold the attackers accountable are often lucky to even be given the opportunity to be heard. Most attackers are, unfortunately, celebrated.
One set of statistics from Open Doors are per month: 322 Christians are killed for their faith, 214 churches and Christian properties are destroyed, and 772 forms of violence are committed against Christians (such as beatings, rapes, forced marriages, arrests, etc.). (stats found here: http://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/) Think about it… These people suffer all sorts of horrific experiences because they choose to follow Christ. As a comparison, we will look at the crime rates of a city here in America. According to one web site, Chicago is rated as being one of the most dangerous places to live (having a safety measurement of 11% where 100 is most safe). According to the site's FAQ, they were using the 2013 crime statistics. The stats include 24,469 violent crimes (including assault, rape, robbery, etc.), 9.00 crimes per 1,000 residents, 415 murders, unreported number of rapes, unreported number of assaults, etc. Now, keep in mind, Chicago has a lot of gang activity, which would account for some of these violent crimes. The number of Christians, on average, that are murdered for their faith each month is about ¾ of those that were murdered in Chicago throughout 2013. And, that is only counting the number of Christians that we know who were murdered for their faith.
To help Christians (and others who might wish to know), better see which countries are worse with their persecution of Christians, Open Doors puts together a 'World Watch List'. This list rates the 50 most dangerous countries for a Christian to live in. According to the most current list, the top 5 countries for persecuting Christians are: 1. North Korea, 2. Somalia, 3. Iraq, 4. Syria, and 5. Afghanistan. Each of these countries actively persecute anyone claiming to follow Christ who is a member of that country. Any Christian who comes into the country and shares their faith may be lucky to just be sent home and banned from coming into the country ever again.
For my job with the Nebraska Department of Corrections, I walk amongst many dangerous people on a regular basis. Although there is a low staff to inmate ratio, there are many safety factors in place to protect us. Things like radios, armed staff in towers and roving patrols, OC spray, etc., help to keep us safe. Also, inmates will face charges (either institutionally or via the state, depending on the crime) for assaulting other inmates or staff. If they assault someone, they will loose what few freedoms that they have. That helps to make our job safer. Although we walk amongst wolves, we have layers of protection. And, when our shift is done, we get to go home. And usually, where we live is a much safer place.
For most Christians in countries like North Korea, Somalia, etc., there is no such thing as a safe place. They are in grave danger at work, they are in grave danger at home, while shopping, etc. Sometimes it is a co-worker or neighbor who assaults, harasses, or murders a Christian in one of these countries. But, it can just as easily be a family member. A bad day at work is just that, a bad day at work. For many Christians around the world, it is a day-to-day experience. Let us not forget that. Let us remember to pray for all have to live in such environments. And, let us pray that those of us in 'Christian' counties not become complacent, lest we allow it become reality where we live.
Saturday, December 15, 2012
Reflections on the Connecticut Shooting
I
am sure that I am not the only one out there writing his or her reflections on
the incredible act of violence that transpired at the elementary school in
Connecticut Friday. Like so many people, I am contemplating how to understand
what has transpired. Because of my background, how I have been contemplating
such events is a real mixed baggage. If you are interested and willing, please
continue reading as I list some of my thoughts. Just be warned, I tend to be
upfront with my faith and beliefs, and at times very blunt.
First
and foremost, this was a very evil act. To me, purposely going after people who
are unable to defend themselves is something that should be very harshly
punished. But, to me at least, why did he do it? How could a 20-year-old man
consider doing something as cruel as going through a school? Being angry at
one's parents, former teacher, etc., is one thing. Whether justifiable because
of things in the past or not, one adult seeking to kill another adult is one
thing. But, to go around and slaughter children?! That is something totally
different. My faith informs me that all of us are imperfect and sinful beings.
That is, our natures are corrupt since birth, seeking to gratify our felt
desires. Through training, we can manage this to some extent, be we will always
have this sinful nature. When we look around, we see some people who go to
great lengths to disciple themselves so as to indulge their sinful desires
less. But, we also see those who go out of their way to gratify them. Though
many do not seek out ways so horrific as what happened on Friday, they still
seek to gratify them.
For
someone to choose to commit such a crime as shooting innocent children in a
school, it seems that such a person would have had to harbor a very deep kind
of bitterness for a very long time. In Ephesians 4:26, we read: "26
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your
wrath," There is something very important to take away from this passage,
I believe. When we allow anger to continue to fester in our hearts, it turns to
bitterness. As this bitterness grows, it pushes out things like love,
forgiveness, compassion, etc. As these things are pushed aside, out of one's
life, it becomes more and more easy to consider things like taking one's anger
out on anyone who is available, to just lash out. All of us feel angry at some
point of time. That is a natural, God given emotion. It tells us that something
is wrong (or at least feels wrong) and that something needs to be done. So,
feeling angry is not bad, in and of itself. It's what a person does in
expressing and/or deal with that anger that is either constructive or
destructive.
From
what little I have read, two of the victims appear to be his parents. It makes
me wonder what his parents had done to enrage him so much. Or, a more likely
issue is, what made this young man interpret things in such a way as to become
so bitter. In a recent Fox News article, I read that some are speculating that
mental illness might have something to do with his rampage. While in college, I
took several psychology courses. One of the things that I learned from that is
that reasons are never totally clear. Though there can be many influences, it's
rarely clear as to what is a 'definite why.' My experiences and training inform
me that we all have three facets, the physical, the emotional/psychological,
and the spiritual. All three facets are interrelated and what happens to one
directly impacts the other two.
On
Facebook, I have read many posts about how angry people are about the man's
actions in Connecticut. Some people blame guns, some blame education, others
are just angry. Many people are struggling with wondering the "why did
he?!?!" Others are asking how we could have protected the children.
I've
worked corrections and military law enforcement. I am definitely not alone in
wishing I could have done something. Being what my background is, I know that I
could have done something. But, I often wonder if it would have been good
enough? That is not a question I can really answer. Because of how many state
and/or local laws are written, if I am not a law enforcement officer then I
would not have been able to legally carry a weapon onto school grounds. That
means, if I had been nearby and had the means to respond, I wonder if it would
have been something that I could have done legally? I know that there are many
out there that agree with me in that, were I there and had the means to have
use whatever force necessary to stop this young man, I should have. However, I
know that there are many out there who take the position that anything that,
because I am not a civilian law enforcement officer, any use of a weapon on
school property would be considered breaking the law. That is, I would be just
as guilty of using a weapon on school grounds as the man shooting the children,
teachers, etc.
When
such events as this happen, we all struggle with how to understand it. We all
struggle with how it could have been prevented and how to prevent future things
from happening. There are no easy answers. There are no easy solutions, either.
There are some things that are better than others, though. One of the things that I read in the above-mentioned
article was that the car and guns used in the rampage were all stolen. The car,
the rifle, and the pistols were all owned by his mother, Nancy Lanza. Whether
or not the young man suffered from any mental illness, it is clear that he
stole weapons from someone else to use in his crimes. So, trying to justify
more weapons control/bans is unfounded. He didn't buy them, he stole them. So
far I have not read if he used the weapons to kill his mother or if he killed
her by other means and then obtained the rifle and pistols. And to me, it
doesn't really matter.
Although
I am a military police officer with the Nebraska National Guard that does not
mean that I can carry a firearm onto school grounds, with or without a CCW
(concealed carry weapons) permit. There are so many people and places that are
anti-gun that for those who choose to go through the training and application
process for a CCW, it's difficult to be legally able to use that training. To
me, that's sad. It also angers me. Many of us not only have a passion to help
and protect others, even if that is not our primary job in life but have the
training and experience to do so.
I
don't know about others, but I would be very, very angry if any person who
choose to risk their own life to stop someone like this shooter and were they
prosecuted as a criminal because they also brought a firearm onto a school.
Unfortunately, heroes like that are victimized because, in order to stop
someone from committing a crime, they had to break a law. Instead of thanking
the person for doing so, they are put in jail. It doesn't make any sense to me.
Which is worse, carrying a firearm onto school grounds to stop an active
shooter or the actions of the shooter? What is really justifiable? Which is a
greater evil? We have Good Samaritan laws to protect those who try to save the
lives of others. Why don't we have similar laws to protect citizen who would be
willing to risk their own lives to protect others in a shooting situation?
I've
been deployed to Iraq many times. I've studied Scripture for years and
prayerfully seek God's help in applying it to my life. I have worked with
convicted felons in a state prison, having to deal with some people who
genuinely do not care about others, but only want to gratify their own selfish,
even perverted, desires. I have also worked military law enforcement. I have
been on a use of force team on numerous occasions because an inmate refused to follow
the rules and force was necessary to correct the situation. I have had to
spontaneously use force on a few occasions in order to protect myself or
someone else. I have sat at the bedside of someone who was so distraught with
life that they tried to commit suicide and had not succeeded. I have talked
with friends and family members of someone who had suffered serious injure or
had died because of a bad decision that they had made or because of someone
else had. In some ways, all of these experiences help me to personally deal
with such events. But, only so much.
All
in all, I still struggle with such events. I am angry with the person who did
such things. I am angry that people want to punish law abiding citizens who
have not committed crimes just because someone else has. I am angry that there
are those who would want to punish a person who would be willing to do anything
and everything they possible could to protect the innocent because of how they
stopped a criminal. I am saddened that young children were murdered by someone
who, for whatever reasons, took his anger and bitterness out on them. I also
want to understand how such a thing happened or how to prevent such a thing
from happening in the future.
Many
ask how a loving God could allow such a thing to happen. I do not know why.
But, I do know that God is in control. What happened was evil. But, I do know
that God can bring blessings out of it.
I know that many people will be very angry with the statement that I
just made. That is fine with me. Looking back at my life, I know that I have
made many bad decisions. We all have. But, God has shown me grace and helped me
to learn from such mistakes. I know that God has done that in other people's
lives. I also know that God can bring good out of this situation, too. For me,
the big question is, are we going to seek to punish others for the
sins/mistakes of one person, or are we going to seek how God wants to show us
His Grace? Are we going to be willing to accept what God wants to give us or teach
us? I don't have the answer for that either. I just hope and pray that whatever
God wants to do with this event in my life, that I will be obedient. I pray
that you, the reader, will do so as well.
RC
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