And they say we're not doing any good in Iraq.

A recent article on CNN on the progress the troops are making in Iraq. Take a look.

Sunni insurgents side with U.S. against al Qaeda

Jim Rome on Brady Quinn

8-20-2007

Brady Quinn looked good in his NFL debut and the Browns fans that were “killing” him just a couple of weeks ago are now “jocking” him saying he should be the starter…not happening! Look…he was nice…against some “third stringers”…he did show some poise, and better that he was hitting guys between the numbers and not chucking it all over the yard but he did it against scrubs and with a very limited playbook. And don’t tell me that he had “third stringers” on his side so it doesn’t matter….it does! I like the guy a lot, but this doesn’t change anything. He’s not ready! He’s still way behind! And he’s not your starter…not yet anyway!

The one thing I can say about him, is at least he didn’t get booed off the field like Charlie Frye and Derek Anderson. So that’s nice…nice to see you’ve been in the weight room. You check the “pipes” on this “cat”? Bro, you’re in the NFL, not the strong man competition! You just need to get it down field, not win the 50 yard dash with a Subaru on your back! I like a Q.B. who can take a pounding, but I don’t need to see you throwing “kegs of beer” over the “high jump bar” like all those other “freaks” in the “strongman competition”! Dial it down, bro! Mix in some pilates or something! Look, we all want to be on the cover of “Men’s Fitness”…but mix in some Yoga!

Christianity and Conservatism

I recently listened to a talk from Mars Hill Church in Seattle on Christianity and Conservatism. The speaker talks about what conservatism is and its view in history as well as how it came to be in America. He goes on to talk about the differences between conservatives and liberals on theology, with such issues as the authority of scripture and the views of heaven and hell. The speaker is both encouraging and critical of both sides.

Below is the link to the audio (about 1 hour)

http://www.marshillchurch.org/audio/070510_C_And_Conservatism.mp3

This is probably a dumb idea...

"Hundreds of People Pose Nude on Switzerland Glacier to Raise Awareness About Climate Change"

BETTMERALP, Switzerland — Hundreds of naked people formed a "living sculpture" on Switzerland's Aletsch glacier Saturday aimed at raising awareness about climate change.

The photo shoot by New York artist Spencer Tunick, famous for his pictures of nude gatherings in public settings worldwide, was designed to draw attention to the effects of global warming on Switzerland's shrinking glaciers.

"The melting of the glaciers is an indisputable sign of global climate change," said environmental group Greenpeace, which co-organized the event.

It said most Swiss glaciers will disappear by 2080 if global warming continues at its current pace.

The event, which followed Tunick's previous shoots in London, Mexico City and Amsterdam, was designed to minimize any impact on the environment, Greenpeace said.

Temperatures during the shoot hovered around 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). (foxnews.com)

~ This just seems ridiculous. Why would any one want to be nude on a glacier, and how does that help global warming? I personally wouldn't enjoy literally freezing my buttocks. What if you had to go to the bathroom? That wouldn't be awkward or anything. Do you think I'm helping awareness for climate change if I'm in the buff. Probably not, I'd just be look at as odd and naked. I'm sure these folks are doing a lot of good.

Interesting story

The path to faith often takes unexpected twists. In the case of Daveed Gartenstein-Ross, the road went through three of the world's major religions -- Judaism, Islam and Christianity -- and ultimately brought him to the FBI.

Follow the link to read the rest of the story.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/08/15/daveed.godswarriors/index.html

This Ad is a Classic!

35W Bridge Collapes

Yesterday at 6pm the 35W bridge collapsed into the Mississippi River. I cross that bridge every day to go to and from work. I came home early yesterday around 2pm crossing that bridge. On a normal day I would have crossed the bridge anytime from 4:30 to 5:30. I have recently written a paper on virtue and I comment on courage and the collapse:

The news coverage of this event has been remarkable. Many people who escaped unharmed began to help others who were trapped in their vehicles. When these men and women were being interviewed they said it was a natural instinct to help the others. I think it is fascinating that courage is somehow ingrained in us in times of tragedy. Of course tragedy can also bring the worst out of people, often times pointing fingers and those responsible and even anger at God when such event occur.

Pray that many will turn to Christ and remember life is a vapor.

"Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making
the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be
foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is . . . giving thanks
always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ"
(Ephesians 5:15-17,20-21).

A message from John Piper on the 35W Bridge Collapse

This is a comfort and a reminder that we serve a God who allows destruction and hurt so the lost will turn to him. More from me on this tragic event later.

Putting My Daughter to Bed Two Hours After the Bridge Collapsed

~John Piper

Jeff Gordon

I love this video!

Vote for more Booing of Hillary in '08!




Liberals are like a 7th graders emotions
-Jason Lewis

World's tallest man gets hitched

The world's tallest man -- Bao Xishun, a 7-foot-9 herdsman from Inner Mongolia -- married 5-foot-6 Xia Shujian today, in a traditional Mongolian ceremony.

startribune.com (7/12/07)

I Think We Need More of This.

This is what America needs more of. Kobe teaching the youth of this country how to complain, make irrational decisions and the best way to cheat on your wife, and then make up for it with million dollar diamond.

Cool life goals Kobe.

Who is God?

The Truth Project - What others are saying

What is the Meaning of Life?

Here's what people are saying

The Truth Project

Today at work we had a meeting to watch a segment from "The Truth Project" DVD made by Focus on the Family. It deals with the big questions of life, such as what is the meaning of life? What is truth? Who is God? Its focus is to to help Christians understand their world view, what they believe and why the believe it. Todays days topic was on Evil, and where it comes from and asked questions about is man inherently good? Or inherently bad or evil? If man is made good then there is no reason for redemption and no reason for Jesus and there would be no evil. If man is evil by nature then we need redemption.

It was brought up by one of my coworkers that when someone is talking with a Non-Christian about these big issues of life and evil that they (non Christians) don't consider themselves to be that bad. When asked if they had lied, cheated on a spouse, or had lustful thoughts they admitted that they did, but they turned the issue to say "well, I'm not as bad as the guy at VT who committed murder" Their actions (sin) is never as bad as someone else's.

I'll post the trailer for the "Truth Project" and then over the next several weeks I will post other video clips that give other prospectives (a non Christians view) on the issues in the DVD.

I'd like to know your thoughts on what's being said... leave a comment

http://www.thetruthproject.org/

Final Note on The Abolition of Man (Chapter 3)

C.S. Lewis carries his view of value from chapter two into the final chapter. Lewis starts out by explaining ‘nature,’ mostly human nature in which man can destroy himself when he lacks absolute values. He gives the example of contraceptives. Taking it to the extreme Lewis says if contraceptives are continually used they will wipe out humans. In other words, humans have the ability to destroy themselves. Lewis goes on to mention the issue of time. What many of us forget is that any idea or value must be evaluated with the long-term in mind. What is made and created today will not last and will eventually be over taken by something else.

Lewis’ overall point in this section is to point out that without absolute values people become destructive and ultimately kill themselves. He makes this point on page 65, “My point is that those who stand outside all judgments of value cannot have any ground for preferring one of their own impulses to another except the emotional strength of that impulse.” Lewis’ point here is seen often within the church today where we see emotion take over the mind and create something we truly are not. An example, as young Christians we are often persuaded by how we feel. I believe there comes a point in the Christian journey where we should not be overtaken by our emotions, but rather as the apostle Paul says be transformed by the renewing of our mind. When we take in God’s Word and think and meditate on that we have absolute truth (or values) that gives our lives meaning and enables us to make decisions for the betterment of mankind.

The Abolition of Man (Chapter 2)

CS Lewis gives a heading to chapter two from Confucius which says: it is upon the Trunk that a gentleman works. Lewis explains his reasoning for choosing this quote on page 44 he says “The rebellion of new ideologies against the Tao is a rebellion of the branches against the tree; if the rebellion could succeed they would find that they would destroy themselves.” Lewis’ purpose is to show that traditional values (the tree) are coming under attack from the branches, which is the rebellion of new ideologies. This brings to mind Jesus’ remarks of the vine and the branches from John 15:5, "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Apart from Jesus man can do nothing, Lewis makes the same point apart from traditional values a man will destroy himself.

Lewis says Tao or traditional morality is the sole source of all value judgments. If one element is rejected then all value must be rejected. Because value is an absolute, you can not have partial value, it’s either all or nothing. The same thing can be said for Jesus, if you reject one part of Jesus’ life then he is not who he says he is and therefore is a liar.

The issue of value in the chapter in my mind is the big idea of what Lewis wants to tell his readers. Without traditional or absolute value you have nothing and ultimately will be destructive to any one who believes so.

My thoughts on "The Abolition of Man" (Chapter 1) by CS Lewis

C.S. Lewis’ book The Abolition of Man begins by critiquing a book that does exist but he gives it a different name, The Green Book, in order to protect the authors. He explains that the two authors have written this book for an upper level student and probably have intended no harm to the reader of their book. However, Lewis believes there is more to a textbook than meets the eye. Lewis illustrates this by referencing two characters in The Green Book that are discussing a waterfall the authors make remarks that the waterfall is ‘sublime’ which appears to be saying something as fact. But, according to Lewis, in actuality they are talking about their feelings. Lewis goes on to say this causes a problem for the school boy reading the book. That will have implications for him in the future. I think Lewis is trying to make the point that the authors are writing their emotions and not with any intellect, which causes a the school boy to take as literal fact only a point of view.

Lewis continues his argument when he talks about the Tao, a worldview that is placed in the Green Book which has the implications of influencing the young school boy for the rest of his life. I believe Lewis’ point is that authors always write from their Tao (or worldview) and readers should be aware of this especially young students. The future impact on young minds as they grow in intellect and view of the world is tremendous. He also suggests that a person can not make an argument with only intellect or only emotion. There has to be a balance between the two.

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis was born in Belfast, Ireland, on November 29, 1898, to Flora and Albert Lewis. His father was a successful lawyer and decided to move the family to a city just outside Belfast. His mother was an avid reader but was diagnosed with cancer and died in 1908 when C.S. Lewis was just ten years of age. As a child, Lewis grew up in a sizeable house called Little Lea that had a large library which held some of his favorite books such as Treasure Island by Robert Lewis and The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. [1] His father was so overcome with grief at the death of his wife he decided to send C.S. and his brother to Wynward School in Watford, England, just a month after her death. Lewis hated the school because of its strict rules. Fortunately for C.S. the school was shut down in 1910 and he was able to return to Ireland for a short time. Lewis would later refer to this school as ‘Belsen’ the name of a German concentration camp in 1911. Lewis was soon sent back to England to study. As a teenager he began to love poetry, especially the works of Virgil and Homer. He was also able to master modern languages in French, German, and Italian. Because of respiratory problems Lewis was eventually enrolled at a school in Mavern, England. During this time Lewis began to pull away from his Christian upbringing and became an atheist.[2]

In 1917 Lewis was accepted at University College which is the oldest of the Oxford schools. During his time at Oxford, World War I was being fought on European soil and Lewis began officer training for one year. He fought in France in the Battle of Arrasa in 1918. Once removed from military duty Lewis had some time to recover: however, his father refused to see him during this time because of their personal differences which made their relationship distant. Once Lewis’ health improved he was able to fight again. He fought in World War I until he was discharged from military duty in 1919. After his military duty Lewis went back to University College and worked for his degrees in Greek, Roman literature, ancient history and English literature[3].

Once C.S. Lewis attained his degree from University College he found a job at Oxford teaching and tutoring students in English literature, which was a new subject at the University in 1925[4]. Four years later Lewis’ father became very ill and passed away. This was extremely difficult for Lewis and eventually brought him back to Christianity with help from friends, Hugo Dyson and J.R.R Tolkien. These friends, as well as Dorothy Sayers and Charles Williams, had a tremendous impact on Lewis’ life as a Christian man. The book The Everlasting Man by G.K. Chesterton, a Catholic convert to Christianity, helped influence Lewis’ change from atheism to Christianity[5]. In his book Surprised by Joy, Lewis says this of his conversion.

"You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."

From this point on Lewis’ life changed. He began writing some of the world’s best literature, especially on the Christian life and in fantasy.

C.S. Lewis grew up around many types of aesthetics and had a passion for literature from an early age. He discusses his views on aesthetics in his essay entitled “How the Few and Many Use Pictures”. Lewis makes the point that there are two different types of art. Useful art,which is created to serve a practical purpose. Such arts include ceramics and architecture. The second type of art is the fine arts. Its purpose is artistic joy. Fine arts range from music and painting to literature. In his introduction, Lewis says there can be a problem when a person confuses the two types of art. He writes, “the attempt to ‘use’ a work of fine art rather than recognize its beauty and craftsmanship are their own reason for being.” His essay explores the issue of when someone tries to make fine art useful.

He discusses the impact, as a young man, of Beatrix Potter’s Tales had on his childhood. This work was something unusual because the rabbits have human qualities to them. This was fascinating to him and had an impact on his fantasy writings of The Chronicles of Narnia. Lewis goes on to describe the impact of art and what it intends for the audience. He says, “Nearly all those pictures which, in reproduction, are widely popular are of things which in one way or another would in reality please or amuse or excite or move those who admire them.” Lewis says that when one makes comments on art such as ‘what a beautiful house’ that “the emphasis is on what may be called the narrative qualities of the picture. Line or color or composition are hardly mentioned.” He says what is admired is the realism and the difficulty of producing a piece of art.

Those comments are often made when someone looks at art for the first time; once it has been bought it begins to loose its appeal. It has served its purpose and given the audience all it can give. Lewis explains this was once his attitude towards art, he ‘used’ art. He says if a person continues this type of thinking you use it as a self-starter for certain imaginative and emotional activities of your own. He explains his point by saying, “in other words, you ‘do things with it.’ You don’t lay yourself open to what it, by being in its totality precisely the thing it is, can do to you.” Lewis goes on to explain how a person should go about viewing art and appreciating it. He says, “We must not let loose our own subjectivity upon the pictures and make them its vehicles. We must begin by laying aside as completely as we can all of our own preconceptions, interests, and associations….We must see with our eyes. We must look, and go on looking till we have certainly seen exactly what is there. We sit down before the picture in order to have something done to us, not that we may do things with it.” In other words, Lewis is saying we need to allow the art to grab us and pull us in and think deeply about what is in front of us and allow part of ourselves to be moved.

In Lewis’ first essay he writes about how culture should view art and appreciate it. Once Lewis became a Christian he ran into a problem. How can a Christian engage in culture when the New Testament seems so against secularism? In his second essay entitled Christianity and Culture he examines how the two, culture and Christianity, can and should fit together.

Lewis begins the essay by explaining what his beliefs were prior to his conversion to Christianity. He says, “At an early age I came to believe that the life of culture (that is, intellectually and aesthetic activity) was very good for its own sake, or even good that it was the good for man….I continued to hold this belief without consciously asking how it could reconcile with my new belief that the end of human life was salvation in Christ and the glorifying of God.” As a result he began to belittle culture, but as soon as he did he was faced with this question, ‘If it is a thing of so little value, how are you justified in spending so much of your life on it?’

To answer his own question Lewis began to study other philosophers and their thoughts on the issue. In his research he found varying opinions on the subject, but it led him to ask another question regarding salvation and culture. He says, “No one, presumably, is really maintaining that a fine art is a condition for salvation. Yet, the glory of God, and, as our only means to glorify Him, the salvation of human souls, is the real business of life. What, then is the value of culture?”

Lewis continues his research on other theologians and scriptural texts. He answers his question at the end of his essay saying, “On these grounds I conclude that culture has a distinct part to play in bringing certain souls to Christ.” He then asks if culture has any part to play in winning people to Christ. His answer is yes, in two parts. (a) “If all the cultural values, on the way up to Christianity, were dim antepasts (appetizers) of the truth, we can recognize them as such still.” (b) “Whether the purely contemplative life is, or is not, desirable for any, it is certainly not the vocation for all. Most men must glorify God by doing to His glory something which is not per se an act of glorifying but which becomes so by being offered. If, as I hope, cultural activities are innocent and even useful, then they also can be done to the Lord.”

Lewis makes an important statement here, and I believe it is based on biblical truth. For example, John 17:13-19 says, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”

What is being said here, and it can answer Lewis’ question, is once we become a Christian we are not removed from culture. We should engage in culture, but know where our allegiance lies. Our allegiance lies in Christ. Lewis has it right when he says, “Yet the glory of God and, as our only means to glorify Him, the salvation of human souls is the real business of life.”

---

[1] http://www.factmonster.com/spot/narnia-lewis.html

[2] McGill, Sarah Ann. "C.S. Lewis(2005), 1-2, https://ezproxy.taylor.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=17938502&site=ehost-live. (accessed March 25, 2007).

[3] McGill, Sarah Ann. "C.S. Lewis(2005), 1-2, https://ezproxy.taylor.edu/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=17938502&site=ehost-live. (accessed March 25, 2007).

[4] http://www.cslewis.org/

[5] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CS_Lewis

Details of my Acting Debut

Last Saturday I made my acting debut in a 2 act play called "Two Rooms" as Walker, a news reporter in his 30s. He gets a little heated through out the play and enjoys saying expletives and being drunk. All of which I must do.

I have been dreading this day since the start of the semester. But like it or not I had to push through and do it. On Friday we had dress rehearsal, and not knowing anything about theater I went down to the make-up room. As some of you know, I don't have a clue where to start with make-up. I walked around the room nervously and feeling embarrassed that I didn't know what the heck to do. (But I did feel proud of myself since I was the ONLY male in the class who didn't know how to put make-up on. You could say I'm a real man). I eventually got up the nerve to ask my professor (who obviously really likes make-up cause she looks like she could be a good fit for the circus) to put make-up on me. I don't have clue what she is putting on my face but she said that needed eye liner. She then proceeded to jab a pencil in my eye, and my eye begins to water up and now I can't see. After this torturous process, she said that I needed some lipstick. She told me I should dab my finger and put some on my lips. So I did, but of course it's all over my mouth and I look like a 5 year old girl who got into her mother's lipstick drawer. All of this really is not going my way.

The day of the performance I felt ready. As I walked on to the bright lights of the stage I could see the theater was about 75% full. And as I turned to say my first line I see 15 of my close male friends all in bright yellow shirts in the front row laughing at what I am about to do. I could not look over at them the rest of the show because I would loose it and start having a laughing attack, and we know that lasts about 15 minutes. I managed to pull it together and give the performance of a lifetime. The rest of the performance went well, we messed up a few times but all in all we did a pretty good job.

Today at my final my prof. said I was the most improved actor of the semester. And then she asked me if I wanted to try out for the fall play. I then told her that I had retired from the stage immediately after my debut and I would decline any offers at this present time.

Overall, acting is very difficult and takes a lot of practice. I now have a lot of respect for those who endure this craft and all the hard work that goes into a performance.

Acting Debut

Tomorrow May 12th at 9pm, I will be making my acting debut and then one hour later I will retire perminatly from acting.

Taste and Spirituality

When we talk about taste and spirituality we have to define what a taste is and break it down spiritually. We define taste as something we like and consider to be appealing to us. For example, each person has a different view of what is beautiful and what is not. But what is beauty? Is beauty in Creation? Is it in art and human creativity? I’m going to take beauty as my focus and show what beauty is in a human sense and also how God sees true beauty.

How we determine what is beautiful depends on what we prefer. In other words, our determination is based on our taste. For example, suppose that you were standing by the Grand Canyon at sunset with two other people. You become deeply moved and utter the words, "This is beautiful; this is glorious." The person beside you says, "Beautiful? It's just a big, ugly ditch.[1]" Both statements are true personal reflections based on a personal preference. As humans we see beauty as something we like, usually visually. When we look at Creation we see animals, plants, stars ,etc. Each shows the beauty of God. However, our taste in beauty will determine how we interpret God’s beauty. If we prefer to focus on the immensity of the heavens, we may see God as great and big. If our preference is the tiny beauty of each petal of a flower, our view of God might be more drawn to His attention to detail.

Also we find that our taste can color the way we see Truth. As pointed out in Brown’s text he gives an example of Augustine when he no longer is moved to tears by the hymns he sings in church but revels the fact that there is Truth in the words he is singing.[2] Just as Augustine saw in the words of the hymns we can also find Truth through other types of art whether it is written or displayed on a wall for someone to look at. As the book describes there are many types of art that are able to inspire. We can find a glimpse of Truth in a non Christian piece of art because as Christians we find our Truth through what the Bible says is true and morally acceptable. God has given each person the ability to be creative and imaginative and whether you are Christian or non Christian that is something to be admired because it was given to you from the Creator.

In the text the author makes a key point when talking about taste and how it applies to religion and aesthetics, he says “Matters of religion and morality cannot be reduced to aesthetics; neither can aesthetics be reduced to religion and morality. But these spheres overlap and interact in ways that we have barely begun to appreciate…the good, the true and the beautiful.”[3] What he is saying is although these are at two different spectrums they work together, they both can be appreciated but it also determines on what a person perceives to be true and beautiful.

Even though there a billion personal perceptions on what is beauty and what is true, we know as Christians where we find our Truth and that is in Christ. Everything centers around Christ and the cross, as long as that is our focus we are able to hold differing perceptions on what is and what is not good taste. If that is not the center then we have lost meaning in what we perceive and why we view certain things to be true and beautiful.

---

[1]http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/1982/338_Jesus_Is_Precious_Because_We_Yearn_for_Beauty/

[2] Brown, Frank Good Taste, Bad Taste, and Christian Taste. p. 17

[3] Brown, Frank Good Taste, Bad Taste, and Christian Taste. p 23

Me in about a year

Sadly this may be my life in a little over a year from now...and that's fine with me.

A Good Soldier

New Blog

I am starting a new blog. It will probably have a wide range of topics, from Christianity to sports and a bunch of other things.