On top of my personal and private commitments for Lent, I'm abstaining from YouTube, Twitter, blogging, and Facebook for the next 40 days. I spend exorbitant amounts of time on these sites - immensely distracting!
I'll be filling that time with more face-to-face interactions with people, writing meaningful letters or emails, and memorizing Scripture.
For the sake of keeping up with current events, I'll blog and check Facebook on Sundays only.
I may actually keep this up after Easter.
So, until Sunday...
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
weak
I've broken the long hiatus of physical inactivity and started working out again. It's been nearly three months since I've felt the burn. And man, it took me almost three times longer to complete a certain workout than it did a few months back. Although others may not have noticed, I almost felt embarrassed by how much weaker I had become. Reason: lack of discipline and laziness.
A mantra I try to go by is: "No excuses". Watch this
Kind of a funny one... "no excuses". Who am I kidding? I will, at times, fail and feel like giving up. So it's not so much of a "I have to be perfect and expect others to be perfect" mentality (although that's pretty much what I've been going off of...) but understanding that there's nobody else to blame but myself if I am not growing. If there is a training regiment and I don't faithfully follow it, even when nobody is looking, I simply won't grow stronger. No matter how much I talk about fitness and know about it and pretend to be fit, if I'm not working out daily, I won't grow. Funny how some people (who just don't know better) assume I'm a really fit guy. Sometimes my reputation precedes me but it's not always based on truth, on who I am.
Today was a good reminder of who I really am. I'm weak. I can fool people sometimes, and sometimes even fool myself, but times like today are God's gift to me. He's saying: "Be strong and courageous, not because you yourself are so strong and bold but because I am strong. I've already won the fight. It's a slow thing - growth - but in the end, you'll be way stronger if you'll just endure. Just trust me and keep going."
I have roughly 3 months to hit the gym hard. (a goal I've set for myself).
That's the beauty of it. The hard work really does pay off. How do you know if someone is fit? Physical results. It's pretty obvious. But don't expect the results to be quick. There are no short-cuts! How do you know if someone is living in the will of God?
Matthew 7:13-23 (The Message translation)
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
A mantra I try to go by is: "No excuses". Watch this
Kind of a funny one... "no excuses". Who am I kidding? I will, at times, fail and feel like giving up. So it's not so much of a "I have to be perfect and expect others to be perfect" mentality (although that's pretty much what I've been going off of...) but understanding that there's nobody else to blame but myself if I am not growing. If there is a training regiment and I don't faithfully follow it, even when nobody is looking, I simply won't grow stronger. No matter how much I talk about fitness and know about it and pretend to be fit, if I'm not working out daily, I won't grow. Funny how some people (who just don't know better) assume I'm a really fit guy. Sometimes my reputation precedes me but it's not always based on truth, on who I am.
Today was a good reminder of who I really am. I'm weak. I can fool people sometimes, and sometimes even fool myself, but times like today are God's gift to me. He's saying: "Be strong and courageous, not because you yourself are so strong and bold but because I am strong. I've already won the fight. It's a slow thing - growth - but in the end, you'll be way stronger if you'll just endure. Just trust me and keep going."
I have roughly 3 months to hit the gym hard. (a goal I've set for myself).
That's the beauty of it. The hard work really does pay off. How do you know if someone is fit? Physical results. It's pretty obvious. But don't expect the results to be quick. There are no short-cuts! How do you know if someone is living in the will of God?
Matthew 7:13-23 (The Message translation)
"Don't look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don't fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.
"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
"Knowing the correct password—saying 'Master, Master,' for instance— isn't going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills. I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, 'Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.' And do you know what I am going to say? 'You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don't impress me one bit. You're out of here.'"
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
hawhawhaw
I secretly (Not a secret anymore, obviously. Thanks, Blogger.com) envy people who are known for their laughs. You know how you can pinpoint someone just how they laugh? My laugh changes every few months. I've almost forgotten what my real laugh sounds like because my laugh is always a combination of whatever shred of my real laugh is left + an emulation of someone else's laugh.
Whether it's certain mannerisms, words, phrases, or habits sometimes I'm like a chameleon. I just pick things up and make it part of my being.
Ok, sure, I mean this is true for many people. Is it a matter of just being comfortable in my own skin? Or am I hyper-sensitive to what other people think? Or is this not such a bad thing, since it can work to my advantage in breaking the ice and forming closer relationships?
In some circles, I'm known as one of the guys who is constantly doing impressions of other people. I'm not saying that I'm really great at it (I have no idea, it just comes out of my mouth). Something that's being brought into light is how I judge others and how I want people to perceive me. Sometimes I emulate others because I respect them and enjoy that particular trait or habit. Other times, I straight up make fun of people... and it's not nice. Breaking others down to get a few cheap laughs proves me a prideful coward.
In order to please people or preserve my own reputation, I emulate others as a force field. An opaque mask that deters any astute observers from getting to know the real me - a weak sinner.
Man, I'm just in need of God's grace. His amazing grace. LORD, renew my mind! Remind me that I have a new identity in you and my sinful self is dead! Instill your perfect love in me so that instead of judging others in my insecurity, I can communicate your grace in partnership with my brothers and sisters.
"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
Whether it's certain mannerisms, words, phrases, or habits sometimes I'm like a chameleon. I just pick things up and make it part of my being.
Ok, sure, I mean this is true for many people. Is it a matter of just being comfortable in my own skin? Or am I hyper-sensitive to what other people think? Or is this not such a bad thing, since it can work to my advantage in breaking the ice and forming closer relationships?
In some circles, I'm known as one of the guys who is constantly doing impressions of other people. I'm not saying that I'm really great at it (I have no idea, it just comes out of my mouth). Something that's being brought into light is how I judge others and how I want people to perceive me. Sometimes I emulate others because I respect them and enjoy that particular trait or habit. Other times, I straight up make fun of people... and it's not nice. Breaking others down to get a few cheap laughs proves me a prideful coward.
In order to please people or preserve my own reputation, I emulate others as a force field. An opaque mask that deters any astute observers from getting to know the real me - a weak sinner.
Man, I'm just in need of God's grace. His amazing grace. LORD, renew my mind! Remind me that I have a new identity in you and my sinful self is dead! Instill your perfect love in me so that instead of judging others in my insecurity, I can communicate your grace in partnership with my brothers and sisters.
"Because of the privilege and authority God has given me, I give each of you this warning: Don’t think you are better than you really are. Be honest in your evaluation of yourselves, measuring yourselves by the faith God has given us. Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other.
In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly." - Romans 12:3-8 (NLT)
We're all meant to be different. I am only complete when I fully accept what God has called me to be, by dedicating myself as a living sacrifice and renewing my mind so that I may discern what God's will is. And that's the beauty of our differences, not so that I can boast I'm so much better in a certain area than another person, but so we can all work together towards a fuller realization of God's grace.
1 > 99
I forget that I'm a sinner saved by grace. So when I look at an "especially undeserving person"(you know, that kind of person who is uncooperative, unresponsive, seemingly rebellious, stubborn, and just isn't "with the program"?) I easily cast him aside as someone unworthy of my time and attention.
Someone challenged me recently and asked, "How do you see ______ (person's name) anyway? It seems like you've just given up on him and cast him aside."
I've been asked that before about other people, so I started reciting my usual response:
"I have to keep the greater good [greatest good for the greatest number of people even at the cost of a few people] in mind. If ______ compromises the bigger picture, then oh well. I just have to move on. I've committed to God's Kingdom, and His Kingdom is huge. I can't be worrying about the 'bad apples' who fall off to the wayside. It's my job to focus on the people who are willing to cooperate and follow."
I've been growing more and more unsettled with that "standard" response.
Jesus asked Peter three times (in a row!) if he loved Jesus. Peter grew offended and replies in exasperation, "Of course! You know everything! Why are you berating me with this questioning?" (my interpretation).
Jesus' response: "Feed my sheep". No matter how ugly, hairy, sickly, nasty, dirty. Even those weird, gangly, buck-toothed looking ones that smell really bad.
"Feed my sheep" Discipling and loving is not about being picky. "For God so loved the world... and "making disciples of all nations..."
"Feed my sheep". When the whole flock obeys and is cooperative to your leadership. And even when a few start to stray here and there. Still, feed them.
If one strays, what to do? Forget it? Saving the rest of the flock is more important, I say! No, Jesus says: Abandon conventional wisdom and extravagantly love that straying and lost sheep. How? Count my life worth nothing, be willing to risk everything, and get out there to chase after that one sheep:
"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:12-14). Where in this world is 1 > 99? Only in God's Kingdom.
Jesus did not come for the righteous. He came to call sinners to repentance.
Expect nothing in return.
I have to remind myself regularly:
"If God treated me the way I treat and view other people, I'd be in serious trouble"
I can hardly imagine! God: "Eh, Joe's really not all that. He disobeys me, doesn't trust me, and is just really undisciplined and irresponsible. Do I really want my precious Son to be tortured and killed on the cross for this... loser?"
"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).
God is beyond huge. Bigger, more majestic, and greater than I can imagine. Yet, He values a soul. God numbers the very hairs on my head.
This is the "bigger" Kingdom vision. Not to hurry forth with a sense of urgency to build the biggest, grandest palace and to be the most "successful". The Kingdom vision is taking the time to be Christ to others. God calls us to be faithful, not successful. That's why laying down one's life for another is the greatest love a person can demonstrate. That's exactly what Christ did for all of us. Transforming lives, one at a time.
It's slow-going. But I hold on to an eternal encouragement and hope!
Mighty to Save
by Hillsongs
Everyone needs compassion, a love that's never failing.
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations
Savior, He can move the mountains.
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow, everything I believe in
Now I surrender...
Someone challenged me recently and asked, "How do you see ______ (person's name) anyway? It seems like you've just given up on him and cast him aside."
I've been asked that before about other people, so I started reciting my usual response:
"I have to keep the greater good [greatest good for the greatest number of people even at the cost of a few people] in mind. If ______ compromises the bigger picture, then oh well. I just have to move on. I've committed to God's Kingdom, and His Kingdom is huge. I can't be worrying about the 'bad apples' who fall off to the wayside. It's my job to focus on the people who are willing to cooperate and follow."
I've been growing more and more unsettled with that "standard" response.
Jesus asked Peter three times (in a row!) if he loved Jesus. Peter grew offended and replies in exasperation, "Of course! You know everything! Why are you berating me with this questioning?" (my interpretation).
Jesus' response: "Feed my sheep". No matter how ugly, hairy, sickly, nasty, dirty. Even those weird, gangly, buck-toothed looking ones that smell really bad.
"Feed my sheep" Discipling and loving is not about being picky. "For God so loved the world... and "making disciples of all nations..."
"Feed my sheep". When the whole flock obeys and is cooperative to your leadership. And even when a few start to stray here and there. Still, feed them.
If one strays, what to do? Forget it? Saving the rest of the flock is more important, I say! No, Jesus says: Abandon conventional wisdom and extravagantly love that straying and lost sheep. How? Count my life worth nothing, be willing to risk everything, and get out there to chase after that one sheep:
"What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish" (Matthew 18:12-14). Where in this world is 1 > 99? Only in God's Kingdom.
Jesus did not come for the righteous. He came to call sinners to repentance.
Expect nothing in return.
I have to remind myself regularly:
"If God treated me the way I treat and view other people, I'd be in serious trouble"
I can hardly imagine! God: "Eh, Joe's really not all that. He disobeys me, doesn't trust me, and is just really undisciplined and irresponsible. Do I really want my precious Son to be tortured and killed on the cross for this... loser?"
"...but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).
God is beyond huge. Bigger, more majestic, and greater than I can imagine. Yet, He values a soul. God numbers the very hairs on my head.
This is the "bigger" Kingdom vision. Not to hurry forth with a sense of urgency to build the biggest, grandest palace and to be the most "successful". The Kingdom vision is taking the time to be Christ to others. God calls us to be faithful, not successful. That's why laying down one's life for another is the greatest love a person can demonstrate. That's exactly what Christ did for all of us. Transforming lives, one at a time.
It's slow-going. But I hold on to an eternal encouragement and hope!
Mighty to Save
by Hillsongs
Everyone needs compassion, a love that's never failing.
Let mercy fall on me.
Everyone needs forgiveness, the kindness of a Savior
The hope of nations
Savior, He can move the mountains.
My God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save.
Forever, author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave, Jesus conquered the grave.
So take me as You find me, all my fears and failures
Fill my life again.
I give my life to follow, everything I believe in
Now I surrender...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
I refuse
to get a BlackBerry. It's addictive, expensive, further incapacitates my short-term memory (I used to remember all my friends' phone numbers... I now know about 4), and makes me a total social narf-boob.
I say that now... but I said this too about cellphones. I was adamantly against cell phones until I finally caved and got one in senior year of high school. Never got anything fancier than a basic affordable phone plan and text messaging. I recently upgraded to unlimited text because more and more people text. And more and more people are getting text-friendly "mobile devices". (No longer just called cellular phones...)
Cell phone etiquette nowadays is horrendous. What happened to turning off your cell phone during lectures and meals? What happened to walking out of the room to hold a conversation in order to NOT disturb the peace? What happened to just being a responsible person and showing up ontime and maybe actually following up/apologizing rather than texting at the last minute? Really... I forget what we did before cellphones... how would we communicate with each other?
Oh yea, I remember. We were more patient, more flexible, and just stayed after to talk more. Our lives were less interrupted and less cluttered. These are similar concerns people had when television first came out, over 50 years ago. And a couple of decades before that, people were against the detrimental evils of radio. Sigh... the necessary evils of advancements in technology.
And now, BlackBerries. It's crack. It's a drug. People who own them are GLUED to them every minute. It's kinda sad actually. The worst part is I could so see myself getting a BlackBerry. It's only a matter of time.
Not to mention Twitter and Google Latitude. Just scary and really unncessary.
I'll embrace it when the time comes. But I think I'd take vacations from technology. Imagine that... real vacations.
I say that now... but I said this too about cellphones. I was adamantly against cell phones until I finally caved and got one in senior year of high school. Never got anything fancier than a basic affordable phone plan and text messaging. I recently upgraded to unlimited text because more and more people text. And more and more people are getting text-friendly "mobile devices". (No longer just called cellular phones...)
Cell phone etiquette nowadays is horrendous. What happened to turning off your cell phone during lectures and meals? What happened to walking out of the room to hold a conversation in order to NOT disturb the peace? What happened to just being a responsible person and showing up ontime and maybe actually following up/apologizing rather than texting at the last minute? Really... I forget what we did before cellphones... how would we communicate with each other?
Oh yea, I remember. We were more patient, more flexible, and just stayed after to talk more. Our lives were less interrupted and less cluttered. These are similar concerns people had when television first came out, over 50 years ago. And a couple of decades before that, people were against the detrimental evils of radio. Sigh... the necessary evils of advancements in technology.
And now, BlackBerries. It's crack. It's a drug. People who own them are GLUED to them every minute. It's kinda sad actually. The worst part is I could so see myself getting a BlackBerry. It's only a matter of time.
Not to mention Twitter and Google Latitude. Just scary and really unncessary.
I'll embrace it when the time comes. But I think I'd take vacations from technology. Imagine that... real vacations.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
I love the LORD
"Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; our God is merciful. The LORD preserves the simple; when I was brought low, he saved me. Return, O my soul, to your rest; for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you." - Psalm 116:5-7 (ESV)
As per my dad's advice, I read through a Psalm and Proverb daily before reading through other books of the Bible. It centers me. Psalm 116, although I read it a few days ago, has resonated in my heart even until this morning. Better than the words I can use to express my heart, here it is - my praise to my Lord.
I'm partial to the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible - but I like how the Message translation puts Psalm 116. Read, remember, be blessed:
Psalm 116 (The Message translation)
I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!"
God is gracious - it is he who makes things right, our most compassioante God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me. I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings.
"Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from sttumbling." I'm striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though bedeviled, and despite a ton of bad luck, despite giving up on the human race, saying, "They're all liars and cheats."
What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God! I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people.
When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him. Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service! I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it in company with his people,
In the place of worship, in God's house, in Jerusalem, God's city. Hallelujah!
As per my dad's advice, I read through a Psalm and Proverb daily before reading through other books of the Bible. It centers me. Psalm 116, although I read it a few days ago, has resonated in my heart even until this morning. Better than the words I can use to express my heart, here it is - my praise to my Lord.
I'm partial to the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible - but I like how the Message translation puts Psalm 116. Read, remember, be blessed:
Psalm 116 (The Message translation)
I love God because he listened to me, listened as I begged for mercy. He listened so intently as I laid out my case before him.
Death stared me in the face, hell was hard on my heels. Up against it, I didn't know which way to turn; then I called out to God for help: "Please, God!" I cried out. "Save my life!"
God is gracious - it is he who makes things right, our most compassioante God. God takes the side of the helpless; when I was at the end of my rope, he saved me. I said to myself, "Relax and rest. God has showered you with blessings.
"Soul, you've been rescued from death; Eye, you've been rescued from tears; And you, Foot, were kept from sttumbling." I'm striding in the presence of God, alive in the land of the living!
I stayed faithful, though bedeviled, and despite a ton of bad luck, despite giving up on the human race, saying, "They're all liars and cheats."
What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me? I'll lift high the cup of salvation - a toast to God! I'll pray in the name of God; I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it together with his people.
When they arrive at the gates of death, God welcomes those who love him. Oh, God, here I am, your servant, your faithful servant: set me free for your service! I'm ready to offer the thanksgiving sacrifice and pray in the name of God. I'll complete what I promised God I'd do, and I'll do it in company with his people,
In the place of worship, in God's house, in Jerusalem, God's city. Hallelujah!
Monday, February 9, 2009
i (sometimes) get paid/pay to do this
I just spent the whole weekend cross-country skiing and snowshoeing across northern Michigan. I got lotsa food, slept 7 hours a night (which is above average for me), watched three movies, and just hung out with a bunch of guys. And I got paid to do it - just enough to pay off my bills for the month. That's the Marine Corps for ya.
Upon my return to Ann Arbor, I met and trained with some people who share similar callings and passions, and helped cook some dinner for LIFE group. I paid to do this.
For the past two hours I've been catching up with my roommates and checking the oodles of emails I missed in the last three days. The amount of catch-up work from this weekend is frightening - but it's so worth it. Now I'll pay for it.
It's great to hear good news from our brothers and sisters in Christ. And it's definitely a great feeling, albeit humbling, to know that things are fine or even better without me. Investment and trust - fully paid out for the weekend.
I spoke to one of my best buddies recently. He reminded me to pursue my passions - money is always secondary. Ha! This coming from a guy who works in the financial sector with people his age getting laid off left and right. Tough times. And he meant what he said.
I can't believe I get paid to do some of this stuff. And for the stuff I don't get paid for, I'd still do it for free! I'm tired and there's so much to do. But I'm so thankful. As fun, packed, tiring this weekend was and how crazy-busy my week looks, I'm reminded of why I do what I do.
I think I get it more and more... this "heavenly treasure" versus "earthly treasure" thing.
Heavenly treasure > earthly treasure. Definitely. No doubt.
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" - Psalm 115:1
Upon my return to Ann Arbor, I met and trained with some people who share similar callings and passions, and helped cook some dinner for LIFE group. I paid to do this.
For the past two hours I've been catching up with my roommates and checking the oodles of emails I missed in the last three days. The amount of catch-up work from this weekend is frightening - but it's so worth it. Now I'll pay for it.
It's great to hear good news from our brothers and sisters in Christ. And it's definitely a great feeling, albeit humbling, to know that things are fine or even better without me. Investment and trust - fully paid out for the weekend.
I spoke to one of my best buddies recently. He reminded me to pursue my passions - money is always secondary. Ha! This coming from a guy who works in the financial sector with people his age getting laid off left and right. Tough times. And he meant what he said.
I can't believe I get paid to do some of this stuff. And for the stuff I don't get paid for, I'd still do it for free! I'm tired and there's so much to do. But I'm so thankful. As fun, packed, tiring this weekend was and how crazy-busy my week looks, I'm reminded of why I do what I do.
I think I get it more and more... this "heavenly treasure" versus "earthly treasure" thing.
Heavenly treasure > earthly treasure. Definitely. No doubt.
"Not to us, O LORD, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!" - Psalm 115:1
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
"What is this world coming to?"
Last week at the library where I work, a woman reading that day's newspaper exclaimed, "What is this world coming to?!" Her gaping mouth, furrowed brow, and shaking head, though sincere, was almost comical.
Me: "What do you mean, ma'am?"
Lady: "I just can't believe people these days!"
Me: "Are you talking about the mother who was murdered in her home the other day?"
Lady: "YEA! Right here in Ann Arbor! Can you believe it? I just can't believe it! People nowadays are just crazy and so evil! People weren't like this back in my day! Nooooo way! Uh-uh! What is this world coming to?"
Me: "Well, I beg to differ ma'am. The world has always been this way."
Lady: "... has always been this - hm. Never thought about it like that. Now you're really making me think!"
Joe exit stage left through Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Later that same week in a different library:
Man: "Hey, I've seen you around the Downtown library before. You guys [security] work at the branches too?"
Me: "Yes sir, we do"
Man: "I like it better here."
Me: "O yea, how's that?"
Man: "It's quieter. It's too noisy over at Downtown"
Me: "Well, it's smaller here. But there are more families who come in with crying babies, so it's a trade-off."
Man: "Well, at least there aren't any homeless around here. Man, they're the ones who cause ALL the trouble. Can't stand them. I think I'll come around here more often. Thanks."
I remember when I used to be shocked reading the news - the violence, stupidity, greed, and just EVIL things that people are capable of. Not to say that my heart doesn't break when hearing about these things now, but really, do I expect something different?
Why is it that people are in SHOCK and their world is turned upside down when they hear that a religious leader is living a life of sin (usually involving sex and money scandals)? Yes, there's a leadership and trust issue, but he/she is human. Nothing more, nothing less. I definitely agree that especially leaders need to be held accountable and live by different standards. But nobody is immune to sin - to evil - to the Devil's schemes. Even theologically/biblically - the most fervent believers can "fall into sin" if they are not careful and alert.
It can happen to anybody. Even me.
Kind of like car accidents and cancer. Nobody plans for or wants these things. They just happen. I just laugh whenever I hear "I never thought that I would get cancer". Really, who does? Or "Don't worry, I'm a really good driver! I really am! You have no idea!"
Fact 1: Most drivers think that they are better at driving than the average motor vehicle operator.
Fact 2: Most drivers are terrible drivers.
That's why they're called "accidents".
Part of this is that some people live very sheltered lives. Even people who hear that "people live very sheltered lives" somehow think that they live outside of a bubble, when they really don't! I'm amused whenever I hear ignorant, clueless Univeristy students/Ann Arborites who claim "Ann Arbor is so safe we don't really need the police around here".
Relatively speaking, in a purely numerical sense, yes Ann Arbor is "safer" than let's say... Detroit. But Ann Arbor is full of people. And all peoples are prone to accidents and committing crimes. Whether it's drug deals, theft, murder, gangs, human trafficking, child molestors - you name it, Ann Arbor has it! We live in a fallen world.
Regarding the whole "let's blame the homeless" comment:
We so easily cast off all blame to someone else. Because that someone else is much more capable of evil than we are, and it's just easier to point fingers at people than it is to look at oneself and have your own sins exposed. And trust me, I've done a lot of finger-pointing.
"But I would never KILL anybody! So I'm innocent! That person actually murdered somebody!"
To you sir or ma'am, I invite you to read the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7. Read it and we'll talk about it afterwards.
Fact: More than half of all the "problems" I encounter working at the public library are not instigated by the "dirty, rude, crazy, dangerous homeless people".
Fact: Most of the problems are started by the rich, snobby people who think they "deserve something" - and when they don't get it, they get ticked off and start a tamper tantrum.
It's the "undeserving" who prove to be the most humble and polite. The people who think they're better than ______ and feel like they deserve something - wow, they're the REAL trouble-makers. "Blessed are the poor in spirit..."
I don't say all this out of a pessimistic and cynical heart. For me, knowing that every single person has the capacity to sin actually turns my eyes to the only eternal hope that I know, Jesus Christ. I think that lying to ourselves that we're somehow OK and better than _____ is ultimately a sign of self-sufficiency and a disillusioned sense of pride. If we're ever at the point where we are pointing our fingers at someone else and claiming, "But I would never... I can't believe some people are..." then we lose sight of the very first step in being reconciled with God: the confession that we are sinners.
What is this world coming to? The world has been full of sin and darkness longer than you or I've been alive. But Christ is that hope and light. Christ overcame the world.
Me: "What do you mean, ma'am?"
Lady: "I just can't believe people these days!"
Me: "Are you talking about the mother who was murdered in her home the other day?"
Lady: "YEA! Right here in Ann Arbor! Can you believe it? I just can't believe it! People nowadays are just crazy and so evil! People weren't like this back in my day! Nooooo way! Uh-uh! What is this world coming to?"
Me: "Well, I beg to differ ma'am. The world has always been this way."
Lady: "... has always been this - hm. Never thought about it like that. Now you're really making me think!"
Joe exit stage left through Fantasy/Sci-Fi
Later that same week in a different library:
Man: "Hey, I've seen you around the Downtown library before. You guys [security] work at the branches too?"
Me: "Yes sir, we do"
Man: "I like it better here."
Me: "O yea, how's that?"
Man: "It's quieter. It's too noisy over at Downtown"
Me: "Well, it's smaller here. But there are more families who come in with crying babies, so it's a trade-off."
Man: "Well, at least there aren't any homeless around here. Man, they're the ones who cause ALL the trouble. Can't stand them. I think I'll come around here more often. Thanks."
I remember when I used to be shocked reading the news - the violence, stupidity, greed, and just EVIL things that people are capable of. Not to say that my heart doesn't break when hearing about these things now, but really, do I expect something different?
Why is it that people are in SHOCK and their world is turned upside down when they hear that a religious leader is living a life of sin (usually involving sex and money scandals)? Yes, there's a leadership and trust issue, but he/she is human. Nothing more, nothing less. I definitely agree that especially leaders need to be held accountable and live by different standards. But nobody is immune to sin - to evil - to the Devil's schemes. Even theologically/biblically - the most fervent believers can "fall into sin" if they are not careful and alert.
It can happen to anybody. Even me.
Kind of like car accidents and cancer. Nobody plans for or wants these things. They just happen. I just laugh whenever I hear "I never thought that I would get cancer". Really, who does? Or "Don't worry, I'm a really good driver! I really am! You have no idea!"
Fact 1: Most drivers think that they are better at driving than the average motor vehicle operator.
Fact 2: Most drivers are terrible drivers.
That's why they're called "accidents".
Part of this is that some people live very sheltered lives. Even people who hear that "people live very sheltered lives" somehow think that they live outside of a bubble, when they really don't! I'm amused whenever I hear ignorant, clueless Univeristy students/Ann Arborites who claim "Ann Arbor is so safe we don't really need the police around here".
Relatively speaking, in a purely numerical sense, yes Ann Arbor is "safer" than let's say... Detroit. But Ann Arbor is full of people. And all peoples are prone to accidents and committing crimes. Whether it's drug deals, theft, murder, gangs, human trafficking, child molestors - you name it, Ann Arbor has it! We live in a fallen world.
Regarding the whole "let's blame the homeless" comment:
We so easily cast off all blame to someone else. Because that someone else is much more capable of evil than we are, and it's just easier to point fingers at people than it is to look at oneself and have your own sins exposed. And trust me, I've done a lot of finger-pointing.
"But I would never KILL anybody! So I'm innocent! That person actually murdered somebody!"
To you sir or ma'am, I invite you to read the book of Matthew, chapters 5-7. Read it and we'll talk about it afterwards.
Fact: More than half of all the "problems" I encounter working at the public library are not instigated by the "dirty, rude, crazy, dangerous homeless people".
Fact: Most of the problems are started by the rich, snobby people who think they "deserve something" - and when they don't get it, they get ticked off and start a tamper tantrum.
It's the "undeserving" who prove to be the most humble and polite. The people who think they're better than ______ and feel like they deserve something - wow, they're the REAL trouble-makers. "Blessed are the poor in spirit..."
I don't say all this out of a pessimistic and cynical heart. For me, knowing that every single person has the capacity to sin actually turns my eyes to the only eternal hope that I know, Jesus Christ. I think that lying to ourselves that we're somehow OK and better than _____ is ultimately a sign of self-sufficiency and a disillusioned sense of pride. If we're ever at the point where we are pointing our fingers at someone else and claiming, "But I would never... I can't believe some people are..." then we lose sight of the very first step in being reconciled with God: the confession that we are sinners.
What is this world coming to? The world has been full of sin and darkness longer than you or I've been alive. But Christ is that hope and light. Christ overcame the world.
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