Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, See No Evil: Ethics

So, here is the ethical question of the day. Is it ethical or even "very nice" to have a long time friend, who hasn't talked to you in over six months, who you care about, love a lot, who when he calls your heart leaps for joy, who has remained a good friend and brother in Christ through thick and thin...is it ethical for him to call you one day and announce to you that you have "spelled decision" wrong on your blog? So what if "decision" is spelled with only one "s". Perhaps it was just a typographical error. Maybe I have trouble with ddoubblle constantents.....is this a bruise of a friend, or is this plain mean and unethical? Let me know what you think.

Islam, The Qur'an, and The Five Pillars

I've read "The Qur'an" recently. Some thoughts and questions to follow:
There is no doubt that those who attacked the United States on September 11, 2001 placed their acts of violence within the context of their religious belief system. It is more accurate, I think, to put their actions into a particular political framework. This is nothing new. People have used God's name to achieve their view of what the future should be like for thousands of years. You don't have to be a Muslim to embrace this type of mentality. In this the September 11, 2001 attack contained nothing novel. If you read Lord Kinross's book "The Ottoman Empire" you will discover that the attack on the World Trade Center was, by comparison, not very brutal at all. Surprised? Don't be. Or, if you are...study some European history from 1000 AD to the present day. Check out some Asian history too. There are some pretty horrible historical events done in the "Name of God" that may surprise you. I am constantly in a state of amazement the more I read and learn about what fallen mankind has done in the past. Some of what makes us who we are, what we believe, where we live, what philosophies we embrace, what religion we subscribe to, are in part or totally the result of such sad, sad events.

There are so many issues in "The War on Terror." Here are some that have come to my mind:
*Can people of the same religion have vastly different political views and agendas?
*Can just a few people vastly change the lives of billions?
*There seems to be little common ground between major religions? Is this true?
*Is there more common ground between political views than religious?
*Is it best that religious views drive political systems?
*Is it better that political views be driven more by political philosophies?
*Is separation of Church and State a religious view or political philosophy?
*Is most fear based upon ignorance, knowledge, or experience?
*Under what circumstances should we act "in the name of God?"
*Can millions and millions "have it wrong?"
*Just because someone "has it wrong" does it mean they necessarily should be feared?
*Does anyone "have it ALL right?" both religiously and politically?

There are more issues, but that seems to be enough for now. The photos of Muslims practicing their faith are quite beautiful, don't you think? Look up and understand what are the Five Pillars of Islam. You might be surprised.

Velvet Elvis Lives! It Rocks Too!

Look for comments to come on this title and picture. I think Josh will be pleased.
There is a book out by a man named Rob Bell. He is the pastor of a rather large church called Mars Hill in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The book is entitled "Velvet Elvis" and is Mr. Bell's take on some of the issues regarding how the Body of Christ should do "Church" now and into the future. His idea of Velvet Elvis is that the above shown photo is a painting that has perhaps become somewhat passe. Design, and much of art is that way. When you look at a 1994 Plymouth Voyager minivan it appears antiquated by today's standards, even one that is pristine or completely restored. If you were to look at a Sear or JC Penny catalogue and looked at the fashions of the 1970's you would laugh at the polyester leisure suits. Yet, in their time, the cars and the fashion were exciting, fresh, attention getting, and normative. What happened? Well, time and the progress or change in art and taste in art. So it is with the "visible" church and how it does its corporate life. Mr. Bell suggests that there are aspects of the way we do church that seem to the "world", those he believes we are commanded to reach, to be out dated like an old van or styles that are out of fashion. He also suggests in his book that the very language that we use, that is "traditional" to us and quite understandable, can be a hindrance to reaching the lost for Christ. What Pastor Bell says can be quite challenging to those who have been doing church for some time.

Here are some things to think about:
1. Can some things that we do in the church get out of date or are our ways of worship and study "the way" of doing things?
2. Do you think that sometimes when you talk to someone who isn't a believer that they are confused by little things you take for granted?
3. Are there some traditions at your church that even you are not sure about?
4. When someone writes a book that challenges your way of doing business or thinking is it best to avoid it or try to learn as much about it as is possible?
5. Can your faith be destroyed by the thoughts of other people?
6. If you read and or study a book by someone who challenges the status quo are you necessarily "teaching" that book or are you "learning" from it?
7. If you regularly spend time in God's Word, "The Bible", is it a good idea to go outside of it and get the opinions of others?
8. What is it that makes up a "good" book to study other than "The Bible" if reading other literature and authors is an all right thing?

I look forward to some of your remarks. Have a great week in study, but also in "being with" family, friends, and hopefully those who don't know Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Is Shooting People To Save Them A Good Idea?

There was an interesting article circulating on the Internet. I first saw it as a commentary in the New York Times. It is about evangelical youth groups that use violent video games as part of their "draw." The idea is that they are trying to reach the lost where the lost are at. So, they have video games set up on wide screen televisions and they have some of the latest and some of the most violent games available to play. The games include the shooting, mutilating, dismemberment, and killing of virtual people. There was certainly a challenge to the evangelical community by the author of this article. The question is, "Is virtual destruction of human beings not in conflict with the teachings of Christ and the entire New Testament?" How far can we go into the world in order to reach it? A famous evangelist once said that he wanted to stand at the very gates of hell and drag people away and turn them to God. Wouldn't he have to look a little different to be noticed by the crowds heading into eternal separation from God in order to get their attention?

I know that we have used video games as a draw. I don't know if we have used violent ones or not at our church. I know that we have had paint ball outings. Paint ball was pretty much invented as a military training exercise. It simulates combat. The paint ball splats and marks a "kill." I have heard people say that it is "simply" a form of tag...your it. I beg to differ. I think it is more "splat" your dead. To think otherwise is a bit disingenuous to me, but maybe I am a bit prudish. There is much documentation in the field of psychology that suggests that violent games, violent television shows can desensitize people, particularly young men, regarding violence. It sounds like "hardening of the heart" to me. But, then again, I may be a prude.

It was certainly an interesting and challenging article. I would be interested in your input on this matter. What do you think? Are virtual games that center around the killing of the "enemy" simply virtual fun? Or, are they in conflict with biblical teachings particularly those of Christ himself? What should we do as a church? Should our youth group use this type of device? Should we go "paint balling" just for fun and "fellowship?" I'd love to hear your comments.

The Living Learners, Not Dead Poets, Meet Again!

How I have looked forward to yesterday evening at my home with the young men of our high school small group. I have waited and waited and I was not disappointed. We had ten men present and perhaps there is another three to four who may not have known about the starting day, or perhaps they forgot. A group of about fifteen is perfect. Yet, we all agreed that we would leave that open chair and allow the group to grow as the Lord leads. Open minds, hands, and hearts; that is what we want to have.

We covered some basic ground rules for our meetings:
1. My house is your house. Everyone is free to go anywhere except the bedroom area upstairs to preserve the privacy of my wife and daughters if they are home.
2. After 6:30 p.m. you can just walk in, no need to knock. If you come earlier you are welcome though you will need to knock and we might not be home.
3. Our meetings are officially from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. on every Sunday evening.
4. You may stay later if you want to "hang out" or talk more. Don't panic if you see me getting into my pajamas and going to bed. Just make sure to lock the door as you leave and turn out the lights. If you want to spend the night call home first and get permission. I think we have extra tooth brushes and you can use the guest bedroom. (This last thing about staying over night...it's a joke.)
5. If you are not coming for some reason you will call and inform us that day.We are looking for commitment and we also, particularly in winter, are interested in everyone being safe.
6. You can bring food, food and beverages will be provided, you can eat whatever you find in our home. Cabinets and refrigerator are open for scrounging.
7. We want our study to be spiritually and emotional safe for all who attend. We will respect everyone's contribution.There will be no mocking...except JM. (This last suggestion is a joke too.)
8.There will be "rabbit trails" that we follow that may take us from our planned agenda for an evening.We are a study,but we are not a class.We will follow them when it seems right to do so.I will reserve the right to get us back on task if I feel that we are not walking along a productive path of discussion.I will moderate simply because of my having a greater amount of experience.I'm just older, that is all.
9. What is talked about in our study stays in our study.We are not talking about keeping our topic or our discussions "secrets" from our parents. No one is "hiding" anything.(Parents are actually welcome if for some reason a parent wants to sit in for a time.)We are talking about confidentiality. Someone may share a pain, concern,or problem of a private nature,trusting that his friends will protect him in this.The "personal" issues we discuss together are just that,personal. We will all protect that special bond we have with each other.

We contemplated the following subjects as possible studies for our group:

A) "The Book of Revelation" from a technical/literary standpoint.
B) "The Book of Isaiah" from a prophetic and historical perspective.
C) "Love, Sex, and Relationships" from a biblical paradigm.
D) The study of World Religions from an open and respectful position.
E) The Study of the kings of Israel and Judah.
F) Jewish Culture
1. Sovereignty of God
2. Justice of God
3. Why God allows suffering
4. Where we fit in
G) Study God. Who is He? Why does He appear different in the OT compared to NT.
F) Study the "Sermon on the Mount" in conjunction to our church's 2008 Vision.

I ask all of you to pray about these subjects and comment on them on this blog. Let's have a good talk over the Internet and be prepared to discuss, but also take action this next Sunday so as to get ourselves moving. Pray for each other this week. Pray about who you might invite to our group that you think would be helped and would enhance our discussions. Pray for the requests brought up as subjects of our prayers especially the two young people who have very broken and dysfunctional home situations. Pray for their safety, their hearts, their salvation.

Don't hesitate to call me this week if you need something or have a question that you don't want to put on the comments field. Let's all rejoice in the Lord all this week. Let's all decide to trust Him at least just a little bit more.

Great Themes of the Bible. Honor Thy Parents.

This last week we talked about Socrates and Plato and how they used their minds to explore what they considered the most important aspect of life itself, "Truth". We looked at some examples of sentences that we use on a regular basis and discovered that what appears to be a simple sentence can actually be quite complex and that the other people who are with us, who hear and read the same sentence, have different understandings of what the sentence means. This suggests that the "truth" of a sentence can be either illusive or it may have mulitple meanings relative to the individual contemplating it. The sentence we wrote on our flip chart was, "We will be studying the great themes of the Bible." The words we dug into were: study, great, themes, and Bible. The meaning of those words apparently isn't all that easy to grasp. However, after significant discussion we did understand that at some level "themes" meant either "the meanings", "truths", or "spiritual goals" of the Bible. We also determined that for our purposes "The Bible" was in fact "God's written word to us." This was an "article of faith" and we didn't have time to explore that sentence, but trusted that we would in the future.

This Sunday we will explore the theme of "Honoring Parents." Why is it that God made such a big deal about this matter? What are parents? What is the meaning of the concept of honor? What is the benefit of honoring parents? What are the consequences of failing to honor parents? Is it a big deal or is it not? What does the world teach us about parents and how we should relate to them? Is the world's view in conflict with that of the view "commanded" in the Bible? I think this could take most of the one hour we have. Sixty minutes goes by slowly if you are looking at the seconds tick away, but not if you are flying through a "Great Theme" with your unbelieveablly wonderful mind. I can't wait until tomorrow.

It is Hard to Have Friends Who are Hurting.

Wouldn't it be nice if you always knew that everyone that you ever came into contact with was having a great day? Wouldn't it be awesome to know that everyone who was having a great day would have one great day after another for the rest of their lives? Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone always succeeded, always deserved the best, always got the best, and continually were able to praise the Lord for the fact that they were never, ever in any pain or discomfort? Sounds like heaven to me. Perhaps that is what heaven will be like. However, it is certainly not how it is on this planet, at this time, in this universes, in our lives. There is pain all around us and you don't have to look far.

I just purchased a new computer as the one we had before was over ten year old. It could no longer handle the challenges of the anti-virus programs much less some of the new operating systems and updated application software. We were becoming vulnerable to viruses and hackers, so, to the recycling plant it went. This new one is a "screamer" by comparison, though I know that it will be slow in another two or three years as the computer industry routinely obsolesces one model after another keeping us on this vicious treadmill of technological one-up-man-ship. It must be nice to create the very need you are equipped to meet. Such a deal! Such a pain in the pocket book.

On this computer I have high speed Internet access and by pushing one button I can have at my fingertips the New York Times, CNN, Washington Post, L.A. Times, MSN News, AOL News, Reuters, and more. Within a few seconds I can scan the world and see if there is any pain going on in people's lives. Needless to say...there is perhaps more pain than not, more agony that happiness, more abuse than caring, more selfishness than love. It sometimes amazes me that people have children at all considering the consequences. Yet, for some reason, God gave us this desire to live, to multiply, to survive despite what we might be facing.

Actually, it is more common that people are nice to each other, or tolerate each other regularly. When you think of population of the United States being somewhere in excess of three hundred million people, if cooperation wasn't the norm then we would all be beat up, or broke, or dead. I think that in large part it is the nature of the new media to make things seem that they are worse than they actually are. However, there is plenty of pain out there.

"I will pray for you." You know, that is so easy to say. Yet, my guess is that most of us who say that sometimes don't actually do the praying. It is what I like to call "Christian Chatter" or our "Religious Code" that we use. It makes us feel real good about ourselves...if we don't think about it too much. At the same time we "believe" that it makes others feel better, more loved, that someone actually cares about them. But, it is pretty easy to say. So often things that are easy aren't worth much.

Don't get me wrong! Prayer is by all measures vastly important for the believer. There is nothing wrong with telling someone that you are praying for them. BUT, I THINK YOU'D BETTER BE DOING IT. Saying that you are praying for someone and not praying for them is in fact, not praying for them. In fact it is fraud. Christ takes some pretty hard shots at the "Super Spiritual" types who pray in public and put on a good show. To Christ their prayers are hollow, simply sounding brass. He encourages the private prayer. The closet prayer. The prayer from the heart that is between each of His children and Him alone. If you pray for someone, pray with deep compassion and love and sincerity, and if He answers your prayer for another because of His relationship with you, to glorify himself...why boast? Oh, to know that God answered your prayer for another because He loves you! You can't tell that to someone else...all you can do is bask in the sweetness of it.

So, pray. But, don't just say. And then, after we have prayed what shall we do? Hey...we thought about someone, we prayed in faith about someone, now let's act on someone's behalf. Let's act. "Thoughts and Faith and Action" baby. That is what this web page is all about. Let's take some concrete actions. That Samaritan of old had no monopoly on "doing" the right thing. Think about doing right things for those in pain and need. Think about it, but do something. In action you will be fulfilling the desire of God's heart. You will be the hands and feet of Jesus.

In Our Class We Will be Buddies

We had twenty-five in our class this last Sunday morning for the 7th-9th grade men. That is an increase of four and is a good thing. We continued to set the ground rules and expectation level for our time together. The first week we covered John Chapter 3 and Christ's conversation with Nicodemus about how we must be born not only in the flesh of our bodies, but also in the eternal spirit which is a gift from God to us through His son Jesus Christ. It is always good to review especially when the review is about such a wonderful and incredibly important subject as our eternal life in relationship to our creator.

This week we did a short review on John Chapter 3, then added some additional text, which the men in our class are going to have to look up on their own. I am not going to do all the work. We talked about Jesus meeting with two other people. One is the Samaritan woman at the well. The other is the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus by the rulers of Israel. We consider the application of the term "bipolar." Magnets are this way with each end being either negatively or positively charged. From physics we know that opposite ends attract and like ends repulse. There is something magic about magnets and there is power in them too. We also talked about how some folks have a mental disorder known as being "bipolar". Victims will have wildly swinging emotional states that are uncontrollable. A person can go from being very excited and happy one moment to instantly depressed within seconds. It is a terrible problem to those who suffer such mental challenges. It is part of the "brokenness" we all experience at some level in our fallen world. I am thankful for the medical people who have studied mental health issues. They have done so much for those who suffer such deseases and have contributed to making lives more whole than they would otherwise be. But the idea of a "bipolar" situation means that we are presented with extreme opposites and that is what Christ does in these stories.

Nicodemus was part of the ruling class, a Pharisee. He would have been highly educated and somewhat wealthy. He came to Christ in the night as he was afraid of what his peers would think of him having a personal discussion with the man they were growing to hate. On the other end of the spectrum of society Christ meets with the Samaritan woman who Nicodemus's friends would have considered an outcast or unclean. Also, the woman taken in adultery was considered so unclean and sinful as to be worthy to be put to death. Christ talks to all three, both ends of society, the high and the low, and he tells them exactly the same thing. You need to be saved and I am the one who can and will accomplish this for you. "Believe in me...drink of my living spirit" and you will be saved. The Gospel (Good News) of Jesus Christ knows NO special classification. It covers, "to the opposite polls," the human experience. As God separates us from our sin as far as the east is from the west, so he embraces people regardless of social status, ethnic background, health, intelligence, body type, whatever "defining differences" we humans can come up with in our sin filled and broken world .

Our ground rule is simple, yet it is so difficult. We want our class to be like Christ. We want to embrace and love everyone. Everyone is welcome. We are not to have cliques, clubs, exclusive friendships. We are to look for the weak and help them to strengthen. We are to be compassionate and forgiving when someone is having a bad day or is perhaps ill. Our ground rule is that here, in our class, we are all part of the same team, the Body of Christ.

Our First Flight! Sunday September 9th!

One would think that the "New Year" would start on January the first. Not so! For me the new year is the beginning of the Sunday morning class for the 7th through 9th grade men at church. It is also when the 10th through 12th grade men's group starts meeting on Sunday night for their small group Bible study. We took off with the younger men in our new "digs" at the elementary school near by. We have the entire gym to ourselves. There is plenty of floor for smooth and or crash landings. We do miss our old room. One thing was apparent; we have room to grow. So, we prayed about this matter and are going to trust the Lord to bring more friends to the class to study Scripture together and share our lives. Instead of making someone who answers a questions with "that question" doing push ups...we decided that running laps could be the way to go. Maybe we could have the culprit run "heart attacks" between the center court line and the base line? Look out now. Plug in your brains or you will be running and running hard!

This coming Sunday night should be the kick off for the older men. I am looking forward to this time together very much. Many of the members of last year's group have moved to serving the junior high "Oasis" team that night and will no longer be able to attend. I am sad that they will not be with us, but I am glad that they are serving the Lord in this time and not wasting it. It is never a waste to lovingly reach down to those younger than yourself and help them up and along. I am sure that there will be others who will be able to join us and I look forward to meeting them and getting off the ground. This is my favorite time of the year! It doesn't get any better than this.

As the season is upon us we will get this blog out to everyone. Please read the title vision and the first post entitled "Humble Beginnings." This will give you a sense of what we are attempting to do with this sight. If you have time to read others that would be good and I'd love your comments. We will be posting reviews of our discussions, dates of events, questions that have come up, and other general information as it comes to us. Please access the sight multiple times per week as I hope to make multiple entries as the week progresses to the upcoming Sunday classes.

Amazed by the Palm in My Hand!

Reading has become a passion for me. I have had dozens and dozens of hobbies over the years. I have failed at almost all of them with the notable exception of riding bicycles. I am pretty good at that and have enjoyed it ever since I was ten years old. I've tried to build models of cars and airplanes and ships. I have attempted the Cutty Sark a thousand times, so it seems. With the opening of each new model came the dream that this time it would end up just like the picture on the box top. Sadly, after many hundreds of attempts and many hundreds of dollars, none ever looked anywhere as nice as the pictures. Those who were real model makers were bonified artists. I am not. Oh, well. So I would try my hand at music. Ask any family member if I am in fact a musician. Be sure you have ear protection on when they tell you , they scream at you, that I am no violinist! Painting, wood burning, drawing, chess, checkers, running, weight lifting, singing are just some of the "tried and false" hobby starts for me. There are more, but I don't want to embarrass myself too much. It is one thing to be honest. It is another to beat up on yourself. Life is hard enough. I'll stop with the hobby list now.

During my official educational career I was a poor to slow reader. That always bothered me. I wanted to be an English teacher. I loved stories. Literature always seemed to benefit my being. The Bible was a book. To be able to really read it and understand it felt so necessary. All the way through college I read slowly. I had good to excellent comprehension, but I simply could not read fast enough to get enough of what I needed to know into my mind in time to get the excellent grades required. I graduated from the twelfth grade in 1970 and from college with a bachelor's degree in 1981. I was on the eleven year college program. As I said, I was a slow reader. That made my official educational training twenty-three years long. It took me a long time to read a book.

Something happened to me. Something in me clicked about eight years ago. I would have been forty-seven years old. I am not sure what it was. I did get seamless trifocal glasses at about that time. That may have had something to do with it, but there is more than just the pieces of glass I wear on my nose. Suddenly I developed a burning desire to read and read and read. I pursued this desire and ordered video courses on the subject and I studied them diligently. The passion did not pass. It grew. A year went by and I continued to practice. I got faster and faster maintaining the same comprehension levels as before. I got faster and faster and my comprehension levels went up. I got faster and faster and I started to have more and more fun. I began and now do love to read. I just love it.

During this period I discovered the new technology of eBooks. They are electronically stored books that can be read using a computer. I purchased an RCA iBook about five years ago. It was great and I stored almost one hundred books on it. Sadly that company went out of business. The idea stuck with me though and I kept my eye out for and read in the computer trade magazines anything that sounded interesting associated with eBooks. I discovered that the Palm company, famous for inventing the handheld computer, had purchased the electronic library of the RCA machine company which had gone out of business. They improved it and came out with a large screened Palm and the necessary software to download and read eBooks. I had business reasons for purchasing a new Palm Pilot. I went with the Palm T/X which is pictured above. It is pretty pricey, but it is very capable. It plays music in the MP3 format, it plays video, it has scheduling programs, writing programs, MS Word and Excel, a vivid color screen and more. It has a memory slot that will take as much memory as can be purchased. I bought a 512 megabyte card for it, which now can be replaced with as much as 4 gigabytes. Wow! I may have to get me one of them cards!

Here is the kicker. In the old RCA machine I stored 100 plus books the size of "War and Peace." (I calculated one time that this would represent a bookshelf twenty-five feet long.) If you don't know it, that is a very large book. In that machine I had 128 megabits of memory. It was the size of a medium hard covered book. The Palm T/X operates even more smoothly. It is a sort of "Next Generation" in eBook readers. It is also more flexible as the RCA could only read books. The Palm fits in the "palm of your hand." I can surf the Internet using my WiFi modem, make phone calls, schedule, and play a seemingly infinite number of computer games on the Palm. With the memory I can store as many as 400 books such as "War and Peace." If I purchase a 4 gigabyte card...well, you do the math! The slots on the left side of the carrying case are for extra cards. What if I have three 4 gigabyte cards! Well, you do the math! You will need a computer. The Palm can do the calculating for you. I'm thinking I could download into the palm of my hand the entire Library of Congress if it were on a compatible data base. I think it is! Wow!

In the Palm of my hand I hold a man made miracle. It is that indeed. It is beyond comprehension for this fifty-five year old man. Oh, and I can download all the files to my laptop computer and it has a sixty gigabyte hard drive. Well, you do the math! So, I asked myself, "What should I download first?" The answer was simple.

The "Bible" seemed so important and necessary to read and understand. So, I did.

Plato Seems Timeless

I have been working on The Dialogues of Plato for the past week and a half. I thought that I was a fairly well educated fellow. Now I know that I am not, but I am getting closer as I consume what this man had to say almost 2400 years ago. Much of what is taken as twenty first century dogma in western culture can be traced back to the thoughts and writings of this most brilliant person. I will look up some web sights for you and link them to this entry as soon as I figure out how to do it. If you are interested in pursuing more information about him and his times this may help. All this because I saw "300".

Plato's most famous dialogue is his Republic. In this work he develops a discussion between Socrates and some other Athenian citizens. The subject of much of the effort is the determination as to whether justice or injustice is the strongest of the two opposites. Plato works to define what the terms mean, what opposites represent, who is just and unjust, and how does philosophy factor into determining which is best. In the writing Plato develops a theoretical, perfect State. By doing so he brings his readers along in the process of answering the questions mentioned. The general perspective during Plato's life on government was that the strong are the ones entitled to rule and the injustice that they used was "good" in the sense that it accomplished the goals of the strong. The strong then benefited to a great degree, much greater than the just. In fact the just were stepped on and suffered and even mocked as being unjust. Society simply accepted this point of view. It was almost "Darwinian" in outlook, survival and dignity to the fittest, the strongest, the unjust. By creating a perfect republic on a "societal level" Plato was able to show that a state that operated on just principles was better than one that operated unjustly. By proving that justice worked on a large scale he argues that it follows that justice would work best individually as well. The reading is just amazing. It is a fun exercise for the mind. In it you find some phrases that the Apostle Paul used also in his letters. This interested me.

As a result I read again Paul's writings. He was sent by the Lord to witness the good news to the gentiles. The gentiles were the Romans and the Greeks as those cultures dominated the known western world. He tried to meet them where they were philosophically, at many levels. Much of the systematic thought process Paul used was perhaps "Platonic" at its root as he wanted to be listened to. An interesting thought came to me as I read Paul and compared him to Plato. Though Plato dazzled my mind...the book of "Romans" written by Paul demonstrated to me that Paul wasn't out to dazzle me. It became obvious to me that Paul loved me. He wanted me to embrace not him, but Jesus. He wanted desperately for me to live forever at the feet of Jesus. I'll take Paul any day. But, Plato helped me too. He made me appreciate Paul all the more.

Forgive Me! There Appears to be a Failure to Communicate

Please forgive me. I think that I've failed to communicate. I have reread my last blog. I am sort of cheap when it comes to purchasing things and I do let things wear out pretty bad before I replace them. However, as I looked at it I decided that it could be interpreted that I am some kind of environmental example for all young people and that I was trying to make others feel guilty about their materialism as if I had somehow reached some higher plane of spiritual existence. "Grasshopper, you must wait twenty years to have what is in your dreams." Nothing could be further from the truth. I am sure that if someone were to take an inventory of what I've prematurely thrown out in my life, if my purchases were all reviewed for their spiritual value, and every item was defined as either a want or a need...I would flunk like so many other Americans. As a matter of fact I am sure quite a few Europeans would flunk also. I too have been bitten by the newness syndrome. I have often fallen for slick marketing and considered myself before others. I have also satisfied many wants rather than being content with the answers to my true needs. My point was that we should at least take a look at ourselves, our things, and our motivations. And, we must not forget the elderly, what they are worth to God and what they should be worth to all of us.

Three main thoughts: 1) Failure to inspect, too see danger, can have terrible consequences. As a metaphor this can reach into many areas of our lives. 2) We throw things out too readily and create waste which is not something that our Lord would want us to do. Paul calls us to a spiritual contentment. Justice issues flow from this. 3) We must search (inspect our hearts) as it pertains to our elders and not marginalize them, but rather work to incorporate them into our lives in a meaningful way. We can bless them and they us beyond our wildest imaginations.

Speaking of New Decks. How About Old Friends?

The 35 W bridge that collapsed was getting a new deck surface at the time of the disaster. Speaking of new decks, to avoid the same thing at my home, but on a lesser scale, I have had our home's cedar deck rebuilt. I feel better about this new object in my life than I would about purchasing and driving a new car off the show room floor. I have dreamed about this deck for twenty years. You may think that this is odd. Here I am, a grown man, dreaming of a new deck for twenty years. You might be thinking that he could have rebuilt the deck years ago. Why didn't he just hire someone 19 years ago and get all this dreaming stuff over with. Well, its a long story.

I won't got into detail other than to say that the original deck was perfectly sound from a structural standpoint, almost up to the point that I had it rebuilt. The problem was that the deck was made almost completely out of cedar. Strange, I stated that I always wanted a cedar deck. I already had one! The problem was that the original owner, or perhaps the builder, had painted the deck with a latex, exterior paint at the time that the cedar was green. That term means that the wood had be recently cut and was fresh and not seasoned with age. Cedar will not take paint when it is green. Cedar actually is one of the most paint resistant woods out there. The result was that the paint kept peeling off and the deck looked terrible. I tried power washing, sanding, scrubbing and more. I could not get the wood back to an unfinished state as some paint always stuck enough to make it look bad. I had to repaint it numerous times starting the peeling process over again. I could not bring myself to tear up all that good lumber, that was structurally sound, just because it didn't look good. So, for twenty years I tolerated the peeling paint and the extra work to keep it up. Finally, there was enough rot in the railings, banisters, and deck that I had to do something. I didn't want someone to step through a hole in the decking or crash through a weakened railing. It had to be replaced. Now I finally have my heart's desire; as it pertains to decks.

We live in what is called the disposable culture. It seems that we dump good stuff and replace it with new stuff all the time. It is about stuff. How long should "stuff" last? Certainly it should last longer than most of us keep it. To tell you the truth I love to wear cars out. If I don't have ten years on a car I might as well be driving a new one. Currently we have a 1995,1998, and 2002. I am feeling a tad guilty about the 2002. I go to my favorite department store and buy new clothes once every 18 months or so whether I need to or not. Until I started cutting my own hair a couple of years ago I used to get a haircut three times a year whether I could see through my bangs and hear through the hair over my ears or not. My favorite shoes are Rockport walking shoes. I purchase the same style once every two years...and so it goes. Some might say that if I made more money I would replace things more often. However, I hope that isn't true. I'd like to make enough money to see if I would stick by my guns. As Teveiv in Fiddler on the Roof said,"It's no shame to be poor, but it's not great honor either."

My wife was in Honduras this year and saw first hand some people who lived at and in a dump. Their means of making a living was to sort through the garbage of the town searching for those things that could be recycled. They sought after plastic and metal objects for the most part. If they had been at one of our country's dumps they would have thought that they had struck a gold mine. On a good day they are able to perhaps earn fifty cents. That is it. There is something profoundly wrong here. There should not be such abject poverty, there should not be such terrible waste. Somewhere there is a middle ground. We need to do something to find that place where everyone can stand with dignity and say that they care for, and are good stewards of, the resources God has given them. A place where we can say honestly that we care for the other less advantaged people of the earth who are equally made in God's image. First things first. Perhaps the people before the garbage? I'll let you think about that. It is not a simple problem.

One of the world's greatest resources that we are so guilty of not taking care of is the elderly. In our society and perhaps in the Church body. I was talking to Chris Atkins the other day and he told me that he has been given a burden for the elderly by the Lord. He has developed a worship ministry specifically for older believers. It is meant to give them a place to go and hear the church music that they grew up with. It gives them a time of fellowship and worship with people who are their peers. It is called Seniors Unleashed. I admire Chris for his obedience. We miss so much when we ignore our elders. Certainly Scripture tells us to respect them. Our society does not. They get in our way so we put them aside. They walk too slowly, they always look like they are about to fall over, they slow us down at the check out line of Cub Foods as they fumble with their coupons and challenge the cashier's totals (they are, after all, on a fixed income), they drive too slow, they cause accidents (never mind that teens have accidents by the thousands more), they need help crossing the street, they cost us tax dollars for their medicines, they have a hard time voting for school referendums as their kids have been grown for 60 years, we always have to repeat ourselves because of their bad hearing, they are always going to funerals, and worst thing is that they remind us in living color that we too, someday, will be aged and finally die. How dare they? So, we put them away, aside from us in many different ways. This is to our detriment.

When one of my daughters was only seven years old she asked me, "Daddy, why are old people so nice?" I think that this question says it all. We need the elderly. We need their joy. We need their strength. We need them to tell us about how there used to be less crime, that being a gentleman is a good thing, that being a mother is of the greatest value, that there is more to life than going to the trendiest restaurant, owning the newest of cars, buying the most stylish clothes. We need them to tell us stories of trials and tribulations, of successes followed by failure followed by new successes. We need them to tell us about God's faithfulness to them through the thick and thin of life. Without them sharing with us their lives we loose perspective on not only who we are, but who we aught to be, what we should aspire to become. We need them in our lives and active so that we can become what God wants us to become. When we fail to appreciate our aged we become fools.

The old deck of mine was perfectly good though it was not as beautiful as I would have like. It served us well for twenty years. We had many a nice meal on it. We sat together as a family and with friends to listen to the birds and the wind rustling through the trees of the neighborhood. It kept us above the mosquitoes so we could be outside for an extra hour or two each night. It never failed us. Even at the point when it needed to be replaced I actually only needed to repair it. The main sub structure was still as solid as a rock. What were we able to give to the Lord in the intervening twenty years that we could not have done if we had spent over three thousand dollars on an all new one when the old was still strong? What trees were able to grow taller because their predecessors still held strong? It seems a lame example, but it is not shallow. We need to use things up properly and do it in a big time way. If we as a nation, if the world as a whole did this, things would be much better. We need to use up our elderly in a better, more godly way. We should build them up not push them away. We need to let them know that they are extremely important to us. They really are. If you don't think so you need to talk to an senior citizen soon and talk to them for a long, long time. You need to make a senior a friend. You will be the wiser for it. You will be blessed.

"...Bridge Is Falling Down, Falling Down..."

The appointment I had with the doctor was on Tuesday at 4:30 in the afternoon. I left my office at 3:30 and took Highway 36 west bound to 35W. Continuing south on 35W my car lazily meandered through the curves that mirror the Mississippi River's path and gradually went up the grade which is the bridge that crosses the river, just a tad south and east of the Metrodome. I looked out the window of my car to the right and I could see where the Twins play baseball in the summer, the lock on the river that gracefully raises and lowers boats, and the Stone Arch Bridge. That bridge is most beautiful from an architectural perspective. I am so glad that it was saved and rebuilt. Beautiful things are important. The river is low due to the hot and dry summer we are having. There was a fine dust in the air created by heavy construction machines, which were grinding away the top two or three inches of old concrete on the bridge deck, readying it for a fresh surface. Those international orange traffic cones seem to be everywhere. Some jack hammers were running. I could hear their thudding over the music I was playing on my radio. Traffic was moving along well, though only the two most outside lanes were open. They had been completely resurfaced and the construction crew had moved their heavy equipment to the middle lanes of the bridge. If I hadn't looked to the right I would not have known that I was on a bridge almost 70 feet above our nation's most written about river. I was heading towards the I-94 west exit which would take me around the southern perimeter of downtown Minneapolis, up the west bound entrance of 394 to Highway 55 and my appointment. I made the trip uninterrupted in a most uneventful way. The cabin of my car was cool as my air conditioning was functioning well despite the heat. If not for the events of the next day I would not even remember that I had made that journey. It was so routine. It was so much a normal part of my life. I have made that journey for one reason or another a thousand times in the past fourteen years. No big deal.

It became a big deal on Wednesday August 1, 2007, the "Next" day after my crossing. For some, unknown as yet reason, the bridge came "...falling down." On the deck were dozens of cars, trucks, and at least one school bus. The dust that rose was not from the machinery this time, rather it was from the crumbling of the concrete deck which turned to powder in some areas. The dust soon became augmented by black, petroleum based smoke as the fuel tanks of some cars and trucks ignited and the interiors of the vehicles melted and then flashed into open flames. Most walked away or were quickly carried away by volunteers and first responders who were randomly passing by or immediately called to the scene. Some were seriously injured and taken to the county hospital near by. Some laid pinned and or unconscious drowning as their vehicles filled with muddy Mississippi River water. There was no sound on the television screen as I watched this horrible event's aftermath, only silence, images, and my thoughts of the day before. Timing, in some very real sense...it is everything. Why them, why not me?

Being a fairly sober person I can not say that this event has cause me to have what is referred to as a sobering moment, nor was it a sobering experience for me. It has caused me to be even more reflective than I normally am. It causes me to think about my fragility from a physical perspective. It makes me think of how the things we humans build are seemingly awe inspiring, immovable, giant, forever. But they only seem that way. There are forces at play that are so, so much greater no matter how big and strong we make things. It causes me think about how life goes on as I went to work this morning, uninterrupted, even while there were bodies still not recovered, and families desperate for information about a missing loved one. The radio played the same music, people made jokes, the sun still rose, money still has to be made, earned, and spent. Groundhog Day. The bridge came to an end yesterday...lives passed into eternity along with it. A bridge will be built in its place, stronger, more spectacular, safer, more enduring. It too, someday, will come down. The ones loved will never return. Then I think that some day I will go and never return.

It begs a question for all of us at times like these. When we go, for we all went yesterday at some spiritual level, where will we end up? If you were to physically die today do you know for sure where you will go? Where will you end up? By faith I know the answer to this haunting question. I do not speculate about it. For me to be absent from my body is to be in the heavenly presence of Jesus Christ. I have the ultimate fire insurance policy. I have what we in evangelical circles call eternal security in my hip pocket. That is cool. That is tight, as my kids would say. But at a deep spot in my spirit it is not enough. I don't want to just live forever with God, whatever that means. I want more. What I want is meaning, meaning for not tomorrow, but for today. I want to know the "what for" of my being.

As I listen to the media go on and on about the poor people and the deficient bridge, the question that keeps being asked is, "Why did the bridge collapse?" Then they ask, "Who is to blame for this disaster?" "Are there other bridges that are on the verge of falling too?" "What can we do to avoid crossing dangerous, deficient bridges?" "These poor people will have died for nothing unless we can find out the why and work to avoid the again." Don't those question apply to some of our daily lives? I think some of us think that if we were to die tomorrow it wouldn't be fare. After all, we would have had so much to have lived for, we are too, too young. Our kids still need us. God should be more fare. Some of us, if we lost a loved one, would first ask who was at fault. What did my loved one do to deserve to die? And in such a way! Some will blame chance, fate, luck, others, and some, maybe most, will blame God. Many will try to live their lives attempting to figure out how not to die. They will insulate themselves from the world as best they can. They will drive as little as possible, they will never fly, they will always buckle up, they will purchase cars they can not afford because the car has the most five star safety ratings, they will wear helmets, they will always cross at the corners, and will (ironically) have great life insurance policies. Oh, and bottled water is the only thing to touch their lips. Eat a quarter pounder with cheese!? You could die! Eat an apple or have some broccoli.

Jesus Christ has given us so much more than a fire insurance policy. He came to set us free from sin and from death so that we can live our lives and live them more abundantly. Setting us free from sin...that is a right now thing! To be free from sin is to be able to really live. And why live...?...so that we can demonstrate God's mighty worth, His immeasurable value, His incomparable beauty, His wondrous grace, in every second of every day of our lives. The Apostle Paul said, "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain." He didn't live afraid of the bridges in his life collapsing. He lived every moment knowing the why, knowing that is was by God's grace that he lived at all, and that his heavenly father was going to keep him by His side from Paul's now to Paul's and God's forever. The bridge in Paul's journey, it was built by God and Paul knew so by faith.

There is a famous, old hymn. Its chorus goes; On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand. How appropriate a teaching in light of yesterday's unfortunate event in Minneapolis. Are the bridges in your life, seeking towards God, built by men, is that where your trust is? Or, is the bridge in your life leading you to God built by God himself, for you, for your now and forever? Yesterday the gap being crossed was from the east bank of the Mississippi River to the west. For me it lead to a doctor's office the day before. To some on Wednesday it lead to home, a store, a job, a baseball game, to eternity with or without God. We trust the bridges people construct. These bridges fail us. All human bridges will fail ultimately. I am happy to say that the gap that I am crossing is the one that is between me and the wonderful God who created me. It is a gap caused by sin (my rebellious nature against God) and, by my heavenly father's grace, He has placed a bridge in the person of Jesus Christ, that will never, never fail. It will get me to my final end and way...full of joy and love. There will be no rust nor decay...no dust and twisted metal.

The Tour de France Always Gets Me Going.

I finally broke it out...my dusty bike. I've been putting it off for I dreaded the hard work of getting back into shape. I just could not imagine putting up with the pain of pushing hills when I knew I had allowed my weight to get over 50 pounds greater than what is optimal for me. It came on slowly, the weight, until finally I found myself almost glued to the couch. But my heart has always been excited about biking. My parents gave me my first ten speed in 1962. It was a time when those types of bikes were very, very rare. It was actually professional in quality and to a degree too large for me. But, I managed and off I went. Learning to shift took some tears and trials and my father's patience I will for ever be thankful for. Once I got the hang of it I became mesmerized by the speed and distance. At the ripe old age of 10 I rode fifteen miles from my home in Denver to the Rocky Mountain foot hills and back. My folks never knew. I remember no fear and always knowing where I was. All of a sudden I could go places my parents took us in a car. I LOVED IT! I have ridden bicycles seriously ever since. At one time in my late 30's and early 40's I was riding nearly 300 miles per week. Not a lot of people do that. Talk about being in shape. Health matters have slowed me down some and the complexities of life too. My love for the bicycle has not abated.

I remember being challenged to a race by a fellow named Ray. He was the neighborhood bully. Looking back I now understand that he was jealous of the new kid's bike. He too had a ten speed, but it was a toy by comparison to mine. It had only 26 inch wheels and had knobby tires. Mine had full 27 inch wheels and I had what are called sew up racing tires. Though his bike was smaller it was perhaps 40% heavier. The most important thing was that mine was geared much, much higher. With his smaller wheels and lower gear ratios Ray took off to an early lead. Since the race was around a huge suburban block (over one half mile) I was not worried. My dad had taught me about gearing and strategy. I reeled good old Ray in at about the half way point. When I passed him I was just hitting my stride. I looked at him and knew he was exhausted. I proceeded to bury him. He was so far behind me when I passed the finish line, where all of my friends and his victims were, it was a joke. When Ray finished he didn't stop. He went right home...I think to avoid shame and to throw up. What a day, what a race, what a memory. That my friends was 45 years ago and I remember it like it was yesterday. I was never bullied by Ray, though he had opportunity. He never spoke to me again. I was all right with that. He never knew what hit him...ha, ha.

I am riding again. I hope to get back some of my discipline. I saw a T-shirt one time that said, "Pain is weakness leaving the body." There is some truth to that . I am continually reminding myself of that thought as I ride while out of shape. It hurts pretty badly. But, with each successive day the pain becomes less and less and my average speed and pushable gear ratios go higher and higher. So far I have ridden about 150 miles in the past two weeks. That is not much, but I am breaking through. I'll be in the 150 mile per week range in about another week or so. Perhaps I'll be able to do 300 in a week again, but not as quickly as before. I am now ten pounds down with another 40 to go. The hurt now feels good.

Discipline is something that we are told we need to live a full and productive life. In a future post I'll talk about discipline from a biblical basis. There is something mysterious about being a teen aged person. When a teen many of us feel that discipline is painful and must be avoided at almost all costs. There is an element of submission in it that we chafe at. Life is so much easier when you don't have to work at anything on a regular basis. Doing what you want to do and no more seems to be the goal. Acting in obedience to what someone else thinks is right causes us to dig our heals in. Yet, Scripture certainly points to discipline as necessary. As we grow older we realize that life without some level of discipline is most difficult if not impossible.

In the mean time I am going to continue to push those pedals. I can not wait until all that weakness has left my body and that extra weight too. To get a bicycle that is lighter by a pound or two over another bike could cost $200 per pound more. Just think how much money I'll be saving by loosing the extra weight that I am carrying around my middle section. Why, if I loose 50 pounds it will feel like I am riding a bicycle that costs perhaps $10,000! Wow, wouldn't that be great! Something tells me that the physics of bike riding won't work out exactly that way (I'll have to talk to my old friend Andrew about that), but it is fun to dream.

Large Coffee Goes Above 3 Bucks! I'm Seeing Stars!

Speaking of the business market Starbucks has announced that it will be raising its prices, as of July 31, 2007, about three percent on all prepared coffee products. A large cup of coffee will now break the $3.00 plateau. For a business to take such a step is quite dangerous...it can scare the CEO big time. This does not apparently include the prices on the whole and ground beans that they sell nor on the other "on the shelf" items that they market. Food is going to be left alone. Starbucks says that it is increased production costs due to fuel and rising raw product expense that has forced them to make this decision. There you go...more money will be coming into Starbucks and interestingly their stock price went right up. I wonder if the growers will see even a penny more? They were vague on what is driving production costs up. Their corporation will be pocketing the increased cash. Here is a short entry that I placed on a blog sight, again, just for fun.

I will still purchase coffee at Starbucks, but less of it. I like the store nearest me as they provide a wonderful reading environment. I enjoy a good book and a nice, large (Venti), dark roast cup of coffee. (I add cream and three packets of Equal. I like sweet and smooth.) That atmosphere is actually more important to me than the products they serve. At the same time I have to admit to a fondness for McDonald's premium coffee, which I understand is produced for them by Maxwell House. Though M. H. "is the richest kind", Starbucks will certainly take that honor, or better "you will have to be of the richest type" to pony up for a cup of their Joe. If I were in the driver's seat at Starbucks, I'd raise the price if I felt I had too, but going over $3.00 for a cup...that would make me loose some sleep perhaps more than the caffeine would.

I may have to give up my reading space at the local Starbucks because of cost...maybe I'll have to read at home. I can give up coffee if I have to. I am not so sure about books. Is there something in your life that perhaps you feel you need to give up? I remember the story of the rich young ruler and the question that he asked Christ. "What must I do to follow...?" The reply..."give it ALL up and let's go!" (my little paraphrase) Sadly the young man could not let go of his worldly possessions nor his concerns. So, he walked away. Sometimes we are following Christ, or at least we think we are. We read Scripture and the Holy Spirit convicts us that we need to improve or go another direction. We need to give up a coffee of sorts in our lives. These things can be hard to do. What do you do when you come to that realization? Some times it is a thing, some times a behavior, some times it is about giving up control of your life. Whatever the case may be, letting go of something we are fond of having or doing can be difficult to the extreme.

What helps me most is gaining God's perspective on the issue at hand. Where can we go to get good perspective? Pilots go to their instruments. Tired boxers go to their corner to recover some between rounds and listen to their managers. Lost hikers will seek higher ground to either see better where they are or, if they have a GPS device, connect with at least three satellites. As Christians, where should we go? First, I would suggest the Bible. If you are looking to get into some serious Bible study I know a place where you can get it. Just give me a jingle. It is also a nice place to read at instead of Starbucks. Secondly, I would suggest a trusted adult who is a longer time follower of Christ than you. Thirdly, I would strongly suggest prayer. Those are the three sources I would go to for new perspective and not necessarily in that order, but all three without fail...kind of like GPS satellites...you need three.

Life can be difficult at times. I am sure the decision to raise the price of a cup of coffee at Starbucks was the product of tremendous research, a study of the market place, and thorough evaluation of their variable and fixed expenses. Management had to see what could be saved or changed before making the decision to raise prices. The steaks are very high for them. Money earned by raising the price can be more than off set by lost revenue if people are unwilling to pay that extra three percent. Maybe Caribou will drop their prices three percent? Who knows? Time will tell.

We all need to make some difficult decisions in our lives. Some times we need to give something up. Sometimes we need to go another direction. What we need when we get to crossroads such as these is the best information we can get. With good information making a decision can be much easier, less stressful, and, most importantly more in accordance to God's will. Look to Scripture, look to those who have wisdom greater than yours (there is always a bigger fish), and talk to your "Heavenly Daddy."

Hail 14,000! Hail the Dow Jones Average!

I wrote this as a response to an article on AOL praising and questioning a new all time high reached by the stock market on July 19, 2007. I posted it on AOL and saw my work there, but a couple of hours later it was deleted though the other entries around it remained. Go figure. I just thought I'd let you guys look at it and comment if you so desire. I'll let it speak for itself, but you might find it a little politically threatening. I am willing to be challenged. Take me on. It will be fun.

The rich remain rich and prosper more. The poor remain poor, not poorer, just flat poor. The stocks are hot potatoes. They get warm, warmer, exciting, then too hot. As they begin to glow white from their heat (perhaps we are almost there) those who are best at the game drop them on those less expert. The great players remain__rich, and the others, well, they oft times get burned. Wages go down. Hopes for an early retirement gone, back most of us go to reality...creating our own livings with our hands, minds, and mostly time. Seems the money ends up in the same pockets and never really ends up changing the lives of those who are of lesser means. Yachts get bigger, hotels rise higher, Airbus builds ever bigger planes, Boeing ever faster, more efficient ones. More ways of taking others money are invented either by Madison or Pennsylvania Avenues. The control stays in the circle...the circle of the rich and the educated. I can not get too excited about the market...we celebrate ourselves, we don't help others. We celebrate the bigger house, the blacker BMW, the awesome HD wide screen in our entertainment rooms. But, real never seems to change much. When the bubble (illusion) bursts we cry for ourselves. I don't play, perhaps I am a fool, perhaps I am not smart enough, perhaps I know my limits, perhaps I've watched the system enough to know better. I have to keep reminding myself to not store up my treasures where moth and rust destroy. There are few things more rusty and moth eaten, less trust worthy, than our stock markets. Still, I guess I'll vote Republican again. I always have...somethings never change (maybe). But, I keep thinking...one can't eat carbon fibre or drink ethanol for breakfast. And, silicone chips go lousy with Easy Cheese.

Oh! My Aching Brain!

1. I don't have much to say with this post as I've been reading those Greek dramas and the philosophers for the past few weeks. I have also obtained, from a close friend, a three volume video series developed by an education service called The Learning Company. This video series is of college level lectures on ancient mythology which is both Greek and Roman. It has been wonderful in providing for me a more informed context. The professor helps with geographical insight, cultural meanings, time placement, religious thought, and world view understanding. Not only this but she helps me with pronunciation too. That actually is no small thing. It helps me to hear the word I see, mentally grasp it, and eliminates reading hiccups or blocks and I can cover more text with better understanding in less time. The reason that I don't have too much to say is that, "I think my brain is temporarily fried!" There is so much to contemplate. It is, to my view, most wonderful. Surprise, surprise I actually think that it is faith building. I will, in a later post, explain the irony of this. What I need to do is take some more time and sort my thoughts out before going to print with the ideas that I feel have come to me in this frenzy of ancient Greek reading.
   
   Here are are some of the thoughts that are swirling around in my mind:
   
   1. Ancient people were very, very religious.
   
   2. These same people were extremely pious.
   
   3. They thought the world flat, so they had a limited or wrong understanding.
   
   4. Though they had a wrong understanding of the world they certainly knew the human condition.
   
   5. They struggled with the same great questions we all do. We are, in this, the same.
   
   6. Why did bad things happen to good people? They had an answer for this, which is to some, shocking. It was the gods' fault. But, at some level are they not correct? Hummmmm?
   
   7. Sacrifice was key to religious expression.
   
   8. They were what is called fatalistic in their approach to life. Many of us actually are that way too.
   
   9. We think of Freud as the father of modern psychology yet much of what he said is mentioned thousands of years before by the Greeks. What does this mean?
   
   10. Blood sacrifice was essential for their gods. Why blood?
   
   11. Vegetable offerings were sometimes acceptable, but not always. Cane and his sin carried on.
   
   12. Religion and politics were mixed, but the potential for conflict was recognized.
   
   13. They honored and sought freedom, but they kept slaves. What parallels are here to modern cultures particularly our own?
   
   14. Representative democracy and court systems were in place before 600 B.C. We citizens of the USA have much to thank the Greeks for as pertaining to law, justice and governmental form. Do we owe as much to the Greeks and Romans as we do our Judeo/Christian heritage? Is our heritage as much Greek as it is Christian? Hummmmm?
   
   15. Personal honor was a paramount issue. Have we actually fallen behind ancient Greece in some ways?
   
   16. Women, though being thought of as property and even at times a curse, were of utmost importance to society and they lead a lot more than the ancients would admit. Yet, the dramatists certainly took shots at the traditional view of women's role in society compared to what power they actually exerted. Some things seen not to change much.
   
   17. The understanding of myth simply being a lie or a false view is not the understanding scholars or we should have. The myths of the Greeks and Romans were in fact the stories that defined the world that they lived in. What are our myths and how do they work in our 21st Century world? Can they be both good and bad? Myth seems to be found in every culture.
   
   18. Mixing politics and religious practice was considered very dangerous. Surprised?
   
   Wow! So much to contemplate. I'll take some time now to sort things out through a Biblical perspective. Then, hopefully, I'll be able to put into words some clear suggestions and righteous implications and communicate them clearly to you. In the mean time I'll continue to read, think, pray, and then later write.

So Much to Learn and So Little Time. It's Greek to Me!

Time waits for no man. Someone said that. I am not sure who. It could be a Roman quote. It could be a Persian quote. It could be an Arabic quote. It could be a Hebrew quote. It could be a Chinese quote. Maybe it was Ben Franklin. Perhaps it was Rodney Dangerfield! But, you know, it could be a Greek quote! I am really into the Greeks ever since I saw and then reviewed the movie "300" about the Spartans taking on the Persian armies of Xerxes at Thermopylae. The score, according to the Greek historian Herodotus, was 20,000 warriors of Xerxes dead to 300 Spartans lost, lead by their King Leonidas. It was pivotal in turning the tide of conquest away from the Greek city states. Once at war with each other they united against a common enemy, the Persian King Xerxes, who dreamed of conquering all of Europe to The Pillars of Hercules, what we now refer to as the "Rock of Gibraltar." (I like "Pillars of Hercules" much better.) Anyway, Tempus Fugit, literally Time is a Fugitive, or Time Flies. That is so true with me. It is what you could call a "multicultural truth." Oh, by the way, Xerxes turned tail and fled back to Persia from whence he came. Europe was never conquered by the Persians though the Ottomans later came close.

In the next month or so I am going to read all of the books that I have on the ancient Greeks. I'll be reading Plato, Aristotle, Homer, Herodotus, Thucydides, Socrates, Aeschylus, Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and Hippocrates. These books are part of my Britannica Great Books collection that I inherited from my father. I've seen this collection at the Half Price Book Stores on a number of occasions. The collection didn't change from 1952 to the year 2000. Then in 2001 they added six books that contained works from the 20th Century. Their thought behind adding them was that it takes time before something can be consider truly classic and great. The books that they included in the new edition go up to 1950. The editors are reticent to consider anything newer than fifty years as old enough to be classical. The edition I have includes works up to, but not including the 20th Century. When I see these sets at the store I discover that most of the books have not even been opened much less read. The gold gilding on the top, which acts as dust and humidity protection for the books, is still stuck to itself. This means that the books were never even opened...time flew for someone I guess. I have already made a significant dent in this collection as I have read Homer, Herodotus, Aeschylus, and much of Plato. Plato I have read sections only. I am going to start each of the other Greeks, and Plato, at the beginning of their writings and take them all the way through to the end. This should be interesting. I can't wait to get them all "inside my head" and see what that leads too. I've got perhaps six weeks of reading ahead of me. I am constantly entertained.

I listened to one of the great American literature critics one time on a television interview. His name is Harold Bloom. He noted to his interviewer, Charlie Rose, that we have just so many years, months, and days that we are allowed to live. His passion is the writings of the great men and women of history. He admonished anyone who was listening to not waste time. Don't read poor quality books. Rather, read that which (We) know is great and worthwhile. He reminded Charlie that some people are truly gifted and in differing ways. Some are great painters. Some are great authors and poets. Some are great scientists...and some are great readers. He said we should listen to those who are great readers. He humbly admitted that he was in that classification...he was not bragging. He just wanted to help those who want to know what to read with the finite time they have to read. "Read the good books!" was Mr. Bloom's admonishment, "Let me help you choose, please." Well, I am off on that journey and I hope you find a journey of your own.

I was raised in a church and in a family that valued The Bible above all other books. I trust that you have that same value. At our current church we value it so highly that we refer to it as God's Word. I am not sure that Mr. Bloom has that same value scale, but he does respect Scripture very much. I've spent years studying "The Bible" and I will not stop now. Lord willing, I'll be able to continue to teach from it. At the same time I believe that it is a mistake to think that God wants us to be exclusive in our studies. I believe He desires that we get to know and understand our fellow men/women as thoroughly as we can. In doing so we will be better able to walk in their shoes, understand where they are coming from, and better help them to understand how God has worked throughout human history to save us all through His grace. Don't neglect your Biblical studies. At the same time be curious about the world. There are great men and women out there who can teach us much about life and understanding them, too, helps us know ourselves and our Lord better.

Off I go to the deck and more Greek readings. Time is a wasting. What are you learning about God, your life, and the lives of others this week? Don't be bored. There is not excuse considering what is out there to read!

As Close or Closer than a Brother

"After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. From that day Saul kept David with him and did not let him return to his father's house. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt." I Samuel 18:1-4 NIV

We have covered the biblical story of the relationship of Jonathan and David a number of times from multiple angles in both our Sunday school class and in small group. I have added a picture of a fellow by the name of Tim (Timothy) and his sister Vickie (Victoria) to the blog. I did so to illustrate a point and also make a statement. I have known Tim and his sister for 45 years. I met Tim when we were going into sixth grade. One fond memory I have of him was that he had a lead part in a sixth grade school play. He was a little Dutch boy and was the hero. He got the girl! The title of the show (I think) was Windmills of Holland. He sang a solo whose lyrics went something like this: "Windmills of Holland are turning, round and around and around. Slowly, sedately, majestic, and stately, around they goooo." I find it interesting that I remember that little play and can sing that song to this day...forty-five years later.

Tim and I continued to grow, we went to high school together, he came to know the Lord as his personal savior there, he and I were involved with Campus Life (he more than I), we played football at school, were for a time on the gymnastics team together, he graduated from Trinity University (the Evangelical Free Church's university in the Chicagoland area), we both found girl friends, we were in each others weddings, and for the most part we have stayed in touch with each others lives over the years. There have been trials and tribulations for both of us, but we have weathered them. There has been a time of separation from each other, but we were, by the grace of God, reunited. His sister Vickie is about ten years our senior and she was well on her way to being an adult, married with children, before I realized that I was in love with her. Actually, I had a little guy crush on her. She had and still has the most beautiful eyes. They make Betty Davis's eyes look common. (If you don't understand that reference talk to your grandparents.)

There is something special about Tim to me. It is hard to put a finger on it. It is as if he is always there. Even during the period of separation...he was always there. I would think of him as often as I would close friends that I would see in church every weekend. I don't want to sound mystical or New Age, but there were times when I thought of Tim and knew, in my heart, that he was in trouble or going through hard times. I just knew. I can not prove this to you, you may not believe me, but I know it is true and I am willing to testify to you that it was so. One night, after a very long separation, I felt the leading of the Holy Spirit to look Tim up and then to write him a long and sincere letter. When he received it he called almost immediately. We just picked up where we had left off. I loved his mother, I loved his father, I loved his entire family. What is this feeling I have for Timothy?

I think it is what the Bible says about Jonathan and David. "Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." That is it. I became at some point "one in spirit with Timothy." I can not remember when it happened, it just did. He and I have another mutual friend Jeffrey, and I can say that about him too. The three of us are in some way "one in spirit." Read the book of I Samuel all the way through. Get a flavor of the times in which David and Jonathtsan lived. You will find that it was harsh and dangerous. You will read stories of God choosing men because of their hearts and not their appearances. You will read stories of political intrigue, jealousy, hatred, conspiracy, joy, treachery, mental illness and more, but through it all you will find a bond between these two men that God honored and whose story He preserved, so that we could have a good example of how full of love, grace, mercy, faithfulness, and wonder God is. He gives us these things very often in the form of a friendship between two men that become one in spirit.

I mean this following statement literally. I would gladly die for Tim and/or Jeffrey. I also know that they would rather sacrifice themselves than let me die in their place. I am sure if one of them read this posting he would make some sort of joke about, not being willing to die for me, but happy that I would be willing to die for him. After all we are friends and humor has been a big part of our relationships. However, in my heart I KNOW IT IS TRUE FOR ALL THREE OF US.

I don't use the term "best friend" for it causes all sorts of trouble. My love for my fellow beings knows no limits as it is grounded and supplied by our Lord Jesus Christ. I do not need to qualify my relationships in this manner. I have multiple friendships, many here in our little town and church, that are as one in spirit with me as my relationship with Tim. Tim...I've just been united with him in spirit the longest...that is all. That, my friends, is a blessing beyond the words of this post.

Friends should and can last a life time. Be aware that they are precious gifts from our Lord. Be aware that you have an obligation to be a friend like that to someone, it isn't about just you, it is about the other as Jonathan loved David as he loved himself. Work at it. You have to give yourself away. You have to take a chance. You have to love. You have to accept hurts. You must be willing to forgive and be forgiven. Friendship is a wondrous thing. And friendship of friendship...is Jesus a friend to all of us? Wasn't He willing to die in our place? Are you one in spirit with Him? If not...let's talk.