Author Archives: thegreatknock

It’s a pretty day again outside, though still on the cold side.  Yet I’m thinking of taking a short walk before church anyhow, and musing on the Psalm I read this morning; 77, I think it was.  As I read how the psalmist’s voice rose to God in the day of his trouble, and how his soul refused to be comforted, I was struck afresh with how profound it truly is, that even the writers of the Holy Word of God, moved as they were by the Holy Spirit to sing and to pen their words, did not always have their feet set in the concrete of doctrine.  They moved, they kicked and screamed (it seems), they fought to understand why God is the way He is, and sometimes they mistook Him.

But the important thing is the Search.  I began a new book last night by an author whom I’ve read before, and whom I respect quite a lot: Walker Percy.  He was a Southern writer of a deeply philosophical and spiritual persuasion–not in the Flannery O’Connor vein of spirituality, rather, I would say, more profound and less mystical.  I began his first novel, “The Moviegoer,” in which the main character early on observes the random times in which he felt “the search.”  One day he woke up, dressed for work, and began to grab all his usual traveling companions–wallet, watch, pens, etc.–but was struck with a new strangeness as if all these things were not his own.  He adopts the methods of a detective, peering at all these objects as if they were clues to a greater, deeper meaning.

Of course, the narrator in the story realises that he may be searching for God, but refuses to say for certain–he says, because everyone else has already answered that question for themselves, and he’s afraid of showing his own ignorance in the matter.   He remarks (fictitiously, but the point is sound) that they have taken surveys in which 98% of Americans claim that they believe in God, and the remaining 2% are agnostics or atheists–thus leaving not even 1% of us engaging in the search!  Rather good point, if you ask me.  What is wrong with the search?

What is wrong with the search, when even the psalmists of the Bible itself were searching for this God of promises?  Sometimes even for us, it will require a search to discover Him beneath the trappings of a wounding friend, a natural devastation, an ordinary flower or a candle burning low.  Sometimes we must have a hard look to discern Him within the wrath and the grace and the peace and the trouble in which He is often wrapped.  “To have found Him and still be looking for Him is the soul’s paradox of love.”

But the enemy of the search may just be the ordinary everyday.  So what will you do with that?

CHICAGO (Reuters) – About four in every 10 U.S. youngsters age 10 to 17
report they’ve seen pornography while on the Internet, two-thirds of
them saying it was uninvited, according to a study published on Monday.

Many
of the encounters with online pornography, both sought-out and
accidental, were related to use of file-sharing programs to download
images, the report from the University of New Hampshire in Durham said.

“Although there is evidence that most youth are not particularly
upset when they encounter unwanted pornography on the Internet (it)
could have a greater impact on some youth than voluntary encounters
with pornography,” the study said.

“Some youth may be psychologically and developmentally unprepared
for unwanted exposure, and online images may be more graphic and
extreme than pornography available from other sources,” it added.

The report, published in the February issue of Pediatrics, the
journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics, was based on a telephone
survey made of a representative sample of 1,500 U.S. youngsters from
March to June, 2005.

In all 42 percent reported having been exposed to online pornography
in the 12 months before they were questioned. Of that group 66 percent
said they were not trying to find the material when they encountered
it, which happened sometimes because of misspelled Web addresses,
pop-up advertisements or spam e-mails.

The remaining third who said they sought out pornography were more
likely to be teen-aged boys who also used file-sharing programs to
download images, talked online to strangers about sex, used the
Internet at friends’ homes, or possibly suffered from depression.

The researchers said sexual curiosity is normal in the teen years
“and many might say that visiting X-rated Web sites is developmentally
appropriate behavior.” But they said some experts are worried that it
could undermine social values or attitudes about sexual behavior, lead
to promiscuity or compulsive and deviant behavior.

Doctors, teachers, parents and others “should assume that most boys
of high school age who use the Internet have some degree of exposure to
online pornography as do many girls,” the study concluded.

Aaaaaaand let’s hear one big “Heck yeah!” for the Colts.

Okay, that’s enough.  Except for the even bigger “Heck yeah!” for Coach Dungy’s words afterward, that more important than winning as an African-American coach in the NFL was the fact that he and Lovie are both believers and that you can win the championship doing it the Lord’s way.  Bring it, Coach, bring it again. 

Well done, boys.  Good job, Bears.  Happy super Sunday to you all.

I sleep now.

There is something about waking this morning to a white world outside that put in me the desire to do something special.  You know how some experiences can be linked to a song you were listening to at the time, or even to a fragrance which, years later, may randomly seize you and take you back again?  Well, I wanted something to link this snow-day with…a fun new item, a place visited…
 
Unfortunately, much of my day has been spent preparing for the Why Know banquet this evening.  Preparations included decorating the banquet hall at the Trade Center and lunch with Stephen Arterburn.  Interesting fellow, amiable and very pleasant.  During lunch, he several times made a point of stating that people need to be reached with more than the Word: he used phrases like, “You could teach them the Ten Commandments, or you could give them something practical,” and “If you’re working with a poor boy, you could make him memorise Scripture or you could teach him how money works and how to manage it.”  I understand the need for practical skills; still, I couldn’t help but wonder if God’s Word was being belittled and refused its full power and authority, according to Stephen’s thinking.  Are not all problems, at core, spiritual issues?  And what has the authority and ability to change and heal, if not the Word of God?  Teach the poor boy money skills, yes–but as he learns these, make him a disciple worthy of his Lord and show him all that Jesus said about money and the love of it.  Otherwise, you will mend his poverty with greed.

But I am a simple man.  The group at lunch was speaking of counseling; when I think of counseling, I think of Jesus’ words that He (our Wonderful Counselor) would send us a Comforter in the Holy Spirit, who guides us into all truth, convicts the world regarding sin, and reminds us of all that Jesus commanded us.  The Spirit counsels us all through the Word, either directly or through members of the Body.  And so a man’s role in counseling another would seem to be, also, to remind them of all that Jesus commanded–the whole counsel of God!  Anything less would seem to rest on my own wisdom–and how little I understand the other person’s fullest need, how poorly I would estimate the measure of brokenness to which they must be brought! 

I even wondered, as they spoke about young people and the supposed harshness or coldness of pointing them straight to the Word, if these counselors really know the benefit of wounding, injuring the one being counseled to the purpose of healing.  It is not a bad hting to be broken, yet their words made it sound like that was the thing to be avoided above all things.  They use their pragmatic wisdom in applying principles–but to be honest, I would rather trust the Word to know where someone needs to be broken-hearted; to divide them, joint and marrow; and to provide the soul-surgery which I could never give.  Is this too simple?  I cannot believe so…

Well, time to go get dressy for the evening’s occasion. 

In my current employment, I deal frequently with issues concerning sexual activity and its consequences, including teenage pregnancy. Hence, John Piper’s recent sermon entitled “When Is Abortion Racism?” caught my eye especially. A few of the statistics raised in the article include the following:

1. Since 1973, black mothers have undergone approximately 13 million abortions.
2. Black women comprise 13% of the female population of the United States, but account for nearly 36% of abortions. Latino-Hispanic women make up another 13% of the femal population, and account for another 20% of all aboritons received in the United States.
3. Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of abortions in the United States, and nearly 80% of Planned parenthood clinics have been located (or relocated) to minority communities.

Piper’s sermon clearly presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that forgiveness and love are God’s way extended unto all people, for which I am very thankful. But I appreciate Piper’s clear statement:

My aim is that those who abhor racism will abhor abortion—“Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good” (Romans 12:9). My aim is that abortion would be as culturally taboo as racism is. My aim is to hasten the day when being publicly pro-choice will be as reprehensible as being publicly racist. My aim is to hasten the day when declaring yourself pro-choice would be like declaring yourself a white supremacist.

My aim is that just as once even though the Supreme Court in the Dred Scott case of 1857 held that Black slaves were property without rights as free persons, yet today we view that as unthinkable; so also even though the Supreme Court in the Roe v. Wade case of 1973 did not give the unborn the rights of free persons, nevertheless the day may come when that too is viewed as unthinkable. Racism might—and often did—result in the killing of innocent humans; in our history, it often did. But abortion always results in the killing of innocent humans. Between 1882 and 1968, 3,446 Black people were lynched in America. Today more Black babies are killed by white abortionists every three days than all who were lynched in those years (Life Education and Resource Network).

In talking with my co-worker Linda, who has worked for many years with the local crisis pregnancy center, I understand that the situation has been very similar locally as well. What shall we do, brothers, to stem this and end this awful way? And sisters, how shall we love people to the truth in this?

I know, I still haven’t written of Colombia. Well, I could share much…but for right now, all I’ll mention is that we made a new friend in Colombia. He came back with us, and probably liked the airline food better than we did (no offense, Delta). He’s one of those guests who overstays his welcome, sadly, and is always with you like a shadow on your day. Still, we try to be hospitable. His name is Phil, and here is his photo, so you can be sure to give him a big smile of welcome if you should happen to run into him.

p.s. Ten bonus points for anyone who can come up with Phil’s more scientific name…

In my current employment, I deal frequently with issues concerning sexual activity and its consequences, including teenage pregnancy.  Hence, John Piper’s recent sermon entitled “When Is Abortion Racism?” caught my eye especially.  A few of the statistics raised in the article include the following:

1. Since 1973, black mothers have undergone approximately 13 million abortions.
2. Black women comprise 13% of the female population of the United States, but account for nearly 36% of abortions.  Latino-Hispanic women make up another 13% of the female population, and account for another 20% of all abortions received in the United States.
3. Planned Parenthood is the leading provider of abortions in the United States, and nearly 80% of Planned parenthood clinics have been located (or relocated) to minority communities.

Piper’s sermon clearly presents the Gospel of Jesus Christ, that forgiveness and love are God’s way extended unto all people, for which I am very thankful.  But I appreciate Piper’s clear statement:

In talking with my co-worker Linda, who has worked for many years with the local crisis pregnancy center, I understand that the situation has been very similar locally as well.  What shall we do, brothers, to stem this and end this awful way?  And sisters, how shall we love people to the truth in this?

Well, I could share much…but for right now, all I’ll mention is that we made a new friend in Colombia.  He came back with us, and probably liked the airline food better than we did (no offense, Delta).  He’s one of those guests who overstays his welcome, sadly, and is always with you like a shadow on your day.  Still, we  try to be hospitable.  His name is Phil, and here is his photo, so you can be sure to give him a big smile of welcome if you should happen to run into him. 

p.s. Ten bonus points to whoever can name Phil by his scientific terms.

p.p.s. I’ve come to realise that my enjoyment of Sufjan Stevens’ quirky music began years ago, thanks to my friend Mattyaction.  We both embarked upon a curious journey into experimental music by means of a little album called “Tri-Danielson,” and now I come to learn that Sufjan and Daniel Smith are musical friends and collaborators.  And so it comes full circle.

p.p.p.s. Is anyone putting together a little Super Bowl party next weekend?

Well, I’m back. The illnesses and joyful meetings of my Colombian experience I will not yet share with you. But I still have a card in my passport wallet which reads “Be sure to drink the water”…I think it was given me by you, Kristen, wasn’t it? Maybe before my trip to Mexico senior year?

But as to my query from before, I think you both are right–there is a balance, and that balance must be the fullest reality of both. I have been reading Lewis’ “Pilgrim’s Regress” recently, which I’d never read before, and on the plane today came upon young John’s discussion with Old Man History. Really good though not perfect, but in the allegory there are Shepherds who know the Landlord’s Rules, and there are Pagans who only know these Images which the Landlord has given them–Images enough to drive them toward desire of Him and His goodness, it seems. In the story, both are part of the same reality, and History tells how the Shepherds (who are not necessarily Christian pastors, only virtue-loving men who know the right actions their Maker demands) and Pagans are both half-men of a whole: the whole man has both desire and intensity in his experiences and also the full knowledge of His ways and commands. I thought it interesting.

I sleep now. (I hope.)

Off we go, into the wild blue…