Category Archives: Uncategorized

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…

I hope you all like the new colours.
I hope Matty Neidich somehwo stumbles across this entry and discovers that I am at last listening to that same Sufjan Stevens he told me about so long ago.
I hope that the Colts keep winning even if Manning isn’t carrying them all the way as he used to.
I hope I get used to the Vitamin B tablets I’ve started taking for my trip to Bogota this week–because they smell terrible on the breath, I have to admit.
I hope my roommate finds that activity ot occupation which truly brings him joy as he uses his talents in service to the Lord.
I hope this weekend passes well, with peace.
I hope that it’s sunny tomorrow.
I hope my friends have fun in Ethiopia, and are held safe in the hands of the Almighty.
I hope it is enough to hope.

Social Note:

From my understanding, a certain Meleah Smith has planned her birthday celebration for this evening.  How very Walt Whitman of her, I suppose, celebrating herself (grin).   Just kidding–happy birthday to her!  But in light of the party (and the fact that my sister is coming to town today), I think we shall have to postpone the movie night tonight until some other time.  I’ll send out text messages to make sure you all know and  can pass the news along…

So sad.  I know you all really wanted to see this flick…