The Substance of Silence October 16, 2007
Posted by joejames in Eternity, Poetry, Thomas Merton, Wisdom of God.2 comments
There is no leaf that is not in Your care. There is no cry that was not heard by You before it was uttered. There is no water in the shales that was not hidden there by Your wisdom. There is no concealed spring that was not concealed by You. There is no glen for a lone house that was not planned by You for a lone house. There is no man for that acre of woods that was not made by You for that acre of woods.
But there is a greater comfort in the substance of silence than in the answer to a question. Eternity is in the present. Eternity is in the palm of the hand. Eternity is a seed of fire whose sudden roots break barriers that keep my heart from being an abyss.
– Thomas Merton (Dialogues with Silence)
Foxes or Hedgehogs??? October 11, 2007
Posted by joejames in Allegience, Christianity, Church, Dixie Chicks.5 comments
Okay… I fear that writing this post may upset some people – but then I think you may need to be upset so at least you’ll know why you believe what you believe… so I’m writing it anyway! But I ask in advance that you respect that I am on a journey here, and I have this blog so that I might be able to ask such tough questions, and get honest answers and opinions. You cannot grow without questions, so let me ask my questions without the labeling and name-calling…. please!
I watched “Shut Up and Sing” the documentary about the Dixie Chicks that chronicled their journey from 2003 and the comment about President Bush to 2006 when they released their latest album. Of course, you all remember what happened right? The Dixie Chicks were performing in London (I think) and Natalie Maine said, “We are ahamed that the President of the United States is from Texas.”
Now, let me be clear, I think this is a little irresponsible perhaps… I respect her opinion, but I still think it slightly irresponsible.
Nevertheless, the punishment that the Chicks recieved for this comment did not fit the crime. Hate mail, horrifying comments, Bill O’reilly said that they were “stupid” and that they needed to be “slapped around”, a woman said someone should “strap her to a bomb and drop her over Iraq”, they were banned (illegally I might add) from radio stations in the South, and (to top it all off) they recieved a serious and direct death threat.
One man is shown in the documentary saying “Free speech is okay, but you shouldn’t do it publicly”. OOOOOHHHH…. I see, so free speech is given us so we can say what we want at home…. hmmmmm… thanks for the interpretation!
Anyway, I am not here to make a judgment call about the Dixie Chicks or the comment they made – I am writing to expose a deep seeded issue that people do not seem to be talking about in Christian circles – and I think they should start talking about it! That is allegiance to the “Institution”.
I was at a high school volleyball game last night. Two of the four public high schools in Jonesboro were squaring off as cross town rivals – Valley View and Westside. It dawned on me during this game, that what divided the two crowds of people was more than a volleyball court – these people hate each other… don’t believe me? Then go to a cross-town rival game that is of no interest to you, and just sit in the middle and listen to the comments made (and by the “mature” adults no less). I heard anger, resentment, hate, prejudice, envy, and worst of all… contempt. I even heard a little racism in the mix – although it was sublte.
And over what? Volleyball? No. I tend to think it is allegiance. I tend to think we, even we adults, have declared allegiance to certain institutions, and to be open-minded and partial to another rival institution is to betray your loyalty to your own. (I probably am not making much sense here!)
Think of churches… have you ever felt like people want to win people from other churches, or heard people say “Well, so and so church has the same ministry we do, so we need to do it better.” What about this comment – that I actually heard, no less… “If we stop doing this ministry, then the other churches in town will get those people we minister to!” There is no concern in that comment for the kingdom of God, just concern for the numbers of our institution!
And it is no different when it comes to America. We become so loyal to the institution of America that we blindly follow, and we get mad and angry, even hateful and contemptful toward those who call it into question. Now, my concern is not so much that society does this, but that Christians do it. We will shelve our discipleship and hate our enemy in the name of “serving” or “defending” or “honoring” our country. We will lay down the law of love, and cuss out our neighbor (or worse, we’ll speak ill of them behind their back) in order to stand up for America.
This is NOT a defense of the Dixie Chicks, but isn’t free speech afforded us in our consititution precisely because a censored society is more dangerous than an uncensored one? And herein lies my fundamental questions – What if we couldn’t or didn’t call our leadership into question?
But I have another fundamental question that is more directed at those Christians who participate in undying allegiance to their nation – actually I have two questions (and perhaps, you can answer these fine, and that is good, lets hear it – seriously I am all ears – this is NOT an attack – just a question!!!!
1> Does your allegiance to your country mean that you are setting yourself against other countries, thereby despising your enemies? And if you do despise your enemies (i.e. terrorists), then are you breaking the law of love?
2> At what point does your allegiance to the kingdom of God trump your allegiance to America? Is that line so blurry that you cannot see it?
“Foxes know many things, but the hedgehog knows one big thing!”
Go and see what this quote means, and decide, are you a fox? or a hedgehog?
“Twofur” Tuesday October 9, 2007
Posted by joejames in Elie Wiesel, Muhammad Yunus, Noble Peace Prize, Twofur Tuesday.4 comments
My friend, Greg Brooks, has a weekly post over on his U-Life blog (see blogroll) called Three for Thursday. I love doing top three lists, but he has the corner on that market, so I’d like to start doing Two for Tuesday, or in slang, Twofur Tuesday.
My first twofur will be my top two Nobel Peace Prize winners. Since this is not a top three list, I will tell you my first runner up to making this list was John Forbes Nash. If you don’t know who that is, then please rent A Beautiful Mind.
Number 2> My number two man is Muhammad Yunus. Dr. Yunus is the author of a groundbreaking microeconomics theory (put in book form) called A Banker to the Poor. I first heard of Dr. Yunus while watching the Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He was a guest of Jon’s and captivated my imagination with his idea of giving loans back to poor people. His quote on the show that got me was, “…and they pay me back, better than most rich people do!” I immediately went to Barnes & Noble and purchased his book and read it in about three days or so. He is an amazing man of compassion. His heart for the poor is changing the world order slowly, quietly, and in such an unassuming manner. Below is an interview with Dr. Yunus after the Nobel Peace Award ceremony:
Number 1> On top of my list is a man who, in my mind, is one of the most intriguing real life characters alive today. His name is Elie Wiesel and he is the author of the book Night which recounts his childhood experience as a persecuted Jewish family. It is truly one of the most captivating and life-changing pieces of literature I have ever picked up. Night is the first book in a short trilogy, the other two books are Dawn and Day. All three of these are great reads – not difficult, but very powerful – not long, but full to the bream of the cup!!! Elie’s life story is one that must be told and retold to this generation, that we might change and flee from the evil of fear; an evil that fuels murder, war, and worse… holocaust. Below is Elie Wiesel’s post Nobel Peace Award ceremony interview as well:
I urge you to get your copy of Banker to the Poor here, and to get Night here.
Common Sense, Work, Ethics, Knowledge, Wisdom October 8, 2007
Posted by joejames in Common Sense, Ethics, Knowledge, Wisdom, Work.3 comments
Have you ever noticed that people who work hard and value a strong work ethic, are full of what we call “Common Sense”?
You may suppose this is a merely coincidence, but I disagree. Contrary to mainstream belief, I feel common sense is not a gift that one either possesses or does not possess. I believe that common sense is earned through hard work. I believe the two are inseperable. I am not talking about knowledge – that is another matter. I am not speaking of “brainiacs” or “smart people” – Rather I am speaking of people full of the understanding of how to make it in life. People who value a dollar and understand the morality of earning your keep and the immorality of sloth. People who grasp the pragmatism of everyday living. My mom is one such person. I think Jesus – the carpenter was one as well.
My wife and I talked about this at length over our Sunday evening dinner. We entertained the idea that Common Sense is earned through hard work, and that hard work is an Ethic that governs your life. An Ethic is a moral framework that shapes your decisions. (If I live, for example, by the ethic of pruity, then I refrain form sexual immorality – the fruit of which would be a happy marriage and a confidence in my self-worth and the value of my mate. If I engage in such sexual immorality, then I am not pure, and I do not truly hold to that ethic – also I lose the fruits of holding that ethic.)
This is how it is with the ethic of hard work – a fruit of it is common sense.
Therefore common sense is earned. It is not a gift and those who have it deserve it. I wish I had more of it!
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I taught preschoolers, yesterday, the difference between knowledge and wisdom – AND THEY UNDERSTOOD. Yet half the adults out there do not get it.
Knowledge is the mental ascent to something… some fact, truth, governing dynamic, etc. Wisdom is the application of that knowledge. Wise people do not sit in the seat of the “know it all” who says everything they know, but practices none of it. This is foolish – a foolish person who is full of knowledge – and yes, there is such a person.
A failure to apply our knowledge is a “failure of nerve” and a failure to accept this one great truth – Life is difficult.
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Life is difficult… some accept it and take the road less traveled. Some refuse to accept it and moan about as if their lives are more difficult than most thereby taking the road most traveled. This road is marked with sorrow, emptiness, and profound misery. But the road less traveled is marked with pain, trials, and tribulations – a much safer and rewarding form of suffering than the latter.
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If you read this post and nod along as if I have profoundly impacted your life in some lasting way – then remember this before you live it out. You are listening to life advice and “wisdom” from a young man who has barely lived – 26 years old. This makes you neither smart nor wise. And dare I say it makes you a lazy worker, because if you had common sense you’d take life advise from someone else – and if you lack commons sense, then you are not a hard worker. And if your not a hard worker…. this could go on and on.
The Most / E4 Learning / The Idiot / Colossians Remixed October 5, 2007
Posted by joejames in Books, E4 Learning, Movies, Online Education.1 comment so far
I wanted to take one post this week, and make some suggestions to you for things to check into! I have a movie / an online class / and two books to offer to you.
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Do you think a 30 minute film could change your life… the way you live? The Most is a short movie (about 30 minutes) about sacrifice, death, and new life. I don’t want to spoil it for you, because not knowing what’s going on is what makes this movie so powerful. The setting is in Poland, and the language is captioned. It takes place in a “very cold winter” and yet somehow, you want to be there. The film is by Garabedian and is an Eastwind Films Production. It won a 2003 Academy Award for Live Action Short. Go to www.mostthemovie.com to learn how to get your hands on a copy of this life-changing flick.
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I am taking an E4 Learning class online. There are about ten classes that E4 Learning offers and I am currently taking the Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard – and yes, Willard is the online professor. The classes offered are, in my estimation, really good ones! My class cost me $30, but some of the others are a little higher in price. Still, a top notch education, from the leading theologians and experts in certain areas of Christian Living for a very small price – you can’t beat that! Go to my links list and click on Dallas Willard to learn more.
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Did ya see yesterday’s response over a comment made by the main character of The Idiot? Prince Myshkin is as intiguing a character as I have ever read about. I suggest everyone read this literary classic before they die!!! And you don’t know when that will be, so bump it up in your line-up! Here is an excerpt from the back cover of my copy:
Into a compelling real portrait of nineteenth-century Russian society Dostoevsky introduces his ideal hero, the saintly Prince Myshkin (the idiot). The tensions subsequently released by the hero’s innocence, truthfulness, and humility betray the inadequacy of his moral idealism and disclose the spiritual emptiness of a society that cannot accomoddate him. Myshkin’s mission ends in idiocy and darkness, but it is the world that is rotten, not he.
Also Dostoevsky himself wrote this about the wonderful novel:
The main idea of the novel is to depict the positively good man. There is nothing more difficult than this in the world, especially nowadays!”
Needless to say, I will be posting much more on here about the insight of this Prince Myshkin in days and weeks to come (as this novel is relatively long). I suggest you get a copy – quick!
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Go get a copy of Colossians Remixed. You need it – trust me. Great book! Click here to view it online… and here to purchase.
The Idiot October 4, 2007
Posted by joejames in Captial Punishment, Crime, Dostoevsky, Literature, The Idiot.25 comments
I am reading The Idiot by Fyodor Dostoevsky. Of course, I cannot read, write or speak Russian, so I am reading a newer translation by Alan Myers.
The main character, Prince Myshkin, get’s into an interesting conversation about capital punishment with a “lackey.” (I infer that this is a butler…) The lackey listen’s intently as “The Idiot”, Prince Myshkin explains his expereince in witnessing an execution while travleing abroad in France.
The lackey is obviously intrigued and respond’s to Myshkin’s horror with this comment: “Still, it’s a good thing the agony’s not prolonged… when the head comes off” (Myshkin’s executionee was the victim of a guillotine) Myshkin replied with the following discourse – that is still (150 years later, and in another country) worth thinking about.
Do you know everybody makes the same point that you have, that’s why the machine, the guillotine was invented. But something occurred to me when I was there: what if that’s actually worse? You may think that’s silly, ludicrous even, but with a little imagination even an idea like that can flash into your mind. Just think: if there was torture, for instance; there’d be suffering and wounds, bodily agony, all of which would distract you from the mental suffering, you would only have the torment of your physical injuries right up to the point of death. After all, the greatest, the most intense pain lies not so much in the injuries perhaps, so much as the fact that you know for certain that in an hour’s time, then in ten minutes, then thirty seconds, then now, at this moment, the soul will take wing from the body and you will cease to be a man, and that this is certain to happen; the main thing being that it is certain. You put your head under the blade and you hear it sliding towards you, it’s that quarter of a second which is the most terrible of all… I am so convinced of this that I will tell you straight out what I think. To kill for murder is an immeasurably greater evil than the actual crime itself. Judicial murder is immeasurably more horrible than one committed by a robber. Someone killed by a robber, knifed at night in a forest somewhere, certainly keeps hoping for rescue right up to the last second. There have been instances of people whose throat’s have been cut still hoping, or running away, or pleading for their lives. But all this final hope, which makes dying ten times easier, is taken away by that certain.… Why this disgusting, pointless, unneccessary mockery? Perhaps there exists a man who has had his sentence read out to him and been allowed to suffer before being told: “Be off, you’ve been pardoned.” That man could tell you perhaps. Christ himself spoke of such agony and terror. No, a man should not be treated so! It is written: “Thou shalt not kill”; because he killed, should he be killed as well? No, that’s wrong.
Well, what do you think?
Helping William Read October 3, 2007
Posted by joejames in Bible Study, Biblical Application, Biblical Interpretation, Colossians, Post-Chrsitian Society, Preaching.4 comments
What do you do when someone reads Colossians 1:1-2 and get’s mad?
Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother. To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse:
How could that make someone angry? Well, what if the idea of absolute truth turned this person off? What if taking a text and making it absolute made people walk away from Jesus?
I am reading a book where a character named William get’s angry because Paul claims to be writing out of the “will of God”. To William, this means “you can’t argue with me – you can’t disagree with me… God is on my side.” To William, Paul has not exactly opened the door to healthy conversation. To William, Paul has declared that he possesses absolute truth.
If this wasn’t enough to make William stop listening to Paul, then Paul goes and says he is writing to the “holy and faithful”…
William get’s the idea that Paul isn’t talking to him – because he doesn’t know a lot about saints and sinners, but he knows enough to recognize that he is no saint. So not only has Paul cornered William into a onesided conversation, but now he has totally excluded him from it.
So – Now I ask you this: What do you say in response to William???
Searching for Peace October 2, 2007
Posted by joejames in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
Last night, my wife got out the bible and wanted me to read to her about peace. If I understood her right, she wanted me to read her something that would make her feel peaceful. The two of us started thumbing through the concordance, just to find a short verse or two give some continuity and comfort to her current hectic lifestyle (heavy school load, heavy work load). Here is the kicker – there’s not one. I mean, yeah, there is comfort in knowing there is a God that is very near and not far from us… there is peace in knowing that he has offered a way to Himself through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus – but nothing to calm her down about her current situation.
Instead you find passages like this one from Psalm 34: Turn from evil and do good, seek peace and pursue it.
Peace has to be sought. Peace isn’t something that happens to you or something that is imparted to you. It is sought out and practiced. Peace is a spiritual fruit of living a life with God.
To make a long story short, we committed ourselves to going a little deeper together on our walk with God over the next couple of weeks. We will seek the peace of God that surpasses our knowledge of him.
This Night October 1, 2007
Posted by joejames in Poetry.2 comments
This is a brutal attempt to write some poetry – I journaled this on 9-17-07 at night on my back porch. When you start reading Thomas Merton, you start thinking and writing like this…
This night is different. Dark.
A powerful / unsettled blackness,
A blanket of wrath.
At night you hear the wind approaching…
It never comes.
I see a light flicker in the distance – or is it near?
It never comes.
I hear the lone bird sing his day song,
Somethings wrong!
This night is not different – It’s death!
A Divine Death – where God moves,
and works.
“Night gives way to dawn”
But not yet – not now! Now… here and now…
It is dark – and God kills
to make room for the newness of His daylight.
