Sometimes I think I am a bit of a grinch. I do love Christmas, but in a very temperamental and unpredictable way. Even though I look forward to all of our fabulous Christmas traditions, such as traipsing through feet of snow to cut down a Christmas tree, celebrating Christmas as an immediate family one day early, and many other top-secret traditions, I can't handle Christmas music on the radio. Radio Christmas music makes me grumpy, a fact which has led to a week or so of profound silence in my life.
During one of these profound silences, I picked up my Bible that I have had all my life. As I have read through that Bible, I have underlined, circled, and starred some favorite verses. For really special verses I do all three. Some carefully marked verses about peace really caught my eye, especially because they relate to Christmas. Allow me to share.
Isaiah 9:6
"For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
When I learned rhetoric ages ago, the fact that the most powerful argument comes last in any persuasive speech was firmly ingrained into my very brain. Someday, when I have open brain surgery (hmmmm...) the surgeon will find a curious thing. He will look at my brain and see a few permanent physical impressions. "Norman conquest: 1066" will be the most noticeable imprint, closely followed by "delivery is the most important part of rhetoric" and "second strongest argument, other arguments, strongest argument." I don't know if that principle is at work here, but it is an interesting thought. Perhaps the title "Prince of Peace" comes last in the sequence because it is the most important name of Jesus? Perhaps the concept of peace is the most fundamental aspect of Christ? This suspicion is confirmed in II Corinthians 5:17-19.
"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation."
The word reconciliation is obviously important here. Is this passage saying that the incarnation was a move of reconciliation on God's part? Jesus came to reconcile man to God? I think... yes. Not only does this passage provide insight into the incarnation, it also provides us with a charge. We are ambassadors with the message of reconciliation. We are to be reconciled not only to God, but to our fellow man. The message of Christmas, and indeed of the entire incarnation, is one of peace. When we are at peace with God and with others, we are living out the spirit of the incarnation--we are living the spirit of Christmas. I will take a spirit of peace over radio Christmas songs any day!
Friday, December 26, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
"what are you doing?"
"I'm sitting in the sink, what does it look like I'm doing?" I grinned at my sister and she rolled her eyes at me.
Today I was cold. Not only was my exterior chilled, my interior was quite cool as well after my smoothie lunch. So after I finished my smoothie, I announced that I was going to go sit in the sink. No one believed me. That is, until my younger sister walked into the kitchen to find me perched cozily on the counter, my freezing feet and hands stuck in some nice, hot water. It felt amazing. As I sat there, periodically adding more hot water, I thought about life and about how amazing hot water is. No one takes time to notice how wonderful it feels to warm up, but it is a pretty cool thing! When I crawl into bed at night, I like to be a little bit chilly, just so I can pull the covers up under my chin and fall asleep as I begin to feel all warm and cozy and safe. When it is cold outside, it feels great to put on some mittens and a scarf or to come inside. And when it is cold inside, there is nothing more satisfying than sticking your cold extremities in some steaming hot water. Ahhh... the simple pleasures of life.
(Little kids, by the way, have simple pleasures all figured out, and it amazes me how many adults become... well, adults. They forget the innocence and the wonder of childhood. I hope I never lose that childlike spirit.)
After I had finished pondering life, I thoughtfully made a newspaper boat and set it afloat in my sink. Some time later, as my boat slowly listed to the side and started taking on water, I grabbed a spoon and began gently bailing out my tiny craft. I succeeded. But then a terrible storm came up (its intensity was startling, almost as if someone had turned a faucet on full blast above the foundering vessel). I watched in horror as the boat sank, but was delighted to see that everyone survived and was swimming strongly toward the edge of the sink. My attention was diverted as a fierce sea monster attacked from the depths of the drain and chomped the boat flat, but all the people had already escaped, so it was okay. A long while after the sea monster was through munching and all the people had been rescued by kind sinkside villagers, a huge whirlpool appeared and sucked the soggy paper boat almost to the bottom of the sea (but I had to rescue it before it clogged up the drain). I then dried off my toes and put on some wool socks. Yay!
My sister thinks I'm crazy. I think she's right. I wouldn't be much surprised if one day some people came and took me to a place with padded pink walls. Until then, however, I'll occasionally enjoy simple little pleasures like hot water and paper boats and imaginations. It keeps things in perspective and it makes life beautiful.
Today I was cold. Not only was my exterior chilled, my interior was quite cool as well after my smoothie lunch. So after I finished my smoothie, I announced that I was going to go sit in the sink. No one believed me. That is, until my younger sister walked into the kitchen to find me perched cozily on the counter, my freezing feet and hands stuck in some nice, hot water. It felt amazing. As I sat there, periodically adding more hot water, I thought about life and about how amazing hot water is. No one takes time to notice how wonderful it feels to warm up, but it is a pretty cool thing! When I crawl into bed at night, I like to be a little bit chilly, just so I can pull the covers up under my chin and fall asleep as I begin to feel all warm and cozy and safe. When it is cold outside, it feels great to put on some mittens and a scarf or to come inside. And when it is cold inside, there is nothing more satisfying than sticking your cold extremities in some steaming hot water. Ahhh... the simple pleasures of life.
(Little kids, by the way, have simple pleasures all figured out, and it amazes me how many adults become... well, adults. They forget the innocence and the wonder of childhood. I hope I never lose that childlike spirit.)
After I had finished pondering life, I thoughtfully made a newspaper boat and set it afloat in my sink. Some time later, as my boat slowly listed to the side and started taking on water, I grabbed a spoon and began gently bailing out my tiny craft. I succeeded. But then a terrible storm came up (its intensity was startling, almost as if someone had turned a faucet on full blast above the foundering vessel). I watched in horror as the boat sank, but was delighted to see that everyone survived and was swimming strongly toward the edge of the sink. My attention was diverted as a fierce sea monster attacked from the depths of the drain and chomped the boat flat, but all the people had already escaped, so it was okay. A long while after the sea monster was through munching and all the people had been rescued by kind sinkside villagers, a huge whirlpool appeared and sucked the soggy paper boat almost to the bottom of the sea (but I had to rescue it before it clogged up the drain). I then dried off my toes and put on some wool socks. Yay!
My sister thinks I'm crazy. I think she's right. I wouldn't be much surprised if one day some people came and took me to a place with padded pink walls. Until then, however, I'll occasionally enjoy simple little pleasures like hot water and paper boats and imaginations. It keeps things in perspective and it makes life beautiful.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
a state of war
As of right now, I have officially woken up, eaten breakfast, drunk a latte, and taken a terrifying final (and I hope totally knocked it out of the park). Right now I am listening to the Holes soundtrack and... blogging, of course! Tonight I leave for home... I think. It is snowing again, but hopefully that won't affect my flights. Please keep my travels in your prayers!
In other news, I like basketball. I am going to share with you a little secret of mine. I have always enjoyed thinking about basketball as a small war, full of strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and small skirmishes. For example, when a player on the opposing team has the ball, I am hyper-alert, ready to stop her shot. When she does shoot, I particularly like blocking her shot. To be honest, I enjoy blocking people because it is cool and makes me feel like a pro, but I also let out my held breath and think, "there you go, team. I just stopped an enemy shot from even being fired. Now it is up to us to do some damage." Perhaps a little morbid and weird, but I think fairly accurate. Anyway, regardless of whether I have an overactive imagination, this attitude gives me an almost super-human power of concentration, intensity, and focus during games. I use battle mode to my advantage.
I want to share with you another perspective, that of Ed Welch, quoted in one of John Piper's sermons. Here is what Mr. Welch (Mr. Ed? I just undermined your view of him, didn't I? Please try to listen to his point without seeing a talking horse. Haha. Now what will you be thinking of the entire time? I know how your mind works, and I just made fun of it.) has to say.
In all seriousness:
"There is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Self-control is not for the timid. When we want to grow in it, not only do we nurture an exuberance for Jesus Christ, we also demand of ourselves a hatred for sin. The only possible attitude toward out-of-control desire is a declaration of all-out war. There is something about war that sharpens the senses. You hear a twig snap or the rustling of leaves and you are in attack mode. Someone coughs and you are ready to pull the trigger. Even after days of little of no sleep, war keeps us vigilant."
Are you at peace with sin in your own life, or have you declared war upon it and entered a total attack mode? I urge you to never adopt a peacetime mentality toward sin!! When Sin knocks, do you welcome him in and perhaps let him warm his toes by your fire? Are you even aware that it is Sin you are entertaining? I challenge you to saturate yourself with God and his Word. Then, through the wisdom you have learned from the Bible, you will be able to recognize Sin in whatever form he takes, and you will be able to fight him. You will look at an idea or worldview or philosophy or plan and immediately think, "that is sin. Here he comes. Lord, help me resist him!" Be vigilant. Know what sin looks like, sounds like, feels like. Sharpen your senses so you can identify sin, and when you notice his presence, react! Do not let him slip past unnoticed into your life and actions and attitudes! You are in a state of war. Be diligent, be pure, be holy, be vigilant.
In other news, I like basketball. I am going to share with you a little secret of mine. I have always enjoyed thinking about basketball as a small war, full of strategies, strengths, weaknesses, and small skirmishes. For example, when a player on the opposing team has the ball, I am hyper-alert, ready to stop her shot. When she does shoot, I particularly like blocking her shot. To be honest, I enjoy blocking people because it is cool and makes me feel like a pro, but I also let out my held breath and think, "there you go, team. I just stopped an enemy shot from even being fired. Now it is up to us to do some damage." Perhaps a little morbid and weird, but I think fairly accurate. Anyway, regardless of whether I have an overactive imagination, this attitude gives me an almost super-human power of concentration, intensity, and focus during games. I use battle mode to my advantage.
I want to share with you another perspective, that of Ed Welch, quoted in one of John Piper's sermons. Here is what Mr. Welch (Mr. Ed? I just undermined your view of him, didn't I? Please try to listen to his point without seeing a talking horse. Haha. Now what will you be thinking of the entire time? I know how your mind works, and I just made fun of it.) has to say.
In all seriousness:
"There is a mean streak to authentic self-control. Self-control is not for the timid. When we want to grow in it, not only do we nurture an exuberance for Jesus Christ, we also demand of ourselves a hatred for sin. The only possible attitude toward out-of-control desire is a declaration of all-out war. There is something about war that sharpens the senses. You hear a twig snap or the rustling of leaves and you are in attack mode. Someone coughs and you are ready to pull the trigger. Even after days of little of no sleep, war keeps us vigilant."
Are you at peace with sin in your own life, or have you declared war upon it and entered a total attack mode? I urge you to never adopt a peacetime mentality toward sin!! When Sin knocks, do you welcome him in and perhaps let him warm his toes by your fire? Are you even aware that it is Sin you are entertaining? I challenge you to saturate yourself with God and his Word. Then, through the wisdom you have learned from the Bible, you will be able to recognize Sin in whatever form he takes, and you will be able to fight him. You will look at an idea or worldview or philosophy or plan and immediately think, "that is sin. Here he comes. Lord, help me resist him!" Be vigilant. Know what sin looks like, sounds like, feels like. Sharpen your senses so you can identify sin, and when you notice his presence, react! Do not let him slip past unnoticed into your life and actions and attitudes! You are in a state of war. Be diligent, be pure, be holy, be vigilant.
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
why yes, I do use shoe polish to excess
I am enjoying my required psychology course, but let me just say that it isn't exactly what I expected. The field of psychology (which my teachers hinted at but I uneasily argued away) is entirely too prone to ridiculousness. Psychologists, in the name of science, snuff blindly around with their magnifying glasses and crooked little thinking caps and come up with findings in utter defiance to (or in entire obviousness to) common sense. Some of the things I am learning are very interesting and valuable, but I would say that much of psychology could be technically labeled "fluff."
As an example, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. This controversial test is used to detect heaven knows what in its takers. Probably whatever the person giving the test wants to detect. Some of its questions include, "no one seems to understand me," "I get all the sympathy I should," and "I like poetry." That is all I am going to say about that. A gentleman named Art Buchwald has a very refreshing position on the MMPI. Art is a good man. Here is his alternative test to the MMPI, and it is quite clearly as effective a tool as the original for tapping into the unconscious and providing a solid psychological analysis.
Ladies and gentlemen, sharpen your pencils in preparation for the North Dakota Null-Hypothesis Brain Inventory!
Please answer true (T) or false (F) to the following questions:
1. I salivate at the sight of mittens.
2. If I go into the street, I'm apt to be bitten by a horse.
3. Some people never look at me.
4. Spinach makes me feel alone.
5. When I look down from a high spot, I want to spit.
6. I like to kill mosquitoes.
7. Cousins are not to be trusted.
8. It makes me embarrassed to fall down.
9. I get nauseous from too much roller skating.
10. I think most people would cry to gain a point.
11. I cannot read or write.
12. I am bored by thoughts of death.
13. I become homicidal when people try to reason with me.
14. I would enjoy the work of a chicken flicker.
15. I am never startled by a fish.
16. My mother's uncle was a good man.
17. I don't like it when somebody is rotten.
18. People who break the law are wise guys.
19. I have never gone to pieces over the weekend.
20. I think beavers work too hard.
21. I use shoe polish to excess.
22. God is love.
23. I like mannish children.
24. I have always been disturbed by the sight of Lincoln's ears.
25. I always let people go ahead of me at swimming pools.
26. Most of the time I go to sleep without saying goodbye.
27. I am not afraid of picking up doorknobs.
28. I believe I smell as good as most people.
29. Frantic screams make me nervous.
30. It's hard for me to say the right thing when I find myself in a room full of mice.
31. I would never tell my nickname in a crisis.
32. A wide necktie is a sign of disease.
33. As I child I was deprived of licorice.
34. I would never shake hands with a gardener.
35. My eyes are always cold.
(source: Art Buchwald's North Dakota Null-Hypothesis Brain Inventory (1965). Quoted in Blumenfield, W.S. (1972). "I am never startled by a fish." APA Monitor, 3(9,10), 3, 14.)
As an example, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. This controversial test is used to detect heaven knows what in its takers. Probably whatever the person giving the test wants to detect. Some of its questions include, "no one seems to understand me," "I get all the sympathy I should," and "I like poetry." That is all I am going to say about that. A gentleman named Art Buchwald has a very refreshing position on the MMPI. Art is a good man. Here is his alternative test to the MMPI, and it is quite clearly as effective a tool as the original for tapping into the unconscious and providing a solid psychological analysis.
Ladies and gentlemen, sharpen your pencils in preparation for the North Dakota Null-Hypothesis Brain Inventory!
Please answer true (T) or false (F) to the following questions:
1. I salivate at the sight of mittens.
2. If I go into the street, I'm apt to be bitten by a horse.
3. Some people never look at me.
4. Spinach makes me feel alone.
5. When I look down from a high spot, I want to spit.
6. I like to kill mosquitoes.
7. Cousins are not to be trusted.
8. It makes me embarrassed to fall down.
9. I get nauseous from too much roller skating.
10. I think most people would cry to gain a point.
11. I cannot read or write.
12. I am bored by thoughts of death.
13. I become homicidal when people try to reason with me.
14. I would enjoy the work of a chicken flicker.
15. I am never startled by a fish.
16. My mother's uncle was a good man.
17. I don't like it when somebody is rotten.
18. People who break the law are wise guys.
19. I have never gone to pieces over the weekend.
20. I think beavers work too hard.
21. I use shoe polish to excess.
22. God is love.
23. I like mannish children.
24. I have always been disturbed by the sight of Lincoln's ears.
25. I always let people go ahead of me at swimming pools.
26. Most of the time I go to sleep without saying goodbye.
27. I am not afraid of picking up doorknobs.
28. I believe I smell as good as most people.
29. Frantic screams make me nervous.
30. It's hard for me to say the right thing when I find myself in a room full of mice.
31. I would never tell my nickname in a crisis.
32. A wide necktie is a sign of disease.
33. As I child I was deprived of licorice.
34. I would never shake hands with a gardener.
35. My eyes are always cold.
(source: Art Buchwald's North Dakota Null-Hypothesis Brain Inventory (1965). Quoted in Blumenfield, W.S. (1972). "I am never startled by a fish." APA Monitor, 3(9,10), 3, 14.)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
grump
This word seemed to be the totally irrational refrain of my afternoon. You know, we have an awesome, awesome Christmas tree up in our courtyard that smells amazing and looks beautiful. grump. I listened to recordings of some of Haydn's most beautiful masses today. grump. I got a 95% on a paper I worked extremely hard on in a Williamson class. I am pretty sure that less than three people earned A's on that project. grump. I ate a fantastic lunch today. grump. I have a set of amazing, amazing friends. grump. Don't ask me why... today was just a grump sort of day. Until tonight, that is.
On Wednesday nights, a group of students meets to just sing hymns and praise songs. We usually know about 3/4 of the songs, and we learn so many new and beautiful ones every week from each other. I really enjoy it. Over the course of the year, our group has slowly dwindled to a faithful quartet. Two guys, two girls. Soprano, alto, tenor, bass. We sing wonderful songs in sporadic, sometimes perfect harmony and have a blast doing it. I enjoy picturing God taking a little time out in his day to lean back in his chair and smile as he listens to our enthusiastic worship. Tonight we sang for three hours. Three hours! We sang from 8pm to llpm. We sang for a while, we learned a new song, we poked fun at each other and laughed, we talked about our spiritual walk as of late, we prayed, we laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. What is more, Remington, our African-American bass, suggested that I try something new with my voice. He is teaching me to sing his way. I am learning music from the standpoint of a totally new culture and it is so wonderful. I love it! I think that God, as he smiled down at us, was pleased by our worship, but also was enjoying observing the refreshment those three hours provided for our weary souls. Seriously, what sort of tired college students that you know of could sing for 3 hours? We have really become a special little group all our own. Remington writes music and he is going to write some songs for us to sing at Coffee Breath, our uniquely named talent show... of sorts. We have made all sorts of plans to do so many things together this year. Lord God, thank you for awesome fellowship with friends! You know just what will lighten my load, even on grump days.
On Wednesday nights, a group of students meets to just sing hymns and praise songs. We usually know about 3/4 of the songs, and we learn so many new and beautiful ones every week from each other. I really enjoy it. Over the course of the year, our group has slowly dwindled to a faithful quartet. Two guys, two girls. Soprano, alto, tenor, bass. We sing wonderful songs in sporadic, sometimes perfect harmony and have a blast doing it. I enjoy picturing God taking a little time out in his day to lean back in his chair and smile as he listens to our enthusiastic worship. Tonight we sang for three hours. Three hours! We sang from 8pm to llpm. We sang for a while, we learned a new song, we poked fun at each other and laughed, we talked about our spiritual walk as of late, we prayed, we laughed and laughed and laughed and laughed. What is more, Remington, our African-American bass, suggested that I try something new with my voice. He is teaching me to sing his way. I am learning music from the standpoint of a totally new culture and it is so wonderful. I love it! I think that God, as he smiled down at us, was pleased by our worship, but also was enjoying observing the refreshment those three hours provided for our weary souls. Seriously, what sort of tired college students that you know of could sing for 3 hours? We have really become a special little group all our own. Remington writes music and he is going to write some songs for us to sing at Coffee Breath, our uniquely named talent show... of sorts. We have made all sorts of plans to do so many things together this year. Lord God, thank you for awesome fellowship with friends! You know just what will lighten my load, even on grump days.
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