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phlogistonite
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Name: Josh
Gender: Male
Interests: Christianity, Thinking & Questioning to promote Understanding, Electronics, Computer Algorithms, Camping, Hiking
Expertise: Being ignorant of what is popular, and feeling rejected because of it.
Occupation: Engineering
Industry: Engineering
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
Member Since:
5/2/2003
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| Been Awhile
I haven't written in a long time because I've been busy. Since my last entry was about the election, it might have seemed that was the last straw, but no, it's because I began a dating relationship with a wonderful lady. :) Along with work, Bible studies, housecleaning, and grocery shopping, I haven't had much time to do much more than keep up with my e-mails! But, it's been great because this relationship has developed so well. :)
My girlfriend, Akiyo, is from a Bible study I attend. I came to know her through events related to the Bible study. And as a girlfriend, she's been quite good. We've built up trust in each other by being open with our thoughts and concerns, putting aside superficial care to deal with those deep aspects of a relationship that really make or break them. And the core of this is being able to overlook those things which really don't matter, and to forgive after repentence. If it was up to the culture I'm living in, I know I wouldn't be able to do this because I'd be selfish and be really hurt when I get injured, but with God's help and grace I'm able to see these as opportunities to help Akiyo serve God better, and share a spirit of agape love.
I've found that perfection in the eyes of man can be quite different than in the eyes of God. Very often people look at the very superficial, but God looks deep inside at the heart and character. So superficial injuries and conditions can make us believe people are damaged beyond repair because those characteristics may be life long. Yet, in the eyes of God these are nothing compared to the wonderful value He's given to them. So, I've been praying for this perspective from God so I can be a better lover. :) Even if Akiyo is wonderful and beautiful, this type of perspective has really helped us interact out of love instead of fear of rejection. 1 John 4:18, "There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love."
I've also been writing a bit of poetry, like I started writing this one on election day: The Rainbow :) | | |
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A Poetic Satire About This Election
A couple of days ago I wrote a poem in my free time about the candidates in this election. I know I've been thinking about it too much when I write a poem about it. :) -- I'm so tired of the strange hypocrisy in this election. (Note: To make it clearer, all references to God are in capital letters, such as GOD.)
Christian Politics of 2004
I'm a Christian and can do no wrong,
He's a scoundrel and can do no right!
My life is lived for the greatest KING,
His life is made of all that's a fright!
I win, you get a world of comfort,
He wins, you get a world of terror!
My love is nothing built upon fear,
His love will lead us all in error!
I ask you to vote for humanity!
He himself said he is imperfect!
I am the only choice you cannot fear!
Don't chose fear, chose me, anti-fear!
I pray to GOD for your benefit!
Easy roads are GOD's blessings of it!
You say I quote him totally wrong?
I'm just telling what he meant to say!
You say I wish only hurt not mend?
I know he's scum! He has to pay!
You don't need him, so do not fret,
I know no evil, and know not regret! | | |
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Being Christian, neither Liberal nor Conservative
I wrote an e-mail a few weeks back, so I want to share a bit of it because it shows what I think of becoming aligned to political platforms as a Christian:
The world's far more complex than chosing to be a Conservative or Liberal depending on which is the 'lesser of two evils.' I can hardly see the teachings of Jesus being lived out in any of the candidates of today. Whether 'Conservative' or 'Liberal' they seem to show very little love (agape) for their enemies (Matt 5:44). Agape love is described in 1 Cor 13. I'm starting to become overwhelmed by the quick embrace of the Republicans by Christians even when they claim to be Christian and at the same time fail to uphold those qualities listed in 1 Cor 13. In the very least I would expect Christians to be more vocal against the Republican party and its questionable tactics and methods to gain elected positions in this country. The world is watching, and if the Republican party truly upholds Christian values, from what I see, I don't know how they differ from the ways of the world.
As Christians I believe we should first set aside all the lesser issues, such as environment, law, politics, education, employment, and the other problems of this world. Who are we? What do we stand for? What is that principle that guides our lives? And Who is it that not only shows it by His life, but also by His teachings, death, and ressurrection? The pharisees lived by imposing laws on others, and Jesus gave hope by preaching a Gospel of a changed heart and spirit. Who are we in aligning ourselves with politics? What type of values are we showing the world when we vote and cheer on a particular candidate without reference to his failings? Are we imposing law at all costs? Are we showing the Fruit of the Spirit?
I personally believe God is more powerful than the political institution. Whether one candidate is elected or not, His will be done. However, it's amazing how many Christians will give up the Christian elements of truth, justice, humility, repentance, forgiveness, longsuffering, and mercy all to elect a candidate who will impose the laws they think will perform God's justice. I think they should think about how God's justice applies to themselves and their own actions in the present. I don't believe God's way is that the ends justify the means, but that the means should also glorify Him. Proverbs 25:26 (RSV), "Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked." Proverbs 18:5 (RSV), "It is not good to be partial to a wicked man, or to deprive a righteous man of justice."
My personal feelings are that although many 'Liberal' positions may be worldly and wrong, I can hardly feel any better about the 'Conservative' positions. I will still vote for a president on election day, but I know that whatever they do will not make as much of a difference as what God has planned to do through the lives of His own people. Each moment that I stray from His Word being lived out in my life is the moment I'm failing far more than chosing the 'wrong' candidate for president. | | |
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Playing Politics
What has been really eye-opening about the election this year to me is how unChristian Christians can be. How they appear to chose a candidate and praise him without any indication of the seriousness of his faults. I find this especially curious because both candidates call themselves Christians constantly, and yet not many seem to rebuke them for their failure to live in a Christ like manner.
Along this line of thought, it just occured to me, just now, that there's something about the politicians of today that remind me of the time Jesus found Himself before Caiaphas after being betrayed by Judas. Matt 26:59-62,
Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus that they might put him to death, but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward and said, "This fellow said, 'I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.'" And the high priest stood up and said, "Have you no answer to make? What is it that these men testify against you?" Which is interesting to think about because the politicians of today do much of the same. Digging up dirt where it doesn't exist, taking words out of context, and simply trying to find some reason, any reason, for people to accept that what they want to do is right. In the Presidential election this happens to be for electing themselves as President.
Oddly enough, it seems curious to me that Christians would openly support people who have taken up acting as Caiaphas and company, especially when those who do so claim to be Christian. I would expect there to be more condemnation for these politicians' misrepresentative activities which give people less reason to believe Christians really stand for truth and justice. Instead there's a strange quiet, and these politicians find very little opposition from Christians. I'm starting to think many Christians have begun to buy the world's pragmatic approach to life, "the ends justify the means."
Actually, I wonder how we can trust politicians who seem so adept at misrepresentation. Even if they appear to do what they said they were going to do, which we thought we'd like, is it really all it seems to be? If they can make us believe something untrue about someone else to be personally elected, what stops them from making us believe something completely untrue to make us think they are doing what we think they are doing? In actuallity, putting truth and justice aside for the sake of other issues is the most senseless thing to do, and as far as I can see, we've all done it. | | |
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Two-by-four Evangelism
Thinking about those times I've heard about firey street evangelists telling everyone they're going to hell, Proverbs 17:9 popped into my head. "He who forgives an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter alienates a friend." Here forgives means covers or hides according to my concordance. So essentially rather than always bringing something up (nagging) there's a time to set it aside if you want a good relationship with the person.
I find it interesting to think that there might be people out there who, rather than taking time out to understand and know someone well enough to present something in a way that doesn't need to be repeated over and over, chose to pound people with the same message irresponsibly. It's essentially nagging in a different mode. You see something they are doing wrong, so you tell them so, over and over. As a Christian who loves the wisdom God has provided us through the Proverbs, I wonder what people intend to gain by this? Say it once, and if they don't understand it, then don't just repeat the same old thing, something has to change, either their perception or the way you present it. Otherwise it is nagging. And especially if they aren't even our friends yet, if the Proverb says it alienates a friend, how much more harm would it do to someone who doesn't even necessarily know or like you?
Also, if we expect someone to come to Christ in love, do we think that doing something we are told brings alienation and separtion instead of love will accomplish that goal? Yet I see people who think that if they say something enough eventually it'll get through. And then they wonder why no one's listening anymore, or they wrongly think only the message is affecting the hearer, while it's also the way it's being presented.
Before I read this Proverb and understood it, I'd done something similar. I used to bring up to my youngest brother problematic characteristics in his life constantly so that he really hated me. I seldomly talked about anything else, so his expectation was negative and so was our relationship. When I moved away from home I was inspired to write letters that avoided that sore spot, and our relationship actually improved, and now I can talk to him about harder things because he listens, whereas before he had become quite closed. | | |
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