So I destroyed that rootbeer sampler box over winter break. Here's a short blog post about the results.
From Best to Worst. In my humble opinion at least. Take note that this is no way a professional critique of each rootbeer. Just my personal thoughts. May be I'll go in depth some day.
1) Henry Weinhard's: Taste and commercial availability make it the best rootbeer I've tasted so far. Debate it if you wish, but I H-DUB will be my favorite until I find a rootbeer that can blow it out of the water.
2) IBC: Good taste and easily the most affordable. H-DUB just beats it with the taste. IBC is a very close second.
3) Sioux city: reminiscent of H-DUB. Just not quite there.
4) Bulldog: comparable to Sioux city
5) Americana: A few of these rootbeers tasted similar. 3,4,and 5 did, but I had to be real picky to differentiate.
6) Dad's: It's alright, but not my favorite.
7) Frostie: It was tolerable.
8) Teddy's: It was alright, but the servings are a little excessive. Could barely stand it.
9) Boylan's: It was kind of hard to get through. The servings are a little excessive too.
10) Rat Bastard: I thought it was way overrated. Barely any taste to be had. Just an excuse to curse.
11) Stewarts: I just thought it was kind of gross. Did not like it at all. I think I spent a good deal of time lamenting even tasting it.
12) Thomas Kemper's: No taste at all. They are going for some organic thing, but it just isn't good at all.
This isn't over though! there is more rootbeer to be had!
Monday, February 7, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A glass can only spill what it contains.
Revelations are fun. I had one the other day. Whenever I say revelation, I usually mean I recalled something I already knew, but just barely grasped the relevance of, or I finally truly understood something. So it's nothing new, really. I've been trying to wrap my head around the idea of making something compelling or interesting to someone else. I came to the conclusion that in order to get someone excited or interested in something, you must be excited or interested in it first. My art work isn't going to be good to someone if I don't believe it's good enough to be on the page, or my witty remarks won't be considered funny unless I think they are funny enough to be uttered first. Or something like that. I might be overstepping my bounds a little bit here...
I was in the mood to be moved by the music on my ipod while at school the other day, so that naturally means I'm going to put on someone like Mewithoutyou. They always do it for me. Something about the instruments they employ and the themes they incorporate just inspires me. One of their songs came up: "A Glass Can Only Spill What it Contains" and I was zooming through the canyons of my brain.
I was thinking about current issues in the youth group. At least they're issues that have been on my heart for a while. I've always struggled with the idea of getting the students in the youth group to get into scripture. I've been trying to figure out how to actively engage them in the process of discussing the meaning of scripture and struggling to grasp it for themselves. Tom and I have recently endeavored to try this via our little webisodes. Our approach has been to try and make it simple and fun in order to engage them. I'm not saying this isn't the way to do it, but may be there is more to it than that.
As I was jamming to my tunes and considering all this stuff, I realized that may be in order to inspire the students to want to study scripture, we must be inspired ourselves to do so. We must be as excited about scripture as we want them to be. It made perfect sense to me. "Be the change you want to see in the world," and all that good stuff. Ya, it's a neat and tidy idea, but I'll be the first to say that I haven't been entirely exhilarated by studying scripture lately. My glass hasn't exactly been filled with scriptural study. It's funny that this realization hits me when I need it most. When I'm looking to start off this year right. I love when that happens. So basically if I want to see people drinking up scripture like it's living water, I need to be over-flowing with it. Among other things, of course.
It really makes awful good sense. Why would I bother listening to someone when they themselves do not follow what they say? Christ knew this himself. What better way to teach creation how to live then to come down and do it himself? I like what he says to Nicodemus in John 3:11 when he says, " I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen."
We could take this a step further though. If we want the students to make a difference in the community and to change lives, they need to be convinced that they can do it, and they need to be convinced by the power of Christ Jesus who works through us to accomplish such things. If we want our students to believe in Christ's love, we must also believe in Christ's love, but also act accordingly. How can we expect people to come to believe if we don't even act like we do, or if we don't believe it ourselves? "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15.
It's just a small thought of mine that's been on my brain for the past few days. I ought to be spilling forth enthusiasm for scriptural study and the participation in a life-changing relationship with my Savior. I need to be as convinced by Christ's message as I want others to be in order to serve as a compelling example. Christ's life and sacrifice wouldn't have been so powerful if he wouldn't have been so thoroughly convinced by it himself.
I was in the mood to be moved by the music on my ipod while at school the other day, so that naturally means I'm going to put on someone like Mewithoutyou. They always do it for me. Something about the instruments they employ and the themes they incorporate just inspires me. One of their songs came up: "A Glass Can Only Spill What it Contains" and I was zooming through the canyons of my brain.
I was thinking about current issues in the youth group. At least they're issues that have been on my heart for a while. I've always struggled with the idea of getting the students in the youth group to get into scripture. I've been trying to figure out how to actively engage them in the process of discussing the meaning of scripture and struggling to grasp it for themselves. Tom and I have recently endeavored to try this via our little webisodes. Our approach has been to try and make it simple and fun in order to engage them. I'm not saying this isn't the way to do it, but may be there is more to it than that.
As I was jamming to my tunes and considering all this stuff, I realized that may be in order to inspire the students to want to study scripture, we must be inspired ourselves to do so. We must be as excited about scripture as we want them to be. It made perfect sense to me. "Be the change you want to see in the world," and all that good stuff. Ya, it's a neat and tidy idea, but I'll be the first to say that I haven't been entirely exhilarated by studying scripture lately. My glass hasn't exactly been filled with scriptural study. It's funny that this realization hits me when I need it most. When I'm looking to start off this year right. I love when that happens. So basically if I want to see people drinking up scripture like it's living water, I need to be over-flowing with it. Among other things, of course.
It really makes awful good sense. Why would I bother listening to someone when they themselves do not follow what they say? Christ knew this himself. What better way to teach creation how to live then to come down and do it himself? I like what he says to Nicodemus in John 3:11 when he says, " I tell you the truth, we speak of what we know, and we testify to what we have seen."
We could take this a step further though. If we want the students to make a difference in the community and to change lives, they need to be convinced that they can do it, and they need to be convinced by the power of Christ Jesus who works through us to accomplish such things. If we want our students to believe in Christ's love, we must also believe in Christ's love, but also act accordingly. How can we expect people to come to believe if we don't even act like we do, or if we don't believe it ourselves? "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:14-15.
It's just a small thought of mine that's been on my brain for the past few days. I ought to be spilling forth enthusiasm for scriptural study and the participation in a life-changing relationship with my Savior. I need to be as convinced by Christ's message as I want others to be in order to serve as a compelling example. Christ's life and sacrifice wouldn't have been so powerful if he wouldn't have been so thoroughly convinced by it himself.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
I shall be telling you all the time.
I have a wicked tendency to doubt God's grace sometimes. It usually happens when I screw things up big time. I fear that I'm so far gone that God's given up on me because I'm such a lost cause. It really is a self-destructive habit. It's just the beginning of such a dark series of events that feel impossible to overcome.
Now I am one who believes that we are all responsible for our own actions and the problems that may come as a result, but I think it's hard to ignore the effects that Satan has on our lives. It's important to be able to recognize his work in our lives and not to discredit the power that he has. We should have a respect for the chaos he can visit on us.
I've heard it said that Satan's lies are the most dangerous of all, and I find myself agreeing more and more the more I hear them. Those are a lot of mores...In any case, the greatest lie he could he ever say to us is telling us that God doesn't love us. It makes perfect sense. Convincing us that God wants nothing to do with us is the worst thing that could ever happen to us. Think about it. That's Satan effectively separating us from our Creator. He's blinding us to the constant yearnings of our Father to have a lasting relationship with us. That's not something we make him do by our own actions, it's something he just does. He does it because he loves us, and we are his. We are his.
One of my favorite books in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis has always been the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I've always liked it because of the journeys to the different islands that the crew of the Dawn Treader took. I always thought that was neat. I had the pleasure of rereading the book before watching the movie quite recently. I enjoyed the movie, but they kept out some of the best parts, with the exception of the end. At the end of the movie and the book, When Lucy and Edmund are told that they can't return to Narnia again, they are confused as to why. Aslan expresses to them that the reason why he brought them to Narnia in the first place was so that they would come to know him, and that they would never stop knowing him. He tells them they came to Narnia so that they would know him there for a little while, but know him in their own world for longer.
At that same time, there, standing at the edge of Aslan's country they ask him if they'll be able to reach his country from their world and if Aslan will tell them how. Aslan's answer is just so awesome. "I shall be telling you all the time," said Aslan. "But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder." C.S. Lewis is a genius. The great lengths Aslan takes to know these children, even Edmund who betrayed him, was awesome. Going as far making them Kings and Queens of Narnia, his realm. The Great Bridge Builder. That's just so awesome. Regardless of what separates us, Aslan, or should I say JESUS will lead us to overcome. He doesn't tell us or show us how to do it once, but ALL THE TIME! I Shall Be Telling you All the Time! One of the greatest things I've ever seen written in ages.
Looking at it now, Satan's lies are obvious nonsense. Why would Christ go to such great lengths if he were to discard us at the sight of any of our faults? He brought us into this world, so he knows full well what we are capable of, but he loves us regardless. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:37-39 which says, " No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth no anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is a sizable list of things that can't separate us from God's love. Our sin is nothing compared to what's on that list. How could Satan's lies possibly be true?
I think it's important to realize, even in our periods of despair when we think so little of ourselves that Christ does not. He finds us worthy of his sacrifice always and forever. Nothing we can possibly do will ever change that. It's the most beautiful thought ever realized by the minds of man, that our Creator would never quit us as the things of this world often do. That there is no preconceived notion regarding his unfailing love. It's completely illogical to us, but also completely beautiful. It's dreadfully hard, but oh so important to realize that Christ's love penetrates even the thickest clouds of doubt. We are not alone in our suffering. We must remember to train our ears for the booming roar of the Lion of Judah.
Now I am one who believes that we are all responsible for our own actions and the problems that may come as a result, but I think it's hard to ignore the effects that Satan has on our lives. It's important to be able to recognize his work in our lives and not to discredit the power that he has. We should have a respect for the chaos he can visit on us.
I've heard it said that Satan's lies are the most dangerous of all, and I find myself agreeing more and more the more I hear them. Those are a lot of mores...In any case, the greatest lie he could he ever say to us is telling us that God doesn't love us. It makes perfect sense. Convincing us that God wants nothing to do with us is the worst thing that could ever happen to us. Think about it. That's Satan effectively separating us from our Creator. He's blinding us to the constant yearnings of our Father to have a lasting relationship with us. That's not something we make him do by our own actions, it's something he just does. He does it because he loves us, and we are his. We are his.
One of my favorite books in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis has always been the Voyage of the Dawn Treader. I've always liked it because of the journeys to the different islands that the crew of the Dawn Treader took. I always thought that was neat. I had the pleasure of rereading the book before watching the movie quite recently. I enjoyed the movie, but they kept out some of the best parts, with the exception of the end. At the end of the movie and the book, When Lucy and Edmund are told that they can't return to Narnia again, they are confused as to why. Aslan expresses to them that the reason why he brought them to Narnia in the first place was so that they would come to know him, and that they would never stop knowing him. He tells them they came to Narnia so that they would know him there for a little while, but know him in their own world for longer.
At that same time, there, standing at the edge of Aslan's country they ask him if they'll be able to reach his country from their world and if Aslan will tell them how. Aslan's answer is just so awesome. "I shall be telling you all the time," said Aslan. "But I will not tell you how long or short the way will be; only that it lies across a river. But do not fear that, for I am the great Bridge Builder." C.S. Lewis is a genius. The great lengths Aslan takes to know these children, even Edmund who betrayed him, was awesome. Going as far making them Kings and Queens of Narnia, his realm. The Great Bridge Builder. That's just so awesome. Regardless of what separates us, Aslan, or should I say JESUS will lead us to overcome. He doesn't tell us or show us how to do it once, but ALL THE TIME! I Shall Be Telling you All the Time! One of the greatest things I've ever seen written in ages.
Looking at it now, Satan's lies are obvious nonsense. Why would Christ go to such great lengths if he were to discard us at the sight of any of our faults? He brought us into this world, so he knows full well what we are capable of, but he loves us regardless. One of my favorite verses is Romans 8:37-39 which says, " No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth no anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." That is a sizable list of things that can't separate us from God's love. Our sin is nothing compared to what's on that list. How could Satan's lies possibly be true?
I think it's important to realize, even in our periods of despair when we think so little of ourselves that Christ does not. He finds us worthy of his sacrifice always and forever. Nothing we can possibly do will ever change that. It's the most beautiful thought ever realized by the minds of man, that our Creator would never quit us as the things of this world often do. That there is no preconceived notion regarding his unfailing love. It's completely illogical to us, but also completely beautiful. It's dreadfully hard, but oh so important to realize that Christ's love penetrates even the thickest clouds of doubt. We are not alone in our suffering. We must remember to train our ears for the booming roar of the Lion of Judah.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Puppet/Prophet.
I got to thinking about how I wanted this New Year to go a while back, and I considered all that happened to me this past year.(I suppose this makes this my New Year's post) My year was actually pretty good, for the most part. I had some grand adventures, but it was filled with some rather harsh times for me, and the tail end of this year shaped up to be the toughest of all. I was so tired of it all by the time Winter break rolled around that I had completely given up and checked out.
I'm a big fan of these occasional periods of introspection. It proves to remind me of how far I've come and where I've come from. I just don't like the part leading up to where I have to have these periods of introspection. In any case, it was one of those times, and I endeavored to self-diagnose the cause of this particularly crummy end of the year. I ultimately came to the conclusion that I've taken my life into my own hands. Sure, that sounds good, but it's not. I understand that as a Christian, our lives are not our own. My all time favorite verse ever: Luke 9:23-24 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." So I violated my end of the agreement here.
As Christians, we recognize the fact that Christ really does understand what is best for us. Not only does he understand it, but he also desperately wishes that we live that way; enough to have given his life in the most brutal of manners. As Christians, we also must recognize that this life of ours isn't all about us. Christ's death and resurrection are not all about us. There are other people in the world. Just as Christ was concerned with the well being of everyone, So should we be concerned with the lives of others. Christ's love is a whole lot bigger than us.
This past year, I found that I was overly concerned with my own well being. I was gratifying myself. I was numero uno. It's certainly conduct unbecoming of a Christian, considering we are patterning ourselves off a man, who is God, who cared about everyone but himself. (Not to say you can't pay attention to your own personal needs. That's an important part to being a Christian, but don't let it go to your head, now.)
I'm not saying I didn't know what I was doing, although this is often the case with people. We tend to miss the fact that we are too busy being concerned with our own needs than the will of God. I was not oblivious to this very important fact, I just chose to ignore it. Not to say I purposefully went out of my way to do the opposite of what God wanted me to do, I was just so wrapped up in my own affairs that it was of little importance to me.
In my period of introspection, I tried to figure out what from scripture would help me to describe what I was going through, and what would help me learn from this. I could think of no better book than the book of Jonah. The Prophet Jonah is called by God to preach against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh. Jonah doesn't even pause to ask God why, or ever argue. He immediately runs away. A prophet chosen by God decides to run away. So Jonah jumps on a boat and heads to Tarshish so he can flee from the Lord.
How often do we think that if we just run from our problems long enough, they'll get sorted out in the end? What is it about us that makes us do this? It never works! It's even more impossible when fleeing from the Creator of the Universe! Of course, just like our own problems, Jonah's problems were sure to follow him. The results were rather disastrous.
Jonah and his fellow shipmates find themselves in an insane storm. Fearing for their lives, the sailors begin to call on all of their gods, even going as far as waking Jonah from his slumber to beg him to pray to God to save them all. Jonah understands why they're in the middle of the storm though. He asks the sailors to toss him into the drink in order to save their lives. They refuse, oddly enough, and instead decide to row their way out of the storm that they now understand is the result of Jonah's rebelliousness against God.
That just seems like the story of my life. I understand what's going on, I know how to solve the problem, but I decide to do it my way. I decide I would much rather row my way out of the storm then to toss my self into the deep, knowing that I'll be caught by the hands of God. How often do we try to find our own way out of our problems, even though we understand the solution is turning to God? Why is this so hard for us? I imagine this is because we would be giving up control of our lives to God, which is a scary prospect. If we are in control of our lives, we only do what we want to do, and we steer clear of the potential risks and dangers. We decide to stay in our own little comfortable state, but life isn't comfortable, and it shouldn't be. We flee from God because we know he's going to make us step out of our comfort zone. God is calling us to experience the scary, but amazing side of life when we would much rather stay home, sit in front of the T.V., and nurse our own personal wounds and decay in our own little bubble of spiritual inactivity. When we're in control, we have the choice of what is going to happen to us and what we will experience, but when we allow God to take control, we give ourselves up to the mysterious nature of the will of God, allowing him to send us out into the world; and the world is a scary and dangerous place. We don't want to get hurt. We don't want to come face to face with the prospect of our own imperfection. We don't want to know we are sinful beings. That's not why God's sending us out though. Our imperfection is not the point. It doesn't matter.
In the end, the storm proves too great for the sailors, and they reluctantly toss Jonah overboard. Jonah hits the water, and, I imagine, he's expecting to drown. Chances are he didn't know how to swim. Jonah is mistaken though. God provides a giant fish to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning.
This part of the story always reminds me of Pinocchio. I always picture a big ol' fish/ whale like Monstro coming along and swallowing Jonah up. Jonah's sitting in this whale with sea weed clinging to him, and all the wreckage of boats and other sea-borne detritus floating around. It sounds like an awful place to be. Being digested by a massive fish and such. He's probably babbling on like Gepetto in there, wondering how the heck he got into such a mess in the first place.
This is the turning point in Jonah and in Pinocchio. Up to the whale, Jonah and Pinocchio have been too busy doing their own thing. Jonah's running away, and Pinocchio's been off being an actor and making a real Jackass of himself on Pleasure Island.
Duuuuuuuuuh OH SNAP!
Pinocchio's been ignoring Jiminy, his conscience, this whole time, while Jonah's been ignoring God: the ultimate reason for their current troubles. This whale seems like the climax of all their problems. Jonah is being digested alive in a huge ol' fish that's swimming in the depths Lord knows where, while Gepetto, Pinocchio's creator, and the only person who really loves him, is doing the same thing after going in search of Pinocchio.
I've gone over suffering and trouble before, and the question always comes up of why it happens. I know I ask myself all the time. Why does there have to be suffering? Although I know there is never going to be a satisfying reason, I do know that God uses suffering to benefit us. This scene with the Whale is the perfect opportunity for Jonah/Pinocchio to turn everything around and get in gear. Instead of wallowing in the whale, or continuing to be a jackass, they decide to do something about it. I think that's the response every Christian should have to their troubles: What am I going to do about this? How am I going to respond and how should I respond? Are we going to let this whale digest us/our loved ones, or are we going to overcome? And that's why the whale scene is my favorite part in Jonah.
Jonah can't run any more. His options are exhausted, and he needs to turn to the only possible source of salvation he has: God. In the whale he cries out "In my distress I called to the the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all of your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple." "Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them." But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.' " Jonah 2: 2-9
Clinging to worthless idols. Being the center of our own Universe. Only working for ourselves. It's all the same, and it's all turning our backs on God and turning away from his Love. God is more faithful than we could ever be, though. He continues to shower us with his love and grace even though we don't deserve it. He always allows us a way out. He always delivers us from our troubles, and all it requires is for us to give up our lives to him and allow him to do his work.
After his prayer, God commands the big fish to spit Jonah back out on land. He goes on to do the will of God and preaches God's message to Nineveh. The story goes a little differently with Pinocchio though. Pinocchio goes in search of Gepetto to save his father/creator.
He also gets swallowed by Monstro, but devises a plan to save them both. They light a fire inside Monstro to get him to spit them out. It works but, unlike in the story of Jonah; Monstro goes after them.
So the struggle of Pinocchio's life begins. He's fighting the current and treading water to desperately pull Gepetto into a small cave to escape from the evil whale. He succeeds, but at a great price. Pinocchio dies in the struggle. Crazy for a Disney flick, right?
I'm not lying! That fool is driftwood!
But don't fret! In the end, the blue fairy, upon witnessing Pinocchio's turn around and struggle to live, makes him a real boy.
TADA! And later he gets turned into Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
As Christians though, giving up our lives to God is a big deal. This transformation that we want to see in our lives is something we can't do on our own. We have to give up our lives in order to allow Christ to craft us into true children of God. It's not easy. We're bound to get swallowed by some big fish, and we might have to fight off some of them. But God is ever faithful, and provides us with the strength to survive and become the servants of God we were designed to be, just as Pinocchio was designed to be a real boy.
The tail end of this past year involved me not being the child of God I should. I turned my back on God. The New Year usually involves people making resolutions about losing weight, or working out, or something for their own good. How often do resolutions involve God? How often is God even considered? This New Year, I hope to be less of a Jackass and more of "Prophet" of God, doing his will. That's my resolution. Sure, it's not going to be easy, but it beats getting "passed" by a whale.
I'm a big fan of these occasional periods of introspection. It proves to remind me of how far I've come and where I've come from. I just don't like the part leading up to where I have to have these periods of introspection. In any case, it was one of those times, and I endeavored to self-diagnose the cause of this particularly crummy end of the year. I ultimately came to the conclusion that I've taken my life into my own hands. Sure, that sounds good, but it's not. I understand that as a Christian, our lives are not our own. My all time favorite verse ever: Luke 9:23-24 says, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it." So I violated my end of the agreement here.
As Christians, we recognize the fact that Christ really does understand what is best for us. Not only does he understand it, but he also desperately wishes that we live that way; enough to have given his life in the most brutal of manners. As Christians, we also must recognize that this life of ours isn't all about us. Christ's death and resurrection are not all about us. There are other people in the world. Just as Christ was concerned with the well being of everyone, So should we be concerned with the lives of others. Christ's love is a whole lot bigger than us.
This past year, I found that I was overly concerned with my own well being. I was gratifying myself. I was numero uno. It's certainly conduct unbecoming of a Christian, considering we are patterning ourselves off a man, who is God, who cared about everyone but himself. (Not to say you can't pay attention to your own personal needs. That's an important part to being a Christian, but don't let it go to your head, now.)
I'm not saying I didn't know what I was doing, although this is often the case with people. We tend to miss the fact that we are too busy being concerned with our own needs than the will of God. I was not oblivious to this very important fact, I just chose to ignore it. Not to say I purposefully went out of my way to do the opposite of what God wanted me to do, I was just so wrapped up in my own affairs that it was of little importance to me.
In my period of introspection, I tried to figure out what from scripture would help me to describe what I was going through, and what would help me learn from this. I could think of no better book than the book of Jonah. The Prophet Jonah is called by God to preach against the wickedness of the city of Nineveh. Jonah doesn't even pause to ask God why, or ever argue. He immediately runs away. A prophet chosen by God decides to run away. So Jonah jumps on a boat and heads to Tarshish so he can flee from the Lord.
How often do we think that if we just run from our problems long enough, they'll get sorted out in the end? What is it about us that makes us do this? It never works! It's even more impossible when fleeing from the Creator of the Universe! Of course, just like our own problems, Jonah's problems were sure to follow him. The results were rather disastrous.
Jonah and his fellow shipmates find themselves in an insane storm. Fearing for their lives, the sailors begin to call on all of their gods, even going as far as waking Jonah from his slumber to beg him to pray to God to save them all. Jonah understands why they're in the middle of the storm though. He asks the sailors to toss him into the drink in order to save their lives. They refuse, oddly enough, and instead decide to row their way out of the storm that they now understand is the result of Jonah's rebelliousness against God.
That just seems like the story of my life. I understand what's going on, I know how to solve the problem, but I decide to do it my way. I decide I would much rather row my way out of the storm then to toss my self into the deep, knowing that I'll be caught by the hands of God. How often do we try to find our own way out of our problems, even though we understand the solution is turning to God? Why is this so hard for us? I imagine this is because we would be giving up control of our lives to God, which is a scary prospect. If we are in control of our lives, we only do what we want to do, and we steer clear of the potential risks and dangers. We decide to stay in our own little comfortable state, but life isn't comfortable, and it shouldn't be. We flee from God because we know he's going to make us step out of our comfort zone. God is calling us to experience the scary, but amazing side of life when we would much rather stay home, sit in front of the T.V., and nurse our own personal wounds and decay in our own little bubble of spiritual inactivity. When we're in control, we have the choice of what is going to happen to us and what we will experience, but when we allow God to take control, we give ourselves up to the mysterious nature of the will of God, allowing him to send us out into the world; and the world is a scary and dangerous place. We don't want to get hurt. We don't want to come face to face with the prospect of our own imperfection. We don't want to know we are sinful beings. That's not why God's sending us out though. Our imperfection is not the point. It doesn't matter.
In the end, the storm proves too great for the sailors, and they reluctantly toss Jonah overboard. Jonah hits the water, and, I imagine, he's expecting to drown. Chances are he didn't know how to swim. Jonah is mistaken though. God provides a giant fish to swallow Jonah and save him from drowning.
This part of the story always reminds me of Pinocchio. I always picture a big ol' fish/ whale like Monstro coming along and swallowing Jonah up. Jonah's sitting in this whale with sea weed clinging to him, and all the wreckage of boats and other sea-borne detritus floating around. It sounds like an awful place to be. Being digested by a massive fish and such. He's probably babbling on like Gepetto in there, wondering how the heck he got into such a mess in the first place.
This is the turning point in Jonah and in Pinocchio. Up to the whale, Jonah and Pinocchio have been too busy doing their own thing. Jonah's running away, and Pinocchio's been off being an actor and making a real Jackass of himself on Pleasure Island.
Duuuuuuuuuh OH SNAP!
Pinocchio's been ignoring Jiminy, his conscience, this whole time, while Jonah's been ignoring God: the ultimate reason for their current troubles. This whale seems like the climax of all their problems. Jonah is being digested alive in a huge ol' fish that's swimming in the depths Lord knows where, while Gepetto, Pinocchio's creator, and the only person who really loves him, is doing the same thing after going in search of Pinocchio.
I've gone over suffering and trouble before, and the question always comes up of why it happens. I know I ask myself all the time. Why does there have to be suffering? Although I know there is never going to be a satisfying reason, I do know that God uses suffering to benefit us. This scene with the Whale is the perfect opportunity for Jonah/Pinocchio to turn everything around and get in gear. Instead of wallowing in the whale, or continuing to be a jackass, they decide to do something about it. I think that's the response every Christian should have to their troubles: What am I going to do about this? How am I going to respond and how should I respond? Are we going to let this whale digest us/our loved ones, or are we going to overcome? And that's why the whale scene is my favorite part in Jonah.
Jonah can't run any more. His options are exhausted, and he needs to turn to the only possible source of salvation he has: God. In the whale he cries out "In my distress I called to the the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all of your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple." "Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God's love for them." But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, 'Salvation comes from the Lord.' " Jonah 2: 2-9
Clinging to worthless idols. Being the center of our own Universe. Only working for ourselves. It's all the same, and it's all turning our backs on God and turning away from his Love. God is more faithful than we could ever be, though. He continues to shower us with his love and grace even though we don't deserve it. He always allows us a way out. He always delivers us from our troubles, and all it requires is for us to give up our lives to him and allow him to do his work.
After his prayer, God commands the big fish to spit Jonah back out on land. He goes on to do the will of God and preaches God's message to Nineveh. The story goes a little differently with Pinocchio though. Pinocchio goes in search of Gepetto to save his father/creator.
He also gets swallowed by Monstro, but devises a plan to save them both. They light a fire inside Monstro to get him to spit them out. It works but, unlike in the story of Jonah; Monstro goes after them.
So the struggle of Pinocchio's life begins. He's fighting the current and treading water to desperately pull Gepetto into a small cave to escape from the evil whale. He succeeds, but at a great price. Pinocchio dies in the struggle. Crazy for a Disney flick, right?
I'm not lying! That fool is driftwood!
But don't fret! In the end, the blue fairy, upon witnessing Pinocchio's turn around and struggle to live, makes him a real boy.
TADA! And later he gets turned into Jonathan Taylor Thomas.
As Christians though, giving up our lives to God is a big deal. This transformation that we want to see in our lives is something we can't do on our own. We have to give up our lives in order to allow Christ to craft us into true children of God. It's not easy. We're bound to get swallowed by some big fish, and we might have to fight off some of them. But God is ever faithful, and provides us with the strength to survive and become the servants of God we were designed to be, just as Pinocchio was designed to be a real boy.
The tail end of this past year involved me not being the child of God I should. I turned my back on God. The New Year usually involves people making resolutions about losing weight, or working out, or something for their own good. How often do resolutions involve God? How often is God even considered? This New Year, I hope to be less of a Jackass and more of "Prophet" of God, doing his will. That's my resolution. Sure, it's not going to be easy, but it beats getting "passed" by a whale.
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
The Trouble with Arty
So this is the second little story I dug up from back in the day. I like this one. I came up with it while I was strolling through the mall and thought how crazy it would be if that suddenly happened to me. Good times.
High noon found the sprawling shopping mall as crowded as ever. The day had been mostly uneventful, if you could ever call a day at the mall that. People rushing this way and that, in and out in search of something was a totally normal occurrence. No one took something so arbitrary as seriously as Arty.
Sea gulls hovered lazily over the parking lot as Arty eased his small truck into the deserted back lot of the shopping center. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel vigorously as he stared forward through his super tinted windshield. His face was a mask of sheer determination. After taking a few long and slow breaths, he yanked the door open, threw himself out of the truck, and slammed the door closed behind him. His eyes were constantly moving as he slowly crossed the expansive and mostly empty lot. Arty was completely on edge; he trained himself to be so. He was half-way across the lot when his eyes widened with fear. The long high-pitched squeal from airborne gulls sent him from a steady walk to a full blown dash. The car filled portion of the lot filled his vision as the savage war cries of the sea birds filled his ears. He ran as fast he could towards the nearest vehicle, noting the massive V formation diving towards him in the reflection of the window. Arty's lungs burned as he maneuvered towards the front of the small sedan.
Arty vaulted forward suddenly, sliding on the hood of the car as the sea gulls dove on his former position. Arty rolled to his feet and continued running as half the airborne terrors impacted loudly on the windshield and hood. The rest of the gulls arched upwards to continue the pursuit. They could only chase him so far before Arty became lost int eh massive maze of cars. The sea gulls wheeled away angrily, frustrated by the quarry they had lost.
Arty made it to the front of the food court panting. Although he would have liked to take break, he knew he couldn't stop. Not yet. He straightened his clothing, made sure his shoe laces were tight, then pushed the door open. He began to run in a crouch directly towards the nearest trash can. He hadn't been noticed yet. He pulled an empty tray off the top as he took a peek at the massive amount of people consuming their meals. No sooner did his eyes crest the top of the can did he see a volley of fast food impact the other side.
Arty didn't hesitate. Using the tray as a shield; he began to race through the barrage of hamburgers and pizza slices. People growled and screamed through half-chewed food, hurling the rest of their meals as hard as they could at Arty as he passed. Seconds later, he was passed the food court and running head long passed angry shoppers. It was a paradox, really. Arty didn't really understand how he could make so many people furious at him without doing a single thing to them. From an early age, he came to realize that his presence alone drove any living thing furious. This was the case for every person and animal, with the exception of his parents. As far back as he could remember; Arty was always being chased by an angry mob. What skills Arty had to defend himself with had been learned at a price. Regardless of these constant attacks; he was a very kind person. Life this way, however, had driven him to live by the phrase "Strike hard, Strike fast, Strike first." This inspired actions that he was not afraid to employ.
Using his food tray shield as an offensive weapon now; Arty ran by striking people in the back of their heads, effectively leveling them as he raced by. As far as he was concerned: the more people on the ground, the less chasing him. This strategy worked him until he shattered his shield on a hulking beast of a man. The man was bristling with tense muscles and bulging veins as he turned on Arty. With a loud booming roar, the man picked him up and threw him down the mall. Being airborne was not an unfamiliar experience for Arty, however.
With a tuck and a roll; he was back on the his feet and running naturally. His target was in view. Months of rigorous planning were about to pay off. Just then, the angry crowd in front of him and to his left came together to form a raving wall of lunatics. Acting in a split second; Arty rolled into an empty elevator, slamming the button to close the door as he hit the back. Yelling gave way to cheery elevator music as the car began to lurch up to the second floor. As soon as the ping sounded and the doors eased open; Arty was out.
He ran hard to his right, dodging angry shoppes who were swinging at him with shopping bags. Typically, Arty tried not to show any fear, but the particular commotion at the pet shop in front of him changed all of that. Like some crazed animal trainer; the pet shop owner was throwing open the dog kennels, letting loose "the dogs of war." The first wave of frothy mouthed hell hounds to meet him were the puppies. It was a terrible situation for Arty, and he took no satisfaction as he sent the puppies flying away from him with a succession of swift kicks. The situation would have been a lot worse had not a rogue, flying, Jack Russel Terrier struck the pet shop owner in the face before he could let out the big dogs.
Dashing left, and in a hurry, Arty continued his long run. The stores on his right were a blur and unnoticed until he passed the Victoria's Secret. Arty was not blind, after all. He slowed to a trot, staring dumb-founded at a lingerie-clad, super-model-looking woman. He didn't stay long. His gawking was welcomed warmly by a curved mannequin's arm which flew past him just to rip past his face again like a boomerang. Arty mentally noted never to stray past that length of the mall ever again. No sooner did he think that then did he find himself being angled into a sports equipment store by another angry wall of shoppers. Vaulting over a small pitched tent while clothes-lining the manager; Arty found himself caught in a trap. Grabbing a Croquet mallet; he braced himself for the worst.
Never had an angry mob been this organized in the history of Arty-chasing mobs. Using his mallet to bludgeon people to unconsciousness, Arty fended off wave after wave of shoppers. The intervals were getting faster and faster, however. Thinking quickly, Arty found his only means of escape in the form of a gas powered scooter. Arty flew out of the store, yelling over whine of the scooter, smashing the manager's teeth out just as he was regaining his footing.
Arty flew through the cloud like a bat out of hell. He lashed out this way an that with his now cracked and splintering mallet. He was almost completely out of the mob when he was suddenly clocked on the back of the head and knocked off his scooter. The curved mannequin's arm clattered to the floor next to Arty's unconscious form. The mob crowded around, preparing to kick him while he was down. Lucky for Arty; the years of trouble had given him the unique ability to regain consciousness immediately.
In the blink of an eye, Arty was up an in a guarded crouch. He fought the crowd back far enough until he could re-mount his scooter. Seconds later he was plowing through the crowd with refreshed determination. He roared forward until he suddenly stopped on a terrace filled with umbrellaed tables. Coming towards him fast and steady was mall security. The scream of their electric golf cart was annoying and menacing at the same time. Arty would not be stopped though. He tucked his mallet in his belt and yanked free an umbrella. He folded it up neatly and cradled it under his arm like a lance.
It was a showdown of a lifetime. Both combatants tearing forward in their little vehicles. Arty was approaching a little to the left of the rent-a-cops with his impromptu lance, ready to strike. Arty kicked the scooter to max speed as he lunged forward with his weapon. It caught the driver in his left shoulder and caused the whole cart to roll to the right. Arty didn't savor the victory, however. He continued forward, tossing the broken umbrella away, knocking over an angry old person waving their walker at him.
Arty angled the little warhorse-of-a-scooter towards the escalator going down. He knew the layout of the mall by heart thanks to the endless hours spent pouring over floor plans and schematics. He knew his destination was to the right this escalator. His scooter jumped and bobbed down the escalator until he hit some people half way, causing him to fly up and over over them. A quick roll put him back on his feet and running right. There it was. The music store. He threw an envelope full of cash onto the counter as he raced to the rack where his desired CD was. Meanwhile, the angry mob had formed in front of the store, effectively cutting him off from the mall exit to the right of the store.
Arty was not about to let his journey end there. He casually strolled over to the store speaker system as the crowd stared at him him through blood-shot eyes. They waited patiently as he selected a song and walked back to the center of the store to face them. The opening notes of a heavy metal song roared through the store sound system. Arty gripped his mallet with white knuckles as he took a long breath. He bellowed loudly as he raced forward, brandishing his mallet like a powerful, vindictive Norse god. A face-melting solo squealed away away as Arty began to hack and sweep through the crowd. By the end of the song Arty had made it to the exit, leaving a living, albeit beaten and unconscious mob in his wake. The afternoon sun greeted him warmly as he walked through the parking lot exhausted. He lifted the CD to admire it in the sunlight, smiling until he noticed the V formation in its reflection.
High noon found the sprawling shopping mall as crowded as ever. The day had been mostly uneventful, if you could ever call a day at the mall that. People rushing this way and that, in and out in search of something was a totally normal occurrence. No one took something so arbitrary as seriously as Arty.
Sea gulls hovered lazily over the parking lot as Arty eased his small truck into the deserted back lot of the shopping center. He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel vigorously as he stared forward through his super tinted windshield. His face was a mask of sheer determination. After taking a few long and slow breaths, he yanked the door open, threw himself out of the truck, and slammed the door closed behind him. His eyes were constantly moving as he slowly crossed the expansive and mostly empty lot. Arty was completely on edge; he trained himself to be so. He was half-way across the lot when his eyes widened with fear. The long high-pitched squeal from airborne gulls sent him from a steady walk to a full blown dash. The car filled portion of the lot filled his vision as the savage war cries of the sea birds filled his ears. He ran as fast he could towards the nearest vehicle, noting the massive V formation diving towards him in the reflection of the window. Arty's lungs burned as he maneuvered towards the front of the small sedan.
Arty vaulted forward suddenly, sliding on the hood of the car as the sea gulls dove on his former position. Arty rolled to his feet and continued running as half the airborne terrors impacted loudly on the windshield and hood. The rest of the gulls arched upwards to continue the pursuit. They could only chase him so far before Arty became lost int eh massive maze of cars. The sea gulls wheeled away angrily, frustrated by the quarry they had lost.
Arty made it to the front of the food court panting. Although he would have liked to take break, he knew he couldn't stop. Not yet. He straightened his clothing, made sure his shoe laces were tight, then pushed the door open. He began to run in a crouch directly towards the nearest trash can. He hadn't been noticed yet. He pulled an empty tray off the top as he took a peek at the massive amount of people consuming their meals. No sooner did his eyes crest the top of the can did he see a volley of fast food impact the other side.
Arty didn't hesitate. Using the tray as a shield; he began to race through the barrage of hamburgers and pizza slices. People growled and screamed through half-chewed food, hurling the rest of their meals as hard as they could at Arty as he passed. Seconds later, he was passed the food court and running head long passed angry shoppers. It was a paradox, really. Arty didn't really understand how he could make so many people furious at him without doing a single thing to them. From an early age, he came to realize that his presence alone drove any living thing furious. This was the case for every person and animal, with the exception of his parents. As far back as he could remember; Arty was always being chased by an angry mob. What skills Arty had to defend himself with had been learned at a price. Regardless of these constant attacks; he was a very kind person. Life this way, however, had driven him to live by the phrase "Strike hard, Strike fast, Strike first." This inspired actions that he was not afraid to employ.
Using his food tray shield as an offensive weapon now; Arty ran by striking people in the back of their heads, effectively leveling them as he raced by. As far as he was concerned: the more people on the ground, the less chasing him. This strategy worked him until he shattered his shield on a hulking beast of a man. The man was bristling with tense muscles and bulging veins as he turned on Arty. With a loud booming roar, the man picked him up and threw him down the mall. Being airborne was not an unfamiliar experience for Arty, however.
With a tuck and a roll; he was back on the his feet and running naturally. His target was in view. Months of rigorous planning were about to pay off. Just then, the angry crowd in front of him and to his left came together to form a raving wall of lunatics. Acting in a split second; Arty rolled into an empty elevator, slamming the button to close the door as he hit the back. Yelling gave way to cheery elevator music as the car began to lurch up to the second floor. As soon as the ping sounded and the doors eased open; Arty was out.
He ran hard to his right, dodging angry shoppes who were swinging at him with shopping bags. Typically, Arty tried not to show any fear, but the particular commotion at the pet shop in front of him changed all of that. Like some crazed animal trainer; the pet shop owner was throwing open the dog kennels, letting loose "the dogs of war." The first wave of frothy mouthed hell hounds to meet him were the puppies. It was a terrible situation for Arty, and he took no satisfaction as he sent the puppies flying away from him with a succession of swift kicks. The situation would have been a lot worse had not a rogue, flying, Jack Russel Terrier struck the pet shop owner in the face before he could let out the big dogs.
Dashing left, and in a hurry, Arty continued his long run. The stores on his right were a blur and unnoticed until he passed the Victoria's Secret. Arty was not blind, after all. He slowed to a trot, staring dumb-founded at a lingerie-clad, super-model-looking woman. He didn't stay long. His gawking was welcomed warmly by a curved mannequin's arm which flew past him just to rip past his face again like a boomerang. Arty mentally noted never to stray past that length of the mall ever again. No sooner did he think that then did he find himself being angled into a sports equipment store by another angry wall of shoppers. Vaulting over a small pitched tent while clothes-lining the manager; Arty found himself caught in a trap. Grabbing a Croquet mallet; he braced himself for the worst.
Never had an angry mob been this organized in the history of Arty-chasing mobs. Using his mallet to bludgeon people to unconsciousness, Arty fended off wave after wave of shoppers. The intervals were getting faster and faster, however. Thinking quickly, Arty found his only means of escape in the form of a gas powered scooter. Arty flew out of the store, yelling over whine of the scooter, smashing the manager's teeth out just as he was regaining his footing.
Arty flew through the cloud like a bat out of hell. He lashed out this way an that with his now cracked and splintering mallet. He was almost completely out of the mob when he was suddenly clocked on the back of the head and knocked off his scooter. The curved mannequin's arm clattered to the floor next to Arty's unconscious form. The mob crowded around, preparing to kick him while he was down. Lucky for Arty; the years of trouble had given him the unique ability to regain consciousness immediately.
In the blink of an eye, Arty was up an in a guarded crouch. He fought the crowd back far enough until he could re-mount his scooter. Seconds later he was plowing through the crowd with refreshed determination. He roared forward until he suddenly stopped on a terrace filled with umbrellaed tables. Coming towards him fast and steady was mall security. The scream of their electric golf cart was annoying and menacing at the same time. Arty would not be stopped though. He tucked his mallet in his belt and yanked free an umbrella. He folded it up neatly and cradled it under his arm like a lance.
It was a showdown of a lifetime. Both combatants tearing forward in their little vehicles. Arty was approaching a little to the left of the rent-a-cops with his impromptu lance, ready to strike. Arty kicked the scooter to max speed as he lunged forward with his weapon. It caught the driver in his left shoulder and caused the whole cart to roll to the right. Arty didn't savor the victory, however. He continued forward, tossing the broken umbrella away, knocking over an angry old person waving their walker at him.
Arty angled the little warhorse-of-a-scooter towards the escalator going down. He knew the layout of the mall by heart thanks to the endless hours spent pouring over floor plans and schematics. He knew his destination was to the right this escalator. His scooter jumped and bobbed down the escalator until he hit some people half way, causing him to fly up and over over them. A quick roll put him back on his feet and running right. There it was. The music store. He threw an envelope full of cash onto the counter as he raced to the rack where his desired CD was. Meanwhile, the angry mob had formed in front of the store, effectively cutting him off from the mall exit to the right of the store.
Arty was not about to let his journey end there. He casually strolled over to the store speaker system as the crowd stared at him him through blood-shot eyes. They waited patiently as he selected a song and walked back to the center of the store to face them. The opening notes of a heavy metal song roared through the store sound system. Arty gripped his mallet with white knuckles as he took a long breath. He bellowed loudly as he raced forward, brandishing his mallet like a powerful, vindictive Norse god. A face-melting solo squealed away away as Arty began to hack and sweep through the crowd. By the end of the song Arty had made it to the exit, leaving a living, albeit beaten and unconscious mob in his wake. The afternoon sun greeted him warmly as he walked through the parking lot exhausted. He lifted the CD to admire it in the sunlight, smiling until he noticed the V formation in its reflection.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Root Beer Connoisseur
Aaaaaah YEAH! Look what I picked up at Bev-mo the other day! That's right. I'm going to be familiarizing myself with root beer this winter break! Sounds like a good way to recover from a mostly crappy semester. Cheers!
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Suffering?
I led discussion for the Burn this past Sunday morning and brought up the difficult question of suffering. I was hoping for a Theodicean discussion in some form, but sometimes the kids don't have anything to say for one reason or another. I don't blame them. Suffering is a tough thing to respond to, and the question of God being good in the face of all the suffering in the world is an even more difficult question that gives some expert scholars pause. In any case, I wasn't expecting perfection, just some thoughts/questions. I did my best to make the questions as friendly to highschoolers as possible. I don't really expect them to be as brilliant as me, after all.
I'm working on a blog post on Job at the moment, but It's a little more research intensive than my normal blog posts, so I thought I would discuss some similar ideas for now. I also thought I would blog my notes because I thought they were blog worthy.
I started out by posing the question: "What is Suffering?"
I was hoping for students to describe and define suffering. At least question whether or not there are different forms of suffering. I myself thought a discussion regarding whether or not there is a difference between suffering and punishment would be very good. It's something I've thought of myself. I tend to believe there is a difference. (I'll get to that later.)
I also asked "What causes suffering?" I was hoping for some good questions and answers. All I got were blank stares. In addition to the rest of the questions, I thought this one was particularly important to consider. Is God the cause of our suffering? Does he visit hardship upon us, or does it just happen naturally as a result of life. Does suffering happen because the world is imperfect, or is it a natural part of the world, totally inseparable from it. Is all suffering a result of evil? Does suffering happen because of our sin? All good questions to consider.
I tend to believe suffering happens. Sometimes it's just a result of the way the world works. Sometimes earthquakes happen. Sometimes natural disasters happen. It sucks, but it happens. I don't think it means that some people or country deserved the wrath of God that was visited upon them. I also believe that sometimes suffering is a result of evil. By the evil of actions of an individual or a group of people. Evil does cause suffering. I think that point is rather undeniable. I have a problem believing God causes suffering though. (I'll get to that in a minute too.)
This brings me to the Theodicean discussion. "If God is good, why does suffering happen?" furthermore: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It's an awful difficult question to ask. There are usually two feel-good Christian answers that one is bound to encounter when asking the question. The first being "God's in control." The second is different by stating "God allows us to suffer so that we can learn." Now I believe they are both theologically sound, I just think they ought to be unpacked instead of taken at face value.
With the first answer, I can think of a few few verses that can attest to this right off the bat. My favorite to use would have to be Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, which states: "Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." I love this passage as much as I love Ecclesiastes. Both are responding to this question of suffering in the world. People tend to use this first answer as well as this passage to say that "we can't possibly comprehend what God has in store for us, so let's leave it at that and not pursue the question any further. Just know that God is in control" I disagree. I like the answer, but I don't think that's how it's supposed to be used. I believe the author is commenting on the difficulty inherent in the question. The Author is not suggesting we disregard the question, they are merely suggesting we not allow suffering to bog us down and restrain us from living life to the full. At least that is where the book of Ecclesiastes seems to be going. (As I interpret it.) To say we shouldn't bother to ask why suffering happens because we couldn't possibly comprehend the reason, seems ridiculous to me. Even if it were true (which it probably is) that we as humans couldn't possibly understand why suffering happens, I think it's still very important for us to ask the question. I think we can learn from just asking that question. (I want to elaborate in my blog post on Job, so I'm being quite brief.)
This second answer is obviously attractive, so you are bound to hear it a lot. "Suffering happens so we can learn" or "God allows us to suffer to enrich our lives." At this point, I would like to make the distinction between suffering and punishment. I believe they are totally different things. I'm going to straight out say that I have a problem believing God makes me or anyone else suffer just so I can learn. I think that's bull. I don't think God kills people or hurts people to cause other people to learn or enrich other people's lives. I believe that the second answer is more of a brilliant "cop-out" than the first answer. It gives no consideration to the Just and Good character of God. How just is it for our creator to eliminate his creation for the betterment of the rest of his creation. It sure does wrap the whole problem up neatly though. I don't have a problem believing we can learn and better ourselves from our suffering. I think we all can learn from suffering. It can provide us with valuable insight and life lessons sometimes. I just don't think God causes us to suffer for that very reason. I think by using this answer, we are confusing suffering for punishment.
Punishment gets a bad rep. That's probably because as children we despised it. We didn't want it. We still don't. I do believe God punishes us, just as our parents punished us (or should have) when we were younger. It's not because they hated us. It's actually quite the opposite. Our parents and God are concerned for our well being. They want us to develop and live good/righteous lives. They punish us in order to teach us how to do just that. God punishes us in order to lead us to a life worth living. He, like our parents, knows how we should live. I suppose Punishment can then be a form of suffering, although more personal in nature. Our punishment has nothing to do with other people. It's our business. We bring it upon ourselves. I'm not saying punishment is any easier to deal with though. I just think there's a difference between punishment and suffering.
This brings me to another point I made: "Why do we suffer?" Is our suffering a result of our sins? Do bad things then happen to everyone as a result of the wrong they do? I believe suffering does happen sometimes as a result of our sins. In this sense, by doing evil, we can cause suffering. Hitler caused suffering due to his hatred towards the Jews, among other people. Suffering can definitely come about as a result of our actions. Sometimes we are punished as a result of our actions though. This is for our betterment, and would be a result of God trying to steer us clear. This doesn't mean that suffering always happens as a result of our actions or the actions of another person. Consider John 9:1-7: "As he went along, he (Jesus) saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man;s eyes. "Go," he told him, "was in the Pool of Siloam." So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." I like to think Jesus is saying this guy just happened to be born blind. Christ used his blindness though. This brings me to my next point.
I think Christ is showing us that as Christians, it is our duty to respond to the suffering in the world. I believe our response is more important than any answer. More importantly, I believe God responds to suffering through our response to suffering. We are called to do his work. It's important to understand that we aren't alone in the world. There are other people going through the exact same thing. We are in it together, I guess. Jesus tells his disciples that they will continue to suffer even after he dies. John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things , so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In the end, it's important to remember that Christ is bigger than this world and all the suffering that happens. Christ suffered for us so that we would have relief for our suffering. It's nice to know that we aren't alone in our suffering. That Christ suffers with us. Perhaps Christ's sacrifice and suffering also illustrates that we are supposed to be with those who suffer so that they, like us, don't have to be alone in their suffering.
It's late, and I pretty sure I missed a ton of stuff, but I plan on addressing a lot in blog post on Job so I'll call this one done. In any case, I like to think about this stuff. I think we all ought to give it some thought too.
I'm working on a blog post on Job at the moment, but It's a little more research intensive than my normal blog posts, so I thought I would discuss some similar ideas for now. I also thought I would blog my notes because I thought they were blog worthy.
I started out by posing the question: "What is Suffering?"
I was hoping for students to describe and define suffering. At least question whether or not there are different forms of suffering. I myself thought a discussion regarding whether or not there is a difference between suffering and punishment would be very good. It's something I've thought of myself. I tend to believe there is a difference. (I'll get to that later.)
I also asked "What causes suffering?" I was hoping for some good questions and answers. All I got were blank stares. In addition to the rest of the questions, I thought this one was particularly important to consider. Is God the cause of our suffering? Does he visit hardship upon us, or does it just happen naturally as a result of life. Does suffering happen because the world is imperfect, or is it a natural part of the world, totally inseparable from it. Is all suffering a result of evil? Does suffering happen because of our sin? All good questions to consider.
I tend to believe suffering happens. Sometimes it's just a result of the way the world works. Sometimes earthquakes happen. Sometimes natural disasters happen. It sucks, but it happens. I don't think it means that some people or country deserved the wrath of God that was visited upon them. I also believe that sometimes suffering is a result of evil. By the evil of actions of an individual or a group of people. Evil does cause suffering. I think that point is rather undeniable. I have a problem believing God causes suffering though. (I'll get to that in a minute too.)
This brings me to the Theodicean discussion. "If God is good, why does suffering happen?" furthermore: "Why do bad things happen to good people?" It's an awful difficult question to ask. There are usually two feel-good Christian answers that one is bound to encounter when asking the question. The first being "God's in control." The second is different by stating "God allows us to suffer so that we can learn." Now I believe they are both theologically sound, I just think they ought to be unpacked instead of taken at face value.
With the first answer, I can think of a few few verses that can attest to this right off the bat. My favorite to use would have to be Ecclesiastes 7:13-14, which states: "Consider what God has done: Who can straighten what he has made crooked? When times are good, be happy; but when times are bad, consider: God has made the one as well as the other. Therefore, a man cannot discover anything about his future." I love this passage as much as I love Ecclesiastes. Both are responding to this question of suffering in the world. People tend to use this first answer as well as this passage to say that "we can't possibly comprehend what God has in store for us, so let's leave it at that and not pursue the question any further. Just know that God is in control" I disagree. I like the answer, but I don't think that's how it's supposed to be used. I believe the author is commenting on the difficulty inherent in the question. The Author is not suggesting we disregard the question, they are merely suggesting we not allow suffering to bog us down and restrain us from living life to the full. At least that is where the book of Ecclesiastes seems to be going. (As I interpret it.) To say we shouldn't bother to ask why suffering happens because we couldn't possibly comprehend the reason, seems ridiculous to me. Even if it were true (which it probably is) that we as humans couldn't possibly understand why suffering happens, I think it's still very important for us to ask the question. I think we can learn from just asking that question. (I want to elaborate in my blog post on Job, so I'm being quite brief.)
This second answer is obviously attractive, so you are bound to hear it a lot. "Suffering happens so we can learn" or "God allows us to suffer to enrich our lives." At this point, I would like to make the distinction between suffering and punishment. I believe they are totally different things. I'm going to straight out say that I have a problem believing God makes me or anyone else suffer just so I can learn. I think that's bull. I don't think God kills people or hurts people to cause other people to learn or enrich other people's lives. I believe that the second answer is more of a brilliant "cop-out" than the first answer. It gives no consideration to the Just and Good character of God. How just is it for our creator to eliminate his creation for the betterment of the rest of his creation. It sure does wrap the whole problem up neatly though. I don't have a problem believing we can learn and better ourselves from our suffering. I think we all can learn from suffering. It can provide us with valuable insight and life lessons sometimes. I just don't think God causes us to suffer for that very reason. I think by using this answer, we are confusing suffering for punishment.
Punishment gets a bad rep. That's probably because as children we despised it. We didn't want it. We still don't. I do believe God punishes us, just as our parents punished us (or should have) when we were younger. It's not because they hated us. It's actually quite the opposite. Our parents and God are concerned for our well being. They want us to develop and live good/righteous lives. They punish us in order to teach us how to do just that. God punishes us in order to lead us to a life worth living. He, like our parents, knows how we should live. I suppose Punishment can then be a form of suffering, although more personal in nature. Our punishment has nothing to do with other people. It's our business. We bring it upon ourselves. I'm not saying punishment is any easier to deal with though. I just think there's a difference between punishment and suffering.
This brings me to another point I made: "Why do we suffer?" Is our suffering a result of our sins? Do bad things then happen to everyone as a result of the wrong they do? I believe suffering does happen sometimes as a result of our sins. In this sense, by doing evil, we can cause suffering. Hitler caused suffering due to his hatred towards the Jews, among other people. Suffering can definitely come about as a result of our actions. Sometimes we are punished as a result of our actions though. This is for our betterment, and would be a result of God trying to steer us clear. This doesn't mean that suffering always happens as a result of our actions or the actions of another person. Consider John 9:1-7: "As he went along, he (Jesus) saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life." As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world." Having said this, he spit on the ground, made some mud with the saliva, and put it on the man;s eyes. "Go," he told him, "was in the Pool of Siloam." So the man went and washed, and came home seeing." I like to think Jesus is saying this guy just happened to be born blind. Christ used his blindness though. This brings me to my next point.
I think Christ is showing us that as Christians, it is our duty to respond to the suffering in the world. I believe our response is more important than any answer. More importantly, I believe God responds to suffering through our response to suffering. We are called to do his work. It's important to understand that we aren't alone in the world. There are other people going through the exact same thing. We are in it together, I guess. Jesus tells his disciples that they will continue to suffer even after he dies. John 16:33 says, "I have told you these things , so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." In the end, it's important to remember that Christ is bigger than this world and all the suffering that happens. Christ suffered for us so that we would have relief for our suffering. It's nice to know that we aren't alone in our suffering. That Christ suffers with us. Perhaps Christ's sacrifice and suffering also illustrates that we are supposed to be with those who suffer so that they, like us, don't have to be alone in their suffering.
It's late, and I pretty sure I missed a ton of stuff, but I plan on addressing a lot in blog post on Job so I'll call this one done. In any case, I like to think about this stuff. I think we all ought to give it some thought too.
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