Postmodernism and Arabic

We are always somewhere and we are always going somewhere. Thats the story of our lives. Thats the story of history. What is amazing to me though is how we as the Christians always seem to be a step behind where the now is, and clueless on where the next stop is. Maybe this is because we hold to traditions that are long lasting and timeless. Maybe because we serve a god "who is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore." Maybe it is because we have lost the touch of the prophetic that can see clearly what the signs of the times are and what lies ahead. Jeremiah had this. He saw what was coming. He saw that destruction was coming and spoke honestly to a nation that didnt believe him. But he saw even beyond that, which is why he obeyed when God told him to buy land. He knew that down the road there would peace and therefore he got something that would benefit his family decades later.
I was talking to my dad yesterday and he was telling me about some of our family friends who are studying Arabic in College. They are doing this because they have a heart for the Middle East. It is obvious and doesnt take a rocket scientist or deep spiritual knowledge to state that the Middle East is the center of attention in our world today. But can we say that that will be the case 10-15 years from now? 20 years ago College students were studying Russian because the eyes of the world were focused on the confrontation of the Soviet Union and America. Now we focus on a new world. My point in this is that statistically there are only a few dozen American Soldiers stationed in Baghdad that can understand ANY Arabic. So if we had anticipated that the Middle East would be something important and had learned to speak it 20 years ago, we would be able to communicate far better.
The same goes for postmodernism. Now it is a hot word that people want to study and talk about. But its day is just about to pass and we are not part of the process of understanding what is coming next or better yet of creating what is coming next. My point in all this is that we should be those who understand the times yes. We should study Arabic and postmodernism because that is where our world is RIGHT NOW. BUt why not understand where our world is going and prepare for it, so that when it comes we are completely ready and can speak before Kings and Princes.

Coming out of the dark
Shelter in the cold
Jesting for a tender kiss
Wanting peace
Picking fights with bystanders to be silent
Hiding in the ocean
Blue, vast, and a riddle
Awed by colors of the wind
Greeted by sunny rays of light
Lost and restless
Hearts mystery a game of cards
Prisoner in cavernous immense

Dies Irae recording

There is a very fascinating link here. It is about the Dies Irae, meaning "day of wrath." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dies_Irae)The theme has been used many many times throughout the history of music, including a piece that i am writing now... BUt anyway it is very fascinating. Take the time to listen to this: http://alanbarnes.net/music/Podies_Irae.mp3

NO Speak, NO see, NO touch...

"Sing to me muse...sing to me of glimpses of true beauty and song of true harmony"
I have decided to do something. I will take three days and try three experiements in order for me to not only appreciate them more but also to better understand the power behind them...
Day 1: I will not be able to speak for 24 hours. This will show me the power in the simple act of being able to speak. I will not write either.
Day 2: I will blind-fold myself for 24 hours. This will show me the power in the simple act of being able to see.
Day 3: I will not be able to touch anyone for 24 hours. This will show me the power in the simple sense of touch. Nor will i allow anyone to touch me for that time.

To war!

Stalin said as he, Roosevelt, and Churchill met at Yalta, "How many divisions does the Pope have?" This was implying that he didnt care what the Pope thought because it was he, Stalin, who had the military power, not the Pope. Teddy Roosevelt said, "Carry a big stick." Clausewitz said, "War is the continuation of politics by other means." War has been with us forever. Maybe it is part of our nature to war. Is it part of the heart of God? When we read the psalms by David, who was one that God said was after his heart, we see that David describes God in very military terms. "Rise oh Warrior," "Destroy my enemy," etc. And we also see that God delighted in those that rose up to wage war on the other countries that God despised.
I remember when i was young, i would always stage "military battles" of all eras. There were the classical age battles, the middle age battles, the early 20th century battles, the modern battles, and future battles acted out. Most boys do this. Why? Maybe war is something thats ingrained in our soul...and thats not a bad thing. Even Jesus said, "the kingdom of god is advanced through Violence." Now i am not taking that out of conctext and saying that we should advance the kingdom through armies and fighting. But why have we tried to kill the warrior inside of people? Why have we tried to say that passive peace is best? Maybe God engineered us to long for war...weird. And i close with one of America's most honorable, ethical, and more godly men, Robert E. Lee, " It is well that war is so terrible - otherwise we would grow too love it." Interesting...we would grow to love it?

Human beings are beautiful...terrible but beautiful

Child molester in your home

I have had some thoughts lately about the issue of sex slavery and the church. These thoughts have left me searching and longing for answers. I know that god has made me a very unique individual that will think about the world in a different way and will cause change within our world. And as i have worked on the issue of slavery there has been a great conviction in me that we must create change within the hearts of men. There are many organizations and groups that help the victims and that is my heart, but what of those who are watching child pornography, molesting children, and visiting brothels? According to the AMA there is no cure for child pedophilia. So ultimately no one has any real answers to how we can change the issue except to make punishments more severe. I believe that the church must be the place that not only is the refuge for the victims, but the place where those with these issues can seek change. I had a conversation with some of my friends recently. They were telling me that they would feel very uncomfortable if they knew that there were people in their church that were dealing with the issue. They would not be able to let their children go anywhere alone, and they would always be afraid that something would happen. Now let me say that i do not have children so i therefore do not know the wait of being a father and protecting my children. But these words made me think: is the church supposed to be a safe place? My heart was saddened, because what we are saying is that we ultimately can never trust someone like that...we dont believe they can really change. I have struggled with addictions my whole life. Its something that may always tempt me. And one of the things that has always made me struggle was the thought that if people knew they would no longer be with me. I pray that the church would be a place where men that are pedophiles and child molesters could come and be set free...and that we would not shut our doors and lives because of fear. Is it scary? Do we need to use wisdom and discernment? Yes, by no means am i saying that we should be careless. But please let us be filled with compassion and not reject them. When we look at the ministry of Jesus, he went to those who were the outcasts of society. They werent just those that society shunned, they were those that society feared. Our sins are just as dark as those raping a child right now. Which is ultimately what Jesus meant when he said, "He who is without sin throw the first stone." We dont want those that have been child molesters in our church? Who do we want then? Are we now like an organization that must look at your backround before you can get in? Would you let a man that was a child molester into your home? We must rise to the occasion and deal with this issue. My heart is broken for the boys and girls whose lives were destroyed by those men. But my heart is also broken for the man who is sitting in his car right now asking whether he should do it or not. I believe that anyone can change, and that he power of god is strong enough to break any chain and any addiction and mindset. Call me ignorant, foolish, unwise, or just a utopian who is just naive and idealistic. Maybe i am, but i believe that god is as well. He has to be in order to believe in me.

We are revolutionaries...
We live in passion and naivity...
We run to battle...
We smile with the battle charge...
We bleed in battles that are not our own...
We long for love...
We search for purpose and satisfaction...
We defend the defenseless...
We sweat to save the world...
Save the world that never knew us...
The world that never cared...
The world that never asked the questions that we asked them...
The world that never knew our story...
The world that never held our hand when our tears fell like rain...
The world that never felt our silent pain...
The world that never looked into our eyes and said I love you...
The world that looked at us and said you have had it good...
The world hat never listened to our cries in the dark for someone to listen...
The world that never saw us......but it needed us...
So we answered the call and we now lay dead trying to save it...
Now we say the world will weep...It will weep for us...
But no the world will not weep...
Alone lying on the battlefield...
Longing to be remembered...
Did we learn? no we will never learn...
For we are revolutionaries...passionate and naive

Let the sun rise in France

There is something that has always drawn me to France. Something about her people, history, language, attitude and complexity that has always mystified and fascinated me. There are three countries that have captivated me my whole life: Russia, Germany, and France (Ironic that they were the three that opposed the Iraq war). The city of Paris has always been a city that i longed to know. The streets where Romans walked, where Anselm, Abelard, Aquinas, Lous XIV, Rousseau, Voltaire, Picasso, Monet, Debussy, Hugo, Ravel and Charles de Gaulle made their home at one time. The city of lights, the city of love. The city of violence, the city of peace. The city of man, the city of God...We have sterotyped French for a while and most is justified by their arrogance and pompous attitude. We laugh at the pride in their language, and their snooty aristocracy. Today we insult their desire for tolerance and peace. However, once they too were a great nation. And like all great nations, they cannot forget that sense of pride that alone can be theirs. A book that I think people should read is St Gregory's "History of the Franks." I hope that we will once again see their nation turn back to god and be great...but they cannot be great unless they are good. A frenchman once said that about our own great nation. May we, a great nation now, hope to not turn our fists towards god and say we no longer need and want him.
Great nations cannot escape their greatness. Russia, China, Germany, England, Israel, Persia, America, France...many more. They can't hide from it. They can avoid it, run from it, fear it, and abuse it, but it will always be awakened from its slumber. Some nations simply cannot help but lift their heads high. Charles de Gaulle says it in a sentence, "France cannot be France without Greatness."

Terrible King

Day of wrath and terror looming!
Heaven and earth to ash consuming,
David's word and Sibyl's truth foredooming!
What horror must invade the mind,
When the approaching judge shall find,
and sift the deeds of all mankind.
The trumpet casts a wondrous sound,
through the tombs of all around,
making them the throne surround.
Death is struck and nature quaking,
all creation is awaking,
to its judge an answer making.
So when the Judge shall sit,
whatever is hidden shall be seen,
nothing shall remain unpunished.
What am I, wretched one, to say,
What protector impore,
When even a just person will scarcely be confident?
Remember, gracious Jesus,
that I am the cause of your journey;
do not let me be lost on that day.
My prayers are unworthy;
but you, the Good, show me favor,
that i amy not be consumed by eternal fire.
Low I kneel, with a heart of submission!
See, like ashes my contrition!
Help me in my last condition!
King of awesome majesty,
You are terrible...and beautiful

Love words

My body longs for you,
I cannot sleep because I want to be with you,
Please let me in!
I cannot wait until our wedding day.
Let us go a isolated place and waste our lives in each others arms!
Whisper to me the pleasures that await me on that day,
Tell me the secrets of your heart and i will keep them safe.
My vows to you are secret love words in your ear,
You eyes make the world loose color,
Your voice makes music loose its sound,
Your touch makes the world go numb,
Your kiss make the dead rise and a moment eternity
Jesus you make me weep with love.

What is one life worth? What would we spend to buy one life? What are we willing to sacrifice to help save one life? Would we do more if one act could keep everyone alive one more day? Do we really care?

Dearly I love you

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis...Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis...Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, have mercy on us.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem...Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world, grant us peace.

"Out of the depths I cry to you of Lord..." "Without you of Lord I am a guide to my own destruction..." "Have mercy on me O God, according to your unfailing love...Cleanse me with hyssop and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Hide your face from my sins and create in me a pure heart."

"Batter my heart, three person'd God; for, you
As yet but knock, breath, shine, and seek to mend;
That I may rise, and stand, o'erthrow me,'and bend
Your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new.
I, like an usurpt town, to'another due,
Labour to'admit you, but Oh, to no end,
Reason your viceroy in me, me should defend,
But is captiv'd, and proves weak or untrue.
Yet dearely'I love you,'and would be loved faine,
But am betroth'd unto your enemie:
Divorce me,'untie, or breake that knot again;
Take me to you, imprison me, for I
Except you'enthrall me, never shall be free,
Nor ever chast, except you ravish me."

Take me to your heart oh God,
Show the difference between that which in me must change
And that which cannot be flawed,
For I will my weakness for your strength exchange.
Be near to me my lover,
And show me how to be near you

Do you dance with the devil?

"Do you like to dance with devil in the pale moonlight?" This post might be weird. One of my favorite books is "Paradise Lost." Milton portrays Satan in a very romantic kind of way. "Romantic" being defined not as having to do with love as we mostly use it, but romantic being a quality of the epic hero of most classical, medieval, and renaissance literature. He is portrayed as someone who feels remorse, pain, and longs to have mercy. Listen to Milton as Satan cries out, "O had his powerful destiny ordained me some inferior angel, I had stood then happy; no unbounded hope had raised ambition." What is it about us that we hope and long that even the most evil character still has some good? Darth vador, Gollum, Hanibal, etc. We all hope that in the end that not only will evil be vanguished but that evil will turn to good..."Is there no place left for repentence, none for pardon left?" Now i am not saying that we should feel bad for satan...however, why are God's mercy's "new every morning" and He will "remove our sins as far as east is from west." Why does God "desire that none should parish," and "long to see his creation reconciled back to him," yet turn his face from his most beautiful angel? Were we not also those that spit in the face of God? Were we not also "children of wrath," and possessing "hearts that are desperately evil." There is something charming, mysterious, and dangerous about Satan. Maybe thats why we are fascinated with him. Perhaps it is the arist inside him, for was he not the great composer of heaven, perhaps the writer of music that would melt our hearts, for no doubt it melted the heart of god at one time...yet there is only darkness in him now. Only evil and perversion from his heart. "Farewell hope, and with hope farewell remorse: all good to me is lost; Evil be thou my good...for better to reign in hell than serve in Heav'n." But what if he repented? What if he turned to God for mercy? Would God turn him away? Would his heart not be filled with love again?

kiss my Soul

"Is not a kiss the very autograph of love?" said Henry Finck. What's in a kiss? Why is it so special? Why does it mean so much? Does it still mean what poets have said of it? Does it still hold that same magic that captured the hearts of the most hardened men? Percy Shelly writes, "Soul meets soul on lovers' lips." Do my lips touching another's lips speak to her inner soul?
Intimacy...
Intimacy has been dragged through the mud and left to be mocked and laughed at by the multitudes. Forgotten and destitute. Yet we miss her... We miss her gentle and ever secure kiss. Where have you gone? Dont leave us to be like the animals of the earth. Don't leave us to ourselves...
Why do we smile when we see the couple at the end of the movie finally kiss? Why does something leap in our hearts when we see a couple kiss while sitting on a park bench? At that moment there is a certain pride that they and they alone share. Soul meets soul... Did you oh God not make man to be intimate?
Read these words of John Milton, "To the nuptial bow'r i led her blushing like the Morn: all Heav'n and happy constellations on that hour shed their selectest influence; the earth gave sign of gratulation, and each hill; Joyous the birds; fresh gales and gentle airs whispered it to the woods, and from their wings flung rose, flung odours from the spicy shrub, disporting, till the amorous bird of night sung spousal, and bid haste the ev'ning star." Creation sang its chosen song when man was intimate with woman at last.
A kiss is not something to be shared lightly. Not something to just laugh about and share with the world. My soul is uncharted and unknown. Its been said that the eyes are the window into my soul. But a kiss...a kiss is a language only understood by those who know its language. A kiss is a language that only me and those that are able to discover my soul can share. For as Judy Garland said, "Twas no my lips you kissed...but my soul."

Time

I am reading Chekhov's short stories and in doing so i came across a passage that greatly interested me. The reason that i find it interesting is that all of my friends are so passionate about enjoying life and learning new things but are constantly held back by that evil fiend whispered quietly as time. But we live in the most technologicaly advanced country in the world. These countless technologies serve mainly to "make things easier and faster." Wouldnt it seem that with all these things we would have all the time that we need to read, study, and help those that our hearts are burdened for? This quote was written in 1896.
"If all of us, city and country dwellers alike, everyone without exception, would agree to divide among ourselves the work that is expended in satisfying the physical needs of mankind, each of us would be required to work perhaps two or three hours a day, no more. Imagine if we were able to invent machines to replace our work and tried to reduce the quanitity of our needs to the minimum! What a lot of free time we should have as a result! All of us together would devote this leisure to sciences and the arts. All of us as a community would search together for truth and the meaning of life, and - I am convinced of this - the truth would very soon be discovered."
I am curious what can be said of this? Computers, cars, calculators, microsoft, laptops, INTERNET...truth be found?

Melodies

Tchaikovsky said, "I do not write music. The peasant in the fields writes my symphonies. The butcher writes my ballets. The engineer writes my romance songs. All i do is organize the notes." What an interesting idea from one of classical music's greatest composers. Music's greatest melodies originate from the soul of the common person. Maybe if we would listen to our own song then we would also soar like the melodies that we listen to on our ipods and cd players (or cassette players...

Bunnies

I just wanted to say that my zodiac sign is the rabbit...lets be honest...am i a rabbit?

Men from Bavaria, Georgia, and North Woods

So many times we try to say something politcally engaging and socially embracing
But I think that my life would be something very empty without three men that come from three completely different worlds on three different sides of the world.
Broken stories, abondoned laughter, tears of pain, and a brave vulnerability they have shared with me
They have helped me understand another side of life, culture, relationship, belief, myself and God.

Unity

When did we become so independent? When did our nation become so driven to isolation? By simply looking at our neighborhoods we can see that we are desperately trying to separate ourselves from whomever is living next door. Just by hearing our attitudes in our countless churches it’s obvious that we are desperate not to be associated with church X within a hundred feet of our worship centers. Of course there are those exceptions but overall most churches want to only invest in what will make their specific church more successful just as much as this nation that I dearly love only invests in what will make it more successful. Yet…who among us is not guilty of it? We surround our lives with people that will make us stronger, smarter, more successful. I believe that we must change this and began to form a unity in the church, a unity in our city and a unity in our nation. We can look to our founding fathers for wisdom:
John Jay writes in a letter to the New York newspapers in 1787, “This country and this people seem to have been made for each other, and it appears as if it was the design of Providence, that an inheritance so proper and convenient for a band of brethren, united to each other by the strongest ties, should never be split into a number of unsocial, jealous and alien sovereignties.”

First Statement

This is my first blog ever to be written. Kind of weird. I guess i have now come into the 21st century