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| I used to write. Prose would flow freely from my hands and onto my computer screen, through my router and to my lovely audience. But lately I just haven't felt like writing. Every month or so I would write a sentence or two in this text box, but eventually deem it unworthy for posting and then just click onto something else.
I miss writing. I used to think E-props were just vanity, but now I know better. E-props remind me that I am a part of a community of thinkers. They tell me that there are people out there that realize that "Flava of Love" and America's Best Dance Crew cannot be the sum of the great creative minds of this generation.
With this in mind I'm going to talk about random things:
Republican/Democratic National Convention:
We are blind. The current political system is such that it manipulates the uninformed masses by speech analysis, gossip, and propaganda. For example, Michelle Obama gives a speech--> The New York Times says the speech is right on the money, FOX says the speech fails to reach the appropriate demographic, Most American's never watch the speech, they read a single headline and make a decision based upon what they feel everybody else thinks is right. Speech after speech of people pushing an ideology that is absolute simply because of precedent. We become so passionate about sides. Sides that most Americans, if they actually thought for a second, would realize they don't fall into it. It's not being uninformed that bothers me, it's the fact that we are ignorant to our own manipulation.
I'm so tired of blind patriotism. Both candidates make it a point to tell us that America is the best country on this planet, anything less would be heresy. But I will stand and dare to ask the question: Why? . "America does not lose!" Again, Why not? Why are lives and loved ones less important than America winning. Listen to the rhetoric that is preach: "America is defending freedom." Let's think for a moment. Whose freedom? Would we be less free if we never invaded Iraq? It is arrogant and blind to think that America knows what's best for all those poor little backwards countries out there.
3 Point Sermons that Start with the Letter "P"
Fill in the blank Outlines with 3 main points are more often then not not lead by the Holy Spirit.
Reflecting on my Last Post
Now that I look back on it, I actually don't agree completely with my last post.
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| I Had Forgotten Holiness
For the last two or three years I was convinced that the most important aspect of God was Love. I would purposely read the Old testament far less because I knew that it has more incidents of God's wrath and judgment. These passages were the ones my Berkeley peers would criticize Christianity with, showing that God is in fact "heartless". I knew the theological answer was that God is not only loving but also just, but I also questioned how God could in fact destroy entire people groups for little apparent reason.
Now I know the issue of Grace vs. Holiness is very apparent in the different sects of Christianity (Reform Church Vs. Emergent Church), but I do not want to make my point upon these distinctions. Instead I want to compare the way I lived my life. My Christian life has been characterized in obeying the 2 greatest commandments: to love God and to love others. But the "love" that I aimed at was mostly a feeling. The Christian life was to feel the presence of God and try to live in it. Now, I still agree that this is a vital part of the Christian life but there was also something vitally missing. It was and is the Absolute Hatred of sin.
In the past, I viewed the sins I committed as one time things that were road blocks in my Christian life. But upon further reflection and revelation I realize that GOD HATES SIN. I realize I am absolutely 100% wretched. I realize that in order for me to continue to grow in Holiness, in Christ likeness, I must understand the weight that my sin carries. It is an absolute offense to a perfectly HOLY God, who has perfectly HOLY laws that I have deliberately disregarded and disobeyed. It is this rebellion that makes the CROSS so amazing. It is not some wishy washy sin that everybody has so it's not so bad. In order to pursue God I must despise my Sin and pursue Holiness; for God is Holy.
Alright, now the disclaimer. This revelation is a personal one and I by no means condone myself or any other man to condemn others of their sin if it is not done in love. I also do not consider myself a converted Reformist or did I ever consider myself part of the Emergent Church movement.
I found this to be very interesting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuabITeO4l8
But I do not agree completely with Paul Washer, but he does speak a lot of truth.
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| "Before history is written down in books, it is written in courage. Like Americans before us, we will show that courage and we will finish well. We will lead freedom's advance. We will compete and excel in the global economy. We will renew the defining moral commitments of this land. And so we move forward -- optimistic about our country, faithful to its cause, and confident of the victories to come."
-George W. Bush State of the Union Address 2006
We as Americans strive for the American dream. We strive for freedom. We strive for prosperity. We strive for excellence. Our ideology is set upon moral high ground; to bring freedom, to bring democracy to the world. And yet our dream, this American dream, is blind and selfish. We assume that the very best thing for all other peoples, regardless of culture and situation, is freedom. Freedom, as defined by Americans, is the individuals right to pursue whatever it is that he/she wants. And yet we fail to see that most societies are based not on individualism but collectivism. In fact, we hardly understand the people we invade nor do we even care about them. To us, American lives are of the utmost importance while Iraqi or Afghan lives are for the back pages of the newspaper. And yet we justify ourself by using rhetoric like: "leading the advance of freedom" and "Protecting American lives". But America's dirty little secret is that it's prosperity is tied to the oppression of others. The American dream captivates the heart of our nation, but takes captive dozens of third world countries.
We as Americans need to take the effort to understand our world, not blindly following freedom and democracy. America has taken the moral high ground ordering the world how to live in order to boost its own economy. America's economy is helpless without exports for China and oil from the middle east. Let us not declare our independence but rather our dependence upon humans that share this world with us. Can we listen to them? Understand them? Care for them? Sacrifice for them? Let us redefine our dream so that others can thrive as well. Let us live for a dream not based upon material possessions and comfort but based on character and sacrifice. Freedom then is not the ability to do whatever we wish, but the ability to do what is right and good. America needs to stop recklessly striving for victory and start striving to Love it's neighbor.
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| it's a terrible feeling to be incapable of doing what you know to be right and good. the bad inside you eats away at you, but the good is even worst. it tells you everything you're not, hypocrisy that is tangible. the exact place the liar wants you to be. self-pity, self-indulgence, helplessness. Everyone of us, in some area of our lives feel this. whether it's the inability to love others or the inability to trust God. But we cannot believe the lie. We are not helpless. We are free if we choose to be. I am discovering the beauty of choice. If I choose to be tired after work then I will be. If I choose to be unhappy then thus I find myself in that way. We are empowered by more than just good feeling songs and community; we are powered by the very spirit of God if we choose to be.
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| it's been a while. but I can explain. while I was gone, something was blocking me from seeing you. but all that matters now is that I'm back.
so since I've been gone for quite some time here's a brief update:
I am back from China! I live in Oakland now. My new number is 510-410-8936
I'm looking for a job. I would very much like to see you! (assuming that I know you, and well that I like you, lol) So lets catch up ya?
-Tim
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