“I have three things I’d like to say today. First, while you were sleeping last night, 30,000 kids died of starvation or diseases related to malnutrition. Second, most of you don’t give a shit. What’s worse is that you’re more upset with the fact that I said shit than the fact that 30,000 kids died last night.”
- Tony Campolo
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Purposeful existence.
Can the atheist claim to live out a purposeful existence? Is it possible to deny God, concede that the sum total of life is 'triviality for a moment and then nothing' (Bertrand Russell) and then attempt to find meaning? It seems like a hopeless contradiction that leads one right back to God. But...
Who am I to say that the atheist cannot find meaning in the life they live right now? They can laugh and love and appreciate beauty. It's all there before them and if they believe life is fleeting and this is all there is then, hell, better make the most of it. Just because the universe will cool and die eventually does not mean that this moment cannot be lived for all it's worth. What can I say in response?
Thankyou, William Lane Craig, for explaining to me the difference between a subjective and objective purpose for existence. It's an answer I've been after for a little while now.
Oh, Christopher Hitchens...
Who am I to say that the atheist cannot find meaning in the life they live right now? They can laugh and love and appreciate beauty. It's all there before them and if they believe life is fleeting and this is all there is then, hell, better make the most of it. Just because the universe will cool and die eventually does not mean that this moment cannot be lived for all it's worth. What can I say in response?
Thankyou, William Lane Craig, for explaining to me the difference between a subjective and objective purpose for existence. It's an answer I've been after for a little while now.
Oh, Christopher Hitchens...
Friday, June 5, 2009
Love as it really is.
I'm preparing to do a lesson on love for my year 6/7/8 group otherwise known as SUP (six up) and I think it's going to rock their world, just quietly. Well I'm going to have fun turning their preconceived ideas on love completely upside down. I'm pretty sure that as soon as I mention the word love, the boys are going to squirm in their seats and just generally be sillier than usual. The reason? Love is for girls! It's mushy. Love? Ew!
Once again, the world has completely screwed up one of God's gifts and managed to make love selfish. I say this because it is not common for someone to love their enemy, or for it to even enter their head that they should. Love is reserved for someone who has earned it, only those you care about, as one of my girls at our lunchtime group said today. If love was dependent on how deserving the subject was... Actually I'm struggling to finish that sentence because there'd be no hope for any of us if that was the case. God loves us just because. Yet that love is so deep that he gave up his only son.
This is really blowing my mind. To love, really love, takes enormous strength. The world seems to associate love with weakness and vulnerability. To some extent that may be true, but real love simply means putting others before yourself. It requires no particular 'fuzzy' feeling, you might not even like it. But if we only loved those who loved us, how could the Christian be distinct? About a million bible verses are hitting me right now but I'm just trying to explain it all in my own words. Jesus hung on a cross, totally humiliated and hated. But he let it happen. He willingly layed down his life for his sheep and in all his amazing glory, took it back up again. His death was the ultimate example of love, love as it really is, the model that we should be following and striving for. Not the cop-out presented in chick flicks. Perhaps this is overkill but I do think that the Hollywood perception of love is quite damaging. Not only are the expectations completely unrealistic, but if all you're striving for is looks, wealth and charm you will not end up happy. It's such a pale imitation of what the heart really longs for. Because of course what the heart is really longing for is reconciliation with God. So then, why sell yourself short?
Once again, the world has completely screwed up one of God's gifts and managed to make love selfish. I say this because it is not common for someone to love their enemy, or for it to even enter their head that they should. Love is reserved for someone who has earned it, only those you care about, as one of my girls at our lunchtime group said today. If love was dependent on how deserving the subject was... Actually I'm struggling to finish that sentence because there'd be no hope for any of us if that was the case. God loves us just because. Yet that love is so deep that he gave up his only son.
This is really blowing my mind. To love, really love, takes enormous strength. The world seems to associate love with weakness and vulnerability. To some extent that may be true, but real love simply means putting others before yourself. It requires no particular 'fuzzy' feeling, you might not even like it. But if we only loved those who loved us, how could the Christian be distinct? About a million bible verses are hitting me right now but I'm just trying to explain it all in my own words. Jesus hung on a cross, totally humiliated and hated. But he let it happen. He willingly layed down his life for his sheep and in all his amazing glory, took it back up again. His death was the ultimate example of love, love as it really is, the model that we should be following and striving for. Not the cop-out presented in chick flicks. Perhaps this is overkill but I do think that the Hollywood perception of love is quite damaging. Not only are the expectations completely unrealistic, but if all you're striving for is looks, wealth and charm you will not end up happy. It's such a pale imitation of what the heart really longs for. Because of course what the heart is really longing for is reconciliation with God. So then, why sell yourself short?
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Gosh I ramble.
Found this old blog... I like it because I remember how strongly I felt. I really struggle to stick to one topic, though. I don't really know how I went from the first paragraph to the next, it doesn't seem like they're connected in anyway, but whatever.
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A little part of me dies everytime I hear this song by the Pussycat Dolls called "When I Grow Up". I cannot even begin to express how much it disappoints and angers me. It's not just a song, it seems to embody, utterly and totally, everything that the masses of society want to achieve. What particularly worries me is that this song is almost directed at youth. I work at a bowling alley that regularly hosts kids parties and we happily take song requests. Well, at least superficially I graciously accept their requests but my heart sinks when 7 year old girls want to sing about kissing other girls and growing up to be narcissistic exhibitionists. This topic is nothing new, quite frequently there are newspaper articles and stories addressing the sexualisation of youth, but I can't help but add my two cents. Surely there has to be more to life than this? If you find that you need a certain pair of shoes or the right name on your handbag to feel validated then I can say, without being nasty or condescending, that I feel sorry for you.
My faith has matured incredibly over the past few months and I'm learning to let go of the vanities and aspirations that do me no favours. Just recently I read the biography of Gladys Aylward, a female missionary who left for China in the 1930s with less than $10 in her pocket but with complete trust in God. Her life was quite difficult at first; she didn't know the language or the culture but God sent amazing people her way and she soon became one of the most influential and respected women in her region. She cared for up to 100 children at a time, visited and converted even the most hardened of criminals within harsh prisons and even had the honour of speaking with monks in a Chinese lamasery. I have read a few biographies over the past few months about missionaries but Gladys' story challenged me most of all. It humbled me to the point of shame - what the hell am I worrying about material things for when the fact that I even so much as live in this country means that I am privy to luxury. It made me realise just how selfish this society is and how easy it is to be corrupted by it. Despite the dangers that Gladys faced, I envy her because she was able to trust God with absolutely everything. Amidst all this materialism and ambition its easy to make excuses and trust only within yourself. I felt I would have packed up and left for India the next day if I could have, spending the rest of my life doing nothing but telling other people about how my relationship with God fulfils me unlike anything else. Then I had to stop and think about it. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like India was perhaps an easy way out. An escape. Certainly I'd do my best to spread the message but truly, I think the need for missionaries is greater in the developed world. Nobody here wants to be told that they're a sinner, that they should submit to someone greater than them and that actually, they're not in control. India embraces all things spiritual so even if I spoke to someone who had different beliefs at least they're open to the idea of finding God. But here... I'm forever worried about the reactions of my friends to my faith and the extent of its influence over my life. The fact that it is my life. But that's another worry I'm learning to overcome. I know the majority of the world will think I'm crazy but I know what I believe in, I know the unique truth of it and I'm going to spend the rest of my life sharing it with anyone who will listen.
-----------------------------------------------------------
A little part of me dies everytime I hear this song by the Pussycat Dolls called "When I Grow Up". I cannot even begin to express how much it disappoints and angers me. It's not just a song, it seems to embody, utterly and totally, everything that the masses of society want to achieve. What particularly worries me is that this song is almost directed at youth. I work at a bowling alley that regularly hosts kids parties and we happily take song requests. Well, at least superficially I graciously accept their requests but my heart sinks when 7 year old girls want to sing about kissing other girls and growing up to be narcissistic exhibitionists. This topic is nothing new, quite frequently there are newspaper articles and stories addressing the sexualisation of youth, but I can't help but add my two cents. Surely there has to be more to life than this? If you find that you need a certain pair of shoes or the right name on your handbag to feel validated then I can say, without being nasty or condescending, that I feel sorry for you.
My faith has matured incredibly over the past few months and I'm learning to let go of the vanities and aspirations that do me no favours. Just recently I read the biography of Gladys Aylward, a female missionary who left for China in the 1930s with less than $10 in her pocket but with complete trust in God. Her life was quite difficult at first; she didn't know the language or the culture but God sent amazing people her way and she soon became one of the most influential and respected women in her region. She cared for up to 100 children at a time, visited and converted even the most hardened of criminals within harsh prisons and even had the honour of speaking with monks in a Chinese lamasery. I have read a few biographies over the past few months about missionaries but Gladys' story challenged me most of all. It humbled me to the point of shame - what the hell am I worrying about material things for when the fact that I even so much as live in this country means that I am privy to luxury. It made me realise just how selfish this society is and how easy it is to be corrupted by it. Despite the dangers that Gladys faced, I envy her because she was able to trust God with absolutely everything. Amidst all this materialism and ambition its easy to make excuses and trust only within yourself. I felt I would have packed up and left for India the next day if I could have, spending the rest of my life doing nothing but telling other people about how my relationship with God fulfils me unlike anything else. Then I had to stop and think about it. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like India was perhaps an easy way out. An escape. Certainly I'd do my best to spread the message but truly, I think the need for missionaries is greater in the developed world. Nobody here wants to be told that they're a sinner, that they should submit to someone greater than them and that actually, they're not in control. India embraces all things spiritual so even if I spoke to someone who had different beliefs at least they're open to the idea of finding God. But here... I'm forever worried about the reactions of my friends to my faith and the extent of its influence over my life. The fact that it is my life. But that's another worry I'm learning to overcome. I know the majority of the world will think I'm crazy but I know what I believe in, I know the unique truth of it and I'm going to spend the rest of my life sharing it with anyone who will listen.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Well then.
Just handed in my application for program leave.
Currently job searching.
Not really sure how I feel about it.
Currently job searching.
Not really sure how I feel about it.
Monday, June 1, 2009
The fourth love.
C.S Lewis
The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell...
We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.
It's just easier said than done, is all.
The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell...
We shall draw nearer to God, not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to Him; throwing away all defensive armour. If our hearts need to be broken, and if He chooses this as the way in which they should break, so be it.
It's just easier said than done, is all.
Want to learn some Hindi?
These are some bhajans (worship songs) we sang in Varanasi on Christmas day. I've been singing them this morning but it's not quite the same. I wish I'd been able to record Leaf's voice...
Bhaj Pawanatam
Bhaja pa-wana-tama Yeshu naam
Worship the most holy name of Jesus
Yeshu naam jaya Yeshu naam
Jesus' name, victory to Jesus' name
Yeshu naam mangala naam
Jesus' name, auspicious name
Yeshu naam pa-wana naam
Jesus name, holy name
Yeshu naam meeta naam
Jesus' name, sweet name
Yeshu naam pyaara naam
Jesus' name, beloved/precious name
----------------------------------------
Sachidananda Eh Namo Namah
Sachidananda Eh Namo Namah
Being, Intelligence, Bliss, I bow to you
He Guru Yeshu namo namah
O teacher Jesus, I bow to you
He Prabhu Yeshu namo namah
O Lord Jesus, I bow to you
He Jeewan Jyoti namo namah
O Life Light, I bow to you
He Jeewan Roti namo namah
O Life Bread, I bow to you
He Yeshu Deva namo namah
O Jesus God, I bow to you
He Muktidata namo namah
O Salvation Giver, I bow to you
He Premidata namo namah
O Loving Giver, I bow to you
Bhaj Pawanatam
Bhaja pa-wana-tama Yeshu naam
Worship the most holy name of Jesus
Yeshu naam jaya Yeshu naam
Jesus' name, victory to Jesus' name
Yeshu naam mangala naam
Jesus' name, auspicious name
Yeshu naam pa-wana naam
Jesus name, holy name
Yeshu naam meeta naam
Jesus' name, sweet name
Yeshu naam pyaara naam
Jesus' name, beloved/precious name
----------------------------------------
Sachidananda Eh Namo Namah
Sachidananda Eh Namo Namah
Being, Intelligence, Bliss, I bow to you
He Guru Yeshu namo namah
O teacher Jesus, I bow to you
He Prabhu Yeshu namo namah
O Lord Jesus, I bow to you
He Jeewan Jyoti namo namah
O Life Light, I bow to you
He Jeewan Roti namo namah
O Life Bread, I bow to you
He Yeshu Deva namo namah
O Jesus God, I bow to you
He Muktidata namo namah
O Salvation Giver, I bow to you
He Premidata namo namah
O Loving Giver, I bow to you
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