Post #30 As Seen On TV...

Most people know Billy Mays, the obnoxiously loud junk-peddler who shouts throughout a commercial. Oxi-clean, Kaboom, Orange-Glo: He lends his recognizable vocal performances to more than 20 different products.



But Mr. Mays might consider retirement. Vince Offer has come to town. You know Vince. He is the cocky, sharped-toothed salesman of Sham-Wow and the Slap-Chop.



My wife jokes about how I’ve become kind of obsessed with Vince. But it is kind of like watching a horrific automobile accident. I just can’t turn away when I hear that famous line: “Hey it’s Vince with Sham-wow, and you’ll be saying ‘Wow” every time you use this towel.”

Something about this guy is entertaining. I don’t know if it’s his fast-talking, his condescending tone, or his stink-eye. I think he would make a great sit-com character.

Post #29 LOST Revelation Thursday

Since you may now realize that I am a huge fan of LOST, I am going to write a post on Thursdays, summarizing and speculating about the previous night’s episode.


Last night’s episode: “Jughead”
Primary Focus Character: Desmond Hume
Secondary Focus Character: Daniel Faraday

On Island:
The LOSTIES have been traveling back and forth through time since Ben Linus “did whatever he did in the Orchid Station.” The group has been split into two smaller groups: Sawyer, Juliet, and John Locke have just taken two attackers hostage. On another part of the island, Miles, Charlotte, and Daniel are ambushed and then taken captive. They are then taken to a military camp.

Eventually they all make it to the camp where it is revealed that the seemingly Richard Alpert is the leader of this camp. Locke confronts Alpert and explains that they had been having a conversation 50 years in the future about John’s mission.

Faraday takes a guess that there was a US military bomb on the island. He explains that he can disarm the bomb. One of Alpert’s soldiers (Ellie) takes him to the bomb-site where he realizes that the bomb (tagged as “Jughead”) has been compromised and needs to be patched and buried.

Meanwhile, Charlotte is suffering obvious effects of the time-jumps: bloody noses, confusion, memory loss.

In a great revelation, we discover that Charles Widmore is one of the hothead soldiers in Alpert’s group.

Off Island:
A flashback reveals that Penny Widmore and Desmond have a child together. In a jump to current off island time, we find out that Desmond has made it to Oxford. He is on a mission to find Daniel’s mother. However, on contacting an Oxford receptionist, we learn that Oxford has no “Faradays” in its files.

Desmond finds the lab where he once met Daniel. It has been closed up and abandoned. A janitor reveals that Daniel and his experimentation on humans shamed the school.

He ends up finding the girl used in the experiments. She is in an apparent coma, but her sister reveals that she is jumping through time (much like Minkowski on the freighter).

It is then revealed that Charles Widmore was paying for the medical treatment of this woman and that he had been the financial contributor to Daniel’s research. Desmond decides to visit his estranged father-in-law. Widmore reveals that Faraday’s mother is in Los Angeles.

In a final interesting revelation, we discover that Penny and Desmond’s son is named Charlie. This is interesting because Penny’s father is Charles Widmore, and Charlie Pace died in order to help everyone get off the island.


Big Questions:

Why was the U.S. army on the Island in the 1950s? Why did they set up a hydrogen bomb?
Who was in charge of the Others (above Richard) in the 1950s?
Why and how did Widmore get off the Island and establish his wealth? Why can't he return? How does this knowledge impact the struggle with Ben?
Why does Daniel seem to recognize Ellie?
What does Ellie mean when she says "You just couldn't stay away could you." when she first sees Daniel?

Post #28 We are not always glad when we smile...

This is one of my favorite poems by Indiana Poet, James Whitcomb Riley. It was in a collection of his writing that I once had. It seems to hit the nail on the head for me quite often. We are not always glad when we smile. There are stories behind everyone's faint attempt at cordial social appropriateness. We have pain, disappointment, and anger behind the pleasantries. This is why it is so important to not just ask how someone is doing, but to really ask them about their lives. We so often move on before they even get the chance to answer. Anyway, here is the poem. Enjoy.

We are not always glad when we smile

We are not always glad when we smile:
Though we wear a fair face and are gay,
And the world we deceive
May not ever believe
We could laugh in a happier way.--
Yet, down in the deeps of the soul,
Ofttimes, with our faces aglow,
There's an ache and a moan
That we know of alone,
And as only the hopeless may know.

We are not always glad when we smile,--
For the heart, in a tempest of pain,
May live in the guise
Of a smile in the eyes
As a rainbow may live in the rain;
And the stormiest night of our woe
May hang out a radiant star
Whose light in the sky
Of despair is a lie
As black as the thunder-clouds are.

We are not always glad when we smile!--
But the conscience is quick to record,
All the sorrow and sin
We are hiding within
Is plain in the sight of the Lord:
And ever, O ever, till pride
And evasion shall cease to defile
The sacred recess
Of the soul, we confess
We are not always glad when we smile.

-James Whitcomb Riley

Post #27 The Enigma That is Andrew Sullivan...

The other site that I visit daily (often multiple times per day) is The Daily Dish "Dish" author, Andrew Sullivan has become a great source of political and social commentary. He also provides a voice to an often voiceless group of people: gay, conservative, and religious.

Because of his seeming enigmatic identity, Sullivan speaks from a position unlike many other writers. His commentary is often focused on social, political, or news-worthy topics. He also features 2 segments that I thoroughly enjoy: "A View From Your Window" (reader submitted photos) and "Mental Health Break" (video clips that remind us that it is ok to laugh once in a while).

Sullivan not only posts nearly every day, he regularly posts 15-20 times per day. He often uses quotes from other articles, interviews, or speeches in order to spur discussion. Although he does not allow for reader comments on each post, he welcomes emails, even posting "Dissent of the Day" when differing opinions warrant attention.

Check out The Daily Dish and see if you are not inspired, challenged, or both.

Post #26 The Big Picture...

In a previous post, I listed a few web sites that I frequently visit. I left two sites off that list in order to give them some individual attention. I will highlight those sites in this and the following post.

The first site has become a near daily visited bookmark for my wife and for myself. It is called The Big Picture. It is a photography site operated by The Boston Globe. The site is always inspiring, often entertaining, and usually eye-opening. Take some time to visit The Big Picture. Be aware, they often post thought-provoking as well as emotion-provoking images. They are sometimes difficult images to view. Be advised.

Post #25 It's All About The Context...

A couple of years ago, my wife, travelled to Ireland for two weeks. She was matched up with three flatmates from Italy. One young Italian woman was working on her English, so Michelle became a sort of tutor. She often asked Michelle for help with the language. There was some confusion about words that had different meanings. She soon realized that it is "all about the context." This became a sort of joke around the flat, but the statement is very true. To understand the words, you must also understand the context.

In his book, "Everything Must Change," Brian McLaren discusses the importance of context.

If we focus on what Jesus said without determining what he meant in his original context, we run the risk of misquoting Jesus even when quoting his words..."

He comes back to this a little later,

We must carefully seek to determine not just what Jesus said, but what he meant, and how he would have been heard by his original hearers. Only then can we venture to explore what his original meaning would mean for us today, and even then, we must do so with great humility and awareness of our amazing human capacity to be wrong.

How does context affect the meaning of words or phrases?

Think about the different types of context: historical, social, cultural, political, occupational, educational, religious, regional, etc.

How do each of these types of context potentially change the meaning of words?

Post #24 The Missing Link...

This experiment is closing in on the end of its first month. The challenge is to write one post for every day of the year. I have missed a few days, here and there, but have been able to catch up. It is not east, as I sometimes get lazy and other times just forget. But, I think it is a good thing to give my brain the shot of creativity that it craves.

For this post, I want to give a few links to other sites/blogs that I visit regularly. I hope you find them enjoyable.

Church Marketing Sucks

Finding Rhythm - Zach Lind

Post Secret

PoMo Musings - Adam Walker Cleveland

Pundit Kitchen - Funny Political Pictures (May have questionable material)

LOSTCasts The only LOST podcast worth listening to

Post #23 Lost Season Premiere!

LOST is back!

We have a few friends over every Wednesday to watch LOST. The season premiere was this week and man, did they come back with a purpose! Time travel seems to be the main plot device of this season, but that could change at any time. If you missed the episode, check it out online at ABC's LOST page

I know I have already posted about my love for this show. So, I will leave it at this: if you have not watched it, start at season 1. It is way too late in the game to start watching it in season 5. I can't wait for next Wednesday!

Post #22 On Pseudo-Intellectualism...

I have many intellectual interests. I love watching documentaries, the Discovery Channel, the History Channel, etc. I do not claim to be an expert in anything, but I do have a pretty good working knowledge of several topics. That is why it drives me nuts when someone acts as if they are an expert in an area that they are just plainly ignorant in.

I work with someone who is like this. He acts as if he knows everything about everything. He cannot be reasoned with and he has all of the answers.

Why does this make me so crazy? I think it is because the underlying presumption when someone acts this way is that they have finished learning. I guess the other thing that bothers me about this is that this coworker believes that he is much smarter than he really is. Pseudo-intellectual. It makes me pity him a bit. That, to me, is a depressing thought. When we fail to learn more, we fail to truly experience life. Every day has an opportunity to teach us something.

Post #21 On Spiritual Abuse...

A few years ago, I wrote a blog post about spiritual abuse. Dysgrace, a system of spiritual abuse The basic idea of the post was based on a section of a book by David Faust, president of my alma mater.
From that post:

There are some identifiable dynamics to spiritually abusive systems.

1) Power posturing: Leaders demand excessive amounts of authority and compel their followers to submit.
2) Performance preoccupation: Spirituality is measured by strict adherence to the church's rules with little emphasis on grace.
3) Unspoken rules: For example, the "can't talk" rule instructs that any expression of disagreement or dissent is viewed as disloyalty toward the church's leadership.
4) Lack of balance: Abusive churches may either overemphasize subjective experiences or go to the other extreme and allow no room for the personal leading of God's Spirit.
5) Paranoia: Such churches are dominated by suspicion and fear of outsiders, and discourage interaction with the outside world.
6) Misplaced Loyalty: Loyalty to Christ becomes identified exclusively with one's involvement in a particular congregation or organization.

and finally,
7) Secretiveness: Rather than dealing with important issues and problems with an appropriate degree of openness, abusive systems consistently handle such matters behind closed doors.

The common thread to the dysgraceful church is that they are using people instead of ministering to them.

The reason I refer to this post has to do with the book I am currently reading, "Jesus Wants to Save Christians."

In the book, Rob Bell brings up this thought:

When people are manipulated with guilt and fear, when they are told that if they don't do certain things they'll be illegitimate, judged, condemned, sent to hell forever--that's violence.

It doesn't matter what spiritual language is used or what passages in the Bible are quoted, it's destructive. It's misuse of power. And central to the way of Jesus is serving, which is the loving use of whatever power you possess for the good of another. (emphasis mine)

Spiritual abuse is a terrible church-related experience. Whether it stems from the ego of a leader or the unchecked authority of a group, or some other factor, spiritual abuse is wrong. You cannot hate someone into the arms of Jesus. You cannot coerce people into love. It is wrong, manipulative, and disgraceful.

Post #20 Change, I Hope...

It is too obvious for me to point out the historic value of today. Instead, I will only point out a few areas that I am hopeful will change for the better in the next four years.

- The Economy: We are facing an economic crisis not seen since the Great Depression.
I am hopeful that domestic jobs are created and responsible economic decisions are made.

- The War: Monthly costs for the war in Iraq exceed $12 billion. U.S. troop casualties number more than 4,200.
We need to push for Iraqi stabilization and withdrawal of our troops. I am hopeful that this war ends quickly and thoughtfully.

- Education: Our school system is failing and our children are suffering as a result.
I am hopeful that the new administration focuses on reforming our education system, providing our kids the opportunity to excel instead of just meeting minimum expectations.

I am mostly hopeful that we see four years of leadership based on intelligence and responsibility. Our problems did not happen overnight. They will not be fixed overnight. I am hopeful that we will do our part to make the changes that need to be made in order to fix what needs fixed.

Post #19 On the Importance of Emotional Health...

On Sunday, Michelle and I heard a message about the importance of emotional health, specifically in regards to our service and love of God and others. The pastor spoke on two passages: one from the Gospel of Mark 12 and the other from Exodus 18

28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, Of all the commandments, which is the most important? 29The most important one, answered Jesus, is this: Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. 31The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these. –Mark 12:28-31

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening 15 Moses answered him, Because the people come to me to seek God's will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws. 17 Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone." –Exodus 18: 13-18

Take time to chew on these passages. Think about how our emotional health effects our relationships, our families, our jobs, our ability to serve God, and our ability to love God and other people. We often read the passage from Mark and glance over it because this passage seems simple: "Faith is not about legalism, it is about love."

The part that gets overlooked (even in the message that we heard on Sunday) is this: "Love your neighbor as yourself." The key is that we are expected to love ourselves: not in some self-centered, egocentric pride, but a kind of love that respects, protects, and nurtures. We are expected to take care of ourselves; physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And in that same way, we are expected to take care of others.

Post #18 East of Eden...

Rob Bell's book, "Jesus Wants To Save Christians," begins with the story of the first family: Adam, Eve, Cain, and Abel. After Adam and Eve sinned against God things began to move further away from God's original intention. They left the garden, not only the literal example of God's intention for humanity, but a symbol of God's Shalom and love and perfect plan.

Later, Cain became jealous and angry towards his brother, Abel, because Able provided a more favorable offering to God. In his jealousy and anger, Cain killed his brother.

Rob picks up this though,

As a result of the murder, the text says, "Cain went out from the Lord's presence and lived in the land of Nod, east of Eden."

East of Eden.

There is a place called Eden, a paradise, a state of being in which everything is in its right place. A realm where the favor and peace of God rest on everything.

And Cain is not there. He's east of there.

And he's not only east of Eden, but in Chapter 4 of the book of Genesis, the text says that he was "building a city."

It's not just that he's east of where he was created to live, but he's actually settling there, building a city, putting down roots. The land of his wandering has become the location of his home. And then several chapters later, the Bible says that the whole world had one language and a common speech "as people moved eastward."

The writer of Genesis keeps returning to this eastward metaphor, (Genesis 13:11-12, 25:5-6, 28:10-22, 29:1) insisting that something has gone terribly wrong with humanity, and that from the very beginning humans are moving in the wrong direction.

Many times the behavior of religious people is perceived as antithetical to God's intentions. Anger, racism, sexism, exploitation and greed are not the ways of God. However these same behaviors and attitudes are often at the center of people who claim to know God best. This has to change. We need to move back toward Eden.

How does religion play a role in moving us further east?
How can religion help move us back to shalom; back towards a more whole existence?

Post #17 On My Shelf...

I like to read. Usually I read non-fiction, ministry related books. I know, not very exciting. But there are so many changes happening in ministry that it can be challenging just keeping up. A couple of my favorite writers are Rob Bell and Brian McLaren. Bell is a teaching pastor and McLaren retired from local ministry to do more writing and national speaking.

Anyway, here are a few books that I have been reading recently.


Jesus Wants to Save Christians, by Rob Bell


Everything Must Change, by Brian McLaren

I hope to post about some of my thoughts regarding these books soon. If you are interested, click the pics to take you to Amazon's page for each one. You can find summaries and reviews there.

Post #16 ...and Found

I have been a fan of the television show, LOST, since the very first episode. I never miss an episode, going so far as to host a LOST-night at our house every Wednesday. I am a pretty big LOST-nerd.

Why do I love this show so much? It's a survival story, it's sci-fi. It's drama, it's romance. It's action, it's comedy. The one aspect of the show that I love so much is that it is made up of layers.

Someone can watch it just for the action or drama. That's layer one.
Another person can watch it for the religious or mythological undertones: layer two.
Someone else might be drawn to the literary, philosophic, or scientific references: layer 3. And the list goes on.

I have heard some people complain that the show is hard to follow. It can be difficult, if you are watching it out of order, or if you miss episodes. But once you get into it, it gets into you.

I can't wait for Wednesday night, when we get the premiere of Season 5. I am sure there will be twists and turns, new revelations, and hopefully answers to unresolved questions.

If you have not watched the show and think you might start, get the DVD's and start with the first season. I imagine you will not be disappointed.

Post #15 Project Three-6-Five

Today starts the third week in this experiment. There have been ups and downs, but overall I am happy with how it is going. The point of it all was to get me writing, about anything. Based on that mission, I would say it is successful. I do want to refine it though: maybe specific topics on certain days of the week. For example, theology on Sundays, news on Mondays, something personal on Tuesdays, and so on. As for now, I am just happy to be writing.

Post #14 Reflections

I should have made this post two weeks ago. But thoughts come and go; today I am reflecting on 2008.

The first of the year is always a good time to take stock of our lives. It is a time of resolutions and hopes for a better 12 months. As I look back on last year, I realize that Michelle and I are really blessed. We celebrated the completion of degrees: mine a B.S. in Biblical Studies, hers a Masters in Social Work.

We were fortunate enough to purchase our first house (just before the credit crisis). We had a 2 week vacation in Dublin, Ireland. We spent a weekend in Las Vegas. We saw the Grand Canyon. We celebrated our ten year anniversary. There were quite a few great memories made in 2008. I can only hope this year is as wonderful

Post #13 The Reluctant Hero

A few days ago, I posted a thought regarding my mysterious gravitation towards the television series, 24. I was puzzled as to why I would be drawn to a show that glamorizes violence, torture, and racial profiling.

Then as I watched the "four hour, two night season premiere event," I realized why I am glued to this show: Jack Bauer is a reluctant hero. He does not really want to be America's last best chance. He just does what he has to, because he has to.

Every season, Jack finds himself in the middle of a national security threat. Reluctantly, he chooses to do all that he can in order to protect the safety of America. This "reluctant hero" story line is the one thing that draws me in.

I love a story about a person, flawed and often broken, who must make the difficult choice to make a sacrifice for the safety of others. Often these stories involve a lead character who is battling personal demons. More times than not, the character is wrought with moral ambiguity. Additionally, they tend to have dysfunctional relationships due to their own emotional/mental health concerns: depression, addiction, anger issues, and trust issues. Most of these "reluctant hero" stories are clothed in some sort of redemption story in which the hero's demons are exercised and the hero finds closure for personal dilemmas.

Herein lies the ultimate reason I am drawn in: We all have demons, often similar to those of the hero, that we must overcome. The hero's ability to overcome gives us hope that we can overcome as well. This is called "relatability".

Sure I cannot relate to CTU tactical responses, interrogation techniques, or a ticking nuclear bomb. But I can relate to those personal demons: depression, anger, mistrust.

The action and drama are engaging. The plots and subplots are anxiety-producing. And the acting, cinematography, and musical score are over-the-top and enthralling. But the one thing that continues to draw me in is the ability for the reluctant hero to overcome personal demons, while sacrificing himself for the greater good.

Shouldn't we all strive for such growth and service? Don't we all have the potential to be the reluctant hero?

Post #12 Diet News...

My wife and I have been using a specific diet plan for about a year and half. Of course, we don't always stick to it. Holidays and summer cookouts make it tough. But we have been trying for quite a while to get healthier. The diet is pretty simple: it basically is fresh fruit and veggies: no bread or processed foods. We can have some dairy and a little brown rice and oatmeal each day. Obviously you can drink as much water as you can handle and you supplement the diet with workouts.

Last year, I won a "Biggest Loser" contest at work, losing 30 pounds in about 3 months. I didn't gain it all back, but did put on some weight over the year: a two-week Guinness, fish and chips diet in Dublin will do that to ya'.

We are doing pretty well. We had some stir fry tonight with sugar snap peas, carrots, onion, and green peppers. Then we did a 40 minute workout, alternating on the cross trainer and weight training.

I feel good, and have more energy. Plus I hit a little milestone this week so that keeps me motivated! If you are looking for a diet plan and have not done well in the past, you might want to check out this plan.

Post #11 1440 minutes

The bleeding heart liberal in me hates this show: the violence, torture, fear-mongering. But I am drawn to the story of Jack Bauer like a moth to a flame. I don't know if it is the concept: 24 episodes, each one hour in the life of America's hero. I don't know if it is the action. I don't know if it is the story. But something draws me to it.

Anyway, after a long hiatus, the show comes back tonight. My DVR is set, can't wait to sit down tomorrow to watch.

Post #10 Soaking it in...

My wife and I spent the morning like most Saturdays lately: coffee, oatmeal, the Food Network. We decided to get a little shopping done and by 5:00 we were ready for dinner. But tonight, we we privileged to eat dinner at the home of some great friends. The dinner was wonderful, and the entertainment (their young son) was energetic and awe-inspiring. Michelle made a terrific dessert (mini brownies: german chocolate, peanut butter, caramel, and cheesecake) and we shared stories and laughs.

We get together with this family once or twice a month. It is fun to be with them and they inspire me to be a better person. They are warm, caring, and loving people; and I always feel like I can be myself around them.

I am not always comfortable around people. I often find myself feeling out of place, judged, or unwanted. That is never the case with them. And I thank God for them. So, tonight, I make a late entry, but for good reason: I was with wonderful friends, soaking it in.

Post #9 Friday with Friends

About two years ago, two of my friends and myself started meeting together at a coffee shop to talk, vent, dream, and share our thoughts. It has become one of those things that I look forward to. We don't often get into really deep places, but the time together is fun.

One of our group members moved away for awhile. The remaining two of us continued to meet (after a little break). Now our third has returned to the area and we picked up right where we left off. There is a certain chemistry that we possess. We have similar interests (music, movies, graphic design, literature, ministry, etc.) and shared experiences.

There is something comforting and rewarding about sharing life with people you love and trust. For someone who has issues with sharing feelings (among other things), spending time with these two helps me get through my week.

I recommend taking time with friends and confidants on regular basis. If you haven't started something like this, you may want to. It is a highlight of my week.

Post #8 The Bible According to Lego

Here's one more somewhat light-hearted post. I found this site a couple of years ago and they have expanded quite a bit since then. They basically take passages from the Bible and recreate them with Lego blocks. Several of them are pretty funny. Others are just interesting.

Check it out:
The Brick Testament

Post #7 Myth Busted...

After posting a couple of more serious posts, I thought it would be interesting to post a fun one. So, here is a link to a site that lists the outcomes of every segment on every episode of mythbusters. Check it out:

mythbustersresults.com

Post #6 A little preachy...

Disclaimer: After yesterday’s post I realized that this experiment has the potential to take a “preachy” tone. Part of that has to do with my love of theology and biblical history. Part of that has to do with my own proclivity to go on tangential rants.

So, if from time to time, my postings read more like a sermon, you have been forewarned. Also, I understand that not all of my friends, visitors, or dedicated readers share my religious, political, or sociological perspectives. Please understand that my goal is not to offend, but rather inspire; not to push away, but rather to invite dialogue. With that said, I want to focus on a biblical passage, hopefully sharing some personal insight along, the way.

Matthew 21:12-15 is a glimpse into the passion of Jesus. His heart stands in opposition to the exploitation of people and against systemic corruption and injustice. Many people use this window into the life of Jesus as a justification for their own anger. However, this passage, in my opinion, is less about anger than it is about standing up against hurtful systems.

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.' "
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

There are a few things that we must consider when reading historical documents, and biblical accounts are not an exception. We must consider time and setting. These are the “when and where” that provide context.

Time: 1st Century AD (or CE), specifically Passover.
Setting: Jerusalem, specifically the Temple.

These two details help contextualize the passage; they help us to understand not just the words on the page but the cultural relevance at the time of the event. We know the time and setting from earlier in the chapter as well as from corroboration with other Gospel accounts. They story has been steadily building toward a confrontation between Jesus and the religious/political leaders in Jerusalem.

As part of Passover, Jewish worshippers would travel to Jerusalem to the temple. They would then offer offerings and sacrifices to their God. For this purpose, traders would set up tables and tents for the sale of sacrificial animals and spices. Since currency varied from region to region, money changers also set up to exchange the currency, for a fee. It is believed that the religious leaders would then be given a portion of the profits made and the occupying Roman government would in turn tax the religious leaders. So all of those on one side of the system appeared to profit.

All of the pilgrims would have to exchange their currency and purchase “clean” sacrificial animals (animals bought in the Temple area and approved by the religious leaders). The injustice becomes more apparent when one considers those worshippers who were among the poor, sick, or otherwise marginalized. Not only were they considered second class citizens, but under this system, they were expected to make sacrifices, as payment for their marginalized status, because their situations were considered the result of some sin.

When Jesus opposed this system, he is not simply “cleansing” the Temple. He could have easily used water as a symbol for cleansing. Instead, he goes right to the root of the injustice he sees. He protests the entire system. This was an attack on the socio-religio-political order: a system that exploited its own devotees for profit.

Jesus’ actions brought him into direct confrontation with the religious/political leaders. They were already plotting how they could eliminate him. The Romans were reluctant to allow the Jewish leaders to have authority to perform executions. But there was one charge that would almost certainly end in death: enemy of the state. Inciting social unrest during the crowded Jewish holiday and taking a swipe at the financial corruption all the way up the ladder was certainly considered dangerous political behavior.

And so, his confrontation with the unjust, corrupt establishment would lead him to be executed as a criminal.

There are some questions we should consider:

1. Am I contributing to a system that exploits people (whether domestic or foreign), specifically those who are already marginalized?

2. What can I do to actively confront such exploitation?

Post #5 On integrated living...

I am fascinated by language. I love learning about the original meanings of words; the ways in which a word would have been used; how that meaning may have changed over time and setting. One word that has popped up lately is "integrity." I want to point out a few thought regarding this word that I find interesting.

First, the word comes from the same Greek root as "integrated" and "integer".
"Integrated" means that parts come together to form something whole. "Integer" means something that has been untouched, or something that remains whole. It is usually a mathematical concept.

The point of this is that "integrity" has an implied definition of wholeness or completeness.

The Hebrew word "Shalom" is often rendered "peace." However, a more accurate translation would be "wholeness of God" or "complete in God."

This is where "integrity" becomes an interesting word. Integrity and shalom have very similar aspects. If we are whole or complete, we will be integrated. We will not be divided, duplicitous, or hypocritical.

I say all of that to say this: If we are experiencing life as completely and wholly as we can, we have less reason to be fragmented. We have less duplicity and hypocrisy.

Ultimately, by experiencing shalom we will maintain our wholeness, our integrity.

Post #4 Ideas will come...

This is definitely more difficult than I had first imagined. I sit here on the couch with my Macbook in my lap and I type one sentence after another, deleting each one as it is more irrelevant than the previous. Truth be told, I don't really have that much to say. I have a lot of thoughts, but I haven't connected them in any rational manner. Maybe that is what I will spend time on tonight at work.

Post # 3 All in my head

So this is only the third post, and I am getting it online after 10:00pm. This is going to be more difficult than I originally thought. I have to sit down and arrange my thoughts for posting, but as for now I will shed light on some things I am thinking about with hopes to put flesh on these bones at later dates.

1. I have been thinking about teachable moments lately. My degree in Biblical Studies is not being put to much use lately and I think I am going to need an outlet soon.

2. Michelle's website is a lot of fun for me. She has been taking great photos and I get to write the code and figure out how to display them in a semi-professional manner.

3. To revisit the last post: I miss making music on a regular basis.

4. I need to read more often. Maybe I can post thoughts about some of the books I have on my "to-read list".

Well, I know that this may not be that exciting. But trust me, it will get better. As I find my rhythm, I will focus on controversial topics, theology, politics, and pop-culture. However, right now, it is still all in my head.

Post # 2 The rhythm is gonna get you.

Music has always been an important part of my life. My mom used to tell me that my dad would put headphones on her pregnant belly and I would kick to the beat of the songs. I remember listening to my dad's classic rock records as a kid. I have also have fond memories of riding in the car, the radio pumping out Hendrix, Zeppelin, the Doors, Queen, and the Beatles.

I always had an appreciation for music and musical talent. I also had an understanding of the emotional value of music. Not only can a good song inspire, it can also reinforce those emotions that are already present. All of my appreciation developed long before I realized that I actually possessed the ability to make music.

At the age of 18, I began playing guitar. Even with 14 years under my belt, I would still consider myself a "hack". But I can play, so I have that going for me. About seven years ago, I started playing bass for a worship band at a local church. Although I do not get to play as much as I would like, I jumped at the recent opportunity to play with several friends at a New Year's event.

Although I had lost my callouses and had to relearn some basic theory, once I plugged in that bass guitar and began playing with a full band, I was quickly reminded of just how much I love music: listening to it, playing it, and feeling it. Maybe that should be my new year's resolution: to play more often.

Post # 1 A new year, a new challenge.

To say that I am an inconsistant blogger is an understatement. When I started blogging about six years ago, I manages to post once a week.

That eventually became once a month, and now I am lucky to pump out one post every five to six months.
There are various excuses, but ultimately I must admit that I am lazy and undisciplined.

So, as I enter a new year, I reflect on several things in my life that I would like to improve on. One of those areas is writing/blogging. I find the blogging experience to be very therapeutic and thus helpful. So I am challenging myself to blog more often. I want to reclaim my online voice.

The plan is simple:
To post something, every day, for one year. Granted, it will not be an everyday type of thing. There will be times when I am away from a computer or network opportunity. However, my goal is to have 364 posts by December 31st.

So, it begins here. With this post, I start my blogging marathon. Only 363 to go.