Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The Cleanse
Kelsie really wanted to cleanse our bodies after returning from Nepal. I did not. This cleanse means that we only eat fruit and vegetables for 10 full days, and only drink water and vegetable juice as well. This did not sound like something Jack Becker would ever have any interest in doing. However, I love my wife dearly, and she IS worthy of sacrifice, so I vowed to cleanse my body with her. It has been a tough road. On day 1 I my throat wanted to refuse the vegetable juice, but I persevered. On day 2 the hunger from reduced portions caused me to come terrifyingly close to eating my arm off. Days 3-5 were greatly improved and I began to get a sense that I could accomplish this cleanse. Day 6 and on has been a torrent of images flashing through my mind of pizza, burgers, and deep-fried anything tempting me to abandon my cause. Yet I will prevail. This isn't even about cleaning my body up anymore (though for me, it never was. It was an act of love for my wife). Now it has become a battle to prove that I can be disciplined. This war rages on still. Today is Day 9. I have not consumed meat, bread, sugar, cheese, caffeine or alcohol since August 19th. The light IS on the horizon. 6 am on August 30 and I can devour WHATEVER I want... and I intend to.
Monday, May 28, 2012
Senses
Sitting in darkness. A few strands of light peering through the blinds,
originating from the lamppost at the sidewalk a few yards away.
Listening to Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel, soothing poetry to my ears.
Still fresh from my shower 4 minutes ago. Breeze passing through the window screen,
air drying my still damp body. I love moments like these. Pleasing to all my senses.
originating from the lamppost at the sidewalk a few yards away.
Listening to Arcade Fire and Neutral Milk Hotel, soothing poetry to my ears.
Still fresh from my shower 4 minutes ago. Breeze passing through the window screen,
air drying my still damp body. I love moments like these. Pleasing to all my senses.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Cancun
Our life has been so chaotic and busy lately. Stressful, overwhelming. It was perfect timing.
We arrived in Mexico (one more country to cross off my list) late Thursday evening.
Kelsie was asked to photograph the wedding of a family friend. I was her sexy bag boy.
We stayed at La Amada or The Beloved Hotel, all inclusive.
I got to spend 2 1/2 days at a beautiful resort in Cancun with my favorite person. Kelsie.
2 1/2 days of eating like kings and queens. Of luxury and comfort. Of relaxation.
Sitting at the beach with a good book, shaded, but still enjoying the heat of the sun.
Listening to the ocean crash against the coast, trying to reach me but never quite making it.
Only one word could describe it. Paradise. And it was exactly what this tired couple needed.
The wedding was beautiful. Small wedding party, only a few guests. Private and personal.
The beach, at sunset. The clouds connived to hide the horizon but even that couldn't spoil it.
Thank you, Fred and Susie, for having us be a part of your wedding and welcoming us to paradise.
We arrived in Mexico (one more country to cross off my list) late Thursday evening.
Kelsie was asked to photograph the wedding of a family friend. I was her sexy bag boy.
We stayed at La Amada or The Beloved Hotel, all inclusive.
I got to spend 2 1/2 days at a beautiful resort in Cancun with my favorite person. Kelsie.
2 1/2 days of eating like kings and queens. Of luxury and comfort. Of relaxation.
Sitting at the beach with a good book, shaded, but still enjoying the heat of the sun.
Listening to the ocean crash against the coast, trying to reach me but never quite making it.
Only one word could describe it. Paradise. And it was exactly what this tired couple needed.
The wedding was beautiful. Small wedding party, only a few guests. Private and personal.
The beach, at sunset. The clouds connived to hide the horizon but even that couldn't spoil it.
Thank you, Fred and Susie, for having us be a part of your wedding and welcoming us to paradise.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Sponge (2)
I feel like a sponge.
I'm a storyteller at heart. So I like metaphors. Consider this a metaphor.
It occurred to my while Kels and I were discussing the state of our spiritual life.
Or lack thereof. This was last Sunday, following a hard hitting sermon.
Kelsie is not very close with God. Not like she used to be.
This is partially my fault, and I take responsibility for it.
We have been married 2 days shy of 1 year and 7 months, and
in that time I have at no point attempted to be the spiritual leader.
Mostly because I also have not had much of a relationship with God.
Nor a desire for it.
Until now.
I am a sponge. So are you.
As is Kelsie. And my dad.
Pastor Matthew. Louie.
My teachers, and my co-workers.
My future children and their children.
All sponges. All having the ability of being spongey (or sponge-like).
God is not a sponge. He is the living water.
But I do not soak up His Word.
I do not allow him to fill me.
As a sponge, I have slowly dried out. And now I am brittle.
I am unable to do what I was created to do.
Here's the real problem. Ready for this?
Every now and then I get the urge to be soaked in water.
So I spend a few days reading my favorite passages of Scripture.
I'll throw up a prayer or two to the big guy to remind him I'm still here.
Then I stop.
If you pour a little water on a dry sponge what happens? Not much.
The outside gets wet for a moment but it doesn't retain any water.
An old sponge has conformed to a shape and pattern that is consistent with a lack of water.
A lack of living water, in my case.
That's what is hard.
I get the idea I want to be filled with the living water.
But I only turn the faucet on for a few seconds.
Enough to get the outside moist, but do little else.
I've got to crank that faucet handle and let the water flow.
It's gotta keep flowing, and over time I'll soften up.
My flesh will begin to remember what is was like to be
a sponge that could hold water. I want to overflow.
Because it is when we overflow with water, that we can pour it
onto another dried out sponge. Or a new sponge eager to get wet.
I don't want to be this way.
I let down my Savior with this behavior.
I don't give my wife what she needs. And deserves.
When I am brittle as a sponge it is difficult to move.
Difficult to change.
But I am ready to change.
I'm gonna go to the sink now,
and let the water flow
from the faucet.
After all,
I am a sponge.
I'm a storyteller at heart. So I like metaphors. Consider this a metaphor.
It occurred to my while Kels and I were discussing the state of our spiritual life.
Or lack thereof. This was last Sunday, following a hard hitting sermon.
Kelsie is not very close with God. Not like she used to be.
This is partially my fault, and I take responsibility for it.
We have been married 2 days shy of 1 year and 7 months, and
in that time I have at no point attempted to be the spiritual leader.
Mostly because I also have not had much of a relationship with God.
Nor a desire for it.
Until now.
I am a sponge. So are you.
As is Kelsie. And my dad.
Pastor Matthew. Louie.
My teachers, and my co-workers.
My future children and their children.
All sponges. All having the ability of being spongey (or sponge-like).
God is not a sponge. He is the living water.
But I do not soak up His Word.
I do not allow him to fill me.
As a sponge, I have slowly dried out. And now I am brittle.
I am unable to do what I was created to do.
Here's the real problem. Ready for this?
Every now and then I get the urge to be soaked in water.
So I spend a few days reading my favorite passages of Scripture.
I'll throw up a prayer or two to the big guy to remind him I'm still here.
Then I stop.
If you pour a little water on a dry sponge what happens? Not much.
The outside gets wet for a moment but it doesn't retain any water.
An old sponge has conformed to a shape and pattern that is consistent with a lack of water.
A lack of living water, in my case.
That's what is hard.
I get the idea I want to be filled with the living water.
But I only turn the faucet on for a few seconds.
Enough to get the outside moist, but do little else.
I've got to crank that faucet handle and let the water flow.
It's gotta keep flowing, and over time I'll soften up.
My flesh will begin to remember what is was like to be
a sponge that could hold water. I want to overflow.
Because it is when we overflow with water, that we can pour it
onto another dried out sponge. Or a new sponge eager to get wet.
I don't want to be this way.
I let down my Savior with this behavior.
I don't give my wife what she needs. And deserves.
When I am brittle as a sponge it is difficult to move.
Difficult to change.
But I am ready to change.
I'm gonna go to the sink now,
and let the water flow
from the faucet.
After all,
I am a sponge.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Animal Rights?
I had to write this paper for my Ethics class. We had to discuss two articles about animal rights, one supporting it and the other denying it. I was less interested in rehashing other peoples thoughts on this issue. I got to give my opinion of the topic in the last part of the paper, though to be honest, my opinion ended up being 700 of my allotted 1200 words. Enjoy.
Do animals have rights? Alastair Norcross sure thinks so. He wrote an article which calls us to recognize the abuse of animals and to change our dietary habits as a result.
The crux of Norcross’ argument is based in our perception of the animals. He uses an example of a fictitious man named Fred who has tragically injured a part of his brain, which now prevents him from enjoying chocolate. The only chemical allowing him to enjoy chocolate from this point on can be produced when a puppy has been tortured for months and finally dies. Fred accepts this and begins torturing puppies. Apalling, isn’t it? However, the same things happen to “barnyard” animals in massive factories daily and we don’t bat an eye. Maybe because they are not cute and cuddly, or because we have not associated them as “pets”. There cannot be a distinction between dogs and pigs. If it is wrong to cause a dog to suffer, it would follow that it is wrong to cause a pig to suffer.
Norcross also acknowledges the notion we have that to abstain from eating of meat will not save the lives of any animals. By ourselves, this may be true, however according to Norcross it is not a sufficient reason to continue eating meat. If a significant number of people became vegetarians, the factory farms would be forced to breed less animals and thereby less animals would be treated cruelly. Therefore, abstaining would accomplish something. Aside from that, however, just because there is the potential to not change anything does not mean we should take part in animal cruelty.
Carl Cohen believes that animals do not, in fact, have any moral rights. In his argument for experimentation on animals he points out that they are not moral creatures. Animals are not morally self-legislating, nor are the rationally moral, therefore they can’t have moral rights or claims. By factory farming them, we are not actually violating their rights because they do not have any rights to violate. Cohen understands that a popular criticism of his standpoint is that there are some humans who are not morally rational or self-legislating (the senile, mentally handicapped, children) and yet we could not say that they have no rights. It would be wrong to suggest that we could put them into a factory farm and it would not violate any rights. However, there is a problem with this criticism. Animals do not have the capability of understanding morals, or right from wrong. Animals will never be able to understand these things. However, most senile humans used to have this capacity; most children one day will; and had the handicapped been born healthy and undamaged they would also understand rational morality. Animals simply cannot understand or abide my moral principles, and humans can.
Lying is wrong. Most humans know this, and understand when they tell a lie that there is something fundamentally wrong about it. Animals do not know this. If they could speak and tell lies they would not comprehend that they should not do so, because they cannot rationally understand morality.
I must admit I have always scoffed at the notion of animal rights. Partially because I didn’t give it much thought, but also because I think that humans and animals are unequal morally. This discussion has definitely made me begin to ponder my eating habits. However I am not fully convinced that animals have rights or that humans have obligations to treat them humanely. Perhaps I am callously inhuman. I cannot deny that if right and wrong are determined by what creates the most pleasure and pain then that means animals have rights. They would have the right to enjoy pleasure and not suffer pain. It would be wrong to be cruel to all animals that can suffer. However, I am not a utilitarian. I do not believe that good and bad are fundamentally tied to pleasure and pain. Therefore I have the task of determining whether animals have the right to pleasure and life within the ethical theory I believe is right.
I am a Divine Command Theorist. I believe that God has everything to do with right and wrong. I understand the criticisms of this particular theory and I am still wrestling with the ramifications, but that has not yet changed my view. So, how do I reconcile the treatment of animals within a moral theory based on the Bible? I can start by looking in the Bible. Most conservative Christians I know would staunchly defend their carnivorous appetite by quoting Genesis 1.28, where God tells Adam and Eve to have dominion over every living thing on Earth. Naturally, if we have dominion over all living creatures then we may choose to let them live or die. Another favorite verse is Genesis 9.2, “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.” Admittedly, I have used these verses to defend my views in the past; however this is a shallow examination of Scripture. I believe God has granted us the right and ability to use animals for our needs, however we abuse that ability. In Genesis 6, God tells Noah to bring two of every living thing onto the ark for survival. Why would he do this if the animal kingdom is as expendable as we treat them? The most damning piece of evidence, however, is found in Proverbs 12.10 “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” When it comes down to it the glory of God is seen in His creation, not just in the cosmos, but also in the beauty of this Earth and the creatures He made to inhabit it. If we no longer require their meat for survival and their hides for warmth, then isn’t it unbiblical to breed animals; factory farmed, free-range or otherwise? I am starting to think so. I’m wondering if my diet shouldn’t become progressively vegetarian. However, there is still one problem. God gave mankind dominion over all living creatures, which means we are not equal to them. God must be a speciesist. My issue then lies in the knowledge that becoming a vegetarian to spare the lives of animals is a pricey resolution. Healthy food lacking animal meat or by-products are expensive. Should it be a priority to spend my money on food which will prevent this kind of suffering? I don’t think so. Why should I spend money on saving animals when there are an estimated 27 million people or more in slavery today? My money could go to an organization trying to free the slaves. What about the 115,000 children who die every day because they are aborted prior to birth? Their lives are worth more than the lives of animals. So I don’t completely agree with or disagree with Norcross or Cohen. They both make good arguments. What I do believe is that we as a nation are not treating animals the way God intended, but before we can be concerned about their well-being we must take care of mankind and the suffering he endures every single moment.
Do animals have rights? Alastair Norcross sure thinks so. He wrote an article which calls us to recognize the abuse of animals and to change our dietary habits as a result.
The crux of Norcross’ argument is based in our perception of the animals. He uses an example of a fictitious man named Fred who has tragically injured a part of his brain, which now prevents him from enjoying chocolate. The only chemical allowing him to enjoy chocolate from this point on can be produced when a puppy has been tortured for months and finally dies. Fred accepts this and begins torturing puppies. Apalling, isn’t it? However, the same things happen to “barnyard” animals in massive factories daily and we don’t bat an eye. Maybe because they are not cute and cuddly, or because we have not associated them as “pets”. There cannot be a distinction between dogs and pigs. If it is wrong to cause a dog to suffer, it would follow that it is wrong to cause a pig to suffer.
Norcross also acknowledges the notion we have that to abstain from eating of meat will not save the lives of any animals. By ourselves, this may be true, however according to Norcross it is not a sufficient reason to continue eating meat. If a significant number of people became vegetarians, the factory farms would be forced to breed less animals and thereby less animals would be treated cruelly. Therefore, abstaining would accomplish something. Aside from that, however, just because there is the potential to not change anything does not mean we should take part in animal cruelty.
Carl Cohen believes that animals do not, in fact, have any moral rights. In his argument for experimentation on animals he points out that they are not moral creatures. Animals are not morally self-legislating, nor are the rationally moral, therefore they can’t have moral rights or claims. By factory farming them, we are not actually violating their rights because they do not have any rights to violate. Cohen understands that a popular criticism of his standpoint is that there are some humans who are not morally rational or self-legislating (the senile, mentally handicapped, children) and yet we could not say that they have no rights. It would be wrong to suggest that we could put them into a factory farm and it would not violate any rights. However, there is a problem with this criticism. Animals do not have the capability of understanding morals, or right from wrong. Animals will never be able to understand these things. However, most senile humans used to have this capacity; most children one day will; and had the handicapped been born healthy and undamaged they would also understand rational morality. Animals simply cannot understand or abide my moral principles, and humans can.
Lying is wrong. Most humans know this, and understand when they tell a lie that there is something fundamentally wrong about it. Animals do not know this. If they could speak and tell lies they would not comprehend that they should not do so, because they cannot rationally understand morality.
I must admit I have always scoffed at the notion of animal rights. Partially because I didn’t give it much thought, but also because I think that humans and animals are unequal morally. This discussion has definitely made me begin to ponder my eating habits. However I am not fully convinced that animals have rights or that humans have obligations to treat them humanely. Perhaps I am callously inhuman. I cannot deny that if right and wrong are determined by what creates the most pleasure and pain then that means animals have rights. They would have the right to enjoy pleasure and not suffer pain. It would be wrong to be cruel to all animals that can suffer. However, I am not a utilitarian. I do not believe that good and bad are fundamentally tied to pleasure and pain. Therefore I have the task of determining whether animals have the right to pleasure and life within the ethical theory I believe is right.
I am a Divine Command Theorist. I believe that God has everything to do with right and wrong. I understand the criticisms of this particular theory and I am still wrestling with the ramifications, but that has not yet changed my view. So, how do I reconcile the treatment of animals within a moral theory based on the Bible? I can start by looking in the Bible. Most conservative Christians I know would staunchly defend their carnivorous appetite by quoting Genesis 1.28, where God tells Adam and Eve to have dominion over every living thing on Earth. Naturally, if we have dominion over all living creatures then we may choose to let them live or die. Another favorite verse is Genesis 9.2, “The fear of you and the dread of you shall be upon every beast of the earth and upon every bird of the heavens, upon everything that creeps on the ground and all the fish of the sea. Into your hand they are delivered.” Admittedly, I have used these verses to defend my views in the past; however this is a shallow examination of Scripture. I believe God has granted us the right and ability to use animals for our needs, however we abuse that ability. In Genesis 6, God tells Noah to bring two of every living thing onto the ark for survival. Why would he do this if the animal kingdom is as expendable as we treat them? The most damning piece of evidence, however, is found in Proverbs 12.10 “The righteous care for the needs of their animals, but the kindest acts of the wicked are cruel.” When it comes down to it the glory of God is seen in His creation, not just in the cosmos, but also in the beauty of this Earth and the creatures He made to inhabit it. If we no longer require their meat for survival and their hides for warmth, then isn’t it unbiblical to breed animals; factory farmed, free-range or otherwise? I am starting to think so. I’m wondering if my diet shouldn’t become progressively vegetarian. However, there is still one problem. God gave mankind dominion over all living creatures, which means we are not equal to them. God must be a speciesist. My issue then lies in the knowledge that becoming a vegetarian to spare the lives of animals is a pricey resolution. Healthy food lacking animal meat or by-products are expensive. Should it be a priority to spend my money on food which will prevent this kind of suffering? I don’t think so. Why should I spend money on saving animals when there are an estimated 27 million people or more in slavery today? My money could go to an organization trying to free the slaves. What about the 115,000 children who die every day because they are aborted prior to birth? Their lives are worth more than the lives of animals. So I don’t completely agree with or disagree with Norcross or Cohen. They both make good arguments. What I do believe is that we as a nation are not treating animals the way God intended, but before we can be concerned about their well-being we must take care of mankind and the suffering he endures every single moment.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
So It Goes
5 years ago today a certain man died. So it goes.
He is, or should I say was? or will be?...
-one of my favorite authors.
I believe his imagination was a national treasure.
A fellow Hoosier, of which I take pride, regardless
of the granfalloon nature of my pride.
I wish we could've met in life.
I think we would have been good friends.
I also think we would have had many disagreements, about God and the like
(but this would only serve to make us better friends).
I digress...
Mr. Vonnegut, for your stories,
which often inspire my own, I thank you.
Sunday, April 1, 2012
Broken Heart (1)
Break my heart for what breaks yours / Everything I am for your Kingdom's cause
I think, more often than not, that I am unaffected by what breaks His heart. That which causes my Savior to weep, causes me to yawn. Or even worse, to cheer. Sometimes I am unaffected but other times I revel in what hurts him most. I love my sin. I desire to fulfill my flesh. I applaud when those who have hurt me are in pain and suffering. I use my idea of justice as an excuse for why my heart fills with joy while His fills with cracks. I don't want to be this way. I want to be broken. I want to be weeping on my knees because of the tragedies and iniquities of the world. God is broken over his children, and as one of these children I too should be broken for my brothers and sisters. Does anyone else feel this way? Am I the only one who claims to love God but has internally divorced myself from his heart?
Everything I am is currently for my own kingdom's cause. Not His. I spend hours satisfying my flesh, its desires and wants. I spend minutes in the Word. I spend hours enjoying what God has graciously given me (a wife, a good job, the sunshine, my health, my friends). I spend seconds thanking God for his provision. My kingdom is based on a flawed and imperfect human being: Me (aka Jon Richard Becker Junior, but you can call me Jack). I strive endless to build and construct my kingdom but it's built on sand. His Kingdom is based on His holy, perfect, and loving nature. The Kingdom of God, YHWH, I AM, Father/Son/Holy Spirit, the Great Redeemer, etcetera and so forth. I ignore His Kingdom most days.
God I love you, I really do. I want to serve you and weep at what causes you to weep and be consumed with a passion for your Kingdom. But my actions say otherwise. Father, forgive me and my wickedness. I am crying out to you. That phrase. Make it true. In my life. I want to radiate those words.
Father, break my heart for what breaks yours /
Make everything I am to be for your Kingdom's cause /
Destroy the unaffected heart I currently house within my bones /
Wash away my kingdom, never again to be known.
Saturday, March 31, 2012
Catching Fire
[Spoilers Ahead]
Something has caught fire. You may have heard of it. It's called The Hunger Games. A trio of books (The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay) by author Suzanne Collins were originally published in 2008, 2009, and 2010. Even my mom is now reading them. To be honest I didn't know a thing about them until I saw the trailer for this first film. To say the least, I was intrigued. Wal-Mart had a paperback copy for sale for 6 bucks which is exactly what I had made in tips that day so I purchased the first book. Wow. Honestly, I haven't been that hooked on a book in years. Nearly 400 pages, and I finished in two days (which is quick considering I work and am in school). I finished Catching Fire in even less time, and even prefer it to the first book. Mockingjay had its moments, including fleshing out my favorite character (Finnick), however I would say it was the weakest link of the trilogy primarily in it's shoddy wrapping up of the story (I'm lookin' at you, last two chapters and completely unnecessary epilogue). The whole love triangle thing got way old, and was unoriginal to begin with, though I'm proud to say I figured out who Katniss (the protagonist) would end up with several chapters prior to the conclusion.
The movie wasn't too bad. A midnight showing is always fun, though perhaps less so when the only two seats next to each other are at the center of the front row, but hey I got to go with my beautiful wife. The movie was very true to the book, perhaps even to a fault. My favorite scenes were actually the few that were not in the book (the relationship between President Snow and Seneca Crane, the riot in District 11, the gamemakers at work). I think the biggest weakness was the feeling of simply going down a checklist (...now Katniss get stung by tracker jackers, now she forms an alliance with Rue, now Katniss blows up the Career's supply, etc.) instead of taking their time. At 2 hours and 22 minutes it felt rushed. A Lord of the Rings runtime would have felt more appropriate and probably worked better artistically. The lead actors were ok, though nothing spectacular. It was Woody Harrelson and Stanley Tucci who stole the show, in my opinion.
As for the controversy... Too many people are too easily offended these days. Yes, the story does involved children 12-18 years of age killing each other, and some finding joy in doing so. However this is not the focus of the story. The focus is the government which forces these gladiator-like battles on children. The story is supposed to make us think about our current relationship with our government and what we deem acceptable and/or tolerable. The fact of the matter is that Collins is not promoting violence to children. She is promoting individuality, and critical reasoning, and activism, and courage... which are things we too often set aside while we prefer to be thoughtless lemmings.
The first book in the series is a MUST READ. The movie is not vital, though an enjoyable escape.
Friday, March 30, 2012
If I Were a Nihilist...
I think life would be easier. For me anyway.
Nihilism: An extreme form of skepticism; the denial of all real existence or the possibility of an objective basis for truth.
This truth of which nihilism rejects is specifically moral truth. The nihilist will say there is no morality because there is no moral knowledge. There is no moral knowledge because there are no moral facts. There are no moral facts because there are no feature of which are right or wrong. What I mean is that torturing puppies is not wrong (according to the nihilist). Why isn't it wrong? Because there is no feature of it that is the wrongness of torturing puppies. It is also not right to torture puppies. It simply is.
I am not, by any means, a nihilist. Nor will I ever be. I know several people who are. And they will tell you they are. Personally, I think it is a philosophy for those in denial of rather evident truth. However, I do think life would be easier for me. Why wouldn't you just live for yourself, doing whatever your flesh desired? If I were a nihilist, I could cheat on my wife, have an affair with another woman, and there would be absolutely nothing wrong with my actions. Kelsie would be displeased, of course. Maybe even leave me. However, she wouldn't have a reason to be displeased. Because I have done nothing wrong. There is no feature of adultery that is its wrongness. Same with lying. I made a vow to be faithful when we were married, which I would not have kept. But there is no feature of that lie which is its own wrongness. By the nihilists reasoning and skepticism nothing can be deemed wrong.
There is a part of me that is nihilistic in nature. That is my flesh. It is a constant struggle to remind my heart of the objective truth I know to be true, even though my flesh continues its assault of deception.
Nihilism: An extreme form of skepticism; the denial of all real existence or the possibility of an objective basis for truth.
This truth of which nihilism rejects is specifically moral truth. The nihilist will say there is no morality because there is no moral knowledge. There is no moral knowledge because there are no moral facts. There are no moral facts because there are no feature of which are right or wrong. What I mean is that torturing puppies is not wrong (according to the nihilist). Why isn't it wrong? Because there is no feature of it that is the wrongness of torturing puppies. It is also not right to torture puppies. It simply is.
I am not, by any means, a nihilist. Nor will I ever be. I know several people who are. And they will tell you they are. Personally, I think it is a philosophy for those in denial of rather evident truth. However, I do think life would be easier for me. Why wouldn't you just live for yourself, doing whatever your flesh desired? If I were a nihilist, I could cheat on my wife, have an affair with another woman, and there would be absolutely nothing wrong with my actions. Kelsie would be displeased, of course. Maybe even leave me. However, she wouldn't have a reason to be displeased. Because I have done nothing wrong. There is no feature of adultery that is its wrongness. Same with lying. I made a vow to be faithful when we were married, which I would not have kept. But there is no feature of that lie which is its own wrongness. By the nihilists reasoning and skepticism nothing can be deemed wrong.
There is a part of me that is nihilistic in nature. That is my flesh. It is a constant struggle to remind my heart of the objective truth I know to be true, even though my flesh continues its assault of deception.
Monday, March 26, 2012
This Is England (2006)
This is my first installment of MOVIES YOU'VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF, BUT COULD CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
What a great film! I first saw this a couple years ago and instantly fell in love with it. My intial reaction was to compare it to American History X, a fantastic film in its own right. But [TIE] is gentler. Not nearly as in your face as [AHX]. The soundtrack is perfection. Ludovico Einaudi's keystrokes made me even more desperately sympathetic for the characters. Must watch. Currently available on Netflix Instant Stream.
Monday, March 19, 2012
an Abyss, Gazing
He who fights with monsters might take
care lest he thereby become a monster.
And if you gaze for long into an abyss,
the abyss gazes also into you.
— Nietzsche
care lest he thereby become a monster.
And if you gaze for long into an abyss,
the abyss gazes also into you.
— Nietzsche
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Who says Scripture isn't beautiful?
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
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, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh,
in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope
that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.
We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.
For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.
And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?
Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.
Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
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, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Poem For My Valentine
husband? Yes. Absolutely.
Will I ever be perfect;
the husband you deserve? No.
What I will be is a man
with unconditional love
for a woman who needs love.
I will strive to be just like
Jesus Christ, our God as man,
the Savior who loved His church.
What I will be is a man
aware of a woman’s needs.
Your wants. Your desires. Your needs.
I will strive to meet those needs
at the expense of my own;
at the expense of my life.
Do you deserve a perfect
husband? Yes. Absolutely.
Will I ever be perfect?
No, love, but I will be me.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Killing Creativity
We all have bodies don't we? Truthfully what happens is as children grow up we progressively educate them from the waist up. And then we focus on their heads. And slightly to one side. - Sir Ken Robinson.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Aristotelian Potential
Yesterday I was thinking about Aristotle. Y'know, he studied everything. He seemed to be an expert on everything. I could be an Aristotle. I am fascinated by philosophy, theater, political science, music, and poetry. Not so much linguistics, biology or physics but still, I have the potential to be an Aristotle. I think we all do. But who is the last person you can think of that seemed to be an expert in an endless number of arts and sciences? I don't think we are encouraged culturally to find more than one area of expertise. Most of us go to college to study one subject (our Major). Occasionally you'll meet someone who is a double-major, or a major with a minor, but it is uncommon. We study one thing. Previously I studied theater. Currently I am studying business. I am not living up to my potential. Who is at fault? I am. I could blame culture, my parents, Barack Obama, or any number of groups or people. The fact is that I am not living up to my potential because of me, myself, and I. I am not disciplined. Like, at all. I want to be, but every time I think about it I get a headache. I want to read more books, to expand my knowledge and awareness and critical thinking, etc. My favorite excuse is that I don't have the time. It is true that I have less time now then I did a year ago, but this excuse is still lame. I have time to write this blog. I have time to jump over to nba.com every morning and check-up on the Bulls. I don't have time to read about important things. Maybe that is why I and everyone else fail to reach our potential of expertise in multiple areas of study. A lack of understanding for the value of time. We need to challenge ourselves. I am going to read a book by the end of February. We'll say about about..... writing poetry. You can hold me to that. And then I'll post a blog with a poem that I wrote. Sigh.... If I have time.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Nepal
Kelsie and I have sent in our applications to Reign Ministries to become assistant leaders on the Nepal team this summer. We are very excited to be working with Job and Bethany Hammond, dear friends and great team leaders. More details will come as we know them and we will hopefully begin the support raising process within the next month!
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Back to School
Yesterday was my first day at school since September 16, 2010 (a Thursday). On that day I had been running around between classes (18 credit hours that semester) when I received a phone call from my girlfriend. Her dad was in the hospital and he was doing well. She was sobbing. I hated ending the conversation but I had a Spanish test in 30 seconds. I flew through that test. Honestly I never found out how I did on it. After class I checked my voice-mail to find I message from my girlfriend's mom. Her dad didn't have long to live. That weekend while I was with their family I made the decision to drop classes, move to Minnesota and marry my sweetheart. To be there when I was needed most. To abandon school for the short-term. That was 16 months ago. The short-term just ended. Here I am back to school. Practically Square 1 since only 6 of my 22 credits transferred (shakes head in disgust). New school, new major, relatively new life. I am taking it easy this first semester (9 credit hours). Monday's and Wednesday's. Ethics at 1pm, Intro to Computers from 2-4pm and Algebra from 5.30-7.20pm. By themselves they all appear to be easy classes (I love ethics/philosophy, I already know how to use computers and math runs in the family). However, coupling these three classes with my forty-hour work week, quality time with Kels, household chores, support raising and two small groups I am going to be very busy. Unlike my lovely wife, I do not thrive when busy. I thrive when NOT busy. I can use and would appreciate any and all prayer. These classes are starting the snowball. That snowball needs to gain momentum until the goal has been reached: Completion of the SCTCC AAS Business Managemtn program with a 3.5 GPA or greater.
Here we go.
Here we go.
Friday, January 6, 2012
BTdub
Yesterday Kelsie and I took a trip down to Minneapolis. Specifically to the Reign office. The purpose of our trip was because my good friend Lexey Rust had called me up wondering if I would sit in on Kairos' Beyond the Walls (BTdub) drama and offer pointers. Needless to say, I jumped at the opportunity. It had been about two and a half years since I had last sat in on a Kairos class and four years since I last last performed BTdub. (BTdub is a drama that Kairos uses on their speaking blitz to provoke questions within students about their relationship with God. It is a story about 5 people trapped in a room with no way out, or so it seems). It was kinda surreal sitting in on a teaching by Doug Easterday about the Father Heart of God. Surreal and very cool. Once class ended we got the drama rolling and after the first run-through the were definitely some things that needed to be tweaked in the mechanics but the cast picked it up quickly and looked ten times more comfortable and fluid in the second run-through. It was pretty cool to be a part of...
Kels and I wanted to make the most of our trip so we planned a double date with our married couple friends, Louie and Sandy. We made an interesting sight considering Louie and Sandy are our seniors by around 55 years. Honestly though it was probably the most fun I've ever had on a double date. We had dinner at Macaroni Grill which I had never been to before and had a really nice time catching up with each other.
We should go to the Cities more often...
Kels and I wanted to make the most of our trip so we planned a double date with our married couple friends, Louie and Sandy. We made an interesting sight considering Louie and Sandy are our seniors by around 55 years. Honestly though it was probably the most fun I've ever had on a double date. We had dinner at Macaroni Grill which I had never been to before and had a really nice time catching up with each other.
We should go to the Cities more often...
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Radical Overhaul
Yesterday was 2011. Today, however, is 2012 (in case you haven't noticed). Confession: Last year I was not very diligent or self-motivated. Also, I was generally lacking in passion, desire and faithfulness. Disclaimer: I do not make new year resolutions and what is to follow is not a resolution. Whatsoever. This is something I have been praying about for at least a month now. Paul wrote, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." In 2011 I was conformed to the pattern of this world. This did not start then. The same was true of 2010 and the latter half of 2009. I mean, I have had small rebellions against the dark prince, but as a whole this year and the years preceding it have been spent in an apathetic daze, disaffected by the evil nature of the world and, realistically, pursuing that evil with my heart, soul and mind. No longer. I want to renew my mind. Reclaim it. Fill it with worthwhile thoughts. Thoughts of love for my wife; not lust for any other girl sporting a low-cut blouse. Thoughts of grace when I get cut off in traffic; not wrath and anger. I want to be transformed. Seriously. This is why I am working on my Radical Overhaul of Priorities (a clunky title, but it suits my need). I want to focus on four areas of my life and set goals to become more Christ-like in those areas. Physically, Mentally, Spiritually and Socially. These goals will be SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely). Within these areas I am going to set multiple goals in each area. They are going to be lofty, and at times I am going to fail. Yet I am still going to strive to renew my mind.
Examples: Physically - I am going to begin working out on a regular, scheduled basis and I am going to stop consuming any beverage other than water while at work. Mentally - I am going to get into a habit of memorization and stop filling head with negative content (that means you, South Park). Spiritually - I want to get involved in church now, in an area that I am passionate about and an area that desperately needs people. Socially - I want to find someone who will pour into and disciple me and I want to find someone else who I can disciple.
PS - These last, oh, three weeks have Sucked for me. There were some highlights, but I have been sick with the flu, a sinus infection and pneumonia, as well as general exhaustion and a lack of time to recover or get ANYTHING done. Something I found encouraging during this time was a piece of music called The Shelter, presented by Jars of Clay. I think everyone should check it out.
Happy New Year.
Examples: Physically - I am going to begin working out on a regular, scheduled basis and I am going to stop consuming any beverage other than water while at work. Mentally - I am going to get into a habit of memorization and stop filling head with negative content (that means you, South Park). Spiritually - I want to get involved in church now, in an area that I am passionate about and an area that desperately needs people. Socially - I want to find someone who will pour into and disciple me and I want to find someone else who I can disciple.
PS - These last, oh, three weeks have Sucked for me. There were some highlights, but I have been sick with the flu, a sinus infection and pneumonia, as well as general exhaustion and a lack of time to recover or get ANYTHING done. Something I found encouraging during this time was a piece of music called The Shelter, presented by Jars of Clay. I think everyone should check it out.
Happy New Year.
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