Or Die Trying

I don't fear failure; I fear succeeding at something that doesn't matter. -Author Unknown (Because I haven't found the proper citations)

This is, I think, quite sums up something that humans have gotten quite good at: The pursuit of irrelevant goals.

Such as:

-What do body builders do when they have their muscles?

-What do Stamp Collectors do when they have all the stamps? Or want to mail something?

-What does the person do with his life once he has watched every episode of every tv series ever (Note: There are too many so this isn't possible).

-What does the athlete do with his brass-knuckle  of a jewel-encrusted rings. I mean, have you seen how expensive they can be? You could by a car or even a cheap house with one of those. Check out the link about Super Bowl Bling from the Weather channel. Because the Weather channel had an article about Super Bowl rings. What do they do with all of their athletic achievements when their knees need replaced at age 40 and they get Alzheimer at age 50.

Do our votes really matter? Especially in this so-called "two-party" system?

Then check out these stats on climbing Mount Everest:

http://sometimes-interesting.com/2011/06/29/over-200-dead-bodies-on-mount-everest/

http://www.alanarnette.com/blog/2013/01/07/everest-2013-how-much-does-it-cost-to-climb-everest/

Now, personal accomplishments can be good, but it's just that so many of them are either pointless or don't benefit anyone. At all.

But is it really worth your life to be on top of a mountain? For some it is, but let me ask it another way.

Is it worth a life to climb a mountain and if so, is that person's priorities and perspective's in proper order?

Is it good enough to string together a list of accomplishments that don't mean anything?

Yes, I realize that I'm suggesting that entire chunks of human population have wasted most, if not all, of their lives pursuing things that don't matter. And I mean to.

There are people so devoted to a cause that they would rather die than fail. And then there are people who have no idea as to how to prioritize their life.

It's truly admirable to see someone so devoted to something. It's even better when that something actually matters. It's actually painful to watch someone strive to accomplish something that really doesn't amount to anything meaningful. How many of the classic sci-fi movies have a scientist create some horrific monster to only after the disaster, wonder if he should have been doing that in the first place?

I would rather my life's work be meaningful. To be something that actually makes a positive difference in someone's life. Sometimes I feel like I've done that. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing the Lord's work. Sometimes I feel like I've attempted to do the Lord's work only to make something akin to a crayon drawing a kid makes for his parents to put on the fridge.

Customer or Commodity?

A good friend of mine emailed me the following qoute and I had to start off my post with it to set the tone. So, with that in mind, I shall begin.

Pigs. Pigs live for free; they are not free. They don't pay rent. Nor do they pay for their food. Nor do the pay for anything else. Well, until the day they're slaughtered that is. Then they pay with their life. They live in comfort and are comfortably numb. They eat, drink and generally be merry (even in their own filth). All that is expected of them is that they get fat; and that's what they do. They aren't the customer to the farmer. They aren't the consumer (though they do eat a lot). They are the commodity; the product to be sold for profit.

Enough about pigs; now onto humans. Throughout human history, there have been those very special types of people that only saw their fellow neighbors as commodities. As beings that are either bought and sold; or suckers to sell things to. This is the dark side of capitalism. Not to say that capitalism, in and of itself is bad. Rather, that human nature, being what it is, can (and does) corrupt it. Using it for devious and nefarious purposes for their own greedy end. That everything has a dark side (or a dark passenger). That capitalism is neither good nor bad; but how the human uses it is what dictates its nature.

To view other humans as a commodity is what leads to slavery. To view another human as potential property (and therefore, less human) is what slavery is. It is disgusting. They see a free market as a means to freely do whatever they want. They ignore the fact that there are consequences to actions. They lose their soul in a vain attempt to gain the world. This is why it is so, that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.

This is materialism (or consumerism) to buy things, to seek things, to treat things as an idol. The alter for this, of course, is the shopping mall. To buy (or consume) any of a wide assortment of things to the point of worshiping the dollar and what it can buy. What would you like? Whatever it is, there is a store for it. How many people pay $60 for a pair of jeans? How many of them care where it came from? How many would care if they knew it was stitched together by someone making a quarter an hour to be shipped halfway across the world for their comfort? Remember the clothing factory in Bangladesh back in April?

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/18/world/asia/bangladesh-factory-fire-caused-by-gross-negligence.html?_r=1&

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/blogs/economic-intelligence/2012/09/21/the-wasteful-culture-of-forever-21-hm-and-fast-fashion

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/reports-fire-kills-43-poultry-farm-china-19310266#.Ua1DXkC3-8A

But wait, aren't those factory workers getting paid? Does it matter? They're being treated to lives and working conditions that many in 1^st world countries wouldn't tolerate for wages many would take unemployment welfare over.

1^st world country. If that term isn't indicative of the “rat race”, “bigger is better”, “latest-greatest”, entitlement culture of secular materialism, then I don't know what is. Not only is our country amongst the elite of the most developed and advanced technology, but we need a “1st” label so everybody knows it. We need a “3rd” label so those less fortunate (“least of these” anyone?) know their place. (Has anyone ever heard or read which countries constitute as “2^nd world”?).

Sir, May I Have Your Trash?

   This is what was said on one of our plane trips to Guatemala (or it may have been on the way back, I can't remember which).

   Our own Pastor Cory had decided upon a nap and had not eaten his in-flight "meal". Being close to landing, the stewardess had been collecting the "trash" from the other passengers. She simply saw it as trash (Many passengers don't eat their "meal", so this probably wasn't unusual for her) and wanted it cleaned up. Cory, on the other hand, wasn't about to waste food (even airline food).

   I recall the phrase "One man's trash is another man's treasure". How the value we attach to everyday items can vary wildly between the items and our perception of it's value (and even that cane vary depending upon actual value and sentimental value). How much food gets thrown away every year? Answer: Approximately 1.3 Billion tonnes worldwide (Source). How many people simply flip a switch or pull a lever to get electricity and on-demand clean water? How many consider that a luxury? How many don't even have it available? How many people have to spend 7-8 hours working to collect water for their family?

   I also recall the quote from Gandhi: “The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed .” How true of a statement this is. Not exactly something common in a culture immersed in instant gratification and "bigger is better" mentalities. Simply having the freedom or right to do something doesn't necessarily mean you should or that it is healthy. Just because you can do a thing, does not mean that you must do that thing. Another quote along these lines is this: "Your right to believe anything does not mean anything you believe is right." -Rick Warren


   Now, this isn't just about food (which I would be more than happy to do), this can be anything. Someone who is technologically will care about what kind of computer he uses compared to someone who just wants something to use a web browser on.

   Or to go politic here, we have being reported is that $1 Billion per day is spent fighting global warming. Or to go even more political, only 17% of the federal government was actually shut down during the "shutdown". There was even more money spent shutting down and barricading off what was essentially "outside".

   Speaking of government waste: This and this make me feel warm and cozy inside.

   So, the question remains: what can be done to reduce waste? What can be done to help? Well, I suppose the first step would be that every one should live within their means. Only buy what they can afford and only those things they will use. This is the first step. Next will be finding ways to help those that cannot help themselves (remember: you put the oxygen mask on yourself first before helping others. Or: You can't help a drowning man if you can't swim).

Seeking Jesus' Auto Graph

    The autograph. A signature. Usually used to verify one's identity on important documents. Often times used to verify one's meeting with a celebrity. A celebrity. A person who is somehow risen in stature to the point where his or her signature is worth more than the so-called ordinary, average human. Whose signature would you crave? Whose signature would you want scribbled over some material possession (be it poster, cd, ball, other memorabilia, etc)? An athlete? A musician? A movie star? A politician? An individual whose career has taken him/her across a combination of these? Why? To sell? To keep locked away for a generation? What about Jesus? His three year “career” has influenced all of human history for over 2,000 years. No one else would come close to that, before or after.

I hope you said no.

Why?

   Why would it be, that if you ever met Jesus, that having Him scribble on some paper or immaterial object be the thing to pop into your head? To go away with something that moth and rust can destroy, and thieves break in and steal?

   I once saw an interview (with an athlete), in which he stated he never gave out any autographs. Instead he would have conversations with his fans. Shouldn't that be the case with Jesus? Shouldn't a conversation with Him be worth more than any object? Even if his signature were on the holy grail, a short chat with Him would be worth all the more. If you're hesitant to answer, it's ok. It means you've read the Bible. Jesus mostly has one of two things to tell people. It's either comforting or disturbing, there isn't much in the way of in between (not much written in the Gospels anyway). Even the comforting, healing that He does is followed up with “go and sin no more”.

   Yet, how many people seek after material things? How many people seek after Jesus-themed material things? Now, I don't mean Bibles and worth-while books. I mean Jesus-themed materials being sold to make money. People who don't care about souls or Christ's message, but about money. Things sold by people who only see Christians as a marketing demographic. People who write Jesus-themed books to sell, rather than books to enlighten. Not to name any names, but the Bible isn't a self-help book. Jesus' message wasn't about self-esteem. It was about salvation! That humanity had done wrong! How it turned away from the very face of God! That despite this, we (humanity) are forgiven our sins! Our debts are forgiven! Paid by the very blood of Christ!

   There are books that were written to explain the meaning. To enlighten. To put Jesus' message into tangible examples (C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton spring to mind) that we can understand. Then there are others. I have to wonder if the love of money (which is the root of all evil) has led some to write books because they know it will sell. Maybe they have so-called “good intentions” and it just looks like they're more concerned with money (I did have a reason for not naming names). However, good intentions are meaningless if potential results are ignored. The point is that instead of pointing the accusatory finger to what I think is bad; I want to raise my hands to what I know is good. There are Christian authors who bear good fruits and there are authors who write to sell and make money from Christians. Christians need to know the difference. Same goes for music, movies and pretty much everything else.

   Just like Peter, who thought it best to pitch tents when he saw Jesus speaking with Moses and Elijah. He thought it best to pitch tents for the night. Likewise, if we saw Jesus, would we see Him, or would we immediately think of something inconsequential to do or say. Would we see Jesus for Jesus, or would we see a celebrity to have a picture with? Would we see Jesus, or try in vain to feel important doing something that doesn't need to be done. Again, we should know the difference. We should know the Shepherd’s voice as well as what He is actually calling us to do.

Pure

To seek the Pure one. To not only want, but to need on a deeper level.

Captivated by the dark brown of her eyes.

For her, to any mountain, I would travel.

Her beauty and grace; her compassion and selflessness.

To seek her out, yet see her as more than a prize.

To climb the steepest hills, to cross the lowest valleys.

To pass over the Heartland, to pass over the Gulf that divides.

To almost go back in time, to re-visit again and again.

It is not a chasing after the wind, I go to where Hope has been Sown

To Connect and lend my Voice to help lift the voice of others.

To come back again, through the hustle and bustle.

To return to the safe castle, away from blood suckers.

Only to long for the return, and perhaps to stay?

FUDGE!!

      The F-Bomb, and many other swear words, are often censored in television and radio. This is for good reason! They are not 'good' words! However, how offended should people in general (and Christians specifically) be when we here this words and phrases spoken or written? I would also submit that the context of a word means a lot more than the actual word being used. Taking into consideration all of the real problems in the world, are a few 'bad words' that outrageous? Does swearing really rack up there with murder, theft, poverty, greed or dishonoring one's parents? Keep in mind Jesus never asked anyone to clean up their “potty-mouth” prior to listening to him or following. Neither should we. Remember that Christ instructed those He healed to “leave their lives of sin” after He healed them, not prior. It is likely that some of the people we speak with and share the gospel with won't exactly desire “clean” language as much as others.

     Let us discuss these two points on a deeper level. Now, I am not making the case that Christians should swear or that it is okay to be used around children and small, furry animals. If a Christian who formerly cursed as a part of his common vernacular, then stops, then happens to “slip up”, there should be some amount of forgiveness given as we all have our faults (James 2:10 reads: “For the one who obeys the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it”).

Who would curse at this guy anyway?

     Instead, what I am discussing is just how upset we should be when we hear these words.

      2 Timothy 2: 10 Reads: “So I endure all things for the sake of those chosen by God, that they too may obtain salvation in Christ Jesus and its eternal glory.” Paul is telling Timothy about the hardships of imprisonment [Something I may touch upon in a future post]. Enduring a fellow who curses and swears seems insignificant when compared to the reality that you can share the Gospel! Christ Himself even told us to “turn the other cheek” toward insults.

     In Romans 14 (The entire chapter is relevant so I'm not posting the entire passage here. You will have to read it on your own), we are told not to “have disputes over differing opinions”.

     Now, personally, I believe I should avoid using these words. It allows me to speak to others with less to worry about concerning offending others. Further still, should I use the “F-Bomb” or other similar vulgar word, the listener may lose focus on what I'm saying. The listener may stop listening! It's unfortunate, but people may not consider what you have to say to be important if they don't like the way you word it. While this isn't entirely the speaker's fault, there are certain words that can (or should) be avoided to maintain communication.

     In terms of “being all things to all people” [1 Corinthians 9:19-22]; isn't it better to have a civil conversation? When debates turn into seething arguments, who wins? No one wins; everyone loses. Even if you're right, it's not about being right, it's about the persons very soul. Remember our battle is not against the flesh or blood (our neighbors), it is against the principalities of evil (sin itself) [Ephesians 6:12].

     In short: we should avoid cursing. We should not cover our ears and out shout the other person should the swear. We shouldn't ignore and/or condemn another person on what is a mere symptom of a deeper heart issue.

As always; discussion is welcome and encouraged, but please keep it civil. (And no swearing ;)

Dusting and Other Spring Cleaning

Hmmm, it seems that it's been a while since I've posted anything. Well, that's changing. I'm dusting off the blog and will become more consistent with my posts. I probably only have a handful of readers (or you found this site looking for something else). In either case, this is just a venue for getting my ideas somewhere where they won't disappear into a vacuum (Or maybe a barely-read blog is a vacuum?).

Anyway, I'll have some caffeine and Mumford and Sons to guide me into one or two posts.

Things I have been up to?

Now that the weather is (Finally) starting to warm up. I plan on exercising and bicycle riding more often. Well, let's see how long that holds up.

Traveling. I shall travel more (and tell my tales of adventure!). Already planned are trips to Syracuse, Toronto and perhaps the Babylon D.C. area (If you don't know why I'm referring to D.C. as Babylon, then you don't know me very well) to see one or two museums (I'm thinking Smithsonian and/or Holocaust museums). I've already seen the Lincoln, WWII, Vietnam and Korea Monuments, so those are already crossed off my D.C. list.

Cooking and/or baking. Hey, I live alone. Anything I do or make, I have to do on my own. That includes feeding myself; so why not get good at it?

Here, we have some delicious Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.

I have also been making smoothies with off-and-on success. The really good ones have been the ones with Avocado. I love Avocado. I'm actually fixin ("Planning" for those of you north of the Mason-Dixon line) to make one later today. If Yinz ("Y'all" for those of you south of the Mason-Dixon line) ask nicely, I might share the recipe.

Now that the Walking Dead has ended its 3rd season. I should try to get some actual chores done. Like, cleaning, prepping for the next Guatemala trip, etc. But I will most likely find another show I need to catch up on.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some Espanol (Spanish for those of you north of the Rio Grande) to brush up on so I can talk to people in Guatemala this August:)