Consumerism Part 2, "Key Words: Father, Hero, Presence, Unchanging"
You're about to see me kick a dead horse. This next post will address one of the most annoying commericals out there today. I should say that it annoys ME at least. These commericals are actually quite popular. Verizon Wireless does this mock interview of an ESPN-type reporter, make-believing that the individual being interviewed has achieved a kind of heroic accomplishment. When, in fact all the person did was check sports scores on their phone while simultaneously doing something else. In most of these commericals I breathe easy but there's one in particular that gets my goat. In this commercial, the "hero" is a father who was checking his phone during a child's recital. The reporter questions the "hero" as to how the "hero" was able to check his phone during the recital. The response is something like, "it was very difficult but I'm experienced, we've had several recitals this year." What's the message there? A harmless commercial? No. What's the message? Is the message about the brilliance of technology and the superiority of Verizon's product? That may be the intent but the underlying premise is an ugly message.
The message implies that it's acceptable, even valued, for a father to disengage from the child's activity in order to check on a sports fact. Am I making too much of this? I wish others would make more of it considering the alarming loss of present fathers in our society; http://www.fatherhood.gov/ reports the following statistics from the "National Responsible Fatherhood Clearinghouse":
*24 million children (34 percent) live absent their biological father.
*Nearly 20 million children (27 percent) live in single-parent homes.
*Children who live absent their biological fathers are, on average, at least two to three times more likely to be poor, to use drugs, to experience educational, health, emotional and behavioral problems, to be victims of child abuse, and to engage in criminal behavior than their peers who live with their married, biological (or adoptive) parents.
*Children with involved, loving fathers are significantly more likely to do well in school, have healthy self-esteem, exhibit empathy and pro-social behavior, and avoid high-risk behaviors such as drug use, truancy, and criminal activity compared to children who have uninvolved fathers.
*Studies on parent-child relationships and child wellbeing show that father love is an important factor in predicting the social, emotional, and cognitive development and functioning of children and young adults.
To be fair, the father in this commercial is present. But how present? Does PRESENCE only refer to the physical manifestation of the father or the hero? Or does PRESENCE mean much more? My friend Bryan is one of the most PRESENT Father's I've seen. He spends both quality and quantity time with his son. He looks his son in the eyes when answering or asking questions. He keeps promises to his son, whether large or small. He honors and respects his wife in a way that is impressionable to the child. I could go on but I believe those words define a present father.
We should not accept a Fathering-model which exhibits a father who is able to "check-out" mentally from something that is as important as a child or what the child is doing; in this scenario, a recital. Furthermore, it shouldn't be glorified. The glorification of misfit fathers in our available media is strange to me. Examples would be Peter from "The Family Guy" or Homer from "The Simpsons" or Ray from "Everybody Loves Raymond." I could go on with the mis-definition of masculinity and fathering that is ubiquitous on our televisions. What messages are males receiving from this? What is being modeled to the children, to the wives? What is being accepted as ordinary and tolerable from the Dads in these shows and these commericals.
One of my favorite verses in the Bible (James 1:17-18) says this, "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created." I wish THIS was glorified in our culture. I especially love how it describes God, the Father, as unchanging not like the shifting shadows of our world. I pray that we all have eyes to see and ears to hear and hearts that discern the messages that overwhelm us by sneaking through the artifical light of consumerist mentality.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
What Consumerism Would Have Us Believe: Part 1, "We Have The Same Head Charlie Brown!"
What Consumerism Would Have Us Believe: Part 1, "We Have The Same Head Charlie Brown!"
I don't know who these "Peanuts" creators think they're kidding?! All those Peanuts characters have the same head. With the exception of the hair-do, eye-lashes and clothes; all those Peanut characters are identical - same head! I guess the media thinks we're crazy, that's what I told Charla the other night as we ate dinner and watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special. While the charming characters of Charlie Brown, Linus and Pig-Pen mean us no real harm I sensed a shrewd danger during the commerical break; it lurked below the surface, a leviathan in $50 slippers from J-Crew. It's what I'll write about for the next few entries; what consumerism would have us believe.
I'd like to address several popular commercials that urk me. I'll start with "Best Buy." I like Best Buy; while I wonder to myself how a warehouse style store with a 'buy-in-the-bulk' type of name has managed to market itself so incredibly that it appears to be the hub of attainable technology. Best Buy has chosen the deceptive slogan, "You, Happier." What a horrible message! It's so demeaning to the human spirit; it's almost crushing for me to write it. That we could be happier by the compilation of things is untruth. Now, I enjoy things just as much as the next guy enjoys things. I have lots of things. Things in my apartment, things in my car, things in my storage, things in my office, things follow me around. And here's the thing about that many things, at one point I was either a) given that thing or b) I bought that thing. I stared into the face of that thing and said to myself, I can't live without this thing. This thing is what finally will do it for me. The thing spoke to me, in seductive thing language and I walked that thing to a register and had them gift wrap that thing in a Wal-Mart sack and now that thing hangs out with the rest of my things. But I'd still like more things, it didn't make me happier, it only fed the appetite to acquire more things.
Now I have some good things, I call these things stuff. I've purchased some good stuff this year. Some of the stuff I feel no regret for getting. But for each item of stuff I've bought it seems I've got millions of things. These descriptors of "stuff" and "things" are of course scientific terms in my own mind. I use them to delineate for you, and show you at some point, it all becomes a bit ambiguous doesn't it? All the stuff and things we have. It doesn't make me happier. God makes me happier, practicing my faith makes me happier, my friends, family and girlfriend make me happier. If you follow the themes of Best Buy you only prescribe to the worldy ways that the woman in John chapter 4 tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed, 5 times; that she could find happiness in something other than God. In the end, this is what Best Buy's theme flies in the face of.
John 4: 13-14
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
"You, Happier?" Maybe for a few days of synthetic smiles but then it all goes on the pile with the rest. But what Jesus offers is internal and it will grow from within you.
I don't know who these "Peanuts" creators think they're kidding?! All those Peanuts characters have the same head. With the exception of the hair-do, eye-lashes and clothes; all those Peanut characters are identical - same head! I guess the media thinks we're crazy, that's what I told Charla the other night as we ate dinner and watched the Charlie Brown Christmas special. While the charming characters of Charlie Brown, Linus and Pig-Pen mean us no real harm I sensed a shrewd danger during the commerical break; it lurked below the surface, a leviathan in $50 slippers from J-Crew. It's what I'll write about for the next few entries; what consumerism would have us believe.
I'd like to address several popular commercials that urk me. I'll start with "Best Buy." I like Best Buy; while I wonder to myself how a warehouse style store with a 'buy-in-the-bulk' type of name has managed to market itself so incredibly that it appears to be the hub of attainable technology. Best Buy has chosen the deceptive slogan, "You, Happier." What a horrible message! It's so demeaning to the human spirit; it's almost crushing for me to write it. That we could be happier by the compilation of things is untruth. Now, I enjoy things just as much as the next guy enjoys things. I have lots of things. Things in my apartment, things in my car, things in my storage, things in my office, things follow me around. And here's the thing about that many things, at one point I was either a) given that thing or b) I bought that thing. I stared into the face of that thing and said to myself, I can't live without this thing. This thing is what finally will do it for me. The thing spoke to me, in seductive thing language and I walked that thing to a register and had them gift wrap that thing in a Wal-Mart sack and now that thing hangs out with the rest of my things. But I'd still like more things, it didn't make me happier, it only fed the appetite to acquire more things.
Now I have some good things, I call these things stuff. I've purchased some good stuff this year. Some of the stuff I feel no regret for getting. But for each item of stuff I've bought it seems I've got millions of things. These descriptors of "stuff" and "things" are of course scientific terms in my own mind. I use them to delineate for you, and show you at some point, it all becomes a bit ambiguous doesn't it? All the stuff and things we have. It doesn't make me happier. God makes me happier, practicing my faith makes me happier, my friends, family and girlfriend make me happier. If you follow the themes of Best Buy you only prescribe to the worldy ways that the woman in John chapter 4 tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed and tried and failed, 5 times; that she could find happiness in something other than God. In the end, this is what Best Buy's theme flies in the face of.
John 4: 13-14
Jesus answered, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
"You, Happier?" Maybe for a few days of synthetic smiles but then it all goes on the pile with the rest. But what Jesus offers is internal and it will grow from within you.
Friday, December 5, 2008
Back to School, Day 4
Back to School, Day 4
I remember as a student in Bible class here at YC learning about a Phylactery.
In Judaism these were small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with verses from the Old Testament; primarily from the Pentateuch, or also known as the Books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible. One would be attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men. In the early church these came to contain a holy relic. The idea was to keep the word close to your heart, and your mind, and to be used for your strength. See the passage below from Deuteronomy 6:7-9:
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. "
Sort of an awkward image to see someone walking around with leather boxes on their forehead or wrists. Proverbs 7:3 said to, "Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." That's getting a little closer to our comfort zone. To have the word at our fingertips daily and to hold in reverance the life and love of Jesus. That's what I want to communicate as a necessity for spiritual health. I thought about this last night as I spent my last night in Gibbs 305, again playing Mario Brothers. Greg Johnson, a genius in his own right, has an impressive recollection of all the secrets of that game even though he so rarely plays it. The reason is because of the game's connection to his childhood, and his repetitiveness of the experience. What a flakey analogy! Oh well, there it is; remember the Lord in your youth, experience Christ daily and He will be written on the tablet of your heart. Keep Him at your fingertips. Impress Him on your door-frames (which BTW Mason has done which will be a compliment to him because I'm preparing to embarrass him). Think of Him when you go to sleep and when you awake. God, not Mason..
Mason wears pajamas....As long as we're on the subject. That's all. I did not address this with Mason, I felt it better to bust him out right here, on-line, for the world to see. Not just "pajamas" as in "whatever shorts and a shirt." I mean he wears honest, down to earth, American dream pajamas; plaid. Jake, is a man who desires both peace, equality and revolution; evidenced by his posters of Martin Luther Jr., Bob Marley and Spiderman...maybe not by the Spiderman. I've found Jake, not only on the most recent encounter, but also empirically to be a man who wants the real thing. By that I mean, Jesus, the gospel and the fruits of the spirit. He wants to experience the Lord as He truly is.
Do you want to experience God as He truly is? A lot of times I'd rather make Him myself. But God cannot be made, only discovered. He is whole, it is us who are fragmented and in need of repair. It is us who search him through the dark. It is us in need of Him. Last night, as I played my final round of Mario I said to Greg, "Greg, don't let me miss a warp." Mason heard it, much to my chagrin and I fear I'll never live it down. It does sound both prepubescent and desperate either in or out of context. But Greg came through, I did not miss a warp, I warped, and I warped with all the warpiness I could muster. I got by with a little help from my friends. Thanks to Greg, Mason and Jake for a great Back to School adventure. It won't be the last time...hopefully...
I'd like to end with a little praise for Residence Hall Managers. These folks, by nature, are incredible. They live with us, they lead us and they care for us. York College has 4 INCREDIBLE people doing this job; Mark Dickinson, Saprina Howard, Rusty Ridley and Amy Springer. Never, ever, ever underestimate what they do. Their jobs, are by nature, SACRIFICIAL and SELFLESS. We're very blessed to have them. Thank you my friends.
I remember as a student in Bible class here at YC learning about a Phylactery.
In Judaism these were small, black, leather cubes containing a piece of parchment inscribed with verses from the Old Testament; primarily from the Pentateuch, or also known as the Books of Moses, the first five books of the Bible. One would be attached with straps to the left arm and the other to the forehead during weekday morning prayers by Orthodox and Conservative Jewish men. In the early church these came to contain a holy relic. The idea was to keep the word close to your heart, and your mind, and to be used for your strength. See the passage below from Deuteronomy 6:7-9:
"Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates. "
Sort of an awkward image to see someone walking around with leather boxes on their forehead or wrists. Proverbs 7:3 said to, "Bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart." That's getting a little closer to our comfort zone. To have the word at our fingertips daily and to hold in reverance the life and love of Jesus. That's what I want to communicate as a necessity for spiritual health. I thought about this last night as I spent my last night in Gibbs 305, again playing Mario Brothers. Greg Johnson, a genius in his own right, has an impressive recollection of all the secrets of that game even though he so rarely plays it. The reason is because of the game's connection to his childhood, and his repetitiveness of the experience. What a flakey analogy! Oh well, there it is; remember the Lord in your youth, experience Christ daily and He will be written on the tablet of your heart. Keep Him at your fingertips. Impress Him on your door-frames (which BTW Mason has done which will be a compliment to him because I'm preparing to embarrass him). Think of Him when you go to sleep and when you awake. God, not Mason..
Mason wears pajamas....As long as we're on the subject. That's all. I did not address this with Mason, I felt it better to bust him out right here, on-line, for the world to see. Not just "pajamas" as in "whatever shorts and a shirt." I mean he wears honest, down to earth, American dream pajamas; plaid. Jake, is a man who desires both peace, equality and revolution; evidenced by his posters of Martin Luther Jr., Bob Marley and Spiderman...maybe not by the Spiderman. I've found Jake, not only on the most recent encounter, but also empirically to be a man who wants the real thing. By that I mean, Jesus, the gospel and the fruits of the spirit. He wants to experience the Lord as He truly is.
Do you want to experience God as He truly is? A lot of times I'd rather make Him myself. But God cannot be made, only discovered. He is whole, it is us who are fragmented and in need of repair. It is us who search him through the dark. It is us in need of Him. Last night, as I played my final round of Mario I said to Greg, "Greg, don't let me miss a warp." Mason heard it, much to my chagrin and I fear I'll never live it down. It does sound both prepubescent and desperate either in or out of context. But Greg came through, I did not miss a warp, I warped, and I warped with all the warpiness I could muster. I got by with a little help from my friends. Thanks to Greg, Mason and Jake for a great Back to School adventure. It won't be the last time...hopefully...
I'd like to end with a little praise for Residence Hall Managers. These folks, by nature, are incredible. They live with us, they lead us and they care for us. York College has 4 INCREDIBLE people doing this job; Mark Dickinson, Saprina Howard, Rusty Ridley and Amy Springer. Never, ever, ever underestimate what they do. Their jobs, are by nature, SACRIFICIAL and SELFLESS. We're very blessed to have them. Thank you my friends.
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Back to School, Day 3
Back to School, Day 3
Remember the days of buying movie posters at Wal-mart and eating Totino's Pizza late into the night. My head did, but my heart had forgotten. Recently, those memories have been dragged from the cellar and knocked over the head with a Nintendo controller. Although, the late night snacking no longer settles as well as before I have found myself recently awash with the splendor of the college apartment. It's a jungle out there folks! A quick review of Gibbs 305 will reveal knick-knacks as eclectic as Kid Rock's ipod. A quick scan around the living room of Jake, Mason and Greg holds the following:
*Magnetic letters spelling out their names about each bedroom
*Spiderman dolls
*Numerous Video game consoles
*A life size cardboard cut out of Darth Vader
*A picture of canines playing poker
*Lamp from the Goodwill
*A fitness orb
*Ramen Noodles
*And a golden, brass urn...for some reason....scary...
I miss those days; those days when I found the oddest object possible at a thrift store or in my Mom's garage and said to myself, "this will look great on top of my mantle in my apartment!" Of course the mantle is actually a cardboard chimney facade in the case of Gibbs 305.
I continued observation on my roomates; each of them an interesting subject. Mason cleaned his room and pronounced it "as God intended." He's got a great room complete with stereo system, cushiony mattress and a book collection including "The Great Gatsby" and "Slaughterhouse Five." Mason, I've found has an acute thirst for knowledge and wants to grow in his spiritual life, likely more than anyone I know. He asks direct, introspective questions and writes scriptures and motivational quotes on his door-frame and mirrors. I see some major breakthroughs for Mason's future. Unfortunately, Jake worked all night, so nothing new to add. Although, I did see him coming in this morning at 7:15 a.m. as I was going out. He worked an overnight at Epworth Village, his part-time/sometimes full-time job. Jake is still bald and quirky as ever and tonight I want to run some very specific tests on Jake. The real project last night was video games and Greg was my primary lab-rat. I've never been much for video games though I do own a Playstation 1 and 2. I never play them, literally, never! I've played the Playstation 1 once and the Playstation 2 never, never! Last night I was fondly reminded of the genius of the original Nintendo. I was Luigi and Greg was Mario and we went on an adventure with the sweet taste of brownies on our lips. (My significant other made us brownines, another perk of the college existence...thanks Charla, they're amazing) Back to Super Mario. Greg and I stormed many castles last night and shot fireballs from our palms. Later Caleb Rush joined us and we searched for mushrooms that would give us extra lives or make us grow in stature and abilities. Mario and Luigi are not much different from Greg and I, ostensibly, we're normal men on a journey. If I remember correctly they are actually plumbers but they embrace their roles as savers of the princess and slayer of the dragons. They're in search of excitment, meaning, romance and accumulation of wealth (I discovered the consumerism in myself as I could not help but continue to break the bricks in each level for a measly 50 inconsequential points!)...it's the human condition. Those Nintendo guys are genius.
As I was driving to our coaches Bible Study this morning, on a near empty tank of gas (I'm living like a student you remember) I thought about these video games. Video games can indeed be damaging when they stand in the way of our personal, spiritual and academic growth. They can substitute 2 dimensional life for 3 dimensional reality. A lot of times I prefer the 2 dimensions of books or television. But we're called to this life. As Chuck Klosterman says when he derides the sensibility of the SIMS video game, "If there's any core question with The SIMS, it's got be, 'What is the purpose of life? Is it to be loved? Is it to be rich? Is it to be successful? They're the same questions you could ask if you never knew the game existed." So, Mario and Luigi have there place, but for now, let's live with the 3 dimensional people please. The 3 dimensional people want more for us than to only wear sweat pants and drink soda-pop.
Because our friends, family and other loved ones are characters in our story. They are the art of our life. So, I leave you with this:
If I had to paint my life it would be of a Morning,
the buildings would not yet be fully lit with the florescent lights of commerce,
lights that show every blemish.
There would be fewer cars,
and mostly what you'd see rolling down the street would be the fallen leaves of October.
I'd put one foot on the canvas at a time
and limp drowsily towards the easel.
I'd highlight the edges of clouds with the faces of those who have sincerely loved me,
using mostly the pink and orange hues of dawn.
And in a surreal moment,
I'd paint myself in brown, blacks, blue and flesh colored tones,
leaving my apartment in the dim lighting,
on my way to meet a friend, or two friends or three friends,
my thoughts swirling around my head,
like alphabet soup.
Tonight's assignment, to get invited into someone else's apartment.
Remember the days of buying movie posters at Wal-mart and eating Totino's Pizza late into the night. My head did, but my heart had forgotten. Recently, those memories have been dragged from the cellar and knocked over the head with a Nintendo controller. Although, the late night snacking no longer settles as well as before I have found myself recently awash with the splendor of the college apartment. It's a jungle out there folks! A quick review of Gibbs 305 will reveal knick-knacks as eclectic as Kid Rock's ipod. A quick scan around the living room of Jake, Mason and Greg holds the following:
*Magnetic letters spelling out their names about each bedroom
*Spiderman dolls
*Numerous Video game consoles
*A life size cardboard cut out of Darth Vader
*A picture of canines playing poker
*Lamp from the Goodwill
*A fitness orb
*Ramen Noodles
*And a golden, brass urn...for some reason....scary...
I miss those days; those days when I found the oddest object possible at a thrift store or in my Mom's garage and said to myself, "this will look great on top of my mantle in my apartment!" Of course the mantle is actually a cardboard chimney facade in the case of Gibbs 305.
I continued observation on my roomates; each of them an interesting subject. Mason cleaned his room and pronounced it "as God intended." He's got a great room complete with stereo system, cushiony mattress and a book collection including "The Great Gatsby" and "Slaughterhouse Five." Mason, I've found has an acute thirst for knowledge and wants to grow in his spiritual life, likely more than anyone I know. He asks direct, introspective questions and writes scriptures and motivational quotes on his door-frame and mirrors. I see some major breakthroughs for Mason's future. Unfortunately, Jake worked all night, so nothing new to add. Although, I did see him coming in this morning at 7:15 a.m. as I was going out. He worked an overnight at Epworth Village, his part-time/sometimes full-time job. Jake is still bald and quirky as ever and tonight I want to run some very specific tests on Jake. The real project last night was video games and Greg was my primary lab-rat. I've never been much for video games though I do own a Playstation 1 and 2. I never play them, literally, never! I've played the Playstation 1 once and the Playstation 2 never, never! Last night I was fondly reminded of the genius of the original Nintendo. I was Luigi and Greg was Mario and we went on an adventure with the sweet taste of brownies on our lips. (My significant other made us brownines, another perk of the college existence...thanks Charla, they're amazing) Back to Super Mario. Greg and I stormed many castles last night and shot fireballs from our palms. Later Caleb Rush joined us and we searched for mushrooms that would give us extra lives or make us grow in stature and abilities. Mario and Luigi are not much different from Greg and I, ostensibly, we're normal men on a journey. If I remember correctly they are actually plumbers but they embrace their roles as savers of the princess and slayer of the dragons. They're in search of excitment, meaning, romance and accumulation of wealth (I discovered the consumerism in myself as I could not help but continue to break the bricks in each level for a measly 50 inconsequential points!)...it's the human condition. Those Nintendo guys are genius.
As I was driving to our coaches Bible Study this morning, on a near empty tank of gas (I'm living like a student you remember) I thought about these video games. Video games can indeed be damaging when they stand in the way of our personal, spiritual and academic growth. They can substitute 2 dimensional life for 3 dimensional reality. A lot of times I prefer the 2 dimensions of books or television. But we're called to this life. As Chuck Klosterman says when he derides the sensibility of the SIMS video game, "If there's any core question with The SIMS, it's got be, 'What is the purpose of life? Is it to be loved? Is it to be rich? Is it to be successful? They're the same questions you could ask if you never knew the game existed." So, Mario and Luigi have there place, but for now, let's live with the 3 dimensional people please. The 3 dimensional people want more for us than to only wear sweat pants and drink soda-pop.
Because our friends, family and other loved ones are characters in our story. They are the art of our life. So, I leave you with this:
If I had to paint my life it would be of a Morning,
the buildings would not yet be fully lit with the florescent lights of commerce,
lights that show every blemish.
There would be fewer cars,
and mostly what you'd see rolling down the street would be the fallen leaves of October.
I'd put one foot on the canvas at a time
and limp drowsily towards the easel.
I'd highlight the edges of clouds with the faces of those who have sincerely loved me,
using mostly the pink and orange hues of dawn.
And in a surreal moment,
I'd paint myself in brown, blacks, blue and flesh colored tones,
leaving my apartment in the dim lighting,
on my way to meet a friend, or two friends or three friends,
my thoughts swirling around my head,
like alphabet soup.
Tonight's assignment, to get invited into someone else's apartment.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Back to School, Day 2
Back to School – Day 2
As I delved further into the Serengeti that is Gibbs Hall (the Men’s Apartments at York College) I uncovered more and more about my roommates; Jake, Mason and Greg. Greg is a fan of clever, wry humor that pokes fun at the zeitgeist of American culture. Also he has a lot of shoes. Shoes I would expect to see and shoes I would not expect to see; gigantic “clod-hopping” boots piled next to Crocs of all things! These paradoxes define Greg to some degree. I hope to look further into the world of Greg tonight. Jake is also a continued study. I learned he will only eat Stovetop Stuffing when backed into a corner of hunger and desperation; although he made a giant pan of it. Also, Jake is passionate about Christian thought; he wants to hear opinions. He wants to hear opinions he agrees with and disagrees with from Pat Robertson to Shane Claiborne. Jake has many opinions. Jake has opinions on topics which seem to not even deserve opinions such as Full House and Family matters. He’s a lot like Chuck Klosterman as is Mason. Mason is an on-going person of interest as well. Mason is an introspective creature who keeps close tabs on his and other's spiritual well-being. People confide in Mason because he is safe and not prone to biting. Mason works by day at an ant-hill called the Java Hut and at night settles into the notes of our great Theologians here at YC such as Dr. Frank Wheeler and Dr. Michael Case. Today I’d like to feature another amazing discovery, Paul Helms. Paul lives in the first floor of Gibbs Hall and watches surgeries on the medical channel. Paul does not room with Mason, Jake and Greg however if my memory serves me correctly one of the joys of a Residence Hall is the ebb and flow of both territory and property. More on that later. Paul is comfortable in any habitat and seems to even blend into the background with ease; making his predators more susceptible to his attack. Of course, Paul never attacks. Paul is a gentle soul with a messy room. Paul recently down-graded his room cleanliness from “War Zone” to “What the Heck Happened Here!” I don’t know if his RA will see this… Rudimentary as this system was – I understood it. The room I’m staying in now dwindles in its sanitary levels with each passing day. I hope I can make it a few more days myself…
As I walked through the Taupe hallways of Gibbs I thought about how some people say Taupe is soothing (Brad Pitt in Oceans Eleven) however I felt peculiar. There should be some art on these walls. Could art be trusted on the walls though? Would art be subject to pranking from the residents? Likely, yes. This is the predicament college staff considers during such decisions.
On to a more serious note; this morning I left Gibbs third floor at 7 a.m. for a study and coffee session with two other esteemed YC Employees. Justin Carver from the Admissions Office and Greg Smith who is the Head Wrestling coach. We contrasted our spiritual journeys against one another’s. We read through James Chapter 4 and talked about where it says, “You don’t have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.” We kicked around the ideas of prayer, of resting in the presence of the Lord. We talked about wanting what’s best for others and not for ourselves. We talked about becoming stones in the hands of God and ignoring that which the world wants to adorn us with. We talked about caring about what God cares about. I am thankful for these men. I am thankful for the Bible and its immeasurable wisdom and its story. What a story the gospel is! And I am mostly thankful for God’s abiding presence and how he promises, that if we humble ourselves before Him then he will lift up our heads…
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6
Tonight’s assignment in this Back to School Journey – A cursory look at Video Games; and what the big deal is with them?
As I delved further into the Serengeti that is Gibbs Hall (the Men’s Apartments at York College) I uncovered more and more about my roommates; Jake, Mason and Greg. Greg is a fan of clever, wry humor that pokes fun at the zeitgeist of American culture. Also he has a lot of shoes. Shoes I would expect to see and shoes I would not expect to see; gigantic “clod-hopping” boots piled next to Crocs of all things! These paradoxes define Greg to some degree. I hope to look further into the world of Greg tonight. Jake is also a continued study. I learned he will only eat Stovetop Stuffing when backed into a corner of hunger and desperation; although he made a giant pan of it. Also, Jake is passionate about Christian thought; he wants to hear opinions. He wants to hear opinions he agrees with and disagrees with from Pat Robertson to Shane Claiborne. Jake has many opinions. Jake has opinions on topics which seem to not even deserve opinions such as Full House and Family matters. He’s a lot like Chuck Klosterman as is Mason. Mason is an on-going person of interest as well. Mason is an introspective creature who keeps close tabs on his and other's spiritual well-being. People confide in Mason because he is safe and not prone to biting. Mason works by day at an ant-hill called the Java Hut and at night settles into the notes of our great Theologians here at YC such as Dr. Frank Wheeler and Dr. Michael Case. Today I’d like to feature another amazing discovery, Paul Helms. Paul lives in the first floor of Gibbs Hall and watches surgeries on the medical channel. Paul does not room with Mason, Jake and Greg however if my memory serves me correctly one of the joys of a Residence Hall is the ebb and flow of both territory and property. More on that later. Paul is comfortable in any habitat and seems to even blend into the background with ease; making his predators more susceptible to his attack. Of course, Paul never attacks. Paul is a gentle soul with a messy room. Paul recently down-graded his room cleanliness from “War Zone” to “What the Heck Happened Here!” I don’t know if his RA will see this… Rudimentary as this system was – I understood it. The room I’m staying in now dwindles in its sanitary levels with each passing day. I hope I can make it a few more days myself…
As I walked through the Taupe hallways of Gibbs I thought about how some people say Taupe is soothing (Brad Pitt in Oceans Eleven) however I felt peculiar. There should be some art on these walls. Could art be trusted on the walls though? Would art be subject to pranking from the residents? Likely, yes. This is the predicament college staff considers during such decisions.
On to a more serious note; this morning I left Gibbs third floor at 7 a.m. for a study and coffee session with two other esteemed YC Employees. Justin Carver from the Admissions Office and Greg Smith who is the Head Wrestling coach. We contrasted our spiritual journeys against one another’s. We read through James Chapter 4 and talked about where it says, “You don’t have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives.” We kicked around the ideas of prayer, of resting in the presence of the Lord. We talked about wanting what’s best for others and not for ourselves. We talked about becoming stones in the hands of God and ignoring that which the world wants to adorn us with. We talked about caring about what God cares about. I am thankful for these men. I am thankful for the Bible and its immeasurable wisdom and its story. What a story the gospel is! And I am mostly thankful for God’s abiding presence and how he promises, that if we humble ourselves before Him then he will lift up our heads…
“God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6
Tonight’s assignment in this Back to School Journey – A cursory look at Video Games; and what the big deal is with them?
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Back to School, Day 1
Back to School, Day 1
I'll let you all know, all three people that see this blog, about a little project I have going. Last night I went back to school. Not to grad school, or driving school but I moved back onto the York College campus; into a Residence Hall, the new Men's Apartments to be exact. I'm living with three great upper classmen: Jake Owens, Mason "Of Course" Lee and Greg Johnson.
Why? Why am I doing this many have asked? Several reasons, in no particular order or importance:
1. I like Mason, Jake and Greg
2. I never got to live in the new Apartments (them having been built during the post-humous days of my YC "studenthood."
3. I've always possessed an adventurous spirit that embraces new experiences (moving back into student-housing at 30 years old qualifies in some regard)
4. I'm hoping to connect with some students that I've not yet gotten to know. However, I will not go into any room in which I have not been invited. I'll say strictly, this is not a "spy project." The truth is, I love connecting with people, students especially and this will open a door for me.
5. When I was in Grad School, one of my mentors, Bob Ewalt who was VP Emeritus at Texas Tech University was lecturing to all of us budding, young, hopeful, soon-to-be college administrators and said, "Do not let many years of your professional career go by without really knowing what the STUDENT EXPERIENCE is like." You see, many employees of the college, who represent the college often describe the student experience as THEY remember it, not as it actually is. I want to be reminded what a portion of the student experience really is.
So...Day 1 has passed for me as a resident of Gibbs Hall. I learned that Jake Owens gets the sudden urge to clean his apartment late at night. I do not. I do all my dirty work in the morning these days. I learned Mason "Of Course" Lee is not as clean as I assumed. I don't mean to imply that Mason "Of Course" Lee is terribly dirty. I just expected him to be flawless, Myth Busted. Still Mason is pretty clean. I learned that Greg Johnson is a computer whiz, and a bargain-shopper even though he owns a defunct Espresso machine.
Now these are not mind-blowing revelations but they're new to me. I'll chronicle more as the days progress. For now, I leave you with this. I was reading through Romans 12 recently and came across verse 2 and was moved by it. "Do not conform any longer 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." I've been building this analogy in my head over the past couple weeks that I want to be a rock for God. I'd rather be a rock for God than a gem for this world. I’ll try to be completely God's, God's man, and my life will be polished by being turned over and over again in his ancient and calloused hands. Until I shine the way God wants me to shine. Being turned over and over in the hand of God is not easy, it stretches with growing pains of failure and discontent. We are called to persevere and perseverance develops character and character develops hope and hope does not disappoint us. Living the life God wants will not bring about the trappings of wealth or fame. I'm tempted by the world and so often desire to take hold of it's pleasures and vices and make myself into a gem. But I've chosen something else, I’d rather keep myself there in the hands of God, a simple rock; in his hand to be turned every which way he chooses and trust that the centrifugal force of an eternal Father will transform me into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
I'll let you all know, all three people that see this blog, about a little project I have going. Last night I went back to school. Not to grad school, or driving school but I moved back onto the York College campus; into a Residence Hall, the new Men's Apartments to be exact. I'm living with three great upper classmen: Jake Owens, Mason "Of Course" Lee and Greg Johnson.
Why? Why am I doing this many have asked? Several reasons, in no particular order or importance:
1. I like Mason, Jake and Greg
2. I never got to live in the new Apartments (them having been built during the post-humous days of my YC "studenthood."
3. I've always possessed an adventurous spirit that embraces new experiences (moving back into student-housing at 30 years old qualifies in some regard)
4. I'm hoping to connect with some students that I've not yet gotten to know. However, I will not go into any room in which I have not been invited. I'll say strictly, this is not a "spy project." The truth is, I love connecting with people, students especially and this will open a door for me.
5. When I was in Grad School, one of my mentors, Bob Ewalt who was VP Emeritus at Texas Tech University was lecturing to all of us budding, young, hopeful, soon-to-be college administrators and said, "Do not let many years of your professional career go by without really knowing what the STUDENT EXPERIENCE is like." You see, many employees of the college, who represent the college often describe the student experience as THEY remember it, not as it actually is. I want to be reminded what a portion of the student experience really is.
So...Day 1 has passed for me as a resident of Gibbs Hall. I learned that Jake Owens gets the sudden urge to clean his apartment late at night. I do not. I do all my dirty work in the morning these days. I learned Mason "Of Course" Lee is not as clean as I assumed. I don't mean to imply that Mason "Of Course" Lee is terribly dirty. I just expected him to be flawless, Myth Busted. Still Mason is pretty clean. I learned that Greg Johnson is a computer whiz, and a bargain-shopper even though he owns a defunct Espresso machine.
Now these are not mind-blowing revelations but they're new to me. I'll chronicle more as the days progress. For now, I leave you with this. I was reading through Romans 12 recently and came across verse 2 and was moved by it. "Do not conform any longer 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." I've been building this analogy in my head over the past couple weeks that I want to be a rock for God. I'd rather be a rock for God than a gem for this world. I’ll try to be completely God's, God's man, and my life will be polished by being turned over and over again in his ancient and calloused hands. Until I shine the way God wants me to shine. Being turned over and over in the hand of God is not easy, it stretches with growing pains of failure and discontent. We are called to persevere and perseverance develops character and character develops hope and hope does not disappoint us. Living the life God wants will not bring about the trappings of wealth or fame. I'm tempted by the world and so often desire to take hold of it's pleasures and vices and make myself into a gem. But I've chosen something else, I’d rather keep myself there in the hands of God, a simple rock; in his hand to be turned every which way he chooses and trust that the centrifugal force of an eternal Father will transform me into the likeness of Jesus Christ.
Monday, July 14, 2008
The Truth about More and Less and the Many Million Trees
There is a hidden truth to more and less. The goods, services, products, markets and consumer-driven supply and demands that strap our hearts too strictly to our bank accounts. The visible structures of our economic system and the trinkets around us; what we wear, what we hang on our walls, what we eat and what we give our children for holidays and birthdays. They wear needy masks and tug on our shirt sleeves and hypnotize us with coupons and sidewalk sales. More has always been the bug in my ear, get more, have more, you need more. But I'm wondering now, at 29 how well "more" has worked for me. Less would work better in so many scenarios.
More and less are a trade-off, misleading terms because more of one thing is less of another both physically and metaphorically. Have we replaced more products for less money in the bank?
More fast-food for less self-confidence? More TV for less time with a book or with friends and family? More candy for fewer teeth? More spending resulting in less financial peace? And on the flip-side...
Less frivolous spending is more money to give to causes you really believe in. Less money spent on self is more money spent on others. Less televisions means more picnics and intelligent conversations. Less gasoline used means more walking, more health, more confidence and appreciation of nature. Less infatuation with our consumer driven society means more attention to God's will and his leading us through prayer and daily communion. There's a gospel to know about "more" and "less."
Regardless of what we all want, we all need the same things. There's unity not in our desires but in our sustenance. Don't leave the world destitute never having owned or being able to pass on to those who follow you that which cannot be stolen from them. Death does not wait for you to realize this, we have to know now. Otherwise, you'll grow old and need aid for even the most trite activity. To quote Eccelesiates 12 (from the MESSAGE), "Honor and enjoy your creator while you're still young, before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, before your vision dims and the world blurs and the winter years keep you close to the fire. In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-songs. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, while your friends make plans for your funeral."
As I listen to U2 sing, "But I still haven't found what I'm looking for" I realize that I have. While it may not be what Bono sings about here I believe that as believers in Jesus, we are a people who have found what we are looking for. Those who have found infancy in faith. The infinite qualities of music, literature and memories. The gold and silver of family, friends and laughter; of firm handshakes and sincere hugs. The romance of water, of wind, and the many million trees.
More and less are a trade-off, misleading terms because more of one thing is less of another both physically and metaphorically. Have we replaced more products for less money in the bank?
More fast-food for less self-confidence? More TV for less time with a book or with friends and family? More candy for fewer teeth? More spending resulting in less financial peace? And on the flip-side...
Less frivolous spending is more money to give to causes you really believe in. Less money spent on self is more money spent on others. Less televisions means more picnics and intelligent conversations. Less gasoline used means more walking, more health, more confidence and appreciation of nature. Less infatuation with our consumer driven society means more attention to God's will and his leading us through prayer and daily communion. There's a gospel to know about "more" and "less."
Regardless of what we all want, we all need the same things. There's unity not in our desires but in our sustenance. Don't leave the world destitute never having owned or being able to pass on to those who follow you that which cannot be stolen from them. Death does not wait for you to realize this, we have to know now. Otherwise, you'll grow old and need aid for even the most trite activity. To quote Eccelesiates 12 (from the MESSAGE), "Honor and enjoy your creator while you're still young, before the years take their toll and your vigor wanes, before your vision dims and the world blurs and the winter years keep you close to the fire. In old age, your body no longer serves you so well. Muscles slacken, grip weakens, joints stiffen. The shades are pulled down on the world. You can't come and go at will. Things grind to a halt. The hum of the household fades away. You are wakened now by bird-songs. Hikes to the mountains are a thing of the past. Even a stroll down the road has its terrors. Your hair turns apple-blossom white adorning a fragile and impotent matchstick body. Yes, you're well on your way to eternal rest, while your friends make plans for your funeral."
As I listen to U2 sing, "But I still haven't found what I'm looking for" I realize that I have. While it may not be what Bono sings about here I believe that as believers in Jesus, we are a people who have found what we are looking for. Those who have found infancy in faith. The infinite qualities of music, literature and memories. The gold and silver of family, friends and laughter; of firm handshakes and sincere hugs. The romance of water, of wind, and the many million trees.
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