Looking for more...

I've got to say it. I'm getting pretty sick of it... What am I getting sick of? At the moment, it's all the hullabaloo about what Rob Bell believes, what people think of him, and all the wannabe theologians writing reviews of Bell's latest book or interview. Oh, and all the commentary about American Idol and the Bachelor. During football season, it's reading all the posts about football on Saturdays and Sundays.

Don't get me wrong. I like Rob Bell. I like the Nooma videos I've watched. I used to enjoy American Idol. I like football. I like Notre Dame and da Bears. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with these things. I think what bugs me about these things is how common, how fleshly these things are. I'm looking for more...

I want to see people passionate about Him, "seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." I want my brothers and sisters to wake up and realize that spiritual gifts were not only for the first century--but that according to Paul, they're something to desire and seek. I desire to see healing (emotional and physical) take place in order that His name be glorified. I long to see reconciliation and forgiveness take place where they need to. And I also really want to see the Church: a) unified in Christ, putting aside petty differences, and b) follow Christ's instruction mandate to "...make disciples of all nations... teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."

Party like it's 1999?

The other night I signed in to Xbox LIVE and was just browsing the Dashboard, looking at new Arcade games and add-ons for my current games. When I went to the "Music Marketplace" tab, I saw that the Xbox LIVE featured artist is Britney Spears... who hasn't been cool in a long time... like say, before the existence of Xbox. The lyrics of one of her newer songs (I laughingly watched the 30 second preview) is actually a play on a lame/bad joke. I can't imagine there are a lot of gamers spending Microsoft points to buy BS songs or music videos.

A month without pop.

Today is the last day of February. Over a month ago, I decided to cut out pop for the month of February. This was not a fast (this post would defeat the purpose of that if it was) or something for Lent. I just decided on a whim to see if I could go a month without any pop, so I decided with only 28 days (most years), February would be the easiest. Before I started, I (publicly) challenged my brother to join me, which he did begrudgingly.

A month without pop doesn't seem like much until you consider how saturated our culture is with those carbonated beverages. Nearly every value meal includes one, and there aren't many stores/restaurants that don't carry them. Soft drinks of the fountain variety are a huge moneymaker for the vendor. A lot of sit-down restaurants charge around $2 for a drink that probably costs them less than $0.25. Regardless, soft drinks often are also a source of too much sugar and caffeine for the consumer.

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, how readily pop is available... Like many people, I stock up on pop when it is on sale. And no, in spite of advertisements trying to tell me otherwise, 3 12 packs for $11 is NOT "on sale." :o] Because I have it on hand, I've found it really easy to just grab one for work but then end up drinking another in the evening.

That said, I didn't have too much trouble going without pop. It was a good exercise in willpower. I really didn't experience additional headaches, other than my usual weekend one, either. My brother, on the other hand, who was likely more addicted than I, therefore had more trouble. I think we're both glad we did it, and he's expressed something about continuing for 3 more days to have a full 31 in. Me? Nah, I'm going to enjoy the best U.S. pop tomorrow--  a McDonald's Coke.

Still, I've also been thinking I need to start exercising more (and to quit making excuses for not doing so). I look forward to warmer weather, which will be awesome for riding bike. I think I'll also check out craigslist or garage sales for some sort of home gym too.

Bank of Gomorrah

I just got off the phone with Bank of Gomorrah, after receiving their Visa bill in today's mail. For some reason, they decided not to accept my online payment until 5 days after I made it, which made it 4 days late. Naturally, there was a late fee that needed to be waived. Their website was giving me issues today, too. I will say that I didn't have to sit on hold waiting to talk to them, though. When I get my taxes done, I'll be paying them off... I don't want to carry a balance anymore, nor do I want my (well, truthfully His) money going into such incompetent hands.

Read the whole letter.

When you receive a letter, do you read the whole thing, or do you just read a paragraph or two and finish the rest at another time?

Today, I got to thinking about how the modern publishers/printers of Bibles have done us a disservice by dividing the books of the Bible down to chapters and verses. Granted, I realize that this allows us to find passages quickly and easily. However, I can't help but think this has given us license to become complacent and satisfied with reading small portions of Scripture, whereby we also lose the greater context of the passage.

Many of the books of the New Testament were written as letters to churches or to individuals. Take Romans, for example. It isn't particularly long, and it was certainly read aloud in one sitting upon its receipt. The problem is that the chapters make them seem longer than they really are. When we read for pleasure, are not chapters much longer than 4 to 6 paragraphs? Aren't they often more like 20 pages? Yet we struggle to "get into the Word." It was a blessing for me to read Romans all at once today.

Perhaps the problem isn't the writers' division of chapters. Maybe the problem is that we've become too distracted, busy and lazy to sit at His feet, to soak up his Word, and to listen and wait (expectantly) to hear His voice. I know that's been an issue for me too, one I don't want to have anymore.

Crappy Valentine's Day!

I think Valentine's Day is a joke of a day. I do not write this out of bitterness due to my relationship status. When I've been in relationships in the past, I felt the same way. Valentine's Day is a lame and pathetic reason to show your love and appreciation for your spouse or significant other. This should be done throughout the year because we want to, not because we feel obligated due to this marketing that has been shoved down our throats every January/February since we can remember!

Think about it... who wants to pay $70 for a dozen roses during a one-week period when they're a max $30 the rest of the year? Ridiculous! Want to know what my mom paid in Bolivia for a dozen roses??? About $1 US. Oh, and you may not want to go anywhere nice to eat on 2/14, because everyone else is doing that too.

Who benefits from this day? Off the top of my head, it would be the flower industry (if you can call it that), candy (especially chocolate) makers, jewelry stores, hotels, online dating sites, Hallmark and other card companies, and people who work in these lines.

What's wrong with this? One thing would be unfair expectations/pressure. No joke, I was in a relationship where the woman knew my strong feelings about the bs nature of the day in question and said she understood, but then she was still upset when I didn't do anything that day! Nevermind the fact that she was many states away and was unable to do anything that day anyway.

This all being said, put your hopes, dreams, sense of meaning/purpose/belonging/worth in the Eternal One, Christ Jesus.

Reasons I haven't blogged much.

If you've read this blog or any of the previous incarnations that were my blogs, you've probably noticed that I struggle to write consistently. I have a lot of reasons (read 'excuses') for this. Here are a few in no particular order.

I studied Christian Ministries and Biblical Literature at Bethel College. My preference would be to take tests rather than to write long papers, but I had to do a lot of the latter. When I graduated, I decided I didn't want to write or go back to school any time soon. Sometimes I equate blogging with writing papers.

I'm too busy/tired/etc... (We make time for the important things.) It's easier and more natural to play Xbox 360, and there is some instant gratification there.

I haven't seen much fruit from it. At the time of this writing, I have 3 blog followers. Not that this is a plea for people to follow, but can a blog make an impact? (I know it can, I'm just saying here that this is a thought I've had.)

I don't have anything to say. Sometimes, this is due to a "valley" in my spiritual life, but other times I just don't want to be transparent. Maybe the first step is to decide that all my posts do not have to "be spiritual" in nature. We'll see...


In the meantime, I need to go to bed. Morning comes quickly.