Today I make a commitment. It's a commitment not just to myself, but to my wife and daughter. It's a commitment to throw negativity aside and embrace the joys of life. Negativity and complaint too often direct our daily attitudes. They then spread like a virus to others we spend time with. Do we really have it that bad? Is life really that distressing? Look hard and we'll find others in far worse situations. And while I'm not here to explain why bad things happen to good people or why life is, at times, so very difficult, I do know this: staying positive is the key to life. Whether a person of faith or not, if you embody a positive spirit, you're better off for it and you're living what God wants for you. So this is my commitment to see all that's good in life.
There will still be irritations and frustrations, for sure, but I commit today to look for the good. Below is a video of my 1-year-old daughter, Lydia, learning to walk. What a marvel it is to see this little girl take her first steps. Here's to you, Lydia, and to life. Carpe diem.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Two Sides Of One Very Important Scenario
Recently I read a chapter of Anne Lamott's Traveling Mercies memoir that once again caused me to look deeper at life and faith. Anne describes a friend—a mother who has an alcoholic daughter. This daughter lives at a shelter, and is constantly furious at her mother—yet still accepts the $1,000 a month her mother sends her for expenses. The daughter in this story doesn't seem to recognize her mother's love—the love which sends her money every month. It's in this simple story that I saw two important points to consider.
I realized there are two sides to this scenario, and it's all too easy to be on either one.
Scenario One: We're the mad, furious child who hates his parents but still gladly accepts money, food, and shelter. Scenario Two: We're the proud, arrogant child who refuses to accept money, food, and shelter from his parents. Both of these scenarios are very dangerous.
Have you ever found yourself in either one?
Most of us have probably experienced one side of this scenario, if not both. I find a lot of spiritual truth in these two scenarios. In the first, we're the selfish, immature child who has never known a life without handouts. In the second, we're the world-weary child who has fallen flat on our face, but still refuses a helping hand due to our own arrogant pride.
I see Jesus in these two scenarios, too. Either we choose to rebel, despite the continual forgiveness and acceptance he offers, or we're too proud to even acknowledge that we need his help. In the first scenario, the child doesn't recognize the love behind his source of money, food, and shelter. He just takes it for granted. In the second scenario, the child recognizes what he needs, but is determined to get it by himself—or die trying. The key for all of us is in finding the balance of recognizing our need for Jesus's forgiveness and also asking for it.
I realized there are two sides to this scenario, and it's all too easy to be on either one.
Scenario One: We're the mad, furious child who hates his parents but still gladly accepts money, food, and shelter. Scenario Two: We're the proud, arrogant child who refuses to accept money, food, and shelter from his parents. Both of these scenarios are very dangerous.
Have you ever found yourself in either one?
Most of us have probably experienced one side of this scenario, if not both. I find a lot of spiritual truth in these two scenarios. In the first, we're the selfish, immature child who has never known a life without handouts. In the second, we're the world-weary child who has fallen flat on our face, but still refuses a helping hand due to our own arrogant pride.
I see Jesus in these two scenarios, too. Either we choose to rebel, despite the continual forgiveness and acceptance he offers, or we're too proud to even acknowledge that we need his help. In the first scenario, the child doesn't recognize the love behind his source of money, food, and shelter. He just takes it for granted. In the second scenario, the child recognizes what he needs, but is determined to get it by himself—or die trying. The key for all of us is in finding the balance of recognizing our need for Jesus's forgiveness and also asking for it.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Thoughts On Jennifer Knapp, Media Interviews, Condemnation, Love, Music, And Homosexuality
This blog is a general response to the Larry King Live interview in April featuring musician Jennifer Knapp. Jennifer Knapp is a grammy-nominated, Dove-award winning Christian musician who left the music scene eight years ago, exhausted and confused from the wild ride of "celebrity" that had befallen her. Her re-emergence into music comes full circle today, as her new album, Letting Go, is released nationwide.
http://www.jenniferknapp.com/in-the-press/larry-king-live-interview
Jennifer Knapp was unfortunately featured on CNN's Larry King Live last month for one reason and one reason only: debate. The debate surrounded the long-standing question: Can a person be gay and still be a Christian? Again, I say her role on Larry King Live was unfortunate because CNN and Larry King care only for ratings, not for the health and well-being of those featured on their program. On this program, Jennifer Knapp discussed her re-entry into music and her recent announcement that she is a lesbian. I enjoyed the show, for sure, and found it very interesting. I also was very disenchanted, once again, at the way that Christians in the media are portrayed (and the way they even portray themselves). The show also featured Pastor Bob Botsford of San Diego's Horizon Christian Fellowship Church and Ted Haggard, who was a renowned televangelist until several years ago, when a drug and homosexual scandal collapsed his career as a pastor in Colorado. Pastor Botsford was invited to the show because of a blog he'd written, saddened to hear of Jennifer Knapp's sexual preference "choice," as he described it. But Pastor Botsford was really invited on the show to be the opposing and condemning voice to Jennifer's own perspective. This is what saddens me—that Christians allow themselves to fall into the obvious "traps" set by cable television and other media outlets. But I digress.
Jennifer Knapp has always presented herself as a humble seeker of God, presenting herself as one who is at times unsteady in her faith, and at other times comforted and inspired by that faith. This meek and reserved perspective on the Christian faith has been the building force to her fanbase. In other words, people relate to her lyrics and her humble perspective. Jennifer Knapp presented herself in this same manner on Larry King Live, carefully explaining how she wishes not to be a stumbling block to anyone, but also compelled to be honest with herself and her sexual orientation. Pastor Bob Botsford made several biblically-accurate points, but completely missed the boat on other points. His first mistake was even showing up on the show. Right there he fell into CNN's "trap." He is now probably seen as the 'hypocritical, holier-than-thou preacher' by all who viewed the show. His second mistake was in not having an intellectual conversation with Jennifer. Jennifer Knapp tried to explain that her view of homosexuality is based on the premise that it's not a sin at all—that the Greek words translated as "homosexual" in the Bible aren't the same descriptions we use for homosexuality today. This is a valid point. It's a point that can be opposed, for sure, but it's still worth discussing with grace and intelligence. This did not happen. Judgment and scorn littered the discussion, making it a quarrel among believers (also condemned in the Bible) instead of a loving, graceful, agree-to-disagree conversation.
Ted Haggard thankfully added that voice of grace, though he, too, is just a man that interprets the Bible in one certain way. The ironic thing that has stuck with me is how Pastor Bob Botsford was so easily able to look at certain biblical passages—such as the story of the Pharisees who wanted to throw stones and kill a woman caught in adultery—and overlook other passages where Jesus instructs his disciples not to condemn your Christian brothers. In the pastor's biblical example, he did not mention that Jesus, the only person without sin, was the only one able to tell the adulterous woman to "go and sin no more." For the rest of us sinners, Jesus's teachings to remove the plank from our own eye need to be understood. While some of the apostle Paul's New Testament writings don't jive well with some of Jesus's teachings, I'm still gonna go with Jesus's ultimate commands of loving your neighbor and not judging your fellow man over Paul's rules and regulations that can be interpreted in various ways. While I understand Pastor Botsford's concern for Jennifer Knapp's spiritual well-being, Larry King Live is not the best avenue for a fruitful discussion...I can't believe people don't recognize that in the first place.
Jennifer Knapp's music remains faithful to God. Her sexuality and her interpretation of biblical texts doesn't require condemnation. Love covers a multitude of sins. These are the points of grace that I'm left with after watching Jennifer Knapp's CNN interview. May we all quietly work out our salvation with "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).
http://www.jenniferknapp.com/in-the-press/larry-king-live-interview
Jennifer Knapp was unfortunately featured on CNN's Larry King Live last month for one reason and one reason only: debate. The debate surrounded the long-standing question: Can a person be gay and still be a Christian? Again, I say her role on Larry King Live was unfortunate because CNN and Larry King care only for ratings, not for the health and well-being of those featured on their program. On this program, Jennifer Knapp discussed her re-entry into music and her recent announcement that she is a lesbian. I enjoyed the show, for sure, and found it very interesting. I also was very disenchanted, once again, at the way that Christians in the media are portrayed (and the way they even portray themselves). The show also featured Pastor Bob Botsford of San Diego's Horizon Christian Fellowship Church and Ted Haggard, who was a renowned televangelist until several years ago, when a drug and homosexual scandal collapsed his career as a pastor in Colorado. Pastor Botsford was invited to the show because of a blog he'd written, saddened to hear of Jennifer Knapp's sexual preference "choice," as he described it. But Pastor Botsford was really invited on the show to be the opposing and condemning voice to Jennifer's own perspective. This is what saddens me—that Christians allow themselves to fall into the obvious "traps" set by cable television and other media outlets. But I digress.
Jennifer Knapp has always presented herself as a humble seeker of God, presenting herself as one who is at times unsteady in her faith, and at other times comforted and inspired by that faith. This meek and reserved perspective on the Christian faith has been the building force to her fanbase. In other words, people relate to her lyrics and her humble perspective. Jennifer Knapp presented herself in this same manner on Larry King Live, carefully explaining how she wishes not to be a stumbling block to anyone, but also compelled to be honest with herself and her sexual orientation. Pastor Bob Botsford made several biblically-accurate points, but completely missed the boat on other points. His first mistake was even showing up on the show. Right there he fell into CNN's "trap." He is now probably seen as the 'hypocritical, holier-than-thou preacher' by all who viewed the show. His second mistake was in not having an intellectual conversation with Jennifer. Jennifer Knapp tried to explain that her view of homosexuality is based on the premise that it's not a sin at all—that the Greek words translated as "homosexual" in the Bible aren't the same descriptions we use for homosexuality today. This is a valid point. It's a point that can be opposed, for sure, but it's still worth discussing with grace and intelligence. This did not happen. Judgment and scorn littered the discussion, making it a quarrel among believers (also condemned in the Bible) instead of a loving, graceful, agree-to-disagree conversation.
Ted Haggard thankfully added that voice of grace, though he, too, is just a man that interprets the Bible in one certain way. The ironic thing that has stuck with me is how Pastor Bob Botsford was so easily able to look at certain biblical passages—such as the story of the Pharisees who wanted to throw stones and kill a woman caught in adultery—and overlook other passages where Jesus instructs his disciples not to condemn your Christian brothers. In the pastor's biblical example, he did not mention that Jesus, the only person without sin, was the only one able to tell the adulterous woman to "go and sin no more." For the rest of us sinners, Jesus's teachings to remove the plank from our own eye need to be understood. While some of the apostle Paul's New Testament writings don't jive well with some of Jesus's teachings, I'm still gonna go with Jesus's ultimate commands of loving your neighbor and not judging your fellow man over Paul's rules and regulations that can be interpreted in various ways. While I understand Pastor Botsford's concern for Jennifer Knapp's spiritual well-being, Larry King Live is not the best avenue for a fruitful discussion...I can't believe people don't recognize that in the first place.
Jennifer Knapp's music remains faithful to God. Her sexuality and her interpretation of biblical texts doesn't require condemnation. Love covers a multitude of sins. These are the points of grace that I'm left with after watching Jennifer Knapp's CNN interview. May we all quietly work out our salvation with "fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12).
Monday, May 10, 2010
Don't Judge Me! No, Wait—I Need Your Judgment!
We, the twenty-first centurists, have become quite adept at tolerance, quick to keep our judgments to ourselves. We wouldn't dare offend anyone.
I'm just like you. I hate judging others. The plank of wood in my own eye is so big that I'm astounded I can still see other people's mistakes. But as I've been thinking about judgment lately, I've wanted to examine it a bit deeper. I actually believe we all secretly, and maybe subconsciously, enjoy being judged.
It seems to me that most of us love validation. I know I do. We feel affirmed and proud after passing a class, getting hired for a new job, completing a project at home, seeing our child succeed, or being praised for a job well done. Isn't this validation all based on judgment? Don't we secretly yearn for the praises of our peers?
I realize that, as a Christian, judgment is a hot-button topic. My point here isn't to give a thorough exegesis on the contradictory voices in the New Testament that both condemn the throwing of stones while approving the removal of evil ones among the flock. Paul's instructions to the church at Corinth about chasing away "any of your own people who are evil" leaves me bewildered and disturbed every time I read it. All I want is to simply ponder the irony that we all live in. We get angry when someone "judges" us, yet we always seem to need the validation of other people.
I'd love to think that I find my total worth in God and in that faith, but let's be honest. I always seem to crave that proverbial 'pat on the back.' Most of us do. Though I still strongly believe that considerable care needs to be heeded whenever we make a judgment call on someone's character, I also find it funny that only critical judgments are found to be offensive. It's all right for us to judge someone approvingly, but when that judgment takes the form of criticism or disapproval, then we suddenly become a hypocrite. Really?
I'm still not sure on this issue. It seems to me Jesus could have easily approved throwing stones at 'certain' people—those that claim to be Christians but aren't living what they claim to believe. Jesus didn't give any of those specifics, though. He simply taught that we are to take a long, hard look in the mirror before we cast any judgment—and what he really meant is that by looking in that mirror, we'll see that we are sinners, too, and have no room to pass judgment.
Still, we yearn for validation...and someone's gotta make a judgment of us before they validate us. It's a funny conundrum—'you can only judge me if you're going to say something that doesn't challenge my comfort zone!' Well, at least it makes sense to me now...sort of.
I'm just like you. I hate judging others. The plank of wood in my own eye is so big that I'm astounded I can still see other people's mistakes. But as I've been thinking about judgment lately, I've wanted to examine it a bit deeper. I actually believe we all secretly, and maybe subconsciously, enjoy being judged.
It seems to me that most of us love validation. I know I do. We feel affirmed and proud after passing a class, getting hired for a new job, completing a project at home, seeing our child succeed, or being praised for a job well done. Isn't this validation all based on judgment? Don't we secretly yearn for the praises of our peers?
I realize that, as a Christian, judgment is a hot-button topic. My point here isn't to give a thorough exegesis on the contradictory voices in the New Testament that both condemn the throwing of stones while approving the removal of evil ones among the flock. Paul's instructions to the church at Corinth about chasing away "any of your own people who are evil" leaves me bewildered and disturbed every time I read it. All I want is to simply ponder the irony that we all live in. We get angry when someone "judges" us, yet we always seem to need the validation of other people.
I'd love to think that I find my total worth in God and in that faith, but let's be honest. I always seem to crave that proverbial 'pat on the back.' Most of us do. Though I still strongly believe that considerable care needs to be heeded whenever we make a judgment call on someone's character, I also find it funny that only critical judgments are found to be offensive. It's all right for us to judge someone approvingly, but when that judgment takes the form of criticism or disapproval, then we suddenly become a hypocrite. Really?
I'm still not sure on this issue. It seems to me Jesus could have easily approved throwing stones at 'certain' people—those that claim to be Christians but aren't living what they claim to believe. Jesus didn't give any of those specifics, though. He simply taught that we are to take a long, hard look in the mirror before we cast any judgment—and what he really meant is that by looking in that mirror, we'll see that we are sinners, too, and have no room to pass judgment.
Still, we yearn for validation...and someone's gotta make a judgment of us before they validate us. It's a funny conundrum—'you can only judge me if you're going to say something that doesn't challenge my comfort zone!' Well, at least it makes sense to me now...sort of.
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