I have been studying theology at Dordt College for 2 years now and entering my 3rd But now matter how many theology courses I take I have yet to find a reasonable cause to bind my beliefs with one type of theology. "I am a calvanist" or "I prefer the veiws of Piper". I often find myself saying "I can agree with that." but not in the relativistic(?) tolerant sense. What I am not tolerant of is an approach to Christianity that feels this need to logically explain everything. To say, "well God must of used evolution to create the earth because that makes the most sense" or to make a formula that explains everything in our world.
I believe God has given a great deal of organization to the universe and to our being human, but that does not mean that everything He created and how He works in our world today makes complete logical sense.
Not matter what Biblical theological view you prescribe to, it must come down to faith.
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
ASODGUBAEFVJLNLASNDVMNZOBPDOGHAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
However you pronounce that and coupled with jumping up and down and bursting with excitement is my reaction to the email I just received from my choir director.
I made it into concert choir!!! This is something I have been wanting to be a part of since the day I came to Dordt and now 2 1/2 years of voice lessions and of being in other choirs has come to fruition. Thank you God!
The picture above is a picture of Ross De Wit. He's a frined of mine that was in concert choir last year. Oh and another sweet part of being in Concert Choir is the awesome robes!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Here here
So after leaving my house in Bothell around 8 am on Sunday, we made it to Dordt today around 12pm. We only made stops for food and gas and plowed through the rest. It was interesting to see the slow decline in scenery over the course of the trip...Western Washington through Idaho, Montana and South Dakota and finally to Iowa.
Upon arrival it has finally settled in that I am in my last year at Dordt. Bizarre and stressful to think about what this year will include.
Ready...set...GO!
Upon arrival it has finally settled in that I am in my last year at Dordt. Bizarre and stressful to think about what this year will include.
Ready...set...GO!
Friday, August 1, 2008
Blobbed
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1824744
The advantages of being a larger person become more clear in opportunities to launch someone through 2 complete flips via a blob. But unfortunately according to most opinions being a larger person really has very few or no advantages at all. It surely is not considered an attractive quality, and lets be honest and recognize that when referring to a "larger person" with "more to love" would be the nice translation of fat, obese or possibly just plain ugly. Pleasantly plump huh? Just say it, I'm fat. It's not like you are going to give away some big secret that everyone until now has been hiding from me all my life.
"Wait, I'm fat? Noooooo, surely not. That's the most outrageous thing I have ever heard!"
In recent experience I came across this burning desire to know what someone else was thinking...whether conscious or subconscious. And there is a good chance I am over dissecting the situation, but I do not think so. I like to think that I tend to give people benefit of the doubt but sometimes not so much. Let me explain hypothetically...
You get onto a bus of people, and all of you are familiar with each other. Let's say there are 10 seats, two people to a seat, and you are the 10th passenger to arrive. There is on seat open next to a person who is currently seated by him or her self. Here is the million dollar question...Does it make sense for you to sit next to that person or is there something that would cause you to squeeze into another seat that really only has room for 2 but now has 3 people sitting in it? If you choose to not sit next to that person, what is it that drives you to cause discomfort for you and 2 others just to avoid sitting to that person? Is it to avoid that person, or is it that you want to sit next to these other 2 people you know so badly that you would bear anything just to be next to them? And let us also consider what thoughts are going through the heads of all the other passengers once your choice of making a trio is made. What about that individual sitting alone? I'm sure their sitting alone in this situation is a real boost of morale for the day.
Like I said before, many would claim that this would be over dissecting the situation. But I do not think that is so. In my recent experience I was the one to sit by myself. The point is not so much that I was lonely or desperately needed someone to sit next to me, but rather a point of what goes on in one's mind in this situation. I think it is all too easy to be ignorant to the effects of our actions. Do we understand the consequences of what we say and do or the things we choose to not say and do? Let us put an even bigger twist into the equation and inquire as to how we should conduct ourselves as Christians? Just consider the fact that being a Christian could/should possibly drive us to do things we might not want to for the sake of another's benefit.
The advantages of being a larger person become more clear in opportunities to launch someone through 2 complete flips via a blob. But unfortunately according to most opinions being a larger person really has very few or no advantages at all. It surely is not considered an attractive quality, and lets be honest and recognize that when referring to a "larger person" with "more to love" would be the nice translation of fat, obese or possibly just plain ugly. Pleasantly plump huh? Just say it, I'm fat. It's not like you are going to give away some big secret that everyone until now has been hiding from me all my life.
"Wait, I'm fat? Noooooo, surely not. That's the most outrageous thing I have ever heard!"
In recent experience I came across this burning desire to know what someone else was thinking...whether conscious or subconscious. And there is a good chance I am over dissecting the situation, but I do not think so. I like to think that I tend to give people benefit of the doubt but sometimes not so much. Let me explain hypothetically...
You get onto a bus of people, and all of you are familiar with each other. Let's say there are 10 seats, two people to a seat, and you are the 10th passenger to arrive. There is on seat open next to a person who is currently seated by him or her self. Here is the million dollar question...Does it make sense for you to sit next to that person or is there something that would cause you to squeeze into another seat that really only has room for 2 but now has 3 people sitting in it? If you choose to not sit next to that person, what is it that drives you to cause discomfort for you and 2 others just to avoid sitting to that person? Is it to avoid that person, or is it that you want to sit next to these other 2 people you know so badly that you would bear anything just to be next to them? And let us also consider what thoughts are going through the heads of all the other passengers once your choice of making a trio is made. What about that individual sitting alone? I'm sure their sitting alone in this situation is a real boost of morale for the day.
Like I said before, many would claim that this would be over dissecting the situation. But I do not think that is so. In my recent experience I was the one to sit by myself. The point is not so much that I was lonely or desperately needed someone to sit next to me, but rather a point of what goes on in one's mind in this situation. I think it is all too easy to be ignorant to the effects of our actions. Do we understand the consequences of what we say and do or the things we choose to not say and do? Let us put an even bigger twist into the equation and inquire as to how we should conduct ourselves as Christians? Just consider the fact that being a Christian could/should possibly drive us to do things we might not want to for the sake of another's benefit.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Music is a beautiful thing!
This morning I have been listening to some new music and there is nothing that can think of that gives me motivation, inspiration and joy like listening to good music. I love it when I get chills from some really good organ, lead guitar, driving bass and drums, or crazy amazing singing. Some might say that I am really picky about the music I listen to. I would like to think that it is refined. Others would claim that my taste is too broad with anything from classical Chopin to some crazy techno I heard in a bar while in Holland. Either way, I love my music.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Controversy
Is it art? Could it be just a hobby, or even an occupation for some? Is it possible damnation for those who participate in such activity?
I have been thinking about tattoos lately. I know multiple people who have 1 or multiple tattoos, and I have brought it up in conversation every so often. Something I find interesting is whether I hear a positive or negative reaction to the subject it seems to be an eyebrow raising subject. "I have no problem with tattoos, I think they look really cool on some people...ARE YOU GOING TO GET ONE?" The person has already expressed their approval and yet there is this curiosity that surrounds the thought of whose buttons will be pushed as a result, or maybe how one's perception might change of the individual or even group of people getting tattoos.
OOOO my heart is just palpatating at the thought of the reactions I could get with getting a tattoo. Earlier today I was looking through some old pictures of my family and came across a pciture of my brother with ears pierced and his hair dyed black...what a rebel. I still remeber the surprize we all had when he came off the airplane for Christmas break with earings. I thought it was cool that he was pushing the boundaries of what was considered kooth in our family at the time.
So now I am curious as to why I have considered getting a tattoo for myself, hypothetically speaking of course. What could be driving me to permanently engrave something onto my body for all to see my individualism, my gumption and rebelliousness to all who may raise an eyebrow? The first reaction I could think of from some of my friends would be, "Dude that's totally BA!" (Bad ass that is) What's the world coming to with kids saying "ass" these days? And of course it is okay that I have stated it in my post because I have only quoted or parenthesized it each time.
Ass Christians... oopse I mean AS Christians what are the battles that we need to be figthting, and what are the things that we choose to make a big issue out of that could be getting in the way of what matters most?
Give me some feedback peoples. Peace!
I have been thinking about tattoos lately. I know multiple people who have 1 or multiple tattoos, and I have brought it up in conversation every so often. Something I find interesting is whether I hear a positive or negative reaction to the subject it seems to be an eyebrow raising subject. "I have no problem with tattoos, I think they look really cool on some people...ARE YOU GOING TO GET ONE?" The person has already expressed their approval and yet there is this curiosity that surrounds the thought of whose buttons will be pushed as a result, or maybe how one's perception might change of the individual or even group of people getting tattoos.
OOOO my heart is just palpatating at the thought of the reactions I could get with getting a tattoo. Earlier today I was looking through some old pictures of my family and came across a pciture of my brother with ears pierced and his hair dyed black...what a rebel. I still remeber the surprize we all had when he came off the airplane for Christmas break with earings. I thought it was cool that he was pushing the boundaries of what was considered kooth in our family at the time.
So now I am curious as to why I have considered getting a tattoo for myself, hypothetically speaking of course. What could be driving me to permanently engrave something onto my body for all to see my individualism, my gumption and rebelliousness to all who may raise an eyebrow? The first reaction I could think of from some of my friends would be, "Dude that's totally BA!" (Bad ass that is) What's the world coming to with kids saying "ass" these days? And of course it is okay that I have stated it in my post because I have only quoted or parenthesized it each time.
Ass Christians... oopse I mean AS Christians what are the battles that we need to be figthting, and what are the things that we choose to make a big issue out of that could be getting in the way of what matters most?
Give me some feedback peoples. Peace!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
What Have We Become?
"A preacher shuns his brother Cause his bride’s a different colour and this is not acceptable, his papa taught him. so It was love that he’d been preaching But this was overreaching The boundaries stretchin’ further than his heart would choose to go. Like an angel with no wings. Like a kingdom with no king.
What have we become? A self indulgent people. What have we become? Tell me where are the righteous ones? What have we become? In a world degenerating What have we become?
Speak your mind, look out for yourself. The answer to it all is a life of wealth. Grab all you can cause you live just once. You got the right to do whatever you want. Don’t worry about others or where you came from. It ain’t what you were, it’s what you have become.
Mom and Dad are fightin’ as Rosie lies there crying. For once again she’s overheard regrets of their mistake. With Christmas bells a-ringing little Rosie’d leave them grieving. The gift she’d give her family would be the pills she’d take. An inconvenient child she wasn’t worth their while.
What about love? What about God? What about holiness? What about mercy, compassion and selflessness?You know it’s true He is there for me and you...doesn’t matter what you do.
What have we become? Have we come undone? What have we become? Have we come undone? What have we become?Selfish… ??? With selfish… ??? Selfish people, when you gonna learn? Everyone of us gathered ’round in trust. What have we become?"
mmm, good ol DC Talk. This morning at Bible study it was good to read through some scripture and remember my continual need for grace and the fundamental message of the gospel. Too often my life becomes about my arrival. After this year at school I will have arrived to the next level in my life...one more notch of success on my belt. Today I was reminded again of the importance of helping the poor and the people in my community that really just need help. Just because I live in middle class america does not mean everyone is doing just fine. Widows, single parents, those who work overtime, sun up to sun down to manage, the elderly, the disabled.
Why does it seem that my blogs have this gross ability to become preachy. Maybe with a pepering of nagging guilt as well. And then again my what thoughts occur in my head seem to be printed into cliche sayings as I type them in here.
Lamentations 3:22-23...the last thought for today.
"22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions(mercies) never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
What have we become? A self indulgent people. What have we become? Tell me where are the righteous ones? What have we become? In a world degenerating What have we become?
Speak your mind, look out for yourself. The answer to it all is a life of wealth. Grab all you can cause you live just once. You got the right to do whatever you want. Don’t worry about others or where you came from. It ain’t what you were, it’s what you have become.
Mom and Dad are fightin’ as Rosie lies there crying. For once again she’s overheard regrets of their mistake. With Christmas bells a-ringing little Rosie’d leave them grieving. The gift she’d give her family would be the pills she’d take. An inconvenient child she wasn’t worth their while.
What about love? What about God? What about holiness? What about mercy, compassion and selflessness?You know it’s true He is there for me and you...doesn’t matter what you do.
What have we become? Have we come undone? What have we become? Have we come undone? What have we become?Selfish… ??? With selfish… ??? Selfish people, when you gonna learn? Everyone of us gathered ’round in trust. What have we become?"
mmm, good ol DC Talk. This morning at Bible study it was good to read through some scripture and remember my continual need for grace and the fundamental message of the gospel. Too often my life becomes about my arrival. After this year at school I will have arrived to the next level in my life...one more notch of success on my belt. Today I was reminded again of the importance of helping the poor and the people in my community that really just need help. Just because I live in middle class america does not mean everyone is doing just fine. Widows, single parents, those who work overtime, sun up to sun down to manage, the elderly, the disabled.
Why does it seem that my blogs have this gross ability to become preachy. Maybe with a pepering of nagging guilt as well. And then again my what thoughts occur in my head seem to be printed into cliche sayings as I type them in here.
Lamentations 3:22-23...the last thought for today.
"22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions(mercies) never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
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