Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Where can I put my hat?
Some people say home is where you lay your hat... Would you please wear my hat? They also say home is where the heart is. Well, you have already stolen that. I think you have stolen my mind too because it seems to disappear every time I see you. Seeing you is akin to seeing a Monet’s “Bridge Over Waterlilies” for the first time over and over each time with a renewed sense of wonder and admiration. That doesn’t quite do you justice as you are infinitely more complex and deep than any painting. I feel at home around you, will you wear my hat?
Monday, March 14, 2011
Supernatural
I do not know why I write this; even the great poets of old could not adequately describe you. It was said that even Solomon's wealth could not compare with the beauty of the lilies of the field. I say even the lilies of the field could not begin to compare with you. To say that you have simple beauty is to do you a gross injustice. Your deep and intricate complexities dwarf even the most daunting of mathematical equations. What you do have is quiet beauty. It is that incomprehensible humbleness that would rather tend to the needs of the weary than to your own. Nothing about you can be properly likened unto things that we know for everything about you is otherworldly.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Science, Glory, and all that stuff.
Science... Ssh, don't say that.
In church today, I think that science has become a dirty word. For many people and this is also true in the church it would seem that Christianity and science are in conflict. It seems to have been thrown into the realm of politics and religion. You simply don't discuss science with religion in polite conversation. I think this is due in large part to the association that evolution has with science in general. I won't get into evolution here, I might later, but that would be a long multi-part post.
First let us define the term science for the sake of discussion. I am sure that one could come up with many varying definitions for science, but I will use a simple one.
Science is the study of the observed. Science helps us draw conclusions from our environment and for that we are able to define and understand what may not be so readily observable.
There are many things about science that the vast majority of people simply do not understand. String theory is an excellent example. I am not a scholar of physics so don't quote me on this, but if I understand the theory it goes a little something like this. The knowable universe and our four (or six or ten or infinite depending on who you talk to) dimensions are composed of an infinite (truly innumerable) number of tiny one dimensional loops. Many times these loops are explained as if they are rubber bands. This illustration is okay for the uninitiated, but it isn't actually true. While these single dimensional loops do vibrate and move they don't have anything inside them that we would understand as matter. Also to refer to them as rubber bands or even as loops as I have is still not accurate. This is simply a one dimensional space as it exists. It is space bending in upon itself in the only way that it can. If it were to behave any differently it would be, I think, violating what we consider the laws of physics. The way these SDS's (single dimensional space, a more accurate term I think) vibrate is how particles such as quarks and photons are in existence. At this point it should be noted that it is vibration in conjunction with truly unseeable space is what composes matter, light, and perhaps even energy.
The point of that rather lengthy (and almost certainly flawed) explanation is that very few people even scientists do not understand this theory. I think that it would even not be too far fetched that a few of the many who have played a part in sculpting this theory do not properly understand it themselves. The other point is that while we cannot physically see these SDS's we can discern their existence or at least theorize that they exist from what we can see.
A couple days ago a friend of mine said something to the effect of science not having the ability to explain the "paranormal." While she is right in that the study of what we see cannot explain many things relating to God and or the paranormal I think that it gives off a false impression that these subjects are not related. When I truly believe that the subjects are so intertwined that dividing them into separate subjects just might be... inaccurate.
This brings me to my next subject. Glory. Of of the biggest if not the single greatest purpose that any single human being has is to glorify God. At times when information is incomplete or even at times false it can seem as though we should ignore it entirely. This is a mistake. If this is done and at a later time the information is completed or proven false one has missed a wonderful chance to give God glory. Let us look at the age of the earth. There are many who would stand behind the idea that the earth is billions of years old. I don't personally buy this. There are certain inconsistencies that get in the way of my believing it. I don't fully understand it, to be honest, but I can say that I am supremely confident that eventually the age of the earth will in one way or another line up with scripture. I think this was the case when people held the belief that the earth was flat. While it really wasn't as popular an idea back in the day of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as many think; it was a fairly prolific idea. The Bible says, "and hangeth the earth upon nothing."
Job 26:7
Now we know for a fact that the earth is an imperfect sphere that "hangs on nothing." Funny how that works, huh?
Let us look at an unpleasant subject that relates to this very well. The crusades. I am not going to go into all the differing crusades, but I do want to recognize that they were horrific. Hundreds if not thousands of people died. Are we to ignore the ugly and disgusting side of life? No, we are to recognize it and move on. My favorite author writes the villains in his stories as particularly dark characters. Why? Because this puts contrasts and amplifies the apparent goodness of the protagonist.
The people, the men, women, and children are not heroes. They are not villains. They are the slaughtered. This is not something that can be ignored. To do this is to merely continue what was started in that day. Let us acknowledge that men made horrific decisions and used God's name to rationalize their actions. When we are told not to use the Lord's name in vain this is what was spoken of. I do not understand how something like that can eventually bring God glory, but I am confident in that it will be used in the long run to do just that.
Just what was on my mind today.
Revision January 19:
In regards to the "explanation" of String theory.
So far no one I have spoken to has understood this; hence the quotation marks. It seems as there is some confusion regarding my mention of two dimensional spaces. I have no clue how such a "space" would exist or behave (I am sure it would be interesting) and it is not something I am attempting to address here in any length. Also, when thinking of how a SDS would behave try to think out side of the box. Chances are you perceive everything in a thread of time progressively moving forward. When contemplating anything regarding this subject one should remember that we do not live in a three dimensional world. We have more than just three dimensions with which we interact in. There are four that we can observe readily. There are the dimensions of space that are length, depth, and width, but there is also the fourth. That fourth is time. This is not a new concept, but something we have known for some time. Well, these SDS's exist outside of time. At least so far as I am able to discern they do not seem to be influenced by it... At this point it becomes fairly difficult to contend with if one is disregarding the math behind it all. I, however, am terrible at math and while I may have delusions of grandeur advanced mathematics is not part of those. The point is that these singular dimensional spaces are what compose our entire universe. If this is true an amazing thing is occurring all around us that very very few even recognize. These spaces that are made up of only a single dimension are actually producing four (and almost certainly more). I just thought it was worth mentioning that everything that you see and feel and touch and eat and hear is made up of stuff that doesn't even adhere to the same physical laws that we do. :)
In church today, I think that science has become a dirty word. For many people and this is also true in the church it would seem that Christianity and science are in conflict. It seems to have been thrown into the realm of politics and religion. You simply don't discuss science with religion in polite conversation. I think this is due in large part to the association that evolution has with science in general. I won't get into evolution here, I might later, but that would be a long multi-part post.
First let us define the term science for the sake of discussion. I am sure that one could come up with many varying definitions for science, but I will use a simple one.
Science is the study of the observed. Science helps us draw conclusions from our environment and for that we are able to define and understand what may not be so readily observable.
There are many things about science that the vast majority of people simply do not understand. String theory is an excellent example. I am not a scholar of physics so don't quote me on this, but if I understand the theory it goes a little something like this. The knowable universe and our four (or six or ten or infinite depending on who you talk to) dimensions are composed of an infinite (truly innumerable) number of tiny one dimensional loops. Many times these loops are explained as if they are rubber bands. This illustration is okay for the uninitiated, but it isn't actually true. While these single dimensional loops do vibrate and move they don't have anything inside them that we would understand as matter. Also to refer to them as rubber bands or even as loops as I have is still not accurate. This is simply a one dimensional space as it exists. It is space bending in upon itself in the only way that it can. If it were to behave any differently it would be, I think, violating what we consider the laws of physics. The way these SDS's (single dimensional space, a more accurate term I think) vibrate is how particles such as quarks and photons are in existence. At this point it should be noted that it is vibration in conjunction with truly unseeable space is what composes matter, light, and perhaps even energy.
The point of that rather lengthy (and almost certainly flawed) explanation is that very few people even scientists do not understand this theory. I think that it would even not be too far fetched that a few of the many who have played a part in sculpting this theory do not properly understand it themselves. The other point is that while we cannot physically see these SDS's we can discern their existence or at least theorize that they exist from what we can see.
A couple days ago a friend of mine said something to the effect of science not having the ability to explain the "paranormal." While she is right in that the study of what we see cannot explain many things relating to God and or the paranormal I think that it gives off a false impression that these subjects are not related. When I truly believe that the subjects are so intertwined that dividing them into separate subjects just might be... inaccurate.
This brings me to my next subject. Glory. Of of the biggest if not the single greatest purpose that any single human being has is to glorify God. At times when information is incomplete or even at times false it can seem as though we should ignore it entirely. This is a mistake. If this is done and at a later time the information is completed or proven false one has missed a wonderful chance to give God glory. Let us look at the age of the earth. There are many who would stand behind the idea that the earth is billions of years old. I don't personally buy this. There are certain inconsistencies that get in the way of my believing it. I don't fully understand it, to be honest, but I can say that I am supremely confident that eventually the age of the earth will in one way or another line up with scripture. I think this was the case when people held the belief that the earth was flat. While it really wasn't as popular an idea back in the day of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella as many think; it was a fairly prolific idea. The Bible says, "and hangeth the earth upon nothing."
Job 26:7
Now we know for a fact that the earth is an imperfect sphere that "hangs on nothing." Funny how that works, huh?
Let us look at an unpleasant subject that relates to this very well. The crusades. I am not going to go into all the differing crusades, but I do want to recognize that they were horrific. Hundreds if not thousands of people died. Are we to ignore the ugly and disgusting side of life? No, we are to recognize it and move on. My favorite author writes the villains in his stories as particularly dark characters. Why? Because this puts contrasts and amplifies the apparent goodness of the protagonist.
The people, the men, women, and children are not heroes. They are not villains. They are the slaughtered. This is not something that can be ignored. To do this is to merely continue what was started in that day. Let us acknowledge that men made horrific decisions and used God's name to rationalize their actions. When we are told not to use the Lord's name in vain this is what was spoken of. I do not understand how something like that can eventually bring God glory, but I am confident in that it will be used in the long run to do just that.
Just what was on my mind today.
Revision January 19:
In regards to the "explanation" of String theory.
So far no one I have spoken to has understood this; hence the quotation marks. It seems as there is some confusion regarding my mention of two dimensional spaces. I have no clue how such a "space" would exist or behave (I am sure it would be interesting) and it is not something I am attempting to address here in any length. Also, when thinking of how a SDS would behave try to think out side of the box. Chances are you perceive everything in a thread of time progressively moving forward. When contemplating anything regarding this subject one should remember that we do not live in a three dimensional world. We have more than just three dimensions with which we interact in. There are four that we can observe readily. There are the dimensions of space that are length, depth, and width, but there is also the fourth. That fourth is time. This is not a new concept, but something we have known for some time. Well, these SDS's exist outside of time. At least so far as I am able to discern they do not seem to be influenced by it... At this point it becomes fairly difficult to contend with if one is disregarding the math behind it all. I, however, am terrible at math and while I may have delusions of grandeur advanced mathematics is not part of those. The point is that these singular dimensional spaces are what compose our entire universe. If this is true an amazing thing is occurring all around us that very very few even recognize. These spaces that are made up of only a single dimension are actually producing four (and almost certainly more). I just thought it was worth mentioning that everything that you see and feel and touch and eat and hear is made up of stuff that doesn't even adhere to the same physical laws that we do. :)
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Damn Cattle
I have a wolf dog. When I tell someone I have a wolf dog I say that I have a "high content wolf hybrid." She is 90% wolf. She is 100% stubborn. This past Wednesday she escaped from our yard into the adjoining field. Normally this would not be a problem and I would take the opportunity to run with her as it is so much fun for both of us. This time, though, it was not so fun. You see, in this particular field at this particular time was a herd of longhorns. These aren't just any cattle. These are very easily annoyed cattle with very large horns. As I saw her running toward this herd I called out to her. Stubborn as she is no amount of calling did any good. I started sprinting after her and trying to coral her back to the house. It was starting to work and I was chasing her back to the house when I saw my first stampede. These mad cows were running at me and my wolf. For those who have no experience with cows you should realize a few things. The first is that wolves can run fast. I am not talking like Olympic runner fast or even bicyclist fast. I am talking so fast that she can out run any deer even on a bad day. To catch up to her I had to make a mad dash for her and that is exactly what I did so when I was running back to the house I was on my last leg so to speak. Pardon the expression, but I had a particular four letter word going through my head when I saw those rather large horned beasts bearing down on me. Troublemaker shot off like an arrow for the house while I did my best to bail and hopped across the near by creek. When I finally hopped the creek the particular cow that was chasing me was about five or six feet behind me. He stopped at the edge of the creek as it is about four or so feet deep. I walked back to the house with a muddy shoe, but that was the extent of my damage. I don't know if my former Aikido teacher will ever read this or not, but I want to let anyone who reads this know that it is because of him that I managed to get away without so much as a scratch. He taught me to respond instead of react and it is because of that I remembered that the cows couldn't cross the creek where I was. Thank you, James. Also, it should be recognized that without God I wouldn't have been able to attend James' class or have the energy to run at all. Now, here I am writing and Troublemaker is a few feet away waiting for a triscuit.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Tourist Trap
Arthur's feet hurt, but he wasn't paying attention. The pain had faded to the back of his mind, that is what happens after four hours of walking. Another car passed him on the highway and then another and then another. Three days into the trip he stopped expecting people to ask if he needed a ride. There was no mistaking him and his backpack. Arthur was a hitchhiker and people knew it. They kept their distance and he was just fine with that. Ben had joined up with him two weeks ago.Arthur didn't know where Ben came from, but he was a welcome journey-mate. After looking him over Arthur figured that Ben was at least part wolf. No dewclaws, distinctive fur, and the whistling made it obvious. They made a good pair.
As they saw the small town slowly becoming larger Ben stopped and ran into the field to his right. Arthur continued walking; Ben would disappear from time to time only to appear the next day. More steps. More steps. He came to the first gas station. The bell rang out as the door opened.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, do you have a phone that I can use? It would have to be long-distance."
The lady looked up with a face void of expression. "Phone's dead."
Arthur looked around at the interior. "Any water in here?" He couldn't find any.
"Out." She still had that same blank look.
"Okay, thanks anyways." He walked over to the refrigerated wall and grabbed a sprite. Arthur placed it on the counter in front of the woman. Her name tag said Sue.
"Sorry hun, register's broken. Don't worry about it; just enjoy." Her face changed to a devious smile with a wink.
"Okay, thanks..."
As the door closed behind him he heard the bell again. Arthur would have preferred water, but
Beggars can't be choosers,
he thought to himself. As he started to guzzle the soda the taste surprised him. After the initial shock he gagged. It wasn't sweet or even cold. The cool liquid he held in his hand was warm in his mouth and tasted salty and metallic. Arthur looked at the green plastic bottle that he was holding. Nothing had changed. He poured a little in his mouth and swirled it around. He spat it back out almost immediately. It still had that warm coppery taste. Turning around to go back into the store he found that the doors were locked. The lights were off. Arthur set the bottle of the spoiled soda on the step at the door and continued to walk.
Night was coming and the sun was setting. Arthur didn't like this town so he didn't stop to rest. Finding his way in the town square he saw an elaborate fountain. It looked like it belonged in some old Gothic monastery in Europe. Gargoyles seemed to stare at him. A young lady appeared to be sitting at the fountain. She was staring directly at Arthur. He couldn't change his path without making it obvious that was was avoiding her. She was attractive, but something was wrong with her eyes. He couldn't tell in the little light that was being provided by the street lamps. More steps. More steps.
"Hey."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Have a drink from the fountain. Its real good," she said with a lingering southern accent.
"Sorry, ma'am, that looks more like mud than water. Whatever it is, I have to keep movin'."
"It isn't either, but stop and have a drink. You won't regret it; everyone likes it." She took hold of his sleeve as he was passing.
"Ma'am?" Arthur was confused. Then he saw her eyes. They were dilated almost to the point that she didn't even have an iris showing. Her pupils were unnaturally large. She wouldn't let go.
"Ma'am, I need to keep moving, please let go." She didn't instead she scooped up the liquid in the fountain and threw it at him. She had good aim. It hit him on the mouth. He spat it back out. It tasted exactly like the sprite from the store. He jerked his hand back wiping the mud from his face.
"What the in the world is that?" He started to back up, but still heading the way he wanted to.
"You don't like it? Its honey, everybody likes it. Why don't you like it? Nuthin' but the blood of Jesus..."
"What are you talking about? What? I'm leaving." Arthur turned and started jogging.
The girl screamed.
Arthur started running. He had no idea what was going on and didn't care to find out. A man stepped out in front of him and they both fell into a heap. The man got up. He was in a mechanics jumpsuit and from the look of the grease he had on him he had been working.
"Why don't like our honey, son? Its nuthin', but the blood of Jesus. Doesn't it taste good?"
"No it doesn't! It tastes like..." It struck Arthur with the force of a mac truck.
Blood.
The man's eyes widened as he heard Arthur stop short his sentence. His eyes weren't right either.
"You know him don't you?" He shouted at Arthur with fear and urgency in his voice.
"We have a right to be here, you know! Leave us! Leave us! We don't want you here!"
"Jesus, what is going on here?" Arthur whispered a small prayer.
"Ahh! Don't say his name! Get out! Get out!"
Not knowing what to do, Arthur started running to the edge of town. The sun being gone completely it was hard to see, but he could make out the forms of others walking out of buildings one by one.
"Jesus make this stop." Out of breath Arthur could barely say the words.
His prayer was met with screams from inside the town. He had to stop running. He was so thirsty. He hadn't had any water all day. He looked up. Only the girl aJnd the man were standing where he could see. They had twisted looks of hate.
"What are you doing here?"
No response.
Arthur started to pray, "Jesus..."
Before he could utter another word the man and girl started screaming again.
"Make this stop. Help these people." The screaming stopped finally.
The man and girl collapsed and didn't get up. Arthur couldn't decide to leave or to check them out. He walked over and looked at them. He wasn't sure if they were still a threat or not.
"Hello?"
The man's eyes opened.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Arthur," he said as he helped him up. "Do you know what is going on here?"
"I don't know, why is my daughter on the ground?" He picked her up. "She must have had one of her fits again."
"I need to get going. You guys gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, you need a place to stay, son?"
"No thanks, I just as soon get outta here."
"Suit yourself, be careful though; its dangerous out there."
The next morning Arthur woke up in a field just outside of town with Ben licking his face.
"Good morning, Ben. Lets go get something to eat." Just as he said that Arthur looked up to see the blackberry bush that he had missed the night before.
Ben just whistled.
As they saw the small town slowly becoming larger Ben stopped and ran into the field to his right. Arthur continued walking; Ben would disappear from time to time only to appear the next day. More steps. More steps. He came to the first gas station. The bell rang out as the door opened.
"Excuse me, Ma'am, do you have a phone that I can use? It would have to be long-distance."
The lady looked up with a face void of expression. "Phone's dead."
Arthur looked around at the interior. "Any water in here?" He couldn't find any.
"Out." She still had that same blank look.
"Okay, thanks anyways." He walked over to the refrigerated wall and grabbed a sprite. Arthur placed it on the counter in front of the woman. Her name tag said Sue.
"Sorry hun, register's broken. Don't worry about it; just enjoy." Her face changed to a devious smile with a wink.
"Okay, thanks..."
As the door closed behind him he heard the bell again. Arthur would have preferred water, but
Beggars can't be choosers,
he thought to himself. As he started to guzzle the soda the taste surprised him. After the initial shock he gagged. It wasn't sweet or even cold. The cool liquid he held in his hand was warm in his mouth and tasted salty and metallic. Arthur looked at the green plastic bottle that he was holding. Nothing had changed. He poured a little in his mouth and swirled it around. He spat it back out almost immediately. It still had that warm coppery taste. Turning around to go back into the store he found that the doors were locked. The lights were off. Arthur set the bottle of the spoiled soda on the step at the door and continued to walk.
Night was coming and the sun was setting. Arthur didn't like this town so he didn't stop to rest. Finding his way in the town square he saw an elaborate fountain. It looked like it belonged in some old Gothic monastery in Europe. Gargoyles seemed to stare at him. A young lady appeared to be sitting at the fountain. She was staring directly at Arthur. He couldn't change his path without making it obvious that was was avoiding her. She was attractive, but something was wrong with her eyes. He couldn't tell in the little light that was being provided by the street lamps. More steps. More steps.
"Hey."
"Yes, ma'am?"
"Have a drink from the fountain. Its real good," she said with a lingering southern accent.
"Sorry, ma'am, that looks more like mud than water. Whatever it is, I have to keep movin'."
"It isn't either, but stop and have a drink. You won't regret it; everyone likes it." She took hold of his sleeve as he was passing.
"Ma'am?" Arthur was confused. Then he saw her eyes. They were dilated almost to the point that she didn't even have an iris showing. Her pupils were unnaturally large. She wouldn't let go.
"Ma'am, I need to keep moving, please let go." She didn't instead she scooped up the liquid in the fountain and threw it at him. She had good aim. It hit him on the mouth. He spat it back out. It tasted exactly like the sprite from the store. He jerked his hand back wiping the mud from his face.
"What the in the world is that?" He started to back up, but still heading the way he wanted to.
"You don't like it? Its honey, everybody likes it. Why don't you like it? Nuthin' but the blood of Jesus..."
"What are you talking about? What? I'm leaving." Arthur turned and started jogging.
The girl screamed.
Arthur started running. He had no idea what was going on and didn't care to find out. A man stepped out in front of him and they both fell into a heap. The man got up. He was in a mechanics jumpsuit and from the look of the grease he had on him he had been working.
"Why don't like our honey, son? Its nuthin', but the blood of Jesus. Doesn't it taste good?"
"No it doesn't! It tastes like..." It struck Arthur with the force of a mac truck.
Blood.
The man's eyes widened as he heard Arthur stop short his sentence. His eyes weren't right either.
"You know him don't you?" He shouted at Arthur with fear and urgency in his voice.
"We have a right to be here, you know! Leave us! Leave us! We don't want you here!"
"Jesus, what is going on here?" Arthur whispered a small prayer.
"Ahh! Don't say his name! Get out! Get out!"
Not knowing what to do, Arthur started running to the edge of town. The sun being gone completely it was hard to see, but he could make out the forms of others walking out of buildings one by one.
"Jesus make this stop." Out of breath Arthur could barely say the words.
His prayer was met with screams from inside the town. He had to stop running. He was so thirsty. He hadn't had any water all day. He looked up. Only the girl aJnd the man were standing where he could see. They had twisted looks of hate.
"What are you doing here?"
No response.
Arthur started to pray, "Jesus..."
Before he could utter another word the man and girl started screaming again.
"Make this stop. Help these people." The screaming stopped finally.
The man and girl collapsed and didn't get up. Arthur couldn't decide to leave or to check them out. He walked over and looked at them. He wasn't sure if they were still a threat or not.
"Hello?"
The man's eyes opened.
"Who are you?"
"My name is Arthur," he said as he helped him up. "Do you know what is going on here?"
"I don't know, why is my daughter on the ground?" He picked her up. "She must have had one of her fits again."
"I need to get going. You guys gonna be okay?"
"Yeah, you need a place to stay, son?"
"No thanks, I just as soon get outta here."
"Suit yourself, be careful though; its dangerous out there."
The next morning Arthur woke up in a field just outside of town with Ben licking his face.
"Good morning, Ben. Lets go get something to eat." Just as he said that Arthur looked up to see the blackberry bush that he had missed the night before.
Ben just whistled.
Friday, December 31, 2010
The Awesomeness of Parables
The greatest teacher ever to walk the face of the earth spoke in parables all the time. I have oft wondered why. Why wouldn't he just tell them in straight forward terms? Would that not just be the more honest approach? Through out the years I have seen that God has no one reason for doing anything. The very idea that He would only have a single reason for anything He does is rather absurd when one bothers to think about it. God is the most complex being the universe has ever seen. He is so brilliant, ingenious and complex that He has the ability to compose the universe that we are in as a beautiful song. The mathematical equations that govern the universe are so infinitely amazing and truly song like that I would venture to say that even with the collective intelligence of every human being that has ever lived we would still not be able to devise anything with such complex elegance. The point is that there are numerous reasons for every action. So a more reasonable question than "Why wouldn't He just tell them in straight forward terms," would be "What are His reasons for this round about story telling?" Before I continue please remember this is purely speculation and there are no doubt countless reasons that I cannot even begin to fathom.
There have been several occasions when I attempt to explain things to people and the response has been the glazed over deer in the headlights face. This happens more than I care to admit. Even after simplifying the explanation as much as possible I still see the zombified expression. The ideas that Jesus was exposing people to are much more difficult to grasp then my explaining the philosophy in ballistics. Taking this into account it is not hard at all to imagine that more than a few would just back off out of sheer frustration. Teaching in parables gives the audience an opportunity to digest the ideas over time. I think a good way to illustrate this is to bring up digestion, oddly enough. If one eats too much food too fast the body is forced to reject it as the body simply does not have the capacity to digest all of it fast enough. If too much information is given to a person without the proper time to "digest" it the person will retain very little of what was given. Give a person enough time to "munch" on an idea and you are likely to get a desirable response. There are times when it has taken me months before I am properly able to verbalize an idea that has been floating around in my noggin.
Another reason is mystery. There is something to be said about a person who can communicate an idea through mystery. Mystery keeps stubborn people interested. It causes the inquisitive to be even more inquisitive. Mystery, oddly enough, can, at times, shed more light on an issue than any other element. Those with the motivation or energy enough to investigate this mystery will often uncover more to the idea than would have been seen if it were explained in "plain terms". Remember as a child when someone would start as if to say something only to recant or say, "Naw, I shouldn't say anything." I don't know about you, but it would infuriate me. I would stop at nothing to find out what ever small and insignificant piece of information that was being withheld. Children are stubborn, no? In response to a vague story those with questioning minds are given to the tendency to ask even more than they would otherwise. If one believes that they understand all there is to understand about an issue why would he question any further?
Contrary to my last point, parables can provide even more clarity than a standard explanation. Let us look at the parable of the sower and the different ground. A man was sowing seed an threw seeds this way and that. Some landed in the path while others landed around the thorns. Some found their place on the rocks while still others found themselves on fertile ground. Needless to say this would have left those listening scratching their heads. As they say hindsight is 20/20. We can look at this with (presumed) understanding that those who first heard it did not have. The seeds that landed on the path were eaten by the crows. These crows are the (presumably) people that come after the message is given that discourage any growth or "munching" of the idea of salvation. The stones portion represents those who hear the word but don't bother to "sink their teeth into it." When the hard times come those who have not let it sink to their very core will be shaken in times of hardship. The thorns represent those who hear the word, but become preoccupied with the trappings and problems of this world. The fertile ground represents the minds of those who welcome the message of salvation and let it grow in their hearts. Just saying that there are people who will not "get it" and listing the types is not nearly as detailed as explaining it with the characteristics of soil and plants and animals in terms that the people of the era would identify with.
Also, a well worded parable displays an intimate knowledge and familiarity of and with the ideas being presented. Obviously, Jesus has the best understanding of this out of anyone. I think that it would behoove us as His followers to take another look at the parables that Jesus taught. When was the last time you looked at a parable?
Brownie points go to the people who can site the reason that Jesus actually gave. For much better explanations of the actual parables read the scripture following. My explanations are influenced by a limited mind and a tired body. Jesus is a lot better at explaining it. For the parable of the sower go to Matthew 13. All in all parables are really cool.
Also, I figured I would let you few who read this know that I have started writing a book (again). It is about why I carry. This is partially because I am continuously bothered by people about going to college while, at this point in time, I am totally unable to do so. At the very least, if I do somehow manage to get a book published I can those bothersome people to go read my book. The way it is turning out readers will think me either a completely mad man or someone that does, in point of fact, have an operating brain that does more than just control some involuntary bodily functions like breathing. Now all I have to do is actually finish it.
There have been several occasions when I attempt to explain things to people and the response has been the glazed over deer in the headlights face. This happens more than I care to admit. Even after simplifying the explanation as much as possible I still see the zombified expression. The ideas that Jesus was exposing people to are much more difficult to grasp then my explaining the philosophy in ballistics. Taking this into account it is not hard at all to imagine that more than a few would just back off out of sheer frustration. Teaching in parables gives the audience an opportunity to digest the ideas over time. I think a good way to illustrate this is to bring up digestion, oddly enough. If one eats too much food too fast the body is forced to reject it as the body simply does not have the capacity to digest all of it fast enough. If too much information is given to a person without the proper time to "digest" it the person will retain very little of what was given. Give a person enough time to "munch" on an idea and you are likely to get a desirable response. There are times when it has taken me months before I am properly able to verbalize an idea that has been floating around in my noggin.
Another reason is mystery. There is something to be said about a person who can communicate an idea through mystery. Mystery keeps stubborn people interested. It causes the inquisitive to be even more inquisitive. Mystery, oddly enough, can, at times, shed more light on an issue than any other element. Those with the motivation or energy enough to investigate this mystery will often uncover more to the idea than would have been seen if it were explained in "plain terms". Remember as a child when someone would start as if to say something only to recant or say, "Naw, I shouldn't say anything." I don't know about you, but it would infuriate me. I would stop at nothing to find out what ever small and insignificant piece of information that was being withheld. Children are stubborn, no? In response to a vague story those with questioning minds are given to the tendency to ask even more than they would otherwise. If one believes that they understand all there is to understand about an issue why would he question any further?
Contrary to my last point, parables can provide even more clarity than a standard explanation. Let us look at the parable of the sower and the different ground. A man was sowing seed an threw seeds this way and that. Some landed in the path while others landed around the thorns. Some found their place on the rocks while still others found themselves on fertile ground. Needless to say this would have left those listening scratching their heads. As they say hindsight is 20/20. We can look at this with (presumed) understanding that those who first heard it did not have. The seeds that landed on the path were eaten by the crows. These crows are the (presumably) people that come after the message is given that discourage any growth or "munching" of the idea of salvation. The stones portion represents those who hear the word but don't bother to "sink their teeth into it." When the hard times come those who have not let it sink to their very core will be shaken in times of hardship. The thorns represent those who hear the word, but become preoccupied with the trappings and problems of this world. The fertile ground represents the minds of those who welcome the message of salvation and let it grow in their hearts. Just saying that there are people who will not "get it" and listing the types is not nearly as detailed as explaining it with the characteristics of soil and plants and animals in terms that the people of the era would identify with.
Also, a well worded parable displays an intimate knowledge and familiarity of and with the ideas being presented. Obviously, Jesus has the best understanding of this out of anyone. I think that it would behoove us as His followers to take another look at the parables that Jesus taught. When was the last time you looked at a parable?
Brownie points go to the people who can site the reason that Jesus actually gave. For much better explanations of the actual parables read the scripture following. My explanations are influenced by a limited mind and a tired body. Jesus is a lot better at explaining it. For the parable of the sower go to Matthew 13. All in all parables are really cool.
Also, I figured I would let you few who read this know that I have started writing a book (again). It is about why I carry. This is partially because I am continuously bothered by people about going to college while, at this point in time, I am totally unable to do so. At the very least, if I do somehow manage to get a book published I can those bothersome people to go read my book. The way it is turning out readers will think me either a completely mad man or someone that does, in point of fact, have an operating brain that does more than just control some involuntary bodily functions like breathing. Now all I have to do is actually finish it.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
We need no higher standard
Recently, I was looking at a website of a particular brand of knife. If you know knives you will know who I mean when I say that they are famous in the worst places. I saw a link on the site and clicked on it and found another rather interesting site. It was not peddling another product or talking about training, but it was a sort of club. It would appear that the members of this interesting little club would think of themselves as modern day nights. I will not comment on whether or not one should do this, though I do think that little point would be interesting to explore in the future, rather, I want to explore another concept put forth on the site. The concept was the following:
Those who seek to do good and who also have a set of skills that are particularly dangerous are to be held to a higher code of conduct.
On the surface I agree, but that is like saying you only like the icing of the cake and don't care for the cake itself. Let us examine the cake though. In implication that may be inferred from this is that those who do not meet the two given requirements do not need to be held to a higher code of conduct. Should this be the case? Should those who seek to do good, but do not have a skill set that is particularly dangerous be held to a lesser standard? Or should those who have a dangerous skill set, but do not seek to do good be held to a code of lesser ethical behavior?
Obviously, this cannot be the case. I think that the statement can be refined to a point where it is valid and accurate. Before I continue further it should be noted that the statement above is not a direct quote. It is the best single sentence that I could use to summarize the concept put forth. I think that all should be held to the same code of conduct. We, in point of fact, are. We will be judged by it after we die. I think that the statement may be altered by eliminating this truely odd implication(though it is one that has been in the circles of warriors for centuries). I think that perhaps it should read in stead that those who possess this intent and skill should be held to a stricter code of conduct. Not higher, but more rigid. Why? The rules governing these should be more unyielding because of the two formerly stated characteristics. They seek to do good. This being the case these must always take into account that even the smallest of actions can have terrible consequences. Thus those who seek to avoid this should do well to hold themselves to a stricter discipline.
Those who possess the ability to kill or maim with ease should also be held to stricter discipline for the very apparent and obvious reason that they are able to do much damage with little and even unintended effort. When the to previously mentioned characteristics have come to fruition in a single individual stricter discipline is required. Desire is a thing easily lost. Even the desire to do what is right can be lost. Having a stricter code of discipline may help to prevent this. If one were to assemble a unit of soldiers who have these two characteristics only to see the aforementioned desire lost we would have something all together different. We would have a group of, what would accurately be called, monsters.
I will go so far even to admit that i have personal experience with this. I have the desire to do the right thing. I also possess the skills and know how required to kill. Neither of these is hard to come by. I also feel the constant pull and tug to altogether forget God and forget family and what is needed. The temptation has been there for sometime now and I think that it may always be there. This is just a point to show that such a rigid structure of discipline is needed.
We need no higher code of conduct. What we are in need of is a higher code of discipline.
Those who seek to do good and who also have a set of skills that are particularly dangerous are to be held to a higher code of conduct.
On the surface I agree, but that is like saying you only like the icing of the cake and don't care for the cake itself. Let us examine the cake though. In implication that may be inferred from this is that those who do not meet the two given requirements do not need to be held to a higher code of conduct. Should this be the case? Should those who seek to do good, but do not have a skill set that is particularly dangerous be held to a lesser standard? Or should those who have a dangerous skill set, but do not seek to do good be held to a code of lesser ethical behavior?
Obviously, this cannot be the case. I think that the statement can be refined to a point where it is valid and accurate. Before I continue further it should be noted that the statement above is not a direct quote. It is the best single sentence that I could use to summarize the concept put forth. I think that all should be held to the same code of conduct. We, in point of fact, are. We will be judged by it after we die. I think that the statement may be altered by eliminating this truely odd implication(though it is one that has been in the circles of warriors for centuries). I think that perhaps it should read in stead that those who possess this intent and skill should be held to a stricter code of conduct. Not higher, but more rigid. Why? The rules governing these should be more unyielding because of the two formerly stated characteristics. They seek to do good. This being the case these must always take into account that even the smallest of actions can have terrible consequences. Thus those who seek to avoid this should do well to hold themselves to a stricter discipline.
Those who possess the ability to kill or maim with ease should also be held to stricter discipline for the very apparent and obvious reason that they are able to do much damage with little and even unintended effort. When the to previously mentioned characteristics have come to fruition in a single individual stricter discipline is required. Desire is a thing easily lost. Even the desire to do what is right can be lost. Having a stricter code of discipline may help to prevent this. If one were to assemble a unit of soldiers who have these two characteristics only to see the aforementioned desire lost we would have something all together different. We would have a group of, what would accurately be called, monsters.
I will go so far even to admit that i have personal experience with this. I have the desire to do the right thing. I also possess the skills and know how required to kill. Neither of these is hard to come by. I also feel the constant pull and tug to altogether forget God and forget family and what is needed. The temptation has been there for sometime now and I think that it may always be there. This is just a point to show that such a rigid structure of discipline is needed.
We need no higher code of conduct. What we are in need of is a higher code of discipline.
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