The Cleft of the Rock

When faced with confusion and trying circumstances, we could choose to direct our anger towards God and complain. But do we even have a right to do this? I'm reminded of the scene from Fiddler on the Roof when Russian soldiers raid and ransack the once happy wedding festivities of a young couple. Afterwards, the father, Reptevia, takes a loaf of bread and with both hands palm-up looks up to the sky and asks his God, over and over, "Why?"

There are times where God allows us be in a sort of free fall over dark waters. The issue is this, will we trust Him? Will we maintain our faith in His goodness and Lordship, saying in all circumstances, I must decrease so that He might increase? Though being at the end of ourselves can be painful and confusing, it is also a very good and safe place to be when we truly trust the Lord and His plans for us. It can be a place of growth and renewal if we but choose to keep our hearts vulnerable to the mysterious ways of the Holy Spirit.

Mere mortals that we are, we cannot even begin to grasp the high nature of God's thoughts. When we are at a crossroads or are met with the fray of a battle, it is tempting to think that God has let go of our lives and has forgotten to lead us by the quiet waters as He promised. But this is never the case. Rather, when turmoil ensues, He will gently place us in the cleft of the rock and cover us with his hand. He is our fierce protector.

I like this bit from A.W. Tozer's Faith: the Misunderstood Doctrine

True faith rests upon the character of God and asks no further proof than the moral perfections of the One who cannot lie. It is enough that God said it, and if the statement should contradict every one of the five senses and all the conclusions of logic as well, still the believer continues to believe. "Let God be true, but every man a liar," is the language of true faith. Heaven approves such faith because it rises above mere proofs and rests in the bosom of God.

Quote Worthy

Three  quotes worth pondering:

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.

~ Hellen Keller

I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly.

~ Jesus

The place God calls you to is the place where your deep

 gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.

~Frederick Buechner

Postmodernism & the Desecration of Frosty the Snowman

I know I'm a few weeks behind the times with this post, but I think it's still relevant. As noted in my previous post, I have been reading The Good Life by Chuck Colson. In his book, Colson discusses truth and whether or not it can indeed be known. He also talks about Postmodernism and it's effect on the way people think and seek truth. In a sense, Postmodernism holds that reality or truth cannot be known objectively, but rather that it is constructed by humans and therefore changes depending on a person's point of view. This view of truth is prevalent throughout our society. According to The Good Life, 64 percent of Americans do not believe that there is such a thing as moral truth.

Postmodernist influence has had a crippling effect on our society. Colson remarks in his book that "the present generation's horizon is limited to accommodation to the way things are. They live within the evil enchantment of believing that finding truth is utterly impossible." I find this to be quite sad. In our heart of hearts, all of us long for a deep, all-fulfilling truth. We seem to be always searching for something, yet can't quite explain what it is. We talk about "keeping it real" and getting to the bottom of things. The foundation. The non-negotiables of life. How devastating it must be to be told that one's innate longings for absolute truth can never be satisfied because there isn't such a thing? Truly it has made my generation despondent and lost, cynical and skeptical of any absolute claims. Undoubtedly there are many falsetruths out there that must be questioned. But does that mean that no truth is believable? That there is no absolute moral truth humanity can stand on? I sure hope not.

In her blog, a friend of mine recently stated that she has "always had the need for concrete answers to things" but that she didn't necessarily feel that need anymore. I wonder why? I agree that there are some mysteries that are inexplicable and beyond our human comprehension. But there are some things we can know. The truth of God's word, for instance. Even if truth seems far out of reach, it is still truth, and always worthy of being sought after.

So what does any of this have to do with Frosty the Snowman? Well in case any readers are not aware, CBS recently made a mash-up of their original children's classic with dialogue from a couple of their sit-coms containing rather foul content and humor. I was especially saddened to hear this knowing that many children would stumble across the videos one way or another and lose some of their precious innocence that seems harder to come by in today's day and age. I happened upon an article reflecting on the Frosty news and it really drilled home to me what Chuck Colson was saying about the effects of postmodernism. The writer of the article thought the videos were funny and enjoyed them, yet he felt upset about them at the same time but couldn't figure out exactly why. Here is what he said:

"My problem is more an intangible gut thing. It doesn't offend me. It just makes me sad. Sad in the way that it does when any comfortably staid institution tries to sex itself up. It's like watching grandpa get a fauxhawk and try to date college girls. I realize it's entirely logically indefensible to say that there should be boundaries of propriety as to who is and isn't allowed to make sex jokes involving beloved children's figures. But there should...It's hypocritical of me, yes. So be it. As much as it cracks me up to see someone render Frosty inappropriate, I somehow want to know that there are some places in the world where Frosty is treated with as much dignity as a snow-golem with a corncob pipe can be."

Incredible, I thought. This guy knows in his gut that something is wrong, yet because he can't "logically defend" it then there is no valid explanation for believing that and his judgment must be dismissed.. That is how postmodernism has affected people's ability to think; it is robbing them of their intrinsic ability to discern good from evil and white-washing everything over with gaudy, fake smiley faces. It's a scary charade in my opinion.

Still, these findings merely spur me on to affirm and deepen my knowledge of real, absolute, universal truth.

Thoughts from The Good Life

My aunt has lent me a wonderful book, The Good Life, by Chuck Colson. I am only about 7 chapters in but I am really loving it. Colson tries his hand at answering questions such as: Why are we here? What is our purpose for living? What IS the 'good life' that everyone seems to want? Is it fame and fortune? Success and leisure? So many questions that really got me thinking. I mean, I know it's not about getting money and gaining renown, but it's hard to live in America, or the world for that matter, and not attribute a good deal of importance to these things.

I thought I knew what my purpose was. I am perfectly capable of touting the popular line "my purpose is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever". Yes. But what does that mean? What does it look like to live the good life? I desperately wish to know and I am anxious to have Colson show me some insights into the matter.

This is what I've gathered so far. Towards the beginning of the book, Colson talks about how we can't find the good life until we acknowledge that we ourselves are not good. Huh? What does that have to do with anything? It's not me I want to look at but the good things out there that I want for myself. That's what "finding the good life" is about, right? Still, Colson says "We have to understand the evil in ourselves before we can truly embrace the good in life". He then gives several stories, his own those of others until you come face to face with your own heart and realize that you, too, are evil and that all humanity is naturally inclined to do bad things. Great. I am a selfish being that thinks only of myself. How can I hope to get out of a vicious cycle that circulates around myself?

Colson shows how people think they know what's best for them - money, a promotion, vacation, whatever, and how they feel pressured to gain those things by family and society in general. But Colson has this to offer: "Freedom lies not in conforming to the world's expectations or even realizing what we take to be our deepest wishes; it lies in following the call on our lives."

Profound. "It lies in following the call on our lives." It's not about acheiving the goals that we think will bring us happiness but rather following that which we are called to do. I don't know about anybody else, but to me this resounds truer than a thousand Chinese gongs. (No I've never heard that many at one time but sounds about right).

Excitedly I read on, wishing to discover this higher calling. Oh, I probably am being called as a missionary to Africa to start an orphanage and help solve the AIDS problem. Or, oh yeah, I know, I should do everything I can to one day run for public office and climb the ladders in politics. Spotlight on me please. Now.

Wait. No, it's not that.

Colson then says this. "Living a meaningful life consists simply in embracing the responsibilities and work given to us, whatever they are." So, working in food service for a year after getting a college degree? Yep.  How about being a part-time secretary and helping my grandparents out at their home? Definitely. Here's me in a small voice "oh". But rather than getting bummed thinking life isn't going to be as glamorous as I've hoped, I start to see what he is getting at.

We were created in the image of God and we were created to work. Simply by putting our two hands to good use and being productive we are fulfilling our purpose. There is immense satisfaction in getting a job done well. The early Americans understood this and their incredible work ethic and appreciation for work in general built America up to what it is today. I have grown up in a time where the cool thing is too slack off, shirk duties and live for leisure and pleasure. I know I have absorbed this mentality and have seen it's slovenly results in my life. I can't deny that it's there. Still, I am fortunate to have also been taught the importance of work and being productive with my time. The greatest challenge for me is fighting the inertia that keeps wanting to take over. I could do this, or I could do that, but it's so much easier to just sit here and do nothing.

Colson said one of the hardest things about being in prison is the forced inactivity. The one thing he feared the most was not having anything to do. He grasped that our fundamental purpose is to work doing that which we are called to do. I hope to learn this lesson once and for all.

More on this later as I progress through the book.

Retort to Dawkins

In a recent interview with CNN, prominent atheist Richard Dawkins said the following:

"Evolution is almost universally accepted among those who understand it, almost universally rejected by those who don't."

For a moment I was enfuriated by his statement, until the following one popped into my head:

"Christianity is almost universally accepted among those who understand it, almost universally rejected by those who don't."

Quid pro quo.

I am not claiming my response as absolute truth, rather as a necessary perspective.

The beginnings of my wonderings

My God owns the cattle on a thousand hills! What's not to wonder about that??

I know that try as I might, I cannot resolve the enigmatic nature of God's extravagant love for me. The greatest insight I will ever have will be but a scratch on the surface.

I cannot understand why God decided to have mercy on me and save me through His grace. I am grieved in knowing how much Christ suffered for me. I am baffled by the way the Holy Spirit speaks to me. I am hopelessly allured by the infinite beauty of the triune God. I can hardly begin to explain the mystery of Christ and the Church.

Amazingly enough - by God's sovereignty - I exist. I have full access to His throne of grace and may approach it with confidence. As long as I continue to walk in the light, there will be new mercies and new wonders to behold. As I am able, I will share them here.

Welcome.