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Ramblings
Official B.S.
10.01.08 | Permalink | 5 CommentsYes, that’s right. Belief System.
I think it’s probably a good idea to get some of my core beliefs in writing. You know - to let people know that I actually have some. Why should you care? I’ll assume you don’t. But it’s like putting a public declaration in the classifieds section of the newspaper. It’s for me. It’s a written record. It’s also a way for you to come back and call me out if I change my mind or screw up. Lucky me.
Maybe I’ll write a mission statement as well in an upcoming post. Maybe it will be worthy of engraving on a placard or something that I can put on my desk.
I’m going to start out simple. It may seem random, but it’s a start.
OBS - Part 1
- I believe that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob - known as Yahweh - is the one true God. There may be others, but none come before Him.
- I believe that there is no positive version of the afterlife that does not include that God. I believe that after death, you will be either a) be with God in Heaven, b) be without God in Hell or c) your soul will completely cease to exist.
- I believe in the separation of church and state. I think this benefits the state, but more importantly, it benefits the church.
- I believe that abortion past a certain stage of development is murder, and should be allowed only in emergency situations. I do not know what that stage is, so I’ll just leave it at that and thank God that I will never personally have to make that judgement call.
- I believe that gays should be allowed to be legally married in the eyes of the United States government. The fact that I am personally opposed to the lifestyle, and that it does not conform to my view of biblical marriage, does not mean that gays should not be given the same financial considerations that I enjoy as a citizen.
- I believe that you will certainly go to hell if you watch too much reality tv.
- I believe cussing is ok if it’s after 10 pm and you don’t take the Lord’s name in vain.
- I believe in protecting our borders.
- I believe the war in Iraq was a mistake.
- I believe in the right to bear arms.
- I believe I can fly.
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Ramblings
You Can’t Buy Coconuts at the Christmas Tree Farm.
09.30.08 | Permalink | 3 CommentsI have a hard time with absolutes. I wish I could just settle on an opinion and be done with it. The problem is that I am afraid that if I’m not careful, I will begin to add significance to my opinions because they are part of my Official Belief System. Pretty soon, instead of starting your arguments with “I think” or “I believe”, you start them with, “I know.” At that point, you’ve started to believe your own hype.
The problem, though, is that it can be tiring (and uncomfortable) to sit on the fence all the time. It’s not that I simply want to make everyone happy or that I am trying to avoid offending anyone - that’s not it. It’s just that I believe that most of the time, each side of an argument on religion, politics, life, love, and the pursuit of happiness is partially based in truth - or is at least well-intentioned. I also believe that the middle is often the closest to the truth. The way I see it, I should constantly be able to consider any opposing viewpoint without it threatening my core values. Admittedly, that can be a little dangerous. Imagine allowing all spam into you inbox on the off chance that you might find something enlightening.
But here’s the deal. The old adage that “if you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything” has some merit as well. It may not be what you stand for, but that you stand for something. I don’t know. Makes me suspicious. Right is right, and wrong is wrong. My opinion and what I choose to integrate into my Official Belief System, is really irrelevant. After a while, I may begin to confuse my opinions with fact. Again - dangerous. But you have to start somewhere. Maybe I should start to assemble my OBS here on this blog.
Too closeminded or too openminded?
Probably somewhere in the middle…
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Ramblings
Perspective.
I’m anxious. Much less so than I used to be, but I still struggle with anxiety. Thank God for leading me to a solution that minimizes my problem and suppposedly adjusts my brain chemistry. Those of you that dismiss the concept of restoring chemical imbalances through medication should talk to my wife. She can provide you with some before-and-after testimonials. I am aware that medication of this nature can easily be mis-prescribed or over-prescribed, but I do my best to be responsible about it.
A well-respected minister I know once said that SSRI-class (anxiety, depression) drugs are a form of witchcraft . That’s when I decided I didn’t respect him much anymore. Oh well. There are plenty of other ministers I like better anyway.
Anyway. Perspective.
I waste a lot of time because I lose perspective. My anxiety builds when an upcoming event or reaction that I don’t control looms in front of me. The control aspect is key. Some of the most common sources of anxiety don’t give me much of a problem. Speaking or performing in front of people doesn’t really bother me, for instance. My speech or performance is something I completely control, so I don’t sweat it. However, when a (usually human) variable that I can’t predict enters the equation, I worry obessively. How will this person react? Will their reaction put me in an embarrassing position? What if this person doesn’t act rationally? I am extremely sensitive to social dynamics. Events that disrupt normal social interaction are terrifying to me.
Needless to say, I have spent a lot of time worrying in my life. My dad once told me that I should always apply the “what’s the worst that can happen” test. I think about that a lot. So what if they react irrationally - what’s the worst that can happen? So you get fired, lose a friend, or make some stranger mad at you. Big deal. You can get a new job, make new friends, and there are certainly plenty of strangers out there. That was one of the best pieces of advice I ever received. But the thing is, even when I rationalize these things in my head, the anxiety persists. Less so now - due to the aforementioned supplements, but it persists nonetheless.
As much as I try, I can’t always gain perspective of my situation. This is a dangerous condition.
I think we as a church sometimes lose perspective as well. What does God really care about? What does he think of our quibbling over minor doctrinal or holiness intepretations? What does he think about the division amongst the church body. What does he think of our priorities in general?
God, help me step back and learn to recognize what is important — Oh, and by the way, thanks for the pills.
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Ramblings
Saturation.
07.01.08 | Permalink | 3 CommentsI am saturated with information. I have everything at my fingertips. I want new music, I download it. I want to watch a movie, I stream it. I want to learn guitar, I download tabs. I want to learn new software, I download tutorials. I want to track my friends, I follow them on Twitter. I want to chat with them, I use Google Talk. Any viral video is available at any time. Everything I want to know about anything is on wikipedia. I check my Blackberry compulsively. I literally have no limitations. I can find, get, learn, anything. Anything.
It’s too much.
It is during these moments when I realize I can do anything, that I find myself wondering why I’m doing nothing. There are so many things I can be doing, that I need to be doing, and yet sometimes I can’t do anything. I’m bloated with possibilities. I’m stalled. Who would have thought even 20 years ago that the quest for knowledge could become so easy, so mundane and so overwhelming - so much so that it would lose it’s value.
God, with everything that I have available to me, it can be easy to de-prioritize Your role in my life. There will always be more material things that I can attain, and more personal goals that I can achieve. But don’t let me lose my place. Don’t let me lose my focus.
Saturation.
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