What story are you telling?

What story are you telling? from Rhetorik Creative on Vimeo.

Donald Miller on Theology

A few weeks ago we were looking at theology (among other things) as an idol during the "Chasing after Religion" portion of our Yellow House study on idolatry. We talked a bit about how theology and religion could simply become a search for knowledge instead of experiencing a relationship with Christ. And beyond that, how arguing about issues in theology instead of discussing them reasonably and with respect and love for the other party will only serve to push others away, not to mention causing unnecessary divisions in the Body of Christ. All this resulting in us idolizing our own understanding of theology instead of maintaining our focus on God.

Donald Miller posted a blog post along the same lines today. It's from the new introduction to his re-released book "Searching for God Knows What" (which now I want to go read again.) Here are a couple excerpts from the post.

"You might think I am saying truth should be thrown out, that theology doesn’t matter. But this is not what I’m saying at all. What I’m intending to illustrate is our drive to define God with a mathematical theology has become a false God rather than an arrow that points to the real God. Theology can become an idol, but it is more useful as guardrails on a road to the true God. Theology is very important, but it is not God, and knowing facts about God is not the same as knowing God."

"What I came to understand, then, is Christian conversion is relational. It is not theological or intellectual any more than marriage is theological or intellectual."

"Can a person have bad theology and be a Christian?

Has your theology ever been corrected, and were you really a Christian before?

Is your theology all worked out now so you have no more reason to study, and if not, are you a Christian?

If you believe a person’s theology has to be right to be qualified for Christian conversion, then you are saying a person comes to know God, in part, because he has right ideas, and I respectfully disagree. Do I think right theology is important? Absolutely, but I do not believe it has any agency to convert anymore than directions to the doctor’s office have the power to heal.

I have a friend who countered, adamantly, that unless a person understood and agreed with the theological idea of total depravity, he could not be a Christian. I asked my friend when it was that he understood the idea himself, and he answered his sophomore year in seminary. I asked him, then, when he had become a Christian, and he told me when he was in the third grade. His reasoning was obviously insane, and I don’t think he is alone."

"What I’m saying, though, is that God doesn’t exclude someone from his saving grace because they don’t have the correct theological checklist. And for those of us who judge and condemn them, why would we stand in opposition when the God we love and serve is himself so adamant about being in relationship with them just as He is with us?"

A Bible for all ages

A book I ordered from Amazon came in the mail for me this week and I'm pretty excited about it: The Jesus Storybook Bible (written by Sally Lloyd-Jones.) That's right, I ordered a children's Bible. As an avid reader growing up who had at least 3 children's picture Bibles that I can remember, I have to say that this one is better than all of them. We've been using it all year long in teaching the 4 & 5 yr old class at ECC and I've fallen in love with it's method of storytelling--it connects every story back to Jesus. Also, its illustrations are pretty great too. Here, let me show you just a bit of why I really like it. This is from the introduction:

Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what he has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but (as you'll soon find out) most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are downright mean.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back his long treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves his palace, his throne--everything--to rescue the one he loves. It's like the most wonderful of fairy tales that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is -- it's true!
There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves his children and comes to rescue them.

I just had to get it, because as much as I love reading it, it's best when shared with some kiddos. And at some point I'm banking on the fact that I'll have some to read it to, whether they're my own or cousins or nieces and nephews or neighbor kids or whoever.

A good book has no ending.

Classes are over, grading is finally done, and only one more day in the lab until I take off for a getaway in the country. Time for a little reading... for FUN! Here's my stack of books for the break (which I'm betting is a mere tenth of the stack of books that Beth is planning to read during break ;) )
Evolution under the Microscope (Swift). I borrowed this one from Doug in April. Yeah... April. Totally interested in the subject, I just find it hard to motivate myself to pick up a dense science text when I get home after I've been thinking about science all day! Must finish it. Seriously (And discuss)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Rowling). Probably my 4th go through this one. Love it. "I open at the close." GAH.

Old Testament Turning Points (Matthews). Required reading for the OT seminar at ECC in early February. With two classes, teaching, and research next semester, I'd better get this one finished now.

The Return of the King (Tolkien). I've been promising all the LOTR summer book club friends that I would read this so that we could all watch the movie together soon. I will make good on this promise. :) I go to find the sun. (Out of all the LOTR quotes why is this the one that sticks in my head?! I have no idea, but I like it.)

The House at Pooh Corner (Milne). A birthday gift from a friend. I've been reading snippets before bed this week and totally enjoying Milne's whimsy.

And as is typical of me... since I can't pick just one to start with... and have to have a book for every mood, I'm at least halfway through three of them.

The 'appearance' of wisdom

How does the perception of image affect our recognition and respect of wisdom?

I've been tossing this question around in my head ever since we discussed Tom Bombadil at LOTR book club awhile back. Someone mentioned Tom's knowledge and/or wisdom and it caught me a little off guard because I didn't see him in that light. I found Tom to be an intriguing and entertaining character and while he did get the hobbits out of a couple tight corners, I still viewed him as more of a silly character. He kind of reminded me of Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum in Alice in Wonderland--appearing as if from nowhere in the forest, singing merry tunes of nonsense. But that made me think: did I miss something? Was I disregarding what Tom had to offer simply because he was singing silly songs in his big yellow boots? And overall, do I/we miss out on learning from others because they don't look or act quite like we think they should?

Here's an example from another one of my favorites:

This asteroid has only once been seen through the telescope. That was by a Turkish astronomer, in 1909. On making his discovery, the astronomer had presented it to the International Astronomical Congress, in a great demonstration. But he was in Turkish costume, and so nobody would believe what he said. Grown-ups are like that... Fortunately, however, for the reputation of Asteroid B-612, a Turkish dictator made a law that his subjects, under the pain of death, should change to European costume. So in 1920 the astronomer gave his demonstration all over again, dressed with impressive style and elegance. And this time everybody accepted his report.
-From The Little Prince, by Antoine de St Exupery.

On the same note, I'm much more likely to give creedence to someone like Gandalf. With his tall pointed hat, long grey cloak, "long white beard and bushy eyebrows that stuck out beyond the brim of his hat" than Tom with his yellow boots, singing "Hey dol! merry dol! ring a dong dillo!" Gandalf's appearance and entrance are more sober, classic, grown-up.... socially acceptable by our standards. And beyond that, bits of wisdom are laced through his conversations. I think if this were not the case, that is if his conversations were filled with foolish statements and dishonesty, it would quickly discredit him despite his appearance. However, since this is not the case, his appearance strengthens his overall reputation.

First impressions based on appearance definitely have the opportunity to guide our perceptions of people. And it's necessary, I think for us to be able to make reasonably quick decisions and judgements about the validity of a person/problem/situation. But, how can we be more cognizant of socially and culturally enforced ideals, so as not to trust or distrust based heavily on appearance or image? Still tossing it around, with probably more posts to come... thoughts?

Pursuing it with eager feet, until it joins some larger way

I'm reading LOTR for the first time this summer with a group of friends and quite enjoying it thus far. So before I get much further into it, here are a few favourites. (And a few extra 'u's thrown in, in honor of Tolkien. :) )

Fellowship, Book 1, Ch I-IV
Favourite character: Gandalf
Quote: Gandalf on Gollum

"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be so eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

Fellowship, Book 1, Ch V-XII
Favourite character: Aragorn
Quotes: Aragorn

"'But I must admit,' he added with a queer laugh, 'that I hoped you would take to me for my own sake. A hunted man sometimes wearies of distrust and longs for friendship.'"

"'But I am the real Strider, fortunately,' he said, looking down at them with his face softened by a sudden smile. 'I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.'"

Fellowship, Book 2, Ch I-III
Favourite characters: Gandalf, Aragorn, Elrond
Quotes: Gandalf, Elrond

"'Despair or folly?' said Gandalf. 'It is not despair, for despair is only for those who see the end beyond all doubt. We do not. It is wisdom to recognise necessity, when all other courses have been weighed, though as folly it may appear to those who cling to false hope."

"The road must be trod, but it will be very hard. And neither strength nor wisdom will carry us far upon it. This quest may be attempted by the weak with as much hope as the strong. Yet such is oft the course of deeds that move the wheels of the world: small hands do them because they must, while the eyes of the great are elsewhere."

Unique in all the world

From The Little Prince by Antoine St Exupery, Ch 21:

[background: The little prince is from a planet that is only occupied by him, a rose--his only friend, and pesky baobab trees. He goes on a journey which eventually leads him to Earth. Along the way he learns many life lessons, among them those about the importance of friendship.]

The little prince went away, to look again at the roses.

"You are not at all like my rose," he said. "As yet you are nothing. No one has tamed you, and you have tamed no one. You are like my fox when I first knew him. He was only a fox like a hundred thousand other foxes. But I have made him my friend, and now he is unique in all the world."

And the roses were very much embarassed.

"You are beautiful, but you are empty," he went on. "One could not die for you. To be sure, an ordinary passerby would think that my rose looked just like you--the rose that belongs to me. But in herself alone she is more important than all the hundreds of you other roses: because it is she that I have watered; because it is she that I have put under the glass globe; because it is she that I have sheltered behind the screen; because it is for her that I have killed the caterpillars (except the two or three that we saved to become butterflies); because it is she that I have listened to, when she grumbled, or boasted, or ever sometimes when she said nothing. Because she is my rose.
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"It is the time you have wasted for your rose that makes your rose so important."[said the fox]

"It is the time I have wasted for my rose--" said the little prince, so that he would be sure to remember.

"Men have forgotten this truth," said the fox. "But you must not forget it. You become responsible, forever, for what you have tamed. You are responsible for your rose . . ."

Fauns, Dryads, SPIRITUAL TRUTH!

(1:45-2:21 in particular)

I somehow missed the Narnian bandwagon while growing up, so I'm working on catching up now. Books first, then movies. I just finished watching The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. I quite enjoyed it, although I was disappointed that one of my favorite quotes from the book was skipped over:

"Then he [Aslan] isn't safe?" said Lucy.
"Safe?" said Mr. Beaver; "don't you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you."

They did include a different version of the conversation with Lucy and Mr. Tumnus at the end, but I don't think it holds the same weight.

Some of the symbolism is so much stronger when seen live. For example, when Aslan breathes on Mr. Tumnus to bring him back to life, Tumnus makes all sorts of crackling, icy noises while thawing out. At this point, Kendal commented, "That would be painful... unfreezing..." Yes, absolutely! If we're being literal, thawing out totally hurts; think about coming in from the cold and your fingers and toes warming back up. It actually hurts. But looking beyond the obvious, being brought from death back to [spiritual] life, continually molded by the Spirit into a different person than you were before, and fighting against our human nature. The sanctification process can definitely be uncomfortable and even painful, but totally and completely worth it.

There is no frigate like a book...

I was one of those kids who always had her nose stuck in a book--on the school bus, in the car, at recess. I love books. The stories, the characters, problems, resolutions, relationships--I can get lost in it all. I'm thankful for the printing press and the fact that books of all sorts are all readily available at the nearest library or bookstore. Not to mention the fact that we have the privilege of having God's Word in print to read and study for ourselves.

Lately, I've only been able to read science journal articles (aside from a couple weeks ago when I managed to make it through the first 20 pages of Pride and Prejudice before falling asleep on the couch.) Christmas break is prime time to read to my heart's desire, but I need suggestions! I'm game for just about anything: fiction, non-fiction, history, biography, poetry... So if you have any ideas I would be happy to hear them. :)

There is no frigate like a book
To take us lands away,
Nor any coursers like a page
Of prancing poetry.
This traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of toll;
How frugal is the chariot
That bears a human soul!
-Emily Dickinson

Lessons on Building Friendship and Trust

October 27, 2008

More to come on beauty soon, but I was just reminded of this part of Le Petit Prince this evening and felt the need to share. This may be a children's book but it is filled with wisdom. Oh, and it's better in French too. :)

"Come and play with me," proposed the little prince. "I am so unhappy."

"I cannot play with you," the fox said. "I am not tamed."

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"My life is very monotonous," the fox said. "I hunt chickens; men hunt me. All the chickens are just alike, and all the men are just alike. And, in consequence, I am a little bored. But if you tame me, it will be as if the sun came to shine on my life. I shall know the sound of a step that will be different from all the others. Other steps send me hurrying back underneath the ground. Yours will call me, like music, out of my burrow. And then look: you see the grain-fields down yonder? I do not eat bread. Wheat is of no use to me. The wheat fields have nothing to say to me. And that is sad. But you have hair that is the color of gold. Think how wonderful that will be when you have tamed me! The grain, which is also golden, will bring me back the thought of you. And I shall love to listen to the wind in the wheat..."

The fox gazed at the little prince, for a long time.

"Please — tame me!" he said.

"I want to, very much," the little prince replied. "But I have not much time. I have friends to discover, and a great many things to understand."

"One only understands the things that one tames," said the fox. "Men have no more time to understand anything. They buy things all ready made at the shops. But there is no shop anywhere where one can buy friendship, and so men have no friends any more. If you want a friend, tame me..."

"What must I do, to tame you?" asked the little prince.

"You must be very patient," replied the fox. "First you will sit down at a little distance from me — like that — in the grass. I shall look at you out of the corner of my eye, and you will say nothing. Words are the source of misunderstandings. But you will sit a little closer to me, every day..."

The next day the little prince came back.

"It would have been better to come back at the same hour," said the fox. "If, for example, you come at four o'clock in the afternoon, then at three o'clock I shall begin to be happy. I shall feel happier and happier as the hour advances. At four o'clock, I shall already be worrying and jumping about. I shall show you how happy I am! But if you come at just any time, I shall never know at what hour my heart is to be ready to greet you... One must observe the proper rites..."

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So the little prince tamed the fox.

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"Goodbye," said the fox. "And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

Le Petit Prince (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

Book Review: The Language of God

I finally finished "The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief" by Francis S. Collins. I was really anxious to read this book... there's a chapter entitled 'Life on Earth: Of Microbes and Man' --right up my alley. :) Collins was the head scientist working on the Human Genome Project. Through the HGP (working draft completed in 2000, and final in 2003), scientists now have access to the instruction manual to the human body. Your genome contains every bit of DNA you have: genes, non-coding regions, and regulatory sequences; it's all there, the instructions that make your body run. But not only is Collins a scientist, he is a Christian.

Collins opens and closes the book with his testimony. He begins by briefly explaining his journey from atheism to belief in God. The last chapter (and possibly my favorite) focuses on how he progressed from belief in God to embracing Christ as Savior. In between Collins contemplates how faith in God and faith in science can harmoniously exist in one person without compromising either. He spends much of the book looking at scientific evidence for creation of the universe, possibility of miraculous events that surpass the laws of nature, and evolution of living things on earth. This doesn't surprise me at all considering that this seems to be where most scientists balk when considering belief in a supernatural being. Collins pulls information from Scripture (obviously), prominent believers from St. Augustine to CS Lewis, and scientists from Galileo to Newton. He presents his evidence well and in a manner that is reader-friendly to those without a scientific background. He is writing to scientists and believers alike, asking them to pause their protests long enough to listen to what the other side has to say before claiming irreconcilable differences.

One point that is quite necessarily made is that science can only go so far. Collins calls on Stephen Jay Gould's words for this one:

To say it for all my colleagues and for the umteenth millionth time: Science simply cannot by its legitimate methods adjudicate the issue of God's possible superintendence of nature. We neither affirm it nor deny it; we simply can't comment on it as scientists.

You tell 'em, Stephen. Take that, Richard Dawkins. Science has limits (1). It cannot test the existence of God or His role in creation. Therefore, you cannot legitimately say that evolution demands atheism, as Dawkins so prominently does. Science only goes so far before faith must step in, and rightly so.

I must admit that my thoughts on the relationship between God and evolution are muddy to say the least. I have been a Christian several years longer than I have been a scientist. But what I have found as a scientist has only strengthened my faith and trust in God. I study God's creation and see firsthand the intricacies of nature, but again, science can only go so far. I can look at all the data I want, but really my faith in God comes from the way I've seen Him work in my life. It's that kind of observation that shows me the God I worship, not scientific experimentation. I am not the same person I was 10 years ago when I accepted Christ. Obviously part of that stemming from the huge difference between 12 and 22, but there is a BIG difference in how I view the world, the way I treat others around me, and what I view as important that has nothing to do with my age. These things can only be explained by Christ's work on my heart. I won't delve further into it now, but if you have questions feel free to ask.

I have other thoughts on the book, but I won't bore you with them. If you want to discuss though, I'd be happy to. I would suggest reading it, but keep in mind that this is one guy's thoughts. Make your own decisions. I'll leave you with this quote from Collins:

Science cannot be used to justify discounting the great monotheistic religions of the world, which rest upon centuries of history, moral philosophy, and the powerful evidence provided by human altruism. It is the height of scientific hubris to claim otherwise. But that leaves us with a challenge: if the existence of God is true (not just tradition, but actually true), and if certain scientific conclusions about the natural world are also true (not just in fashion, but objectively true), then they cannot contradict each other. A fully harmonious synthesis must be possible.

[(1) In order for something to be tested scientifically there must be: a hypothesis, an experiment to test the hypothesis, and the experiment must be repeatable for the data to be considered reliable. The hypothesis must be able to be falsified. In general, a hypothesis can be rejected or supported by the results, not proven. More info on the scientific method here.]

Lost in the words

People become fascinated with pictures and words, and wind up forgetting the Language of the World. --The Alchemist (Coelho)

So true. I count myself one of them. I've been thinking lately about how often my nose is stuck in a book or my eyes are behind a camera lens. It's true that pictures and words have their merits: knowledge, creativity, emotion. But am I missing out on living because I'm trying to capture the perfect Kodak moment? Am I ignoring the wisdom that comes through experience by living others' lives vicariously through books? I wouldn't take it that far--at least not for myself, but it is good, I think, to keep myself in check. So that I remember to lay down the books and camera and just enjoy living in the moment. Ironically, I haven't been able to get my camera to work for the last month or so. :)

Didn't have my camera by my side this time
Hoping I would see the world through both my eyes
--"3x5" (John Mayer)