Wed - Thurs

Wow so there’s been a lot that has happened. I’ll provide a short itinerary with humorous side notes and then might make a general comment if that’s alright with you.

Wednesday – Leave Brighton, arrive at Taylor, enjoy time with college friends, regret having to leave after half a day with college friends, go to a movie and Wal-Mart, fall asleep in old roommate’s [air-conditioned] house.

Thursday – Wake up and go to a meeting at 10 am for Ecuador. Quick junk, right? Negative. We don’t finish up until 8 pm that night. Of course there were breaks and Subway and Top-It Pizza but wow that was a lot of Ecuador. It was actually all good to hear I just wish I could have met up with the guys more.

Friday – Meet up at the Ayers building at 8 am. Bagels and whipped cream cheese then off to Indy. Ruf, Brittany, Jordan, Kevin, Prof. Adams, and I hop on our dinky plane to Houston and arrive within a couple hours. Five hours of airport greatness awaits us. Start it off right with some Panda Express and then a lot of mindlessly walking. Airport shops are not half bad. No purchases were made but I was impressed. Aside from the exquisite shopping, the Houston Airport highlight had to have been two groups we saw boarding planes at our gate. Group #1: Mexican deportees headed back home. They seemed nice enough. Group #2: Asian traveling group with fluorescent pink hats and shirts. I believe I have a picture. Board the plane half hour late. No biggie. Sit on plane for three hours waiting for a new computer and software to be loaded on the plane. Biggie. Though life goes on. Arrive in Guayaquil around 3 am. Get to bed by 4:30 am while setting the alarm for 7:30. Those are fun ones.

my previous title was a lie - thoughts on random behavior

[I hesitate to post this essay (?) on this blog. Most of the people who read my myspace blog know my church background and thus know where I'm coming from a little bit more. I think it is clear enough...]

I'm not so sure if I'm keen on the [church?] argument stating "I don't care if I look stupid, God thinks I'm cool" or "I don't care how this looks, God told me to do it."

Let me tell you why.

First, if God were to call me to do something that was ridiculous in nature, I would want to think about whether or not it is drawing people in or creating an erratic image for followers of Christ. In a sense, I want to live by the verse stating "I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." Whatever I do, I want it to be relatable to the people I'm surrounded by. I don't want to get too critical so I guess I'm not saying that God does not call us to do odd things now and then; I just don't like the attitude that we can get of priding ourselves in doing things eccentric in nature.

Second, this is easily used as a cover for our own weirdness. Every time we might get ridiculed for anything, we simply see it as our own personal martyrdom brought on by the local heathen. I don't want to criticize our idiosyncrasies, for that is what makes us individuals, but I don't think we should be blaming our Lord and Savior on our more atypical tendencies. Well… perhaps God can be accredited for creating us unique (with our "atypical tendencies") but I don't think he made our own peculiar behaviors requirements of the Christian faith. Basically, I think Christians get noted for their odd-looking practice of their faith, and then automatically think the critic is "anti-Christian"… which I don't think is the case all the time.

Third, (and this may just be my second point rephrased (I'm not sure…)) this argument has the potential to create a lazy attitude. If we're doing things that we are pre-ordaining by God, we're infallible. Regardless of how well we prepare, act, or whatever we are doing, we set ourselves above critique. Personally, I still think we should be acting out of a sense of excellence (excellence being our highest potential – don't peg me as a perfectionist who looks down on anything short of brilliant).

Let me give a brief example. In high school, I had this image of someone walking down the hallways of school, praying out loud (really loudly), and doing the whole hand on the head thing to cause the whole slain in the spirit thing (I was fresh off of a few trips to [Pentecostal] Brownsville). I just thought if at some point in my high school career I get to this point, I will officially be a super-Christian remembered by students to come (you know, like Jacob Gaines or one of those legends that go down in BCC youth group lore). Now I'm not saying that wouldn't have been a good thing if that happened. I just don't know if it is what God really calls us to. I see a high moral character (something lacking in high school – at least when I was there), a caring/accepting attitude, or a defending of the weak as a stronger statement for the kingdom of God then a big show is.

Alright, I think that's it. If you read all of that and it made sense I believe that is a miracle in itself (it's ten til 3am and the ideas floating around in my head probably aren't all that clear). If my thoughts enlightened, confused, offended or challenged you (or had any other type of effect on you), please comment. Also, I realize I'm immature and have irrational thoughts. Everything that I just said could probably be rebutted with a simple phrase and be proven totally wrong... and that's alright.

My Final (North American) Post

I head off to Taylor tomorrow. Friday I leave for Ecuador.

I'll do my best to post blogs every now and then but that will probably depend on the level of my internet access.

I'm excited to be in a different country. That always brings new and exciting things. Little worried about having to be there for four months. So far in my life I have taken trips. Four months is a bit more than a trip. There isn't really an expectation of returning. A settling in is expected.... and will probably make the return home just as bad as leaving home.

Well, I guess that's all for now. Happy Labor Day, Halloween, Thanksgiving.
Til Christmas.

"Money Makes Me, Me!"

No, this isn't a blog begging for money (although I am accepting donations for the "Josiah's Ecuador Party Money" fund).

As you probably know, I go to a private Christian university known for integrating faith and academics fairly well. This school isn't cheap... so most people attending this school have enough money to live.

I live in a suburban city. I had mulitiple friends in high school who had cars given to them when they turned 16, didn't work during the year, and/or had fairly large houses on one of Michigan's lakes.

Now a pet-peev of mine has always been those kids who have money but don't want to be known as someone with money. Comments like, "C'mon, [insert affluent kid's name], your family is rich, buy me just one burrito." Rich kid replies, "Yeah right! I had to do all the dishes to get this $50 from my Dad!" A disagreement concerning the actual wealth of said family then follows and nothing is really resolved. Let me say this to you, affluent kid, "you have money, deal with it."

But that's not the point of this blog. What I want to address is the kid with not as much as "rich kid." Isn't it funny how we take pride in not having money? I assume this comes from the whole dreamy idea of "rags to riches" where one can claim "I worked my way to where I'm at!" The thought of having any sort of advantage in life is offensive.

I suppose I always put myself in this category because c'mon, I had to pay for movies in high school and chip in for half of my first car! I scrimped and scraped from square one!

The bigger problem I'm seeing here is the financial classification itself. Why do I let myself be defined by how much money I have (or don't have)? What a ridiculous thought it is to believe that the amount of money I have or don't have makes me more or less of a person.

Now I don't want to downplay the words or actions of Jesus. I still think that not only an attitude of dependency on God for material things is required but also a follow-up on that by actually giving and living to/with the poor. It's just dumb how money makes a person in a lot of societies.

For the record, I realize I have money. I live in America - I have money. I go to a private school - I have money. I have a car and am able to put gas in it - I have money.

Where to? Hopefully to a place void of judgement in the monetary sense (or any sense really). Yeah, there's people out there who spend too much (yeah, in the church too). But hey, I mis-spend the bit I have as well. I want to come to the place of being conservative in spending for myself while being extravagant in my spending for others... but I'm not there and even when/if I do get there, I'm sure there'll still be further to go.

I'll end it the same why most of my journal entries have ended recently - Lord, help me.

post -note: (I had all these marvelous thoughts on how this thought would come out so eloquently and make everyone read it go, "wow, that Josiah guy has so many interesting thoughts and puts it so well." Unfortunately, I don't think I've achieved either of those marks. So I apologize for my thoughts being incomplete or totally thought-out and my written word being slightly confusing.)

What is secular?

I heard the term "secular" today. Used in the context that the "secular" world would not change by policies but only by heart change. My question is what is "secular?" Is it that which is "born again?" That which is wholly good?

If we are talking music: When I see Christian music (in the CCM sense), I see cliched lines and generic arrangements that offer glossed over glimpses of life.
If we are talking politics: I see a religious right pushing a select few "moral" issues while ignoring the poor, not taking care of the earth, and yelling rather loudly on Fox News.
If we are talking film: I see low-budget movies with B-level actors giving Sunday School lessons.
If we are talking literature: I see a lot of self-help (nonfiction) and Christians characters solving Full House type problems with a hug at the end (fiction).

When we come to the "secular" community, all these things still remain... but there are a lot more glimpses of hope (in my viewpoint at least). There are innovative musicians pushing the envelope both lyrically and musically, there are politicians with a broad perspective who really want to change for good, there are movies being released that show beauty or real-life in ways that don't hold back, there are authors who aren't afraid to challenge.

Thus far, I would voluteer to be a part of the "secular" community. Being known for sub-par content used to replace the dirty R rated content out there is not something I would like to be known for. Count me out of the "Christian" community.

I know I can't generalize for all of Christian subculture content and I also realize that I am not covering all of culture ... but I think there is some truth to the generalizations made.

David Dark writes in his book The Gospel According to America:

Madeleine L'Engle once helpfully observed that artistic expression is only worthy of the description "Christian" if it's good. And if it is good and therefore truthful, it is, to the believing mind, Christian, unless we believe there's some fragment of truth or beauty that doesn't belong to the Lord. … We get to be people who are less concerned with whether or not they're offended, and more concerned with reorienting their sight to behold the good news of truthful storytelling. (pg 124)

What a mind-altering thought.
I suppose in conclusion, I want to be known for the truth. I want to be known for stuff that is good. There is nothing more Christian than that. Regardless of the label on it. Let's go that direction.

"The Cider House Rules" Commentary

I just watched The Cider House Rules. This move was made a few years back. Stars Tobey Maguire, Michael Caine, Charleze Theoren, and a few others.

It's about an orphanage where Caine is a doctor and head guy (along with his wife and another nurse). He sees Maguire as his son and teaches him everything he knows. Maguire is reluctant to take over his position and goes off by himself for a while. There are quite a number of themes that run throughout this movie (I never want to strip a movie down to one issue). One of the main ones is that of abortion.

Now in the past year or two, I have changed my opinion on a lot of things. I would probably consider myself more of a pacifist now. I would be less harsh on homosexuals in this country than most mid-western, conservative Christians. And I would consider other issues besides the biggies (abortion, homosexuality, war, etc.) that the conservative side seems to focus solely on.

With all that said, I can't see any other way on abortion. Regardless of the circumstances, the possible crummy life of the child, or whatever else a pro-choice advocates would give, I can't see how the ending of someone's life could ever be justified. Cider House does a decent job of creating a situation where an abortion seems necessary and OK... but it's not. The baby is still a person. Correcting one wrong with another one is never OK.

The movie didn't necessarily push this too much but the quality of life for the baby is often used as an argument for abortion. To me, using this logic means we should eliminate practically every third world country, every person with a handicapp or disabilitation, or for that matter, old people. All these people are in dire situations in which there will not be a lot of happiness. Life should still be given a chance.

OK, I'm done.
I'm not big on writing opinion-esque blogs that most people (who might read my blog) will agree with but I thought it good to get my thoughts down. If you have any commentary or objections or whatever... comment.

G'night.

a couple movies you may want to see if you have not already

hey.

couple movie commentaries.

the fountain -
visually stunning.
storyline seemed good but i was tired so i think a re-watch is going to need to happen.
more accessible than aronofsky's other stuff.

jesus camp -
documentary on a rather charismatic church camp for kids.
put together by either non-christians or more liberally thinking christians.
i think it's suppose to be a bit shocking... but the shocking thing to me was that there wasn't a whole lot of shocking stuff to me b/c i'd seen most of it before.
from a non-christian's perspective: the manner these people go about christianity, the extreme fundamentalist views they hold, and other disagreeable things are mixed with christianity and it's hard to see the difference.
i wish christians would be smart. thoughtful. humble. more liberal.
the doc is supported by the christians in it.

junebug -
despite ben mckenzie, i really liked this movie.
an affluent young couple go back to meet the parents (of the man) in the south (or midwest or something).
the man's younger brother has a wife who is very pregnant.
at first, the smalltownness seems outdated, dumb, ridiculous at times.
later, they show a caring side. a deeply spiritual side.
i like that eveyone has multiple sides.
and these signs are seen through family ordeals.

three things

1.
you know what bugs me? when people defend the american way. i understand how it's mind boggling to think that Jesus calls us to a different lifestyle... but why do we get so vehemently opposed to it? how can one deny the fact that identifying with the poor is to identify with Christ? this is what He did. he even says, "whatever you do unto the least of these, you have done unto me."

argument: "living simply is a calling."

my response: how bout we start with simplicity? if God calls us to be wealthy to bless others, He'll do that and we'll be on our way. why do we assume that God wants us all to have everything we could possibly want or imagine (in a material sense)?

let's be open to it.

i think my greatest fear is being successful.

please note: i am a walking contradiction. i say, "let's be poor" and then buy a new camera. i say, "i want to be holy like You are holy, Lord" and then screw up. i plead for action and then get stuck in inaction.
so yes, i by no means have it figured out and working... i know i need to be open to God and this is what i see of God.

--
2.
another thought:
something on my mind has been love. loving the unloved. those who often get cast out (by people in general, by the american church, by college kids, etc. ... basically any group that i fall into that passes judgement)
but then i see the one person i have the hardest time loving. those who aren't for loving. those who see this inclusive love thing as bogus and want nothing to do with it. this is the person i have a hard time loving.... but they still need my love.

to quote numerous bumper stickers and other paraphenalia: LOVE WINS.

--
3.
TRANSFORMERS review:
it amazes me how each summer, the movie peeps think up some movie idea, put in some moderately big stars, some visual effects, and a few hot girls and people come out like it's none other. i guess i like to think that i (as a self-proclaimed film elitist snob) am paying for the experience and not the movie b/c Speilberg knows i don't buy into his hype.
that said, if you like 2 hour GM commercials with great CGI and pretty girls, you'd like this movie.

The Rica Coast

Rosta Cica was great.

It was nice to just be with a group of high schoolers again. I was surprised by the spiritual maturity of a lot of the guys. I was sort of an adult. I also got in trouble (10 guys in a shower at the wrong time as well as 10 guys in a single bunk are dumb ideas).

I feel as though a lot of what I have been learning is to simply love people. Serve them. Smile at them. This is what the gospel is. This is what God's kingdom is. When we do it, we are "pulling" that kingdom to earth. When the chance to go to CR arose, I was in. Like a kid in college who finally gets a job and uses the skills he's been learning, I feel like I could finally put my thoughts into action. And obviously pulling God's kingdom to earth can be done here in Btown too. ... I need to start that.

If you want to hear about my trip, talk to me. There's pictures on Facebook.

pacifism?

I know this is a little out of context but Mclaren talks about the kingdom of God and how Jesus speaks of it coming in our lifetime and we are the ones who usher it in. He writes a chapter on pacifism. He makes three points that I find interesting:

1. "Those committed to nonviolence based on the teaching of Jesus - if they are wrong now - will someday be right. ...we should say they are ahead of their time - and that's not exactly a fault of theirs but of the times" [158].

2. "In times of conflict, whenever we are tempted to label someone as 'enemy' or 'evil,' we must remember Jesus' climactic words in his kingdom manifesto - that enemies are to be loved" [159].

3. "We need to realize that both our enemies and we ourselves have a common enemy: the very internal darkness Jesus' secret message addresses - the dark drives of lust, greed, anger, and hate that thrust us into conflict and war" [160].

It makes me wonder how Biblical the just-war theory is...