on the job

well, i have now spent one day on the job at Calvary Community. pretty crazy that i have a job. i still have no idea what to do, but that will change. i say "still" like i've been at it a long time! gary, the sr pastor, and his wife, diane, who is also on staff as a counselor, have been very nice and i think will make the transition as smooth as possible.

uh....not much more to write.

Revelation, Gas, and Hurricanes

John Walvoord wrote a book a while ago called Armageddon, Oil, and the Middle East. This post is nothing like that book.

In Revelation John the Seer sees a scroll, but no one is able to open it. He weeps because of this until he is shown the Lamb who can open the scroll; the Lamb who can make sense of the scroll. I think the scroll represents history, or the creation, and how what happens in it doesn't make sense. No one is able to "read" history properly, except the conquering Lamb. Only he can make sense of history; only in light of him does it make sense. So, he starts to break the seals--the barriers that make history unintelligible; the things that keep it from making sense. The sixth seal has natural disasters--the sun darkens, the stars fall. This is apocalyptic language describing things that happen in nature (not what will happen, I don't think), and don't make sense. The people cower and run, knowing that God's judgment is coming. So, natural disasters are both "seals" preventing understanding and markers of God's authority.

We have obviously experienced some rather disastrous events lately. Really, it's unfair for me to say "we." I haven't experienced anything at all. Neither has most of the continent. But for some reason, we all fear what is happening. We fear because we are reminded that in spite of 200 years of thinking we master our fate and captain our souls, there are just some things we can't control. Not only that, but there is a deeper sense of this being wrong; of it not being right that we are subjected in this way. Since we cannot control this evil, we need help.

We also fear economic and energy repercussions--even when there are oil companies that could produce a tonne more oil either a) if they wanted to; or b) if they had buyers. So, we rush to fill up cars and other vehicles, even while we buy more expensive gas-guzzlers. We ourselves become the irony: we fear losing energy and yet insist on proving our own stubborness, our own "in controlness," by purchasing massive vehicles that "defy limits." So, the disasters induce fear that remind us we need help, but we act as though we are still in charge of everything. Technology has brought us to a place where if we ever did face a crisis of energy, we would be crippled, but we cozy on up to it all the same because it symbolizes our own dominance.

Going back to Revelation, I suppose we think we have the ability to break the seals--and in a way we do. The only problem is that the seals we break don't have a Lamb whose wounds still show, but a human race still under the thumb of the creation in which it finds itself. The story (and now stories--really post-modernism is still playing on its predecessor's field) we tell of history doesn't have a baby in a manger, and a resurrected Saviour, but a child in a petri-dish, and closed casket.

content to sit behind the fire and watch the shadows

it's a very, very sad state of politics in Canada. the imitation government we have had for twelve years has become the safety blanket our country's child-like citizens don't wish to part with.

against this imitation is another government which actually seeks to serve its people. the provincial gov't in alberta, rather than capitalize on the huge increase in oil prices like the federal gov't (because of its huge gain in tax revenue off gas), the province has decided to REWARD its people. (ironically, the gov't giving to its people now looks strange because the rest of the country [minus quebec and its strange relationship to the federal gov't] has the experience of giving to the gov't.) since it is completely debt-free (the only province in Canada in this position), alberta has the freedom to help itself with a $400 cheque to every woman, man, and child in the province. now, naturally, living with an imitation gov't for twelve years has made some people think this is the wrong idea. premier Ralph Klein's response? "no one is under any obligation to take the money." beautiful. simply beautiful. the freedom lies within the power of the people to respond to the work of gov't...if they disagree with a province giving back to its people they are able to exercise this freedom by rejecting the gift. let's see how many really consider this a bad idea by not putting their herbie hancock on the back and strolling to the bank.

and yet the country is poised to sweep the Liberals to another majority gov't. it is now time to stop arguing rationally about why this is the case. there is no rationale. the reason the Liberals are about to sweep to victory again is because about 40% of the country has mistook the shadow for reality--a deception it has *accepted* because it's easier to operate out of laziness than hard work, out of ignorance than criticism, and fear than courage.

rematch

new england beat pittsburgh last year in the afc championship in a game that was so obviously tilted in their favour that i can barely stomach it.

let me mention a few:
1. a holding call on aaron smith on a 3rd and 17 in the third quarter that was terrible. ne would score on that drive.

2. a fumble that was not called a fumble, ruling the ne player down. this was right after the above terrible call.

3. the game was in pittsburgh where pittsburgh chokes in afc championship games.

but this year isn't last year and this pittsburgh team is used to winning. that makes a big difference. methinks the big-bad pats are going to look not so bad and ugly with a 1-2 record in 6 days' time.

seeing God at work

i have been thinking about seeing God at work in the world. i think he's surprising in where and how and through whom he's working. i have been thinking about the movement to end poverty in Africa started by a singer and some of his cronies. that this movement could become popular and chic and very grass roots....how could God not be in this?

various things

1. i didn't know one could breathe and survive on methane gas instead of oxygen, but the Liberal party of Canada has had nothing else to breathe with their heads up their butts for the last 12 years...and they're still alive. the effects may be showing, though.

2. my new razor is sweet.

3. i got a webcam for $25. THUMBS up to my brother PAUL for getting it.

anyone who responds to this is a moron

take this you stupid blogger spammers! question: why would anyone insist on doing things that make people hate them? people are stupid.

THUMBS UP to MATT ROSE for a funny response.

now, let's all mock this NON-SENSICAL post from a blog spammer:

Please remember to never
restrict anyone's opportunities
for ascertaining uninterrupted
existence for their quintessence.

MY RESPONSE: ??????????????????????????????????? (and lose the split infinitive! BURN!)

employed

i am now employed. well, almost. i have accepted a position at calvary community church in johnson city, ny. i'm pretty pumped about it. i am now waiting until the paperwork comes through to get my visa and actually have a job.

THUMBS UP to ashton kutcher for this sweet quote: You don't burn someone who's already crying.

breaking generation gaps

my uncle sang a song today in an annual cemetery service. he sang "Old Country Church." it was a real eye opener to know he was singing a song that resonated with me, surrounded by people he knew who had passed away and were buried in the cemetery. the song talked about how he wanted to be with his friends, gathered in worship in a place that was like home. i'm like my uncle.

i think i hate blogs

i think i hate blogs. my own included. not all of them, mind you, but some of them. some all the time; some some of the time. ah well, i'll get over it.

thumbs up to my brother tim for getting a new van.
thumbs down to duce staley for being inactive AGAIN.

i am blogging from my brother tim's computer. he made me say that. he's a good brother. (he made me say that, too.)

just finished Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Pretty good. I am not convinced Snape is a bad guy--but he makes a terrific bad guy, so it may be best to leave him as such. (Kudos to Darren for making me think of that.) best part about the book was that it gave me a release from reality. i find myself with a heavy heart right now, but i'm not sure why. the book gave me an out from these feelings and even an avenue for them...one of the things good books do.

side thought: the reason you can't be (strictly) an idealist is because God is active and idealism (often) ends in never-ending discussion.