So, we've been working on our garden and so far everything has grown beyond our expectations--until today. We were hit with an extended storm that was too much for our babies. Our stakes and string could not support the 6foot-plus tomato plants, and so most of them fell over. Now, being an optimist let me state:
1) The plants grew way taller than expected.
In this regard we did it right.
2) Since the plants fell over, we harvested an impressive early crop.
We left a lot more on the plants until we decide what to do.
At the same time, all is not well in the garden.
1)I have to figure out what to do with
these nearly crippled tomato plants and fast.
2)Trapped under the tomatoes are a couple pepper plants and some herbs.
Hopefully they will be salvageable.
3)This happened because I underestimated the plants.
If they had been caged or
fenced we'd be in good shape and all the plants
probably would have grown like crazy from the rain.
So, what did we learn from all this?
1)When it comes to gardening--plan plan plan. We actually did a lot of this but we did not
2)Expect big things. Because I was sheepish in this regard, I wasn't prepared. We should always be ready for the best possible scenario.
Now as a theologian, I would be remiss not to connect this garden catastrophe to the spiritual life.
What is true in the garden is true with God. Those who are spiritually inclined know all about planting seeds and tending and waiting for growth. A lot of times, people start out fast and then as soon as the storm comes they wither because the appropriate support isn't in place. This is my first connection. Sounds like thttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5109135718941244358he parable of the sower, eh? (Matt 13:3-23; Mk 4:2-20; Lk 8:4-15 ish)
Secondly, my expectations with the garden were low and then I was taken by surprise and then I wasn't prepared for the abundant growth. As a result, I'll probably lose the bulk of the tomatoes and possibly several other plants. Today, the thought of miracles seems quaint. I've seen so many awful things in my life that the idea of a massive religious encounter seems impossible. It may be that those miracles do exist, but they begin as seeds. We plant them-maybe. We tend them-sometimes. We see our expectations exceeded-rarely. So, miracles may be happening all the time, but we don't let them grow.
So, if you take nothing else, expect and be ready for great things.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
How Harold Camping & Family Radio Got it Wrong
One of the key passages that influence the estimated end times date of May 21, 2011 is taken from 2 Peter 3:8 "But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day."
However, what is faulty is the interpretation of this verse. The thousand years must be taken literally for the prediction to hold true in conjunction with this verse from the story of Noah:
For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." Gn 7:4
The premise for the prediction is that the Noah story prefigures the end time story. So, 7 days for Noah = 7,000 years for us because of the verse in 2 Peter.
HOWEVER, there is a problem. If you look at the context of the thousand years in 2 Peter 3. It is not meant to be taken literally, but as a figure of speech warning against trying to judge God's time table based on our time table. Below, I've highlighted the key points in context.
2 Peter 3
1. This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you
2. that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles.
3. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts
4. and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!"
5. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,
6. through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.
7. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.
8. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
9. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
11. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,
12. waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?
13. But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
14. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;
15. and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
16. speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.
17. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.
18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
As with most things up for interpretation, it would be easy to see the idea that we won't know the end until it is revealed, and that may be so. However, to take 1,000 years literally in this passage is quite a stretch.
Such a literal interpretation of the scriptures can be dangerous and in some cases, even silly. Does anyone really take seriously the visions of Ezekiel or Daniel? No, they are purely symbolic. Harold Camping would say the same thing. The same is true in 2 Peter 3. Only Camping & Co. would disagree.
However, what is faulty is the interpretation of this verse. The thousand years must be taken literally for the prediction to hold true in conjunction with this verse from the story of Noah:
For in seven days I will send rain on the earth for forty days and forty nights; and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground." Gn 7:4
The premise for the prediction is that the Noah story prefigures the end time story. So, 7 days for Noah = 7,000 years for us because of the verse in 2 Peter.
HOWEVER, there is a problem. If you look at the context of the thousand years in 2 Peter 3. It is not meant to be taken literally, but as a figure of speech warning against trying to judge God's time table based on our time table. Below, I've highlighted the key points in context.
2 Peter 3
1. This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you; in them I am trying to arouse your sincere intention by reminding you
2. that you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken through your apostles.
3. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts
4. and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!"
5. They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water,
6. through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished.
7. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.
8. But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
9. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance.
10. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
11. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness,
12. waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire?
13. But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
14. Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;
15. and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
16. speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures.
17. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability.
18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
As with most things up for interpretation, it would be easy to see the idea that we won't know the end until it is revealed, and that may be so. However, to take 1,000 years literally in this passage is quite a stretch.
Such a literal interpretation of the scriptures can be dangerous and in some cases, even silly. Does anyone really take seriously the visions of Ezekiel or Daniel? No, they are purely symbolic. Harold Camping would say the same thing. The same is true in 2 Peter 3. Only Camping & Co. would disagree.
Monday, May 2, 2011
Sunburn and the Spiritual Journey
For months we've been planning our outdoor garden. We started tons of plants inside in March and have been waiting for the day. Yesterday was that day. With the raised bed filled with soil and broken up, we were ready to go, but we got off to a late start, and for all our plans we weren't quite ready when we stood in front of the plot.
So, we grabbed a corner and started planting. After a couple hours, the job was finished and all those tiny plants that sat in our windows looking impressive, now looking like tepid weeds waiting to be pulled up for their annoyance.
Within hours of finishing a couple things were clear:
Carrots and peas don't transplant well.
Even on a cool day, the bright sun is hot.
That sun will, in fact, burn you.
I had forgotten sunblock, and so at the end of the day I was sore and tired and red. So, skin burned and lesson learned.
In a sense, the same is true in the spiritual journey. In my life, I have had the joys of a spontaneous conga line in church. I've been part of worship teams, drama groups, prayer teams, bible studies, and a Sunday school teacher. It is a part of my life that I really do love. At the same time, I've felt betrayed by church leaders, disappointed with sermons, misled by church friends, and the odd person out of retreat four square.
Through it all, I need to remain hopeful. The church is imperfect because people are imperfect. To expect more is asking too much of the church and of ourselves. I can't remember the last time I was perfect. The spiritual journey winds as maddeningly as pea vines planted too close together. At the end of the day the plants in the yard and the people in the pews are on a journey. We don't know what will happen next. Will there be frost this week? Will there be rain? Will we grow or wilt? It all remains to be seen.
In terms of the garden, we know that it's May outside and the season is just beginning. We have hope that the sun will shine and the rain will be steady, but not too windy. It isn't the same with the spiritual journey. What is our season? We may be long-time members of the church, but stuck in February. We could be young, but look ahead with August eyes. It's not for us to understand. All we can do is start the seeds, prepare the soil and remember our sunblock.
So, we grabbed a corner and started planting. After a couple hours, the job was finished and all those tiny plants that sat in our windows looking impressive, now looking like tepid weeds waiting to be pulled up for their annoyance.
Within hours of finishing a couple things were clear:
Carrots and peas don't transplant well.
Even on a cool day, the bright sun is hot.
That sun will, in fact, burn you.
I had forgotten sunblock, and so at the end of the day I was sore and tired and red. So, skin burned and lesson learned.
In a sense, the same is true in the spiritual journey. In my life, I have had the joys of a spontaneous conga line in church. I've been part of worship teams, drama groups, prayer teams, bible studies, and a Sunday school teacher. It is a part of my life that I really do love. At the same time, I've felt betrayed by church leaders, disappointed with sermons, misled by church friends, and the odd person out of retreat four square.
Through it all, I need to remain hopeful. The church is imperfect because people are imperfect. To expect more is asking too much of the church and of ourselves. I can't remember the last time I was perfect. The spiritual journey winds as maddeningly as pea vines planted too close together. At the end of the day the plants in the yard and the people in the pews are on a journey. We don't know what will happen next. Will there be frost this week? Will there be rain? Will we grow or wilt? It all remains to be seen.
In terms of the garden, we know that it's May outside and the season is just beginning. We have hope that the sun will shine and the rain will be steady, but not too windy. It isn't the same with the spiritual journey. What is our season? We may be long-time members of the church, but stuck in February. We could be young, but look ahead with August eyes. It's not for us to understand. All we can do is start the seeds, prepare the soil and remember our sunblock.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Film Review: The Human Condition
The Human Condition
dir. Masaki Kobayashi, 1959, 574 min, B/W, Japan
Preface: In general, I hate war films. In terms of battle scenes, if you've seen one, you've seen them all.
The Human Condition is an epic. It originally appeared in 6 parts. All things considered, it could have been longer. The main character, Kaji, is a war objector who is assigned to supervise a prison camp. It is here that we see ethics played out. Do war prisoners deserve to be treated as humans? How do we treat our enemies? For Kaji, the answer is we treat all people as humans. His superiors tend to disagree. Their viewpoint is more along the lines of 'we are the guards--they are the prisoners, prisoners deserve what we feel like giving them.' Quickly Kaji is at odds with management, and finds himself in the middle. For management it is easier to remove him than to deal with him. This ends the first disc.
Disc 2 begins with Kaji sent to the military and he is now stuck in a different paradox--Is it just to kill? In wartime, the answer is usually yes, but Kaji isn't so sure. Is it better to take prisoners? That solution just moves back to the dilemma in disc 1. Through struggles, fleeting hopes, camaraderie, and rivalry, the 2nd disc ends with a battle, finding Kaji alone on the battlefield.
Disc 3 finds him a prisoner of war, now on the other side of the issue from the first part. His voice is consistent here, because his sympathy in the former has been replaced with cruel experience in the latter. He escapes and leads a group of strays toward a vague and fleeting home. Kaji is in search of his wife who he left behind when sent to the front. As the film trudges on, Kaji finds himself alone in the Siberian wilderness, struggling to his last step.
The Human Condition is a must for anyone. It's length may be a deterrent to some, but consider it a 3-6 night festival, and I think you'll be fine. The film grapples with real issues in a way that involves the audience, with penetrating close-ups, scenes of intimacy, and sprawling grandeurs. It attempts to remind us that for all our largeness, we are in fact, quite small. It is hard not to relate the marching scenes to ants streaming to their hill.
In a sense, the film may be considered myopic in that there is no happy ending. The hero doesn't win, even if he does get his revenge, escape from prison, and save helpless people along the way. The human condition is one of neverending toil. It is painted with grays, instead of blacks and whites. The human condition is littered with small victories and colossal defeats.
So, what positives can be said about the human condition? First, Kaji embodies the human spirit with his relentlessness. Who really cares if he succeeds? The film would be meaningless if he didn't keep struggling to his death. Our ethics, morals, ideas, and goals are all stomping on shaky ground. Our only true capability is to struggle--to journey. At the film's end all is stripped away and we are truly alone. There is no end in sight. There is no hope. There is only the struggle. If we take anything away from this film it is that we have only one choice in a situation--act within it. Our lives will end someday and it may all seem meaningless, but we'll never know unless we try.
As a theologian, this film can act as a type of spiritual journey. Ultimately, the worldview of the film is Godless, but even that is a de facto theology. At the beginning, Kaji is clear in his views. He stands for them in every situation. However, as he encounters injustices and confronts them he is continually beaten back. Eventually, he does grudgingly change some of his ideals--he does kill; he does leave people behind. At the end, his steadfastness is met with icy solitude. The same is true about the spiritual journey, it is ultimately a solitary pursuit. We can try to explain our steps, but we're inarticulate, and besides, who can really listen? No matter what our situation in life, as long as we can struggle we can take part in the Human Condition.
dir. Masaki Kobayashi, 1959, 574 min, B/W, Japan
Preface: In general, I hate war films. In terms of battle scenes, if you've seen one, you've seen them all.
The Human Condition is an epic. It originally appeared in 6 parts. All things considered, it could have been longer. The main character, Kaji, is a war objector who is assigned to supervise a prison camp. It is here that we see ethics played out. Do war prisoners deserve to be treated as humans? How do we treat our enemies? For Kaji, the answer is we treat all people as humans. His superiors tend to disagree. Their viewpoint is more along the lines of 'we are the guards--they are the prisoners, prisoners deserve what we feel like giving them.' Quickly Kaji is at odds with management, and finds himself in the middle. For management it is easier to remove him than to deal with him. This ends the first disc.
Disc 2 begins with Kaji sent to the military and he is now stuck in a different paradox--Is it just to kill? In wartime, the answer is usually yes, but Kaji isn't so sure. Is it better to take prisoners? That solution just moves back to the dilemma in disc 1. Through struggles, fleeting hopes, camaraderie, and rivalry, the 2nd disc ends with a battle, finding Kaji alone on the battlefield.
Disc 3 finds him a prisoner of war, now on the other side of the issue from the first part. His voice is consistent here, because his sympathy in the former has been replaced with cruel experience in the latter. He escapes and leads a group of strays toward a vague and fleeting home. Kaji is in search of his wife who he left behind when sent to the front. As the film trudges on, Kaji finds himself alone in the Siberian wilderness, struggling to his last step.
The Human Condition is a must for anyone. It's length may be a deterrent to some, but consider it a 3-6 night festival, and I think you'll be fine. The film grapples with real issues in a way that involves the audience, with penetrating close-ups, scenes of intimacy, and sprawling grandeurs. It attempts to remind us that for all our largeness, we are in fact, quite small. It is hard not to relate the marching scenes to ants streaming to their hill.
In a sense, the film may be considered myopic in that there is no happy ending. The hero doesn't win, even if he does get his revenge, escape from prison, and save helpless people along the way. The human condition is one of neverending toil. It is painted with grays, instead of blacks and whites. The human condition is littered with small victories and colossal defeats.
So, what positives can be said about the human condition? First, Kaji embodies the human spirit with his relentlessness. Who really cares if he succeeds? The film would be meaningless if he didn't keep struggling to his death. Our ethics, morals, ideas, and goals are all stomping on shaky ground. Our only true capability is to struggle--to journey. At the film's end all is stripped away and we are truly alone. There is no end in sight. There is no hope. There is only the struggle. If we take anything away from this film it is that we have only one choice in a situation--act within it. Our lives will end someday and it may all seem meaningless, but we'll never know unless we try.
As a theologian, this film can act as a type of spiritual journey. Ultimately, the worldview of the film is Godless, but even that is a de facto theology. At the beginning, Kaji is clear in his views. He stands for them in every situation. However, as he encounters injustices and confronts them he is continually beaten back. Eventually, he does grudgingly change some of his ideals--he does kill; he does leave people behind. At the end, his steadfastness is met with icy solitude. The same is true about the spiritual journey, it is ultimately a solitary pursuit. We can try to explain our steps, but we're inarticulate, and besides, who can really listen? No matter what our situation in life, as long as we can struggle we can take part in the Human Condition.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Veg: 10 years, no looking back, April Fools is no joke.
On April 1, 2001 I awoke with a strange idea--I would give up eating meat. This was about as far left-field of a notion as I could have had at the time. My grandfather was a butcher. My father was raised on steak and potatoes and salt. Who was I to buck such a ferocious tradition?
At the time, I was a 4th year student in college, with I would later realize, a pretty fantastic cafeteria with regular decent options for vegetarians (and vegans mtc) beyond the salad bar. Honestly, I hate salad because lettuce tastes like grass.
Before that day, I was the guy who could eat a half dozen fish sandwiches during lent, and kind of preferred eating popcorn shrimp because I could kill more animals per sitting. Those were some messed up times, I admit.
What exactly changed my mind? I'm not sure. It was a strange gut feeling, and as I've learned over the years, the gut knows what the mind can't comprehend. So, feeling how strong this impulse was, I played along.
At first, I was a bit timid. I'd eat bananas and nuts and a side of corn and peas. Growing up I only ate 3 vegetables. But, quickly my tastes moved on to risotto, bean stew, and of course tofu.
Looking back on those first days without meat, and how I begged my friend to go get me a burger (which I didn't really want except in my mind), I realize that they were truly revolutionary times. Also, fortunately, she didn't go for it. My will power returned and I lived to fight another day. That's how the early days transitioning away from meat went. So, here are some tips from my own experience to help people transition away from meat.
1) Find a good source for vegetarian foods. Back then, I didn't know how to cook, and was limited by the cafeteria. I was lucky that the cafeteria had a pretty good selection. If your cafeteria doesn't, then you should let them know. Get friends to make comments also.
2) Don't be afraid to try new things or else you'll eat pasta and salad every day for a week and give up.
3) Find friends who are already vegetarians. My best friend is a vegan so I always had someone to eat with me.
4) Learn how to cook, or do some research to find places with veg-friendly options, like Happy Cow.
5) Learn about the issues. I was very late to the game on this front. But, once I learned about factory farms and the ecological impact a vegetarian diet can have, I became an even more vocal advocate.
So, that being said, I am proof that a meat loving person can make the switch and make a real difference for me and my planet. If I can do it, you can too!
At the time, I was a 4th year student in college, with I would later realize, a pretty fantastic cafeteria with regular decent options for vegetarians (and vegans mtc) beyond the salad bar. Honestly, I hate salad because lettuce tastes like grass.
Before that day, I was the guy who could eat a half dozen fish sandwiches during lent, and kind of preferred eating popcorn shrimp because I could kill more animals per sitting. Those were some messed up times, I admit.
What exactly changed my mind? I'm not sure. It was a strange gut feeling, and as I've learned over the years, the gut knows what the mind can't comprehend. So, feeling how strong this impulse was, I played along.
At first, I was a bit timid. I'd eat bananas and nuts and a side of corn and peas. Growing up I only ate 3 vegetables. But, quickly my tastes moved on to risotto, bean stew, and of course tofu.
Looking back on those first days without meat, and how I begged my friend to go get me a burger (which I didn't really want except in my mind), I realize that they were truly revolutionary times. Also, fortunately, she didn't go for it. My will power returned and I lived to fight another day. That's how the early days transitioning away from meat went. So, here are some tips from my own experience to help people transition away from meat.
1) Find a good source for vegetarian foods. Back then, I didn't know how to cook, and was limited by the cafeteria. I was lucky that the cafeteria had a pretty good selection. If your cafeteria doesn't, then you should let them know. Get friends to make comments also.
2) Don't be afraid to try new things or else you'll eat pasta and salad every day for a week and give up.
3) Find friends who are already vegetarians. My best friend is a vegan so I always had someone to eat with me.
4) Learn how to cook, or do some research to find places with veg-friendly options, like Happy Cow.
5) Learn about the issues. I was very late to the game on this front. But, once I learned about factory farms and the ecological impact a vegetarian diet can have, I became an even more vocal advocate.
So, that being said, I am proof that a meat loving person can make the switch and make a real difference for me and my planet. If I can do it, you can too!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Finally!
Manifesto, oh no!
I've given a lot of thought as to what I wanted this blog to be about. Veganism? Yeah, duh. But I do a lot of things as most people do and I was beginning to suffer from 'paralysis by analysis' when really, I knew what I should put here all along--worthwhile things in my life. That may include: Film reviews, CD reviews, photos, videos, rants, raves, shoutouts, tasty links, theology, politics, art and intrigue. So, yeah, that's what I'll do. Now, time for a haiku
Party waits for none
In the cells of everyone
will you heed the call?
I've given a lot of thought as to what I wanted this blog to be about. Veganism? Yeah, duh. But I do a lot of things as most people do and I was beginning to suffer from 'paralysis by analysis' when really, I knew what I should put here all along--worthwhile things in my life. That may include: Film reviews, CD reviews, photos, videos, rants, raves, shoutouts, tasty links, theology, politics, art and intrigue. So, yeah, that's what I'll do. Now, time for a haiku
Party waits for none
In the cells of everyone
will you heed the call?
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