I have been awake for two hours and already an oppressive lethargy has taken over my spirit, suffocating my ability to sit still in my chair and get my work done. Today will be a long day...Just another long day.
Hopefully I can break free of this desperate need to crawl into bed and forget this world for a couple more hours...Maybe at lunch time I can take a nap!
Until then I remain impassively at my seat. Waiting for the perfect moment to break free.
Monday, August 21, 2006
Saturday, August 19, 2006
On Living in the Past
I recently read an interesting post by Kristel entitled Past but no present?. Petre's feeling is absolutely well founded. During my brief life, I have come to realize that our past, whether a rich and powerful history (the history of Georgia), or an oppressive and mundane one (children born in brothels), shapes our present.
There are two basic ways in which we react to our past:we dwell or we progress. A perfect example of progression is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. As Dr. King looked back on black history in America, he saw much to be proud of (abolishing of slavery, black people could live in their own houses and have paying jobs). The black condition had been much improved. However, Dr. King also realized that there was so much more room for improvement to the present condition of the black community. He therefore rallied the people and created one of the richest movements in the history of blacks in America.
Another wonderful example of progress is exemplified by the disciples. We can argue that their history with Jesus Christ incarnate is the best history immaginable. But the disciples used their past to shape their present and to shape their movement into something grander than what they had been able to accomplish with the Savior.
Those of us who choose to dwell in the past run into two pitfalls that ultimately render us stagnant. One pitfall is living in the glories of the past, eliminating any possibility of adjusting for present reality. There is a church I know that lives this problem. They use to be big and packed out every week. Currently their attendance barely fills a third of the pews, but they still see themselves as being a big church. Their inability to see their present condition is destroying their opportunities to adjust.
The other pitfall is to dwell so vehemently on our past that we complain and grudge the present. An example of this is my personal illusions of a grander life when I lived in Maryland. My constant comparison of Michigan and Maryland have left me with a present in Michigan that looks much like a straight jacket. I have blocked out any possibility of creating an equally rewarding present in Michigan because I never let go of my past in Maryland.
Petre's words inspired me to stop dwelling and start progressing into the new present. I am currently creating what I will look back on in twenty years. I want to like what I see!
There are two basic ways in which we react to our past:we dwell or we progress. A perfect example of progression is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement. As Dr. King looked back on black history in America, he saw much to be proud of (abolishing of slavery, black people could live in their own houses and have paying jobs). The black condition had been much improved. However, Dr. King also realized that there was so much more room for improvement to the present condition of the black community. He therefore rallied the people and created one of the richest movements in the history of blacks in America.
Another wonderful example of progress is exemplified by the disciples. We can argue that their history with Jesus Christ incarnate is the best history immaginable. But the disciples used their past to shape their present and to shape their movement into something grander than what they had been able to accomplish with the Savior.
Those of us who choose to dwell in the past run into two pitfalls that ultimately render us stagnant. One pitfall is living in the glories of the past, eliminating any possibility of adjusting for present reality. There is a church I know that lives this problem. They use to be big and packed out every week. Currently their attendance barely fills a third of the pews, but they still see themselves as being a big church. Their inability to see their present condition is destroying their opportunities to adjust.
The other pitfall is to dwell so vehemently on our past that we complain and grudge the present. An example of this is my personal illusions of a grander life when I lived in Maryland. My constant comparison of Michigan and Maryland have left me with a present in Michigan that looks much like a straight jacket. I have blocked out any possibility of creating an equally rewarding present in Michigan because I never let go of my past in Maryland.
Petre's words inspired me to stop dwelling and start progressing into the new present. I am currently creating what I will look back on in twenty years. I want to like what I see!
On Proverbs 4:19
~This afternoon, drained by the demands of the week, Trevan and I took a two-hour nap...The result? It is 1:15 in the morning and I am still awake...~
Changing Lanes is definitely an insightful movie. Samuel L. Jackson plays a recovering alcoholic who is trying to get his life back on track. In one nightmarish day, however, he looses his temper after getting into an accident with a lawyer, played by Ben Affleck. The mess that follows for Jackson's character includes, loosing his wife and sons, being bankrupt, almost killing the lawyer, and being arrested. His AA sponsor finally bails him out of jail. After many excuses, Jackson proudly announces, that although he has had a crazy day, he has not had a drink. A sarcastic smile later, his sponsor informs him that alcohol has never been Jackson's drug of choice. "You are addicted to chaos", he tells Jackson.
When placed in the context of Proverbs 4:19, this phrase makes a lot of sense. The Bibles says, "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over." Although most of us would not willingly put ourselves in the "wicked" category, I believe most of us are in "deep darkness".
Jackson thought he was an alcoholic. He spent hours at AA meetings, completing the steps, and staying away from bars. While his real addiction, "chaos", remaining wildly unchecked. We try to loose weight, abstain from eating meat, stop wearing jewelry and go to church every week, thinking that this will help us get our lives back on track. While we willingly remain in deep darkness about our real addictions (vanity, selfishness, pride, legalism, anger, judgmentalism). It is much easier to avoid alcohol than it is to avoid chaos. You can throw out all the alcohol in your house, stay away from bars, and get a buddy to stop you from drinking at parties. But chaos, well you can find that anywhere. The same is true for vanity and pride. We can get rid of the earrings and the make-up, but our vanity will show up in other places (our cars, our clothes, our children's good behavior)
In Proverbs 4, God calls His children to seek wisdom and understanding from Him. "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day." (Prov. 4:18). No longer do we need to live in darkness! Notice that this verse does not claim that the darkness will be lifted immediately. But as we see ourselves and our addictions for what they really are, and as we go to God for help in overcoming them, the darkness will slowly be lifted until full day dawns in our lives. Once that happens, we will no longer be obsessed with the external manifestations of our addictions. We will finally be free!
So stop self-diagnosing and self-medicating. You might be treating a symptom!
Changing Lanes is definitely an insightful movie. Samuel L. Jackson plays a recovering alcoholic who is trying to get his life back on track. In one nightmarish day, however, he looses his temper after getting into an accident with a lawyer, played by Ben Affleck. The mess that follows for Jackson's character includes, loosing his wife and sons, being bankrupt, almost killing the lawyer, and being arrested. His AA sponsor finally bails him out of jail. After many excuses, Jackson proudly announces, that although he has had a crazy day, he has not had a drink. A sarcastic smile later, his sponsor informs him that alcohol has never been Jackson's drug of choice. "You are addicted to chaos", he tells Jackson.
When placed in the context of Proverbs 4:19, this phrase makes a lot of sense. The Bibles says, "The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what they stumble over." Although most of us would not willingly put ourselves in the "wicked" category, I believe most of us are in "deep darkness".
Jackson thought he was an alcoholic. He spent hours at AA meetings, completing the steps, and staying away from bars. While his real addiction, "chaos", remaining wildly unchecked. We try to loose weight, abstain from eating meat, stop wearing jewelry and go to church every week, thinking that this will help us get our lives back on track. While we willingly remain in deep darkness about our real addictions (vanity, selfishness, pride, legalism, anger, judgmentalism). It is much easier to avoid alcohol than it is to avoid chaos. You can throw out all the alcohol in your house, stay away from bars, and get a buddy to stop you from drinking at parties. But chaos, well you can find that anywhere. The same is true for vanity and pride. We can get rid of the earrings and the make-up, but our vanity will show up in other places (our cars, our clothes, our children's good behavior)
In Proverbs 4, God calls His children to seek wisdom and understanding from Him. "The path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day." (Prov. 4:18). No longer do we need to live in darkness! Notice that this verse does not claim that the darkness will be lifted immediately. But as we see ourselves and our addictions for what they really are, and as we go to God for help in overcoming them, the darkness will slowly be lifted until full day dawns in our lives. Once that happens, we will no longer be obsessed with the external manifestations of our addictions. We will finally be free!
So stop self-diagnosing and self-medicating. You might be treating a symptom!
Monday, August 14, 2006
On the Pusiva Culinary Studio
I just wanted to bring to your attention this new blog I found today. Puspha is an accountant in Switzerland that has this weekend cooking blog. Her food looks amazing, and although I have not tried anything yet. I will be trying the coconut buns, and the cinnamon buns. I am actually trying the cinnamon rolls right now!
Hope you enjoy it: pusiva.blogspot.com
Hope you enjoy it: pusiva.blogspot.com
Sunday, August 13, 2006
On Good Documentaries
Last week Trev and I saw two excellent documentaries. I am sure you would enjoy them as well.
Born into Brothels is the story of children born to prostitutes in the redlight district of Calcutta, India. These children live in the brothels with their mothers, and are mostly destined to follow in their footsteps. Zana Briski is a photographer who went to India to photograph different Indian women and their lives. During one of her trips she ended up in the redlight district wanting to photograph the prostitute women. Realizing that she needed to gain their trust before they would allow her to photograph them, she moved into the brothel. She quickly became attached to the children of the women, and decided to teach them how to take pictures. The documentary won an Academy Award for best documentary in 2005.
The second documentary we saw was Control Room. This documentary portrays the different stories that arise from the war in Iraq depending on what side of the globe you live on. It is fascinating to see the severe criticism Al Jazeera has taken due to their reporting practices. Unlike many American networks, Al Jazeera has focused on the Middle East and presenting the realities of war for the Iraqi people. The documentary also shows the desire of the managers and producers to present both sides of the story with as much accuracy and openness as they can. It is definitely and eye opener.
Hope you have fun watching these documentaries!
Born into Brothels is the story of children born to prostitutes in the redlight district of Calcutta, India. These children live in the brothels with their mothers, and are mostly destined to follow in their footsteps. Zana Briski is a photographer who went to India to photograph different Indian women and their lives. During one of her trips she ended up in the redlight district wanting to photograph the prostitute women. Realizing that she needed to gain their trust before they would allow her to photograph them, she moved into the brothel. She quickly became attached to the children of the women, and decided to teach them how to take pictures. The documentary won an Academy Award for best documentary in 2005.
The second documentary we saw was Control Room. This documentary portrays the different stories that arise from the war in Iraq depending on what side of the globe you live on. It is fascinating to see the severe criticism Al Jazeera has taken due to their reporting practices. Unlike many American networks, Al Jazeera has focused on the Middle East and presenting the realities of war for the Iraqi people. The documentary also shows the desire of the managers and producers to present both sides of the story with as much accuracy and openness as they can. It is definitely and eye opener.
Hope you have fun watching these documentaries!
Sunday, August 06, 2006
On Prostitution
Close your eyes. Imagine you are thirteen again...What are you thinking? What are you feeling?...I am feeling fat (like most girls my age). I am also desperate to find the recipe to popularity, or at least to finding cool friends. Shallow really! For most of my life I have never thought about what other thirteen-year-old girls around the world might have been thinking until last week...
Hyung is a beautiful sixteen-year-old Thai girl who lives in Cambodia. She lived with her mother and step-father till she was thirteen. Her step-father physically and emotionally abused her. When she turned thirteen she escaped her house and went to live with ther grandmother. She then began to attend and Adventist Southeast Asia Projects' (ASAP) sponsored literacy school. Today she is teaching other girls how to read and write. Believe it or not, her story has a very happy ending; not so for many other girls in Southeast Asia and Africa.
While I was worried about shallow material things, thirteen-year-old girls around the world had one question in mind...Will today be the day I am sold into prostitution by my own parents?
In countries were most of the population is below the poverty line, chances for a bright future are slim to none. Many parents believe in sacrificing their thirteen-year-old daughters to secure the future of their sons. It only takes $1,000 to ruin a life!
Parents are paid $1,000 for their daughter's life. I am not being dramatic...Most of these girls that leave their homes at the age of thirteen, contract AIDS by the time they are sixteen and are sent back to their families to die. Most of them will not live past their twentieth birthday.
I have two requests for those of you that might read this post. Only two...
Hyung is a beautiful sixteen-year-old Thai girl who lives in Cambodia. She lived with her mother and step-father till she was thirteen. Her step-father physically and emotionally abused her. When she turned thirteen she escaped her house and went to live with ther grandmother. She then began to attend and Adventist Southeast Asia Projects' (ASAP) sponsored literacy school. Today she is teaching other girls how to read and write. Believe it or not, her story has a very happy ending; not so for many other girls in Southeast Asia and Africa.
While I was worried about shallow material things, thirteen-year-old girls around the world had one question in mind...Will today be the day I am sold into prostitution by my own parents?
In countries were most of the population is below the poverty line, chances for a bright future are slim to none. Many parents believe in sacrificing their thirteen-year-old daughters to secure the future of their sons. It only takes $1,000 to ruin a life!
Parents are paid $1,000 for their daughter's life. I am not being dramatic...Most of these girls that leave their homes at the age of thirteen, contract AIDS by the time they are sixteen and are sent back to their families to die. Most of them will not live past their twentieth birthday.
I have two requests for those of you that might read this post. Only two...
- Please donate to an organization that is trying to make a difference in these girls lives. I work for ASAP, and we try to teach these girls how to read, write and sew. By learning these skills we hope their parents will allow them to work and earn money for their families without having to sell their bodies. If you cannot find an organization you like, start one!
- Don't judge. As a Christian, I have been bombarded with messages from the pulpit and from those around me, that sexual immorality is a sin. Prostitutes are filthy sinners that choose that lifestyle because they love sex...sounds familiar? Seems like most Christians have forgotten that Jesus hung out with prostitutes when He was on earth...
By hearing the stories of these girls I have learned that most people do not choose what lot they get in life. I can't even get the life I want, and I live in the United States...the land of the free! Lets not forget to pray for those that are thrown into circumstances that they did not ask for and cannot help.
Saturday, August 05, 2006
On Our Two-Year Anniversary
We made it! Two long, grueling years...I am not talking about our marriage, I am talking about Berrien Springs! hahahahah
Ok, so Trevan and I celebrated our two-year marriage anniversary on Tuesday. Although most of our marriage has been spent in Berrien Springs, and we both agree that it has been a trying experience, I am glad. If our marriage can survive the horrible, dreary Michigan winter, it can survive anything!
We actually had a little party to celebrate this momentous occasion. I even tried out my Martha Steward cake decorating skills...Guess what? I have no skills, but at least now I know. It was fun hanging out with our friends and just sharing some time together.
I have learned that you will get out of marriage whatever you bring to it...Not very original, I know, but true. Trev and I have tried to set aside our differences and unite to do the things that make us happy. We watch movies, play tennis, eat ice cream, and simply enjoy being with each other. I believe this has been the key to surviving the seminary. Trevan even told me that although living in Michigan is bad, I have made it fun for him...That ladies and gentlemen is a compliment!
Now I look forward to having even more fun in the years ahead. Our present experiences will allow us to grow and learn more about each other, and for that I say "Happy Anniversary" and many more years of happy learning!
Ok, so Trevan and I celebrated our two-year marriage anniversary on Tuesday. Although most of our marriage has been spent in Berrien Springs, and we both agree that it has been a trying experience, I am glad. If our marriage can survive the horrible, dreary Michigan winter, it can survive anything!We actually had a little party to celebrate this momentous occasion. I even tried out my Martha Steward cake decorating skills...Guess what? I have no skills, but at least now I know. It was fun hanging out with our friends and just sharing some time together.
I have learned that you will get out of marriage whatever you bring to it...Not very original, I know, but true. Trev and I have tried to set aside our differences and unite to do the things that make us happy. We watch movies, play tennis, eat ice cream, and simply enjoy being with each other. I believe this has been the key to surviving the seminary. Trevan even told me that although living in Michigan is bad, I have made it fun for him...That ladies and gentlemen is a compliment!
Now I look forward to having even more fun in the years ahead. Our present experiences will allow us to grow and learn more about each other, and for that I say "Happy Anniversary" and many more years of happy learning!
Thursday, August 03, 2006
On Thunder Storms
Every couple months our financial advicer Scott Schalk (we can give you his number), treats his customers to a movie. Thanks to his generosity Trevan and I have seen The DaVinci Code, Chronicles of Narnia and Phantom of the Opera for free! Last night it was Cars. I really enjoyed the movie. Nice, clean fun.
On our way back from the theater I asked Trevan if he would not mind coming to the office with me because I wanted to get some more work done. He agreed and by 10:00 pm we were leaving my office to go back home. At this time lightning was flashing furiously through the sky, but we thought we had enough time to drive the one mile to our house. We were wrong! By the time we were half a mile from our house it started pouring... The lightning and thunder were so demanding that we decided to stay in the car till it died down some.
We...ok I cowered in the seat willing it to swallow me and protect me as Trevan ohhed and ahhed at the majestic bolts blasting all around us. When I finally gathered the courage to stop thinking about what would happen if lighting struck the car, I was amazed! I started ahhing and ohhing right along with Trevan. It was so powerful and so scary all at once. The lightning revealing violent black clouds, and the thunder rumbling till it shook the ground beneath the car. It was very exciting!
Later last night I realized that I had witnessed a man-made show and a God-made show. Cars did not stand a chance!
On our way back from the theater I asked Trevan if he would not mind coming to the office with me because I wanted to get some more work done. He agreed and by 10:00 pm we were leaving my office to go back home. At this time lightning was flashing furiously through the sky, but we thought we had enough time to drive the one mile to our house. We were wrong! By the time we were half a mile from our house it started pouring... The lightning and thunder were so demanding that we decided to stay in the car till it died down some.
We...ok I cowered in the seat willing it to swallow me and protect me as Trevan ohhed and ahhed at the majestic bolts blasting all around us. When I finally gathered the courage to stop thinking about what would happen if lighting struck the car, I was amazed! I started ahhing and ohhing right along with Trevan. It was so powerful and so scary all at once. The lightning revealing violent black clouds, and the thunder rumbling till it shook the ground beneath the car. It was very exciting!
Later last night I realized that I had witnessed a man-made show and a God-made show. Cars did not stand a chance!
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