Kung Fu Truth

Last night’s episode of Fight Quest (Discovery Channel) took two fighters to China to study Kung Fu and Qi Gong; it was nostalgic for me. Each fighter was hosted by a respective Kung Fu master for 5 days to study the martial art. During their time, the Americans lived and trained with full-time Kung Fu practitioners to prepare for a demonstration (read ‘fight’) at the end of their studies. On the final day, one of the masters said this to his American trainee:

Kung Fu is not important, cultivating your spiritual journey is.

This Buddhist spoke more truth than he knew. All endeavors, particularly those which we are most passionate about, fall far shot of the importance of knowing our Lord more deeply (sounds like Ecclesiastes to me.) I am reminded that all things are given purpose through Christ and without Him are means that have no end.

Where Do Heroes Come From?

James Loewen addresses the heroification of some of America’s icons in Lies My Teacher Told Me. He specifically addresses Helen Keller and Woodrow Wilson. He notes Keller’s social activism supporting Communism and Wilson’s racism and military aggression in Latin America. These aspects of history are intriguing indeed, but Loewen offers interesting insight into humanity as a whole while addressing his topic.

Loewen speculates about the responses of the common man toward the glorified mortals of history. He says “students poking fun at the goody-goodiest of them all by telling Helen Keller jokes. In doing so, schoolchildren are not poking cruel fun at a disabled person, they are deflating a pretentious symbol that is too good to be real.” Is the root of dissent not prejudice, but an inferiority complex?

I cannot condone the slander of anyone, but his theory seems to hold in light of man’s desire to be self-actualized and affirmed; particularly affirmed through the subjective standard of culture. It appears true that all levels of society criticize those perceived as accomplished in some manner so that average does not appear inadequate. Tom Cruise and Brittany Spears are prime examples of this theory in action.

Keller jokes, in light of Loewen’s theory, encourage inspection of other aspects of culture. Are blond jokes so prevalent because blonds are actually less intelligent or because blonds are viewed as icons of beauty and the 'common' man is threatened by this? Celebrity successes are never advertised, only their failures. It has been said that people love to see their heroes fall and this is the epitome of mankind's pervasive sense of inadequacy projective itself onto individuals in the limelight.

If our heroes, historic and other, were seen as they truly are, why should we be surprised by their fallible judgment, errant personalities or finite victories? We are all equally human and equally fallen, and could only hope to fair better. Heroification provides lofty ideals for us to reach toward yet brings contempt as man's response. Again, we are but human; fallen.

Ironic Ethics

I am studying Ethics at a coffee shop for my online course.

I watched 'Thank You for Smoking' the other day and still have the movie with me.

In fact, my CD lectures for Ethics are inside the DVD case for Thank You for Smoking; the irony seemed noteworthy.

'Tis Quality Art

After singing a collection of Christmas songs, I was highly disappointed with the lyrical quality and frivolity of our seasonal favorites. Even the most popular songs offer limited poetic, musical or intellectual beauty. Hymns remain among the highest quality of art while ‘seasonal’ music reminds me how easily marketable poor quality items can be. Even when only excerpts are compared, the disparity in quality is painfully obvious. Praise the Lord for hymns!

Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord.
Late in time behold him come;
Offspring of the Virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the God head see:
Hail the incarnate Deity.
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la. T
is the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fa la la, la la la, la la la.
Troll the ancient Yule tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Juxtaposition of Values

Mark Driscoll on pride and humility:

1. “Pride is our greatest enemy” –John Stott/
2. Pride is demonic and satanic in its origin/humility is a miracle that can only come from God
3. Pride is the encouragement to compare ourselves to other people/Humility continually compares us to Jesus.
4. Pride covets the success of other people/Humility allows us to rejoice in people’s successes.
5. Pride is about me: what I want and deserve/Humility is about Jesus and other people.
6. Pride is about what I’ve done/Humility is about the glory of Jesus.
7. In pride, I am god: I expect to be obeyed and served/Humility is about obeying and serving God.
8. Pride leads to arrogance and is repugnant/Humility leads to confidence.
9. The point of pride is independence/Humility is about dependence on God.
10. “Pride is the mother of all sin. Pride is pregnant with sin” –Augustine/humility is the root of all joy.
11. Pride is something we can achieve in this lifetime/Humility is something we must pursue throughout our lifetime.

Shackeless

Today I was asked to recall a verse for a friend; any verse of my choosing. The first verse that came to mind was Gal. 5:1 "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free," and I was again amazed at this truth.

We were created to be free beings, but we are born enslaved and contrary to our designed nature. Christ then came to free us, return us to our intended statues, simply because that is how He made us.

The reason Christ set us free is because were are supposed to be that way.

Winter Formal

As promised, I put up some pictures from Winter Formal. All I can say is that it was amazing...

Depraved Reaction

When obtaining new knowledge, there must be a response. The two primary responses are physical application or mental separation: the new information forces a change of some degree, or the knowledge is consciously ignored so the status quo may continue.

This is especially true on the subject of Man's depravity.

Most people arent truly aware of it.

When recognition of corporate and personal depravity is made evident and individual must respond or choose to disbelieve it as true.

Therefore, those who cannot deny their spiritual circumstance must carry out their reaction to its fullest logical extent:
1) The intentional pursuit of gratification within this depraved state, or
2) The absolution of their depravity; which only comes through Christ.

Ah, truely, how should we then live?

The Cost of Learning

While pondering paying for college I realized this:

Knowledge is free;
Instruction is not...

Why tell?

I checked out a book titled A Lifetime of Secrets. It was compiled by Frank Warren. He asked people to send him postcards telling him anything they wanted to get off their chest. As I have been reading through it, I have seen the need for man to be forgiven and forgive. So many people are seeking resolution but are too weak to actually follow through. This is not to say that I am better, but that I am also weak and am even more thankful that I have been forgiven.

Hunting Unicorns

Unicorns are elusive, valuable and everyone wants to have one. They are basically like pea coats. Unlike pea coats, however, unicorns do not sell for $450 at Dillards, sell out online at JC Penny, Kohls and Macy's. If I had been searching for a unicorn I would have given up a long time ago, because I dont have a elf-made compass, a golden lasso or magical boots so that the unicorn could not hear me coming. None of these things were needed to obtain a pea coat, but they might as well have been.

Until today! I found a pea coat which is basically the same as slaying a unicorn.

Defining Features

The New York Times recently published an article claiming that ‘Denial Makes the World Go ‘Round’*. Their observations draw much from man’s state of total depravity and propose denial as the key to living harmoniously within this state; but this is not the issue that hit home. I would argue that semantics make the world go ‘round.

Semantics separate the visionaries from the dreamers because give shape to vision, objectives and goals. Many have received the title of ‘visionary’ and many more would adorn themselves with this title. This in itself warrants little criticism for all visionaries start as aspirators. The rub comes because many lack definition and methodology for their vision, which naturally leads them to disillusionment and frustration.

The vehemence with which people espouse their visions bear no direct correlation to the vision’s applicable worth. Recently, ‘returning to holistic ministry’, ‘taking relationships slowly’ and ‘focusing on school’ have been the mantras floating through my social circles. With genuine enthusiasm I have asked how those things play out in everyday life and have been met with vagaries and quizzical faces. These visions and goals warrant nothing beyond dinner table discussion until they can be played out in everyday life.

Without vision, there is little reason so move forward,
but without method of conveyance, vision is no better than illusion.

*(http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/20/health/research/20deni.html?em&ex=1195794000&en=78a26952353ee42d&ei=5087%0A)

Identity Crisis

My Life is lame.

Not 'my' life so much, but the title of my blog. I am unsure about a new name and need some help. Even if you never read John Bunyan, and especially if you have never read James Frey, please offer your suggestions.

Muse Team...Assemble!

Cavalier Proverbs

Words of near-wisdom from the road trip to Maryland.

Give a man a fish, feed him for a day;
give a man a Cheese-it, sustain him for the night.

Unconsciousness tames the tongue.

Josh: That's the first thing my dad said to me when I told him I
wanted to go into missions, 'you're gonna be poor'.
Kalan: That is true; you could work for Benny Hin
Ben: Yes, you do have that option Josh, but it is kind of like selling your soul to the Devil.

Latenight Reading

In light of improving my internet writing, knowing that its cumulative worth is minimal I am beginning to check out other writings. These were recommended. Tell me what you think about them.

www.jesuscreed.org
http://theresurgence.com/md_blog
http://mikalatos.blogspot.com/

This is certainly far from Wayne Grudem, but hopefully fulfilling in a different way.

Keys to Blogging

I made a new friend in Maryland. He said that 1,700 people viewed his blog in February. In a, perhaps foolish, moment of amazement, I asked him what could be so interesting about himself that would draw so many people to read his blog. I have yet to evaluate the total worth of these, but this is what I learned:
1. write everyday-give the people what they want
2. link to other websites-you can only so interesting by yourself
3. be consistent-schizophrenia is undervalued as a whole
4. be famous

check out Daniels outdated blog at thecollegekid.wordpress.com

He said that pictures help too...

The Mediator

I was struck by this excerpt from Job today:

If I wash myself with snow water, and cleanse my hands with soap;
Yet shalt though plunge me in the pit, and mine own clothes shall loathe me.
For he is not a man, as I am, that I should answer him, and we should come together in court.
Neither is there any mediator betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
Let him take his rod away from me and let not dread of him terrify me:
Then would I speak, and not fear him; but it is not so with me.
9:30-35; KJV

I was struck, as I have been recently in other ways, at the true might of God. Job later says that he would demonstrate his depravity simply by opening his mouth to God. This reminds me that to look upon God would destroy us and it overwhelms with relief me that we do have a mediator in Christ. We may approach God only because Jesus is our representative. How much greater this blessing is when seen in light of our iniquity before the Father.

What I can share that is not my own

I love simply stated wisdom. I am going add them as I hear them simply because I enjoy them, not with the hope that you will love them, but to know which ones have spoken to me:

"We believe that we are in the land of the living and travel to the land of the dead, but we have it all wrong. We are in the land of the dead, moving to the land of the living."

Thank you Paul.

Thought for the week

Although not my own and I am sure not profound so some, I offer this comment that was highly thought-provoking this week:

Theology should lead to Doxology

Trick or Treat

This is from Halloween. Are these costumes amazing or what!?

-Lisa, thanks for being Christine.

The Man of Many Faces

This week was spirit week! I don’t know why that excites me so, but I did have a good time. Each day was themed and we could dress up for each respective theme. The themes are as follows:
Tuesday-Decade Day. Relive a decade of your choosing and this decade does not count.
Wednesday-Twin Day. Be someone you know along with them or swap with them or be each other.
Thursday-Career Day. Choose the career you wanted but know you will never do.
Friday-Warrior Day. Choose from the warrior class of pirate, ninja, cowboy or Viking.

I regrettably did only Tuesday and Thursday and even more regrettably only have pictures from Tuesday. On Decade Day I brought back the early nineties; smell like teen spirit anyone? On Thursday I dressed as a mild mannered reporter, yet my true self was revealed as a distinctive ‘S’ logo could be seen underneath my business attire.

International Dinner

Tonight I met a guy at work who spoke Russian. He was sitting at the bar and I eavsdroped on his cell phone conversation and broke into Russian as soon as he finished. He was from the Ukraine. He knows all of the Russians connected with CIU and First Pres church. I think all Russian speakers in SC know each other. I need to get in that circle.

Casting Call

Today I was told that if I were to be a Lord of the Rings character, I would be Legolas. That is cool with me...I mean...wow...

Magic Carpet Ride Anyone?

Yesterday I
Dug through an industrial dumpster,
Wore eye liner,
Demanded people’s servitude,
Was accused of being evil and
Flew on a magic carpet.


These were only part the festivities of Formal Open Dorms, which is a competition between all the dorms. Each hall is must choose a theme based on a broader category for the whole campus. The campus theme was Disney with out hall reenacted Aladdin. It was amazing. I did not know what to expect and was blown away as each hall on the men’s side of campus was transformed into a Disney decorated collage. A interactive portrayal of Beauty and Beast, a fittingly twisted journey through Wonderland and even a peak into the universe of toy story could be found in former living spaces.

None topped Aladdin however. The cave of wonders, Arabian marketplace, magic carpet ride and a slide out of the city made our truly unique. I had so much more fun than I expected. I never though I would be so excited to win either- many blessings.

Today I heard a Seminary student say that being at CIU is the best thing that has ever happened to him. He said, "I am like a guy in a grocery store with four shopping carts and they said, 'you can take whatever you can carry out!'" I want to be like that.

Fitting Illumination

Wake up with your mind alert and instantly thinking in a different language. With dawn comes learning for the soul goal to communicate the Gospel to those who do not know it. The sun is your enemy because he keeps limits what you can get done in one day and the moon will only light your path for so long after the blanket of stars envelopes you. Corporate vision, communal hope, constant striving in this place are the perfumes that intoxicate you daily…

This place is overseas fulltime ministry and this weekend its absence assaulted me. I have been fighting emotional gangrene for the past few days and could not diagnose its source. I was frequently using phrases like, ‘I want to be impacting the world for Jesus’, ‘I feel like I have no conduit through which to channel my passion’. I am feeling a new wave of withdrawl from the purpose I possessed in Russia.

Thank you Emily M. for sharing with me that for a time we are in season and a time we are out of season. This may be a time I am out of season. This does not nullify my responsibilities as a Believer, but it certainly is a different place than I was months ago. It is difficult not to have such stark purpose or mighty team environment even though my burden now seems lighter than it was before.

"Lord, kindle a new fire in me, one that burns more gently. Mold me to be more like you while using new tools and let me always be a light for you, but be content to illuminate in the manner you see fit. Amen"

This is CIU this weekend. This past week was midterms and now it is fall break. I am very thankful for the break, but the student population has dwindled to roughly 20 students total living on the campus. One of the two RAs saw all of the guys hanging out in a room and even referred to us as 'the remnant'.

CIU is barren yet I am enjoying the opportunity to rest without interruption.

Newsworthy News

I am sad that Brittany Spears in on CNN for losing custody of her children. It is not a good thing to happen to any parent. It is worse for everyone to chastise her for it. I am sad for her. I am also sad that it makes national news...

Dressing East

Today was the ceremony for signing in the new president of CIU-it was a business dress affair.

Last night I dressed a significant portion of my hall, East 2. I lent out one pair of slacks, one pair of shoes, one tie and chose or consulted on matching clothes for 4 individuals. I never thought I would be that guy...it was a good feeling though.

Saturday Night Madness

I had forgotten the madness of Saturday night in food service. Saturdays are generally the busiest days of the week and almost always busier than anyone can handle. Last was all hands on deck, as would be expected. I knew that it would be busy going in, I new it would be hard and that things would be crazy. What I left out was the human element of crazy.
There comes a certain point in the evening where a server takes food to the wrong table, or a cook forgets to make something. Usually it is as things are starting to really pick up. This is the timeline for the madness…

5:00-all staff are trying to ignore that tonight is not like the rest of the week and we will be over our heads in hours.
5:30-things are picking up and the managers start telling the hostesses to stop talking and get to work.
6:00-things are flowing well and most of the servers have almost full sections
6:40-a server rings in an order incorrectly or a cook forgets to make something. This is where things start to go downhill.
6:50-the restaurant fills up and the kitchen is slammed.
6:55-the cooks start yelling at the servers.
7:10-the servers are yelling at the specialists to take their food to the correct table.
7:30-three 7 person tables come in…the servers are freaking out.
7:45-Everyone else has just been given seats at the bar because all the other tables are full. The bar tender is yelling at the hostess to stop giving her so many tables.
7:50-9:30-general yelling and error making throughout the restaurant.
9:30-at least one waitress is on the verge of tears.
10:00-things are finally slowing down, but no staff speak to each other as bitterness has build up over the last few ours.
11:30-a group of 17 people come in to eat even though the restaurant is totally empty and should close in 30 min.
1:45am-the final staff leave the restaurant.

This chain of events is just a fact of life. It makes me laugh because next week everyone will all have forgotten what this was like and repeat the same thing all over again.

I love work. Wait…I mean that I love working. Work is pretty good though. I am so blessed to work at a relaxed job, but am still challenged. I am blessed because of how much money the Lord provides. I am blessed because I get out of the CIU fortress of solitude and enter the real world.

My time at work keeps me connected to the rest of society. CIU is a great place to be, but it is not the real world-kind of reminds me of Summer Project. Praise the Lord for work.

Your Daddy Does Rock and Roll

Last night I went to a local rock show. The show was great! It was in a pub = poorly lit, smoky, a few crazy people. It was reminiscent of the days I went to Phil’s Radiator Shack arguably one of the most hole-in-the wall places in Pueblo. Here’s to you Nick Wiley!

I couldn’t cheer because I was sick and lost my voice, which I am still feeling today, but it was still great. Three out of the 4 bands that played were really good. I bought the album of Jupiter One. They are a New York group and good friends with the headliners, Baumer.

Baumer is a local craze. At least one of the members is a CIU alum and his dad is my academic advisor. It was fun to be at a rock show and have my academic advisor there too. He didn’t mosh, but it was the thought that counted.

Hungry?

Ever since I have come to Columbia, I have been haunted by the verse, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Every where I go, it is brought to my mind. Not a day has passed without it scrolling across my heart. It tends escape pursed lips leaving me to explain the seemingly spontaneous utterance. I hope its contextual significance is revealed to me soon. Although such desire often carry difficult lessons with them.

To Study or Not To Study

Studying is underrated. I must admit that until this fall, I have whisked through academia without studying. Granted, culinary school was a far more tactile environment and required reading was minimal. None-the-less, I am not a stranger to Humanity-type classes. Literature, Speech and Leadership Style were courses that were significantly hands-off…a solid study bloc for any of those classes cannot be recalled.

Tonight made the second test, of two, that I studied for. Not only studied, but did so with some degree of forethought and are certified ‘cram session free’. I think I learned to study in Russia-where the desire for knowledge far outweighed the burden of obtaining it. A moderate amount of personal study and a fair bloc of group study sits very well with me. Again, my extroverted character traits allow me to succeed amidst chatter, distraction and rabbit trails. It would be an unclear picture to believe that there was no organization in group study however, for without some, I would take solidarity in a heartbeat.

To finally realize active study’s benefits, gives it an intrinsic novelty. I plan to continue to partake…(laugh)

Ya'll

Today I spoke with a Southern accent. It wasn't very obvious. In fact, it was only one word. A name. It was Caroline-which certainly is a Southern name. I think a little part of me died...

Cockroaches

I hate cockroaches. It is rather strange. I dont really hate any other bugs. There are stranger looking bugs, uglier bugs, more dangerous bugs and, especially in the south, larger bugs. I hate cockroaches because they represent uncleanliness. They only need a little bit of water and food to live. They can live anywhere, as long as it is not completely clean.

Cockroaches are like sin. No matter how pure you look, sin always shows up. It hides and is rarely out in the open, but is always there. This is because deep down we are unclean. Sin, as a believer, is a manifestation of human nature i.e. the flesh. Like the roaches, it is not the sins themselves that are most troubling, but that they point to a deeper problem.

After less than two weeks in SC, I headed back to Denver. My friends Jeremy and Coleen were married in Colorado Springs and I drove down with Mike, Jess and Erin. It was amazing. The trip was amazing, the wedding was amazing, the dinner/dance after were amazing. I flew out to Colorado and drove my car back to SC and even the 25 hour drive wasn’t too bad.

Some highlights of the trip:

Jeremy singing to his wife, during the wedding ceremony, much to her surprise. Jeremy is not known for an amazing voice, but his boldness and dedication to his wife, which enabled him to sing, was astonishing. He sang unfailing love. Jeremy-you are my hero.

Being around other epicureans. It has been almost 14 months since I have spent quality time with friends who love, know and value quality food a drink. It was so refreshing and made me miss that part of my life in Denver. The culinary scene in Columbia is a little lacking and the ‘foody’ culture is not prevalent at my school…for obvious reasons. Lets face it, it takes a certain kind of people to sit around and try to name exotic garnishes on their plates (it was a parsnip by the way-good job Hannah) and talk about what kind of wines we would be.

Erin, “Kalan, if you were a champagne, you would be a brut.”
Me, “Why because I am dry and have no taste?”
Erin, “Ha, no because you are complex and go well with many things.”

Who does that....really?

Meeting Megan for dinner. The worst part of any drive across the country is Kansas-fact. The speed limit is stagnating, there is an enormity of law enforcement and there is nothing interesting for miles, similar to the Republican candidate debates. I called Megan while I was driving and learned that she lives only 20 minutes from a town I would be driving through. We stopped and had Chinese food. It was amazing. I had not seen her in almost a year and half. Truly a blessing from God.

In Kansas with Megan

Now I am back in SC and back in the books. :)

Welcome to CIU

Wednesday

Panicked parents and frightened freshmen made up the majority of the student population on the first day of orientation. Geographically speaking, think “CIU, next to a river, next to a Penitentiary.” So the question arises, “what do you do when an inmate escapes and is believed to be in the area the evening before Welcome Week begins and all the new students begin milling about?”

The natural answer to that question is to put the school under lockdown, detaining all students and frantic parents in a corralled area, created the prime environment for a calming effect…This is how all the parents were began the process of letting go of their children. Only a felon could bring people together in such a way.


Saturday

After a rather disappointing day, I connected with a guy named Ray sometime in the early evening. Ray, perhaps the most energetic person I have ever met. He brings a powerful personality to the Pastoral Ministries students here, along with his soon-to-be fully tattooed arms. A powerful leader, he rallied students to head for downtown Columbia for Hardies (Carl’s Jr.) and street evangelism. It was ‘just what I needed’.

Sharing the Gospel is difficult in Russia, because you have to do it in Russian-naturally. So I was eager to return to America and avoid the language barrier. Somewhere between Russia and SC I forgot that your ability to articulate has, ultimately, a limited effect on a person’s acceptance of the Gospel. I shared the Gospel with two students hanging out and, about half-way through, was struck that, even though I could articulate so clearly, it had not changed their hearts towards the Gospel. I have not been so frustrated since I left Russia.

I just want everyone to know Christ and it is painful when they reject him. Perhaps that is a confirmation that I am headed in the direction I need to be here at CIU.

With this inaugural post, I hope that everyone who reads my blog enjoys it. Although I suppose if you don't enjoy it, you will just stop reading it...

In two days I will be in South Carolina. I have never been to South Carolina, but will be spending at least the next three years there studying. At Columbia International University, I will be pursuing an Intercultural Studies and a Biblical Studies degree respectively.

Spending time with my family during the recent weeks reminds me how dear they are to me and I hate to leave them. I am very eager to engage American life again however and aware of ways God is preparing my heart even before I leave.