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...