OK, so when I sat down I wasn't thinking of Star Wars. But when I wrote out the title, who wouldn't go with this association? It seems a lot of things, disparate and unconnected, point to the theme of Hope. Conversations I have had with friends and family seem to work around this theme for the last several weeks. And though I wasn't thinking about it, sometimes that hope seems as foolish and unadvised as the bands of rebels the empire was seeking out to wipe out in that movie of beautiful archetypes (See Joseph Campbell). Another way to put it is "Nothing is impossible with God." The context of that quote is astonishing (See KEA's post on Mary).

But really brought me to the keyboard this fine morning is something else. The above paragraph is only the rambling of word association from writing in the title. No, what has really got me thinking about hope in the last few days is u2 and my Mom. I am currently listening to Joshua Tree and the sweeping exultation of how streets have no name breaks out from the organ stuff at the beginning is really a great musical prelude to the lyrical inspiration of the song and of the whole album, really. And what is beautiful is that it is a hope that is knowledgeable about the pain of this world, that is experienced in what is going on in the world, in the lives of people, yet untainted, undiminished. and 20 years after its arrival, the band continues to be a lampstand of hope, even having seen so much more of the hurts of life, of this world. And it is a hope in grand things, in a new heaven and a new earth. It is about taking up the causes of those who have gone before, of those who do not have a voice, and calling out for justice, for righteousness. The hope that drives u2 is a hope unfulfilled, still searching, still pushing. While recognizing the reality of how things are, it casts a vision of how things ought to be, , and in so doing gives a glimpse of how things will be.

A conversation with my Mom this week reminded me of that hope this week. My mom, whose wisdom is disputed only by her, shared with me about being patient in times of (inner) conflict and indecision. She talked to me about the need to sing a new song, and I talked to her about an old song sung by an old but hopeful rock band.




If you hadn't guessed, I just figured out in the last few posts how to use the "link" button. So this is a little overboard, but really, y'all are all thinking what songs you'd put into the linked words I used. I recognize anyone with any familiarity with the band is already acquainted with the theme of hope and reality the band brings to the table. These are just my thought right now.

I have begun God's Politics by Jim Wallis and it has already peaked my interest (intro and into the 1st ch.). It has been recommended to me by several friends and mentors, especially Prof. Ayodeji Adewuya. I have enjoyed his critique of the current political climate and have been challenged (already even) by his call to reflect on how we are to live in a holistic manner. He really takes on the entire spectrum of political thought in challenging the reader to look at things from a Christian perspective. He is very much about bringing faith into public life, but in a way that catches up a wide range of issues, not allowing the candidates or pundits to dictate what the issues are that should concern us. He says that the church cannot be co-opted by either side so that it can be a prophetic voice to both sides. The quote in the title is one made to Wallis by a friend in a conversation about taking action and not just criticizing. He promises on some of how this can be done. I am looking forward to hearing how he proposes this. We shall see.

This morning I have several things I need to get done in the office, so of course my sweet puppy is not being so sweet. She has chewed up everything from napkins to pencils (mechanical) to study notes. All the while not giving me too much peace in between bouts of energy.

Your Career Personality: Independent, Insightful, and Ingenious

Your Ideal Careers:

Architect
Artist
Business strategist
College professor
Computer programmer
Mathematician
Neurologist
Philosopher
Photographer
Video game developer

Today is the third day in a row going to the YMCA. I have not been battling my weight problem for a little while, so I thought it was time I took up the fight. Really, this is all part of that same thing of which I posted earlier- house cleaning/personal cleansing and what not.

It has felt good to do. Of course, I have done nothing strenious. But it has been a nice break in the day. It has been good so far.

I have been listening to Keith Green this morning. My wife and I cleaned out a bunch of old files and junk and what not yesterday. These two sentences seem unconnected, but they are not.

I only know keith Green from his music and stories of people just a tad older than me who were alive when he was alive. I came to his music later in life. There are few artist in recent history with the passion and intensity in their ministry than Keith Green. He was singleminded in his work for Christ (please note above that I only know him after his death, yet I am not attempting gloss over any shortcomings others may be aware of that I don't know of).

My wife has listened to him a long time, and still does. She puts his music on in the house often. I don't listen to quite as often, mainly cause I am a happy man, pretty carefree. Keith Green's music has the 2 fold effect of causing me to see with greater clarity the love of God for me and putting me under serious conviction. I begin to see where my shortcomings are in my life, especially my spiritual life- which prompts a thought about intergration: do we have a "spiritual life" vs. "life", but that is for another discussion I guess.

I want to live with a new intensity, passion this year. I want to not just clean out this place I live in as we did yesterday, but I want to put my house in order. I want this year to be more conscious of God in all that I do. My eyes have been dry for a while.

What a melodramatic title. Truth be told I am not dealing with any at athe moment, but I just put a friend on a a plane who is dealing with a load of it.

People interpret adversity in many ways. Some believe it is part of the natural state of things in the fallen world. There are just things to deal with. Others see adversity as something to overcome, a test to pass, a victory to achieve. Still others see it as the chastening of the Lord, thus to be avoided or steered clear from.

I imagine the only wrong answer is that only one of these is right. If I eat some ethnic foods, adversity will soon follow of a certain type. That I would imagine be part of the natural state, and not a test or the correction of the Lord. But the Bible also speaks of two kingdoms who war against one another, thus adversity is to be expected on such a level. I would imagine adversity too is God's instructing for certain situations.

Would Jesus have endured Gethsemene if it was interpreted as chastening. It would seem that he would have changed course if the path he was one reflected a need to change. The adversity of that week had another purpose. I would imagine some things are worth the price, and for others the price is too high to pay. Adversity calls for us to reflect constantly on who we are to be and where we are going- weighing the cost.

The new year comes with mixed emotions. It means football is almost over, though the end of the year has given us some good games. But looking out from this vantage, I am grateful looking out over the new year. I have a wonderful wife, I have a great job, living in a cool city. I am excited about the possibilities of this new year, and all it could hold.

We (my wife and I) are in Hoschton, GA, with my wife's family for the holidays. It has been a fun week hanging out and what not. We have watched Charlotte's Web, played many video as well as card games, shopped, and walked the dog and eaten a lot of good food. It has been a fun week and fun hanging out with Kim's family. It is odd being so old in this family (Kim is the oldest child) because in my family I am the youngest. I rediscovered my love for spades and realized I enjoy playstation games other than Madden.

In all this the strength of this family and their love for one another continues to be evident. I am privileged to have been accepted into such a warm family. The fun of the holidays are a welcome contrast from the normal pace of life, and the brevity of its duration makes it all the sweeter.

It is weird, now having lived long enough to think of long-term friendship. My friend Mike and I have known each other 10 years or so, and have kept up our friendship through a lot of stuff. He and his family now live in Tyler, TX., and it is rare we get to hang out. Sure we do the electronic stuff and talk all the time, but not too often see each other.

He stopped by Nashville last night and spent the night (and his wife, Angeline and son Sam). They are heading to his parents in Cinci and broke the trip up by hanging out with me and Kim. We went to a basketball game and just talked the whole night. It was very refreshing. We reflected on both the similarities and differences of the paths each of us have chosen since seminary. And talked about football and theology and books and just stuff.

It was a good night.

I love Christmas. I always enjoy it. the memories from childhood standout the most. I am the youngest, and all my siblings are several years older than me. So when I was a kid they lived a long way off. Christmas was always filled with the anticapation of their coming in from around the world, literally, and then being around the house for a few weeks. The Holiday then was a long affair, with a lot of time spent with my family.

One Christmas in particular, in the early '80s, was very special. Not only did the brothers and sister come home, but so did my Mom's sister's family and my uncle. It was great. Half of us had to sleep on pallets and we stayed up all night playing games and talking. We played in the church gym (my Dad was a pastor) and went out to the lookout on Mobile (AL) Bay. It was the only opportunity I had to spent a large amount of time with my Uncle, my Mom's brother.

Adulthood has been different for the holidays. We all have lived in the same town for so long a lot of that specialness seemed to have dissabated. We all hung out, and it has been great to live so close to one another. But it has been different. This year, it is actually me (and Kim) coming back to Cleveland for Christmas. It is a new feeling. Some of that old anticapation can be felt again.

Merry Christmas.

I am very excited that today begins the college football season. Rain on my parade is not even produced by the fact that its South Carolina and Miss. State. Rather, I am jazzed that it is SEC. It has been a long wait this year, though it may be every year and I just don't realize it. My evening will be spent in front of the tv enjoying the first game of the season. It looks to be an exciting fall, and one of the reasons for that is football.

I was sitting watching Sportscenter this week and was using that "recall" button to watch CNN. Sportcenter was going back and forth between baseball division races and picking college games to be. CNN was talking about journalists who had been kidnapped in the Middle East and the concept of Civil War in Baghdad.

Spending no more than a minute at either channel was unsettling. I couldn't enjoy the comical banter of the sportcenter telecast thinking about the unrest in the Middle East. Nor could I bear to watch a lengthy portion of the CNN show, mainly because I had to see who would be ranked #8 in Sportscenters picks for the end of the college football season.

This week I happened upon a documentary about the melding of entertainment and reality, of how all things, especially through the medium of television, have merged and there is now no, or little difference. It is hard to admit that the knowledge of things going on in the world does not push out of my mind a concern for the ultimately important #8 ranking in a preseason poll. Entertainment and reality have merged, at least as far as ones' adeptness with the remote is adequate.

I must admit I am very excited over the emminant arrival of the football season. I am a big fan, and enjoy all manner of games, from College to Pro, to fantasy games. I can sit and enjoy just about any matchup, from Division 3 college teams to National championships. As an Alabama fan, I approach this season with tempered hope, knowing we are on the upswing but still have a lot to do to replace our graduating seniors from last year. The Titans, who I have liked even before I moved to Nashville, don't look that great either.

But football is football, and I will be glued to the tv.Hope springs eternal, or at least in each fall. It will be a good fall for many reasons, and one of those is football.

Ok, so this has been a weird week. The weirdness of it has caused me no small amount of personal reflection, as well as long conversations with several people in my life. Those kinda what does this all mean sort of questions. Oddly, it has really been a very positive and blessed week in my life, and the fact that this is what has caused the consternation is funny. Can't handle playing with the lead I guess.

Anyway, this evening I was headed out the door to meet some friends. They called me to say they would be late because a storm had blown a tree down in the road in front of them. A car ahead of them had been demolished by the falling tree, so they asked me to pray while I waited on them. A few minutes later my friends called to inform me that though his family had been able to escape the car, the driver had been killed by the accident.

I sat there for a few minutes just stunned. Not that I knew this guy or anything, but how bizarre: you're just riding home (or anywhere!) with your family one moment and then your not. I wonder if that guy had any questions about where his life was headed, or if he was doing the right thing, or even what he thought his own future would be like? And in the end, did that matter?

I spend a lot of time in that existential self-conversation type of thing. Analyzing every move I make, or things that are going on around me. But one thing I have neglected in such conversations is the subject of mortality I guess.

Our new home, Nashville. We moved here about a month ago, pastoring a church on the west side of the city. We are excited to be here, and it is a cool thing living in such a big place. Not that its like a very big place, but compared to Cleveland, TN and Rossville, GA, my last 2 stops, it is very big.



This is the house we live in. It is provided by the church we are pastoring, and it is pretty cool. Pretty big by my standards too (a standard of apartments and dormrooms). It is in a quiet neighborhood where we are one of the few under 50 years of age.

This is Layla. She is 8 weeks old. We have had her about 3 weeks. She is adorable about 40% or the time, the othe 60% she is a biting, urinating mess. She is pretty cute, though, so we're gonna keep hear around.

So I went to my family reunion today (biological). And in a way I had another reunion (spiritual) later on that day. Both were really enjoyable. My father's family had not been together in some time, since way before my father passed. It was interesting to see again where I had come from, and hear stories I had heard a thousand time again, but this time only from uncles. My Dad would have told many of them had he been there.

My spiritual family, or at least a part of them, also met up in Nashville (my new home-another post soon about that), Though I have a lengthening history with them, this reunion was all about the future, and what God was doing in all our lives. This was a meeting to celebrate and reflect on new stuff. New passions, new jobs, new opportunities. It was an interesting contrast from being with my Daddy's people, where all there is to talk about is twenty + year old stories, all of which I do treasure.

It is funny how jotting in the date book come together in reflective ways, seeing where I came from in the same day I see some of where I want to be in the future. I miss my Dad, and being with his brothers was kinda hard. So it was good that the day ended with hearing new things, and new directions.

As has been written before on this blog, I do some part time teaching in the areas of Christian Ethics and Theology, which I am beginning to think there is an artificial difference in those terms, for out of theology flows ethical thought, and the way we act, the people we are makes a statement about our theology.

Anyway, it looks like I have some good classes shaping up so far in this new semester. Neither is too large for interaction with the students, and so far I have had some good conversations with students in each class (I have one ethics and one theology, both introductions).

One such conversation was about the term Christianity. A gentleman in my theology class was not very fond of the term. He felt that it had been put on by others, and was not one that the early church had applied to itself, nor had God called them by that name. I found this to be an interesting point, and have thought some time about it.

What I took from that conversation, in good reader-response ideology, is not to utilize a term that is harmful or cuts off communication. So few want to have anything to do with "Christianity". From before the crusades, this negative vibe to the term has resonated. Even Constantines' time could be seen as giving Christianity a bad name. So instead of attempting to overcome these definitions or ideas of the term, don't use it at all. Find new ways in which to speak, new voices, new words.

This I have been thinking on since the class in which this idea was talked about. But is there a point in which you take on the task of revisioning, or providing a new referent to old terms. Could not new actions, new situations provide new ways in which to define old modes? I don't know if I am up to defending the term Christianity, but a few more peels of the onion might touch a nerve. It might bring to the surface words worth fighting for. Or better, the idea behind those words maybe.

But I don't know. The price of incarnation was pretty high for the one who modeled it. Perhaps laying down some ideology to enter in, to come among, might not be too high a price. Ideology might be another word for smugness anyway, at least in this case.

It has been a surprising winter so far here in Cleveland. lovely weather for those of us who do not like the cold. It is not odd for it to be in the low 60s in the mid-day the last couple of weeks. I have been greatly enjoying it. it has been short-sleeves feel during the day and not much more at night.

My apologies for not blogging in some time. The winter does make you retreat into doing only the most needful things. It goads one to self-protection and what not, but I will not succomb to such hereafter. I will attempt to post more regularly this year. That is not exactly a resolution because I don't do those. I think they only set me up for a fall.

I didn't say they wouldn't be rambling posts.

Peace