dork_revolution's Xanga

Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:14:23 GMT

hope is near.
i believe this. i must.
otherwise....

where will any of us be in a year?
how do we even know we'll be here?
we don't. it doesn't stop us from planning on it though.
or hoping so. or wondering why.
or continuing to try to open our eyes.
i just hope i won't ever give up on hope.
and i need this hope in my lungs and in my brain.
and in my heart.

peace.

Wednesday, February 06, 2008

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 09:37:06 GMT

you hear a lot about change these days.
i think that could be a good thing or a bad thing.
there is a lot changing in my life.
and i think there is a lot changing in our world - for the better and for the worse.
change is inevitable. i just wish it wouldn't move quite so fast.
but in some other areas, i feel like it couldn't come nearly soon enough.

"only suns and moons can testify the unchanging truth that we live and die,
and have very little time to do what we are meant to do in between. so we best get on with it."

Thursday, January 24, 2008

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 13:02:33 GMT

life can be very tough and very confusing.
christians can make it even tougher and even more confusing.
it's a shame how i let them stress me out so.
oh well. life is messy. a mish mash of colors and sounds.
i really need to learn how to better appreciate sight and sound though.

so, even though i haven't really interacted with anyone on here i do have a
question which i hope to get some responses back for.
what is it you want to do with or in your life?
and how are you bound to make it happen?

well, no matter where you are at ~ may you fight for truth and beauty.
and in the process find the deepest wells of His love.

Friday, January 18, 2008

Fri, 18 Jan 2008 14:11:13 GMT

what a paradox. Yahweh is such an interesting G-d.
He clearly (and frustratingly) remains a constant within Himself, but
everything and everyone changes as a direct result of Him.
He is unpredictable and yet brings about reform within us.
what a beautiful paradox!

Friday, December 28, 2007

Fri, 28 Dec 2007 17:21:05 GMT

I hope all is well.
I hope you are warm and your bellies are full.
I hope your eyes will see what they were meant to see
and may you do what you were meant to do.
May your mind discover and learn.
May your heart be comforted and inspired.
May your path be long and may you never stop walking.
Shalom.

Monday, December 17, 2007

Mon, 17 Dec 2007 16:45:14 GMT

life.
cold on the outside, but
warm on the inside.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Tue, 06 Nov 2007 08:46:35 GMT

i heard Rob Bell speak last night in Chicago at the Vic Theater.
he's on a speaking tour titled "the gods aren't angry."
it was very excellent and i highly recommend that everyone attends.
it'll do your head and heart some good.

if you can't make it, but would like to know what he talked about~
let me know. i'll pass along my notes.
but definately try to go hear him speak first.

have a good day, my friends.
peace,
pete.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 10:03:54 GMT

so i have a thought that i would like you to think about.

i know that some people believe that man is basically good and occassionally chooses evil.
i know that some other people (mostly christians) believe that man is basically evil and occassionally chooses good. i say christians because i recently (within the last two weeks) have read almost that exact statement in two different articles in two different "christian" magazines  Coincidence? i think not. ha.

well, i'm not sure i agree with either of those two statements.
first of all, those options are a bit extreme. either good (which sounds like halfway decent, but really implies that man has the goal of making good) or evil (which is a very strong word which seems to imply that man would love to join with all the villains from every Walt Disney cartoon movie in order to usher in Satan to our world).

i don't think man is basically good, because man is too busy with other things. like making money and having sex and trying to please ourselves. not necessarily seeking to glorify Satan, but being selfish (which is wrong). and most of the time, when man has the opportunity to do good there is usually an ulterior motive. of course, there are those moments when we catch the beauty in doing what is good. we spot a glance of what things might be like were man to actually pursue goodness and allow it to sweep through the hearts of man. we like that idea. that's why we write books and make movies that inpsire and remind us that it's a good direction to be heading. unfortunately, somewhere along the line, we get distracted (once again) by money and sex.

**i don't know why i picked money and sex. ha! i guess it's because they seem the most influential in this world.**

however, i don't believe man is basically evil either.   yes i know in Genesis 8 the Lord made reference to the evil within the heart of man; but think about that for a moment.  if were to to take that to mean that every decision that man makes is with evil intent, then what is it when we actually call upon the Lord to be saved? are we actually calling on him and believing in him because we actually have some hidden, evil agenda? i don't think so. this kind of thinking also implies that we are completely incapable of seeing the good in helping the poor or hungry or weak or suffering? and there are plenty of folks who are not christians who see this good. and they are helping.

perhaps, though, it could be better explained by the new living version which says that "man's thoughts and emotions are bent towards evil." what's the difference? well that means that as we came into this world we were given a birthmark of sorts. a forced inheritance which was implanted within us.  placed there by the evil one, yes.
and so we are naturally inclined or drawn to his character. hence, we are drawn to evil. but that doesn't mean we can't (by God's strength) resist those desires.  **God forbid God actually helps strengthen and lead people who aren't yet christians! gasp! Would he do that?! Maybe.**

and so if this might be the case, then we'd find ourselves somewhere in the middle where our mind and heart is a battleground. and good and evil fight for our attention. and we choose to act upon one or the other.
sometimes we make the wrong choice. sometime we make the right one. it doesn't make us any more wrong or right of a person. ultimately our life comes down to one decision. whether we will actually believe that Jesus Christ can rescue the souls of mankind and lead us home to heaven. that's the most important decision we must make. and i do pray and hope that people make the right one.

but until that time, i think we all need a little perspective. maybe we're not as good as we think we are. and maybe we're not as evil as we think we are. but we're all in need. and Jesus is our hope. before any of you stone me for heresy or something else ~ just please consider what i'm saying and then we'll talk. i'd love to. these are just some of my thoughts and i'm trying to work through them. the bible says something about that too. ;)

peace,
Pete.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 08:43:03 GMT

i do appreciate this site because it has always been a place that i could write my thoughts out
(or some poems, even a few stories once or twice) and i could get some great feedback.
it was a buzzing community. however...

it's not quite what it used to be.
anyone else notice that or is it just me?

Monday, October 29, 2007

Mon, 29 Oct 2007 13:15:19 GMT

Here i sit with coffee in hand. reflecting on the last few days.
**for those who keep asking why i do not capitalize the letter i when i write on here ~ it's just something i have been doing to remind myself that i'm very small in the scheme of everything. it seems unnatural to not capitalize it and that's the point. i am practicing the discipline (in a small way) of reminding myself that i need to be humble and aware of the very large world i live in and share with you all.**

Last night the Red Sox won the world series! I am excited about that, but not nearly as happy as my wife is. She is such a huge fan of their ball club. Especially Papi and Manny. I can't blame her. You can't watch those two guys play and buddy around without enjoying it a little.

Yesterday i introduced to my church family a new project we are getting involved with. We're partnering with a ministry that is translating the Bible into all the languages that do not yet have a copy. After they translate it, they put it in audio form. And it sounds really good! In fact, they gave everyone in our church an english version of their audio presentation. Our church family (specifically) is sponsering the translation of the New Testament into the Van Dyke Arabic language which is the language of millions of folks in Egypt. It's exciting to think that we are joining in the ministry saint Paul started. http://fcbh.org/

A thought I have been having the last few days: we learn from the bible that it is important to study the bible so that we can learn and understand better. so we don't walk in total ignorance. **on a sidenote, i think it's important to read anyways. so many people don't read and it hurts them. reading actually helps sharpen your brain. come on, people! crack a book!** And as we learn we consider the theology that forms from our understanding. After all, that's basically what theology is. Taking what we learn and putting it into a structure we can think through. **and for those who might be thinking so ~ i do not believe studying and considering theology is the same as those who get caught up in religion instead of Christ**

That said, i also want to mention that even though we learn and we can consider theology it doesn't give us room to make assumptions. Some of you know what i mean by this. The Bible teaches that we cannot possibly know the thoughts of G-d. We cannot possibly understand the ways G-d, for that matter. So as we consider the scriptures and the theology it may form, remember that it doesn't mean we have Him figured out. but don't panic! that's a good thing!

It really is. i mean, if it were that easy to figure Him out He wouldn't be much of a g-d. Do you really want a g-d who you can totally explain and predict? Do you really want a g-d you can manipulate and strongarm? i don't.
When i think about the magnitude of mystery and love and power that belongs to the triune G-d of the Bible it causes me to seek Him more and worship Him more because obviously He is much bigger than my understanding and therefore means He is incredibly bigger than i.

a last thought in a totally different direction: the show Heroes is pretty interesting. ha! anyone else watch this show? what are your thoughts?