T.C. of an O.J.

I had an insight to what Paul calls the “mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past” a few days ago while preparing to teach on the topic. You can read an essay written by Dennis McCallum on “the mystery” here for more background on what I taught, but it is easily one of the most amazing concepts in the bible, the greatest secret ever kept, a most ingenious plan, and probably the most amazing plan and story ever.

The realization I had was something I’d always understood about the way God works through the persecution of Christians, at least in the abstract, but had one of those “see the light” moments where the dots just seemed to connect for me in a way they never really had before.

In 1 Cor. 2:7 Paul writes,

“but we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory”.

God’s plan hinged on the fact that the “ruler of this age”, Satan, did not know that Christ’s goal on earth was to be crucified and die for our sins. In Satan’s ignorance, he willingly participated in leading the charge against Christ, only to realize after it was too late that as Jesus says in John 12, “the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” By crucifying Christ, Satan wasn’t defeating the messiah-king as he hoped; rather he was sealing his own destruction and assisting God’s suffering-servant in making salvation available to all men.

Satan’s huge blunder was the catalyst in a situation that at a passing glance seems to be loss for God, but turns out to be extraordinarily victorious.

But, Satan still continues to err. The evil one’s method of persecuting Christians should also always be a huge mistake, alas, some Christians give up or give in when persecution occurs. However, in a mysterious way, persecution should always be embraced by Christians and become a blunder on Satan’s part because it will always be used by God for the advancement of his kingdom. In Rome, as Christians were persecuted and were dying in the Coliseum arena, many more spectators were being converted in the stands. In communist China, underground churches grew rapidly despite severe government persecution.

Cimetière américain au nord de Verdun, Meuse, France photographed by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

While Christians in the United States won’t be threatened with their lives, we do have a unique opportunity to be persecuted in a culture that despises the Christian stance on truth and the exclusive message of forgiveness and love through Jesus Christ. Universities, the media, and even “The Simpsons” make Christians out to be idiotic and uneducated fools. The only Christians deemed worthy enough for the news are those who are raving lunatics and/or questionably Christian, ultimately discrediting the message of Christ.

The few Christians who do stand against the tidal wave of post-modern thinking and American culture are accused of being weird, going overboard, being extremists, or participating in a “cult”. Rather than back down and cower at these accusations, Christians should embrace the great opportunity naively presented by Satan. The first rule of public relations is there is no such thing a bad PR. Cries of “cult” should be viewed as a gift-wrapped opportunity to talk about what the body of Christ is and to share the good news of Jesus Christ with people who have never heard it. When this happens, Satan is defeated!

…We should never respond in anger to those who oppose us. We respond by telling the truth, sharing the gospel, and then taking what comes with grace:

“If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you…if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.”

I’ll write more on this later, but here’s a link that allows you to read Abbie Hoffman’s infamous “Steal This Book”.

Politics makes me so sick. I’m tired of hearing about “change” and Joe the plumber, how the opposing party’s nominee is not qualified, and who is best equipped to handle America’s current economic crisis.

The question of “Obama or McCain” is sure to spark a heated debate between family, co-workers and friends. You’re an ignorant idiot if you vote for McCain according to some, while in the opinion of others is that you’re stupid and naïve to vote for Obama.

Both candidates promise it, but no matter who is elected, what will really change? Policies and programs can be enacted, but the harsh reality remains – people’s love for one another grows colder by the day. As Americans we mistakenly believe that it is our right to be more comfortable and rich than the rest of the world. While other countries suffer under famine, basic human rights violations, civil wars, tyranny and oppression; it seems to pale in comparison to what the U.S.A. is facing after the price of gas went up and the credit crisis began.

The new president can hang a new banner across the façade of the system, but the system will continue to be a system. The cold, steel, bureaucratic underbelly is eager to chew up and grind people down. Politics is a game of appearances and deception. Across the country, people have deeper problems than job security and economic woes.

Jasper Johns, Three Flags

Biblically, nothing except God can cause real and lasting change:

So then, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; what is old has passed away – look, what is new has come!

I’m not saying we should abolish the government, but as believers in Christ, what good is it involving ourselves and investing in a phony and flawed political system? Aren’t we citizens of heaven first and foremost? George W. Bush, as a believer, should know this! As Bush tries to solve the problems of America and the world, he has to be politically correct and he has no biblical base to stand on. Changes to programs of education, taxes, or economy will not solve man’s fundamental problem. Only a relationship with God will.

Jesus Christ came to lead a revolution of love that takes place in people’s hearts! We were created to live life with meaning; therefore, Christians can take part with him in this “heart” business that has eternal ramifications. Long after the United States ceases to exist, Christ’s revolution will live on forever.

Worrying about bills, car repairs, wishing for a better job or at least one I liked. It’s easy to get sucked into playing these mind games during daydreams.

I am the protector and provider! Functional mode is a necessity for the modern working man. What if I had a different job? It wouldn’t be any different.

When I come home, I like everything to be just so. Home may not be much, but at least it can be obsessively clean and tidy. Cleanliness is godliness, or at least it has been said. I’d like my wife to play by my dysfunctional love rules too, but she doesn’t. She didn’t get the rulebook, even though I’ve made her many copies and often recite various laws and codes from it. My rules are wrong!

Playing by the rules?

Loving and emoting are a struggle. When I’m functioning and getting the job done, it is not fun, but it feels strangely comfortable. At home or out with others, stripped of something to do or get done, I feel awkward. I don’t know what to talk about. I’d rather not talk. Relationships and relating feel foreign. It’s hard for me to relax if everything’s not done, which never happens, because I always find something else to do.

I’m worried that I’m not being loving enough with the people I love. When they come, what will my kids think of me? Will they think I’m no fun? Right now, I feel no fun! I seem to take every opportunity for fun and change it into some functional chore.

Oh God, teach me how to relax and enjoy the people in my life. Show me how to be emotional and spontaneous and able to love like you do. Teach me how to think of others lovingly, instead of as a job to do! Teach me a new set of rules for loving!

What a slow news day! I saw the new Will Farrell/John C. Reilly movie “Step Brothers” over the weekend and thought it was hilarious. I can’t remember when I laughed harder in a movie theater. The movie has been getting so-so reviews, which matter bubkiss because fact is, I was entertained.

• Bob Dylan – Did you realize Bob Dylan recorded 3 Christian albums from 1979 through 1981? Slow Train Coming was his first and was introduced to me by none other than Keith. It begins with the song “Gotta Serve Somebody”, to which I say, true that, Bob Dylan.

Unsurprisingly, Dylan’s Christian recordings alienated his secular fan base to the point a casual music fan like myself never even knew they existed until I unearthed a dusty copy of Slow Train Coming a few years ago from a neglected music collection.

You have the voice of an angel. I mean, it’s like Fergie meets Jesus.

While I’m not the biggest Bob Dylan or Christian music fan, Dylan is a masterful musician who made a few meaningful and spiritual albums before dropping Christianity. I do like the gospel/blues feel of Slow Train Coming. I also like the song “Saved” off the 1980 album bearing the same name. I think I could get into Christian music every now and then, after all, I did love singing along to “I Wanna go to HEAVENNNN!” in Buffalo.

• Where Are They Now? – A few of my former schoolmates have been in the news this year, however, they have been making headlines for shocking, disappointing, and frightening circumstances. As the events and naive optimism of my youth become vintage memories, more and more I’m convinced that depravity and tragedy are inevitable outcomes in this fallen world apart from God. I hope to write more in the future, but 2008 has not been a good year for Bearcat alumni.

• 2 Year Anniversary – Yesterday marked my 2 year wedding anniversary. It’s cliché to say, but it’s hard to believe I’ve already been married for two years. The most shocking thing is, as time goes on I get to know my wife more and more. To think, we thought we were really close when we said “I do”, but today we laugh about how little we really did know about each other.

It is exciting to build a deeper relationship together, although at times it can be challenging. For me, I know the hardest part is fighting the temptation to just vegg out on the couch instead of taking full advantage of the time we have together.

Some random bits of information:

• GIRL TALK: The whole name-your-own-price for an album thing has caught on, no one is complaining, and let’s hope its here to stay. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails did it recently, however, according to Gregg “Girl Talk” Gillis, he thought of releasing 2006’s “Night Ripper” for free but decided against it fearing the perception that would surround a complimentary album by a little-know artist would likely be negative.

Instead, the mash-up style featured on “Night Ripper” was a success and Gillis was able to release “Feed the Animals” for the low, low price of whatever you want to pay for it. Although I’ve been verbally recommending Girl Talk’s “Feed the Animals” to everyone lately, it is my favorite album of 2008 thus far.

Whereas “Night Ripper” was great, “Feed the Animals” is a tremendous, non-stop adrenaline rush that makes me feel like I’m in a club every time I listen to it (not that I really have much of a clue to what being in a club is like). Gillis successfully mixes old eighties favorites, pop hits and explicit rap with wonderful results. “Shut the Club Down” is the stand out, if picking one is really necessary when we’re talking about an album filled with hits.

Said Philo T. Farnsworth, founder of Girl Talk’s record label, Illegal Art: “Even if everyone who downloads it doesn’t pay, even if they get it all for free, it creates fan loyalty and exposes the artist to a lot of people who may not have been exposed to him otherwise. Priority No. 1 is getting the music out there.”

Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal. - TS Eliot

• FANNY-PACKS: This may sound strange, but I’m in the market for a fanny-pack. For years I’ve mocked them on vacations and trips to amusement parks, once in high-school even making a game out of counting as many as I could (then taking pictures with the 100th, 200th, and 300th fanny-pack I spotted).

I’m here to express remorse and a change of heart, however, because I realize a fanny-pack really seems like the most convenient way to carry your valuables at a place like Cedar Point. Sure, I will get teased, but it will be by the very same people who will later ask me to carry their cell phones, keys, and wallets.

If you know where I can find a good fanny-pack, drop me a line.

• CEDAR POINT: Speaking of Cedar Point, I’ll be there on Sunday, along with the entire Word high-school ministry. I’m really looking forward to the annual trip, although successfully organizing a bunch of kids can be a challenge.

This trip will be the last hurrah before moving onto college for some, while for others it’ll be one of the first introductions to the high-school ministry.

Either way, it’s going to be an exciting summer, as many changes are happening in Word. I’m praying that myself and the other leaders involved can rely on God to make this upcoming school year the most successful and fruitful year of Word ever.

In the meantime, I’m anticipating catching a mean case of “zoo-legs” this Sunday in Sandusky, Ohio.

• FEEDBACK: Recently, I received some great feedback regarding my blogging. It was mostly positive and encouraging, so it definitely helps to know people actually read and enjoy what I write. But, most are glad that I’ve moved on from talking about sports and could also do without all the updates on my diet and exercise.

I’ll agree for the most part, which is why you don’t see me talking too much about sports here anymore. Occasionally, I still have to fight the itch to rant and rave about LeBron and the Browns, but I’ll give the people what they want.

• STRATCH THAT ITCH: Speaking of feeling itchy, this article, “The Itch” from the New Yorker by Atul Gawande, which I found via kottke, is the most interesting thing I’ve read in awhile. It talks of itching and phantom limbs, but be forewarned - it’ll have you itching for days.

• GITTIN’ FIT UPDATE: All that being said, I just think everyone’s jealous about my whole diet and exercise thing. I had my 3rd health assessment today and received positive results. I was a little nervous going into it because I had a more than a few hot dogs, hamburgers, and beers over the holiday weekend, but still I lost 3 more pounds of body fat. So, I successfully reached my goal of going under 15% body fat.

While most high-school students look towards the summer as a time to relax, earn money, and get a tan, a small group of students from Stow, Ohio started their summer very differently: They paid money and sacrificed part of their own vacations to go to Buffalo (of all places) and serve others.

Through an old friend, Jim Swearingen, who is currently the acting Executive Director at the Buffalo Christian Center (BCC), the students learned of the missions trip opportunity at the summer camp currently being held at the center. The BCC is an impressive facility, complete with a huge theater, roller skating rink, swimming pool, Christian bookstore, putt-putt course, and basketball court. The impact the facility could potentially have on the city of Buffalo for Christ is enough to keep the Christians who want to use the center up at night thinking about it.

This week, the students had the opportunity to work as camp counselors at the BCC. They stayed at “The Mans” while they prepared bible teachings for the children, who ranged from kindergarten through sixth grade, and heard Jim teach on poverty and God’s call to help those less fortunate. During the camp, they helped out in the kitchen, with recreation and swimming, arts and crafts, and drama.

For some, the real spiritual experience was the pilgrimage to the birthplace of the buffalo wing

Hanging out with the kids attending the BCC’s summer camp was a blast! Although I was only able to stay in Buffalo for two days, I met many kids, like Sterling, Ahmad, and Karmella, that I’ll remember for a long time. I’ll even remember Morgan, but only because she rolled her eyes at me more times than I could count. While the kids in kindergarten through second grade were eager to play games and learn, the fourth graders had already developed “too cool for school” syndrome. I can’t help but wonder what all of these kids will grow up to be like and more importantly, will they know Christ?

The trip did start out with a bang (or a pop), as yours truly changed a tire on the side of the road in New York, but it was well worth it. As a reluctantly drove home Tuesday night leaving the group to stay until the camp’s conclusion on Thursday, I wished I could stay longer. On the trip home, my stomach was full of buffalo wings from the Anchor Bar, better known as the birthplace of buffalo wings (yes, they’re called buffalo wings because they were invented in Buffalo).

Although director Julian Schnabel took some liberties adapting Jean-Dominique Bauby’s tale to the screen, the result is still impressive and thought-provoking.

Despite maybe being a little too artisy-fartsy for some, The Diving Bell and the Butterfly is a must-see French language film. It tells the story of Bauby, known as “Jean-Do” to friends, the Editor of Elle magazine that wakes up from a coma with “locked-in” syndrome. Due to a major stroke, at 43 years old, Bauby is left paralyzed and unable to speak.

All Jean-Do can do is see and think. As observers, we’re able to hear his thoughts and see almost exclusively what he sees for the first portion of the film. After the shock and horror of his situation sets in, Jean-Do pities himself. His only communication with the outside world is his ability to blink his left eye.

With the help of his determined nurse Henriette, he develops a method of communication and rediscovers his imagination. Henriette works her way through an alphabet ordered by frequency of usage and Bauby blinks when she arrives at the letter in the word he wants to spell.

Let's write a book.

To the shock of his publisher, Bauby decides to make good on a book deal arranged before his sickness. Claude, yet another beautiful woman in Bauby’s life, is sent to take the dictation.

Bauby is trapped inside his body, a prison of flesh and paralysis. This suit is an inescapable “diving bell” for Bauby. But, with his blinking eye and his mind unaffected, he is still able to imagine vivid fantasies and dreams. As Jean-Do struggles to keep from drooling out of a disfigured mouth, as viewers we also see his “butterfly” or escape - an endless stream of imagination and memories including a wild dinner at an expensive restaurant with Claude, sex on the beach with an old flame, and life as the editor of fashion magazine.

However, the film’s conclusion is abrupt and the movie is devoid of spirituality. The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was by no stretch trying to invoke comparisons to Christianity, but some parallels to Christ did exist. Jean-Do’s paralyzed state must have been something like Christ felt when he was stripped of his divine attributes in order to come to earth and die for our sins.

In order to die on the cross for our sins, Jesus left the comfort of the Trinity and came to earth.

…although [Jesus] existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

What it must have been like for Christ on earth? Talk about leaving your comfort zone - Christ went from being all-powerful and omnipresent to confinement in a fleshly prison. While on earth, Jesus had no divine attributes and instead was doing his ministry through God’s power. Although obviously not God, Bauby also faced the limiting reality of “locked-in syndrome”, reduced to a prisoner in his own body.

Bauby’s prison, his “diving bell”, symbolized his extremely limited state and approaching death. On the other hand, his butterfly, or his imagination allowed him to be reborn in a sense and live in a fulfilling way he never experienced before his illness.

In goes almost without saying that Jesus’ death and rebirth are central to our life as Christians. As we undergo spiritual growth, our natural man dies while Christ starts to shimmer through. The older we grow in Christ, the more we realize that we’re depraved sinners only capable of doing good things through Christ. Is it too much of a stretch that Bauby’s figurative death and rebirth bring to mind this passage?

So death works in us, but life in you.

The theme I liked most from The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was that the mind and the ability to choose are the most powerful things a human being “owns”. Reduced to vegetable state, Bauby could still choose to accomplish something amazing. Instead of wishing for death or making excuses based on his circumstances, he wrote his memoir – the bestselling The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

God also places extraordinary value on choice. The one thing we have sole control over, our heart, is the one thing God uses to establish a relationship with us. No one can force us to choose anything we don’t want to. We have the free will to enter into a relationship with God at any time. But, even the creator of the universe can’t make the choice for us. We have to make it for ourselves.

The movie also touches on things we take for granted. We live like we deserve things like our right eye and the ability to walk, yet sometimes we don’t appreciate them until they are gone or are sewn shut.

What did you think of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly? Do you make excuses for yourself because of circumstances or what you don’t have? Do you take what you have for granted?

Here’s a little known fact: I got involved in youth ministries with the church because I wanted to do the same thing my wife was doing (who was my girlfriend at the time). As an extremely young Christian, I was blatantly unconcerned with the actual ministry part of my being involved.

Somehow, I stayed on as a leader, though I wasn’t a good one. I stumbled and bumbled through years of junior high ministry failures, most of which were caused by my own selfishness. I didn’t prepare for teachings or spend any substantial amount of time prayerfully considering the kids God had entrusted me with. I wrongly reasoned that the way to win over the kids was to play the part of a cool older brother and this idea crashed and burned in many spectacular ways. Some of these disasters make for good stories, but the end result was tragic: my cell group outgrew the need for a chauffeur and instead turned away from God and turned to everything else the world offered.

Despite all of these horrible offenses, God used me and my half-assed, immature leadership for his glory. He also used the experience to mature me. Although there are things that I should have done differently, the boys that walked away from the Lord made their own choices.

The Bedford cell I once operated is now nothing more than a memory. The group was full of potential and possibility, but was derailed by seductive things - girls, drinking, drugs, and the pursuit of money and career. My heart does hurt for them almost daily.

As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians, these guys were “written in my heart” and will remain there forever. It’s truly heartbreaking, especially when I meet up with them today and see the destructive choices they’re making. Yet, despite all of the miles I racked up driving across town, the countless “thwaps” I took to the nuts (I gave some out too), and years of time invested in; the endeavor was anything but a waste of time.

In spite of the best efforts of the “cooler” kids in my group, one boy did miraculously receive Christ during those old times and remains in the body to this day. That’s right, Bryan got saved!

As I talked with him years later on the McCallum’s screened-in porch, memories came rushing back into my head. I looked out on that old swingset in the backyard and could hardly believe that when I started in youth ministries the kids would actually go out and play on that thing after our teachings!

Bryan has his own cell group now and his success in the body of Christ is very exciting and fills me with tremendous joy. Although I had no clue what I was doing in Bedford all those years, God knew exactly what he was doing: now B has learned to love and care for his group of JHQ kids.

When I visit my mother at the house I grew up in, she will occasionally talk about the things I used to do when I was just a little boy. I know she is happy that I have started a life of my own with my wife, but I also know part of her is sad her kids have grown up.

I can only imagine it must be bittersweet to be a parent. Mom invested so much time and love into us, so we could grow up. The memories are great – times spent at the art museum, reading together, and singing songs. Part of me wishes I could go back too, but it’s painfully obvious that we can’t. Things change and kids don’t stay young forever.

I’m a few years away from children of my own, but I have a feeling that it might be something like this.

So, yes B it is heartbreaking to see these kids grow up and lose their innocence. It is sad because you will just the have memories of JHQ, but it is also sweet because you will make even more of them as you build the kingdom of God in Chill.

Bryan, you are doing a tremendous job loving them! I’m amazed by you and your love, compassion, and care for them. They are written on your heart. It is inevitable, that you will see some go into the world and it will be heartbreaking, but you will also see some kids that had no chance miraculously be rescued out of the world!

I thank God for you- you’re awesome, B!

So, excuse me. I have to go tell my Mom I love her.