I hope these words are a wrecking ball

My thoughts and opinions about music, people, politics, and the joys and annoyances life sends my way.

Out of Order

I was listening to some Fiction Family the other day and I came to a realization; my life is pretty good.  I don't mean that in the typical people-in-some-countries-have-it-worse-than-me-so-I-shouldn't-complain sort of way, but rather that I actually have been enjoying my life.  It's a strange thing.  I think the majority of my life has been rather enjoyable, but for the first time I recognize that fact.  I'm getting ready to graduate college, get married, and start a completely new life, which for some is stressful, but I'm relishing the opportunity to start new.  I'm loving getting ready to set out into the unknown like an ancient explorer; no map, no compass, just faith and a desire to move on.  

So the song was "Out of Order," which I love and usually feel so connected to, but I don't think it's me anymore.   I'm feeling good and I'm trusting God to direct me in whatever the future will bring.

10:37 PM | | 0 Comments  

The concept of a counter-culture

I regularly read the blog of one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller.  Today I found he had posted some interesting thoughts on Advertising, specifically the advertising used by Apple, and the intrinsic values which we unknowingly accept in admitting the effectiveness of an advertising campaign.   You might be thinking, "I don't go around talking to my friends about advertising and I've never thought about the effectiveness of advertising, never-mind admitted it,"  but the truth is you have and you do every time an advertisement leads you to buy or even just find out more about a product.  

Anyway, nestled within Don's examination of the truth in our response to advertising I found an interesting nugget of over-looked, or misunderstood, truth worth thinking about (at least I think so).  He takes a paragraph to discuss the truth about a counter-culture.  Here's what he wrote:
     "If you think about it, the most confident of counter-culture heros aren’t talking on i-phones, wearing designer jeans or jumping in the air in their facebook photos (why are all the hipsters suddenly jumping in their facebook photos? Why didn’t anybody call me to say we were doing that?) but instead are the people most of us might not notice. The reason we don’t notice these people is because they offer us no beneficial association. They buy products because the products work, they buy jeans because they cover their asses, and coats because a certain coat will keep them warm. A true counter culture is not manipulated by the whims of fashion and therefore is not made up of fashionable people."
A counter-culture is a subculture whose values and norms of behavior run counter to the mainstream of the day.  Some typical ideas of counter-cultures usually include the punk scene, goths, mods, hippies, new agers, and the like. However, this is no-longer the case.  While each of these subcultures was, at one time, a counter-culture, each has been assimilated into the mainstream as evident by the newest term for the people who used to be punks, mods, hippies, goths, and new agers; hipster.  This is an all-encompassing term that seems to include aspects of each of these former subcultures.  The skinny jeans and flannel from the punks, tattoos and piercings from the goths, skinny ties and big sunglasses from the mods, sundresses, clogs, and hemp jewelry from the hippies and more...  This is all evidence of the fact that Don wrote about.  None of these were true counter-cultures because they all share the same values and behavior; a constant search and desire for social acceptance.  
I'll be the first to admit that I have often tried to subscribe to or associate myself with a counter-culture and now I find that I definitely  fit into the hipster mold.  I'm not trying to offend or discredit others who have done the same.  I'm simply analyzing the idea and thinking about what a true counter-culture would be like.  So to myself and all of my friends who subscribe the the views and fashions of a "counter-culture" I leave this quote that I found on my friend, Joel's, blog:
"Even in literature and art, no man who bothers about originality will ever be original: whereas if you simply try to tell the truth (without caring twopence how often it has been told before) you will, nine times out of ten, become original without ever having noticed it. "

12:40 PM | | 0 Comments  

Two posts in one day!

     I know it must seem  crazy to post twice in one day but I need to put something out there to be heard.  I was searching the internet for some information on Rob Bell's newest book and I cam across several forums and blogs that contained posts of people who had serious issues with Rob Bell's theology and teachings.  First, if you are one of those people, don't write your issues here.  I know what people have issues with. I've read about them, considered them, and I've come to this conclusion.  I don't care.  I don't agree with everything he has to say but I believe he is reaching a great number of people with the Gospel and he is sparking an interest in theology in young people.  These are both good things.  Christians are called to study for themselves when they are taught something and as long as we all continue to do so any discrepancies in his teaching (minor thought they are) will be resolved.  

     My big issue with what I read is that so many Christians are completely consumed with analyzing and condemning the theology of others.  We need to stop bickering amongst ourselves if we are ever going to reach the world.  Remember the words of John 3:17; "For God did not send His son into the world to condemn it, but that through Him it might be saved."  If God found a purpose to life more important than judging and condemning men, shouldn't we also?

2:03 PM | | 0 Comments  

Helping with the diary aisle...

         A friend recently shared with me a story of something that happened to him at work.  In his story I feel he unknowingly stumbled upon the revelation of what evangelism should actually look like.  I'd like to share a summary of the story here.

         This friend works at a 24 hour grocery store stocking shelves and wrangling runaway carts from the parking lot.  One day recently, after he had finished his own work, he found himself in conversation with a co-worker.  After some time they came upon the topic of my friend's faith in which he professed his Christianity but, for whatever reason, went no further than to explain his own beliefs.  The co-worker picked up on this and expressed his surprise that my friend had not gone on to try to convert him.  My friend replied, "I could do that, but for now I'll just help you with the dairy aisle."
          This simple exchange is the heart of evangelism.  Had my friend chosen to attempt to convert his co-worker, he would have failed.  His co-worker had already expected that and made a decision that he would reject that sort of behavior.  Instead my friend chose to help him with an immediate need and in doing so my friend avoided the common secular perception of evangelical christians who are too busy trying to convert "sinners" to actually help people.  These people are selfish and shallow in their deeds.  In the Gospels,  Jesus referred to people like this as "white-washed tombs."  Instead, my friend evangelized like Jesus did; first meeting needs, and then sharing the gospel.   I hold that this method is not only more biblical, but more effective.  Go ahead and try to prove me wrong, but I'd bet that people will be much more receptive if you just help them with the dairy aisle.

12:36 PM | | 0 Comments  

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