there's a lengthy post in my head...

However, I'm experiencing a Sabbath of sorts and don't feel like disturbing it. Who knew Antiques Roadshow would highlight my Saturday night? This might be the point of no return...

mahna mahna

Byron had to use a Fandango credit before it expired tomorrow; since he was traveling with family, he sent the code to me. I rarely go to the theater anymore, but I figured there was no harm in entertaining myself on a holiday weekend, particularly since it was free. I bought a ticket for The Muppets and decided to go solo.

Having been a childhood fan, Jason Segel approached Disney for the opportunity to write a new Muppets script. The result is an unashamed homage to Gen X culture (references are made to Tab, dial-up internet, Molly Ringwald, and Nirvana), skillfully woven through the traditional Muppet plot device: throw together a show to save the day.

Segel and Amy Adams (our best modern day Julie Andrews) do a fine job of keeping the movie light and child friendly. Unlike other "family" PGs of this era, The Muppets doesn't backdoor crudeness to interest the adult. If anything, the sentimental nature of the film sends Gen Xers to a more innocent time when sex, alcohol, and vulgarity weren't required to make us laugh. In one scene, the movie takes a shot at what the networks pitch as entertainment today.

I find this intriguing. Segel casts other buddies that grew up with the Muppets (Jack Black, NPH, Zach Galifianakis, etc.) -- all of them are comical without the overdone schtick. The critics have praised the movie thus far, which has me wondering: if a script like this can be written, why do we settle for a tasteless diet of entertainment?

We're not going to change a culture through boycotting; I'm not one to suggest anything for political reasons. Rather, I think believers should choose to separate themselves from adult comedy because it is of poor taste, and our comical appetites reflect what we've been digesting. Drawing a specific line is tough, but I'm tired of promoting movies for my friends with the accpeted asterisk: "You know, except there's one part in the movie where they [have sex, get wasted, go on a profanity rant]. Watch out for that."

I'm pleased to promote The Muppets without an asterisk, and I'm sorry that this is an exception.

stars among the black

As a night owl disciplining myself for the day, I was pleasantly surprised that the majority of the Black Friday shopping began at 12am this year. Is this commercialism at its worst? Yes. However, I was able to justify my midnight meandering...you know, since I would have been up anyway.

True story: when I was in college, I used to attend the early morning madness for no better reason than to "people watch." I'd find three or four CDs that were knocked under ten dollars, then wait in line for hours to save mere pennies. This ceased to do anything for me during my mid-twenties; during my barista years, I spent Black Friday in a methodical trance: grind, tamp, pull, steam, pour, "Thank you," rinse, grind, tamp, pull, steam, pour, "Thank you," rinse, grind, tamp...

[With the exception of the occasional, "Awwww...he made a leaf in my coffee!"]

Last evening was the first time in roughly ten years that I joined the chaos. I needed new jeans more than anything -- since I still refuse to pay more than $20 for a pair, I waited an hour at Old Navy to buy the only three existing pairs of straight-legged 32-30s and grabbed two pairs of cords while in line. All were half price, and as I already stated: I would have been up anyway!

As the weather gets chilly in Northern Indiana, the sky typically transitions into a perpetual state of overcast on account of the lake. These past two evenings have been uncharacteristically clear, with vibrant stars hanging over our world in magnificent display. Ursa Major points its way towards the North Star to my east; I peer right and see the brilliance of the planet Jupiter.

Over 1300 Earths would be required to fill the volume of Jupiter -- it's surface area is over 120 times the size of our terrain. It is the brightest star of the evening, but from this distance I can easily pinch its area between my thumb and index finger. Even with its might, Jupiter pales in comparison to the reach of God's full creation.

Because everyone in my circle has been talking about faith, I am reminded of the blessing the Lord bestowed on Abraham. After Abraham willingly places his son Isaac on the altar, the angel of the Lord tells him:

"I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me." (Genesis 22:16-18)

Bear in mind, Abraham's faith was not contingent on knowing that this was the payoff. His only hope and reassurance was in a single piece of truth: the same God who has created this vast universe will provide the sacrifice. I consider the desires that He has placed on my heart, and they feel so far away. When I acknowledge that there's only one wonderful thing on earth that I lack, it pains me to place it on the altar. God doesn't ask for my money, my career, my location, or my social interests. He knows that these are His. God is jealous for my intimacy because it is the only human thing I value.

Do I trust that the creator of Jupiter, the Big Dipper, and the North Star has provided the sacrifice with my intimacy on the altar? Do I believe that the piece of my heart I've held back for a woman would be honored in His hands instead? Provision has been such a tricky animal; He's offered me just enough to remain in Him, little enough that I continually yearn for heaven. This is indicative of His grace. But I can't help but wonder: if I trusted Him to provide for every need, wouldn't I give Him the last of me?

two realms

God created many things. He created the heavens and the earth. Angels are as much His creation as a tree or a turtle. Nothing was before Him, and nothing exists outside of His hand, whether physical or spiritual. Large, small, holy, or common: all of creation was effortlessly designed by His good will.

However, mankind is the only creation designed to interact and reside in the physical and spiritual realms. We have been given the faculties to reason through our five senses as well as discern and know spiritual things. The majority of us will choose to ignore or deny the latter. Those that do not will see a world vastly different.

I tell people all the time that there are some things you cannot un-experience. Having shared a room with a demon-possessed man and having seen the power and authority our Lord holds over this has changed me. I can no longer miss the enemy's tactics nor look past the spiritual death of the unbelieving world. When the reality of the spiritual realm is known, we are given the choice to engage or cower in fear. To those that resist its existence, the enemy is best served to maintain their ignorance.

Were you to travel to remote South America or Western Africa, you would struggle to find those that deny the spiritual realm. Witchcraft and idolatry is a daily part of life, and the people cannot question the existence of a spiritual realm. To them, the question is not if, but which one. Which lord demonstrates greater power than another? What is the personal benefit of worshiping that power? How do you not fear such a thing?

People from these countries do not want to be convinced of an Almighty God; they have been ruled by many others that manifested great power. They want to know whether your God holds ultimate authority over any principality that would oppress. Only then can He change their lives.

Consider that most American believers have never encountered their God in this way. We are told we have an enemy in scripture, but he too is a distant idea. All the while, the world is dying. Our ignorance or resistance is at the expense of enemy domain and acquisition; he builds strongholds while we interact with the physical like nothing is amiss. We do not see the lies that bind the world around us, yet we wonder what keeps mankind from accepting our God with open arms. We fight our battles in courtrooms while the enemy claims spiritual space. We gather for coffee and donuts while the dead reside outside our walls.

Without an enemy, we have no urgency. If salvation can be found through a good presentation, this is much easier than freeing the captive from a life of spiritual bondage. If the Christian life is good deeds, this is much cleaner than pleading the blood of Christ over the chained. We can walk away and feel good about our purpose; physically, this is perfectly suitable. But for those that cannot un-see the enemy's diligent hate, it's due time to fight the battle in your own backyard. Trust me, it's just beneath the surface.

but a vessel

A symbolic testimony I assumed, presumed to be the man that showed you otherwise. When she and I locked arms, it would demonstrate to the rest that He was redeeming: none considered lost, broken, or impure. Alas, I aged, awaiting the unknown restoration; I traded my pleasure for an unseen hope. No longer a symbol -- no longer qualified. She sustains the privilege of youth while I father her alone: not a lover or romancer, but a guardian of her innocence. And I wonder, for whom am I her keeper? What man bears the blessing of my tears and scars? Who will take her away once I have lifted her and eradicated my use? I shouldn't covet at this stage; one glimpse in the mirror tells a truer story. A million daughters without an ally: my heart cries for justice and rests here alone.

"ahhhh..." said the bachelor

Tis the satisfaction of a frozen pizza after two hours of raking leaves.

reconciling mercy and justice

Six months ago, I was reading Mere Christianity during my overnight shift and was confounded by this excerpt:

[On the indulgence of sex] I do not say that you and I are individually responsible for the present situation. Our ancestors have handed over to us organisms which are warped in this respect: and we grow up surrounded by propaganda in favour of unchastity. There are people who want to keep our sex instinct inflamed in order to make money out of us. Because, of course, a man with an obsession is a man who has very little sales-resistance. God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them. (Lewis 93, emphasis added)

I desire to handle this topic delicately. The extent of God's mercy has been theologically argued for hundreds of years, and the Greek philosophers debated issues of justice prior to the coming of Christ. This I know for sure: no matter how much C.S. Lewis or myself (I'm not even trying to make a comparison) communicate our understanding of mercy, I'm certain any such message will be tainted with human bias. The best I can do is allow the Spirit to speak as clearly as possible while humbly accepting rebuke from Him as well. Since Romans 9 has been debated without resolution since the protestant reformation, my aim is not to convince you of my point; rather, it is to sharpen your understanding of our Heavenly Father.

What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses,

"I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. (Romans 9:14-18)

Over the past year, this passage has become a wastebasket of sorts to justify the unexplainable circumstances in my life. Without seeking it, the issue of mercy has arrived in bible studies, church meetings, freedom sessions, and prayer. Sometimes, I feel like this characteristic of God is comparable to a parent answering "because" to the child's question of "why?" God's mercy (or lack thereof) ends the argument, yet often leaves us reeling for a more standardized yardstick.

In contrast, the human race loves law; we want to know the consequence for the crime. By placing lawlessness on a hierarchy, we can make decisions based on the standard for the whole. For example, since we live in a culture that accepts the indulgence of sexuality but condemns murder, we shape our laws to reflect the values of the whole. Likewise, Christians that consider their religious law to supercede the government's may drive 5 MPH over the limit to make it to church on time, or they might download a worship song they do not own to play in bible study.

However, were we to follow God's law for justification rather than out of obedience, we would be condemned. Few are condemned in the natural law for "speeding with the flow of traffic," but breaking "the least" of God's laws is cause for death. Truly, it is the irregular nature of God's mercy that allows any of us to live. Therefore, can we cry foul when He grants more mercy to some than He does for others?

I find solace in Lewis's words: not because it offers a more attainable standard, but because this is the Christ I see throughout the gospels. God will not judge me as if I had a compassionate father. He will not judge me as if I had a partner to bear my burdens. He will not judge me as if my environment was sexually pure, nor will he condemn me for confusion and doubt amidst structural chaos.

Likewise, I will be accountable for my assets. I will not be judged as if I hadn't grown up with His Word. I will not be judged as if I wasn't born into a rich nation. I will not be judged as if I had not received the privilege to experience a Spirit-filled work. God will search my heart according to the mercy He has granted me, and not the mercy or justice He has given someone else. For this, I am fully accountable.

And just when I think I understand this to a science, God will remind me that He knows better than I, offering the simple justification, "Because."

Then the Lord spoke to Job out of the storm:

"Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me. Would you discredit my justice? Would you condemn me to justify yourself? Do you have an arm like God's and can your voice thunder like his? Then adorn yourself with glory and splendor, and clothe yourself in honor and majesty. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low, look at every proud man and humble him, crush the wicked where they stand. Bury them all in the dust together; shroud their faces in the grave. Then I myself will admit to you that your own right hand can save you." (Job 40:6-14)

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Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, "Who then can be saved?"

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible."

Peter answered him, "We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?"

Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first. (Matt. 19:21-30)

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Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a fraction of a penny.

Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything -- all she had to live on." (Mark 12:41-44)

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Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! (James 2:12-13)