Currently Listening The Beautiful Letdown By Switchfoot see related

I have become increasingly concerned with certain practices amongst the Christian community (and perhaps in people in general).  There is this pervasive notion that particular traditional beliefs are found and upheld in the Bible.  I'm not advocating that any and all challenges to tradition be immediately accepted, either because they are simply wrong (theologically unsound) or, should they be theologically sound, require time to become adopted.  However, I am concerned that tradition is too often viewed on the same level as Scripture.  Particularly when that tradition is believed to be found in Scripture when it is not.  Passing judgment on someone for not following Scripture is one issue, passing judgment on someone for not following an accepted norm that is believed to be Scripturally based is quite another.  For me, this creates another problem, other than a large plank in one's eye.  Non-Christians then begin to believe that such practices are part of what it means to be a Christian.  Such persons may not only be turned off by Christianity, but may come to despise it.  Historically, such socially accepted norms as slavery and segregation found their way into the rhetoric of the Chirstian culture.  I wonder, how many at the time turned away from Christ because of these beliefs? 

Many of those reading this (if anyone does) have heard my complaints before and I am not going to enumerate the particulars here.  Moreover, I do not pretend that I have not fallen into this trap myself, but I just wanted to voice my frustrations and encourage both a questioning of generally accepted practices and testing them against Scripture.  If we are not constantly renewing our mind, how can we avoid conforming to that which is not of God? (Romans 12:2).

"I wanna see miracles. To see the world change. Wrestled the Angel, for more than a name." Switchfoot

I read a book last week on the Cuban Missile Crisis. I've read it before, but each time I do, or just learn about the situation in general, I'm horrified and amazed at how close we came to a thermonuclear world war.  It's very disturbing.  Moreover, this time I watched a clip of Fidel Castro demonstrating how furious he was that the missiles were taken out of Cuba.  He had urged the Soviets to fire the weapons.  What is so disturbing about this fact is that for the most part, we assume that leaders wouldn't want to engage in such activity as it would be self-destructive--the U.S. would most likely retaliate with similar, if not worse, destructive force.  Minor slip-ups here and there during the event could have cost the lives of 100 million Americans, 100 million Soviets, and millions in Europe.....extremely disturbing.  Even Dr. Strangelove would be chilled by this situation. 

"I cried to my daddy on the telephone , how long now/ Until the clouds unroll and you come home, the line went/ But the shadows still remain since your decsent, your descent."  U2 and Greenday, The Saints are Coming

So the flu was no fun, and now I'm attempting to catch up with my reading.  I think the information is great, its just so much cramed into a short amount of time. 

I'm excited about Spring break.  It's going to be a lot of fun.  But I have a lot of work to do over the break as well.  I have a pretty intense test on the monday I get back, fun times.  But hey, watch Leno on Monday night next week, I'll be in the audience.

Also, for those who love socially conscious, Christian, or just good rock music, Brothers Under Christ Island Party on April 20 will be hosting Switchfoot-free concert if you want to make the drive. 

Currently Listening U218 Singles By U2 see related

The Pearls

You can skip to the bottom paragraph if you do not want to read about the Pearls....

So a friend of mine received a book by Debbi Pearl as a belated wedding present.  The book, entitled Created to Be His Help Meet, advocate what I would call extreme submission of the wife to her husband.  From the excerpts I have read, and other advice that Debi offers to women, she seems to promote a marriage in which the wife carries a lot of weight.  If your husband comes in yelling at you, it must somehow have been your own fault.  If you're having a hard day and don't have time to make a meal, (thus meaning that your husband is going to yell at you when he comes home and no dinner is provided) you must learn to plan ahead....use a crockpot.  As my friend so elloquently put it, "the crack-pot recommends the crock-pot." 

Now my concern is that this book is targeted to conservative Christians and I can see how easily one might get sucked into this teaching.  I'm sure that some of what Debi says is Biblically accurate, but I think that this book presents women as being more like a faithful pet than a true companion.  Where is the selfless love on the part of the man?  You can go to their website http://www.createdtobehishelpmeet.org/ to read the list of the different types of men such as Mr. Visionary and  Mr. Steady.  I wonder, what about the different of types of women: could a woman be a Visionary or is this role only relegated to a man? 

Also, she makes several truisms, again this can be read on the website, such as a 'proven fact' without offering any reference to Scripture or sociological data to support the claim that the 'fact' is indeed so.  There are many other crticisms of the Pearls which can be found by simply Googling these people.  From Gnosticism, to denying that man has a sinful nature.  Others also point out their seemingly borderline illegal recommendations for disciplining a child (lets just say that a Willow branch is often involved). 

But really this just makes me consider how are women really viewed?  Continually women make less than men in the workplace.  Why is that?  Are there biological reasons or are they purely societal?  Why are so many Christians against having a female President?  (Especially since females already serve in some of the highest positions in government).  If you have any thoughts or have read the Pearls' books and think I completely misunderstood then let me know.  Or if you do not want to comment but would like to email me I would love to actually have a discussion with someone about this.  If not then perhaps this posting was a great way for me to vent my frustrations..... 

ok so pretty sure no one will read this but if you do, i hope it is insightful....

so the origins of the colors red and white for Valentine's day.....In a lot of Medieval literature the colors of the Eucharist were often presented in the story to represent the conversion, or foresighted the conversion, of the main character.  Red, symbolizing the blood of Christ, and white, symbolizing the body depicted this possible conversion.  One example of this can be found in the Story of the Grail (Perceval), in which a white lance that continual bleeds at the tip, is paraded in front of the niave Perceval, pointing him to an understanding of Christ's love.  The Crucifixion of Christ was seen as the ultimate display of true love.  Thus, in many other stories from the time, when the author wanted to depict true love between a man and a woman, they would use this same imagery--red and white.  Many of these stories can be found in The Lais of Marie de France.