Monthly Archives: January 2006

The obstinacy of the martyr

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In the only reference to Christianity in his Meditations, [Roman Emporer Marcus Aurelius] praises those souls that are ready to abandon their bodies when the time comes, rather than cling to life, and then goes on to say that this attitude is praiseworthy only when it is the outcome of reason, “and not obstinacy, as is the case with Christians.”

– The Story of Christianity, Volume 1, Chapter 6 – Justo L. Gonzalez

Marcus Aurelius became emporer of Rome in the year 161, and was, as Gonzalez reports, “one of the most enlightened minds of his age”. He was “a refined man”.

And yet he ordered the persecution of Christians, in part because he believed that the string of invasions, floods, epidemics and other disasters the empire was experiencing were the manifestations of the wrath of the gods due to the “atheism” of Christians. Christians were often labelled atheists because of their refusal to worship the Greek and Roman pantheon.

They were persecuted, and many of them died, obstinately refusing to renounce Christ. Aurelius considered this foolish.

Isn’t that awesome?

“While I live, I shall defeat you; and if you kill me, in my death I shall defeat you all the more.”

So answered Felicitas, a believing widow, to the Roman prefect who was threatening her. Her case ended up before Marcus Aurelius, who ordered that she and her seven sons be put to death in different sections of the city; perhaps, as surmised by Gonzalez, to appease various gods.

“Paper or plastic lives”

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“And every day when I get up

I see folks trading in their crowns

For all these paper or plastic lives

An opiate for the masses’ hounds”

– Caedmon’s Call, Standing Up For Nothing

I woke up a few minutes ago with that lyric ringing in my head. Actually, the line repeating over and over was simply “paper or plastic lives”. I couldn’t remember the reference and had to google it.

I wish it didn’t seem so appropriate, but I struggle with the same discouragement as the writer of that song. It’s the lot of the student minister (and even those of the “used to be” category, such as myself) to see those you once influenced grow up and make their own choices, some of which, at first glance at least, look less than wise.

All you can pray is that through it all they’ll cling to Jesus.

“I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.”

– Revelation 3:11 (ESV)

Happy Birthday, Professor Tolkien

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Today is the 114th birthday of J.R.R. Tolkien, the great writer and linguist who gave us such works of literary genius as The Silmarillion, The Hobbit, and, of course, The Lord of the Rings, about which C.S. Lewis insightfully wrote “Here are beauties which pierce like swords or burn like cold iron”.

I first read The Hobbit when I was about ten years old, and I was enthralled. I remember being overjoyed to discover that he had written “more about Hobbits” in another, longer work – a trilogy – called The Lord of the Rings, which I read when I was around eleven or twelve.

I’ll never forget diving into it for the first time; I was immediately struck by its more mature, darker tone and the rich depth of its histories. It was like a feast!

It swept me away, gave me visions of heroism and epic grandeur, and filled my mind with the values of goodness, simplicity, simple courage, loyalty, hardship, and love. And it is no stretch to say that it spurred me on in my search for God. I began reading the Bible sometime after reading LOTR, in a search, though I didn’t know it at the time, for what Tolkien would call the “true myth”. That search, spurred on initially by Tolkien’s shining work and helped along by many other circumstances and internal longings, culminated in the discovery – or perhaps revelation is a better term – of the reality of the story of my Savior before whom even Tolkien’s brilliant works of genius pale.

Happy Birthday, Professor Tolkien. My hope and expectation is that you are even now in the presence of the One who lit your imagination.

[Hat Tip to Sherry for the reminder]

Christian life in the early church

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For your encouragement, a quote from Justo L. Gonzalez’s The Story of Christianity – Volume 1. This is the last paragraph of chapter 11, Christian Life:

In conclusion, the ancient Christian church was composed mostly of humble folk for whom the fact of having been adopted as heirs of the King of Kings was a source of great joy. This was expressed in the joy of their worship, in their art, in their life together, and in their valiant deaths. The daily life of most of these Christians took place in the drab routine in which the poor in all societies must live. But they rejoiced in the hope of a new light that would destroy the dark injustice and idolatry of their society.

On willing spirits and crumbly canyon walls

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And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour? Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

– Matthew 26:40-41 (ESV)

It’s common this time of year to make lists of resolutions. I can think of a dozen things I’d like to do better in 2006 than I did in 2005. Not one of them is unattainable.

In fact, from my observations many of the goals we set for ourselves are very attainable, including that most commmon goal among adults (you guessed it): “I want to lose weight”.

Heck, I’ve lost weight before – and I know for a fact that enduring that gross Atkins taste in my mouth for 2 1/2 months would shed twenty pounds (as it did two years ago. Yeah, I gained it all back).

We all resolve to do better at work, in our marriages, in our tending of our physical temple, in school, etc. And yet it’s so easy to . . . to do exactly the same in the upcoming year as the year before.

And what of the highest goal, the goal of knowing God better, walking with him more closely, and glorifying him more?

We want to do this. I want to do this! The spirit is so willing.

But the flesh is weak! Weak, weak, and treacherous, this flesh we’re clothed in! And it wants to loaf, to waste time, to do a thousand things besides that which benefits my spirit and the Kingdom.

In searching for an analogy for my own bad self, I was reminded of this scene from that profound work, The Emperor’s New Groove:

Kuzco: I snatched you right out of the air!

“Oh, I’m a crumbly canyon wall, and I’m taking you with me.”

Well, not today, pal!

Uh-huh. Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh. Uh-huh.

Yes, my flesh is a crumbly canyon wall, and it wants to take me with it.

Man! To be able to say “not today, pal!” But there’s only been one human being in all of history who perfectly mastered his flesh and kept it in perfect submission to the Father’s plan.

May I call upon Jesus, my strength and my rock, this year. I know that without him my ideas of improvement will not happen. And I need to improve so badly, in so many areas. I feel this more deeply this year than I have in a long time. But only by the power of the Holy Spirit do I have the slightest hope of doing better. Because no matter how much my spirit wants to, I have my crumbly canyon wall to deal with.

“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

– Zechariah 4:6b (ESV)

Happy New Year!

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Happy New Year, everyone!

In honor of the new year I’ve come up with yet another theme. It’s called “Bloo Burst” and if you haven’t already selected a theme this will show up as the default. If you aren’t seeing it, select it from the dropdown in the navbar.

Since I’m not loaded with tons of graphic-design creativity, you might notice that this theme is sorta familiar looking. Hey, I’m trying. hopefully when Bloo is public I’ll find someone more artistic to create some really dope themes for me 🙂

Regarding Bloo version 0.18 – it’s coming, and it’s got a lot of big changes in it. I’ve been enjoying working on it. We’re getting closer, my friends.

Happy 2006!

Watch me for the changes. . .