In the year of our Lord...

2011.

Seems antiquated to write or even say. I was never one to be politically correct.

Patiently waiting and expecting what He and I will accomplish this year.

Watch out.

the proverbial tree

WAAAY back in middle school, a friend of mine once said this about Christmas: "Why are we getting gifts for Christmas? It's Jesus' birthday, we should be giving Him gifts!"

As this statement still resonates in my mind and as another season of frantic gift shopping comes to a close, I cannot help but think of the proverbial Christmas tree of Charlie Brown.

No, dear readers, this is not ANOTHER gripe about the commercialism of Christmas. As much as I would like to demonize it, that squeaky wheel forever is getting grease and is forever needing it. So long as you know...

Anyways; fake tree, real tree, no tree...Remember to tell folks about His birth. His life. His mission.

In the meantime, me and that little boy with the drum is gonna put out some new beats. "paa rum pum pum pum" is still where it's at, though.

another Lewisian insight (iii)

Prince Caspian

-Old Narnians in hiding.
Quite possibly, reminiscent of the Judean exile in Babylon.

-The whole storyline has a Post-Hamlet, Pre-Lion King flavor.

-A dwarf says that the supposedly haunted forest "Smells likes ghosts." I wonder if ghosts have a scent?

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader

-Aslan's appearance in both his forms to the children at the edge of the world.
An apparent nod to Christ as the Lamb of God (John 1:29) and the Lion of Judah (Revelation 5:5).

The Silver Chair

-Serpent/Lady of the Green Kirtle's spell over Rilian.
The tempter is a liar. So take heed.

-Eustace, Aslan, and the thorn in his paw.
The piercing of Christ and shed of His blood brought/brings forth transformation in all who believe.

Fox's presentation of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader in 3 days!

Sunday mornings against the clock

One Sunday morning, a couple years ago, a bunch of friends and I wanted to go to church together. We had heard about this church and decided to go to the early service, but didn't check to see what time that service was. We essentially caught the tail end of the "Amen!".

I use to, and still do at times, chide myself for not showing up on time for church. The funny thing about this is that when I go with others, I'm always WAAAY early or 10-15 minutes late. If I go by myself, I'm on time. Go figure.

Late, early, on time. At least I'm going, right? The cheap answer is yes. Yes, I'm going. BUT, let's make some leaps shall we?

If I think I can show up late to church and no one will say anything, it'll be OK. If no one says anything then, who's to say I can't skip church on Sundays here and there, every now and then? If no one STILL says anything, why not skip church altogether on Sundays and let me have Sundays for more ME time?

By doing one thing and getting away with it, we make bolder and bolder steps in doing what we used to think was unthinkable.

Too far you say? Let's look at another analogy: lying. If you're willing to lie, then you'll be willing to cheat. Cheating->Stealing. Stealing->Killing.

Church folks call this whole process "backsliding". I like to call it "getting sloppy".

I'm not saying that we'll end up in hell for showing up to church late, but if we make it a habit, we might.

Let's not get too sloppy, but be reminded of His washing.

Isaiah 1:18 and Psalm 51:7.

6 months...

...has passed since graduation from dear old UVA.

Tempus fugit.

another Lewisian insight (ii)

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
-The White Witch's demand for Aslan.
Aslan sacrifices himself in place of the White Witch's demand for Edmund's life. How we must remember Christ's sacrifice in ransom for our sins!

The Horse and His Boy
-Aslan's presence.
Aslan's involvment with Arsheesh's discovery of Shasta. Aslan's encounter with Bree and Shasta, respectively, in the desert. Events which remind me of Psalm 139.

-Rabadash's transformation.
Reminiscent of Nebuchadnezzar's transformation in Daniel 4. Reminds us to check our pride at the door, before we wreck ourselves.

To borrow a term I learned as a religious studies major, the golden thread in both these stories is that of the fulfillment of prophecy.

The White Witch's attempt to stop the prophecy of the thrones of Cair Paravel. The attempt at getting rid of Shasta/Cor to stop his fulfillment of another prophecy.

Try as man might, attempts were made in each story to stop the fulfillment of prophecy. All of which were to no avail. I daresay reminiscent of the various prophecies that man has tried to stop in the Good Book.

Other books coming.

my country, 'tis of (Thee)

(My first official ballot and first presidential election.)

Politics is my chamomile tea. Not something I partake or enjoy regularly.

PJ called me this morning about the election. "Oh, that's today? Maybe I should vote..."

I don't indulge in bipartisan, or partisan for that matter, politics. I'm tired of too many people saying and thinking they're right. You all are WRONG!

Joking aside, I will concede this much. The uninformed and/or undecided voters are dangerous things.

There will always be differences. This, I know, is an indisputable fact. There will always be people thinking that someone else should be in charge. Whatever the case, one should remember Paul wrote briefly on the oppressive Roman government in Romans 13. Those words should be heeded.

BUT, what about all the writings and debates about separation of church and state, the tyranny of theocracy, and the writings of Enlightenment philosophers?

I'm not writing to discredit them. Please take such wisdom into consideration but also remember that there is greater wisdom from Someone and that Someone has more control of each situation. He works it all out in the end.

Remember what our founding fathers did when they started a session of Congress...

Pray.