maybe punk IS dead

Husband and I have been to two local shows in the past couple weeks. More than we've attended in a year ... or two.

Most recently was at Clearwater in Dundee. If you've never been, the floor in front of the stage is about six feet below the stage. It's a pit. There's a 21+ section that wraps around the pit on one side, level with the stage. Monday was the first time I'd spent much time there and the students who came with us acknowledged we were hanging out in the "retired punks" section. We nodded and smiled 'cause they didn't know the band coming through the speakers was one of the best Chicago punk bands ever, and better than anything they'd see live in their lives.

I realize bias is a dangerous thing, and that it may threaten what I'm about to say. I've thought it over, though, and I'm confident in my opening remark: My scene was so much better than this scene. I don't know if Your Scene Sucks makes tshirts with just that text on 'em, but I'm gonna check so I can wear it the next time I go check out someone's band.

Husband's comment sums it up perfectly: "It's like watching puberty. It's so awkward."

Do bands just not sing about stuff anymore, or did I hit a couple off shows? Girls and music and the occational horror story set to power chords. What? This is how we're spending our youth now? Where are the at least attempted intellectuals writing "damn the man" choruses? Where's the group of friends and fans who know all of the words and shout them like they matter? Where's the inspiration? The call to action? "This song's about love?" Spare me.

No one's even preaching to their choir anymore, and it's left the choirs to talk about cell phones. Bands are throwing up banners with their names on 'em because it's all about them, because they have no message. There are no ideas, so what do we promote? Us. We're the means and the end.

Even the response of the crowd is largely selfish. It's about the individual and how well he thrashes around. It's not about throwing yourself into a pit, or slamming yourself against someone else. It's not a group effort; it's about me.

I could venture into all kinds of spiritual discussions, but it's not even necessary.

After the band we came to support left the stage I held my breath hoping the Lawrence Arms would crackle through the strained sound system again. But they didn't. So we left. There was a time I would have berated someone for leaving a show early because their friends' band was done ... but that time is clearly forgotten.

What in the World is Going On?

Thomas Nelson has this great deal going on for bloggers: They send you a free book of your choosing (from a selection of their newest releases) and you review it in at least 200 words. Interested? Here.

So my first job was What In The World Is Going On? by Dr. David Jeremiah. If you know me, you know I'm far too opinionated for 200 words to be a challenge. Here you go:

Dr. Jeremiah is a pastor, best-selling author, and host of an international television and radio program for Bible-teaching. I’d never heard of him, but his credentials are noteworthy.

In What in the World is Going On?, Dr. Jeremiah does a stunning – almost alarming – job of connecting the dots between Biblical end times prophecy and current events.

Chapters one through four, as well as seven and eight, and most of nine and ten are fantastic.

Chapter one discusses the rebirth of the nation of Israel according to Isaiah’s prophecy, “Who has heard such a thing? Who has seen such a thing? Shall the earth be made to give birth in one day? Or shall a nation be born at once?” (Isa 66:8) This chapter is not only deep, it’s emotional, and it taught me much about an aspect of the end times I thought I understood.

Chapter two discusses oil. I’d never heard oil discussed in the context of the end times, but Dr. Jeremiah helps the reader take a few steps back to display the big picture of tensions in the Middle East.

Chapter three discusses modern Europe. Dreams and visions from Daniel (chapters 2 and 7), as well as John’s revelation of the beast with 10 horns, are easily connected to the currently developing European Union.

Chapter four discusses Islamic Terrorism in no uncertain terms. I appreciate that Dr. Jeremiah doesn’t shy away from the topic. Rather, he gives a history of Islam and quotes many Muslim or former Muslim scholars and authors.

Chapter seven continues chapter three with a discussion on the emergence of the character known as the Antichrist. Dr. Jeremiah reviews biblical prophecy concerning this man – who he is and what he does – and then demonstrates how easily all that is foretold of such an evil man can be accomplished in our modern world.

Chapter eight discusses biblical prophecy concerning the enemies of Israel. They are named in Old Testament scriptures, but the names of many nations have changed. In this chapter, Dr. Jeremiah demonstrates how the enemies of Israel thousands of years ago are her enemies still today, and how they are currently aligning themselves to perfectly fulfill what is prophesied concerning them.

Chapters nine and ten discuss the war at Armageddon – which is actually a place – and the return of the King of kings. Much of these chapters is enlightening, but the whole of them – along with chapter six – is tainted by chapter five.

Chapter five discusses Dr. Jeremiah’s theory about the rapture – the time when Jesus comes back to claim His church. Some believe this will happen before the years of tribulation that will come over the earth, some think after. Dr. Jeremiah and I do not agree, and his interjection of this theory throughout the remained of the book was at first bothersome and eventually discerning.

I took it as an opportunity to clarify my beliefs about the rapture vs. the second coming. Dr. Jeremiah is much better versed in scripture and prophecy than I am, and if I was wrong I wanted to know. After several long afternoons and evenings of comparing notes and sorting through scripture, I’m not swayed at all by his ideas.

More than that, I found several occasions where scripture is quoted in part, and the part neglected may well contradict his theory! I also discovered at least once where scripture was referenced and implicated to say something it very clearly does not say.

Of course there are also several passages that make claims about the rapture or Christs’ second coming where no scriptural support is given. I respect that Dr. Jeremiah understood himself to be stating fact and that listing the biblical support for every assertion would surely add considerable length to the project. Still, as one trying to fight herself out of a rock and a hard place, I was looking for those scripture references and they were not given.

I certainly don’t presume to accuse Dr. Jeremiah of deliberately deceiving his audience. It may have been in many of these cases that he didn’t see the necessity in explaining pieces of his theory in greater detail, or that he believed some truth was easily understood that perhaps was not. It may also simply be that doctrine long held has a way of turning our eyes from scriptural contradictions.

That said, I believe his teaching on the rapture to be dangerously erroneous.

In all, however, What in the World is Going On? is a captivating, insightful, and very valuable read. For the weight of its subject, Dr. Jeremiah pens an easy read. I would highly recommend it to anyone – Christian or no – with the addendum that you look up the scriptures he references as you go, and after you’ve read it, we get together for coffee and a discussion of the rapture.

wish lists

If your family is anything like mine you have relatives asking for Christmas wish lists right about now and you're thinking, "What about Thanksgiving?" Maybe in this economy, stores are trying to boost sales, but it seems Christmas has come really early this year.

My family draws names. Everyone buys a gift for one person. About $25.

The holidays can be stressful. Money is tight, expectations are high, and everyone's trying to sustain the jolliness for a month and a half. These are tense times we're living in, and the holidays tend to exacerbate tension.

Well, I'm here to help.

For those of you being badgered by family members with, "What do you want for Christmas?" I have answers. Not only does this mean one less thing for you to think about, one less list to compile, I have good answers.

Good answers means the things I am putting on your wish list will serve you well, be a positive and relaxing shopping experience for your loved ones, and fit within a modest budget. Everybody wins.

I submit to you, your Christmas Wish List '08:

1. Baby chicks.
2. Fruit trees.
3. School supplies.
4. Ducks.
5. Seeds.
6. Basketballs.
7. Hope.
8. Job training.
9. Mosquito nets.

Any of these gifts will serve you well by driving a wedge between your heart and the consumerism that's trying to choke it to death. They are all pleasant shopping experiences for your loved ones because they can be taken care of from the comfort of their own homes, or nearest wireless providing cafes. And they're all $30 or less!

Merry Christmas!

oh yes, it's that time

So I'm reading this book. It's a good book. It was a great book until the author got to this theory on the tribulation vs. the rapture, and I just do not agree. I've read his stuff. I'm unconvinced.

The rest of the book is good and I'll blog more about it soon ('cause that was the deal - I get a free book, I post a review). I wanted to share a couple paragraphs with you in the meantime, though. This is from Dr. David Jeremiah's What in the World is Going On?

"Paul-Henri Spaak, the first president of the UN General Assembly, first president of the European Parliament, and onetime secretary general of NATO, is credited with making the following stunning statement:

"'We do not need another committee. We have too many already. What we want is a man of sufficient stature to hold the allegiance of all people, and to lift us out of the economic morass into which we are sinking. Send us such a man and be he god or devil, we will receive him.'"

Bring on the beast, the world is ready to welcome him.

an open letter to the ladies

(Especially the young, unmarried ladies.)

There are days when I wish I could just round up every Jr. High and High School-aged young lady and have a meeting. Today is one of those days. Short of that:

You are not a sex symbol or object. Your value is not determined by how revealing or tight or trendy your clothing is. You can smile in pictures instead of trying to look disheveled or pouty or alluring.

Your identity is not in the guy you're with until you've taken his name. Your worth is not determined by how many young men are attracted to you. I'd set myself on fire if there were some way to really move this idea into your spirit. Your role is not to flirt with every attractive male you meet. You're not even obligated to return the attention they give you.

It's okay if you believe that every guy wants nothing from you but sex. Someday the one who is the one will convince you otherwise. If he can't, he's not the one.

Your heart is a liar. "Deceitful above all things and desperately wicked," is how the Lord phrases it. Don't listen to it when it tells you you're in love. God is love. God defines love, not your weak human heart.

There is a time for everything. If you're a student living with her parents and making minimum wage (if anything), you are not in a time for romance. You are in a time for study, learning, family, growing, and finding your place in God's kingdom plans. It doesn't seem exciting because it's not the stuff of prime time teevee, but if you could see it for what it is you'd be less inclined to try to skip this season. This is your Esther season, your Joan of Arc season, but whether you see it or not, you can't skip it. Attempting to do so will hurt you and everyone around you for years to come. You can't skip it, but you can fail at it.

The truth is, God has so much more for you right now. He wants to meet you in prayer. He wants to use you in ways the apostles never dreamed of. He wants to send you out to change lives. You will never again have so much free time, expendable income, energy, and capacity for vision as you have right now - even if it seems like you're really short on any or all of those things, trust me.

God has so much for you right now. The rest of it is BS distraction because the world and your enemy don't want you to fight, to do something amazing with your life. The fashion, the impossible beauty standards, the dating, the guys, and the rest of the scene are distractions.

Don't fall for it. I beg you: Don't fall for it. If I light myself on fire will you promise not to fall for it? I'm that willing. Don't fall for it. Don't fall for it. Don't fall for it. There is _ so _ much _ more.

warrior

I watched Kung Fu Panda three times last weekend. Dustin Hofman is fantastic, as always. If you haven't seen it, you should check it out. It's laugh-out-loud funny. And for what it's worth, Timothy wanted to watch it the second time. He never does that. We'll leave Blockbuster empty handed before he'll rent a movie we've already seen.

We rented it Saturday evening. Watched it again Sunday over lunch. And again Sunday night at my parents' house 'cause I knew my mom would probably pee herself laughing. And that's always fun.

There's one scene where Master Shifu (Dustin Hofman, who is - by the way - fantastic) is trying to meditate. He's had a very stressful few days. It's late at night. His students are in bed, and he's sitting with a few candles going, "Inner ... peace ... in ... in ... inner peace ..."

Then, of course, he gets distracted and the plot line continues to move forward, but for whatever reason that scene (the third time I'd seen it in two days) snatched my attention. The movie and the laughter went on without me for a few moments as I lay on the couch considering.

There are a couple scenes in the movie wherein the characters are having deep conversations by moonlight. And here was Master Shifu meditating in the middle of the night. Am I to believe the characters hardly sleep?

In another scene, the morning bell is rung and, fast as lightning, the students throw open their bedroom doors and appear in the hallway with a unison, "Good morning, master."

I don't know much about kung fu, but I know that these ideas are universally associated with warriors and excellence. The point of Kung Fu Panda was not to genuinely portray the lifestyle of a kung fu master, but when writers and story boarders were trying to assemble a believable script these kinds of disciplines were included.

There I was, laying on my parents' couch, moved to jealousy by Jack Black as a CGI panda with a boyish fantasy about kung fu.

Because the truth is, people do this. People live like this. Warriors live like this. Masters live like this. People with a vision to push themselves to be the best they can be live like this. Am I?

My God is my King is my Master is a warrior. I was born in the middle of a war to fight in battle day after day after day. Not just for two weeks toward the end of summer, or as the mood strikes me. Am I?

People deny themselves every day for lesser things. People train late and rise early every day for temporary treasures. People live lives wholly and unconditionally devoted to so much less than Christ.

It seems so daunting now, but I know that this life is but a vapor. Before I know it I'll be on the other side of eternity, and I'll see just how short this life really is. Will I be able to look back on it and say that I gave my all? Or will I look back and see that I slept in most mornings because I didn't really believe in the lateness of the hour?

I want to see the former. I want to stand before the Lord and know that I prayed and I studied and I preached and I worshiped and I gave like I believed Him. I want to be found faithful when He calls.

$5?

Ever heard of Soles for Souls? They like to give people shoes, basically.

They launched a new challenge today: 50,000 pairs of shoes in 50 days. Tall order? Maybe. You can donate two pair for $5. That's a much, much shorter order. Three clicks and five bucks is all it takes. Here. I did it. You can do it.

Other fun ways to get involved:

• Blog it. The campaign starts today, so they're asking bloggers to light up the 'sphere with posts and links and encouragement (and to lead by example). There are buttons and banners on the website, and a full press release on the ...
  
  
• Facebook! You can join the Facebook group here.

I know the economy isn't the greatest, and we're less inclined to give when times are tough but people need shoes. Their economy sucks more than ours. If you don't need shoes, I'd wager you can do $5.

If you're down, post a comment and let us all know you bought a couple pairs of shoes!

churches do not compete with other churches

Period.

At least they shouldn't. I don't think they do. Any local church that's in competition with other local churches is really in competition with God. Your church is the body of Christ, but so is theirs. You're punching yourself in the face, and you look stupid.

I keep hearing about this competition thing lately and it's really, really getting obnoxious. And you know where it started? In me.

Driving to church several weeks ago I noticed that Harvest put one of their Authentic Jesus series yard signs in the little grassy area at the intersection of 31 and Tollgate. I chuckled to myself as I pictured pulling over on Tollgate to pull the thing out. Good humored fun. I wasn't really going to do it, but it was a funny thought.

For a fraction of a second until Holy Spirit slapped me.

"Who are you to stop someone from going where I want them to go?"

Local churches are all a little different. Harvest, from what I understand, has a great ministry for new Christians, or church dropouts who are thinking about returning. They're big. They can put together quality productions. Its easy for nervous, new people to get lost in the crowd. There's a certain credibility that comes with being big and established in our society.

There are dozens of smaller local churches in Elgin that do other things better than Harvest, but there are people who will go to Harvest that wouldn't go to any of those smaller churches for whatever reason. If someone is uncomfortable going to a smaller church, or a church that speaks in tongues, or a church that's in a renovated strip mall, or whatever - praise God if they'll go to Harvest and meet Christ.

I passionately repented.

This is not a contest. Churches that try to reach Christians instead of atheists and agnostics and Muslims (etc.) are missing the point. There are people out there who call themselves Christians and are not attending a church, and those people need to get into a church. Definitely. But those people aren't attending a local church for a reason. Maybe it's because the churches they used to attend weren't doing anything worthwhile, so they failed to see the point of church.

Reach to the farthest edges and you'll catch the ones only half-way out too. We're fishers of men, and fishermen in Jesus' day used nets. Not lines.

I'm sorry if this is a little forward, but it seems like I've been seeing this attitude all over the place and I don't know how else to respond.

I love a story Craig Groeschel shared on his blog a while back. They were struggling through some division in their congregation, so Craig researched other churches in town. He got up one Sunday morning and explained the mission and vision of their church. He then told them if they weren't on board for that, there were brochures in the lobby for something like a dozen other churches in town. He assured people that he knows all the pastors and their ministries are sound. Hundreds of new seats were open the following week, and the leadership team was excited to fill those seats with people who could get on board with what they were doing.

What was not the point, but implied, is that their leadership team is not competing with other churches in town.

And I'm over it.

We need to stop punching ourselves in the face. Remember that scene in Fight Club where Pitt and Norton are fighting in the parking lot and the two other guys are looking at them funny? Then, at the end of the movie they play that scene back the way it "really" happened, and it's the two guys watching Norton beat himself up? That's stupid. That's what we're doing.

President Obama

Just trying it on.

I didn't stay up late last night, and I only checked CNN on my phone once. There wasn't much question, and even little hope after Pennsylvania fell. Still, I went to bed hopeful.

So this morning I was disappointed, but not surprised.

But the election was yesterday. Today is November 5, 2008 and the world is still turning. I still had to go to work this morning, and Jesus is still on His throne.

Michael Hyatt, the President and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishers, posted a good bit on his blog this morning. It's not very long. You can read it here, but the crux of it is this:

I am publicly making four commitments to President-Elect Barack Obama:

1. I will pray for him and our country.
   
   
2. I will assume his motives are good, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
   
   
3. I will not speak ill of him, even if I don’t always agree with him.
   
   
4. I will cast off the spirit of cynicism, and be a positive force for good.

Can you make these four commitments?

I can - with one footnote on #3, which I left in his comments section. I will not speak ill of Mr. Obama personally, which I'm fairly sure is what Michael means. I will, however, maintain at a higher standard my commission to speak Truth. God holds His word above His Name; I hold His word above President-Elect Obama's name.

But for years I've supported President Bush and expected people who don't like him to pay him the respect due as our President. Time to put my money where my mouth is and do the same for the next President.

How about you? Sign your name in the Comments and commit to be a Christian regarding our next President.

And if you're interested, the full text of his acceptance speech from last night is here. Don't read it if you're still bitter.

election day

I thought about this this morning as I shuffled into our polling place in my slippers: Why isn't Election Day a national holiday?

Seriously. No school. Close the banks. Close the market. Shut stuff down.

What greater day do we, as a nation, have to celebrate? How many men and women have died for this day? How many spouses and parents have folded U.S. flags for this day? How many people have sacrificed in times of war - all for the first Tuesday of every other November? This is a big day when we have the opportunity to live for what so many others have died for; why should it be a chore and a ding out of our paychecks to get to the voting booth?

I realize we have Veteran's Day and Memorial Day, and those are good days. But why not take the day we actually go to the polls to exercise our expensive freedoms as a day to remember too?

I'm not lobbying for an extra day off, here, either. Move Veteran's Day to the first Saturday of November if that makes it easier. It just seems like we talk about vote, vote, vote. It's your responsibility. It's your duty. It's a liberty that comes at a high price. And all those things are true, but they become mere slogans when we get up early to vote and then rush to work and forget about the whole thing until the evening news.

I also have to wonder what it would do for voter turn-out. One less excuse.

Just a thought for you on this lovely Election Day.

Oh, and don't forget: Free (tall) Starbucks coffee when you flash your "I Voted" sticker.

grace meets truth

I think I missed an opportunity last night. Sitting at dinner with my family, my dad asked if we got ourselves registered to vote at our new address in time. We did. "How will you be voting, then?"

I caved.

I saw my very liberally-minded, non-Christian younger brother sitting next to me out of the corner of my eye and thought about how I was going to text him today to see if we could get together for a bit after work. I got intimidated at the divisive nature of politics, and at the fear of alienating him and voiding anything I'd say to him for weeks ... I just shrugged off the question.

And I drove home really disappointed in myself.

I drove home really disappointed that I couldn't just say I'd be voting against Obama, and let the Holy Spirit do the job of ministering to my brother.

I drove home disappointed that I couldn't just say, "I'm not excited about McCain - I don't believe he'll do much for our nation - but I'm voting against Obama because as charismatic as he is, he's only been in national politics for two years, and in those two short years he's earned one of the most liberal voting records in the Senate. He even voted against outlawing partial-birth abortion.

"He's never served in the military, and I don't believe for a minute that he has any respect for that uniform.

"He's a Marxist. He has so many new programs and so many tax cuts planned he doesn't seem to realize that one plus one doesn't equal nine.

"He has questionable ties and assocations that no one is allowed to ask about or research. He's hiding something about Harvard. He's (along with the L.A. Times) hiding something about Israel.

"And his wife freaks me out."

So there. At least I got to say it to you I guess.