Now I don't want to get off on a rant here...

Echoes of Sin

Megan

A twelve year old girl bashfully walks into the room and sinks down into the big red stuffed chair in the corner. Just from the anxious look on her face it is clear that she is weighed down by life and is facing some hard times. She hasn’t known where to turn for awhile now; with her mother’s neglect and her father’s abuse. Trapped in a life of hurt, pain and suffering, Megan turns towards the only relief she believes is possible. At this young age she decides it would better to end her life than continue to deal with it all.

Betty

A seventy-eight year old woman lays in bed, unable to speak or eat. The stroke Betty suffered over a month ago left the muscles in her throat unable to work. She is barely able to communicate now because the lack of nourishment has left her so weak. Before she was unable to do so, she did communicate to her daughter and the doctors that she wanted to die. Slowly the life has drained out of her and several times it appeared her life’s journey was at an end, yet she is still hanging onto the thin strands of life she has left.

Why does death confront us all no matter how old we are? Why does it shake our core and beacon us forward at the same time? Socrates tells us that the fear of death is foolish because of our ignorance veils our eyes to its realties which could be quite pleasant. He relies on the fact that the truly wise man knows that he is not wise. While there exists certain wisdom here, does this offer up anything more than an agnostic view of the world?

Death, aging, destruction, war, strife, etc, etc these are all reminders to us of sin and the falleness of mankind. It is unavoidable. Inescapable. All of us will face death one day and some of us will face it today. Where do you turn? Megan and Betty invite death to come because they believe that the pain of this world is more than they can bear. Perhaps like Socrates they plead ignorance and are hopeful for something better.

The echoes of sin and the teaching of Scripture share with us a different story. It is in Jesus Christ alone that we find the hope and assurance of everlasting life. His sacrifice on the cross took all the echoes of sin that resonate in the believer’s life upon himself and abolished them forever. And so it is this very cross that Megan, Betty and all must cling; in order that, their hope of a joyful everlasting life would come true. The apostle John wrote, “But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). So let death beacon you forward, but let it only be death to yourself so that you might have life in Jesus Christ.

Ethnic Food

I’ve never really liked that phrase. Going out for ethnic food implies that food you normally eat (American food) lacks ethnicity. So Americans don’t have a culture of our own? Our food isn’t ethnic?

If it was simply isolated to take-out menu selections I don’t think this would bother me so much. The real issue is that our “multicultural” society, the great “melting pot” of the world has always had a pot to sit in, a framework that held us altogether. Yes a culture of our very own! Despite all the special interests groups that exists, the divisions amongst our political parties, red state/blue state, MAC people/PC people – at the end of the day we are all Americans.

That is until we decide that our culture, the American way of life that so many have fought to defend and are still fighting for; is simply a neutral, self-defined postmodern creation. This is part of the problem with the immigration debate that continues. Assimilation means becoming a part of the culture that already exists or seamlessly melting into the pot. Declaring your own special interest group, setting yourself apart and demanding rights does nothing to forward the cause of freedom.

As a natural born citizen of this country I realize I will never fully appreciate the struggles that others go through to experience the prosperity and liberty the USA provides. And as a citizen I long to see us all united with a clear purpose as Americans; not as some ethnic-free place to eat.

Of course, that's just my opinion. I could be wrong.

Just Friends

Is that a single guys two least favorite words or a funny movie? Actually it is both, as this funny movie invites us all into the “nice guys” world of…THE FRIEND ZONE! I honestly don’t know if I found this movie so funny just because I could relate to the main character or if it was actually good. Another friend of mine who saw it recently didn’t seem so enamored by it, but he is one of those guys that probably only spent time in the friend zone by his choice. Those that were given permanent residence there against their will probably find the movie funnier.

Most of my life had been spent in that desolate world – as the female equivalent to “always a bridesmaid, but never a bride”. My best friends were always lady killers and rarely spent time in the friend zone.

Just so it is clear – this isn’t a rant and is only written in the vein that I can totally relate to this movie and laughed repeatedly!

In High School it was Heather Requard that captured my attention and left me standing in the zone. College brought on countless opportunities to firmly entrench myself, but the real stand out was Angie Eck. Vertical Horizon sung my tune on the radio, “But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why”. I sure made a proper fool of myself trying to break free of those friendly chains on more than one occasion, but it was not meant to be.

Then after college there was Amy Wanaselja who captured my heart and I found myself once again sitting on the sidelines. Only this time – I knew exactly why I was there. She was a preacher’s daughter, devout in her faith for Jesus Christ. I was an atheist and regularly found my enjoyment in a 12 pack of Killians. Again, the time to break free from the Friend Zone was not meant to be.

It wasn’t until the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ captured my heart and transformed it, turning me into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17-18) that I was finally able to break free. I learned what it was to be more than just friends and entered the deepest relationship of my life, with Jesus Christ. No longer did the scales of my selfishness blind me from the love that He gave. And it was this relationship that enabled me to one day make Amy Wanaselja, my wife. For that I am thankful to Heather and Angie for haveing been just friends.