I would like to draw peoples attention to the fact that myspace exists and has other functions that blogging doesn't. It also demonstrates how riduclously popular u are and how many people love you enough to write comments to you. So for the ultimate in personal vanity i suggest you get one! You now also have the ability to reach my, myspace through this blog.... I know i know the wonders of technology, whatever will the kids think of next :)
Xavier rudd's song "the message" makes me proud to be Australian, want to pack up my city life and go live in the bush, eating "tucka" and sleeping in a "swag". preferably somewhere in the kimberies in northern territory. It also makes me want to go fight for the environment. Gotta love this sunburnt country of ours, and what better way to express it than with a guitar and some heartfelt lyrics.
Also an invention has been created which outclasses even my novelty belt... THE AIR GUITAR T-SHIRT :O!!! i know, i am as stunned as you are.... will I get one, who knows? but the concept is just 2 damn cool.... For the not so cool though this geeky document shows yah how it works.... mmmmm acedemic journals...http://www.tml.tkk.fi/~tmakipat/pubs/paper117.pdf seem to spend my life reading these bitches, ahhh well this one is more interesting than the last article i read on "augmented phillips curves and inflation conflict models" *vomits a pile of bile in a nearby corner and looks quezy (just from repeating the title again)* try reading one of the damn things..... ARGGHHH.
I bought more bike shorts today, they look super sexy, as they wrap around my thighs, i am just a dream to look at in them. Actually i've never felt more homosexual in my life, but i'm comfortable enough with my sexuality not to really care... *at least, i thought i was heheh*.... I am quite tempted to post an animation my friend send me of a nude man jumping around with a sign that you can type a msg in (i know your out there mel :P) such as "hey big boy" or "i am gay"... unfortunately some of my more conservative readers may be pushed over the edge, especially after tempting references to myself in lycra. And seeing as i am hear to serve and wish to retain my loyal readership, i alas refrain.
As one can see the 4th day of solid studying without human contact has pushed me further into my own little world. So far so that i am starting to actually see the world totally as an economist, as a collection of variables that all share relationships with one another, you change one and everything gets messy. I've even managed to come up with an economic model in my head for the phenomenon of 4 little words no1 likes to hear "lets just be friends" based on the aggregate supply and demand model, using floating interest rates (interest, you get it HAH *bows head at own geekiness, but revels in his superior knowledge, HAH*) and a new Keynsian model for aggregate supply. I'll write it up when exams finish, and you guys can test them out "dolly" magazine style on all your "cute crushes of the month". The model comes complete with exogenous (variables coming from outside the model) shocks and how to do them to get you back in the zone, wooot! Yes i'm going slightly mad, and soon i shall be on my bicycle so that should hopefully give me some endorphins to make me sane again.
I Miss people in general, lifes quite empty when books are your only friend, but these periods are a necessity at times. I would very much like a tea party with all of my friends, and some scones, that would make me happy indeed, but tiz not to be for now.... Actually a few beers, a pizza, and a couple of mates would probably do the trick... *did someone say a man day!*...(girls you can be honarary men if you so choose, but you get all the advantages and disadvantages (are there any) that come with it.
open the aplet, its amazing. It documents what people are feeling all over the world from what they have posted in their blogs. Can spend hours playing with it. I love it. Any sentence, in a blog, that has "I feel" or "feeling" in it gets recorded and put in their database and then you can search it and make it generate statistics... like how many people have felt sad in germany who are thirty in the last 2 days. Pretty interesting stuff
So the other day I was cruising through uni on my skateboard with my headphones on, weaving through people, totally oblivious to people, and entirely wrapped in my own world. I realized how much most of the time people are just objects to us, moving objects, living objects, yes. But still objects. It is only until we engage with their minds that they become so much more than an object, it is humanities ability to relate to one another that makes us more than objects. Other people become something to us when we relate to them, it is because they become more than objects they become "beings". Things which have established a meaningful relationship and unique relationship to the world around them. They have a completely unique way of coping with existence and moving through it that we can peer into when they open windows into their existence.
I think at times it’s easy to forget others exist, not in the physical sense, that would be stupid, but in the sense that they are beings in the world with purpose, perspective, perception and subjectivity. It is impossible for this to manifest to us as an individual as we don't have the time to perceive most people as anything more than objects. The only value we can have of another being until we have experience some form of communication with it, is a base level understand that they exist on all the levels that we do, even though we don't acknowledge their existence on anything more than a physical level. For this reason people just blend into the world of objects most of the time, merely things to be avoided because we do not have the time to communicate with them. Nor any reason to expose our own vulnerability by sharing the fact that we exist on any other level rather than just the physical.
However people’s existence only becomes pressing to us when our mind is directed towards someone’s existence. When we see someone in pain our mind acknowledges their existence as a being with feelings and therefore wishes to help them because, (personally at least) we have created a system for ourselves which wishes for us and others to avoid unnecessary pain.
Something I have noticed with uni, is this theory I have called "stalker theory". You meet someone by chance, say you are introduced by a friend, or just decide to sit and have a chat with someone. I notice that with these people whom I had never previously seen before in my life, they keep cropping up around uni, in a way that seems almost like destiny. I think the reason being is that our mind is directed towards them because no longer are they an object but they now become a being and therefore our mind acknowledges them as an anomaly amongst the objects and is directed towards them. Hence while it seems like they are popping up all over the place, the truth is they have always been there and you have probably even walked pass them as many times in the months pre-acknowledging them, but now they are a being and not just an object therefore drawing the attention of the mind.
I also find Jean Paul Satre's perspective on a range of emotions. We only feel things like shame, guilt and amusement because of others. Without the existence of other beings we could not feel things like this. It is only the realization that their mind will be directed to a certain aspect of our character if we do abnormal things that we feel these emotions. It is for this reason why I feel mildly embarrassed when I fall off my skateboard or rollerblades in front of strangers, as I no longer exist to them as an object but a being whom hasn't the mental capacity to cope with existing on wheels, traveling at high speeds!
What’s also interesting about the phenomenon of people as objects is also the reverse. While you might see this way of viewing strangers as shallow and not valuing people as they should be, I find the reverse is also true. Those who are close to you become virtually unlimited beings, beings who exist on more facets than we can imagine... sure we can categorize their facets into a range of levels such as emotional, relational creative etc. however like any model this requires a certain abstraction from reality and does not do a person in reality justice. This is the beauty of relationships, is once in one, one has the pleasure of pluming a virtually infinite being. A being that can exist alongside of you in the world rather than outside of you as an object. Something you can share existence with and acknowledge one another on every levels rather than just the objective physical one.
It is this perspective on existence that has partly led to my belief in the Christian God. A God who unlike anything else is an infinite being, tied to nothing, but still very much alive. For how can we know God if he does not exists physically to us? Well we can know him on every other level through reading the bible, prayer and generally relating to him, and we can witness his physical work through his creation. We can share our existence with him alongside of us, sharing with him our lives on every other facet except the physical at present.
It is this fact that makes Christian living worthwhile and exciting. We have not only our present being in the world, but also our being outside of the world to look forward to sharing our relationship with God. I used to question the idea of eternally being in heaven, and whether I could be satisfied and content for an eternity. However my own experience of relating to finite beings, humans, who are tied to the world and being unable to truly know them over the course of one life time has led to continued satisfaction and contentment. How much more wonderful, content and satisfied will one be experiencing an eternity of knowing an infinite being, tied to nothing, together with those finite beings, in heaven?
1 Corinthians 1-31 21For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
Sometimes you find songs that you really connect with lyrically, you share a sense of empathy with aspects of the song, i find that happening alot with this song. It's by an aussie rock band called "sick puppies" the hadn't done anything for ages but with their new album coming up hopefully we should hear lots of them. The video for this song is awesome 2... free hugs, woot! who doesn't love a good hug. However what really draws my attention is the fact that this has so many christian undertones and yet i'm pretty sure they are not a christian band judging from some of the other lyrical content in their other songs. Now not wanting to take away from their original meaning, but if you read the song from the perspective of it being God speaking to humanity, the song takes on a new light. It reminds me of a God that is interested in the idividual and the sinner rather than the sin, who wants us to be real with him, who understands that we will rebel against us and yet promises us to hold his arms open to us when we go to him. It reminds me that God is intersted primarily in a relationship and just wants us to have one with him, and he understands the transformation to becoming godly will not happen overnight but as that relationship grows. Enjoy the song :)
All the same
I don't mind where you come from As long as you come to me I don't like illusions I can't see Them clearly
I don't care no I wouldn't dare To fix the twist in you You've shown me eventually What you'll do
I don't mind... I don't care... As long are you're here Go ahead tell me you'll leave again You'll just come back running Holding your scarred heart in hand It's all the same
And I'll take you for who you are If you take me for everything Do it all over again It's all the same
Hours slide and days go by Till you decide to come And in between it always seems too long All of a sudden
And I have the skill, yeah I have the will To breathe you in while I can However long you stay Is all that I am
I don't mind... I don't care... As long are you're here Go ahead tell me you'll leave again You'll just come back running Holding your scarred heart in hand
This man makes me laugh until i cry. Relax and be groovy because thats what Christians do :) Blas for me, Blas for you Blas for everybody... all apologise if you take offence but i can't help but adore this mans comedic genius
Kate's (uni friend) new nickname i have decided should be 8ball. I don't know if you guys have ever seen that toy which is an 8ball which you shake and it gives you answers, like "no", "ask again later" "it is certain" "don't count on it" and other phrases.. well Kate reminded me of one of those today.
As you may know Kate has incredibly expressive eyes, and manages to communicate alot through them. those eyes are like the 8ball she shakes her head the eyes move and viola! The answer to your question pops up. I tend to get the full range of eye expressions as i enjoy shaking her (metaphorically) and seeing what answer I will get. Most of the time it seems to be "don't even think about it" particularly when i'm serenading her with, "don't wanna beee alllll byyyyy mmyyyseeelllfffff" a classic which she of course is addicted to. Anyway from this day forth the 8balls will prevail, give her a shake and her eyes will not lie, they can tell you exactly what the future holds...ooo scary
In other news: Chris Hayter managed to create three sentences using only four words. Either he is a literary genius for reinventing the use of full stops or he needs to revisit kindy... Still he got a D in the paper so bravo... He read me the statement and let me tell you the impact was comparable to a meteor the size of zimbabwe hitting sydney....
A note to all my presence on MSN is being severely limited due to lack of uni work. If you feel like your suffocating without my soothing presence i'm only a phone call away... well i soon will be as my neighbor hasn't given me her phone yet after missplacing mine at a parttayyy... quite clearly i was have a little to much fun to remember minor details like the location of my audio communicative wave modulating demodulating device
P.S try making electronic devices sounding ten times more geeky than they are, you may just like it ;)
The pull of the world and Misconceptions about Christianity
The pull of the world and clearing up the misconceptions
The world can offer you fulfillment, it can offer to satisfy your desires needs and wants. Sex, drugs, consumption, media, excitement, and adrenalin it is all there. What more could a person want when their flesh can be stimulated by the world on demand. Who needs to consider a God when living your own way is just more fun, more adventurous and more exciting?
This week I was talking to Tarma a good friend from uni, who realized the deception of the world more than anyone I have encountered. He spoke to me of the drastic measures he has had to take in order to not succumb to the temptation of the world. How he had to restrain himself from countless hours of television, move a computer out of his room, and carefully select which movies he watches. It was inspirational, to see how aware of reality he is, how desiring God came first over the world. One can so easily be waylaid by the so called pleasures of this world, and get trapped into thinking that they will bring happiness and contentment. The world is ephemeral; any happiness it brings will not last, for it is outcome based. Worldly logic: “This happens I am happy and content therefore I need to keep doing this to stay happy”. I don’t know if I need to go to such lengths as my friend has, yet his motivation to shun the world and desire God with all his heart, mind and soul was encouraging.
I like every other Christian am in direct conflict with what my body and what rational decision making incorporating God tells me to do. I have lived a life which has allowed the world to wrap its arms around me and deceive me into thinking I am satisfied. Occasionally I have been satisfied with the world, with nights out drinking with mates, with girls who were willing to go anywhere and do anything, with coarse conversations and shunning responsibilities because I wanted to do my own thing… It’s so easy to slip back into that lifestyle, to let go and not care. But does it lead to contentment or long lasting happiness? No, only God and my relationship with him can provide that.
The tighter the worlds grip on you the harder it is to free yourself from it. A lot of aspects of the world are analogous to smoking, if you never start, you will never crave. Whether fortunately or unfortunately I have been left craving the world, while knowing what God wants me to do. I feel its pull every day and desperately want what it offers, all the while knowing that whatever satisfaction it will bring will be temporary and drag me away from God. The mind has a fantastic way of rationalizing sin. There are some sins which while the bible tells me are sins, I find it hard to rationalize why they are sinful and I am easily “tempted” so to speak, because I cannot understand Gods reasoning for things. However this rationalization and justification of sin sucks because it makes me look hypocritical and a bad witness to Christ.
I have spent many hours questioning who I am and what I believe, both pre and post Christianity. I admit I have not taken all my knowledge from God or the bible and this presents difficulties, because I am always tempted to share my own intellectual struggles and subjective paradoxes, with willing and empathetic non Christian ears. However I should not turn to the world for comfort in the face of sin. I should not boost my ego by presenting fancifully fabricated arguments that justify the way I live and bask in the heart felt nods and affirmations from the non-christian community.
I felt the weight of this tonight, when I was plunged into an evangelistic conversation with work colleagues over dinner. I find issues of sexuality, lust and drinking difficult to talk about because I have struggled so much with these issues and so easily empathize with people who engage in practices which are considered sinful. I thank God However that these issues led to discussion about Christianity. Its awesome to be able to share with my workmates the gospel message, especially people who while disagreeing with it are eager to hear it. People are often drawn in by the gospel message and it is a stark contrast to what the world has to offer. When people see that you are living for something beyond this world, while they may believe it to be foolish and at times even living a lie, they are usually intrigued about your belief system. They are eager to hear how you came to the conclusions you have done while going through the same experience of existence in the same world that they are in.
I find with a lot of conversations, people always have prejudgments about what I believe and think as a Christian. I often find that the vast majority of evangelism is clearing up misconceptions. People usually know the gospel message but have many misconceptions about what true Christianity are. We Christians aren’t really the underground society we sometimes like to think we are, there are lots of us and we come in many different flavours to, from Hillsong to Anglicans. You can’t talk to someone in Sydney without them having a preconceived notion of what Christianity means and why they don’t believe it.
I’m finding that lots of people have never really considered God to be relational and therefore see God as purely an all powerful, all knowing being, who occasionally does stuff for his people when we pray to him. A relationship with God is the foundation from which we work from, we need God because we broke our relationship with him. We need Jesus because he reconciled us back to God. We can re-enter into a perfect relationship with God in heaven because we have become Holy in Gods eyes, and therefore can enter his presence without him having to reject us out of justice to himself and his perfection. Relationships are at the heart of God, not some distant creator who occasionally comes down to help his people when they pray to him. Without a relationship with God, we are nothing, the cross means nothing. The cross is actually illogical if we don’t have a relational/personal God. One man dies as a sacrifice for our sins, yet he comes back? But he’s back??? where is the sacrifice??? what happened?? I’m not actually sure what happened in those three days, but I know that God used this event to reconcile us back to him, and from reading Pauls letters and knowing the effects that, that event has caused on the humanity, I know something truly great happened on the cross. To truly appreciate that greatness one has to have an understanding of God as a personal God who wants to enter into a relationship with you. Something which most people have not realized nor understood the implications of after proclaiming they understand everything there is to know about Christianity
I seem to keep needing to refer to Mark 2:17, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” How many times will people ask me “do you think you are better than me?”. My own mother has asked me this question on many occasions. I am no better than the non-believer and no Christian should ever think of themselves as any better nor any more special than the non-believer. They should love them as themselves, be willing to serve them like they would a Christian brother or sister and be patient with them even if they never do turn to Christ. That is not a decision for the Christian to force upon them but God if he so chooses. We as Christians are all too quick to judge, we are quick to give our opinions on how we don’t advocate homosexuality, abortion or any number of the hot topics. We leave people embittered about what the Christian community feels, and leave them viewing us as hypocritical. I personally don’t think we need to be so forceful with our views. We cannot put sin into a hierarchy and make those who are living lifestyles which are counter-Christian feel uncomfortable around us. There are far more pressing truths that we need to explain and share with non Christians before we dive into conversations about sexuality, laws and the range of sins that exist and we shun.
Sin to a non-Christian is meaningless, why should we tell them something is sinful when we know full well they will just laugh at us because they do not accept Jesus anyway? We should be pushing the message of hope and salvation into the public eye, and be known as people who believe in a personal and relational God, not those who abhor sexuality before marriage and homosexuality because we think its wrong. I’m sick of being branded judgmental just because I’m Christian and needing to clear up these misconceptions that should have never arisen in the first place.
There is one bible. This is a hard concept for most people to get their heads around… Yes Catholics include the apocrypha and yes there are many translations, but there is one bible. It is hard to express this point succinctly, especially when you could do an entire presentation on why the bible can be trusted as a source of truth, be that the ESV, NIV or any number of the trustworthy translations out there. I find this is a misconception that needs regularly clearing up as people are skeptical about a book that has been translated so many times and has needed to go through a canonical process.
Lastly I find that people regularly hit the big theological hot topics. It is hard to present succinct arguments for these, as I myself don’t have the answers and sometimes the answers are not to be had. I question, is it better to divert the question or point them towards resources that might help? When someone brings up the question of a God that’s all loving and allows suffering, it is hard to know what to do. There are books of hundreds of pages which deal with the issue yet the person sitting in front of you needs an answer, one to two minutes long. Toughness. Though I guess all we can do is trust God and hope for the best even though these issues may make us look foolish and as though we buy into an argument which has flawed logic.
Please pray for Carmen, Richard and Jeremy. This email is the result of the conversation I had with them. I get frustrated because I am still doubtful of whether I actually do anything, peoples hearts always seem to hard for any of the gospel message to penetrate. All we can do is throw seeds, it is up to God to determine how they land and whether they will blossom one day into something more. Goodnight guys, God bless J
P.S thanks for reading this if you made it this far
Xavier rudd "This sacred land it has seen many hands, it has wealth and gold, yet it is fragile and old and all the greedy souls just don't care to know of the changes it will confront"
