So it has been a really long time since i have posted anything, and now is a wonderful excuse. I just watched “The Book of Eli”. I didn’t know anything about the flick before i started watching, so it was full of good surprises, worth a watch by cinematic standards.
What really struck me was the basis of the plot. The world had suffered what seemed like a nuclear tragedy that caused most people to die. All the Bibles in the world were also destroyed except one. That was was carried by this guy named Eli.
The eye opening thing and what got me thinking was what a world like that would be like. The true respect for the power of the Word that was present. It was cool and got me thinking of the appreciation we should have for the Word of God. Soo cool.

“Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live, turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 33:11 

Now how do I look at this verse and also see what happened to Bin Laden and justify this killing? I don’t know if i can. But than i look at what Bin Laden masterminded (all suspected): Attacks on US Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, an attack on the USS Cole, and the 9/11 tragedy, among other things that al-Qaeda (Bin Laden founded it) were responsible for. The ones i listed killed 200, 17, and ~3000 respectively. Most of whom were civilians,; mothers, fathers, and children.

What would have been a better result? His death, his capture (which most likely would lead to his death) or letting him free. Were the actions of the “Coalition against terrorism” actions to prevent further attacks or retribution for the attacks that had already occurred? Does it matter what the reason was. 

The more i think about it the more the verse keeps winning. I have no idea what should have been done instead. And not doing anything does not make sense in the real world, would he have just kept planning attacks?

Mostly this is just food for thought. I hope it gets you thinking. What do you think?

(this could be an interesting and passionate can of worms) 

Will do. Philippians 4:13, and 1Corinthians 10:13 are great encouraging verses for it. Lets stick it to that guy who wants us to become fat and complacent in our faith.

I just finished watching a movie called changing lanes. The premise of the movie is that two guys have an accident, neither were hurt but both got put into bad places. One missed a court case for the custody of his kids and the other list a file that was crucial to a court case he was the lawyer for. Because of this both got really mad at each other and for most of the movie kept on trying to screw the other over, even to the point of risking the others life. They kept letting one act snowball into the other and the viewer was waiting for one of them to wise up and realize what was happening. Finally that happened and it was a great relief and you wonder why it didn’t happen sooner. Ultimately the lawyer, who was a partner in his large firm, had to stand up to his father in law and sr. partner and tell him exactly what was wrong with what was going on. It was an interesting comment and metaphor as to what i feel like is happening this summer. From conversations i have had with people and random statuses it seems like, at least within my friends, we are planning a nice spiritual revolution. When i think of this i can’t help but smile. Just thinking of God looking down on us and smiling even bigger. So i guess i want to encourage everyone who wants to make a change this summer to do it. If you need a friend to accompany you in what you are doing be careful in who you choose, but don’t be too picky and not end up getting anyone. We are the body of Christ and it looks like we are hitting the spiritual gym. I can’t wait to see what changes God will work in His children this summer. If you feel like sharing anything successes are encouraging to all, and challenges can be prayed for. I know a few specifics that i will be praying for and in general i will be praying for all changes that are going to take place.

God’s plans and work are going to be amazing to behold and be a part of. I can’t wait to see where he changes our lives.  

Well day one of work in Calgary is over and i feel pretty spent. But i also feel wonderful. Working with your body all day is a really nice change from working with your mind all day. Being outside is just another plus you can add. It is also a type of tired that is rejuvenating because you know that tomorrow you can do the same amount of work but feel better, and the next day even better. Unlike school work where there can be a sense of accomplishment but really not the same thing. The worst is studying for exams (hence why avoidance like the plague is the best option)

This post was really not all that fantastic, so main point…
I am looking forward to working the summer outside :)

It was fantastic to look at facebook this morning and see all the posts celebrating the resurrection of our savior. My news feed was probably about 50% praising God and His wonderful gift to man kind. God’s planning in the timing of Easter is also quite amazing. If you are in the northern hemisphere it is during spring. The time of year where that which was dead beneath the snow comes again to life. I have never experienced things in the southern hemisphere but it is possible that at this time the first pure white snow could be arriving. An occurrence that makes the world look like an entirely new place, covered with a brilliantly white blanket. Both are wonderful reminders of Christ’s death and resurrection with the creation of a new covenant that gave an entirely new shot for the world.

Here in Calgary it is also an absolutely beautiful day. With the curtain torn and the sting of death banished it is difficult not to praise God in His beautiful creation. I am hoping that the joy of the day is going to stay with me for a while and possibly continue joy on to others. The brilliance of the life of Christ.   

Whenever Easter and Christmas come around i am struck by the comparison of the significance of the two. I guess it is a comparison that just occurs in my head (or mostly at least) but it is something that i have remarked for a while, and also something that my mind has been changing on. I have always felt that contrary to popular culture Easter should be the more focused on. After all it was Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross that is the basis for our salvation. And i would put much more importance on that than the day that He was born. 

The change has begun with the debates i have had at Grebel about pacifism and looking also at the ways to live out love. For both of these we look at the example Christ was in His life. Although our salvation is really the final motivation for pursuit of Jesus, the relevance of it really comes to true importance once we die. Before that happens we have a whole life to live in imitation of Him, and His birth has more relevance to that than His death. This not to say that Easter has any less importance, i think i just have to give Christmas more credit. Both have been messed up by capitalism, but that is a whole different rant. *little side note, should we not also celebrate His baptism? since that is when the Holy spirit descended on Him.* 

Seeing that i am in Calgary which is known for being the country city of Canada i figured i should increase my daily dosage of country music. So this morning i was listening to CMT as i was making breakfast. One of the songs that was played was “I want to talk about me” by Toby Keith. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxUuDPNbkJk

It is a song i knew before and one that i enjoy. Catchy and all that. But this morning i was thinking that maybe God feels that way about us. When we pray, at least when i pray, a lot of it is about me. But He is awesome and amazing and should be talked about. If you look at the psalms of David (most of which are some pretty ballin prayers) he spends a good amount of time talking about God and His glory.

Thank you country music for this little insight, and a bigger thank you to God.

First off this is dedicated to Megan Sherk. I posed the question “to blog or not to blog” and she replied “Become a blogger” so here we are.

I don’t really know what to write about so i will talk about the tittle.

It is the name of a book that i started writing in first year (and who knows i may actually finish some time) basically it was just a collection of things i saw that changed the way i saw the world. How my mind was molded over my life.

An experience that i had today was in a mall in Calgary. I was sitting watching people, as every good student of psychology should do, and i thought about the fact that every body who was walking by me has their own brain. Now the ability for us to socially recognize this is called naive psychology. But that is just to the point of social interactions. If you think about the fact that they all have their own thoughts and ambitions and perspectives on things it makes the world a really fascinating place. Than a couple walked by, that is even more intense. It brings two things into play. First the ability God gave us to deeply discover the brain of another. But even more than that that fact that in most couples the two partners know each other better than anybody else does. Yet as close as they are they are still separate entities. God is the only one who can truly discover our brains, (can’t even imagine to try to think about His). It is another ray of light into the absolute might and amazingness of God. We can’t understand the minds of each other and His is greater still.

To take what seems to be a increasingly popular but in this case very apt expression:

Mind = Blown

Hmm blogging is an interesting experience