Hope. What is it? Why do we have it? Do we have it? What does it mean?
The way our culture has come to understand hope is in the sense of a wishy washy feeling that stirs one to excitement over something they long for. It's nothing more than a wish made on a shooting star. 'I hope this will happen', 'I hope I don't have to do this', 'I hope', ' I hope', 'I hope'. Nothing solid, only the dreams of our desires. Even the 'hope' that people speak of when there is only one chance left for success--"our last, best hope"--even that is never certain (though it always seems to work out in the movies.)
I have found one place, however, where hope is not just a fantasy of the mind. The Bible speaks of the hope that we find in Christ, and in the promises of God. In Christ because he truly is the last best hope for mankind. And in the promises of God because God cannot lie. The author of Hebrews describes that hope as "an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." (Heb 6:19)
And what is the hope we find in God's promises and in Christ's salvation? Surely it is not hope for this life alone. Paul clearly says "If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men." (I Cor 15:19) But as God's children we are promised a place in Him both here on earth and in heaven.
We have a hope; a solid and definite hope. We have a hope in a perfect and beautiful relationship with the creator of the universe. With this hope comes great peace and joy. This is the best hope man has ever known.
So why do we christians continue to seek out these trivial wishes that we call 'hopes and dreams'. Life on this planet is hard, and so we 'hope' that things will be better just around the corner. Even for those who have a 'good life'--as some would call it--with a nice job, nice house, nice family, and all the fixings for what we as humans call 'good'--even those people have struggles that they 'hope' will disappear. I have hoped for such things. But we are told quite clearly that we will meet with trials in this life. We know that there will be struggles and difficulties. We know that we will be wronged, and that there may be nothing we can do about it.
So where should we find our hope? Should we look for it in another town? Perhaps in our next big break? Maybe in a relationship with another person? Where is our anchor? Is it on this planet? Or is it in our God and Father who not only has a place for us in heaven, but also holds a place for us in him this very day?
It just saddens me to hear and see my brothers and sisters going through life as if they don't really have any true hope. It saddens me because they have heard of the greatest, truest, most definite hope of all time, and yet they still live miserable lives, trudging along until the next best thing comes. I've seen it over and over. And I have no doubt that I'll see it many times again before my time on this planet is through.
Well, 'nough said. Laters.
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Honk If You Can Understand This Post
I would like to take this time to try to explain a phenomenon that I have encountered in the last couple years. It is by no means a new phenomenon to the human race. I'm sure many have encountered it before me. But at the same time, there are probably at least a few who have never come across it.
I'm not quite sure what to call it at this point. Perhaps that will change by the end of this post.
It all has to do with movement. Not simply moving an arm, or moving your head. Rather moving your whole body to a completely different area (i.e. from my home town to Salem). New location, new atmosphere, new responsibilities, new people. In essence a completely different life. And that's basically the premise behind this phenomenon; a different life.
Let me start from the beginning.
Phase One: Development.
I grew up in one general area. I made lots of friends as well as thousands of memories. Under such circumstances one tends to adopt a particular way of life; a pattern if you will. This becomes the norm. Some of it gains the title 'habit' other aspects of it are considered part of your 'character'. Things like catch phrases and inside jokes develop.
All of this becomes a part of who I am in a sense. Granted most of these things are not really my core personality or character.
I've heard it said that a person is the sum of his experiences. I'm sure I haven't considered all the ramifications of this statement, but to some extent I think I'd agree with this statement.
Granted, I think that there is variation caused by our responses to situations. I think two people having gone through the same circumstances will still be two very different people because of how they respond to those situations. But that's not the point.
The point that I'm trying to make is that over a period of time a person, a character if you will, develops into something that is understood. However, for the most part it can only be understood within the domain in which it developed.
Phase two: Displacement.
After having gone through a great deal of development I then moved to an entirely different location. It wasn't very far from where I had grown up, but it was just far enough that I easily managed to lose most connection with the world I had come to know. I wasn't trying to cut myself off. It just happened.
So I was in a new location with new people and new experiences ahead of me. Even though I was, in a sense, the sum of my experiences, I could never effectively relate those experiences to this new environment. In order for these people to come to understand who I was they would have to experience me through the new situations that would occur in the months to come.
However, the me that they would come to know would not be the same me that my previous domain understood. For as this new domain began to understand me based on my responses to these new situations I would also be changing as I encountered these situations. In a sense I would be known as a completely different person, when in fact I was only a slightly different person.
It might be different if the cycle ended there, but that's not how cycles work.
Phase Three: Relocation.
Come the end of the school year I moved back home to my old stomping grounds. It was actually very much the same situation that occurred when I moved away to begin with. Not only did I have to adjust to this lifestyle, but I was also cut off from the second domain, and I couldn't ever effectively relate my experiences to the first domain.
The only difference was that this first domain had already known me based on previous experiences. This meant that though it could tell the differences in me, it also had a previous understanding of me to measure the changes against.
Towards the start of this post I mentioned things like catch phrases and habits. It was actually these small things that allowed me to notices that there were changes in me that couldn't easily be understood by the different domains. As I would go from one domain to the other I found that there were certain things that I couldn't take with me. Not physical things, but mental. In a sense I had to set aside certain parts of my life because they wouldn't make any sense in the new area. There were tons of inside jokes that were way outside their domain. These things could not live in such an environment. There were habits of living that weren't possible considering the physical structure of my living quarters. All these things, that had become a part of how I lived my life, had to be set aside because they meant nothing.
It was the same thing upon returning to my home town. I had to then set aside other things while at the same time picking up a few of the old things. Of course because of the changes in my life not all of the old things still fit. It's like leaving a set of clothes for a while and coming back to find that you've grown out of them.
Right now I'm thinking about how the end of Summer is coming. And when it does I will have to again set aside many of the things that have become a part of my life, and again pick up a few shreds of the life I left at the beginning of the Summer.
I am excited though, because this time I know that there are a few things that I will have to pick up when I get there. Last time I had to start from scratch. This time I will be able to build on an already existent concept.
I'm not quite sure what to call it at this point. Perhaps that will change by the end of this post.
It all has to do with movement. Not simply moving an arm, or moving your head. Rather moving your whole body to a completely different area (i.e. from my home town to Salem). New location, new atmosphere, new responsibilities, new people. In essence a completely different life. And that's basically the premise behind this phenomenon; a different life.
Let me start from the beginning.
Phase One: Development.
I grew up in one general area. I made lots of friends as well as thousands of memories. Under such circumstances one tends to adopt a particular way of life; a pattern if you will. This becomes the norm. Some of it gains the title 'habit' other aspects of it are considered part of your 'character'. Things like catch phrases and inside jokes develop.
All of this becomes a part of who I am in a sense. Granted most of these things are not really my core personality or character.
I've heard it said that a person is the sum of his experiences. I'm sure I haven't considered all the ramifications of this statement, but to some extent I think I'd agree with this statement.
Granted, I think that there is variation caused by our responses to situations. I think two people having gone through the same circumstances will still be two very different people because of how they respond to those situations. But that's not the point.
The point that I'm trying to make is that over a period of time a person, a character if you will, develops into something that is understood. However, for the most part it can only be understood within the domain in which it developed.
Phase two: Displacement.
After having gone through a great deal of development I then moved to an entirely different location. It wasn't very far from where I had grown up, but it was just far enough that I easily managed to lose most connection with the world I had come to know. I wasn't trying to cut myself off. It just happened.
So I was in a new location with new people and new experiences ahead of me. Even though I was, in a sense, the sum of my experiences, I could never effectively relate those experiences to this new environment. In order for these people to come to understand who I was they would have to experience me through the new situations that would occur in the months to come.
However, the me that they would come to know would not be the same me that my previous domain understood. For as this new domain began to understand me based on my responses to these new situations I would also be changing as I encountered these situations. In a sense I would be known as a completely different person, when in fact I was only a slightly different person.
It might be different if the cycle ended there, but that's not how cycles work.
Phase Three: Relocation.
Come the end of the school year I moved back home to my old stomping grounds. It was actually very much the same situation that occurred when I moved away to begin with. Not only did I have to adjust to this lifestyle, but I was also cut off from the second domain, and I couldn't ever effectively relate my experiences to the first domain.
The only difference was that this first domain had already known me based on previous experiences. This meant that though it could tell the differences in me, it also had a previous understanding of me to measure the changes against.
Towards the start of this post I mentioned things like catch phrases and habits. It was actually these small things that allowed me to notices that there were changes in me that couldn't easily be understood by the different domains. As I would go from one domain to the other I found that there were certain things that I couldn't take with me. Not physical things, but mental. In a sense I had to set aside certain parts of my life because they wouldn't make any sense in the new area. There were tons of inside jokes that were way outside their domain. These things could not live in such an environment. There were habits of living that weren't possible considering the physical structure of my living quarters. All these things, that had become a part of how I lived my life, had to be set aside because they meant nothing.
It was the same thing upon returning to my home town. I had to then set aside other things while at the same time picking up a few of the old things. Of course because of the changes in my life not all of the old things still fit. It's like leaving a set of clothes for a while and coming back to find that you've grown out of them.
Right now I'm thinking about how the end of Summer is coming. And when it does I will have to again set aside many of the things that have become a part of my life, and again pick up a few shreds of the life I left at the beginning of the Summer.
I am excited though, because this time I know that there are a few things that I will have to pick up when I get there. Last time I had to start from scratch. This time I will be able to build on an already existent concept.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Two Weeks Well Spent
I just got back from my camp stretch. Two and a half weeks of high school camps with less than a twenty-four hour break between the two camps. Good times.
It started with Veritas. I know I've written about that a few times. This year was different though, because I was one of the leaders. It was rough, what with the lack of sleep after living for two months on and average of nine hours of sleep every night. (yeah, I'm a slacker). It also took a lot of energy to keep up with those kids.
I was able to get to know a lot of really cool people though. At the same time I was learning all kinds of crazy things about myself. I might wright about those some other time.
Anyway, that week ended only to be followed by the next week out at Tygh Valley. I was there with four kids from my church. I was mostly just responsible for three of them. It was a lot of fun. I was able to get to know those three boys a lot better, which is really cool.
Granted, my boys weren't anywhere near being perfect angels. But that's okay, 'cause neither am I.
There is just so much that I've learned about myself this summer. I'm not sure that I could explain most of it. There might be future posts on the matter in the weeks to come.
I only have just over a month before I head back to school. I leave on the 27th of August. I'm really excited about it. I'll get to see most of my school friends again, make new memories, reminisce about old memories. It's weird, I'll probably explain the juggling act of life later, but it's something I've been thinking about for a long time.
Well, for the next few weeks I'm going to be doing a lot of the same things I was doing for the two months previous to my camp break. Laters.
It started with Veritas. I know I've written about that a few times. This year was different though, because I was one of the leaders. It was rough, what with the lack of sleep after living for two months on and average of nine hours of sleep every night. (yeah, I'm a slacker). It also took a lot of energy to keep up with those kids.
I was able to get to know a lot of really cool people though. At the same time I was learning all kinds of crazy things about myself. I might wright about those some other time.
Anyway, that week ended only to be followed by the next week out at Tygh Valley. I was there with four kids from my church. I was mostly just responsible for three of them. It was a lot of fun. I was able to get to know those three boys a lot better, which is really cool.
Granted, my boys weren't anywhere near being perfect angels. But that's okay, 'cause neither am I.
There is just so much that I've learned about myself this summer. I'm not sure that I could explain most of it. There might be future posts on the matter in the weeks to come.
I only have just over a month before I head back to school. I leave on the 27th of August. I'm really excited about it. I'll get to see most of my school friends again, make new memories, reminisce about old memories. It's weird, I'll probably explain the juggling act of life later, but it's something I've been thinking about for a long time.
Well, for the next few weeks I'm going to be doing a lot of the same things I was doing for the two months previous to my camp break. Laters.
Friday, June 22, 2007
'We Will Be Experiencing Some Techincal Difficulties'
I'm not sure what I'm doing. It's a strange thing. While I was at college I found myself spending too much time with other people to the point that I wasn't getting enough rest. Now I sleep way too much, and--but for my buddy Ben--I'm not spending very much time around my friends. Sure I manage to get out a little. I've been helping out with stuff at my church. But that only gets me involved with people who are older and younger than I am. Not that I don't appreciate those friendships. They are great people and I love the time that I spend with them. But it's such a shift from living around people who are just about all in the same age bracket.
As I mentioned, Ben has been around here quite often. That has helped considerably.
But I'm still not sure what I'm doing. I'm kind of in a place where I'm looking at things that I've always accepted as 'the way things should be' and asking 'is that really the way things should be'. But maybe I'm just going about things the wrong way. Maybe I'm doing the exact same thing I was before, just trying to come at it from a different angle. This is going to take a while.
Laters.
As I mentioned, Ben has been around here quite often. That has helped considerably.
But I'm still not sure what I'm doing. I'm kind of in a place where I'm looking at things that I've always accepted as 'the way things should be' and asking 'is that really the way things should be'. But maybe I'm just going about things the wrong way. Maybe I'm doing the exact same thing I was before, just trying to come at it from a different angle. This is going to take a while.
Laters.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Truth Exists
I don't know what I'm going to do
In a year,
In a month,
When I'm thirty-six.
I don't know where I'm going to be:
In this state,
In this country,
Across the great blue oceans.
I don't know what's going on around me:
In politics,
In economics,
In people's lives.
There are a lot of things that I don't know.
What's most important is what I do know.
I know I'm a sinner;
Imperfect,
Unclean,
Disgusting and shameful.
I know that I've been forgiven;
By grace
From God,
Through one perfect sacrifice.
I know that I am cared for;
Eternally,
Thoroughly,
By one who knows my every need.
I know that I am heard;
Every tear,
Every word,
Every cry for joy or pain.
I know that I am loved;
Completely,
Perfectly,
Until the end of time,
And beyond.
In a year,
In a month,
When I'm thirty-six.
I don't know where I'm going to be:
In this state,
In this country,
Across the great blue oceans.
I don't know what's going on around me:
In politics,
In economics,
In people's lives.
There are a lot of things that I don't know.
What's most important is what I do know.
I know I'm a sinner;
Imperfect,
Unclean,
Disgusting and shameful.
I know that I've been forgiven;
By grace
From God,
Through one perfect sacrifice.
I know that I am cared for;
Eternally,
Thoroughly,
By one who knows my every need.
I know that I am heard;
Every tear,
Every word,
Every cry for joy or pain.
I know that I am loved;
Completely,
Perfectly,
Until the end of time,
And beyond.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
A New Season
I'm back from school. Back in the good, ol', little, home town. I'm not even sure that last sentence made any sense.
Anyway, a lot of opportunities have opened up for me here. Mostly a lot of stuff in my church. I'm going to start running sound for Sunday services. My "training" will be this Sunday morning. I'm excited about that. It will be good to get some experience under my belt before this next school year, what with the sound tech job I'm hoping to get at school.
It also looks like I'll have a lot of opportunities to get involved in my church's youth stuff. I want to be careful with that though. I don't want to be the guy who never grows out of the youth group. I want to be involved because I think these kids need people who care about them to be involved in their lives outside of their home family--though inside the family of God. (Again, not sure if that sentence will make much sense.)
Anyway, I've got a few things lined up for me this summer. I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll keep you all posted. Laters.
Anyway, a lot of opportunities have opened up for me here. Mostly a lot of stuff in my church. I'm going to start running sound for Sunday services. My "training" will be this Sunday morning. I'm excited about that. It will be good to get some experience under my belt before this next school year, what with the sound tech job I'm hoping to get at school.
It also looks like I'll have a lot of opportunities to get involved in my church's youth stuff. I want to be careful with that though. I don't want to be the guy who never grows out of the youth group. I want to be involved because I think these kids need people who care about them to be involved in their lives outside of their home family--though inside the family of God. (Again, not sure if that sentence will make much sense.)
Anyway, I've got a few things lined up for me this summer. I'm looking forward to it. Maybe I'll keep you all posted. Laters.
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Going Home Some Day
I'm going home.
It's true, I am going back home from college this week. I have to wait 'till Saturday because the college choir is singing for graduation. But after that's done, I'm heading home.
Finals week is almost over. I've taken all my tests. I just have to give one presentation tomorrow. Nothing terribly difficult. Friday I get to rest. Saturday I sing and come home. My freshman year is virtually over.
It's a crazy thing to think about. A kid who never thought he'd be in college has just finished his first year. It has been an interesting year. I've learned a lot: academically, socially, spiritually. I'm not the same person I was when I came to this school. And I don't want to be that person ever again. Sure there are still things about me that need to change. I'm not nearly perfect, and I won't be this side of Heaven. But I still desire change. I want to change in the right direction though.
It's hard, when you've grown up somewhere, and you have established a mentality that is attached to that place. And when you leave that place, your mentality changes and the way you view and live life changes. But when you come back it's so easy to pick up the old ways, and start living the old life as if nothing over the last few months or years had ever happened. That's the easy way to do it. The path of least resistance. Sure I can live this way here, because this is the kind of life I know here. But when I try to apply this life to that place, there are a lot of things that make it difficult.
I know it's not impossible. "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). It is possible, but it will be hard. The best thing I can do is continue to pursue my relationship with God. It can happen. Pray for me.
The good news is when this is all over I'm going home...my real home.
It's true, I am going back home from college this week. I have to wait 'till Saturday because the college choir is singing for graduation. But after that's done, I'm heading home.
Finals week is almost over. I've taken all my tests. I just have to give one presentation tomorrow. Nothing terribly difficult. Friday I get to rest. Saturday I sing and come home. My freshman year is virtually over.
It's a crazy thing to think about. A kid who never thought he'd be in college has just finished his first year. It has been an interesting year. I've learned a lot: academically, socially, spiritually. I'm not the same person I was when I came to this school. And I don't want to be that person ever again. Sure there are still things about me that need to change. I'm not nearly perfect, and I won't be this side of Heaven. But I still desire change. I want to change in the right direction though.
It's hard, when you've grown up somewhere, and you have established a mentality that is attached to that place. And when you leave that place, your mentality changes and the way you view and live life changes. But when you come back it's so easy to pick up the old ways, and start living the old life as if nothing over the last few months or years had ever happened. That's the easy way to do it. The path of least resistance. Sure I can live this way here, because this is the kind of life I know here. But when I try to apply this life to that place, there are a lot of things that make it difficult.
I know it's not impossible. "For nothing is impossible with God" (Luke 1:37). It is possible, but it will be hard. The best thing I can do is continue to pursue my relationship with God. It can happen. Pray for me.
The good news is when this is all over I'm going home...my real home.
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