My latest from thekingpin68
http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2008/03/exjesus-or-
exegesis.html
My Mom owned an old album when I was child, by The Association. One of the songs was Windy. I would not be a bit surprised if Wendy's has used the song for commercial purposes.
And Windy has stor-my eyes
That flash at the sound of lies...blah, blah, blah.
The following clip is from a South African football/soccer match January 17, 2007.
The Orlando Pirates are playing the Black Leopards. The YouTube author states:
A sudden gust of wind pulls out the sign boards on the side of the field and blows them viciously across the pitch, hitting the linesman and a few players!
The events from this featured clip are fascinating to watch. This clip reminds me that I am not in control of my life, or the lives of others. I am not stating that anyone died in the incident, but Hebrews 9:27 comes to mind, from the New American Standard Bible, where it is noted that it is appointed once for a person to die and then judgment takes place. The parable from the Luke 12:16-21 is also relevant, where a rich fool loses his life and possessions, and does not have everlasting riches with God. The sufferings of Job can be considered here, as he was according to the NASB, in Job 1:2, blameless, upright, fearing God, and turning away from evil, yet before the end of Chapter 1, he had suffered much, and this was willingly allowed by God.
Since we all suffer and will die eventually, I reason that within the Western world there needs to be a greater priority placed on the study of philosophy and theology. It should be taught in high school/secondary school. This teaching needs to be presented with an open-mind, examining various worldviews. I am not calling for the indoctrination of Christianity for students. But, too many persons want no public dialogue and this leaves so much suffering and death as rather meaningless for many in our society. It is as if some persons are seeking fulfilling, meaningful lives they reason shall end in death and nothingness, and yet they do not consider it valuable to ponder on this most serious process.
Brilliant headline! Did you think of that yourself?
ReplyDeleteOf course, I need good headlines for BlogRush.
ReplyDeleteGeesh, it's hard enough to teach reading, writing and math and you want to add theology/philosophy?
ReplyDelete;0) Sociey is very shallow when it comes to these matters especially in the Western world. We're so materialistic. Eastern cultures have a much better grasp of the spiritual albeit un-Christian.
Geesh, it's hard enough to teach reading, writing and math and you want to add theology/philosophy?
ReplyDelete;0)
I know, I know...;) Lol. There is a desperate need for this teaching in our Western culture.
Cheers.
Contemporary Western culture is blinded by technology, wealth, and materialism to list but a few things. Death and dying are an incredible somber reality to our existence, but it seems that many people try to ignore or deny it...what a shame, what a loss, we need to talk more! There was a great teacher 2000 years ago who brought a solution, we'd better pay attention and take His advice!
ReplyDelete-Dust in the Wind-
Wise words, Dusty.
ReplyDeleteCheers.
Here is another received email:
Date: Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:47:07 -0400
From: kecrabtr@purdue.edu
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Russ,
ReplyDeleteVery interesting video!
People remark about and are awed at "the force of Nature" or "Mother Nature," but really, there is no such thing as "Mother" Nature. It is GOD. The video was a good example of how we are so weak and vulnerable, and how God is in control, not us.
Your comment regarding the need for philosophy and theology to be taught is a valid one.
I'm constantly amazed at how biblically illiterate people are in the West. So many people don't understand why Jesus died on the cross. Nor do they understand the reason for a blood sacrifice. Educating them regarding this (so that hopefully they will accept Christ and be saved from Hell) is a definite need.
Those emails like the one you posted are so annoying.
I get emails now and then from Nigeria, etc., claiming that the person's relative has died and left a fortune, and if I will only give them my bank account number, etc., I can partake in that wealth. Well, two days ago I received a similar email, this time with a Christian twist to it:
"From Mrs Anita Adams
N[38 Rue Des Martyrs Cocody
Abidjan,Cote d'Ivoire
ATTN:
DEAREST ONE OF GOD
I am the above named person from Kuwait. I am married to Mr Adams Johnson, who worked with Kuwait embassy in Ivory Coast for nine years before he died in the year 2004. We were married for eleven years without a child. He died after a brief illness that lasted for only four days.
Before his death we were both born again Christian. Since his death I decided not to remarry or get a child outside my matrimonial home which the Bible is against. When my late husband was alive he deposited the sum of $2. 5 Million (Two Million Five Hundred U.S. Dollars) in the bank here in Abidjan in suspense account.
Presently, the fund is still with the bank. Recently, my Doctor told me that i have serious sickness which is cancer problem. The one that disturbs me most is my stroke sickness. Having known my condition I decided to donate this fund to a church or individual that will utilize this money the way I am going to instruct herein. I want a church that will use this fund for orphanages, widows, propagating the word of God and to endeavour that the house of God is maintained.
The Bible made us to understand that blessed is the hand that giveth. I took this decision because I don’t have any child that will inherit this money and my husband relatives are not Christians and I don’t want my husband’s efforts to be used by unbelievers. I don’t want a situation where this money will be used in an ungodly way. This is why I am taking this decision. I am not afraid of death hence i know where I am going. I know that I am going to be in the bosom of the Lord. Exodus 14 VS 14 says that the Lord will fight my case and I shall hold my peace.
I don’t need any telephone communication in this regard because of my health hence the presence of my husband’s relatives is around me always I don't want them to know about this development. With God all things are possible. As soon as I receive your reply I shall give you the contact of the bank here in Abidjan. I want you and the church to always pray for me because the Lord is my shepherd. My happiness is that I lived a life of a worthy Christian. Whoever that wants to serve the Lord must serve him in spirit and Truth. Please always be prayerful all through your life.
Contact me on the above e-mail address for more information’s, any delay in your reply will give me room in sourcing another church or individual for this same purpose. Please assure me that you will act accordingly as I Stated herein. Hoping to receive your
reply.
Remain blessed in the Lord.
Yours in Christ,
Mrs Anita Adams."
An interesting point, Russ. I personally did not attend public schools growing up, so I am not aware of the degree (or lack thereof) of worldview-related teaching in the system. I am sure that even if not explicit, the typical secularist worldview is promulgated as the ultimate authority to govern one's life.
ReplyDeleteJames Davison Hunter, in his book, Culture Wars: The Struggle to Define America, points out that education is never neutral with reference to an absolute. Futhermore, the schools are channels of society's values. These two points, I think, indicate the need for worldview-type teaching and also highlight the difficulty that will come along with that.
But this is difficult. As a Christian, I am unable to hold up other worldviews as viable alternatives in the pursuit of truth. This would obviously be a problem in a society that claims tolerance for many differing perspectives, except for Christianity (which, as difficult as it is for us, I think only serves to prove its truthfulness, when the powers of darkness work through society to attempt to restrict it!).
As Joey said above, the West does not do well with these sorts of questions. Even Christians sometimes struggle with thinking about the future in the "here-and-now" world. That's why we've seen such an interest in Eastern religions in recent decades. That's also movements like the Emerging Church have gained some momentum. As I see it, Christianity has an open door to run through, and we need to do it. I think you are right, Russ, that we need more education in philosophy/theology, especially now as we are starting to see a shift in culture, and we see young people more concerned with the meaning of life. Only, too often they turn to the wrong answers (be it sex, drugs, and booze or Eastern religions and spirituality).
I have no idea how we'd implement this into the education system though. The problem with government run schools is that they want to dictate what is taught, and so you can only imagine what type of "religious" education that would involve. So we are certainly not going to find the answers there. I suggest maybe that our churches band together to form strong high school and college ministries that target these kids and help them wrestle with the big questions. Something like RUF is a good place to start, or Campus Crusade.
Sorry for the delay in commenting, I've been mulling over it for a while. :)
While I agree that this is a sadly missing component in our educational system, I do NOT want the same people who currently make math seem difficult and irrelevant, literature dull and uninspiring and science tedious to also take on theology and philosophy! Heaven help us if the public school system gets a hold of the great mystics and deep thinkers from across the centuries! Ideas from the Buddha, Thomas Merton, Muhammad, Teresa of Avila, Ghandi -- all reduced to bite sized pieces for multiple choice tests and insipid essay questions. Inshallah, it will never come to that!
ReplyDeleteHi Jeff.
ReplyDeleteI agree, God is in control. As well as people being Biblically illiterate, many persons in the West do not have solid intellectual reasons for holding to a worldview, Christian or not. Thanks for the comments and scammer email.:)
I am sure that even if not explicit, the typical secularist worldview is promulgated as the ultimate authority to govern one's life.
ReplyDeleteA good point made, Jake.
I think you are right, Russ, that we need more education in philosophy/theology, especially now as we are starting to see a shift in culture, and we see young people more concerned with the meaning of life. Only, too often they turn to the wrong answers (be it sex, drugs, and booze or Eastern religions and spirituality).
I hope you are correct concerning young persons and the meaning of life. I hope to see this shift in culture take place in British Columbia.
and so you can only imagine what type of "religious" education that would involve.
Atheism and agnosticism would be taught as well within my concept, which would see secular and religious philosophical worldviews examined.
Sorry for the delay in commenting, I've been mulling over it for a while. :)
Your comments are always appreciated, Jake.
Cheers.
I do NOT want the same people who currently make math seem difficult and irrelevant, literature dull and uninspiring and science tedious to also take on theology and philosophy! Heaven help us if the public school system gets a hold of the great mystics and deep thinkers from across the centuries! Ideas from the Buddha, Thomas Merton, Muhammad, Teresa of Avila, Ghandi -- all reduced to bite sized pieces for multiple choice tests and insipid essay questions. Inshallah, it will never come to that!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Seeker.
I reason that worldviews need to be taught in ways that are interesting and useful, and I would place more emphasis on historical study and essays, as opposed to tests. You raise a good objection, but at this point, many Western young persons are left ignorant concerning worldviews, as these are not being taught at home.
"I hope you are correct concerning young persons and the meaning of life. I hope to see this shift in culture take place in British Columbia."
ReplyDeleteYeah, Russ. This is a gradual thing for sure. It is certainly the case in Europe, and is finding its way over to North America as well, though Americans (and to some degree Canadians) have always been far more materialistic than Europeans. So it may take longer to grab hold here. But you can sense it a bit already in cities like Toronto and New York. Typically our West coast cities (like Seattle and Vancouver) seem to be the most "progressive" in terms of new ways of thinking, so I would not be surprised if you start to sense it there soon. We'll have to see what happens. My generation is going to be an interesting generation, I think.
Thanks, Jake.
ReplyDeleteI am no expert in sociological type theology. I do listen to Albert Mohler, Ravi Zacharias, and like, for social trends, at times. I have a bit of a feel for BC, and the UK, where I have lived. With these places, I look at the things negatively for the most part, concerning the younger generation of persons under forty years of age. I see society continually turning from truth in many ways.
On the other hand, Mohler has talked about younger persons in the USA being more conservative than their parents, but in BC, I do not see this happening. This is a very liberal area. The other day a friend in Hollywood informed me that there is a movement among conservatives, some of which are Christians, to counter some of the cultural liberalism. This is good news. With God's help I will do what I can for the Kingdom on-line and in person.
But, I cannot completely deny your points, Jake, since I am not expert. You have some knowledge that I do not.
Russ:)
I agree. When I was school age, we had what was called "religous education" in our schools. But its since changed very much. And its now seen as very unpolitically correct because of the multi cultural nature of Britian, and how all faiths are equal. So it's not the same thing at all any longer where or if it still exists.
ReplyDeleteIts a different thing to educate people, than batter them over the head with our faith. And eduction ISTM, would often lead to curiosity to find out more for themsleves and perhaps ultimately the salvation of souls.
Thanks, Deejay.
ReplyDeleteEducating young persons properly concerning worldviews, would only help society in regard to knowledge, and should allow persons to have a better understanding of Christianity. It would be good to see the notion of Christianity as a blind faith, become less prevalent in Western society.
ReplyDeleteThat is a very unusual video...
Prof Howdy
P.S. I tried posting a short article
on one of my blog that makes an
attempt at showing non-Christians
why Good Friday is Good!
My poor attempt was to demonstrate
in a way - with few if any church
words - what Our Creator was/is
up to with all of us beings that
He created. I strived to be theologically
correct but to speak in the same terms
as the song we all learned: Jesus
loves me this I know....
If you have a chance, go here:
Click Here
and perhaps leave a comment also:O)
Thanks, Howdy.
ReplyDeleteThere are some very good soccer videos on-line that are useful for making good points.
I will check out the article, and please feel free to post articles on my blogs in comments. Perhaps some will cause discussion.