Are We Ready for Player One?

October 8, 2011 in Ramblings with 0 Comments

 

This week I got to listen to the book Ready Player One by Ernest Cline, read by Wil Wheaton. The book was great, full of tidbits and references to 80′s Games, Movies, and Music as well as some more recent hits. With my love of Monty Python, Weird Science, War Games, and a fondness for many classic atari and arcade games, I loved the book. It is set in a dystopian future, what good sci-fi book isn’t, where an imersive reality “game” called the OASIS has been created, and most people sped all their free time in the OASIS searching for the dead creators hidden Easter Egg to win billions of dollars and a controlling share in the company that runs the OASIS.

Wil Wheaton does a great job brining this book to life in the audio version. If you want to listen to the book for free, sign up for a free trial of Audible and download and keep the book for free, if you like the idead of monthly audiobooks do nothing. If you dont want to pay monthly for a new book cancle the subscription and keep Ready Player One. ( in full disclosure, I am no longer an Audible affiliate because I never brought them new traffic, but I love Audible and have been a member of theirs for years, so weather you sign up through a link on my site or not I do not receive any money)

While overall I loved the book there was one thing I did not Enjoy, and that was a diatribe at the beginning that could be considered a mini atheist manifesto. Other then that the book steers clear of religious overtones. However it did get me thinking about our world and what would happen if he OASIS did come to be. Would we really start living more through a computer reality than in the real world? Looking at how successful a business Video games are, I could see it happening. However, as of right now we seem to have a while to go before imersive gaming becomes the norm, but then again Cline said the OASIS came out in 2014, so maybe we only have a few years.

Last night I tried logging back into Second Life because as far as i know it would be the closest thing to the OASIS we have now, and you know what, I am still not impressed. I tried using Second Life years ago, but found it slow to load, and not that enjoyable. Last night I found that not much has changed as far as I was concerned. But, what if it did, what if it could become a true Second Life for many of us, where the images within the simulation looked almost as good as the real thin, and the world within seemed so much more attractive than the one we live in. Would I spend my days inside a virtual reality trying to live, or would I spend as little time as possible within?

There was a point and time when I would have said that I would probobly stay in the system as much as possible, back when I would go on 18 hour raids in EverQuest, or even when I was know to play for 8 hours in the World of Warcraft, but anymore, I dont think it would hold the same appeal to em. If I play games for over a few hours at a time without friends in the room also playing I feel an unease and stop. But how many people would quit the real world to live in a virtual one?

Are you training to follow Jesus, or just trying?

August 2, 2011 in Bible Study, Life, Ramblings with 0 Comments


As I continue to read “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” by John Ortberg I am continually encouraged in my spiritual journey. This week for our meeting we were supposed to have read through chapter 4, but chapter 3 is what really spoke to me. Ortberg shares that he found a truth in Dallas Willard’s “The Spirit of the Disciplines” that explains what he calls “the single most helpful principle I know regarding spiritual transformation”. What is this truth, if it is so important why haven’t I heard of this before? What is it?? The truth is simple, it is:

There is an immense difference between training to do something and trying to do something.

Oh my goodness, did the heavens just open up and flocks of doves pour out of the sky? What, there was no earth-shaking revelation, the sky s still intact, wait you seem underwhelmed. The truth is simple, and well a lot less impressive that I thought, how about you. Does this truth change the way you look at life? But, as he explains this principle, and fleshes out the idea it does make sense, it is ground breaking, even in it’s simplicity.

Far to often we are trying, sometimes trying really hard, to live a life-like Christ. But, that is not what we need, we need to be training ourselves to live as Christ lived, love as Christ loved, and to train ourselves we need to practice spiritual disciplines.

I must admit that too often I find myself trying to live a life that resembles Christ’s, I have not trained myself to do it, I merely just try to do it. Guess what, it doesn’t work. It is much like trying really hard to play the guitar, but not practicing. I can look at the guitar sitting on its stand, I can listen to the song I want to play, I can study a chart of how to play the chords. How do you think my attempt at playing the guitar will go?  It will be a wreck, I will likely hold the guitar wrong, trying to form the chords I studied, but not having developed the muscle memory I will awkwardly look at my hand placement for each chord, and still not form them right. Then I have to try to strum the strings in the right rhythm, it will be a mess.

But, far to often in our lives we decide we will  just try really hard to live the right way. We don’t practice loving each other, showing humility or grace. We don’t work to become better people, better Christians, we just think we can try really hard and it will happen. But it won’t!

Knowing now that training is different form trying, and knowing that trying to follow Jesus will not cut it, we have to train to follow after Christ, I just have one question for you. How will you be training to live like Christ?

How is your Spiritual Walk?

July 26, 2011 in Bible Study, Life, Theology with 0 Comments

I was reading “The Life You’ve Always Wanted” by John Ortberg today and he was talking about ways to know if you are authentically being changed by your growth with God, or if you are being pseudo changed by perusing worldly things we perceive as “Christian”.

One of his points asked if we were measuring our spirituality in superficial ways. When asked how our spiritual walk is going what is your first thought? If you are like me most of the time I think to how regularly have I been keeping my quiet time with God. While the discipline of having a quiet time with God is good, it is not a good marker of our spiritual growth. At first I was not so sure about this, but hear what he has to say about quiet time and prayer.

“Practices such as reading Scripture and praying are important-not because they prove how spiritual we are-but because God can use them to lead us into life.”

The truth is that having a quiet time without truly turning it over to God and being transformed, bit by bit to more closely resemble Jesus if he were in our situation, is silly. The reading of the Bible is not why we should be setting apart time in our daily routine, we should be setting apart time to draw nearer to God and be transformed to more closely resemble Christ.

With this in mind, how is your Spiritual walk?

Does The PC(USA) Endorses Gay Ordination?

May 16, 2011 in Ramblings, Theology with 0 Comments

I have talked with a few friends recently about gay ordination, and some concerns we have about where different churches in our area are going. I know that  this can become very heated debate, but I do not want to shrink back form the matter at hand either.

The ordained members of our church are those we have entrusted to guide us, to lead us as we follow after God striving to become more like Christ with each passing day. I have always believed that while those we have chosen to lead us are only human and thus just as susceptible to temptation as the rest of us. However, I also believe that they need to be seeking to live their life  in obedience to the Gospel.

Recently the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) officially revised its ordination standards due to a majority or presbyteries voted to change the rules in their Book of Order that changes their understanding of sexual faithfulness and biblical authority. The Book of Order is a part of the PC (USA)’s constitution. Their website states:

The Book of Order is Part II of the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). This document contains the Form of Government, Directory for Worship, Rules of Discipline, and the Formula of Agreement.

To give you a brief overview of the change they have made I want to quote for you the original text, and then follow that with the revised text.

Original Text from their ordination standards:

Those who are called to office in the church are to lead a life of obedience to Scripture and in conformity to the historic confessional standards of the church. Among these standards is the requirement to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman (W-4.9001), or chastity in singleness. Persons refusing to repent of any self-acknowledged practice which the confessions call sin shall not be ordained and/or installed as deacons, elders, or ministers of the Word and Sacrament.

New Revised Text from their ordination standards:

Standards for ordained service reflect the church’s desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Christ in all aspects of life (G-1.0000). The governing body responsible for ordination and/or installation (G-14.0240; 14.0450) shall examine each candidate’s calling, gifts, preparation, and suitability for the responsibilities of office. The examination shall include, but not be limited to, a determination of the candidate’s ability and commitment to fulfill all requirements as expressed in the constitutional questions for ordination and installation (W-4.4003). Governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates.

For a more detailed look at these changes please look at Rev. Dr. Mark D. Roberts review of the changes, he is a Presbyterian pastor and did a great write-up on this and has a lot of great information on his site. Another response that I found interesting was by the Presbyterians For Renewal.

As you can see from the changes, the church is not specifically endorsing Gay Ordination, just letting each specific church make the choice for them self.

I want to start by saying that I do not have a “problem” with homosexuals. I have a few friends who are homosexual and have worked under at least two homosexuals, and had a few homosexual professors and mentors through college. I have enjoyed my friendships and relationships with each of these people and cherish each of them. However, I had never been ashamed to let them know that I did not agree with their lifestyle. I think that the best way I have ever been able to explain my thoughts was to a friend who had challenged my friendship with my lesbian boss because I was a Christian. What I said to him was

“So you are saying that because I am a Christian I should not be friends with [my boss]? That is ridiculous; the issue I have with her lifestyle are due to her sin in having sex outside of marriage, as well as the sin of living out the homosexual life. However, the same problems I have with her should make it so I cannot be friends with you (my friend who asked challenged me), you have no problem telling me about how you are sleeping with your girlfriend, and the other girls you have slept with in the past. So if by your standards I cannot be friends with [my boss] because of the sin in her life, I can not be friends with you due to the sin in your life.”

This is how I still feel. I have many friends who while calling them selves Christians or not have continued to live in a lifestyle of sin. Often these people are sleeping around, and while living in this lifestyle of sin I am still friends with them. What I do believe this demands of me is for me to be forthright and honest with them about the fact that I disagree with their lifestyle and believe that God through His Holy Bible has called us to live in purity and abstain from sex until we are married. Often my expression of this thought is met with rolled eyes and some minor mockery. But, I have made my thoughts known, and will continue to make them known when needed. I also feel that it is still my responsibility to continue to minister to them, be there as a sympathetic friend when they are hurt and work to lift them up when the consequences of their lifestyle come to bear. I pray for my friends, and I will do what I an to minister to them and share the Hope and Glory found in God with them, but I can only do so much and I have to rely on the Holy Spirit to do the transforming work.

With all of that said, my problem with homosexual clergy comes form a theological context, not a personal one. The only guidelines that I find in the Bible come from 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1:

1 Timothy 3:1-13

Overseers and Deacons

1 Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,[a] he desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap.8 Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10 They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11 In the same way, their wives[b] are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12 A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13 Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

Titus 1:5-9

Titus’s Task on Crete

5 The reason I left you in Crete was that you might straighten out what was left unfinished and appoint[a] elders in every town, as I directed you. 6 An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. 7 Since an overseer[b] is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick-tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. 8 Rather he must be hospitable, one who loves what is good, who is self-controlled, upright, holy and disciplined. 9 He must hold firmly to the trustworthy message as it has been taught, so that he can encourage others by sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it.

By looking at these guidelines I see that both state that a leader in the church must be “the husband of but one wife.” What this shows me is that just as a homosexual cannot fulfill that leadership role, neither should a single person, a divorce who is remarried, or someone having sexual relationships outside of their marriage bed. The Bible clearly shows that those who are in leadership positions of the church should be held to these high standards.

My second problem with a homosexual pastor would be the same as the problem I have with an adulterous pastor, a drug-using pastor, and any pastor living in unrepentant sin. By living a life that continues in behaviors that the Bible clearly defines as sin, you cannot say that you are living a life obedient to scripture. Is there a possibility that a pastor, deacon, or elder may be tempted and fall, yes. If they do they would need to be repentant and be working to do whatever is needed to turn away from that sin. But most people who are sleeping around d not feel convicted that they are living in sin, just as most of the homosexuals I know do not feel that they are living in sin. Looking at the Bible, even just the New Testament it is listed as a sin. For an example look at Romans 1:26-32

26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed indecent acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their perversion.

28 Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they are senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless. 32 Although they know God’s righteous decree that those who do such things deserve death, they not only continue to do these very things but also approve of those who practice them.

I do not feel that it is right for us to lift up people as leaders who are living their life in direct opposition to key tenants of the Bible. This applies to all areas of life, not just homosexuality. I do believe that God can redeem anyone, and he is Love, but he is also just and that means he does hold us accountable for our actions. He loves everyone, but that dose not mean he wants everyone to lead.

The Vanity in America

May 3, 2011 in Life, Ramblings with 1 Comment

I was watching Top Gear tonight and they were talking about electric cars and other innovations. One of the hosts had come to California to look at the Honda FCX Clarity. While there he talked with Jay Leno about it. While visiting Leno and talking about the clarity they were discussing the Toyota Prius and how it has become the “darling of Hollywood, it’s a fashion statement.”  Jay came back to say

You know why, you see. It has the moral superiority. With the Prius you can say “Look I am driving an unattractive car, because I am saving the planet.” See, In America we like everyone to know about the good work we’re doing anonymously.

And while I know a few people who own a Prius and do it not for the “look at me” factor, but for the “I save so much in fuel” factor I can understand where Jay is coming from. When you look at our society we try to claim that we are not self-focused. We try to do good for others, but we want to be recognized for the good we are doing. The idea of self-sacrifice is often lost on us. We have been raised on tales of picking yourself up by your bootstraps, working hard to achieve more than you parents, and the American dream.

It was telling that a member of the Hollywood crowd could make such an accurate observation of what happens so often in most peoples day to day life. We are more interested in looking like we are doing good than just doing the good. Being “Green” has become the cool thing to do, but we can not just use any old canteen or bottle for our drinking water, no we have to buy a name brand bottle, pick one up in our favorite designer store, or the trendy place down the street. My favorite is the new less wasteful plastic bottles for bottled water. Yes, it can be convenient, and it is nice that they are trying to reduce the plastic waste. But, couldn’t we use our faucet? And what if instead of throwing those low waste bottles away we actually recycled them? If it became trendier, would it happen more often?

I have a few friends with babies, and a few of them are trying different ways of not using the more traditional (as of recent years) disposable diapers, some use fabric, others use these neat ones you rip open and can flush, but most of them are doing it to be trendy and hip, and not so much out of a concern for the environment, they just want to look like they are concerned to fit in.

Now this would not be fair for me to post without saying that I too am concerned with what others think of me and how I am perceived. I can reflect on more occasions that I want to admit where I didn’t say something, or said something I immediately regretted, just because I knew those around me expected it of me. I can think of times where I picked on a “friend” instead of standing up for them to fit in with the other people around. But, these were just my random thoughts based on a statement by an American celebrity.

Here is the clip:

Page 1 of 1012345»...Last »