Respect your Wife!

I have been doing devotional readings from several books over the last year or so. One of them is The Top Ten Ways To Love Your Wife By Hans & Donna Finzel (I think I have met his brother Franz, and he pumped me up). The married authors take on the misconceptions commonly placed on women and their roles in the marriage relationship. One of the things that stuck out to me today is the fact that a lot of times men command and expect women to take care of their domains and responsibilities, and then they go out and try to second guess the women when they execute their plan. It is a situation I know I have found myself in. I can think of an uncountable amount of times when I have come in to "assist" my wife, and just gone and made the situation worse. The truth is that women are not naive; they know what they are doing, they know that they can make choices for themselves, think critically, and solve problems on levels that I can't even begin to comprehend. Give the ladies in your life the respect they deserve, because if they are anything like my wife, they work so hard and do very well at the things they do.

Where is the heart at?

I found this passage of scripture from the 17th chapter of Jeremiah in part because one of the verses was from a devotional I started reading. I think it is a very powerful message:

⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things
and beyond cure.
Who can understand it?

¹⁰ "I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind,
to reward a man according to his conduct,
according to what his deeds deserve."

I think what I like about this passage is that it is an intimate conversation, just Jeremiah and God. Jeremiah asks God about the deception of the heart, how easily it sways the mind of the individual. God respond in that he searches the heart, and focuses not on the whims of the heart swaying to and fro, but instead on what pours out of the heart and mind: the actions that an individual takes. To be rewarded not because we think highly of ourselves, or because we take a shower every day, or don't eat our own dandruff is irrelevant; God, in all his might and power, rewards us according to what are deeds deserve. May I live in such a way that merits the great reward of blessing from God our father!

Concluding Living Ethical Lives

I find myself on the last day of coursework for Living Ethical Lives. It has been a very pleasant journey through this course work, and I have to admit that I am saddened that this course is over. I have felt a strong interaction and engagement with the course work, such that I have not experienced in the last couple of course I have taken.

It was greatly beneficial for me to better understand the connection of theology with ethics. It is impossible for the Christian to know the moral way of living without an intimate, connected relationship with God through Jesus Christ. It is amazing in that as you grow in faith and relationship with God the Father, the way you ought to live becomes clearer, easier to understand, and easier to apply in a practical way. Needless to say there will be times when I am faced with ethical dilemmas, and I will need the prayerful guidance and support of my Lord and Savior to know which way to go, but I find a peace in knowing that I have him to turn to.

So where do we go from here? I hope to continue the journaling journey until my next course starts. Until then, this will probably be a forum for my interactions with my Lord, Be it through my devotions or through experiences in my day that draw me closer to him. I hope you continue on this journey with me.

Visiting a Friend

I know this blog is supposed to be a log of my journey through the land of Living Ethical Lives, but I don't feel that it is really serving its intended purpose if it is not at times a carry all for living my life. So I feel the need to comment about the events of my day.

I had the opportunity today to accompany a young girl to jail to visit her father, who is a dear friend of mine. For the first time in my life, I had the opportunity to sit down and watch a father and daughter visit and converse with each other through a two inch sheet of plexi-glass. I left that visit stricken by the love this father had for his daughter. He didn't have to say it or express it in any way; you could see it in his eyes, and the way she responded to him. I have to admit it is something that goes beyond my comprehension, the love a father has for his daughter. It reminds me of the love my father has for me. It truly transcends all my human understanding. As Easter Sunday approaches at dawn, it was a good reminder to see the love a parent has for a child, and the kind of love that my abba father has for me.

Perspectives on Methodism

An excerpt from ethics on Methodism:

A Methodist is free from revengeful passions, envy, malice, and wrath. Wesley sees a Methodist as one who avoids these negative attitudes and behavior. The other side of a Methodist is to do the will of God, that is, to present one’s body as a living sacrifice. In fact, everything that a Methodist does seeks to embody the will of the Master. Holy conduct is at the very heart of ethics, but in reality it exceeds morality by seeking to glorify God. The language of virtue has been employed throughout this module, but there is a sense in which his theology of conduct is less about virtue than the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Walking worthy of the vocation to which we have been called is a spiritual journey manifest in holy conduct.

I like the connection between living a certain way by precluding things from your life, and also seeking to do the will of God at the same time. It seems like following one of these trails would lead to the other, but not quite. If you do the will of God, you will be free from potential negative attitudes and behavior. Having positive attitudes and behavior does not necessarily mean you are doing the will of God. I think the distinction needs to be first and foremost to do the will of God. When one seeks to do the will of God, he is able to focus on positive and healthy ways of living, and he is more focused to follow in the direction God wants him to take.

Don't Passover the Passover

Tonight at youth group, we took a little bit of time to look at the Passover festival (the first day of Passover is next Tuesday). For your information, it is the time when God literally "Passed Over" the houses of the Israelites, sparing the lives of their first born sons. Those who did not have the door painted in the blood of a lamb/goat lost their first born son. It is amazing how such a catastrophic event had to take place before Israel was granted its freedom from Egyptian bondage. In Exodus 12, the Israelites leave Egypt, the men alone totaling 600,000. If this is a population captive to a higher power in another nation, how many of Egypt's citizens died as a result of the Passover events?

I think the thing that amazes me is the Power of God to free his people from captivity. He freed the Israelites from the physical captivity of slavery to the Egyptians, and he frees me from the spiritual captivity of my sin. God is so good indeed!

Renewal into the image of God

Here is a quote from one of the lessons that really spoke to me:

"One way to think of the relationship between justification and Christian perfection is to talk about the three dimensions of salvation: pardon (salvation begun), holiness (salvation continued) and heaven (salvation finished).

Another way of putting this is deliverance immediately from the penalty of sin, progressively from the plague of sin, and eschatologically from the very presence of sin (Randy Maddox, Responsible Grace). "

I like this focus of justification because it goes beyond the common creed of a hell insurance policy. Christian perfection in a sense entails that you will go beyond exemption from the consequences of sin; it entails that you consistently grow and move away from sin in your personal life.

I have to admit I have a hard time with the "once saved, always saved" argument. I use this example a lot in my small group discussion times... I am a rodeo clown. I've never been in a rodeo. I don't own any clown costumes. I don't have a barrel or suspenders, or a funny little car or a miniature cannon. Matter of fact, I don't even go to the rodeo at all. Am I a rodeo clown because I say I am, or do the thoughts and actions of my life reflect my rodeo clowness? Christian perfection entails living out life by progressively moving away from sin, being set apart. It's not a binder just in case you die. It completely changes the way you live your life.

Modern Ethics... Postmodern?

I just finished the session on Modern Ethics, which leads into the water of postmodernism.

I honestly don't know exactly where I stand in regards to the modern vs. postmodern discussion. The main tenet I have at issue with postmodernity are described very well by Gerard Reed, known as epistemological skepticism and ethical relativism:

"We cannot know "truth" regarding objective reality, the Postmodernists say, so we "construct" it in either individual or social ways; we cannot know what's universally right and wrong, so we determine, on a subjective level, how we or one group choose to behave."

I have a really hard time with these concepts, mostly because of the mass amount of relativity that it involves. It really begs the question, if there is no knowledge or morality beyond an individual or groups subjectivity, then what is the point of trying to live a life on arbitrary standards, or laws? What is the point and purpose of believing or following some way of life, when it is all a matter of relativity? What does this relativity say about morality? For me, it basically says I can do whatever I want as long as I don't infringe on the individual subjectivity of another persons life. As Jack Johnson puts it: "It's all relative, even when you don't understand." For an individual's life to be guided by his or her own volition, his or her own subjective reasoning, with nothing else to base it off of seems like a scary proposition to me. I am interested to further my knowledge on these ideas.

Rockin' the Medieval Ethics

Out of the foundations that our modern ethical systems are based on, I find the most conceptual currency with the work of the Medieval ethicist, specifically Thomas Aquinas. Thomas Aquinas is one of the forefathers of ethical theories; his main argument flows from a concept of a "natural law" that exists that all humanity is supposed to follow.

I can remember learning about Aquinas in my introduction to philosophy course in my first year of college... six years ago. (A lot of people go to college for six years.... yeah, they're called Doctors). My professor was very critical of Aquinas, not because of the virtues and consequences of his etichal system, but that it was a religious-based ethical system. Philosophers, for the most part, don't believe in God. I have been told that most who go into the philosophy of religion course at Boise State University come out not believing anything at all. I was reintroduced to Aquinas and his concepts in my environmental ethics course last summer. I was pleased to find that my new professor didn't care if I believed in God, he was more concerned about an ethical theory that takes account for the environment. I argued that the Natural Law of Aquinas did in fact take into account the environment.

I think the thing that encourages me the most is that in our modern day, even with its criticisms, Aquinas is still discussed in the halls of public universities for his contributions to modern ethics. For that alone, I am pleased.

Jesus Freaks

Over the last several months, I have added to my devotional time the Jesus Freaks book by DC Talk and The Voice of the Martyrs. In my time reading this book, it has really challenged me to look beyond the freedoms of religion that I take for granted. People didn't just die for their beliefs; people were ruthlessly tortured before they died for their beliefs. I sit in the lap of luxury, with a home above my head, not ever having to worry about someone coming in and taking my life for what I believe in. I am so thankful for the freedoms I have living in this country, and I encourage any reader of this blog (all 3 and a half of you) to take some time out of your day and pray for our persecuted brothers and sisters around the world.

Crashing Computers and Church Election Dinners

I had intended to post another entry in last night, knowing it had been some time since I had last posted. My blog is border line irregular, so I need to step my game up and bring some regularity, like fiber one bars and the yogurt that makes you go to the bathroom.

Needless to say, my computer is acting up, and I was not able to post last night.

This blog is intended to aid and support my studies in ministry; I have found that it is also a place for me to talk about those who support me in my studies of ministry.

Today was the annual church election dinner. The youth have put the meal on for about the last five years, and the proceeds for the dinner go to the youth department. The meal insures that more people stay for the meeting; you can't have elections and voting on an empty stomach.

We used to have a local restaurant help us cater the meal; last year we made frozen lasagna... and it didn't get done in time. Let me just say we had a microwave scramble to get all the food ready in time.

This year, I had a new plan for cooking frozen lasagnas... but then my wife volunteered to cook real lasagnas... real lasagnas... for 120 people... 13 total. And Caesar salad... for 120 people.
My wife and her friend Angela spent several hours yesterday preparing the lasagnas, just the two of them. Then, she coordinated the youth this morning to prepare the salad and the entire meal set up. I facilitated table set up and tried my best to support her, but in all truth she ran the show.

The meal was absolutely perfect. I could not have asked for a better meal, and I believe it was the most efficient, best put together church meal I have ever been a part of. I owe it all to my wife, who on her own volition took on a task that I myself would not be man enough to do. She is such a strong supporter of me, and the ministry that I am doing. I truly feel like she is my partner in serving the Lord, and I am indebted to her in more ways than I can ever describe or know.

So Andrea, I want to say clearly and explicitly, thank you for you help. I could not do this work or live this life without you.

Wealth and Money in the World

I have a bit of rant dialogue for this particular post. It is in regards to football, particularly the National Football League. I have to say that I am a major football fan. But sometimes I hear stories that make me scratch my head a little bit, and wonder why I like the sport so much. For example, the Oakland Raiders, who haven't been relevant in several years, just released a receiver by the name of Javon Walker. According to Profootballtalk.com, He was signed to play in the 2008 season for six year contract worth $55 million. Between 2008 and 2009, Javon caught a whopping 15 passes, and was subsequently cut. Based on that information, and the salary he has received for the 2008 and 2009 seasons, Javon made $933,000 for each catch he made. It makes me wonder about priorities in our system.

In line with what is ethical, I think back to the way the early church viewed their income and wealth:

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved (Acts 2:42-47).

What would our society be like if we took the example of the early church, and contributed not for our own benefits and desires, but as each one of us had needs? It is a simple design that I think has some benefits that could be reemphasized by church bodies.

Patristic Ethics

I am very interested in the Ethical formulations of early Church leaders during the Patristic period of Church history. I think the thing that I find most interesting about them is the fact that they set the foundations for what the church would be built on during a time of great persecution. Many of these men were killed for what they believed, yet the worked with their lives on the line to formulate and characterize what it meant to live as a Christian in their time and how to live an upstanding and moral life. We are indebted to the efforts of these early church leaders.

Restoration on a long day

What a day today... I spent about 8 hours standing in a building full of rugged outdoorsmen... who didn't want to buy anything from me. Not a thing. Literally, all we sold was a $10 cleaning kit for a filter. Talk about a drainer to my ego and to my energy! Thankfully, I can come back to the word of God, found in the book of Isaiah (40:28-31):

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

It is good to know that I can be restored not by own power, but the power of God. Even in my great amount of youth, it is easy to get dragged down and worn out. It is the everlasting God who is the one that restores my strength. I have to rely on him.

An awesome night in youth ministry

I had the wonderful opportunity to lead youth ministry last night. Instead of speaking the whole time, I asked each kid in the youth group to find their favorite scripture passage. Then I went around the circle, and each kid read their passage and told me why it was their favorite passage. It was incredibly eye opening to see the wonderful hearts and minds of these young people. God has such great things in store for these young people, as long they are willing to let the power of God move in their lives. I am so excited about the opportunity I have to work with them.

Virtue Theory: Is it Virtuous?

The final secular ethical theory on want to talk about is the theory of Virtue. Proposed by the infamous Greek philosopher Aristotle, the virtue ethic in a nutshell is that humans act in some way to attain some good. The higher the good, the better.

I like Aristotle's point of view, but I think it has to be elaborated on a little more. He was focused on the idea of Politics being the master science for practicing virtue, and the first principle of politics is happiness. I think that God makes it so much easier for us. The best away to attain the best good is to act in a way that is line with the will of the one true God. To act in this way is sure to bring happiness; happiness in this life, and happiness in the life to come.

The reason I like Aristotles point is because it is more salient, more attainable for the common man to act in an ethically superior way. He just doesn't go far enough. He has the end, to attain the good of happiness, he just doesn't have the means, which is through the power and love of God through Jesus Christ. It would be interesting to hear his perspective now; his time was a couple hundred years before Jesus came on the scene.

The Universalism of Kantianism

In my studies of philosophy, I have always noticed that viewpoints in philosophy goes from one extreme to another. In ethics, one extreme is Utilitarianism, which is discussed below. The other end of the extreme I believe is the theory put forth by the Immanuel Kant, which I will regard as Kantianism. Kant was a polar opposite in regard to the Utilitarianism put forth by Jeremy Bentham. In essence, Kant put forth in imperative that regarding acting ethically in universal terms. If an action cannot be right (or wrong) in any thinkable scenario, it is not to be accepted as a rule. For example, if I make a universal rule that it is wrong for a human to kill another human, there is not circumstance that can be an exception to that rule. If I kill in the heat of passion, premeditated, in war, in self-defense, it does not matter. I have no justification for killing anyone, because I have made a rule against killing.

It's funny, I find that the major downfall of Kantianism is its lack of flexibility. I think to a degree you have to find some sort of flexibility in your viewpoint. I think universals are difficult at best to achieve. Its funny, the very things I am critical about in line with Utilitarianism (it has so much flexibility it is relative), I am also critical about Kantianism for the opposite reasons (it is not flexible enough). I think the next position takes a bit of a middle ground that I think is necessary to bridge the gap between these striking viewpoints.

The Utility of Utilitarianism

The beautiful thing about an Ethics class based in a Christian perspective is that it is necessary to talk about the secular ethical theories. I am a philosophy minor, so topics of philosophical theory are of interest to me. I have been charged with my thoughts on utilitarianism.

The leading proponent of Utilitarianism is a man by the name of Jeremy Bentham. In a nutshell, without having to go to the work of citing someone, my understanding of utilitarianism is based on the greatest good principle; achieving the greatest good for the greatest amount of people is the best route to take. In its crudest form, it is the goal to gain the greatest amount of pleasure, and the least amount of pain.

Utilitarianism is a neat idea, but it falls short in the field of subjectivity. What brings me great utility may come at the utility expense of another. It places pleasure and pain on a relative scale; there are no absolutes to reference to, just cause and effect along the scale of pleasure and pain... It doesn't sound too promising to me.

Utilitarianism can't hold its weight against a God who promises the ultimate pleasure... eternal life. The tenth chapter of John (my paraphrase) states that Jesus came to give life to its fullest measure, something that utilitarianism cannot promise. Needless to say, Jesus is the way.

Doing the Drudgery

Drudgery... even saying sounds so dreadful. Drudgery as defined by Oswald Chambers is "work far removed from anything having to do with the ideal-the utterly mean grubby things". Sometimes the work put before a person is just plain dreadful, so insignificant, so menial, so gross, so "beneath me"... it takes a lot, and the right frame of mind to be able to do it. Chambers talks of some work of drudgery Jesus did: the washing of a bunch of dirty fisherman's feet (tax collectors and political zealots too). Jesus served as a leader, which is unheard of, but also served in a way that was completely beneath him as a teacher. This is not the first time Jesus has turned thinking upside down... first comes last, to lead you have to serve... dichotomies and contradictions indeed. Jesus gets sleeve deep in the drudgery of washing feet... and he calls us to do the same. Audio Adrenaline came out with a song several years ago that speaks of an attitude necessary to work in drudgery. The song is so aptly named "Dirty":

Tired of being clean, sick of being proper, I want to live among the beggars and dig out in the dirt, step outside the walls we built to protect us, don't be afraid to get some mud on your face, come on come on everybody, come on come on and serve some one. Let's get dirty, let's get used, no matter where you come from, if your beaten up or bruised, let's get foolish, let's get free, free to be the one thing, you were meant to be, let's get dirty. You might get a bruise, or some blisters on your fingers, you might start to question or wonder what it's worth, you might slip and fall from the burdens that you carry, but you can't have this treasure till you dig it from the dirt.

May we all go out and get Dirty among the drudgery.

Struggling to Stick With It

I have found journaling to be the most difficult component of my course of study. It is so easy to completely space out and forget to do it. I find myself almost on a nightly basis, saying "I will get it next time, I'll just do it in the morning." Two weeks later, and I have dropped the ball greatly!

So with this in mind, I recommit my efforts to maintaining my journal. This day I am charged to write how the New Testament informs moral reflection. I believe that the biggest informant of moral reflection is the person and life of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ turned the world upside down when he summed up all of the law and prophets with a commandment of Love. The love that Jesus Christ speaks of can easily guide moral actions. It seems so simple, but it isn't much more difficult than Love. All you need is love.