The End of Civilization As We Know It

After reading many articles regarding the fuel and food price increases, I am left to but one conclusion:  civilization is ending.  It's true.  People are becoming more and more uneasy with the problems of capitalism (i.e. exploitation of the common man).  I foresee a future where we will become primarily agrarian again.  I wouldn't be surprised to see some buildings knocked down in the next few years to provide land for subsistence farming.

Okay, I'm really only joking.  I don't foresee our existence becoming subsistence again.  I just have a problem with the oligarchic society we have set up for ourselves where we think we have the power of voting, but really, we've given that power to a few upper-class individuals.  Being what I would call a Christian socialist/Platonic Republican** (see Plato's Republic),  I have to say that I see where democracy and capitalism have failed quite a bit in America.  Now, I'm the first to admit that I don't have many answers at all, but I think we should start looking for new ones...

**NOTE:  The term "Christian socialist" implies here nothing more than authentic Christian community.  This ideal is based on the 1st Century church's example of non-exploitation and sharing all things.  Platonic Republicanism (denounced as inefficient by Plato himself) is a system of three classes:  Guardians (protectors of the community's ideals), Merchants, and Auxiliaries (public services such as police, firefighting, military, etc.).  Perhaps I am denouncing the American government, perhaps I'm just saying that if we want to call ourselves a democracy, we should vote like one.

Tithing in the American Church

Here is a link for an article recently released by the Barna group.  It talks about tithing in the American church today.  It'd quite discouraging...

I guess people don't think they should have to support someone to equip them to impact the world for Christ.

reality: enough to make me puke

Every college senior's most anticipated day is graduation day.  It's their time.  They've completed four years, and it's now on to a career in real life.  Most of them probably already have things lined up: a job, a place to stay, furniture...

However, as I approach graduation day, I find myself more and more likely to puke.  Am I getting sick?  No.  Anxiety is setting in like never before.  With the wedding only 58 days from today, no job currently lined up, and no place for my future wife and I to live, I am feeling anxiety in a new a deep way.

I know God has everything under control and that He'll reveal His perfect will, but the waiting is what's hard.  I love working with students.  Any job less than that will be disappointing to me.  So, as May 17 approaches, I'll be praying and feeling like I'm gonna blow chunks.

Birthday #22

Today was my birthday.  Thanks to all of those who wished me a happy day.  It really was quite fantastic.  Celebrations started on Saturday when Jess took me to Buffalo Wild Wings, bought me a Chicago Cubs hat, and then saw I Am Legend with me.  It laid low for a little while, then came back today with a birthday breakfast made by that pretty lady I'll call Wife someday.  Then later that day, I received the Space Trilogy by C.S. Lewis.  It's probably one of his lesser known works.  I'm really excited to read them.

For those who read this:

I'm sorry I haven't posted for a while.  School and work have been taking up a good chunk of my time.

Service Station to Convenience Store

Today's chapel was really amazing.  Campus Ministries put together "The Nails of the Cross."  It is a look into the "nails" that were driven into Christ:  Pride, Infidelity (disloyalty), Envy, Indecision, Hatred, and Cruelty.  I wanted to take this event seriously and reflectively.  However, many of my fellow classmates did not think that this was worth their time.  They came in for the chapel credit.  I hate it.  It irks me to no end when people come to very introspective experiences like this one with such an attitude.  People were talking throughout the whole thing, not being respectful of those around them, and being very disrespectful even to the Cross.  Hardly anyone stopped at the cross in the fifteen minutes I was there.

Things like this make me wonder what the church has become today.  I might call into question the true Christianity of these people, but I feel that the church is also somewhat to blame.  It seems to me that the church has become nothing more than a convenience store where you come, get a donut and coffee, get your "gas" for the week, and leave.  What happened to the church that used to be a service station, a place where you would drive in and the attendant would come to you, fill up your life, check your "oil" and other necessary fluids, tire pressure, wiper blades, and make sure you were in proper working order in general?  Are we too busy even for Christ?

What's in the Middle? The White Stuff

Also, I'm sitting here eating an entire sleeve of Oreos, drinking milk, and watching Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets.  No guilt...

Laud and Praise... Too Much Hype

Since the beginning of the semester, I have been under a lot of stress and demand.  Most of this has come from my desire for two things:  the Ministry & Missions Department award and graduating with honors.  I've been stressing a ton about my grades (I'm at a 3.488 and need a 3.5 for honors) and the way the M&M professors perceive me.  I've never stressed about grades, and I'm not the kind of person to really care what someone thinks about me.  Why the sudden change in my attitude?  I wanted the honors to know that I'm the best.  I wanted my dad to tell me at graduation that he was proud of me for my accomplishment.  I wanted the affirmation of Drs. Jones, Fetters, and Bergler (and RuthAnn!) to have some kind of certainty that I was going to succeed in my future ministry...  What a load of crap!

God's in control.  He's preparing a place for me to do ministry where I'll be just fine.  I've already got the ministry effectiveness seal of approval from about 350 people in Iowa.  Unfortunately, the chances of my dad ever telling me he's proud of me are slim to none.  Dad's:  be sure to let your sons know that you're proud of who they are and you're okay with helping them make choices instead of telling them what to do.  After all, they're not your children.  They're just on loan from your Father.