... and so I've succumbed to the bug that is twittermania.
Twitter is for all those annoying people like me, who just love to wax lyrical with their status updates on Facebook... be it cryptic, quoting lyrics, or just being utterly random. You can find me out there with my immense following of... 2, under the username of Gwalchavad.
So far, I've managed to track down a few renowned people... practically everyone on planet Earth is now Stephen Fry's follower (I have proposed in jest, that he should start a new cult - The Church of Fryentology, heh heh). I've also located MC Hammer, Wil Wheaton and also Felicia Day from Doctor Horrible's Sing-Along Blog.
If you are out there, come on in and say hello... it would be nice to get into double figures.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
The Inconvenience of Truth
I've been giving a lot of thought lately to the subject of truth, hard truth and nothing but the potent driving force of truth.
A few of my friends are going through personal struggles at the moment, struggles which I am acutely aware revolve around them needing to face something about themselves that they are uncomfortable with.
Much as we may admire the validity of truth, even it's necessity... equally we find we are uncomfortable with the concept.
Truth by it's very nature leaves us naked and cold, beneath the gaze of the watching world. In the book of Genesis, it's the realisation of literal nakedness, that drives man to first hide from God...
... and he's been running like a madman ever since.
I have some friends I used to know at church. They went to university and never came back. However, when I or other people from our shared background try to add them as friends to something as trivial as Facebook, they universally ignore us. I truly believe they are so afraid that we will hit them with the belief mallet, that they run a mile.
I find that sad.
I've always tried to accept people where they in their lives... even if their path leads them somewhere I am not comfortable with. It's their choice, their life... and they must do as they see fit.
I truly believe that such people are afraid... not so much of the people they used to know, but more about the fact that in revisiting the past, they have to ask hard questions about where they are now.Faced with that decision, it's sometimes easy to see why people prefer to hide in the dark... underneath the duvet.
And on a much more serious note...
For those of you who are not aware, today is Holocaust Memorial Day... it is a day when the need for truth is great. We live in an age where evil men, men who in an attempt to justify their vile politics and beliefs, seek to deny or cover up the deeds of their political ancestors. "The Holocaust didn't happen!" is their battle cry... or often they are more subtle and merely try to play down the figures...
... but how can you play down astronomical figures that reach well into the millions?
Think about that for a second and don't look at it as if it's merely another number... millions!
That's all your family... gone.
All your friends... gone.
All your neighbours... gone.
The simple truth is that too many people were cruelly snatched away from this life for it to be so casually dismissed as it is by some. Heck - even if it were just one person, that would be one person too much... nobody deserves to live and eventually die like that... nobody.
People who committed such atrocities and those who seek to deny them, adopt such a position because deep down they know how so very wrong their dark ideologies are. They have to harden their hearts and blind themselves to it... because that is the only way they can justify themselves.
A few of my friends are going through personal struggles at the moment, struggles which I am acutely aware revolve around them needing to face something about themselves that they are uncomfortable with.
Much as we may admire the validity of truth, even it's necessity... equally we find we are uncomfortable with the concept.
Truth by it's very nature leaves us naked and cold, beneath the gaze of the watching world. In the book of Genesis, it's the realisation of literal nakedness, that drives man to first hide from God...
... and he's been running like a madman ever since.
I have some friends I used to know at church. They went to university and never came back. However, when I or other people from our shared background try to add them as friends to something as trivial as Facebook, they universally ignore us. I truly believe they are so afraid that we will hit them with the belief mallet, that they run a mile.
I find that sad.
I've always tried to accept people where they in their lives... even if their path leads them somewhere I am not comfortable with. It's their choice, their life... and they must do as they see fit.
I truly believe that such people are afraid... not so much of the people they used to know, but more about the fact that in revisiting the past, they have to ask hard questions about where they are now.Faced with that decision, it's sometimes easy to see why people prefer to hide in the dark... underneath the duvet.
And on a much more serious note...
For those of you who are not aware, today is Holocaust Memorial Day... it is a day when the need for truth is great. We live in an age where evil men, men who in an attempt to justify their vile politics and beliefs, seek to deny or cover up the deeds of their political ancestors. "The Holocaust didn't happen!" is their battle cry... or often they are more subtle and merely try to play down the figures...
... but how can you play down astronomical figures that reach well into the millions?
Think about that for a second and don't look at it as if it's merely another number... millions!
That's all your family... gone.
All your friends... gone.
All your neighbours... gone.
The simple truth is that too many people were cruelly snatched away from this life for it to be so casually dismissed as it is by some. Heck - even if it were just one person, that would be one person too much... nobody deserves to live and eventually die like that... nobody.
People who committed such atrocities and those who seek to deny them, adopt such a position because deep down they know how so very wrong their dark ideologies are. They have to harden their hearts and blind themselves to it... because that is the only way they can justify themselves.
Jesus once commented on the human habit of hiding from the truth:
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
John 3:19-21
Some of that is a bit heavy... and some of it seems nonsensical. Are all men wilfully evil, are we to be lumped in with those who approve of genocide? Well no, Jesus isn't saying we all go round looking for innocent children to butcher, he's saying that we are all corrupted by our human nature, broken by it... and under it's and influence. It's our sinfulness that wants to hide... you've all heard of the mythical "11th" commandment- don't get caught out. Make no mistake. though.. whether our sins are as despicable as genocide or typically menial (as most people's probably are by comparison); the final fate of a life spent outside of the grace of God, is the same... death.
We must all face the truth... we must all face up to what we have done. However... there is hope.
Facing the truth is not so much about facing up to what you have done. Truth is about facing him.
Real truth is a person:
Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life".
He also said that if we followed him (in his strength), that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free.
Knowing Jesus is freedom.
But what of truly evil men who repent? You know... the ones who turn to God after a life of despicable acts? What does Jesus mean when he says that it may be plainly seen that what these people have done has been done through God? Does he mean that all the evil that men do, is fuelled by God?
No.
What he means, is that when these people turn around from their wickedness and turn away from their vile acts, it is God who enabled them to do it.
All that is required on our part, is that we turn to Jesus and look at him. If we constantly look at what we have done, we get dragged down into the miry clay. If we fix our gaze on him, his love compels us to rise out of the pit. We have to let him look at the depths of our heart... and understand that no matter what we have done, we are not beyond salvation. The only thing that will not be forgiven is our unwillingness to be forgiven... our stubborn refusal to accept his grace.
In the Babylon 5 episode, The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari, the titular character has a near fatal heart attack and whilst unconscious goes through an arduous epiphany. He stubbornly refuses to face what he's done to the character of G'Kar, only two words are required of him. Two genuine, heartfelt words that will set him free from his perilous condition...
We must all face the truth... we must all face up to what we have done. However... there is hope.
Facing the truth is not so much about facing up to what you have done. Truth is about facing him.
Real truth is a person:
Jesus said "I am the way and the truth and the life".
He also said that if we followed him (in his strength), that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free.
Knowing Jesus is freedom.
But what of truly evil men who repent? You know... the ones who turn to God after a life of despicable acts? What does Jesus mean when he says that it may be plainly seen that what these people have done has been done through God? Does he mean that all the evil that men do, is fuelled by God?
No.
What he means, is that when these people turn around from their wickedness and turn away from their vile acts, it is God who enabled them to do it.
All that is required on our part, is that we turn to Jesus and look at him. If we constantly look at what we have done, we get dragged down into the miry clay. If we fix our gaze on him, his love compels us to rise out of the pit. We have to let him look at the depths of our heart... and understand that no matter what we have done, we are not beyond salvation. The only thing that will not be forgiven is our unwillingness to be forgiven... our stubborn refusal to accept his grace.
In the Babylon 5 episode, The Very Long Night of Londo Mollari, the titular character has a near fatal heart attack and whilst unconscious goes through an arduous epiphany. He stubbornly refuses to face what he's done to the character of G'Kar, only two words are required of him. Two genuine, heartfelt words that will set him free from his perilous condition...
"I'm sorry"
That is merely a picture... but it is the same. All we need to do in order to be saved, is take the courage to look at Jesus - let him know how genuinely sorry we are for our broken ways, and he will transform us with his love.
There's an old worship song that comes to mind... and I think I'll part with it's words for now, leaving it as a meditation for you to contemplate.... whoever you are and whatever you've done:
God of grace, I turn my face
To You, I cannot hide
My nakedness, my shame, my guilt
Are all before Your eyes
Strivings and all anguished dreams
In rags lie at my feet
And only grace provides the way
For me to stand complete
And Your grace clothes me in righteousness
And Your mercy covers me in love
Your life adorns and beautifies
I stand complete in You
© 1990 Sovereign Lifestyle Music
There's an old worship song that comes to mind... and I think I'll part with it's words for now, leaving it as a meditation for you to contemplate.... whoever you are and whatever you've done:
God of grace, I turn my face
To You, I cannot hide
My nakedness, my shame, my guilt
Are all before Your eyes
Strivings and all anguished dreams
In rags lie at my feet
And only grace provides the way
For me to stand complete
And Your grace clothes me in righteousness
And Your mercy covers me in love
Your life adorns and beautifies
I stand complete in You
© 1990 Sovereign Lifestyle Music
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Jabbed.
With my very first personal odyssey of discovery looming, I'm having to make certain preparations that I'm not used to. Firstly I've purchased a pair of indestructible sandals in the sales. I promise I will not be wearing them with socks.
I've never been a sandal fan, but these are quite different. They are closed toe; so my awkward, accident prone feet will be safely shielded from danger. They have extremely sturdy soles for rigorous walking and they are not harmed in salt water either.
I think someone has basically found an amphibious assault craft, removed two shoe shaped segments and essentially glued a cushioned sole to them. They are seriously comfy and dare I say... awesome.
Today we started to get into the serious territory though... the jabs. Fortunately I only needed one (protection against Hepatitis A), and I was lucky to have time owed in lieu at work... so I left at 5pm and headed off to the doctors.
It was very kind of President Obama to wait a few minutes till I got into my car before getting sworn in. I was further impressed when he kept his speech to the length of my car journey from work to the doctors. I actually thought he did extremely well. He paused in the middle of being sworn in, I guess the enormity of the words that were coming out of his mouth had actually struck him something like:
"Oh flip... I'm the President!"
Irrespective of what people think of Obama's policies and political leanings, there's no doubting the man is a born orator. I was first truly impressed with his skills as a speaker when he responded to the Rev Jeremiah Wright incident. Instead of getting caught on the back foot, he spent a good lengthy period unravelling American history and diagnosing the various causes of the grievances in American society... white and black. He did a brave thing, he said that both groups had a right to feel aggrieved but equally both bore a burden of responsibility about how to heal the problem from their own side of the field. I found that speech fascinating as it demonstrated a great deal of personal knowledge about the history, culture, of the various peoples of America...
... and today that knowledge came to the fore once more as he appealed to his people -all of them. The time for talking is over for now though, and when tomorrow dawns... the business of government cranks into gear once more for America.
Following the speech, I found myself waiting in the surgery for about quarter of an hour before being seen to. Little tip... don't wear a white shirt when getting a jab.
As I walked out into the main reception area, everyone who was still waiting started getting jittery as they gazed upon the red patch of blood that had stained a significant patch on my arm.
For the record, I still don't have a clue what blood group I am. Red and gloopy is the best description I can manage.
Anyway, the jab was surprisingly painless (my last booster jab for tetanus caused some stiffness in my arm, but no such qualms here).
In other unrelated news, I've been up to no good. I've dug out some old college videos on VHS. I don't have the proper equipment to transfer them to computer... but I do have a digital camera. So I took great pleasure in filming segments of these videos and posting them on Facebook. I'm a bit wary about posting them on YouTube (I borrowed a couple of effects shots for my college project). I'd love to show you them but you may need to twist my arm.
However, one video I have uploaded to YouTube... it was a pop promo from my days in college. We had to edit footage to the beat of a music video. Out of the three options we were given, I chose Money for Nothing by Dire Straits. Off I scuttled with a camcorder, sought permission to film in the local church and then filmed the praise band setting up (I think I improved their sound heh heh!)
The video essentially turns the concept of fame on it's head and was almost prophetic about reality TV. I shot it from the perspective of a man (my dad) who is trapped in a television and wants to gain fame like the band who are not confined to a TV screen.Anyway for those who are curious about such things, or who want to see how tragic my hair looked 15 years ago, here it is in it's slightly bootleg looking glory:
I've never been a sandal fan, but these are quite different. They are closed toe; so my awkward, accident prone feet will be safely shielded from danger. They have extremely sturdy soles for rigorous walking and they are not harmed in salt water either.
I think someone has basically found an amphibious assault craft, removed two shoe shaped segments and essentially glued a cushioned sole to them. They are seriously comfy and dare I say... awesome.
Today we started to get into the serious territory though... the jabs. Fortunately I only needed one (protection against Hepatitis A), and I was lucky to have time owed in lieu at work... so I left at 5pm and headed off to the doctors.
It was very kind of President Obama to wait a few minutes till I got into my car before getting sworn in. I was further impressed when he kept his speech to the length of my car journey from work to the doctors. I actually thought he did extremely well. He paused in the middle of being sworn in, I guess the enormity of the words that were coming out of his mouth had actually struck him something like:
"Oh flip... I'm the President!"
Irrespective of what people think of Obama's policies and political leanings, there's no doubting the man is a born orator. I was first truly impressed with his skills as a speaker when he responded to the Rev Jeremiah Wright incident. Instead of getting caught on the back foot, he spent a good lengthy period unravelling American history and diagnosing the various causes of the grievances in American society... white and black. He did a brave thing, he said that both groups had a right to feel aggrieved but equally both bore a burden of responsibility about how to heal the problem from their own side of the field. I found that speech fascinating as it demonstrated a great deal of personal knowledge about the history, culture, of the various peoples of America...
... and today that knowledge came to the fore once more as he appealed to his people -all of them. The time for talking is over for now though, and when tomorrow dawns... the business of government cranks into gear once more for America.
Following the speech, I found myself waiting in the surgery for about quarter of an hour before being seen to. Little tip... don't wear a white shirt when getting a jab.
As I walked out into the main reception area, everyone who was still waiting started getting jittery as they gazed upon the red patch of blood that had stained a significant patch on my arm.
For the record, I still don't have a clue what blood group I am. Red and gloopy is the best description I can manage.
Anyway, the jab was surprisingly painless (my last booster jab for tetanus caused some stiffness in my arm, but no such qualms here).
In other unrelated news, I've been up to no good. I've dug out some old college videos on VHS. I don't have the proper equipment to transfer them to computer... but I do have a digital camera. So I took great pleasure in filming segments of these videos and posting them on Facebook. I'm a bit wary about posting them on YouTube (I borrowed a couple of effects shots for my college project). I'd love to show you them but you may need to twist my arm.
However, one video I have uploaded to YouTube... it was a pop promo from my days in college. We had to edit footage to the beat of a music video. Out of the three options we were given, I chose Money for Nothing by Dire Straits. Off I scuttled with a camcorder, sought permission to film in the local church and then filmed the praise band setting up (I think I improved their sound heh heh!)
The video essentially turns the concept of fame on it's head and was almost prophetic about reality TV. I shot it from the perspective of a man (my dad) who is trapped in a television and wants to gain fame like the band who are not confined to a TV screen.Anyway for those who are curious about such things, or who want to see how tragic my hair looked 15 years ago, here it is in it's slightly bootleg looking glory:
Friday, January 09, 2009
Disruption & Confusion
I have to confess that in many ways I'm glad to be back at work, following my Christmas break.
I've found the recent holidays a struggle. This is because the way I discipline myself revolves around work. I tend to have a quiet time to study during my lunch breaks; I find without some kind of structure to my day, I just tend to not bother. Usually this isn't a problem because I've normally got church to fall back on.
This last year's been very different though, because of the way services have been structured. Before this morning, the last time I went to church to take part in active worship was Christmas Day -which seems a lifetime away. I took my foot off the pedal a little and paid a bit of a price. Psychologically, I lost complete track of time and space and became utterly disorientated because all the days were the same.
Spiritually I got a little slack... which disappointed me.
I've recently reflected that often the annual message wheeled out at Christmas, is aimed at non-Christians, backsliders and people who generally are only likely to attend church during the seasonal period.... and rightly so, in many ways. However my own recent experience has given me reason to consider the other side of the coin - Christians who are solid 95% of the year and then coast for the last couple of weeks or so.
Some of you may be reading these words and thinking - this is typical slavish nonsense from a man who is bound in chains by the oppression of organized religion. You'd be wrong.
Christianity is full time - it's not a pastime, it's not a robotic regime of enforced servitude... it is a relationship with the living God. In a marriage, you are bound to your partner; in rearing children, parents and legal guardians are bound to those they are raising to adulthood. However... do you seriously think either of these groups - married couples or parents, regard the legal aspects of these relationships as their defining principles?
No.
In the majority of cases, the binding principle is LOVE.
It is no different in a relationship with God. In fact two of the strongest images we have in the Bible for the relationship God has with his people, is that of the bridegroom to his bride, and also that of the father to his children.
Jesus (and other Jewish teachers) even summarised the Law from 5 books of numerous rules and regulations, into two sentences about loving the Lord your God and loving your neighbour.
So for the cynics out there, I wish to make it clear... we do not love because we obey, we do our best to obey because we love. For the Christian, love must be at the root of all our actions... and not just our love, but God's.
My greatest concern about the Christmas lull is not about failing to attend services or observe rituals, but that it means time away from God as a loved one. It's similar to locking yourself in your room and not talking to your spouse or your parents for a week.
However, I'm finding that now we are back in the swing of things, I've found my feet again. Hopefully this means I'll be a lot more communicative in the weeks to come.
Until next time, my hope is that you have had a blessed new year.
I've found the recent holidays a struggle. This is because the way I discipline myself revolves around work. I tend to have a quiet time to study during my lunch breaks; I find without some kind of structure to my day, I just tend to not bother. Usually this isn't a problem because I've normally got church to fall back on.
This last year's been very different though, because of the way services have been structured. Before this morning, the last time I went to church to take part in active worship was Christmas Day -which seems a lifetime away. I took my foot off the pedal a little and paid a bit of a price. Psychologically, I lost complete track of time and space and became utterly disorientated because all the days were the same.
Spiritually I got a little slack... which disappointed me.
I've recently reflected that often the annual message wheeled out at Christmas, is aimed at non-Christians, backsliders and people who generally are only likely to attend church during the seasonal period.... and rightly so, in many ways. However my own recent experience has given me reason to consider the other side of the coin - Christians who are solid 95% of the year and then coast for the last couple of weeks or so.
Some of you may be reading these words and thinking - this is typical slavish nonsense from a man who is bound in chains by the oppression of organized religion. You'd be wrong.
Christianity is full time - it's not a pastime, it's not a robotic regime of enforced servitude... it is a relationship with the living God. In a marriage, you are bound to your partner; in rearing children, parents and legal guardians are bound to those they are raising to adulthood. However... do you seriously think either of these groups - married couples or parents, regard the legal aspects of these relationships as their defining principles?
No.
In the majority of cases, the binding principle is LOVE.
It is no different in a relationship with God. In fact two of the strongest images we have in the Bible for the relationship God has with his people, is that of the bridegroom to his bride, and also that of the father to his children.
Jesus (and other Jewish teachers) even summarised the Law from 5 books of numerous rules and regulations, into two sentences about loving the Lord your God and loving your neighbour.
So for the cynics out there, I wish to make it clear... we do not love because we obey, we do our best to obey because we love. For the Christian, love must be at the root of all our actions... and not just our love, but God's.
My greatest concern about the Christmas lull is not about failing to attend services or observe rituals, but that it means time away from God as a loved one. It's similar to locking yourself in your room and not talking to your spouse or your parents for a week.
However, I'm finding that now we are back in the swing of things, I've found my feet again. Hopefully this means I'll be a lot more communicative in the weeks to come.
Until next time, my hope is that you have had a blessed new year.
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