Defining Terms

I have a terrible memory when it comes to recalling to mind what certain words mean. Hence, I've listed below two philisophical terms that are actually used quite frequently, but more often than not, lose their meaning on me because I can't remember their definition. (I must confess to being a rather selfish blogger; the primary benefit in posting always seems to lend itself to me.)

Without further ado, however, the terms:

Stoic(ism): Stoicism is the philosophy first publicized by the Greek thinker Zeno in which all emotional attachments or feelings are viewed as harmful. These days, the term Stoic usually refers to someone who shows little or no emotion.

Epicurean(ism): Founded by another Greek philosopher, (Epicurus), Epicureanism is almost the opposite of Stoicism. Essentially, Epicureans view emotional feelings and sensous pleasures as the greatest good. So if you hear the term Epicurean, think of someone who is into pleasure. (It's often used in terms of dining.)

A Wobbly World?

The headlines on the news and the hosts on talk radio reiterate the same theme: instability. With the economy facing troubles it hasn't seen possibly since the Great Depression, worry about what's ahead for the average American is no foreign idea. It seems everywhere, friends and neighbors are losing their jobs. Others are experiencing unbelievably vast financial loses. In searching for anything certain these days, it seems the only consolation lies in the timeless Word of God. What a blessing to know that this Word has seen far many years than I have and has stood firm amongst the craziest storms in history.

"When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars." (Ps. 75:3)

Frankly, I'm young and inexperienced. I can't even grasp what these trying circumstances mean for some. One thing I do know, though: hard times come. And hard times go. But above all, our Sovereign King of the Universe is ultimately in charge and has lots of experience at his job. Take comfort; we're in good hands.

Quotes Worth Remembering

Which author has incredibly short books which take an surprisingly long time to read? For me, the classic, timeless C.S. Lewis. If you want an interesting read on the nature of love, this is the one for you. In his ever witty style, Lewis analyzes and compares the four loves, as he classifies them: Affection, Friendship, Eros, and Charity. Rather than give you a summary of the book, (which may discourage you from reading it yourself), I am instead going to present a few favorite quotes from the composition. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

"Lamb says somewhere that if, of three friends, (A,B, and C), if A should die, then B loses not only A, but 'A's part in C', while C loses not only A but 'A's part in B'. In each of my friends, there is something that only some other friend can fully bring out. By myself I am not large enough to call the whole man into activity; I want other lights than my own to show all his facets." (Friendship, page 61)

Amazingly true, isn't it?

"The little knots of friends who turn their backs on the 'World' are those who really transform it." (Friendship, page 69)

Now here's something mind boggling:

"[God] creates the universe, already foreseeing- or should we say 'seeing'? there are no tenses with God- the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross, the flayed back pressed against the uneven stake, the nails driven through the mesial nerves, the repeated incipient suffocation as the body droops, the repeated torture of back and arms as it is time after time, for breath's sake, hitched up. If I may dare the biological image, God is a 'host' who deliberately creates His own parasites; causes us to be that we might exploit and 'take advantage of' Him. Herein is love. This is the diagram of Love Himself, the inventor of all loves." (Charity, p. 127)

There are so many other insightful, intriguing, and provocative quotes in this book, I feel like I am trying to hold the Great Salt Lake in a teaspoon in trying to share them with you. The only way to solve this dilemma is for you to retrieve a copy of the book and unearth these morsels for yourself.

When You're Thrown a Curveball

I would never have thought yesterday morning that I would be attempting to type this post with my left hand mostly incapacitated. But then, God doesn't always act the way we expect does He now?

Crazily enough, I was participating in a Krav Maga workout class yesterday and through an abnormal series of events, ended up running my finger into the ground and breaking it. It was quite a shocker for someone who's never broken a bone before.

It's going to be a difficult test for me: I have several musical engagements in the near future I am scheduled to play piano and flute for and the last thing I want to do is tell the managers I won't be able to participate. My natural tendency is to ask, why? Of all times, of all things to be broken! But just maybe, God uses circumstances like these to reveal areas in our heart that need to be fully surrendered to him. A funny thing is, I was just reading in John Piper's book on fasting (A Hunger for God, 1997), how fasting helps determine where your heart is at. Granted, it's not necessarily food I'll be fasting from in the next few weeks, but in the same way, I'm confident that God will use this "fast from music" to reveal what is in my heart, things that I can't always see when everything is going fine and dandy. And as painful as it may be, His Word is thankfully full of promises to provide me with the grace to change. (Lord knows I need it... :)

Debunking Elephants

You've probably all heard the illustration: Several blind men feel an elephant at different spots and each proclaim that the elephant is either thin, or thick, or sharp, or wide, or flexible depending on where each one is feeling. They begin to contend with each other about which is right and which is wrong, until you as the observer realize that they're all right and they're all wrong. They are all correct in their evaluation of that one part, but because no one can see the entire elephant, they can't claim that the whole beast is the same all the way around.

The point is then constructed that no one can claim they have the whole truth. Everyone grasps part. Basically, don't try to push your views on others because everyone has just part of spiritual reality, and you're no more right than they are.

The problem with this example is that you can't possibly tell the story about the blind men unless you see the whole elephant. The teller is inadvertently telling us he sees the whole picture, which ironically, is the very thing he is saying no body has! In all reality, he's claiming he has a superior mindset and is trying to convert everyone else to his view. As Keller says, when you say no one has a take on spiritual reality, that IS a take on spiritual reality, which you say is above every one else's.

So next time you encounter the Blind Men and Elephant illustration, remember, it's really just as religious as any claim it is trying to relativize.

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Sources:

Tim Keller, Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion?

Lesslie Newbigin, The Gospel in a Pluralist Society

"Et tu Brute"

These were the alleged famous last words of Julius Caesar, after what must've been the horrible realization that he had been betrayed by one of his best friends and confidant. What must've been going through his head in those final moments of his life? "It's you Brutus? ...Brutus? You did this?"

Another famous betrayal comes to mind when we consider Caesar's assassination, only this one took place under largely different circumstances. Here, the betrayed knew he was going to be handed over by his close companion, and yet he didn't detach himself from the betrayer or take any measures to protect himself.

We can easily imagine what would have followed if Caesar had been informed of Brutus' plotting. No doubt he would have immediately rid himself of the threat and Brutus would've been executed or forced to commit suicide. Not in our second case. And it wasn't because he wasn't capable of saving himself. On the contrary, he had more power at his disposal than any emperor would ever possess. So we're lead to ask, why? Why would anyone ever do such a thing? Who in their right mind would build a friendship with someone they knew was going to betray them, even to their death?

It seems inexplicable in human terms. But as you probably guessed, the betrayed in this circumstance was no normal human being. He was the Son of God clothed in flesh. He willingly placed himself in a traitor's power so that redemption could be purchased for mankind and that his Father's glory would be showcased for all eternity. Praise God that though his ways are often beyond comprehension, his purposes are always good.

To Keep Us Going

New Years Eve found my family and I in an interesting predicament. Driving back home from a day at Mt. Hood, it was 5pm, dark, 22 degrees and snowing. Not 10 minutes from the mountain parking lot, our vehicle started experiencing transmission difficulties. After we'd pulled over, I couldn't help but notice how the cars passing us became fewer and further between. Soon we were the only ones on the road, and the car wasn't budging. Reaching for his cell phone, my dad found the fact that we had no service less than comforting. At this point, we began to pray. After probing for the problem underneath the hood and finding no solution, dad hopped back into the car and discovered the vehicle could just barely crawl along in first gear-- headed down hill, we could gain momentum and at least we see if we could find phone reception. 30 seconds later (which, of course, felt like 30 hours) and we reached an extended network. After a few cut-off phone calls, we finally got through to some friends we'd traveled up with who readily reassured us by agreeing to turn around meet us at the closest town so they could follow us home. Amazingly, we reached the town by coasting down in neutral. Throughout this experience, we'd been praying, praying, praying. Slowly but surely, the Lord answered our prayers by first allowing us to move in first gear, then bringing us to the town, (which was a miracle in itself- it was close to 10 miles away!) and afterwards the entire way home without any further difficulty! It was incredible: the further we drove, the better the car worked. Call it what you will- perhaps the transmission was just cold and needed to be heated up- but what I left with was a confident reassurance that the Lord hears the prayers of his children and is faithful to answer. Experiences like this keep me going; they strengthen my faith in a caring, sovereign Father who knows our needs and acts as he sees fit. Coincidence that as soon as we started praying, the car began to drive? I think not.