blogical fallacy: February 2006

On the Road Again

Well, it's that time again. In just over an hour, I will be trecking down the 5 freeway with my wife and daughter to visit the inlaws in sunny San Diego. Although, I hear it's supposed to rain much of the time we are there.

I doubt I will have much opportunity to blog, so try to behave while I'm gone. Let's keep the pining of Rob and his attributes to a minimum, please.

Mikeknaj, hope I get to see you for a bit while I'm down there. I also hope to make it to the famous San Diego Zoo so I can continue the darwinization of my daughter. Ah, indoctrination is a good thing. (For those of you who don't know me well, this is a joke... I mean the part about the zoo)

Peace out from the DrewDawg.

Blue Like Jazz

What would Forest Gump be like if he were more intelligent and were raised in a Baptist family? Answer: Read Donald Miller's autobiography, Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality. If you put a southern accent in your mind as you read Miller's story, and replace Jenny with Jesus, you will see what I mean.

This book was so frustrating to read. One minute he'd be saying such bass-ackwards things like "The goofy thing about Christian faith is that you believe it and don't believe it at the same time. It isn't unlike having an imaginary friend" (51), and then the next minute he'd be dead-on: "If the supposed new church believes in trendy music and cool Web pages, then it is not relevant to culture either. It is just another tool of Satan to get people to be passionate about nothing" (111)

All said and done though, there were way more bones than meat. He does a good job at times of diagnosing the problems in the modern evangelical church, but too often he seems to totally miss the point and pick the wrong fights. Often I was left feeling like Miller was telling me that the solution was to realize that God wants me more as a lover than as a servant, or even a son.

Here are a couple of particularly icky quotes, which leave me wanting to have nothing to do with Miller's Jesus:

"I remember the first time I had feelings for Jesus" (236)

"I remember thinking that I would follow Jesus anywhere, that it didn't matter what He asked me to do. He could be mean to me; it didn't matter, I loved Him... I think the most important thing that happens within Christian Spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus" (237).

"I think loving Jesus is something you feel" (239). I could go on and on.

Sorry, I don't think of Jesus being like the perfect Brad Pitt, rather I think of Him as Aslan; and I as one of his beloved loyal subjects, maybe even Edmund himself. I serve a King. And I do love Him, but I never want to fall in love with Him. Bleh!

Where is God?

A friend of mine was telling me recently that while at the dinner table, his son asked him, "Dad, where is God?" And before he could answer, Grandpa piped up as he pointed at the ceiling, "He's up there." My friend gently clarified his own father's statement by replying, "He's everywhere, son."

As my friend finished up his anecdote, he asked me, "So if God is everywhere, is He in hell? Because people have always said that what makes hell so awful is the lack of God's presence."

My answer to him was that if we grant that there is indeed a hell, God is most certainly present there. In fact, that's what makes it hell. And why is it eternal? Because God is eternal, of course. We have for far too long imagined a hell where God has put Satan in charge, and he gets to do as he pleases in his infernal kingdom. We hear echoes of Milton's Satan claiming "Tis better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven."

But this is not biblical at all. God is eternal, and He is everywhere. The Holiness whose response to obedience-in-faith is love, is the same Holiness whose response to rebellion and sin is wrath.

A friend of mine once made this analogy regarding the wrath of God: When we sit around a campfire on a cool evening, we are warmed and comforted by its power. But if we were to stand over its flames, the very same fire which comforted us would burn our flesh and consume us. The nature of the fire never changed, but our actions in relation to that fire assuredly changed the consequences that befell us.

I'm also reminded of that Great Lion of the Chronicles of Narnia. There were those who shuddered and cringed, and were filled with terror and hatred at the very sound of the name "Aslan." And yet, there were those who were filled with joy and comfort and strength at the mention of the very same name. What was bitterness and fury to one, was sweeter than honey to another- and yet it was the very same Lion.

What think ye?

¡Viva México!

Okay, so I have to admit something: I'm a curious guy. I really want to know who's looking at my blog and what they think about it; and so I must confess that I've been spying on you all... sort of.

You see, if you scroll down to the bottom of this page, you'll see a counter that indicates how many hits this blog has gotten so far. This counter is part of an account I have that tells me certain things about my visitors. I can tell how long a person has been viewing the page, where they are located, who their ISP is, what time they visited, and a few other things. I can't tell who anyone is exactly, and obviously I can't tell what they think unless they leave me a comment (hint, hint), but it's helpful information nonetheless.

For me, one of the more interesting pieces of information that I can glean from this account is where my visitors are located. For example, I know that I have regular visitors from San Diego, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Texas, Colorado, North Carolina, Georgia, Denmark, Japan, and Peru.

And then there's one visitor who comes every once in a while from my second homeland, Mexico. And because I have such an affection for Mexico, I wanted to give that visitor a special shout out:

Bienvenido, y gracias por visitar y leer mi blog. No sé quien eres, pero estoy seguro que eres inteligente, amable, y auténtica. Inteligente porque lees mi blog (no es cierto), y amable y auténtica porque eres Mexicano(a). ¡Viva México!

C.S. Lewis: Evil Author or Evil Characters

Last night, I finished up C.S. Lewis' Out of the Silent Planet, the first book in his space trilogy. The first time I read this book was way back in 1985, and I was a mere third-grader; and I hadn't read it again until this last weekend. I must admit that although I remembered the furry, otter-like hrossa and the altitudinous sorns, some of Lewis' finer theological points in the book had passed right over my head and left no impression on me whatever (at least as far as I can tell).

I'm not going to write a review of the book here, or explain the theology which Lewis interweaved with the story; rather I wanted to report that I enjoyed it thoroughly, and can't wait to get to the next one. But the main reason I'm posting is to bring up a thought that came to me as I was reading it last night.

As I was becoming engrossed in this story and attached to the main characters, one of them whom I was coming to know and love (I won't tell you his/her name) was killed suddenly by an evil person. I didn't see it coming, and I was shocked and saddened. I was looking forward to getting to know this character better, and my hopes of seeing him/her live happily ever after were unexpectedly shattered. Later in the evening, it struck me that I was angry with the evil person, and blamed him thoroughly for taking away my newfound friend. However, it never occurred to me to be angry with C.S. Lewis, even though it was just as much his fault (if not more so) as the evil character's. Who killed my friend? Was it C.S. Lewis or the character who pulled the trigger? Strangely, the answer seems to be Both.

In the end, Lewis worked all things together for good... which reminds me of one of G.K. Chesterton's (I think) great quotes: "Any story without an evil character is an evil story."

Any thoughts?

Jeffrey G

As you've probably noticed of late, I've had a bit of blogger's block. I apologize to those of you who have come to expect regular postings, but I've really had a lot on my mind lately, and unfortunately, none of it has been worth posting. I look forward to remedying this in the very near future, so check back soon.

In the meantime, I thought I would pine for a moment about my good friend, Jeff. Jeff is one of those guys who always thinks the best of people, always goes the extra mile, and who's word you can always count on... I mean, on whose word you can always count.

I'm sure that all of you can think of someone in your life who is like this, and who, upon reflection of his/her character, encourages you to continue to seek to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. You should probably let this person know that they are being so used of God in your life, and that you are thankful for them.

Thanks, Jeff.

Selling My Truck

Well, [sniff] the time has come. I've been trying to put this off as long as possible, but the time has come for me to sell my 2005 Tundra. I love everything about this truck (so perhaps this sale is a good thing), but if I have to choose between a truck and food, I guess I have to choose truck... I mean food!

If you know anyone who's looking for a brand-spankin' new truck with the works (including extended warranty and prepaid maintenance), let me know, or direct them here.

Goodbye mammon; hello manna.