"No matter gay, straight, or bi, lesbian, transgendered life

I'm on the right track baby

I was born to survive ..."

Lady Gaga, 'Born This Way', 2011

I went to a conference today on building Christian knowledge and responses on homosexuality (in a nutshell). Just a quick observation - I didn't realise how much it would reveal about my own sins.

Insurance

'Baby you're a rich man,

Baby you're a rich man,

Baby you're a rich man too.

You keep all your money in a big brown bag inside a zoo.

What a thing to do.'

The Beatles, 'Baby You're a Rich Man', 1967

Jason and I have just moved, a laborious and frustrating process which is the key reason why I haven't written a blog entry in some time. Unfortunately it feels like when you have something like moving to occupy your time it takes over everything else, and I have not been making much time for my God. I hope that is just temporary.

I did make some observations during the moving process though, one in particular regarding insurance. We have purchased a new car this year, and the insurance was quite steep on this car at our previous rental property. However, we made a great saving on this insurance when we moved, a combination of the quality of the suburb we moved to and the security of the building. Faith in Jesus is like insurance. The cost can be steep (or at least feel steep) at times, lower at others, but it is ultimately worth it - and trust in the insurer is well put.

'You made me hard, you made me cold

I was simple, but now I know ...'

The Whitlams, 'Made Me Hard', 1999

You may remember I wrote a blog entry earlier in the year about the word ‘perspective’, its definition and how I was sick of hearing it at work (it’s still a struggle, as unfortunately its popularity hasn’t faded – but at least whenever I find myself going to use it I think of a synonym instead so I don’t get annoyed at myself). Well, now I’ve got a few other words on my mind, for slightly different reasons though.

I’ve identified recently that I say the words tricky, hard and difficult a lot, especially when I’m trying to find a nice way to tell someone that what they want from me is not really high on my priority list. Once I realised my habit, I was keen to break it and work harder on accepting the priorities of others; I even told a colleague to keep me in check (who kindly and promptly told me I was probably exaggerating).

It didn’t work. Now I just feel guilty whenever I hear myself say those words, and prick up my ears when I hear others say those words (wondering if they have an ulterior motive like me). For some people I have become more intolerant of their priorities and yet I haven’t found a reasonable way of telling them so.

I’m deciding for the moment to not focus on the fact that this isn’t really a godly practice (or even that professional), to consider how often these words form a reaction to Christianity. How can I expect people to investigate the claims of Jesus and continue in the faith when I give them the response I do to something far easier to comprehend and take action on?

Thankfully the Holy Spirit is more reliable than me.

"... Time takes time you know ..."

Ben Folds, 'Time', 2005

I have a subscription to TIME magazine, which shows up in the mailbox every Monday. Unfortunately the only time I really get to read it these days is in a plane, like the one I’m in right now. I have many back issues that are still sitting in their plastic covers.

Two stories this week have caught my attention:

- Co-operation between Muslims and Christians in Egypt post its recent political uprising. Whilst in principle forming such relationships is a good thing, to win some for Christ, I’m not sure what I think of some of their joint endeavours. For example, protecting each other as they pray, helping each other re-build places of worship that were destroyed, guarding couples where one is Christian and the other Muslim. Am I just being too judgemental? What is God’s will and plan in this situation?
- The science of optimism. I haven’t read this story yet, but it’s the cover story and the reason why I picked this issue of the magazine to bring along on my trip instead of others. It fascinates me that the world keeps trying to uncover answers to questions that find their ‘Yes’ in Christ. Tell me if this is too out there or the wrong train of thought, but God engineered us with optimism to sustain our hope and faith until his plans come to fruition. There is empirical evidence for almost anything if we put our minds to it, but without the gospel what does it mean?

This kind of thinking is exactly why I subscribed in the first place, so I can know what is happening in this world and find ways to discuss these current affairs as a Christian. I just need to make sure I keep reading.

"It's business, It's business time ,

You know when I'm down to my socks it's time for business,

That's why they're called business socks ..."

Flight of the Conchords, 'Business Time', 2007

A lot of the travel I do for work is to attend, or perform, audits of our facilities (or our suppliers), to make sure they are complying with regulatory and customer requirements. I’m writing this on a flight from Darwin to Sydney, back from one such audit which wasn’t completely disastrous but probably didn’t go as well as we anticipated or wanted – the site will most likely be graded ‘B’ as opposed to ‘A’. I’m hoping this isn’t a direct reflection of my current engagement to the company I work for or the role I perform, and I was sure to let the guys at the site know that I didn’t think the result was so bad and that there was nothing wrong with the change in status.


I can understand the disappointment though. Wherever we can be graded we want to get the best grade we can – it’s like being back at school again. We all want to be A grade at everything, at work or with our family and friends or even as Christians. If we don’t think we’re up to scratch we often stop trying altogether. I’m so glad that regardless of how our hearts trick us into feeling this way, that God’s kingdom doesn’t operate this way. It has been a hard lesson I have learnt in my short Christian life and continue to learn as I work out how it looks each and every day. Why is there always so much to learn as a Christian ...

Ben Folds ... the idol

"You know there's something in the Bible about forgiveness and love

And more importantly 'bout not throwing stones and what your house is made of ..."

Ben Folds, 'Brainwashed', 2008

I’m not sure how many people actually read this blog. I have a feeling that no-one does, and that I’m writing this for my amusement only. However, if I’m wrong, then whoever is reading this will have worked out by now that I really like Ben Folds. I have been a fan since my teenage years. It seems that whatever I want to write about has a Ben Folds song that speaks directly about it ... or sometimes I hear a song of his and it makes me think, and then I write in my blog. The fact that he is also an incredible musician, pounding that piano like his life depended on it, is just as satisfying.

I have seen Ben Folds in concert three times now, the last time being just a week ago. I took the whole day off work just to revel in the excitement an event like this brings, and he delivered. I screamed lots, sung along to every song (which included some wicked chair dancing), participated wholeheartedly when requested. Some people might say I momentarily served at the altar of this idol/hero with my money and time and adoration; I don’t want to look at it that way. And yet, I can’t help wondering ... there are several things that make Ben Folds who he is that I don’t want to emulate, like the proficient swearing (which you will remember I am trying, valiantly, to stop) and what seems like an inability to value the institution of marriage (he has had four wives now). But then you could say the same about Reel Big Fish, or Cat Stevens, or the Beatles, or any other human who sings awesome music and has flaws or an convoluted personal history. How far should we go as Christians to immerse ourselves in its culture whilst we are here on earth? Does enjoying one of God’s good creations, music, have anything to do with not glorifying Him with our entire being?

Maybe I’m finally turning into one of those people I always thought I wasn’t – someone who thought too much about anything.

Lyrics ... with no topic

"Who are you to tell me how to live my life (my life)

Cause I won't give this up,

These are my shoes, my view, my cue,

To say I do give a f&*k"

Bliss n Eso, 'Addicted', 2010


"Oh Jesus Christ, what name do you go by now,

For the time is passing with the wind blows new decrees

Canned for life your used by date is faded

And followers of you now watch TV"

Powderfinger, 'JC', 1996


Endemic of our society/culture today? I think so.