Lessons from Andy Gullahorn - Part 2

A good half inch of dust built up on the pew
There were pieces missing from the stain glass
There was a broken lock on of the basement doors
You could open it if you pushed hard enough
It was winter time, the streets were cold as hell
The layed their sleeping bags along the alter rail

It was holy ground

As the word got out the sanctuary filled
of folks who had no other place to call their home
Tonight they'd share a meal, pass the bottle around
Something they were all acustom to alone
The piano was out of tune, some keys don't even work
One guy could play a song out of the hymnal book

It was holy ground

The local priest soon got word
Of the vagrants in the empty church
He was told to go the house of God
Clear them out cause after all

It was holy ground

He was met at the door by a man with open arms
Saying, "Welcome to the one place we belong"
He saw the shiny floors beneath the sleeping bags
He could hear the sound of laughter down the hall
Later on that night as they broke the bread
He asked them if there's room for an extra bed

Because it was holy ground
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This song makes you rethink many things. What is the church really for? What does the building that the church meets in really symbolize? What makes a moment holy? What does this say about how the church views it's mission now? I think many Christian's think their job is to rid the world of sin instead of being the person that reaches out to the sinner so that they can see and know God - the one who rids the world of sin. "Love the sinner, hate the sin" is the moto everyone uses knowadays. I agree with this in principle, but I don't know if we need the second part. To love a sinner is obviously not to love the sin no more than loving my brother means I must follow and love everything he does.

Beyond this, what makes a man who is without a home a sinner anymore than you and I? In the book, "Under the Overpass" two men decided to experience what it was like to be homeless so they went to live with the homeless for a summer. They found a lot of them were Christians who just never had someone believe in them and encourage them to get out of the hole the are in. Isn't this typical too? Christians go to "not-so-nice" areas of their town to witness to the homeless and get them saved. What then? We leave them with their Christian homeless shelter. This attitude and practice is unbiblical. We focus too much on the eternal that we forget that Jesus came to give us life now, not one day. The New Testament focuses a lot more on cultivating our new life in Christ than how to get people saved. Discipleship is what we need, not evangelism.

"Holy Ground" nails one main point: what makes holy ground is community with the Godhead and his believers or even just community amongst man. I could say so much more, but this is enough for now.

Lessons from Andy Gullahorn - Part 1

He scoped out the market
All the women and kids
So many distractions
Nobody noticed him

He had a jacket a size too big
A skull cap on his head
Had a couple of homemade bombs
Duct taped them to his chest

God loves that guy
God loves that guy

He followed his heart
to a co-worker's bed
he could have salvedged his marriage with kids
but he chose to leave instead

He thought it was love
but it was just a mirage
so he sits in his car
parked in a closed garage

God loves that guy
God loves that guy

Me on the other hand I can write somebody off
like the last check for a student loan
I can love when its convenient
But its not always convenient
Its not always the easy road
I want to look past the outside
To the well-meaning heart
To the good they forgot they had

Teach me to love, teach me to love
Teach me to love like that

He messed up again
Wanted to disappear
But he can't because he's easy to find
I see him in the mirror

God loves that guy
God loves that guy
so teach me to love, teach me to love
teach me to love like that
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One of the best songs I've heard in a very long time. Andy hits the heart of what it means to love as God loves: "I want to look past the outside/ to the well-meaning heart/ to the good they forgot they had." That's it! Everyone can learn from this song; I have, and I realized better what it means to love the way I should. Beautiful...

What Progress Cannot Teach Us

Imagine this: Apple has just developed a brand new ipod. This ipod is slick and has brand new technology in it that can make even smaller with more hard drive space. During the press conference, Steve Jobs gives a catchy, alluring spill on this ipod and why everyone needs one. But right before he ends, he tells everyone that the ipod will only be used as spare parts for previous models. Everyone is stunned! This new, unique ipod is not going to be sold; it is only going to be used so that its parts that are shared with all the previous models may be used to fix defect, old ipods. We would all be scrathcing our heads. Why?

This sad illustration points to a very basic, philosophical principle that is instinctive to almost everyone: what something consists of or is made up of points to what it is for or why it is in existence. To put it philosophically, the ontology or nature of something points to the teleology or purpose of that something. The ipod's nature is to play music - that is what it is designed to do - not to be a parts dealer. Ontology and teleology, nature and purpose, are tightly connected.

It is very important to realize that by knowing somethings ontology, we can learn and, most of the time, see right away its teleology. This points to what is natural for the object. We can also learn the ontology of something by knowing the teleology of it. For instance, I know when I see a remote control that it is meant (teleology) to control a device such as a tv. Therefore, it is quite safe to assume that the buttons on the remote control (ontology) are there to actualize its teleology - change the channel, turn up the volume, etc. This link between ontology and teleology shows us the natural state, expression, and limitations of a certain object. To take away the natural teleology from the ontology (like the ipod example) brings about unnatural, perverse, and illogical teleologies.

Francis Kamm, in an article advocating embryonic stem cell research, makes an interesting point that dabbles with this link between ontology and teleology. She talks about how an embryo that is outside of a sustaining enviroment (i.e. womb) due to in vitro fertilization, and will not be placed into a sustaining enviroment, can be used in biomedical research because they will die anyways. Now the problem I find in this reasoning is not so much what is said as much as what is impied by Kamm. She assumes that an embryo outside of a sustaining enviroment changes its teleology. This means that environment, not ontology, justifies the teleology ascribed to an embryo. Now that an embryo is outside of its natural environment, it is open to any teleology we want it to be like stem cell research. I think the question should be: "Should these embryo's be in an unsustaining environment or not?" Kamm makes a subtle move though by telling us enviroment dictates teleology, which I think is a dangerous move.

What is the proper ontology and teleology of an embryo though? Well the ontology, nature, of an embryo is its DNA, and its DNA points to its teleology: to be a fully developed human being. This means that an embryo's proper environment is to be in a place where the ontology can actualize the teleology. To break this link is to mess with the natural state of an embryo.

I say all of this with great hesitation too. I am very sympathetic to embryonic stem cell research. It could change lives and it could save lives. I have a cousin who is mentally handicaped and it has brought his entire family to the brink multiple times. He is about 5 years older than me but will never hit the maturity physically and mentally of a two year old. Biomedical research can help families and lives to never have to face such difficulties. I honestly do not think though that when it comes to human life you can truly make a utilitarian argument. It is not all about numbers, which is hard to think about in this modern world. We have to respect life before we can justify messing with it.

My Soul's Longing Part 2

"Snatch me, save me, from all that short-lived consolation which comes from creatures; for no created being can fully comfort me or satisfy the longings of my heart. Bind me to Thyself with the unbreakable chain of love; for Thou alone art all sufficient to the soul that loves Thee; and without Thee everything is worthless."

- Thomas a Kempis

My Soul's Longing

"And therefore all that Thou mayest bestow upon me that is not Thyself, all that Thou mayest reveal to me about Thyself, all that Thou mayest proomise, is too little to satisfy me, as long as I see Thee not, and have not become fully possessed of Thee. For my soul can never be truly at rest or enjoy full content unless it rise above all gifts, above all created existence, and find its rest in Thee alone."

- Thomas a Kempis