The Unpredictable Plant

"There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a..."

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 19:46:00 -0400

“

There is something exceedingly improving to the mind in a contemplation of the Divinity. It is a subject so vast, that all our thoughts are lost in its immensity; so deep, that our pride is drowned in its infinity.

Other subjects we can compass and grapple with; in them we feel a kind of self-content, and go our way with the thought, ‘Behold I am wise.’ But when we come to this master science, finding that our plumb line cannot sound its depth, and that our eagle eye cannot see its height, we turn away with the vain thought that man would be wise…

But while the subject humbles the mind, it also expands it. He who often thinks of God, will have a larger mind than the man who simply plods around this narrow globe.

The most excellent study for expanding the soul, is the science of Christ, and Him crucified, and the knowledge of the Godhead in the glorious Trinity. Nothing will so enlarge the intellect, nothing so magnify the whole soul of man, as a devout, earnest, continued investigation of the great subject of the Deity.

”

- Charles H. Spurgeon, Sermons

"Joy, then, is not found in disengagement from the world; joy is not found in isolation. Rather, we..."

Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:05:00 -0400

“Joy, then, is not found in disengagement from the world; joy is not found in isolation. Rather, we are people of joy when we learn how to be genuinely engaged with our world — but only, of course, if we are not of the world.”

- Gordon T. Smith, On The Way

"Every one of us has had experiences which we have not been able to explain — a sudden sense of..."

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 15:27:00 -0400

“

Every one of us has had experiences which we have not been able to explain — a sudden sense of loneliness, or a feeling of wonder or awe in the face of the universal vastness.

Or we have had a fleeting visitation of light like an illumination from some other sun, giving us in a quick flash an assurance that we are from another world, that our origins are divine.

What we saw there, or felt, or heard, may have been contrary to all that we have been taught in the schools and at wide variance with all our former beliefs and opinions. We were then forced to suspend our acquired doubts, while, for a moment, the clouds were rolled back and we saw and heard for ourselves.

Explain such things as we will, I think we have not been fair to the facts until we allow the possibility that such experiences may arise from the presence of God in the world and His persistent effort to communicate with mankind.

Let us not dismiss such a hypothesis too flippantly.

”

- A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God

Masculinity in The Evangelical Church

Fri, 31 May 2013 20:44:00 -0400

I’m probably sticking my neck out by writing this, but since I wrote an article a few blogs posts ago regarding poor representations of femininity in media, I suppose I should also address poor dealings with masculinity in media should such a case present itself.

Well, a case presented itself. So here goes.

Let’s start with a little context.

In the last few years, many people situated within the evangelical church in North America have become aware that a majority of the current generation of young males transitioning from adolescence into adulthood, are, well, just not transitioning into adulthood. Rather, they are staying mentally, spiritually, and emotionally locked up in their adolescence.

So the saying has often gone in the evangelical church in these last few years: “you’re not a man, you’re a boy who can shave.” Or, “it’s time to man up,” “pull up your pants and grow up,” “you guys are a joke,” and so on and so forth.

The jarring suggestions may differ in style from church to church, pulpit to pulpit, group to group, and person to person, but the sentiments seem to be fairly consistent in content as far as I can tell. The message is now being spoken with clarity: “boys, it’s time to become men.”

Now, I’ll grant with joy that the awareness of and subsequent dialogue about this glaring problem comes from a sound diagnosis of a problematic issue in our culture. And, I will similarly affirm that it is the calling of the local church to address this issue. So in that sense, I first want to commend the churches and people that are doing so, because it’s not easy work in our culture.

To even think about advocating for anything to do with more biblical notions of masculinity in our culture is basically secular heresy (despite the fact that most people don’t even know what “biblical masculinity” actually constitutes). So, for the record, those who are making the effort to represent an accurate view of biblical masculinity, I’d say, “really good effort.”

With that said, I also want to issue a caution after reading an article that some people have been posting in my social media sphere. Now, the author of this article isn’t Christian to my knowledge, but I’d say his general tone and stance is being celebrated by and echoed by many who are, in fact, Christian. Not to mention, I’ve lost count of the amount of Christian blog posts I’ve read bearing similar sentiments and rhetoric. I could post some, but I think most of the people reading this post have encountered them already anyway.

What I am finding with media like this is that we are now becoming glaringly human-centric in our understandings of how to deal with this gender related issue, when instead, we should be looking at it from an intensely Christocentric perspective.

Stated differently, many evangelicals are becoming really great in their diagnoses of gender related issues, while at the same time, becoming very poor at their provision of a viable solution. They focus on the human problem and its effort in the struggle without taking the next step and pointing to the divine solution and His efforts in the battle: Jesus Christ.

Resultantly, many have become inspired enough to shout at the young male in the pew who is addicted to video games or viewing pornography, but far less inspired and inspiring when it comes to sharing how a male can achieve a lasting solution.

For some males - I would say many - it is not so simple as “pulling up your pants and dealing with it.” Many have reached a point where they are so locked up in their youthfulness and addictions that only “a shout session with coach” isn’t going to do anything but fuel resentment, harden hearts, multiply sin, and/or increase debilitating shame.

Personally speaking, lasting redemption in my life and the lives of my male friends when it came to growing up was and is always caused and sustained by Jesus Christ. My and their efforts helped in the process, of course, but it was and is ultimately Christ and meeting Him at The Cross that conquered and conquers our sin, shame, and brokenness.

Furthermore, as it is often the case with reform in any mass group, we can end up stepping out of one ditch, only to walk across the road, and sit down in the ditch on the other side.

That is to say, if the evangelical church is content with going the way many are going, we’re risking ending up with a bunch of hyper-masculine-man-boys who walk around the church and their homes like gorillas thinking they’re men and in charge because they did a poor exegesis of Ephesians 5 and are using it as an excuse for being a dictator rather than a servant leader.

The last time I checked, the only hope that men (and women) have for lasting change, and the overcoming of obstacles of debilitating sin is: “Christ in you, the hope of glory,” (Colossians 1:27).

As someone who would identify himself as a biblically based complementarian when it comes to gender roles, I long, work, and pray to see a church filled with strong, responsible, and compassionate males who are against hierarchal gender relationships and take ownership of their calling as laid out in scripture; long and pray to see males become admirable leaders who live lives in Christ that inspire radical and dynamic change both in and outside our churches.

In that regard, I agree with the status quo that we have reached a definitive point in North American culture where young males need to make a paradigm shift and grow up. However, it is my contention, along with the Apostle Paul’s as he outlined in Ephesians 4:21-24, that this shift is made in the following manner:

“But that is not the way you learned Christ! Assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”

The step from adolescence into adulthood for all people begins with and is deepened and continually cultivated by life in Christ and His Holy Spirit. It follows, then, that if we’re forgetting to follow up our strong diagnoses of the failure of males to grow up with the transforming truth that full redemption and freedom from sin and apathy comes through and in Jesus Christ, then we’re really not being responsible in our diagnoses, are we?

Rwandan Walkabout - Building Servants Hearts

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:00:00 -0400

Rwandan Walkabout - Building Servants Hearts:

My father is currently in Rwanda working with an amazing organization called Wellspring. Here’s a great blog post regarding my Pop’s time spent there and some powerful thoughts he shares on what it means to be a leader.

Ready, set, reverb-drenched awesomeness (new/favourite music).

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:43:06 -0400

Ready, set, reverb-drenched awesomeness (new/favourite music).

poetrysociety: Day Job of Poets.

Wed, 01 May 2013 03:25:14 -0400

poetrysociety:

Day Job of Poets.

A friend/colleague shared this video with me today. Needless to...

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:37:00 -0400

A friend/colleague shared this video with me today. Needless to say, I was quite moved. Coming from the life experiences of someone brilliant like J.I. Packer, the thoughts put forth in this piece are as true as they are encouraging. Despite “strength” or “power” being much sought after things in our world, it is weakness which is, in fact, the better way. Can’t wait until I can get my hands on a copy of this book.

Why Batman is A Superhero

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:47:00 -0400

Many people express concern when I tell them that Batman is my favourite superhero. This is mostly because they disagree with my stance that he should be counted a “superhero” in the first place and contend that “he is really just someone with a lot of money and no superpowers.”

Well, I guess those who express such concerns are partly right in the sense that Batman doesn’t have any traditional superpowers - i.e. he didn’t get covered in toxic waste or something early in life and develop some otherworldly gift - but what such people miss is that while Batman is not super human, he is a human who chooses to be super; a human who brilliantly uses what he has been given to do super things for the greater good of his city.

Now I’ve really enjoyed the last three Batman movies to the extent that I think Christopher Nolan gets the character of Batman about %90 right. Yet, in the last Batman movie Alfred cautions Bruce Wayne “to know his limits.” To which Wayne/Batman replies, “Batman has no limits.”

I take issue with that character choice.

What I’ve seen from my extensive readings of Batman comics and viewing of Batman films/television shows is his acute awareness of his own limits. It is his consciousness of his being human in a universe with individuals like Superman or The Flash that causes him to think and plan more than any other superhero or villain he fights with or against.

Hence, Batman has often been described as “the greatest detective mind in the world.” Why? Because as a superhero without any superpowers, Batman must always be out thinking and preparing - rather than overpowering - his adversaries.

As a world class ninja trained by the League of Shadows, Batman always stays focused, always stays collected, and always strikes at the right time when nobody is expecting him to.

I mean, how else could Batman absolutely own Superman in a one-on-one fight if he weren’t aware of his own limits against such a formidable foe?

In a world where warped ideas of success, strength, power, and leadership tend to be perpetuated, I have always been encouraged by the character of Batman (and therefore note him as my favourite superhero).

Despite his limits, Batman is a force of positive change in his world because he choses to use what little he has in the way of human strength to make good out of evil situations. He plans ahead, and is conscious of instead of oblivious to his blind spots and weaknesses.

And that’s what makes him a world class superhero.

A Bird's Eye View of Dove Advertisements

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 03:08:00 -0400

Today I viewed the most recent ad from the Dove campaign after seeing numerous posts about it. And while I was “made to think” as the ad suggested, I was ultimately caused to think along different lines than those that were intended. Here’s the ad if you haven’t viewed it yet:

Moving right? But why is it that are we moved by this ad?

This and many Dove advertisements move us because they communicate a message that is infrequently shared in our mainstream media. The communicated notions that “despite your insecurities and brokenness, women, you are all naturally beautiful” and “all of us need to reassess skewed understandings of what constitutes female beauty,” thereby affect us on a deep level because they are mediated through emotional testimonies, skillful camera work and editing, and catharsis-inducing music. Also, the experience is doubly affective because it touches on an issue that a great deal of people struggle with.

Now these are constructive messages that should indeed challenge in an artful manner the limited definitions of feminine beauty that are typically espoused by current mass media. However, if one were to take a bird’s eye of view of a Dove ad like the one shared here, its message becomes more convoluted and inquiry demanding than most would initially imagine.

Because what you might not know is that the company that owns and promotes Dove products is the same company that owns and promotes Axe products: Unilever, a multinational consumer goods company that, as my brother Peter observes, “has its hands in many consumer goods pies.”

So let’s take a look at an Axe advertisement and encounter a message that drastically contradicts the message we receive from a Dove advertisement (note that a simple YouTube search reveals that this is one of the more tame Axe ads available):

Wow. Really? Axe is that good? Angels will fall? Is that what angels really look like? As a male, if I buy Axe deodorant, will that happen for me?

Consequently, a bird’s eye view of both ads stunningly reveals that Unilever disseminates advertising media that simultaneously deconstructs and reinforces negative concepts of beauty and harmful objectifications of the female body.

Hence, the predominant message in both advertisements is not that Unilever is really attempting to either deconstruct or reinforce the objectification of the female body, but rather, that Unilever is predominantly focusing on doing what it can do to get you to buy its products and manipulating the broken nature of males and females in such a way that we will see their products as the healers of that brokenness.

A simpler way of stating this is that for a company like Unilever that is trying to sell you something, every message it communicates will come secondary to its primary goal: to sell you something. And in many cases, such a company will skillfully reflect back to us our insecurities and brokenness in order to make that sale happen.

Hence, a bird’s eye view of this advertisement makes clear that our domain for viewing and formulating self-identity – which includes but is not limited to concepts of beauty – should not be contained within the realms of advertising media. Rather, our domain for formulating such things should happen in and through a domain much greater and far less self-interested.

The first book of The Bible tells us that both women and men are created in the image of God, and therefore, are intrinsically valuable and beautiful because they were freely given unique beauty by a God who passionately loves and pursues his creation.

Resultantly, our formulations and definitions of beauty should occur within that domain.

Males and females are naturally beautiful and meant to view and treat each other as such because they were created by God and instilled with his image. Not because an advertisement or multinational company says or does not say so.

For Brennan Manning

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 17:49:00 -0400

The first time I read a work of Brennan Manning’s, I was in a hospital bed nearly six years ago. My friend Tim visited me on one particularly rough day and placed a bag of candy and a copy of The Signature of Jesus in my hands.

I remember that being a pivotal moment in my life.

At the time I was sort of confused about who I was and what I was meant to be doing in light of my failing health - sort of muddled when it came to following Jesus Christ in the way he was leading. And as I look back now, I was on the brink of hearing a clear call to ministry.

And then I started reading Signature of Jesus.

The way Manning wrote about Jesus clarified what it meant to be “Christian” in a way that was absolutely paradigm changing for me and fundamentally shaped my understanding of who The God of The Bible is and who he is calling me to be:

“…for those who recognize that many of the burning theological issues in the church today are neither burning nor theological; who see Christianity as neither a moral code or a belief system but as a love affair; who have not forgotten that they are followers of a crucified Christ; who know that following him means living dangerously; who want to live the Gospel without any compromise; who have no greater desire than to have his signature written on the pages of their lives…”

With those words and many others like them, Manning stripped away all the distractions that had swallowed up my life in Christ and summarized The Christian Way with one essential and powerful truth: it is a radical call to life in Christ.

And so I was simultaneously sad and joyful to hear the news that Brennan Manning died this week.

Sad because it means he’ll never write another book. Joyful because it means he’s in heaven now, walking around with his patched-up jeans and eating waffle cones with the hall of faith heavyweights.

So from one Ragamuffin to another, thank you for you words Brennan. I might not have been doing what I am today if I hadn’t been given a copy of your book.

amandarrrgh: Aidan Knight’s Small Reveal album is name your...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 19:35:00 -0400

amandarrrgh:

Aidan Knight’s Small Reveal album is name your price today.
No foolin!

… What they/my friend Gabe said to me via a nice Facebook message.

I’ve sort of rediscovered Josh Garrel’s music lately...

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:59:00 -0400

I’ve sort of rediscovered Josh Garrel’s music lately and thought I’d post one of his songs and its lyrics - simply because I had it on repeat for most of last week.

I have been doing my best to constantly remind myself of and soak in the powerful truth of Easter: there is more than meets the appearance of things and there is no more separation through what has been done for us on The Cross:

Stand on the shores of a site unseen

The substance of this dwells in me

‘Cause my natural eyes only go skin deep

But the eyes of my heart anchor the sea

Plumbing the depths to the place in between

The tangible world and the land of a dreams

Because everything ‘aint as quite it seems

There’s more beneath the appearance of things

A beggar could be king within the shadows of a wing

And wisdom will honor everyone who will learn

To listen, to love, and to pray and discern

And to do the right thing even when it burns

And to live in the light through treacherous turns

A man is weak, but the spirit yearns

To keep on course from the bow to the stearn

And throw overboard every selfish concern

That tries to work for what can’t be earned

Sometimes the only way to return is to go

Where the winds will take you

And to let go of all you cannot hold onto

For the hope beyond the blue

Yellow and gold as the new day dawns

Like a virgin unveiled who waited so long

To dance and rejoice and sing her song

And rest in the arms of a love so strong

No one comes unless they’re drawn

By the voice of desire that leads them along

To the redemption of what went wrong

By the blood that coveres the innocent one

No more separation

Between us.

So lift your voice just one more time

If there’s any hope may it be a sign

That everything was made to shine

Despite what you can see

So take this bread and drink this wine

And hide your spirit within the vine

Where all things will work by a good design

For those who will believe

And let go, of all, we cannot hold onto

For the hope beyond, the blue.

“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us...

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 18:34:49 -0400

“Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?”

Here’s an example of just how good the new Citizen’s...

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 18:10:00 -0400

Here’s an example of just how good the new Citizen’s Album is.

"I have no doubt that the deeper we go into the unseen things of faith, hope, and love, the more we..."

Wed, 20 Mar 2013 23:49:00 -0400

“

I have no doubt that the deeper we go into the unseen things of faith, hope, and love, the more we will revel in the temporal stuff of life, the intertwining of divine and human handiwork, the sights and sounds of earth and art.

Christians should be as delighted in the things of sight and sense as God is himself, when at the instant of every creational act, he declares goodness to be observable, enjoyable and usable.

Of all people, Christians should have the best noses, the best eyes and ears, the most open joy, the widest sense of delight. That the opposite is often the case is no fault of the Lord’s.

How interesting that God, in correcting the ruminations of Job and his three advisers, turned to his work as Imaginer and Maker rather than to his holiness.

The creator’s nose has never been pinched, nor his delight in his handiwork held at arms length because he is Spirit. How could anyone shy away from the dance of creation, even in it spain, when God put the highest benediction on it by giving his Son a cardiovascular system, a brain, kidneys, a digestive system, muscles, taste buds, ears, fingerprints, genitals and toes?

”

- Harold Best

"A young boy built a sailboat. He spent days carving the wood, and cutting and sewing cloth for the..."

Mon, 18 Mar 2013 20:25:00 -0400

“A young boy built a sailboat. He spent days carving the wood, and cutting and sewing cloth for the sails. One day he took the boat to Central Park in New York to test it out on the lake. Having tied a string to the hull, the boy put the boat in the water and gave it a push. All of a sudden a gust of wind caught the sail, more than the boy had bargained for.

He let go of the string and the boat was blown out into the middle of the lake. He ran as fast as he could around the lake to catch the boat on the other side. But before he could get there some bullies pulled it out of the water and ran away.

Saddened, the young boy started home. Along the way he happened by a pawn shop window. The bullies had already pawned it.

The boy ran into the store yelling, “That boat in the window is mine.” To which the owner replied, “Sorry kid. I hear lots of sad stories. But it can be yours if you pay for it. The price is $5.”

The young boy quickly ran home, gathered all his money and ran back to the pawn shop. He went in and gave the owner the $5, and with great joy clutched the boat.

As he walked he walked out of the store he was heard to say: ‘Little boat, you are mine now for two reasons. I made you and I bought you.’”

- Darrell Johnson

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a huge fan of Dr. Who. This...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 21:15:00 -0400

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a huge fan of Dr. Who. This is a clip from one of my favourite episodes.

(Warning: Spoilers ahead).

After discovering the presence of an intergalactic monster in one of Van Gogh’s paintings, The Doctor and his sidekick Amy Pond travel back in time to visit/save Van Gogh.

As the story progresses we get a clear picture of just how tormented Van Gogh is. He’s depressed, he’s manic, he’s poor, he’s subject to alcoholism, and despite his brilliance as an artist, nobody in his time and place considers his art worth a second look. He is basically portrayed throughout the episode as someone who has reason to sing the blues.

Yet, at the end of the story - after the intergalactic monster is defeated - The Doctor and Pond decide to take Gogh for a short trip into the present so he can get a glimpse of the effect his art will eventually have on the world. The three end up at an art museum featuring an exhibit of his best works (as we see in this above clip).

As Bill Nighy’s character observes:

“He transformed the pain of his tormented life into ecstatic beauty. Pain is easy to portray, but to use your passion and pain to portray the ecstasy, joy, and magnificence of this world - nobody had ever done it before.”

Now I know most of us - myself included - will probably never reach the influence and impact that Van Gogh did with his art (sorry to break it to you).

But even if that is the case, that reality shouldn’t discourage you from being encouraged by the essence of what’s being said about the life and work - calling, if you will - of any artist:

1. Take your pain and transform it into something creative that speaks joy into other people’s lives. You have been given your hardship for a reason - don’t waste it. Use it.

2. Even though you may doubt your work, don’t give up. Keep creating. There is a reason you have been given your gift. Your creativity has most likely impacted more people than you think.

You may not be able to travel into the future and see the impact of your work on other people, but trust me: if you’re creating art with excellence and passion and sharing it with others, there are some who will be positively impacted.

I’m sure I’ll never know the extent to which my creative pursuits have influenced people, but I continue creating and sharing my work because I am spurred on by the hope that it will at least speak a tiny bit of joy into other peoples’ lives.

I’d encourage you to do the same.

I saw this video today after someone posted it on “the...

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:52:00 -0400

I saw this video today after someone posted it on “the wall.” Frankly, I found it fascinating. Maybe this testimony at least in part accounts for why the Duck Dynasty group has stolen a lot of people’s attention these days.

More Free Music!

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 03:36:00 -0400

Here are two links to free music by some great artists.

The first is a link to Josh Garrel’s Noisetrade site, where you can download all five of his albums. All “tip” proceeds go towards World Relief and their work in the Congo. Click on the hyperlink for more information on what World Relief does. Here’s the link to Garrel’s stuff:

http://www.noisetrade.com/joshgarrels

The second is a link to Page CXVI’s Noisetrade site, where you can download a plethora of their sounds. If you’re not sure where to start, I’d suggest their Hymns albums one through four:

http://noisetrade.com/pageandautumn/

Enjoy!