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Steven T. Seagle/ Teddy Kristiansen: It's a Bird...
I just finished reading It's A Bird... by Steven T Seagle and Teddy Kristiansen, and it's going in my list of all-time great graphic novels,alongside books like Frank Miller's Dark knight Returns and Alan Moore's and Dave Gibbon's Watchmen. It's a little hard to describe. It's the story of an author, Steve (wonder where he came up with that name) who is offered the job of writing Superman, as his father has disappeared. At first he turns it down, but is encouraged by his editor to think it over. And he spends the book looking at and deconstruing the Superman myths through his the events going on his life, as well as through the experiences of his past. It's the most powerful, personal, emotional story that I have read since Art Spigleman's Maus and I have to give it my highest recomendation. (*****)Peter David: After the Fall (Star Trek: New Frontier)
This is the 20th book in the ST:NF series, and the 20th of these books I've read. This book begins two years after the last one ended, giving it kind of a fresh start as many relationships have changed- as well some alegences. It's a fine read from Peter David, but the cliffhanger endings leave me so annoyed. (***)
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May 25, 2005
April 30, 2005
April 28, 2005
April 19, 2005
April 03, 2005
The Pope and Forgivness
With the Pope's passing the weekend, I was reminded the of when he forgave the man who shot him years ago. Steve Taylor wrote a song about it, and I'm going to post it on here today. I've upleaded the song on herre too, so if you click the following link, you should be able to hear it, or just read the words if you want. It's a bit 80's sounding, but hey, it's from the 80's so I guess that's okay. It's still a song I like from one of my all time favorite artist. (You can read more about the Pope forgiving the man who shot his here as well.
I saw a man
He was holding the hand
That had fired a gun at his heart
Oh, will we live
To forgive?
I saw the eyes
And the look of surprise
As he left an indelible mark
Oh, will we live
To forgive?
Come...
Find release
Go...
Make your peace
Follow his lead
Let the madness recede
When we shatter the cycle of pain
Oh, we will live
To forgive
Come...
Find release
Go...
Make your peace
I saw a man
With a hole in His hand
Who could offer the miracle cure
Oh, He said live
I forgive
Oh, He said live
To forgive
April 01, 2005
Forgiveness
Over on Monday Morning Insight yesterday, they made a post that has the roll of Christians in forgiveness so wrong, I just feel like I need to talk about it a bit.
I'm going to start off quoting the article a bit, then responding to what he said.
The author says: The critical question that needs to be answered here is, “how does God forgive us?” Let’s answer this question in two ways. First, how does God forgive us as Christians, His children, those born-again? The answer is found in 1 John 1:9. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Is God willing to enter into full fellowship with us in our daily lives when we refuse to acknowledge our sins against Him? According to this verse, the answer is no. God’s forgiveness toward us in our walk with Him, those who are destined to spend eternity with Him, occurs only when we acknowledge our sins. Until then, His sweet fellowship in our daily lives is withheld.
This paints of a picture of God, sitting up in heaven, arms crossed, pounting, and saying "well, I'm not going to forgive them unless they say they are sorry first. This is not the Christ I have read in the scripture. The God of the bible activity pursues his people. He doesn't wait for us, but rather, while we are still sinners, he came to us and offered his life for our forgiveness.
The author adds "Second, how does God forgive those who have never entered into a relationship with Him?" I also think the author misses the point when he says Gos is not willing to enter into fellowship with us unless we repent. God greatly desires a relationship with us. The problem is we don't desire a relationship with him. God isn't with-holding his fellowship. Its we, the people, that refuse to enter into fellowship with him.
For example, let's say I have done something against you. I did something that caused you pain and has severed our relationship. We want nothing to do with each other. Now somewhere down the road, something moves in your heart and you forgive me, but I am still mad and don't accept your forgiveness. "I don't need your forgiveness! Why would you forgive me. I still hate you. " Even thought you have forgiven me, our relationship is still severed because I have not accepted your forgiveness.
This is very similar to how things are between God and us. He has forgiven us, but we cannot be in fellowship unless we accept that forgiveness, repent of our own wrong behaviors (sins), and then our relationship is restored with God. It's not about our repentance. That's not what says us. Its us accepting the forgiveness that has already been offered to us.
I'm not saying we do not need to repent. But that is what comes after forgiveness. Not before. A couple of weeks ago I talked about the movie "Beyond the Gates of Splendor". What if Elizabeth Elliot and the other wives waited until the men of the tribe who murdered their husbands had repented? Sitting back and waiting for the other person to say sorry first is the way of the world. I don't believe it is the way of those following the cross.
Image at the top of the post came from lorashelley.com
March 30, 2005
Driving around in a fog
Sunday morning I had to drive through the thickest fog I think I have ever seen. I couldn't see more then about three car lengths in front of me. It was really kind of odd. I knew where i was just because i drive to church so much I could do it my sleep, but it felt like i was somewhere else. Many of house and buildings on the sides of the roads were missing . Shopping centers were out of sight. The water towers and office buildings had been swallowed in this thing fog as well. I imagined myself back in a time before cars, lost, but only a couple of hundred feet from shelter, but not knowing it. I really found it kind of cool. And I don't think I'll look at fog analogies in the same way again
March 17, 2005
March 16, 2005
Tooting my own horn
I made it through 34 years in my life without ever being in the news. On January 16th an article ran in the Sunday Daily Herald in the Neighbor section that mostly interviewed my friend Rocio, but also featured a couple of quotes from me. I figured I would put it on here because it saves me from having to type out something longer on my own for a couple of days
Sidewalk salvation
Group finds field work the best way to spread Christian message
By Henry Stuttley Daily Herald Staff Writer
Armed with religious tracts, blankets and brown bags stuffed with
food, Rocia Rosas and other members of the Chicago Outreach Ministry
stroll through downtown Chicago.
As they pass the busy shoppers on State Street, they spot a homeless couple cuddling in the cold as they sleep on the corner.
A sign reading, "Just Plain Hungry," is propped up against them while several suitcases and a trash can sit behind.
Rosas, of Carol Stream, kneels and offers them sandwiches, potato chips, a thick blanket and socks.
Without hesitation, they accept.
After eating, Rosa prays with the couple.
"You don't have to stay out here," she says before calling several shelters to find refuge for them. "When you get back on your feet, always seek God first."
Rosas and other members of the Chicago Outreach Ministry believe they're called by God to travel outside of the church to spread their Christian message.
Members of the ministry, an evangelistic group, are parishioners of Harvest Bible Church in Rolling Meadows.
Once a month, Rosas, who is Chicago Outreach's discipleship coordinator, helps lead a group of volunteers that travels around the Chicago area.
The trips are as much a mission to spread Christianity as they are an attempt to help people.
Consisting of six to 20 people, the volunteers also pass out spiritual bracelets and questionnaires about religious beliefs.
They have set up prayer stations at O'Hare International Airport, Grant Park and Navy Pier, where they held their first outing in 2002.
Volunteer Patrick Gaffney of Naperville said it's a way of going outside the walls of the church rather than waiting for others to come to God.
"You can take it to people and not be offensive and in their face," he said. "If our faith is so important to us, it shouldn't be something hard to talk about."
Some reject their message.
But some have become Christians or renewed their faith in God, organizers say.
The one-on-one ministry is something many Christians embrace as the best way to spread the word.
Some talk about their faith at work, sporting events or even grocery stores.
Listening to people will make a difference, too, Gaffney said. But he doesn't believe God would want him to always be silent.
"If Christ is the most important person to you, you want to talk about him," he said.
March 15, 2005
Happy Ides Of March
Julius Caesar, Act I, Scene ii
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