On Cinema and Life

This article touches on a few trends I've noticed in movies lately. Morality seems to be seeping its way in, sort of.

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2008/february/10.35.html?start=1

Racism against furniture

I had a unique situation in class the other day. A first grader refused to sit at his desk. When I asked why, he replied, "I don't like black desks. I like white desks."

I explained that the desk isn't dirty, the wood is just darker than on the other desks. Still, he wouldn't budge. "I don't like black desks."

At one point another student asked me why I was laughing. I had a hard time explaining that it's hard to say "The desk looks different but that's okay" with a straight face. I just wasn't prepared to celebrate the diversity of my classroom's desks.

There are certain things you hope you never have to deal with in the classroom. Discrimination against furniture is one of them.

I'm with stupid GPS

The best satire writes itself. I think my favorite quote from the story below is "Just because a machine tells you do do something potentially dangerous, you shouldn't do it."

Priceless.

http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/index.php?cl=5956306

The Power of Semantics

I wanted to write a book for years entitled The Power of Semantics. The gist is how many moral issues with Christians are actually more concerned with the aforementioned "s" word than anything else. I wanted to discuss two of them below. If you think of any others or just want to argue feel free to comment.

The issues are:

1. Biblical Courtship as opposed to dating. I went to a Conservative Christian Prayer Advance for youth ("Not a retreat! We're not retreating!") a few years back. Several young men and women gave a testimony that they would commit to Biblical Courtship rather than dating.

Problem a: While courtship is Biblical, along with polygamy, neither turned out too well for the parties involved most of the time. Just think of Jacob's family and leave it at that. This is more Arrested Development than Father Knows Best. I don't exactly see God's endorsement here.

Problem b: Courtship (as described in I Kissed Dating Goodbye) is actually a different way of dating. The parents are involved more, along with accountability in general. Tweak a detail here and there, and dating gets a new title.

Call it "radish" if you want. It still seems like dating to me.


2. "Seeker Friendly" for churches = watering down the Gospel message. Maybe that's how the buzz word gets used, but it's being misused.

As it is, I don't see a lot of seeking. Churches are becoming too inwardly focused. The problem, unfortunately, isn't the offense of the Cross. It's because we have our own gigantic clique. We even have our little code words and inside jokes. It's not unlike the biggest high school ever.

The church needs to go out, seek the outcasts, robbers, drunks and whores, and show them Jesus. We talk too much.

The point of both of these problems is one of switching labels. Let's redefine dating, being seeker friendly, and even entertainment with our actions. The issue isn't things, but how you use them.

Let's use them well.

The last shall argue about it

Students in my reading group were arguing about who would read the first paragraph. Most protested, "I don't want to be last!"

I explained that it doesn't matter who is first and last, only that they cooperate with the teacher and each other. They nodded in agreement.

I should have guessed what happened next.

"I want to be last!"
"No, me!"

I'm sure there's a lesson in here somewhere.

Things I would Never Complain About

Many people use online journals as an opportunity to vent. There seems to be some therapeutic value in typing out, "Dear diary, I was so mad today!"

Not for me. I keep all my gripes locked within my various ulcers, where they belong.

Here's a sampling of complaints you'd never hear from me.

I think my landlord is in the Korean mafia. If you know me, you are probably thinking, "He says that about everyone." And you're right. But, anyone could be in the Korean mafia. Even you.

Still, in this particular case I have my reasons.

I was taking out my food trash one evening when a car pulled up beside me. The window rolled down, revealing my landlord's godfather-esque grin. "Your TV was too loud this afternoon," she said through her smile. "You didn't answer the door."

This didn't phase me much, considering the racket our thoughtful neighbors make at 4:00 in the morning. If they slept at night, a little noise in the afternoon wouldn't be a problem.

I said nothing, but smiled and nodded.

"One more thing," she added, "This month's pay is 30,000 won."

This is the issue. Every month we pay rent and utilities by having it deducted from our bank account. However, the landlady pays us a visit every couple of months or so asking for cash.

Apparently, this pays for the water. I think it's only for cold, as the hot water doesn't work too well. When we mentioned this, she sent her son to explain that "blue means cold and red means hot". Gold star for courtesy.

Regardless of the water issue, I feel obliged to pay the $30. If we don't, thugs may barge in with knives, bats, fish, or whatever weapons Korean bad guys use instead of guns. 30,000 won is a small price to pay when avoiding a nasty bludgeoning.

If I was venting, I'd feel so much better right now. Fortunately for whoever is reading this, I don't do that.