The wise ones say the opposite of what we know as true, is also the truth. The proof is in the pudding, as they say. I have been hearing a lot of news about the Islamic faith, and I have no idea where they are getting their information. I don't mean to point fingers, as I'm pointing to the TV, but some people (politicians, people on the news, some Christian pastors), not going to say who, spew a lot of crazy speculative talk. It's not for me to say if its sheer ignorance or out right lying, but it seems far from what I have found so far.
I started reading the Qur'an in August. I was really excited about meeting with some members of the local masjid, but after a few unsuccessful tries, I decided to look into podcasts to get a pulse on the western styling's of Islamic faith. Initially, the majority of the podcasts I found were in Arabic. Many had English translations, but were hard to hear. After some creative searching (and a few weeks), I finally found what I was looking for. The one teaching I did follow for the whole month was no drinking...so it wasn't a total loss. Sad to say, however, that this month I will be enjoying the sinful libations. Mostly because water gets really old at band practice. Because I blew half the month searching, I decided to give it some more time. So lets call September my actual month to learn about Islam.
Most of us know, not because we looked ourselves, that Islam is misogynistic. We know how to pick them out in public because they are wearing a turban, and that they pray to a different God than we (read: Christians/Jews) do.
What you may not know is there are Islamic feminists and notable female scholars. Did you also know that many religions (Christianity, Judaism, Sikhism, and Islam) have denominations who wear turbans? I didn't until a few minutes ago. And as far as I can tell, Allah is the same God Christians and Jews pray to.
It'll be a quick one tonight kids, if my facts don't look right I hope you check it out for yourself. And then again, the opposite of what you know is also true.
Khuda Hafiz friends.
Monday, September 15, 2014
Wednesday, August 6, 2014
An end to homelessness...I wish.
As it came to an end, I realized how wrong my perception of being homeless was. I've learned some people hate living on the streets while others choose that path. Some are happy, others not so much. Some want help, others feel bad asking for it. Looking back, it's silly to think it would be any other way. I mean, people are people. Assholes make a choice to be assholes, grateful people make a choice to be grateful. Being homeless is just another factor of who we are (or aren't). Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't wish some of the stories I heard on anybody, but life is what is it and things happen. It was great seeing how people are able to turn bad situations and find the silver lining. That, my friends, is what its all about.
Last month I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Hope Center. Its a pretty cool organization. They do a lot of good for the needy people of Lexington. They offer housing, a hot meal at dinner and lunch. They also have a van that drives around town to local churches to hand out sandwiches throughout the week. While there, a lot of stereotypes were shattered.
1. There was going to be a disconnect between volunteers the people coming to eat. Not even close. Although I did feel out of place wearing and self conscious about wearing my dress clothes from work. The majority of the kitchen staff were residents of the Jacobs house (which is a part of the Hope Centers services) which is a house for men recovering from substance abuse. I thought it was pretty cool, and a great experience, for these men to give back to the community while they are going through a lot themselves.
One of the guys volunteering on the line with me was a former "graduate" of the addiction program. It took him 2 rounds to stay clean, but assured me there would be no 3rd time. He was so great to work with. He filled me in on everything the Hope Center does around town. He was given a maintenance job with the Center after completing his time in rehab, and now runs the grounds crew year round. I got the feeling that he was a great mentor. Super easy to talk to and he knew just what to say to the folks coming in for a meal to get a smile. I on the other hand, didn't have that quality.
2. These folks were going to be gross and dirty freeloaders. Mostly not true. There were a handful of people with visible uncleanliness, but honestly, the majority of the people were everyday folks. I found out that a lot of these folks have some sort of income, but not enough to live on. It was eye opening to see people with jobs, men who worked to support family, and of course, people without homes coming together to get a hot meal. A good majority of the people said thanks as they came through the line, about half made sure to say thanks as they left.
As the crowd dwindled, and I was told I could head home, I kinda felt like "that's it?" Don't get me wrong, it was great being involved with something like that, but I felt a little bummed that I got to go home to a meal quite a bit nicer than breaded meat, heated vegetables and a roll. I felt guilty for not doing this before. It seemed silly that every day we throw away more shit than we can count while others are barely scraping by.
I also know that there is only so much you can do. Maybe I felt bad for being more of an idealistic talking soapbox than a "walking the walk" kind of guy. Maybe feeling that way isn't such a bad thing...trying to be better is nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other. Keep on keeping on, as they say. It's interesting how the idea of perseverance and getting through hard times is a highly valued trait in todays world...unless you don't have a place to call home.
I mean, a lot of people are struggling to get by everyday. Imagine hearing a story about a man digging in dumpsters to pay off his mortgage and college tuition, shit, we might think they were saints. But take away that house and now you are a detriment to society? Forget the fact that you might generally be a good person, trying to do the best you can with life's circumstances, working on improving your situation, and yet some just call them all "freeloaders". Productive right? Seems that perception holds more weight than reality.
Obviously, some are trying to get by with doing as little work as possible. What I have seen is the people that dig through dumpsters for food, or cans for money; the woman who stands all day in the hot sun asking for help; the man playing a broke ass guitar for a bite to eat; they all work a lot harder than me. Seriously, give them a chance. Let them prove it to you they are worthy of a hot meal, or a high-five, or anything you were going to throw away anyway. If you give them a chance, you might be surprised.
I think a helpful step in the right direction is to understand that we are a couple of mishaps away from being in their position. All of us, every single one of us. I'm trying to keep an open mind, I want to see the good in people, but sometimes its really hard. I've heard practice makes perfect, so that's what I'm shooting for. I need to keep practicing compassion...We need to keep practicing compassion. It's not going to come from any religion...not that it can't, and not because there aren't good people doing their best to make it happen, but because it needs to be accepted across the board, and we seem to struggle finding common ground between different faiths.
Compassion comes from you, me, and us. Maybe you learn it from your faith, or your family, but it does no good unless you practice it. And not just every once in a while, or when you feel like you need a pick-me-up...but every time you think about it. It needs to be something we do AND something we teach. To our kids, to our neighbors, to strangers...to people who need it, and those who aren't looking for it.
Side note: My son Rowan was not pleased when I gave his bread to someone in need around our neighborhood. He will learn someday...hopefully. And not because I don't intend to practice what I preach, but because that kid has a serious love for Panera.
We need to do it because its the right thing. It's the right thing for the right now, and hopefully this whole compassion thing will really take off in a few generations.
Soap box over.
For now.
Last month I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Hope Center. Its a pretty cool organization. They do a lot of good for the needy people of Lexington. They offer housing, a hot meal at dinner and lunch. They also have a van that drives around town to local churches to hand out sandwiches throughout the week. While there, a lot of stereotypes were shattered.
1. There was going to be a disconnect between volunteers the people coming to eat. Not even close. Although I did feel out of place wearing and self conscious about wearing my dress clothes from work. The majority of the kitchen staff were residents of the Jacobs house (which is a part of the Hope Centers services) which is a house for men recovering from substance abuse. I thought it was pretty cool, and a great experience, for these men to give back to the community while they are going through a lot themselves.
One of the guys volunteering on the line with me was a former "graduate" of the addiction program. It took him 2 rounds to stay clean, but assured me there would be no 3rd time. He was so great to work with. He filled me in on everything the Hope Center does around town. He was given a maintenance job with the Center after completing his time in rehab, and now runs the grounds crew year round. I got the feeling that he was a great mentor. Super easy to talk to and he knew just what to say to the folks coming in for a meal to get a smile. I on the other hand, didn't have that quality.
2. These folks were going to be gross and dirty freeloaders. Mostly not true. There were a handful of people with visible uncleanliness, but honestly, the majority of the people were everyday folks. I found out that a lot of these folks have some sort of income, but not enough to live on. It was eye opening to see people with jobs, men who worked to support family, and of course, people without homes coming together to get a hot meal. A good majority of the people said thanks as they came through the line, about half made sure to say thanks as they left.
As the crowd dwindled, and I was told I could head home, I kinda felt like "that's it?" Don't get me wrong, it was great being involved with something like that, but I felt a little bummed that I got to go home to a meal quite a bit nicer than breaded meat, heated vegetables and a roll. I felt guilty for not doing this before. It seemed silly that every day we throw away more shit than we can count while others are barely scraping by.
I also know that there is only so much you can do. Maybe I felt bad for being more of an idealistic talking soapbox than a "walking the walk" kind of guy. Maybe feeling that way isn't such a bad thing...trying to be better is nothing more than putting one foot in front of the other. Keep on keeping on, as they say. It's interesting how the idea of perseverance and getting through hard times is a highly valued trait in todays world...unless you don't have a place to call home.
I mean, a lot of people are struggling to get by everyday. Imagine hearing a story about a man digging in dumpsters to pay off his mortgage and college tuition, shit, we might think they were saints. But take away that house and now you are a detriment to society? Forget the fact that you might generally be a good person, trying to do the best you can with life's circumstances, working on improving your situation, and yet some just call them all "freeloaders". Productive right? Seems that perception holds more weight than reality.
Obviously, some are trying to get by with doing as little work as possible. What I have seen is the people that dig through dumpsters for food, or cans for money; the woman who stands all day in the hot sun asking for help; the man playing a broke ass guitar for a bite to eat; they all work a lot harder than me. Seriously, give them a chance. Let them prove it to you they are worthy of a hot meal, or a high-five, or anything you were going to throw away anyway. If you give them a chance, you might be surprised.
I think a helpful step in the right direction is to understand that we are a couple of mishaps away from being in their position. All of us, every single one of us. I'm trying to keep an open mind, I want to see the good in people, but sometimes its really hard. I've heard practice makes perfect, so that's what I'm shooting for. I need to keep practicing compassion...We need to keep practicing compassion. It's not going to come from any religion...not that it can't, and not because there aren't good people doing their best to make it happen, but because it needs to be accepted across the board, and we seem to struggle finding common ground between different faiths.
Compassion comes from you, me, and us. Maybe you learn it from your faith, or your family, but it does no good unless you practice it. And not just every once in a while, or when you feel like you need a pick-me-up...but every time you think about it. It needs to be something we do AND something we teach. To our kids, to our neighbors, to strangers...to people who need it, and those who aren't looking for it.
Side note: My son Rowan was not pleased when I gave his bread to someone in need around our neighborhood. He will learn someday...hopefully. And not because I don't intend to practice what I preach, but because that kid has a serious love for Panera.
We need to do it because its the right thing. It's the right thing for the right now, and hopefully this whole compassion thing will really take off in a few generations.
Soap box over.
For now.
Thursday, July 24, 2014
Gun shot stories and eating with friends
I can't stress this enough...two things actually. I am by no means a saint, or really even that great of a person. That's number one....let me repeat....I am a real shit head sometimes, and by no means do I intend to come off as anything more. Number 2: we don't take care of people enough. I know there are a multitude of events that can lead to someone living on the streets, I'm not naïve to think we can end homelessness, but we can be a lot more available to people and help when we can. It doesn't have to be money, get creative and think about how you can help...even if its just once. I really believe that the best way to be happy is to help make those around you happy. I studied it in the Dharma, and again in the Gospels. People are happiest when everyone is taken care of and helping each other. But there are always going to be tough times, I was reminded today the importance of helping each other out.
There are places around town that have areas where people live on the streets, and I notice some of the same people around the places we eat regularly. I thought it would be a great learning opportunity this month to take people out to lunch or dinner and hear their stories. One of the downsides is that I am starting to get a little stalker-ish . I find myself cruising the neighbor before stopping to eat, or sometimes I will park and walk around for a little bit normal to see if I come across anyone I can chat with who happens to live on the street. This weekend I met D. D was a VERY interesting guy. He was looking like he had a rough night, and told me he had a long way left to walk home. What he preferred was that I give him 4 dollars, but was appreciative of getting something to eat. Along the way to grab a bite at Jimmy Johns, we stopped when D ran into an old high school buddy. To make a long story short, D and his buddy start telling me some crazy stories about getting shot. His friend starts showing us his fresh scars, staples still intact, and then D started taking off his shirt to show a huge scar down the front of his whole torso/belly. I am listening to the crazy stuff that happened to these guys, and part way through the conversation, I realize all the other pedestrians are walking past us with some serious looks of "what the F" mixed with a little fear. And then I realized I was a part of the scary group.
I started to play the stories in my head of what I thought the other people could be thinking. Not about D and his buddy, but about ME. I don’t really blame them. I mean…the beard, the old jeans, dirty hat, the same boyish good looks as that criminal that made a big splash on the internet…I scream street person (at least today). Then it became a bit funny to me. How these people (assuming they are half as judgmental as I can be on a good day) could have made up their own stories about me, and how I should get off the street, get a job...yet how far from reality that would have been. I realized all of us at some point have done the same thing...and had likely been way off from the actual reality of the situation.
Imagine how many times we have walked past a group of people on the street and assumed the worst about someone. Probably caused us to cross the street a little early, or went out of our way to avoid the group of people. Maybe they don’t notice it, but maybe ey do, and maybe it would brighten the hell out of their day if more people said hello. I can tell you, I am getting more and more comfortable talking with some of the people on the streets. I’m not as afraid to ask questions now, and I’m learning some valuable lessons. Most people seem to reciprocate with a nice smile back, some say hi, one guy mumbled something inaudible under his breath.
So D and I had lunch, but he had to run before I finished my food. It couldn’t have been five minutes later, as I’m eating, 2 guys come in and ask me if I was the guy buying lunch. They told me they wouldn’t say who told them, but they were told the guy with the red beard in JJ’s was buying people food. One guy was in a wheel chair, and the other looked like he woke up on the ground…turns out he did. I told them as long as they didn’t go around telling everyone I was the bearded guy buying lunch, lunch was on me. We sat and talked a good 30 minutes. The man in the wheelchair went by "coronel Ben" and his buddy whose name I have forgotten (steve? Maybe?).
Coronel told me he used to do mission work overseas with his wife when she got sick. Before she died of leukemia a number of years back, they moved back to Kentucky for treatment, and the medical bills did him in. He was on the street for a couple of years before he lost his leg to frost bite, sleeping outside during the winter. He told me he finally has his shit back together. He works for a local homeless shelter now and they give him lodging across town. His friend Steve was extremely appreciative the whole meal. Turns out he was a fellow Illinoisan, who traveled to Kentucky to follow the love of his life. He told me he had been a street person for quite a while. Steve helps out Coronel Ben by pushing him around where he needs to go. Coronel Ben helps make sure Steve stays out of trouble and translates things for him, as Steve cannot read. (friends helping friends...I knew already I was going to like these guys) He kept telling Coronel that good things happen to good people, and was really shocked that someone would buy him lunch for no reason. It's was an equally sad/good feeling watching someone get so excited/emotional over a sandwich.
Steve says he can sometimes make up to $15 a day, but it’s not uncommon for the folks who live on the street to give each other a few bucks when they need it. He told me the meal at JJ’s was good karma because he had been trying to do the best he could with what he was given. He tries to give to his fellow street people, and he said there is a woman he tries to make sure gets something to eat everyday. He had a lot of good advice, he made sure to drive this point home: Quit giving the fucking homeless donuts! Steve says more people need better/nutritious food. I never expected to meet a foodie street person.
But, I also realize it’s a possibility these guys made it all up. Maybe it was all a story. Even if it was all made up, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to hang out with these guys. They taught me a lot about life on the streets, and gave me a lot of laughs for the day. A lot of people argue that "these people" are a bunch of bad eggs, Steve says its about 2-10% of the homeless population. He also warned that those 2-10% are really bad people, and when you get a slight inclination that you are with a bad egg...don't second guess your instinct and get the hell away from them.
I think its common to project negative stereotypes onto people who are thought to be somehow less important than we are. The problem isn’t just the stereotype, the problem is we think the some people are somehow less important. I live Steve's idea about eating better foods, and it makes me happy to see others eat better, so for now I'll keep trying to feed anyone that needs something good to eat.
There are places around town that have areas where people live on the streets, and I notice some of the same people around the places we eat regularly. I thought it would be a great learning opportunity this month to take people out to lunch or dinner and hear their stories. One of the downsides is that I am starting to get a little stalker-ish . I find myself cruising the neighbor before stopping to eat, or sometimes I will park and walk around for a little bit normal to see if I come across anyone I can chat with who happens to live on the street. This weekend I met D. D was a VERY interesting guy. He was looking like he had a rough night, and told me he had a long way left to walk home. What he preferred was that I give him 4 dollars, but was appreciative of getting something to eat. Along the way to grab a bite at Jimmy Johns, we stopped when D ran into an old high school buddy. To make a long story short, D and his buddy start telling me some crazy stories about getting shot. His friend starts showing us his fresh scars, staples still intact, and then D started taking off his shirt to show a huge scar down the front of his whole torso/belly. I am listening to the crazy stuff that happened to these guys, and part way through the conversation, I realize all the other pedestrians are walking past us with some serious looks of "what the F" mixed with a little fear. And then I realized I was a part of the scary group.
I started to play the stories in my head of what I thought the other people could be thinking. Not about D and his buddy, but about ME. I don’t really blame them. I mean…the beard, the old jeans, dirty hat, the same boyish good looks as that criminal that made a big splash on the internet…I scream street person (at least today). Then it became a bit funny to me. How these people (assuming they are half as judgmental as I can be on a good day) could have made up their own stories about me, and how I should get off the street, get a job...yet how far from reality that would have been. I realized all of us at some point have done the same thing...and had likely been way off from the actual reality of the situation.
Imagine how many times we have walked past a group of people on the street and assumed the worst about someone. Probably caused us to cross the street a little early, or went out of our way to avoid the group of people. Maybe they don’t notice it, but maybe ey do, and maybe it would brighten the hell out of their day if more people said hello. I can tell you, I am getting more and more comfortable talking with some of the people on the streets. I’m not as afraid to ask questions now, and I’m learning some valuable lessons. Most people seem to reciprocate with a nice smile back, some say hi, one guy mumbled something inaudible under his breath.
So D and I had lunch, but he had to run before I finished my food. It couldn’t have been five minutes later, as I’m eating, 2 guys come in and ask me if I was the guy buying lunch. They told me they wouldn’t say who told them, but they were told the guy with the red beard in JJ’s was buying people food. One guy was in a wheel chair, and the other looked like he woke up on the ground…turns out he did. I told them as long as they didn’t go around telling everyone I was the bearded guy buying lunch, lunch was on me. We sat and talked a good 30 minutes. The man in the wheelchair went by "coronel Ben" and his buddy whose name I have forgotten (steve? Maybe?).
Coronel told me he used to do mission work overseas with his wife when she got sick. Before she died of leukemia a number of years back, they moved back to Kentucky for treatment, and the medical bills did him in. He was on the street for a couple of years before he lost his leg to frost bite, sleeping outside during the winter. He told me he finally has his shit back together. He works for a local homeless shelter now and they give him lodging across town. His friend Steve was extremely appreciative the whole meal. Turns out he was a fellow Illinoisan, who traveled to Kentucky to follow the love of his life. He told me he had been a street person for quite a while. Steve helps out Coronel Ben by pushing him around where he needs to go. Coronel Ben helps make sure Steve stays out of trouble and translates things for him, as Steve cannot read. (friends helping friends...I knew already I was going to like these guys) He kept telling Coronel that good things happen to good people, and was really shocked that someone would buy him lunch for no reason. It's was an equally sad/good feeling watching someone get so excited/emotional over a sandwich.
Steve says he can sometimes make up to $15 a day, but it’s not uncommon for the folks who live on the street to give each other a few bucks when they need it. He told me the meal at JJ’s was good karma because he had been trying to do the best he could with what he was given. He tries to give to his fellow street people, and he said there is a woman he tries to make sure gets something to eat everyday. He had a lot of good advice, he made sure to drive this point home: Quit giving the fucking homeless donuts! Steve says more people need better/nutritious food. I never expected to meet a foodie street person.
But, I also realize it’s a possibility these guys made it all up. Maybe it was all a story. Even if it was all made up, I'm so happy I had the opportunity to hang out with these guys. They taught me a lot about life on the streets, and gave me a lot of laughs for the day. A lot of people argue that "these people" are a bunch of bad eggs, Steve says its about 2-10% of the homeless population. He also warned that those 2-10% are really bad people, and when you get a slight inclination that you are with a bad egg...don't second guess your instinct and get the hell away from them.
I think its common to project negative stereotypes onto people who are thought to be somehow less important than we are. The problem isn’t just the stereotype, the problem is we think the some people are somehow less important. I live Steve's idea about eating better foods, and it makes me happy to see others eat better, so for now I'll keep trying to feed anyone that needs something good to eat.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
the happy and the homeless...sometimes one in the same.
Hello
internet-land. This month’s community
focus is on homelessness. I wanted to
take a break from the understanding of religion for a bit and focus on another
really important part of any community.
After digging into religion a bit more, I’m happy to be back to chopping
wood and carrying water. It’s nice to be
able to put the purpose into practice more than the past few months of studying
and listening. After my time of trying
to understand Christianity, I see a lot of similarities between it and Buddhism. A common theme, is taking care of one
another, and this month will put that to the test.
Side note: June was
a really great month. We were fortunate
enough to be able to meet up with family and friends, and relax and explore
Colorado and Utah. I was really hoping
to start my homeless focused month in June, but knew because of vacation I
would have limited time to spend planning, participating, and helping. So this month I decided to devote time to
helping out the homeless, and others who need a little help. I am hoping to be able to get some
perspective by hanging out and visiting with my fellow Lexingtonians. I hope to get some perspective on the
different ways we can help the homeless in/around the neighborhood.
So far, the stories
are usually sad, but sometimes really great.
I had lunch with a really nice guy, Tom, last week. He cruises around town in a bicycle he
converted to run on gasoline. He helps
support himself by playing an electric guitar with an amp ran off a 9V
battery. Tom has an excellent outlook on
life, at least from what I can tell from our chat, despite the fact he has no
place to call home. When you think about
the Toms in the world you have to really appreciate how lucky we are. I never think twice about having enough to
eat, where I am going to sleep, or how I am going to afford to get around
town. Yet I find myself getting
frustrated at the little, insignificant things in life. I’m sure Tom gets frustrated too, but here he
is taking a beating from life and circumstances, all while managing to keep a
big smile on his face. High-five Tom,
high five. (full disclosure: Tom and I
did not, in fact, high five....yet)
I’m glad to have
met Tom to help remind me that despite all the shit life is giving us, we can
still choose to smile. I’m also reminded
that some people have it really rough, and it’s our job to help bring them
up. Sometimes I can’t buy someone
something to eat, but sometimes I can, so why not? I’ve gone back and forth about the best way
to “deal with homeless people”. Should
we give them money? Will they spend it
on booze? We've all heard/said: I’m not
going to give those lazy people any money! It’s a personal decision, but I keep
coming around the fact that it’s not about what I think anyway, so just give if
you can. I can only help what I do, but
I think food and clothes are basic things everyone should have. Drunk or not, I can't think of anyone who
doesn't deserve a healthy meal or some clean clothes every once in a while.
There are a lot of
ideas about how I can help out this month.
I have started using my cup holder as my change-to-give-away
holder. I have actually seen the same
guy quite a few times on my way home from work, and he seems appreciative every
single time. I feel bad because I always
ask his name, but can never remember it…I can’t even think of it now. But we usually have a little chat, and he has
told me he can usually find a place to sleep at his friends, but uses the money
for food. I used to be cynical towards
this type of situation. I always “knew”
that person was going to get drunk off my hard earned money. Maybe this guy is doing the same thing, but
maybe he isn’t. Maybe he actually uses
it to eat, and maybe he eats better than me, I know if it was me…I’d make sure
I had enough to eat and THEN buy some beer.
But to each their own is how it goes.
So let me work on trying to be a better me. And to do that, I need to get better at
giving; I just gotta make sure to keep that judgement stuff at the door.
I’m excited about
the new people I will meet along the way this month, and I am really looking
forward to seeing what I can do to help a little more. Tom told me about a guy in town who works as
a pharmacist at the local hospital. He
picks up Tom and another half dozen people 2 Fridays a month and takes the
group of guys to his house where they hold a bible study and he lets everyone
shower at his house. I’m so happy to
have people like this living in town.
Fortunately, Tom was able to give me his number, and I hope he doesn't
mind me hanging out some Friday.
Till next time kids. If you think about it this month, do me a favor and try and give a smile or say "hi" to someone less fortunate. I can't say how they will react, but I would bet if brightens your day.
Sunday, May 18, 2014
The wise men
I've mentioned before the bible study group with the retired ministers. I finally finished up my time with them. (not really, it's taken me a few weeks to finish this up)
What did I learn at the bible study?
Jesus can do good things in peoples lives. I heard a lot about Jesus in the time spent with the wise men. They love that guy! All of them seem to really believe that Christ was driving the ship, so to speak, and playing a significant role in their lives. And to be honest, I admired that about them. Their job has been to essentially help other people with their problems in life through the teachings of Jesus, God, and the Bible. Ministers don't have all the answers, and these guys made it known often they knew less than most. But they all seemed to really believe what they were saying, and what they were saying was if you have a problem, Jesus is the answer out.
I believe them too, for the most part. I've said this before, but if you have a positive outlook on life and use the teachings for the better, you will absolutely be happy as ten dudes. And I believe that as long as you can muster up the strength to keep the belief alive (faith as the wise men called it) the happiness will continue. Not feeling generous? Jesus has an answer for that. Wanting to punch your neighbor out? Jesus has an answer for that. Can't get naked images of the neighbor with the majestic beard out of your head?(ladies, I'm happily married) Jesus has an answer for that too.
A good amount of our discussions were about the difference between living like a good Christian and being a follower of Christ. My point of view comes from the idea that calling yourself a Christian is nothing more than that...words. Christianity, in a broad sense, is still an evolving set of beliefs, and for good reason. As times change, attitudes change, technology changes, interactions change (we Buddhists call it impermanence) and therefore, the teachings need to be changed. I believe its a good thing, and it's happened a lot in America. Some religious views needed to be changed, from interracial marriage, to same sex marriage, and todays craziness with mega-money hungry churches. But I digress...
So what is a good Christian? Saying you are a follower of Christ (or you have a personal relationship with him), or living like a good Christian? Or does it have to be both? We all have the same life problems. Missing lost loved ones, stresses of work and family life, low self esteem, whatever it may be we all deal with them in our own personal way. Jesus, and the other teachings, can give help and hope to people dealing life's problems. But it seems at times what you want becomes the message. When you want to make a lot of money, you might have to skew some teachings to still feel good about yourself, but look at the mega churches, it can be done...Praise Jesus! So clearly JUST saying you have a relationship can't be enough right?
Most of the wise men agreed you have to believe Jesus died for your sins to get to heaven. I challenged them by asking (I've heard this many times before) if one could still get to heaven if they never heard of Jesus. Most agreed if you lived a good life, were searching for the truth, but never knew of Jesus that God would still let you in. So living like a good Christian is all you need!? Not exactly. I heard Desmond Tutu say it was "silly" to think that the Dalai Lama would get to heaven and God would express his gratitude for all of his good deeds but would ultimately be shunned from heaven for not acknowledging Jesus as the son of god and the one true way to heaven. I couldn't agree more.
But they didn't see it that way. Until I expressed my belief that you don't have to ever say his name, if you use him as an example in your daily life. Look at Thich Nhat Hahn and how he has contributed to Gods people. I can't help but think the Dalai Lama completely understands the good in Jesus and his teachings. I'm sure he has used the power of the holy spirit (most likely calls it by another name) with his fellow Christians to do good deeds. Maybe he doesn't call it "being Christian" (although many monks consider being a good Buddhist the same as being a good Christian), maybe he doesn't claim Jesus to be his lord and savior, but he is probably one of the few people on earth today that is even close to living like Jesus asks you to. So how do you see it?
The group discussed people as individuals within the Christian community, and what we all understood is that a good Christian isn't good 100% of the time. This was another issue I couldn't get past in my young and know-it-all phase (trust me: the know-it-all phase isn't gone yet, to the chagrin of my wife). I feel like the bible study helped me realize the middle ground of Christianity. On one hand, no one can live up to the expectations of Jesus. On the other hand, you don't have to...he is very forgiving. This promised forgiveness is great, if not used as a blinder to avoid thinking about selfish actions. But, If you try to live just like Jesus, society is going to kick your ass and call you a crazy person. Turning the other cheek, loving your neighbor as yourself, helping the poor, sticking it to the man...that stuff doesn't fly today (and it will likely get you voted out of congress) This is America son. Land of money loving, freedom forcing, civilian suppressing/killing ...we aint got time for that. But its OK! All you have to do is "have a relationship with Jesus". Ask for forgiveness and you shall receive it. (But I digress...again) It's difficult to find your way in todays society with its constant barrage of distractions.
The moral of the story: find your own truth. Teachers are excellent resources (even bad teachers), but no teacher can show you the truth...just what direction to look.
What did I learn at the bible study?
Jesus can do good things in peoples lives. I heard a lot about Jesus in the time spent with the wise men. They love that guy! All of them seem to really believe that Christ was driving the ship, so to speak, and playing a significant role in their lives. And to be honest, I admired that about them. Their job has been to essentially help other people with their problems in life through the teachings of Jesus, God, and the Bible. Ministers don't have all the answers, and these guys made it known often they knew less than most. But they all seemed to really believe what they were saying, and what they were saying was if you have a problem, Jesus is the answer out.
I believe them too, for the most part. I've said this before, but if you have a positive outlook on life and use the teachings for the better, you will absolutely be happy as ten dudes. And I believe that as long as you can muster up the strength to keep the belief alive (faith as the wise men called it) the happiness will continue. Not feeling generous? Jesus has an answer for that. Wanting to punch your neighbor out? Jesus has an answer for that. Can't get naked images of the neighbor with the majestic beard out of your head?(ladies, I'm happily married) Jesus has an answer for that too.
A good amount of our discussions were about the difference between living like a good Christian and being a follower of Christ. My point of view comes from the idea that calling yourself a Christian is nothing more than that...words. Christianity, in a broad sense, is still an evolving set of beliefs, and for good reason. As times change, attitudes change, technology changes, interactions change (we Buddhists call it impermanence) and therefore, the teachings need to be changed. I believe its a good thing, and it's happened a lot in America. Some religious views needed to be changed, from interracial marriage, to same sex marriage, and todays craziness with mega-money hungry churches. But I digress...
So what is a good Christian? Saying you are a follower of Christ (or you have a personal relationship with him), or living like a good Christian? Or does it have to be both? We all have the same life problems. Missing lost loved ones, stresses of work and family life, low self esteem, whatever it may be we all deal with them in our own personal way. Jesus, and the other teachings, can give help and hope to people dealing life's problems. But it seems at times what you want becomes the message. When you want to make a lot of money, you might have to skew some teachings to still feel good about yourself, but look at the mega churches, it can be done...Praise Jesus! So clearly JUST saying you have a relationship can't be enough right?
Most of the wise men agreed you have to believe Jesus died for your sins to get to heaven. I challenged them by asking (I've heard this many times before) if one could still get to heaven if they never heard of Jesus. Most agreed if you lived a good life, were searching for the truth, but never knew of Jesus that God would still let you in. So living like a good Christian is all you need!? Not exactly. I heard Desmond Tutu say it was "silly" to think that the Dalai Lama would get to heaven and God would express his gratitude for all of his good deeds but would ultimately be shunned from heaven for not acknowledging Jesus as the son of god and the one true way to heaven. I couldn't agree more.
But they didn't see it that way. Until I expressed my belief that you don't have to ever say his name, if you use him as an example in your daily life. Look at Thich Nhat Hahn and how he has contributed to Gods people. I can't help but think the Dalai Lama completely understands the good in Jesus and his teachings. I'm sure he has used the power of the holy spirit (most likely calls it by another name) with his fellow Christians to do good deeds. Maybe he doesn't call it "being Christian" (although many monks consider being a good Buddhist the same as being a good Christian), maybe he doesn't claim Jesus to be his lord and savior, but he is probably one of the few people on earth today that is even close to living like Jesus asks you to. So how do you see it?
The group discussed people as individuals within the Christian community, and what we all understood is that a good Christian isn't good 100% of the time. This was another issue I couldn't get past in my young and know-it-all phase (trust me: the know-it-all phase isn't gone yet, to the chagrin of my wife). I feel like the bible study helped me realize the middle ground of Christianity. On one hand, no one can live up to the expectations of Jesus. On the other hand, you don't have to...he is very forgiving. This promised forgiveness is great, if not used as a blinder to avoid thinking about selfish actions. But, If you try to live just like Jesus, society is going to kick your ass and call you a crazy person. Turning the other cheek, loving your neighbor as yourself, helping the poor, sticking it to the man...that stuff doesn't fly today (and it will likely get you voted out of congress) This is America son. Land of money loving, freedom forcing, civilian suppressing/killing ...we aint got time for that. But its OK! All you have to do is "have a relationship with Jesus". Ask for forgiveness and you shall receive it. (But I digress...again) It's difficult to find your way in todays society with its constant barrage of distractions.
The moral of the story: find your own truth. Teachers are excellent resources (even bad teachers), but no teacher can show you the truth...just what direction to look.
Sunday, May 11, 2014
My understanding of Jesus
It was a nice run being Christian for the month. I really found a new appreciation for some of the practices, some of the practitioners, and a few of the modern philosophical teachers.
What did I learn? A lot. Do I feel more like a Christian? Yes and no. On one hand, I learned a lot of valuable things, listened to a lot of inspiring sermons/teachings, and met some pretty impressive individuals. On the other, I found my interpretation of this new information to distance me from the possibility of being a true Christian. I can see the truth in the teachings, and I understand the importance Christianity has in the world, but I can't fully buy the notion Jesus is the only way.
My understanding of Jesus:
I understand the importance and significance of Jesus' role in Christianity, but I also understand everything we know about him was written by man. It was interesting to read about the historical Jesus, and if you haven't done any research on the topic you might find it educational (no matter your religious leanings). What I found most interesting was how the story of Jesus may have lead him to be the son of Christianity. That may seem silly to you, but I was brought up with all the great stories about Jesus healing the sick and helping the poor. I was taught what the gospels told us about Jesus, how he was man and God, how he died for our sins, how through his grace we could find our place in Heaven.
The more I read about the history, surrounding the time and place of Jesus in the world, the more I started to find myself doubting. I am not intending to sway anyone's opinion on the subject. I hope that if you are reading this as a Christian you do not get offended, just as I hope any non-believers reading this do not think I am championing any anti-Jesus message. I do, however, feel like its important to hear multiple sides to a story and make your own opinions about the matter.
What new (for me) information caused me to doubt?
For one, Pontius Pilate was a real dick.
"Concerning Jesus’ executioner, Pontius Pilate, we have a considerable body of data that contradicts the largely sympathetic portrayal of him in the New Testament. Even among the long line of cruel procurators who ruled Judea, Pilate stood out as a notoriously vicious man. He eventually was replaced after murdering a group of Samaritans: The Romans realized that keeping him in power would only provoke continual rebellions. The gentle, kindhearted Pilate of the New Testament—who in his “heart of hearts” really did not want to harm Jesus is fictional. The New Testament depicts Pilate as wishing to spare Jesus from punishment, only to be stymied by a large Jewish mob yelling, “Crucify him.” The account ignores one simple fact. Pilate’s power in Judea was absolute. Had he wanted to absolve Jesus, he would have done so: He certainly would not have allowed a mob of Jews, whom he detested, to force him into killing someone whom he admired." (Joseph Telushkin. Jewish Literacy.)
Secondly, there are historians that claim the writers of those times often would describe people in ways that embellished ideals to portray a person. For instance, my wife is an excellent mother. So in those times I would have written a story about her taking in all the homeless children of Lexington, feeding them all and becoming a mother to all of them. The point is to explain that she is a loving mother, but the stories often times were skewed to make a point. One author explained that this was not intentional, but just the way of the times. So it is possible that some of the scriptural accounts about Jesus were dressed up a bit, to help get the point across.
To be honest with you, I am completely ok with that. It doesn't make the teachings less special, it doesn't make the truth less real, and it doesn't mean you can't use it to find whatever you are looking for. The Jesus I read in the Bible was a spiritual superhero. That dude was rad, and understood what it takes to live life (Unless, of course, your idea of having what it takes to live life includes living past 33). It's sad to see being a good Christian sometimes comes down to saying you believe in a story about a man, written by men, that could never find words to reveal the true essence of what they were trying to describe. When can we look past the notion that it has to be "this way" or "that way", and see that living the teachings is what makes you a good Christian? Who knows, maybe I'm way off...the opposite of what you know as true can also be true. Maybe you really can live your life selfishly and be saved by nothing other than asking for forgiveness.
Thirdly, I can't fully get behind the resurrection story. Not because I believe it to be made up, but because I know it "could" be made up. There are other parts of the bible I can't fully get behind either: People living 900 years, seven headed dragons (I've also read it as "beast"), Noahs Ark, Genesis...that'll do to make a point I suppose. I've heard my problem is a lack of faith. I would disagree. I have faith that people who follow the teachings of the bible can make the world a much better place. I found faith this month that many wise Christians are doing fantastic things in the world. In fact, my faith in Christianity has probably never been higher than since I started reading C.S. Lewis and listening to the teachings of the retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu this month.
So this is where I am at on the whole Jesus thing.
1. He is possibly the son of God, though I'm not going to bet my life on it.
2. We don't know as much about the historical Jesus as we think we do (at least I don't)
3. His teachings seem legit.
4. Following him with all of your heart will make the world a better place.
5. He would be ashamed of what people have done in his name.
Feel like I'm missing something, or I am way off base? (there is so much more I didn't have time/room for) Make a comment. I love the discussions.
What did I learn? A lot. Do I feel more like a Christian? Yes and no. On one hand, I learned a lot of valuable things, listened to a lot of inspiring sermons/teachings, and met some pretty impressive individuals. On the other, I found my interpretation of this new information to distance me from the possibility of being a true Christian. I can see the truth in the teachings, and I understand the importance Christianity has in the world, but I can't fully buy the notion Jesus is the only way.
My understanding of Jesus:
I understand the importance and significance of Jesus' role in Christianity, but I also understand everything we know about him was written by man. It was interesting to read about the historical Jesus, and if you haven't done any research on the topic you might find it educational (no matter your religious leanings). What I found most interesting was how the story of Jesus may have lead him to be the son of Christianity. That may seem silly to you, but I was brought up with all the great stories about Jesus healing the sick and helping the poor. I was taught what the gospels told us about Jesus, how he was man and God, how he died for our sins, how through his grace we could find our place in Heaven.
The more I read about the history, surrounding the time and place of Jesus in the world, the more I started to find myself doubting. I am not intending to sway anyone's opinion on the subject. I hope that if you are reading this as a Christian you do not get offended, just as I hope any non-believers reading this do not think I am championing any anti-Jesus message. I do, however, feel like its important to hear multiple sides to a story and make your own opinions about the matter.
What new (for me) information caused me to doubt?
For one, Pontius Pilate was a real dick.
"Concerning Jesus’ executioner, Pontius Pilate, we have a considerable body of data that contradicts the largely sympathetic portrayal of him in the New Testament. Even among the long line of cruel procurators who ruled Judea, Pilate stood out as a notoriously vicious man. He eventually was replaced after murdering a group of Samaritans: The Romans realized that keeping him in power would only provoke continual rebellions. The gentle, kindhearted Pilate of the New Testament—who in his “heart of hearts” really did not want to harm Jesus is fictional. The New Testament depicts Pilate as wishing to spare Jesus from punishment, only to be stymied by a large Jewish mob yelling, “Crucify him.” The account ignores one simple fact. Pilate’s power in Judea was absolute. Had he wanted to absolve Jesus, he would have done so: He certainly would not have allowed a mob of Jews, whom he detested, to force him into killing someone whom he admired." (Joseph Telushkin. Jewish Literacy.)
Secondly, there are historians that claim the writers of those times often would describe people in ways that embellished ideals to portray a person. For instance, my wife is an excellent mother. So in those times I would have written a story about her taking in all the homeless children of Lexington, feeding them all and becoming a mother to all of them. The point is to explain that she is a loving mother, but the stories often times were skewed to make a point. One author explained that this was not intentional, but just the way of the times. So it is possible that some of the scriptural accounts about Jesus were dressed up a bit, to help get the point across.
To be honest with you, I am completely ok with that. It doesn't make the teachings less special, it doesn't make the truth less real, and it doesn't mean you can't use it to find whatever you are looking for. The Jesus I read in the Bible was a spiritual superhero. That dude was rad, and understood what it takes to live life (Unless, of course, your idea of having what it takes to live life includes living past 33). It's sad to see being a good Christian sometimes comes down to saying you believe in a story about a man, written by men, that could never find words to reveal the true essence of what they were trying to describe. When can we look past the notion that it has to be "this way" or "that way", and see that living the teachings is what makes you a good Christian? Who knows, maybe I'm way off...the opposite of what you know as true can also be true. Maybe you really can live your life selfishly and be saved by nothing other than asking for forgiveness.
Thirdly, I can't fully get behind the resurrection story. Not because I believe it to be made up, but because I know it "could" be made up. There are other parts of the bible I can't fully get behind either: People living 900 years, seven headed dragons (I've also read it as "beast"), Noahs Ark, Genesis...that'll do to make a point I suppose. I've heard my problem is a lack of faith. I would disagree. I have faith that people who follow the teachings of the bible can make the world a much better place. I found faith this month that many wise Christians are doing fantastic things in the world. In fact, my faith in Christianity has probably never been higher than since I started reading C.S. Lewis and listening to the teachings of the retired Archbishop Desmond Tutu this month.
So this is where I am at on the whole Jesus thing.
1. He is possibly the son of God, though I'm not going to bet my life on it.
2. We don't know as much about the historical Jesus as we think we do (at least I don't)
3. His teachings seem legit.
4. Following him with all of your heart will make the world a better place.
5. He would be ashamed of what people have done in his name.
Feel like I'm missing something, or I am way off base? (there is so much more I didn't have time/room for) Make a comment. I love the discussions.
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Christianity...just like coming home.
What better month to be a practicing Christian than Easter season? I'm sure if you're a practicing christian you would argue every month is a good month to be practicing. So how do you go about being a "good practicing christian"? That's a tough question, and a loaded one at that. So this month I set up a few rules.
1. Going to church. I plan on attending church each week.
Growing up and baptized methodist, I am looking to check out other styles of churches, ones that offer a different flavor of christianity. I went to the Vineyard Church a few weeks ago with a couple of friends. It was a really nice church, (disclaimer: Any place that has free earl grey tea is hard to talk bad about) and the first I have attended that had a band, which was nice. I was curious about the message, but I found it to be pretty inspiring. A lot of talk about being better people, helping community, and nothing about fire/brimstone/hell.
Today I attended church with my family and grandparents at the methodist church I was baptized in. It was nice being back, and I was grateful to be there with my grandparents, but I wasn't as inspired by today's service as much as the one I attended in Lexington. To be fair, I had my children there, so a good part of the time was spent keeping paper out of Em's mouth and wondering if Ro would say the word "butt" outloud. What didn't really "do it" for me was the structured agenda of it all. Sit, read, stand, sing, call and response, THEN a sermon, then more reading. I didn't really feel like I had time to think for myself and soak it all in. I don't want this to be a negative thing, but it didn't give me what I liked about The Vineyard. The Vineyard was like listening to someone in your family. Christian ideals were definitely preached, but in a way that connected it to the community, and allowed me to reflect on how to be a better person.
2. Attend a weekly bible study group.
I feel so fortunate and grateful for the group of guys I get to hang out with this month. Randomly, I was hooked up with a pseudo bible study group consisting of 7-8 retired preachers. Thinking about a bible study was a daunting task. I wasn't really interested in my idea of a traditional bible study (I probably have the most untraditional view of a traditional bible study). I thought my time constraint would not allow me to get a whole lot out of it. Would there be open discussion? Would we be going through one book of the bible? Would I be preached at? Would they even let me in if they found out I subscribe to the buddhist tradition?
What I wanted was an open forum. A place where we could shoot the shit, talk some Jesus, and debate the christian ideals that seem to drive wedges between community members. And that is EXACTLY what I got myself into. These guys are great. Granted, they are still trying to save me, but they sincerely treat me like one of their own. We have pretty lengthy discussions, I feel completely comfortable explaining my true thoughts on christian teachings, and the guys answer my questions without any detectable traces of judgement. It's nice to know guys like this were building ministries throughout the country. We obviously have some major philosophical differences, but we all want the same thing. For those of you who have a really negative view of christians, I have to tell you there are some really great christians out there. A year ago I don't know if I would have believed how great my conversations with a self-proclaimed conservative christian could have gone. But here I am hoping you get the opportunity that I have had so far this month.
3. Pray.
This is the one thing I was sure would be easier than it has turned out. Obviously, praying is not a difficult thing. I have been somewhat serious with meditation up until now, and praying seemed an easy alternative. Well....it wasn't. Praying in the morning to start the day...no problem. Praying at night before I go to bed...should be easy, but I seem to forget most nights before lying down to sleep. Saying a little prayer before a meal has proven to be the most difficult for me. The big issue is my forgetfullness. But when I do think about it at lunch, I get self concious about it. I sometimes think to myself "this is going to be a good one" or "hot damn! I'm feeling the love and Im going to include everyone that made this meal possible". Then reality sets in. I start to think to myself...is anyone going to stare at me when I do this? I wonder if they were like my former self and think what I'm doing is silly. Then what happens is my extravagant grace turns into a few second of thanks. (the ministers assure me any grace is better than none...maybe its more of a self dissapointment I let unsubstantiated thoughts get in the way)
4. Read/listen to expand my understanding
I have been hitting the podcasts pretty hard on my drive to/from work.
CS Lewis is my new free time favorite.
Any other suggestions? I have a book by Ravi Zacharias that was loaned to me, but I'm just not sure its in the cards. I'm sure he's a great man, but I listened to a few of his talks on podcast and he didn't do it for me.
So that's what I have been up to this month. Looking forward to continuing, and improving, my understanding on the subject over the next week and a half. I hope everyone who practices had a great easter. I hope all of you who don't did as well.
Stay Blessed.
1. Going to church. I plan on attending church each week.
Growing up and baptized methodist, I am looking to check out other styles of churches, ones that offer a different flavor of christianity. I went to the Vineyard Church a few weeks ago with a couple of friends. It was a really nice church, (disclaimer: Any place that has free earl grey tea is hard to talk bad about) and the first I have attended that had a band, which was nice. I was curious about the message, but I found it to be pretty inspiring. A lot of talk about being better people, helping community, and nothing about fire/brimstone/hell.
Today I attended church with my family and grandparents at the methodist church I was baptized in. It was nice being back, and I was grateful to be there with my grandparents, but I wasn't as inspired by today's service as much as the one I attended in Lexington. To be fair, I had my children there, so a good part of the time was spent keeping paper out of Em's mouth and wondering if Ro would say the word "butt" outloud. What didn't really "do it" for me was the structured agenda of it all. Sit, read, stand, sing, call and response, THEN a sermon, then more reading. I didn't really feel like I had time to think for myself and soak it all in. I don't want this to be a negative thing, but it didn't give me what I liked about The Vineyard. The Vineyard was like listening to someone in your family. Christian ideals were definitely preached, but in a way that connected it to the community, and allowed me to reflect on how to be a better person.
2. Attend a weekly bible study group.
I feel so fortunate and grateful for the group of guys I get to hang out with this month. Randomly, I was hooked up with a pseudo bible study group consisting of 7-8 retired preachers. Thinking about a bible study was a daunting task. I wasn't really interested in my idea of a traditional bible study (I probably have the most untraditional view of a traditional bible study). I thought my time constraint would not allow me to get a whole lot out of it. Would there be open discussion? Would we be going through one book of the bible? Would I be preached at? Would they even let me in if they found out I subscribe to the buddhist tradition?
What I wanted was an open forum. A place where we could shoot the shit, talk some Jesus, and debate the christian ideals that seem to drive wedges between community members. And that is EXACTLY what I got myself into. These guys are great. Granted, they are still trying to save me, but they sincerely treat me like one of their own. We have pretty lengthy discussions, I feel completely comfortable explaining my true thoughts on christian teachings, and the guys answer my questions without any detectable traces of judgement. It's nice to know guys like this were building ministries throughout the country. We obviously have some major philosophical differences, but we all want the same thing. For those of you who have a really negative view of christians, I have to tell you there are some really great christians out there. A year ago I don't know if I would have believed how great my conversations with a self-proclaimed conservative christian could have gone. But here I am hoping you get the opportunity that I have had so far this month.
3. Pray.
This is the one thing I was sure would be easier than it has turned out. Obviously, praying is not a difficult thing. I have been somewhat serious with meditation up until now, and praying seemed an easy alternative. Well....it wasn't. Praying in the morning to start the day...no problem. Praying at night before I go to bed...should be easy, but I seem to forget most nights before lying down to sleep. Saying a little prayer before a meal has proven to be the most difficult for me. The big issue is my forgetfullness. But when I do think about it at lunch, I get self concious about it. I sometimes think to myself "this is going to be a good one" or "hot damn! I'm feeling the love and Im going to include everyone that made this meal possible". Then reality sets in. I start to think to myself...is anyone going to stare at me when I do this? I wonder if they were like my former self and think what I'm doing is silly. Then what happens is my extravagant grace turns into a few second of thanks. (the ministers assure me any grace is better than none...maybe its more of a self dissapointment I let unsubstantiated thoughts get in the way)
4. Read/listen to expand my understanding
I have been hitting the podcasts pretty hard on my drive to/from work.
CS Lewis is my new free time favorite.
Any other suggestions? I have a book by Ravi Zacharias that was loaned to me, but I'm just not sure its in the cards. I'm sure he's a great man, but I listened to a few of his talks on podcast and he didn't do it for me.
So that's what I have been up to this month. Looking forward to continuing, and improving, my understanding on the subject over the next week and a half. I hope everyone who practices had a great easter. I hope all of you who don't did as well.
Stay Blessed.
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