Rebels of a different stripe

I came to an interesting observation today. There seems to be a common thread that runs through much of my preferences. I guess it came to me when i was editing my profile. I was comparing my favourite authors and musicians and i think that is when it hit me.

I like rebels. But not in the way that a rebel is usally connoted. In my opinion the worst example of a rebel is someone that does something purely to get attention. For instance, the young kid who sports all sorts of facial piercings, but gets pissed if you stare. The irony of that makes me laugh. But i enjoy a person that breaks from established rote.

Looking at my music selection - Waterdeep, Stavesacre, Proj86 and Model Engine/BES. They all have something in common. Each of these artists approach their music in a very unique way. They are people of faith, but their audience isn't solely to people of faith. They want to be excellent musicians, and want their music to reach all. Additionally all of these bands have either been hurt or disillusioned by the "Christian music" industry. In response to this they reflect it in their music. And in my opinion they will reach far more as far as spreading GOD's love than many in "Christian Music".

The thread is similar in my list of heroes. Hudson Taylor, 'Jack' Lewis, Michael Wells. These are men that lived a life of following Jesus that was and is new and refreshing. Hudson Taylor was a missionary to China in the early 1800's. Many of his contempories wanted to produce English speaking Western clones. Hudson just wanted to show them Jesus' love. He adopted their language, customs and dress. And he was looked down upon for it.

Now i don't really consider myself to be a rebel. I have piercings and tattoos, but most people wouldn't stare at me as i walk down the street. My wife remarked that it isn't something i do for show. And i guess that is reinforced by the fact that i married a prim and proper preacher's kid who will never have a tattoo.

I am praying for more of these 'rebels' in hopes that we can touch the culture we find ourselves in.

Faith...

I am mystified by the duality of Faith. The enigmatic author of Hebrews believed that ,"faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen." This had been stated ad infinitum where it almost qualifies for cliche' status. But do you ever stop to think how terrifying that statement really is? I think it is something that we all too often take for granted. And by "we" i don't simply mean people of "faith". I mean human beings. I am oblivious to the sheer magnitude of faith that would be necessary to step into an automobile every day to and from work. People die in car accidents every day, why not me? I have faith that i will arrive safely, or i would never turn the key.

It is sad that faith has been relegated only to areas of religion or mysticism by those in Academia and constituents of evolutionary and secular humanism. Faith is the most basic element of our everyday lives. The evolutionary biologist must rely on faith to be able to believe what she hopes to be true about her origins and meaning of life. But if you were to describe this process in terms as these, such a person would be deeply offended.

Just as one side cannot truly know if their faith is firmly placed, neither can I. And that is what i mean by terrifying. Just as you cannot prove to me that the reigning theories of Evolution are true, I could not prove my theories on Creation. And that is what scares the hell out of us, that we don't have that certainty, that security.

I believe that is why faith then becomes a palpable substance for all of us. It has to, for we are left with nothing else. We have this innate longing for our hopes to be true. I have a deep longing for a Father GOD who wants to be my Daddy and friend. Conversely, a person from a humanistic mindset might long for they themselves to be the moral compass that guides their decisions and life.

So our faith and belief itself becomes our proof. It sounds circular, and unabashedly it is. For we cannot make that quantum leap to what we want to believe without it. I wish it were more certain than that, but alas those are the governing physics of my life. They are inescapeable.

When it is said that the three greatest things are Faith, Hope & Love. I am grateful that the chief among them is Love. For Love is one thing that us humans can do easily and readily.

Having a son

The day is drawing near. I have dreamt of it for a long time. It is crazy and sobering to think that in less than 2 months i will be responsible for a new life. And i guess i naively assumed that GOD would prepare me for this day. That He would prepare me to be this incredible dad. To be the dad that i wish i had. But I am utterly unprepared. And i don't believe this is despair, in spite of being scared shitless. I believe it is power.

"And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Jesus gave Paul this encouragement and i believe i can take it as well.