Desperately Seeking Fiction

I needs me a good break from non-fiction, philosophy, and theology. But, I knows not where to go for a good book.

Any suggestions? I am looking for quality fiction, not airport junk reading. Can be old or new.

In January someone suggested to me that I read "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini. Looks interesting, but, that's all I have so far by way of suggestions. I figure someone out there must have some thoughts about a good novel or 3 to read this summer.

thanks!!!

technorati tags: fiction

Why Marriage is Tough

I guess a while back an organization called LifeWay Christian Resources conducted a survey and determined a "Top 10 List" of Issues facing families today. An interesting idea I suppose, although I am unclear as to what such a list achieves. But anyways, Andreas Kostenberger has written an interesting critique. He says, essentially, that these top 10 items keep everyone distracted from the root cause of failure in most Christian marriages. What we really need, he says, is for:

"Christian men and women to rediscover the biblical teaching on marriage and the family on a profound, spiritual level, and to commit themselves to live by this teaching in the midst of those other issues."

Interesting idea. Sounds good. Not sure what it means on a practical day-to-day level though.

Also, why does it sometimes feel like we, as Christians, are constantly commiting and re-commiting ourselves to something?

(HT: JT)

Living the 1 Peter Life

I am in the middle of finals week and it is nuts. So, I will post more about immigration when school is done.

In the meantime, a pastor from around here is blogging from a conference up in Seattle. He reports:

The Reform & Resurge conference is on full force. Three speakers today. First was Darrin Patrick of The Journey Church in St. Louis. Darrin is an SBC'r and a church planter with Acts29. His talk was just perfect for me, exactly what I needed.

He said that your biggest challenge in ministry is yourself. He used James 1:1-4 to talk about how those who walk with God will be a mess because God wants to build our character through trials. The process of going through trials is painful, but we need to focus on the product of trails not the pain of trails. Why would we want to avoid trials when it's the trigger to God's power?

This spoke to me. I don't think he means "our lives will be a mess" in an out-of-control way. I think he is just trying to emphasize the role of suffering in following God (and "suffering" can mean so many different things).

More thoughts about immigration

I can't stop thinking about this issue.

I realised today that probably the majority of Americans have absolutely no idea what is involved with trying to apply for visas and work permits. I don't expect that they would know either. But, I think for the average person they probably envision a system similar to the way the DMV operates. Meaning, most folks probably assume that getting a work permit, "doing things legally" is no more involved than applying for a new drivers licence.

If only it was that simple. It isn't of course.

In fact, I think if the average American had to deal with the INS (now the DHS) on a regular basis, immigration reform would get taken care of in no time at all.

Let me put it this way - applying for just about anything via the INS makes filing your taxes look easy.

I am fortunate to have a Green Card. I was also fortunate to have been able to afford a lawyer to help me with the process. Even so the paperwork was astonishingly confusing, and the entire process took 4 years and numerous visits to the INS office. Not many people are as lucky as me.

Just as a side note, the INS office in San Jose, where I lived, would only allow 200 or so people inside every day (the exact number varied). So, if you wanted to stand a chance of getting inside the office, you would have to start lining up way before the office actually opened. It was normal practice for people to literally camp out over night to ensure that they could get in the office the next morning. And I'm not talking about "occasionally some obsessed people would camp out overnight." I mean, EVERY NIGHT there were people sitting on the ground outside the INS office waiting in line for the office to open the next morning. The earliest I got there was I think 4am one time. That's because I showed up at 6am once and didn't make it in the building.

So, yes, technically speaking, as long as you entered the country legally, and fall into one of a very number of categories of people who are eligible for a work permit, it is possible to do things the legal way.

That said, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that so few people choose to go this route.

The other fallacy I hear a lot on the radio and around town is that "illegals just need to apply for work visas the proper way".

Unfortunately if you are in this country illegally that automatically means you cannot apply for any kind of legal work visa or residency permit. If you enter illegally there is no process available to you to become legal. The last time I checked the law, if the INS found you to be in violation of the terms of your visa, or if you were found to be here illegally, you would be deported and barred from re-entering the country for 10 years.

OK, I'll get off my soap box now.

My friend Dave wrote a blog today about the wedding of one of his close friends, Scott. He says that Scott is a funny guy, and as evidence he shared Scott's comments on this whole immigration issue. It made me laugh:

"We need to get rid of all illegal aliens. Especially Alf. Man, that guy eats cats. Get him out of here. Once you're done with him, let's move on to Mork. Anyone who travels in an egg is no good."

Hah - Mork. Impressive cultural reference considering Scott's youth.

Calvin on Cults

In working on a paper I have been doing research in Calvin’s

Institutes of The Christian Religion

. The following quote really struck me. Specifically, I think he explains very clearly some of the reasons for the popularity of new age religions.

(As a side-note, this is the first time I have actually read something written by John Calvin himself, as opposed to commentary about Calvin, or theology based on Calvin, or books by contemporary folks who call themselves Calvinists. )

I am not unaware how much more plausible the view is, which invites us rather to ponder on our good qualities, than to contemplate what must overwhelm us with shame — our miserable destitution and ignominy. There is nothing more acceptable to the human mind than flattery, and, accordingly, when told that its endowments are of a high order, it is apt to be excessively credulous. Hence it is not strange that the greater part of mankind have erred so egregiously in this matter. Owing to the innate self-love by which all are blinded, we most willingly persuade ourselves that we do not possess a single quality which is deserving of hatred; and hence, independent of any countenance from without, general credit is given to the very foolish idea, that man is perfectly sufficient of himself for all the purposes of a good and happy life. If any are disposed to think more modestly, and concede somewhat to God, that they may not seem to arrogate every thing as their own, still, in making the division, they apportion matters so, that the chief ground of confidence and boasting always remains with themselves. Then, if a discourse is pronounced which flatters the pride spontaneously springing up in man’s inmost heart, nothing seems more delightful. Accordingly, in every age, he who is most forward in extolling the excellence of human nature, is received with the loudest applause. But be this heralding of human excellence what it may, by teaching man to rest in himself, it does nothing more than fascinate by its sweetness, and, at the same time, so delude as to drown in perdition all who assent to it. For what avails it to proceed in vain confidence, to deliberate, resolve, plan, and attempt what we deem pertinent to the purpose, and, at the very outset, prove deficient and destitute both of sound intelligence and true virtue, though we still confidently persist till we rush headlong on destruction? But this is the best that can happen to those who put confidence in their own powers. Whosoever, therefore, gives heed to those teachers, who merely employ us in contemplating our good qualities, so far from making progress in self knowledge, will be plunged into the most pernicious ignorance. (John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2.1.2)

Holy, Holy, Holy

Today it hit me what an important and serious task I have undertaken by attending seminary. I mean, I always knew that, but it just kind of struck me at a different level today. These are not just academic studies. This is not just about writing papers and taking quizzes. This is about Heaven and Hell. Salvation and Condemnation.

Over the weekend I read through 1 and 2 Samuel (for a paper), and reading such a big chunk of the Old Testament has reminded me how mighty and Holy God is. There is something to be said for fearing the Lord, and taking him and his work very seriously indeed. Yet, when was the last time I heard any preaching about that? Mostly I hear about all the things that God has done, is doing, and will do for us. I can’t remember the last time I heard someone preach about God’s holiness.

Immigration and law

A thought I had today, after hearing commentary on the radio and reading informal polls in online newspapers, is that a large number of people really do think that all illegals should be deported because they are a drain on our society, and that there should be stricter measures in place for craccking down on illegal immigration. Of course, I totally disagree with this point if view, and it really bugs me a lot.

I heard someone say this morning "This is simply a matter of law. At the core this is a legal issue only. They are here illegally. They must be sent home." And I thought, you know, for issues and problems that are distant from us, that don't affect us or impact us, it is so easy to call for strict enforcement of the law. When it's not our families, our lives being affected, it is simple to talk about deportation and imprisonment and fines. But when those issues strike closer to home, well, then we suddenly call for more grace and clemency.

So, I don't know where I am going with all this, but I thought that the commentary surrounding this issue seems to point to a Biblical understanding of human nature - we only want justice when it involves punishing other people. We never want justice when it involves punishing us.

Hence the importance of grace.