like a fire

Yup, this Christmas Eve for me is a nightmare (BTW, I love the movie that this is a reference to). This morning Cathy, who never checks the mail, decides to check the mail and I got a letter from a prospective church that was letting me know that they were looking elsewhere. That took the wind out of my sails. I was really looking for that one to pan out and there is nothing else on the horizon. Then we go to church this morning only to find out that there is no childcare for Jane and it is unreasonable for her to sit through the whole service. The usual worship leader is away and the sermon was to be delivered by the youth pastor, who is developing his preaching style. Later, we try to redeem the fact that we live in Florida and it is 80 degrees outside by going to the Gaylord Palms Ice show. We drop $50 for tickets plus $10 for parking and even more for tolls for a very cool but very short exhibit of ice sculptures. Seriously, it took longer to wait in line that it took to go through the exhibit.

This year, especially the past six months, has been hard on me. I am now forced to look for a job in the secular market in hopes that I will find a church call. Having said that, I am pretty OK.

I think this year I am able to focus more on the birth of Christ and what that means to me. I won’t have some of the warm and fuzzy feelings I have had in the past, but I will know that I am God’s servant and that I am loved by him. Though my life is sometimes nightmarish, my faith is being used to work through this time. I was talking to Cathy about how it is only in times of crisis that we even have to use faith. I feel like my faith is really being exercised. The redemption of this nightmare is pending, but I know that it is coming.

As bad as it feels right now, I think this might be my best Christmas.

So I was watching a Christmas classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer the other night with my girls ad was shocked. I guess the last time I watched it I was probably five or six and didn’t get the significance of what was being said. This is truly awful kids programming.

Santa is just a modernistic (in the worst use of the word), pushy, legalistic, jerk. There is one line where the elves are singing for Santa and he listens to them. Afterward, in the course of about three seconds, he says, “Well, it needs work. I gotta go.” and slams the door behind him.

Rudolph’s parents are also driven to shame Rudolph into conforming by making him wear a fake nose. Santa then shames them further. What made anyone think this was a good idea? All the authority figures are as degrading as possible.

Even worse, Rudolph is understandably bitter towards the world and expects everyone he meets to hate him and abuse him. This is a counselor’s nightmare Christmas.

After saying all this, it was the highest ranking series special of this medium. How gives these rankings I wonder? Rankin, Bass and special adapter Romeo Muller should seriously reconsider their skills in writing.

The only thing I can see in this movie is a place for it in the garbage can. It was funny in a sick sort of way to point out all the emotional un-health, but it is so painful that I soon lost interest even in that.

I was reading something today and was really put into a new thought about faith and answers. Here is a quote from Richard Rohr:

“any religious folks insist on answers that are always true. We love closure, resolution and clarity, while thinking that we are people of “faith”! How strange that the very word “faith” has come to mean its exact opposite.

People who have really met the Holy are always humble. It’s the people who don’t know who usually pretend that they do. People who’ve had any genuine spiritual experience always know they don’t know. They are utterly humbled before mystery. They are in awe before the abyss of it all, in wonder at eternity and depth, and a Love, which is incomprehensible to the mind. It is a litmus test for authentic God experience, and is — quite sadly — absent from much of our religious conversation today.”

Wow! What does that say about all the arguments about absolute truth? I don’t really think that everyone who insists on knowing things absolutely is arrogant, but I have met a lot of people who seem to put their faith in their absolute knowledge more than our creator.

ht: God’s Politics

I just picked up on an article written by Steve Argue over at The Journal of Student Ministries. Apparently there is some disagreement with the article and I was surprised when I read it.

According to Argue’s perspective, it is time that we stopped using military language and imagery in our youth ministries, especially when speaking to people who are not a part of the kingdom. The current state of war and the militant attitude of certain organizations no doubt make war imagery a hot topic. I wonder how directed this message is to them.

I think that if there is a kingdom, then there is a king, and that kingdom must be defended. I also think that Ephesians 6 is very clear (at least to some) about the fact that we are at war and how we should fight it. Unlike some people who treat others as the enemy, I think we should know our enemy and his tools to take over our kingdom. I talk more about that here.

It was a good article and well written. I’m glad it sparked so much thought. Please check it out if you have some time.

I posted not long ago about a portable studio and what was recommended for it. I was intrigued by how easy it is and also how affordable. So here is my budget portable studio recommendation.

MacBook - $1299
Toneport KB37 - $299
MXL 990 991 Mic Package - $99

That’s it. Throw in $50 for cabling and you have a pretty decent studio. All for about $1700 or much less if you already have a decent computer. This has a much better quality mic than I grew up recording at home with (SM58)  and a good interface with very good modeling for mics, guitars and bass.

One thing that needs to be said about home studios. I used to be an audio engineer (I have a degree in commercial music) and I have friends who are still working in studios. Most people think that if they buy this gear then they can make good recordings, and while it is much easier than it has ever been, there is a reason that people make a living doing it. It takes a lot of work and training to get a pro sound. Many people don’t even recognize the work that goes into a professional album. So having said that, go for it and learn well.