On reading and books

In January 2008 I determined to do more reading.  It wasn’t exactly a resolution, although I suppose the idea was taken for that reason.  I just felt that as I reviewed the last few years, my former habit of reading had fallen off quite a bit, so I made a renewed effort to read again.  I also had to finally acknowledge the need for reading glasses.  It was funny how that happened.  I was sitting up in bed reading and my glasses slid down my nose by accident... and the letters leapt off the page!   Wow!  They were clear and big!  Then it dawns on me - this is the reading glasses phenomenon.  For a guy who has had glasses since I was two years old this was a surprise.  How did I get glasses in the first place you ask?  My Mother told the story like this:  As a toddler I would get hurt and when I went to look for Mom, crying, I would actually walk right into a wall or door post looking for her! 
But what a change all this reading has led to in my day to day thinking!  I completed at least 9 books in 2008, and have several others in process right now.  I have gotten in the habit of reading many different books at a time.  Right now I am reading numerous different books, from several different genres.  In addition to that I have read (not skimmed) numerous pamphlets and internet blogs. 

Ever ask how much or little we read today?  I did a quick Google search on this, “are we reading more or less today” and got more than 4 billion hits (in 2009 I got 34 million hits).   It’s a huge topic that even doctoral dissertations are being written on!  The ongoing debate is whether we are reading less, or whether we are simply moving our reading to the screen, which is harder to quantify. One of the main subjects was the difference in reading a paper object and reading the screen.  I have personally felt that I get more out of an internet blog that is physically printed, so when I see something of length written on the internet that I want to truly understand, I print it out.  Something about the words staying put on the page that’s soothing to the eye, I guess.  I have been reading with the Kindle app though and that seems easy enough.

Recently I have been cleaning out my office at work and part of that endeavor had me throwing away books.  Before you all start rumors that I might like a good old fashioned book burning! (Also, many of those [in Ephesus] who had practiced magic, brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted up the value of them, and it totaled fifty thousand pieces of silver; Acts 19:18-19) Let me allay your fears - I work as an Information Technology professional by trade.  Over the years I would buy technical books on the details of some now bygone computer system or language.  So I was throwing away about 30 books on the likes of UNIX system Administration, and NT Administration, etc.  As I was tossing them into the dumpster (a paper only dumpster - for all you who like to recycle) I recalled that I have done this numerous times over my 15 year career in IT.  I am not even sure I will ever buy another IT related book again.  Why bother!

Think about all the truly junk reading we do today…  Reading bills, junk mail and much of the internet posts, which have no more value than trivial pursuit.  Not everything is worthy of reading.  One thing I have noticed about serious reading… It’s hard work!  Letting a good writer direct you (and I am not that writer!) to his mind on a subject, takes concentration.  Much of today’s written word is written in such a way as to require little of the reader, except his imagination.  To read C.S Lewis or J. R. R. Tolkien, requires a lot of work, and sadly many are not interested in it.  (see http://www.amazon.com/Experiment-Criticism-Canto-C-Lewis/dp/0521422817 for a good read on this subject)

So what are you reading these days, and why?  Ask yourself why you read what you read.  Perhaps you don't read at all.  Why not?  Afraid to be challenged, or just lazy?  In Ecclesiastes 12:12b we read, "Of making many books there is no end, and much study is wearisome to the flesh."  Ought we to abandon the practice?  If what you are reading is valueless, perhaps.  But not all reading is without good purpose.  Without the written Word, where would we be?  We would not even really know about the love of God in Christ.  "And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written." (John 21:25) 

One might try to argue the point of using oral tradition - but we have all played 'telephone' as children and know that won't work.  How do we know what we read is true and worthy of our trust?  Look at the books of today... When someone writes something outrageous everyone challenges him about it.  Look up the reviews on "She said Yes" (http://www.amazon.com/She-Said-Yes-Unlikely-Martyrdom/dp/0874869870/ref=cm_rdp_product) for a modern example. 

Think about "The DaVinci Code" written by Dan Brown.  This book is a fiction piece and many have reviewed it, because it contains content of a historical nature which is not true to the actual history.  How do we know that?  Just as there are those today able to refute the errors in Bernall's book, the ideas Brown is espousing were refuted long ago by those living at the time (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inaccuracies_in_The_Da_Vinci_Code). 

As for me, I am reading.   I have read several books on Christian Theology, Politics, History, some historical fiction, and of course, the Bible.  I challenge you to open a few books this year.  They will change your mind, and challenge your thinking.  You might even grow from the experience!
 

On skinning my knee...

I am an avid runner - although I will admit that the wintertime tends to slow me down both in the activities and the poundage gained!  Nevertheless I do try to get out when the weather is nicer, and it was Tuesday.  So out I went.  I also like to get trimmed out for the summer - too much weight is just plain uncomfortable - for a guy who is not accustomed to it!  I also have signed up for the annual "Biggest loser" contest at work.  I have never once failed to walk away with less weight and some nice cash!  (I even took home a grand once!)  So I have a great motivation to run.  My son Benjamin loves to run also.  At least I have successfully passed on 1 good trait. 

In the beginning, 4 years ago, I was always slowing down for his sake.  Now-a-days I don't even keep up!  And so we were tearing it up on the humble streets of Woodstock when my shoelace said, "I have had enough!" and down I went, HARD!  Oomph!  I had been really pouring it on trying to catch him, and so when I went down, it was even a harder fall than it might have been.  I know how to roll into a fall, but sometimes there just isn't time.   There I was - embarrassed and bloody and mud covered.  Looking around - no one saw me - except that Ben heard me and came back.

Not being one to whine I started back running right away.  My rational is that I do not want to give time for self-pity to set in, and if there is an issue - I’ll know it right away.  Fortunately - everything else was ok.

Fortunately?

Was this really good that I skinned my knee?

Was it fortunate?  Should a Christian even use such a word?  I have been pondering that very issue recently.  Our culture frequently leans toward comments such as, Good Luck! Luckily...  With a little luck, etc.  I tend to cringe when I hear them, and yet to use the Biblical alternative, providentially seems archaic.   In a world that moves so fast it feels strange to think in those terms.  But is it?

What is Providence anyway?  I get Sovereignty.  God is in control - sovereign over the affairs of men.  But how that works out is what is so tricky to the mind.  We sometimes hear the old argument of Man's free will versus God's Sovereignty.  But think about anything versus God... Does that make any sense?  God easily wins.  In any battle of the mind or will, He, being the sovereign creator that He is, can easily bend the mind of a man toward His will.  So are we really free?  And does that really matter?

Let's put aside the free will argument and deal with whether it really matters.  I'd like to argue that it matters much, and as a Christian, is a major blessing!  God, being sovereign, can orchestrate events to any predetermined end.  And while some might not appreciate that statement - let me show you how it blesses.  Not only does His sovereignty give Him the authority to do what He wishes, it gives men the freedom to rest. Let me illustrate.

Just under two years ago, on a Saturday morning I received a call at a quarter to 5 in the morning.  It's never good to receive an early morning call, but I thought it was my alarm clock.  Nevertheless it was my brother-in-law Bobby telling me that my brother Scott was found by the police doing a wellness check.  He was long gone, and there was nothing to be done.  My brother of only 37 passed away due to (medically speaking) diabetes and complications to it.

This was all complicated by the various reports of the events of the last few weeks before Scott passed.  There was no electricity in his place.  His home phone was turned off (He had no cell).  There was no cable TV.  He had been shut off.  His driver license was out of date.  And his car plates were expired for two months.  He'd been out of work for about 6 months.  Unable to pay the bills, they were turned off.  Even the very week before he passed, when his kids were in town to visit their Dad (a blessing of epic proportions), he'd had TV and electricity.  Apparently two nights before he was found, he left work early because he wasn't feeling good, and went home. 

Of course the questions came flying through everyone’s mind.  Why?  Why didn't he go to the doctor that night?  Why did he not tell us things were getting so bad, couldn't one of us have helped him with the bills?  ...then maybe his phone would have been....     and we all begin to spin down, out of control, to unanswered questions, pain, anger, depressions, grief, and all that comes with it. (See http://mysoapbox2.blogspot.com/2012/04/they-left-us.html and http://allpoetry.com/poem/7362038-Spinning_down-by-dlcox2)

Sorry - that was hard.  But consider how that scenario changes when we look through the lens of Gods’ Sovereign, Providential hand.  Instead of crashing into our presuppositional rational that men have freedom (and thereby responsibility) we can lean upon our God's wise and sovereign care.  And He does care.  Our problem is that our self-centeredness keeps the focus off base.

Gods Providence is such that He will get the most glory from all that occurs, period.  Not that we will live grief free, or pain free lives.  When we look at the world rightly, what a light He sheds on our way.

So how did God get the glory for my painful skinned knee?  This blog post - perhaps...

To endorse or not....

Dr. Voddie Baucham endorses Ron Paul - Here's why:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.gracefamilybaptist.net%2Fvoddie-baucham-ministries%2Fblog%2Fwhy-ron-paul-2012-01%2F&h=NAQFFjh90AQHHm4z89TyfWO1W7w8ARuH6Bd865lwCRjzaWQ
And who is Dr. Voddie Baucham? Watch this to see: http://youtu.be/​EPNraxxxRO8 (or read the transcript: http://playpdf.sa-media.com/media/530914253/530914253.pdf

A real case can be made as to why Christian leaders should or shouldn’t endorse individuals running for political office.  And while I respect the view which says they should not because it can detract from the message of the gospel, I think otherwise in certain cases.  If the ministry is large and the leader is highly visible great caution should be taken on political endorsements.  Why?  Because it diffuses the message of the gospel?  It need not.  Rather I think those in highly visible ministries ought to refrain if the endorsement is not clearly explained and if it’s not in line with the ministry.   Actually, we should never put our endorsement on any man, in the sense of trusting in this one’s ability and leadership.  Our hope is not in men.  Our hope is in the Lord. 

Yet we do live in this world, and men are called into positions of power and authority.  So we ought to be free to examine them publically and call them out or praise them accordingly.  We just need to make the praise in accord with the Father. 

Let me illustrate.  Let’s say for examples sake we have a state governor who has righted some egregious wrong that the state has had to deal with for many years.  Look at Governor Walker of Wisconsin.  I happen to believe that his drive to get rid of collective bargaining for benefits for government workers was exemplary.  How should I say so without touching the man himself?  As a Christian I do not want the appearance of worshipping or praising any man because my praise should always be to the Father and secondarily because men will always let me down.  (I have a confession to make here.  I have not always been so careful in this area, but I am learning.  Facebook is a place where we can make a case for support for someone but because of its nature, it is not always the best place to do so.)

I can direct my enthusiasm for Governor Walkers work like this, “I praise God for using Governor Walker as he led the state of Wisconsin to a more equitable accounting of the state funds.”  By saying it this way, I am directing the praise to God while displaying the instrument in a more neutral light.  I also show my respect for a Scriptural view of equity by doing so.  Governor Walker may be a good governor, or even a great governor.  However, to say that he himself is worthy of praise crosses the line.  Only One is worthy.  Worthy is the Lamb to be praised. 

So what about Ron Paul?  Dr. Baucham has issued a statement of support for the man.  Was he directing worship to him?  No.   Read it.  Dr. Baucham is as precise as one can get.  He lays out his case point by point logically.  And Dr. Baucham is VERY compelling in his argumentation.  Here is the outline of his case:

I.             Ron Paul is a Christian Conservative
II.            Ron Paul is a Constitutional Conservative
                                a) Constitutional Money
                                b) Constitutional War
                                c) Constitutional States' Rights
                                d) Constitutional Foreign Policy
                                                 -Dealings with Israel
III.           Ron Paul is a Consistent Conservative

I happen to agree with Dr. Baucham on Dr. Paul.  Let me now present some additional thoughts.  On the issue of states’ rights, consider this.  We teach our kids all about the ways the government is SUPPOSED to work, yet all the while, it really doesn't work that way. So we teach hypocrisy in the name of expediency.  Because there are so many other UNPRINCIPLED men in office, many have caved in to the idea that the system must be circumvented in order to get any justice.

Dr. Paul is so principled his oath ACTUALLY MEANS something to him.  This will at times put a man at odds with his own values.  One of the reasons that Scripture cautions against oath taking is for this reason. (James 5:12 - Matthew 5:34-37)  We are to keep the oaths we take because, as Christians, we represent the Holy Lord.  Yet because of sin we have no integrity.  Nevertheless, we face a dilemma in that we do take oaths.  Oaths taken by godless men have no value.  Those taken by Christians ought to have ultimate value. 

Government can be national or statewide, depending upon the way a nation is formed and established. There can be merit to a national set of standards. But this is not the point. The issue is that we already live in a nation which DOES NOT FOLLOW it's clearly established constitution, turning every rule on its head. The founders intended the states to establish these rules. They EXPECTED each state to have differences in many of these issues. The states each individually ratified the constitution, so the people agreed. If you want a national change, it ought to be that the people and the states all agree and we go through an amendment procedure.

Instead we have a nation that for over 100 years has not followed the rule of law repeatedly. Look up whether the 16th amendment was legally ratified (http://​www.givemeliberty.org/​features/taxes/​notratified.htm).  Benjamin Franklin, at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, when queried as he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation, “Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?” Dr. Franklin responded, “A Republic, if you can keep it.” (From the notes of Dr. James McHenry, one of Maryland’s delegates to the Convention.)  I fear that without the changes Ron Paul is advocating, we have lost it.

A nation which touts a rule of law yet does not follow it is no better than any other godless Socialist nation. Are we a better nation? Yes. We are still the best and most just nation on the planet, but we aren't lily white either. We have grave failings which have gone unchecked for too long.  We need a leader who is as principled as the founders intended. We need Ron Paul.

(Another article to consider is here: http://online.worldmag.com/2012/01/18/christians-and-ron-paul-a-counterpoint/)

Boxes of time

The other day I was reviewing the contents of some hard disks I saw in the basement, and ended up reminiscing quite a bit.  Many files I had thought were lost to time were still preserved.  As I read through old school papers, some from as far back as 24 years ago, and mused at jpegs that record another world, I was drawn into that world.

Fascinating how we live in this world.  At any given time we can think we are making the best choices, saying the most right thing… yet later we can see how short sighted we have been.  One thing which was encouraging was that although I saw many changes, I also saw some things that never seem to change.  It seems that though I thought I was constantly changing in my ways, I really wasn’t.  Fundamentally I was the same guy, though a bit more patient with people and a bit more tolerant of others faults.  What does this mean?

I am both glad to see this and also not so glad.  Obviously I could become very discouraged if I saw dramatic changes in the beliefs I once held.  If I thought I was becoming less principled and more liberal at a base level – it might even be devastating.  And I say this because looking back can show very dramatically how much I DID change.  The question I need to be asking is whether those changes were fundamental to who I am – and if so, were they for the better.  All men change.  The Scripture is plain about that matter.  Yet to change fundamentally is a compromise no one wants to see – unless such a change was for the better.  The fact that men can change is a huge blessing. 

Many years ago one of my cousins wanted to show me something he was obviously very proud of.  He pulled out an old driver’s license from 20 years ago and put it side by side with his current one.  I was searching to see what was the point when he told me that he was the same. (‘cept for the grey…!)

Consider how our God is.  The Scripture plainly states that God does not change. Jesus Christ, the same yesterday, today and forever (Hebrews 13:8).  God is not a man, that he should change (Numbers 23:19).  For God, NOT to change is an essential.  God is by definition perfect.  To change for him would be an abdication of who he is, yet for a man to remain obtuse and not be willing to change over time is akin to Egomania.  It would be the essence of hubris.  To have the humility to see his shortcoming’s and change is a huge blessing.  We all like sheep have gone astray (Isaiah 53:6).  Because of sin, we all NEED to change.  Unfortunately apart from God all our efforts at change will always be insufficient. 

So I was encouraged at the changes I saw in me, as well as that I am essentially still the same guy.  Speaking of which, I was at McDonalds last Wednesday picking up some coffee and other breakfast.  I noticed the price was a bit cheaper but chalked it up to taxes (I was in Wisconsin).  I stuffed the receipt in my pocket and took my food and went to work.  That evening as I looked at the receipt, this is what I read:

SNR COFFEE         .79
SNR DECAF          .79
McSkillet Burrito 2.70

Huh? I got the SENIOR rate??!!  I only just turned 46?!  Yikes!!!  Time has apparently changed me in another way I see….  Well, at least I saved 42 cents!

Dave

Learning to ride a bike...

                In June of 2003 I watched as my daughter Christina, not yet 5 years old at the time, learned to ride a bike, or as the kids used to say, a “two-wheeler”.  It was quite an exhilarating experience for all of us!  To start off I need to mention that she had had a bike for over 18 months, and would ride up and down the gangway for practice.  She had really been putting on the speed and it was becoming obvious changes were near.  On Saturday, only an hour before Grandpa was to leave for Colorado, we took the children to the alley for a little more biking freedom.  Grandpa mentioned that the training wheels hardly touched the ground as she sped past one time.  I knew then it was time.  I called Christy over and removed the training wheels.  She was so excited, until she approached the new two-wheeler.  “Daddy, hold on to me close and don’t let go!” my little angel commanded me. 

                We slowly started out wobbling first to one side and then to the other.  I thought to myself, “I wish she could be more confident.  I know she can do this.”  I began instructing her, “Christy, you have to pedal or you won’t balance.”  Grandpa told her, “Christy you need to go a little faster”.  Meandering back and forth in the alley, with the sun beating down on me, I started to sweat.  We kept encouraging her to move a little faster.  “Christy, you went 5 feet all by yourself!”  I encouraged.  As we turned around and positioned the bike in the center for another run I gave her a gentle starting push and she surprised us by taking off like a bullet.  She was easily ten feet away from me before I had a chance to catch up.  Then she went down. Just as I caught up to her she went sprawling down.  Fortunately she had only a scratch on her right palm.  I spent the next 5 minutes comforting her.  I suppose some would say we need to stop, but I like to try again.  I felt like if we quit now, the fall would become bigger in her mind, so I pressed her to try again.  Though she was clearly unhappy with my plan she went along with it as long as I stayed really close. 

                This time she seemed to take more care as she accelerated, not wanting to leave her Daddy in the dust!  As she saw I kept up, she went faster.  I had to give a corrective nudge right or left as we went along but she was doing pretty well.  Now she clearly became more confident.  Christy decided quite suddenly it was time to stop and said so.  But instead of my slowing her down as I expected, she slammed on the brakes proving their effectiveness beyond doubt!  I went careening over, but was able to halt without running her over.  She didn’t even know what had happened! 

                I write all this to share something. As I was busy running my legs off in the alley, a thought occurred that I wanted to share with you.  I have often thought the parent child relationship is analogous to our relationship with God.  In a very real sense that is true.  Which of us hasn’t asked God in a commanding manner, “Hold on to me close and don’t let go!”  We all long for the protection God affords; yet we want it and more on our conditions. 

                One of the most reassuring attributes of our God is his immutability - the inability for Him to change in any aspect.  For God to change would be for Him to admit that He is not perfect in all His ways and being, and then would, by definition, not be God (Deuteronomy 32:4).  Consider the ramifications of this, when we look at His choosing, before the foundation of the world who are His children (Ephesians 1:4).  Oh, how often we doubt salvation because it appears to be in our hands!  Once we realize that His choice of each one of us is a surety, we could never doubt, since it is tied to his immutable character.  If God chose you, he WILL not let go! (John 10:27-29)

                Also think of the confident light step we have when we are in vital union with our Lord.  I feel like I’m walking on clouds when I’m in close fellowship with Him. "When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word, what a glory he sheds on our way."  But just as my daughter can become over confident and take off like a bullet away from Daddy, so we leave His path on our own way toward sudden destruction.  (Isaiah 53:6)

                The beauty of this analogy is that it breaks down.  Although there are many similarities in the parent-child relationship, one of them is not true.  As parents, we all fail along the way.  Our best is sometimes only mediocre and our worst…well we don’t want to think about that.  God never fails along the way.  As we may trip up and find ourselves sprawled along life’s highway, it is never because God has failed (remember Deuteronomy 32:4 above), and quite frequently due to our willful choice to take a path which is clearly not His path for us.

                Fortunately, we can ask Him for forgiveness and renewed direction and know He will answer in our favor.(1 John 1:8-9)  Our children can be God’s instruments to teach us His plan. Let’s all thank God for the angels in our lives, our children, and the reminder they can be to our very most important relationship, that of the Lord!

Can’t force things out

It’s kind of hard to push on the writer and make good written material come out.  I know this, and yet I also know that having a deadline is a good sort of motivator.  In a job it can be an absolute necessity.  I recall us setting a deadline numerous times for a new computer system, but until I began publishing it – daily - no one took it seriously.  Once the sign went up,

89 days ‘til Go-live

Even the boss was more insistent! And we made the deadline.  Was it messy?  YES.  Was it necessary?  ABSOLUTELY! 

But what about blogging?  Should I begin to push a periodic deadline?  And what of the content if I do?  Will it be messy? I really hope not.  Writing can be treated in a pragmatic sort of way - as a tool, or it can be used to promote some opinion or other (which is one of the great forces of the world) as a work of art. 

I prefer that my blogging be a form of art.  The beauty of its style promoting whatever the subject matter is by virtue of its beauty.

So I do seem to have found myself in a struggle, but a good sort of one.  My hope is that as I balance family, work, church, and blogging - I will find the right rhythm and not force things out prematurely. 

Since I am thinking of it, a very excellent work on the subject of good writing is the short treatise by Clive Lewis called, “An Experiment in Criticism” (http://www.amazon.com/Experiment-Criticism-Canto-C-Lewis/dp/0521422817) Only about 120 pages – but VERY well written and perhaps, in light of my present dilemma, I will read it again…

A blog without an audience?

Am I a writer? Yes, but... If I have no audience, does it really make sense to write? And what do I write about? I guess that is the question.

A blog without an audience is like the old quip, if a tree falls in the woods, and no one is around to hear it does it make a sound?  But the answer to that is that even if no one hears it, it did fall.  And my hope is that just as someone someday walking in the woods will see the fallen tree, perhaps these comments will be read in the future, and if by no one else, perhaps my family – my children will benefit.

What might the topics be?  Lately I can see myself writing a lot about Ron Paul, politics, my Christian Faith, Facebook debates, the economy, the Church, my family, devotionals, and even a bit of poetry (my current poems are found here: http://allpoetry.com/dlcox2) – I suppose that’s the point of the name of the blog – anything I want to pontificate about to anyone willing to hear.  This could be a way to exercise my free speech rights, although I wonder if I should fully exercise them, or if by doing so might jeopardize myself or my family in the future… should those rights be taken…
So I hope, that I will be consistent in my habit to write regularly, and that I will be humble enough toward all, since though I do write with conviction, I fully expect some to disagree with me, and that on occasion I may be persuaded that I am wrong – or should be – after all, who is so proud he can never learn from another…

I do not plan to reveal this blog publically until I have proven to myself I am consistent to posting and that there is at least a bit of content for people to review, perhaps early spring I will list it on FB and elsewhere.  If someone does pass by and hears the tree falling before then, simply follow me if you like, but I would ask you not to advertise, just yet.  You can also look at my FB page for more material on who I am here: https://www.facebook.com/#!/DLCox2

Have a blessed day!

Dave