The Christmas Season

That most wonderful of times is upon us yet again: The Christmas Season. Yes, it's Christmas time. Time to light a fire in the fireplace, sip some cocoa, wrap presents, and listen to songs about murder and infidelity.

"Murder and infidelity! What?!?!" you may say.
"Yes. Our yuletide airwaves are full of them!" I'd reply.
"Shocking," you respond.
"Indeed," I say.

What are some of examples of these songs that distract from the true meaning of America's favorite virgin birth?

Murder: Grandma got run over by a reindeer. Note the horrified expression on grandma's face as she realizes her impending doom. Click for the video. Ok, so maybe it's not exactly murder, but due to the fact that "our friend" Saint Nick failed to report this traffic related fatality, it's at least vehicular manslaughter or negligent homicide. Hey Kris Kringle! I do say there's such a thing as Santa, and I think you deserve 25-life!

Infidelity: Murder wasn't enough for this jolly fellow, Santa Claus. No. He had to hit on your mom, too. Click here to hear the shocking tale. Maybe this bizarre event was the one that drove Michael to become the strange man we knew in his later life. I know I'd be permanently scarred from such a shocking series of events. Hey Santa! Stay away from my mom. Maybe seek marriage counseling along with Mrs. Claus. Poor lady, she probably didn't even know until she heard the song...

This post is dedicated to Grandma, Michael Jackson, and all those discerning souls who are searching for the true meaning of Christmas.

The Myth of Christian Positivity

One of my biggest pet-peeves is what I call "the myth of christian positivity". This myth essentially states that it is a Christian's job to be positive at all times, regardless of the circumstances.

"Certainly there aren't people who are really like that," you might say.
But yes, yes there are. And they have the most loving intentions.

You see, many of these people are simply trying to be like Christ.

"We're called to be encouragers!" they might say.

Yes. Yes we are.

But aren't we also called to be authentic? I think that the world sees things that are fake each and every day. And they're great at spotting these things.

You know what I think we need? Christians that are authentic. That are honest with themselves and the world around them. Christians who recognize that some situations have shades of gray. Individuals who will recognize that sometimes circumstances just suck.

Let's offer hope and peace, absolutely! But let us also be willing to recognize that not everything's o.k. Let's meet people where they're at in their suffering and sit with them for a while. No one's happy all the time. So let's not try to be. People almost universally value honesty. Let's build a relationship and talk with these people about a person named Jesus. A person who sometimes drank; a person who met people in their suffering and engaged them.

Let's be Jesus and engage with honesty and openness and most of all, love.

Don't get me wrong,

I love MVNU. I mean- I'm here, right? That says something. I believe in "Christian," as much as any institution can be Christian, education and I'm putting my money (and the money of the federal government in the form of loans) where my mouth is.

But Wednesday I went to a wonderful place called Kent State University to look into their graduate program. Can I just say that it was refreshing to see a place that really takes academics seriously? I am not saying that MVNU is a light-weight when it comes to academics, but do feel that I can honestly say that a rigorous academic program is not one of MVNU's strengths. I say this is for several reasons:

1. Entrance requirements: Not only do you only have to obtain a 19 on the ACT and carry a 2.5 high-school gpa, if you fall short of these requirements you can still be accepted! I've frequently heard the argument that as a Christian institution we want to be a "lighthouse" for students and allow those who "messed up" in high school to attend here. I don't have specific statistics for the retention rates of these students, but do feel that it is borderline cruel to admit a student who is unlikely to be able to complete the coursework we require at the level we require. Most first year classes are not difficult, yet every year I see a line of students waiting to appeal their academic dismissal because they did not keep their gpa up. Is it right to take these people's money?
2. The first problem is largely influenced by the fact that we are a Tuition Driven University. This means that a minimum number of students must attend MVNU each year for it to keep its doors open. Because of this factor we will accept almost anyone. Is this a bad thing from a spiritual perspective? Perhaps not. As mentioned in point 1, I feel it may be unethical. But this is certainly a negative from an academic aspect. We must become more financially autonomous (by increasing the size of our endowment, opening up the board to "outsiders" who may be representatives from foundations, community/state leaders, or even potential donors so that they will feel they have a stake in our university's success and perhaps gift/help solicit large donations) as a university before we will be able to raise our minimum requirements and shift focus.
3. Too few faculty: Another problem rooted in our school's financial situation is our small faculty. To give an example, currently there are at least 37 Sociology majors and 1 sociology faculty member. For me to graduate with a sociology major I will have to take several independent studies because Dr. Caddell simply cannot offer enough hours without another faculty member. Criminal justice is also understaffed. I know this because I am in the same department as them, but I'm sure this holds true for other departments. Our current faculty do a terrific job and should be commended. The majority of them are greatly sacrificing to teach at this university and I have been blessed to be the beneficiary of their ministries. But until we can offer many, new, and diverse perspectives we will be impaired at inculcating the universality of thoughts that the term "university" implies.

I am certain that there are more factors than these, but these are the big 3 that came to mind. I hope this post does not offend anyone. That is not its intent. Rather, I hope to encourage dialogue amongst the student body about these important issues. We are the ones who shape what this campus is at any given time. I talk about entrance requirements because I wish for more rich dialogue, debate, and discussion with peers here. I want to be at a place where the majority of the other students care about academics as much as I do. As Christians, I want us to be the very best in our respective future fields. The Bible says that to whom much is given much is required. We have been given wonderfully intricate brains that can learn, discuss, analyze, and remember. Let us engage them and sharpen one another.

Where?

Where is God in the midst of hectic schedules? In a life filled with reading, reading, meetings, more reading, and more meetings? In mandated chapel attendance, broken card scanners, press box burnings, and H1N1?

He's in an iced mocha from mcdonald's. He's in fake characters named Rick. He's in laundry that smells like Tide with a hint of lavender®. He's in health care debates and tort reforms and textbook revelations. He's in the occipital lobe and the cost of modernization. He's in distributional justice and fresh-cut grass.

He's all around. Do we notice him?

Summer Series: Entry 1

This begins what will be a series of questions that I have had and am currently discussing with a few friends. I'd love to have your feedback. I have some ideas of my own on these, but I'm genuinely interested in what you will have to add to the discussion. No real theme to these. Just honest questions of a 20 year old college student.

What role does/should the bible play in our lives?

How much authority should we give the bible?

Is the Bible fallible? How do you define fallibility?

Why are you a Christian?

Honesty

"I've been mad at you for a long time, ya know? It's been hard for me not to ask some really tough questions of you in the past 3 years. So many things have gone wrong. My best friend is gone. My parents are split up. My whole family kinda fell apart. There have been so many nights where I've just laid in my bed and tried to talk with you. But I haven't spoken with you- I've just spoken to you. I want to have a conversation, but I can't hear you."

"Things are still falling apart. I've called you so many times, but you don't answer. So I leave a message. But you haven't answered. I want to hear your voice, see your face, find you in this vast world, meet up with you somewhere- I'd go pretty much anywhere.

Is this a race that I just keep losing? Is this a test that I'm failing? If there's an expectation that I'm falling short of, I gotta tell ya, I'll never meet it. I know that I'm not enough, and I believe you want to be in a relationship with me, but I need to hear from you. I can't do this on my own anymore. I know that. iwanttohaveYouinmylife."

"I think you will find me. I just hope it's soon. Don't wait too long, ok? I need you."

Early morning
The city breaks
I've been callin'
For years and years and years and years
And you never left me no messages
Ya never send me no letters
You got some kinda nerve
Taking all my world

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Where were you? Where were you?
Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me
Why'd you have to wait?
To find me, to find me
-The Fray

Current

When you try your best but you don't succeed
When you get what you want but not what you need
When you feel so tired but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse.

And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?