So it’s Valentine’s Day again, and while I would like to say I go all out on Valentine’s Day, I usually do not. Not only that, but I am also not a gift buyer for this day, and much of it specifically has to do with how commercialized every single possible holiday day has become. There is no man alive in this country that has an excuse for forgetting this holiday, or any holiday, at this point, we have been bombarded since New Year’s that this day was coming. I hate force buying something that isn’t really asked for in the first place, and is usually something over-manufactured for cheap pennies overseas (made in China).
So if you take away the commercialization of Valentine’s Day, where did the day come from and why do we celebrate it? As is now standard in our post-mondern society, we have taken a day once commemorating a specific day on the Christian calendar and turned it into cheap plastic toys for lack of a better phrase.
Started in A.D. 496 by Pope Gelasius I (and then later deleted from the Roman calendar of saints in 1969 by Pope Paul VI), it was originally placed on the calendar on February 14th to “celebrate” the martyrdom of Saint Valentine (or Valentinus in Latin) the Patron of Love, which was actually around 14 different martyrs, not one specific person or saint. The total number of martyred saints is not completely known, and the reasons for their deaths range as well. First written about in Nuremberg, Saint Valentine supposedly was caught marrying Christian couples who were being persecuted by under Emperor Claudius in Rome (which was a crime). He was then imprisoned, where he also gained almost 50 converts to Christianity before he was executed.
So there you have it. Nothing to do with a box of chocolates, stuffed animals from Walmart, or pajamas from TV mail order.
Some may call it cheap, but I will make a public “Happy Valentine’s Day” wish to the true love of my life, Deborah. I hope I can live out the remainder of our days together as the husband you expect me to be, always ready to show you the love you deserve. Even though I didn’t buy you a box of chocolates today, I still love you very much.
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This is a followup post to The Pop-Culture Glenn Beck Theology article I published earlier in the week. I came across this poem earlier in the week by Paul Laurence Dunbar called “Theology”, and it struck me on multiple levels; it was hilarious and sad.
Paul Laurence Dunbar published his first book of poetry in 1893, a time late in the Victorian Period where poetry was not at its best and brightest period. Many of his poems were lighthearted and humorous, probably what drew me to this one.
a Poem by Paul Laurence Dunbar: Theology
There is a heaven, for ever, day by day,
The upward longing of my soul doth tell me so.
There is a hell, I’m quite as sure; for pray,
If there were not, where would my neighbours go?
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Do we recognize how much we need God’s love in our life, or put a different way, how much do we desire that love that only God can fulfill? Our lives are so busy, we tend to just push away this desire or we may not even think about it at all. But even when we do contemplate God’s love, we can only express it in terms that a limited human mind can do (like below), in terms of things that are familiar, but it’s so much more than that.
I came across a familiar poem today that expressed, in worldly terms, how much one can desire the love of another, and it reminded me more of whether we desire God at least like this, or is it only this powerfully expressed for the things of this world? If we can express worldly love “like the hot needs the sun, like honey on her tongue, like oxygen, I need your love”, how much greater is the love God has for us? Without the desire for God’s love, and for His Glory, we are just about in the same shape as my widow pictured above, broken.
I have gone over the words below about twenty times now, it’s pretty powerful (even more when put to music), but how much more should we desire God’s love… probably more than we need to take our next breath.
I Need Your Love
Like a desert needs rain
Like a town needs a name
I need your love
Like a drifter needs a room
Hawkmoon
I need your loveLike a rhythm unbroken
Like drums in the night
Like sweet soul music
Like sunlight
I need your loveLike coming home
And you don’t know where you’ve been
Like black coffee
Like nicotine
I need your love (I need your love)When the night has no end
And the day yet to begin
As the room spins around
I need your loveLike a Phoenix rising needs a holy tree
Like the sweet revenge of a bitter enemy
I need your loveLike the hot needs the sun
Like honey on her tongue
Like the muzzle of a gun
Like oxygen
I need your love (I need your love)When the night has no end
And the day yet to begin
As the room spins around
I need your loveLike thunder needs rain
Like a preacher needs pain
Like tongues of flame
Like a sheet stained
I need your loveLike a needle needs a vein
Like someone to blame
Like a thought unchained
Like a runaway train
I need your loveLike faith needs a doubt
Like a freeway out
I need your loveLike powder needs a spark
Like lies need the dark
I need your loveI need all the love in your heart… and I need all the love in your heart…
~ Hawkmoon 269, U2
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I finally got back into the reading swing a few months ago and first on my list was a book that had been on my list for a long time, The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards. This book, even after having finished a complete reading, is so monumental that it would require several more readings, at a much slower pace, to even begin to comprehend it’s value. First published in 1746, written around the time of the Great Awakening when “affections” were running wild (many people would have a dramatic “religious awakenings” with loud wailing and moaning but not a true change of heart), this book must have been seen by the people of North Hampton at the time as quite a controversial book. Today, The Religious Affections has the honor to be listed among the classics delivered by some of the greatest theologians, but if read in context of today’s culture, and viewed as being directly applicable today, it might be seen as even more controversial today than it did in the late 18th century.
Still, it’s truths are so relevant, it’s pious statements so profound, it tends to show how far we have come (or how far we have slid) from the “religion” of the Great Awakening. Where Edwards was once trying to discern true affections from Pharisaical outcries, we the church in the 21st century are similar to the 18th century church of North Hampton in some respects. We have and show almost no true affection in worship to God, a breaking of the will by the heart, for a God who deserves the utmost adoration for every breath we take, and yet we posses more entertainment emotion (for lack of a better phrase) than any generation in previous history.
As the book opens, Edwards puts forth nine evidences that true religion lies much in the heart of the affections. In seminary (of all places) it has often been said to me that a mature Christian needs both the head and the heart, both knowledge and true affections towards God. If you are in the camp that uses “knowledge puffs up but love edifies” (1 Corinthians 8:1) to excuse yourself from study you are missing half of what Paul is saying, and the same is true to those who only seek after knowledge. Any surface reading of scripture clearly shows that God insists on both, and Edwards certainly agrees. ”He that has doctrinal knowledge and speculation only, without affection, never is engaged in the business of religion.” [1]
In these nine evidences Edwards lays out his thesis and speaks directly to the church of the 21st century.
That religion which God requires, and will accept, does not consist in weak, dull, and lifeless wishes, raising us but a little above a state of indifference: God, in His word, greatly insists upon it, that we be in good earnest, “fervent in spirit,” and our hearts vigorously engaged in religion (Romans 12:11) and to “Be ye fervent in spirit, serving the Lord… serving the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and will all thy soul?” (Deuteronomy 10:12).
While we certainly can claim we don’t have dull and lifeless worship services (in fact we can claim the opposite since our worship “production” can rival that of the Discovery Channel at this point), we can still have a lifeless and dull heart. Paul in Romans 12 isn’t saying the dB rating of the worship should be vigorous, he is saying that “our hearts [should be] vigorously engaged” in worship. John takes it one step farther when talking about the church in Laodicea saying that Christ utterly detests a lukewarm church (Revelation 3:16).
I would highly recommend The Religious Affections by Jonathan Edwards to anyone who might be interested. It certainly was a challenging read, it wasn’t the most straight forward easy to read pop-Christian publication that tends to make the rounds today, but I wouldn’t expect it to be either. Books that we fully understand from a quick initial read probably don’t further our understanding in the subject at hand and Affections is one of those pieces of literature that could be read over and over again.
[1] Jonathan Edwards, The Religious Affections, (Carlisle, CA: The Banner of Truth Trust, Versa Press, Inc., 1986), 30, 27.
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It’s is hard to believe but today, 17 years ago, my wife and I got married. This particular anniversary was a little different since Deborah would normally be sitting in the next room on a normal day, and this week she is in Denver teaching a hand quilting class, and it just happen to fall on our anniversary. So, Happy Anniversary Deborah. I think this is actually the first time in 17 years that we actually haven’t been together on June 11th.
The time has just flown by, yet I can almost remember every day. Anyone who says marriage is easy is crazy (or isn’t married) but I wouldn’t trade it for anything with you Deborah. Sorry we couldn’t be together today, so in place of getting to go out somewhere nice tonight, I, of course decided to make a video for you of little bits of our 17 years together.
Really really hard to believe it has been 17 years. Can’t wait to see what 17 more years has in store for us (which would be the year 2027, yikes).
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I found this poem this morning and thought I would share it. Even though I haven’t posted to my blog in a while I still enjoy the world of blogging and everything that goes a long with it. The first few months of 2010 have been challenging, but it’s nice to finally see some warmer weather arriving down here. Spring is such a great time of renewal.
A Father’s Love Letter to His Child
My Child,
You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
(Psalm 139:1)I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
(Psalm 139:2)I am familiar with all your ways.
(Psalm 139:3)Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
(Matthew 10:29-31)For you were made in my image.
(Genesis 1:27)In me you live and move and have your being.
(Acts 17:28)For you are my offspring.
(Acts 17:28)I knew you even before you were conceived.
(Jeremiah 1:4-5)I chose you when I planned creation.
(Ephesians 1:11-12)You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
(Psalm 139:15-16)I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
(Acts 17:26)You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
(Psalm 139:14)I knit you together in your mother’s womb.
(Psalm 139:13)And brought you forth on the day you were born.
(Psalm 71:6)I have been misrepresented
by those who don’t know me.
(John 8:41-44)I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
(1 John 4:16)And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
(1 John 3:1)Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
(1 John 3:1)I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
(Matthew 7:11)For I am the perfect father.
(Matthew 5:48)Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
(James 1:17)For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
(Matthew 6:31-33)My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
(Jeremiah 29:11)Because I love you with an everlasting love.
(Jeremiah 31:3)My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
(Psalms 139:17-18)And I rejoice over you with singing.
(Zephaniah 3:17)I will never stop doing good to you.
(Jeremiah 32:40)For you are my treasured possession.
(Exodus 19:5)I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
(Jeremiah 32:41)And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
(Jeremiah 33:3)If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
(Deuteronomy 4:29)Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
(Psalm 37:4)For it is I who gave you those desires.
(Philippians 2:13)I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
(Ephesians 3:20)For I am your greatest encourager.
(2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4)When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
(Psalm 34:18)As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
(Isaiah 40:11)One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
(Revelation 21:3-4)And I’ll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
(Revelation 21:3-4)I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
(John 17:23)For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
(John 17:26)He is the exact representation of my being.
(Hebrews 1:3)He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
(Romans 8:31)And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
(2 Corinthians 5:18-19)His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
(1 John 4:10)I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
(Romans 8:31-32)If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
(1 John 2:23)And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
(Romans 8:38-39)Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
(Luke 15:7)I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
(Ephesians 3:14-15)My question is…
Will you be my child?
(John 1:12-13)I am waiting for you.
(Luke 15:11-32)Love, Your Dad
Almighty God
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So I guess I am probably the last person in the world to read Donald Miller’s Blue Like Jazz but I did finally get a chance to read it this week. My summer semester at Liberty finally ended this week (and the fall semester doesn’t start for a week) and I have had a few days to pick up some, non-threatening read because-you-want-to, books, and the first one was Blue Like Jazz. This book was published back in 2003 and reminded me a little of Churched by Matthew Paul Turner [jesusneedsnewpr] (which I forgot to review but should soon), and even slightly Roose’s Unlikely Disciple (also unreviewed yet), in the fact that it was autobiographical in nature.
Miller takes a self deprecating approach to his life as a Christian and, although he is not a theologian, he is as real and genuine as it gets. He takes the philosophies of growing up as a modern evangelical, that which many of us in the southern bible belt are all too familiar with, and turns it on its head. Miller shows us that there really are orthodox believers, [that is: those who want to hold fast to the teachings of Jesus regardless of denominational affiliations (even those of grace and love)], that live outside of the belt that runs from Texas to Alabama to South Carolina. [We really do know that Christians exist outside of the belt but sometimes we think we are the important ones (especially if you are in the buckle part of the belt) since we hold up the faith's pants.]
Jesus Was Not a Democrat or a Republican
Who knew. One of the best reminders I took away from Blue Like Jazz is that Jesus was not a Democrat or a Republican (or a liberal or conservative for that matter). If we truly want to follow Jesus’ teachings, we have to follow Him fully, not necessarily some party affiliation. It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have opinions one way or the other, but if we seriously look at what scripture says, there are certainly issues that go against (and for) both party affiliations. Jesus taught unconditional love, something that seems almost impossible for us evangelicals to actually live out, every day.
After the first few chapters I almost put the book down thinking Miller was going to just spew a political agenda, but that was really the point. Jesus didn’t have a political agenda during His earthly ministry, he was interested in our salvation, not our politics. I connected with Miller because his background growing up was similar to mine, but that’s where it ended, and it was very refreshing to read a totally and completely different perspective on what it means to be a Christian, not just an evangelical.
Notables in the Text
I try never to read a book any more without a pen handy to underline and take notes with. This book wasn’t a huge notation text but there were several things that caught my attention. One was the story Miller told about buying an extension cord at The Home Depot in the money section. That story was worth buying the book right there. Others that caught my eye were:
- many of the students hated the very idea of God, and yet they cared about people more than I did
- [Jesus] didn’t show partiality, which every human does… and neither should we
- the tricky thing about life, really, [is] that the things we want most will kill us
- the undercurrent running through culture is not giving people value based upon what they believe and what they are doing to aid society… [it] is deciding their value based upon whether or not they are cool
- what I believe is not what I say I believe; what I believe is what I do
- no drug is so powerful as the drug of self-[addiction]
There were many more but that is a good start. Blue Like Jazz is certainly well worth the time, and if you grew up in the southern bible belt surrounded by the evangelical machine it is a must read. I am now looking forward to reading some of Miller’s other books as well. Next up is Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson, but this one will be read on the beaches of North Carolina (yeah), so it might take a little longer to finish.
