The Polygamy Question

Recent court cases in Utah as well as the "slippery-slope" argument many Christians make based on current mostly-secular attempts to re-define marriage (e.g. "same-sex" or "gay" marriage) made me think about polygamy.  No, it didn't cause me to consider polygamy for myself...but it caused me to think about the history of the institution and whether it might be employed or accepted again in the church as well as outside of the church.  For the record, I am NOT an advocate of polygamy nor do I believe the Bible approves in it in the same way it does man+woman marriage.  However, I think there are several issues that we need to be aware of - especially Christians who either will lump polygamy in the same Biblical category as same-sex marriage or who will caution that it (polygamy) is just the next step in the slippery slope down from acceptance of same-sex marriage.  Below you will some thoughts of mine, lifted and edited from (as usual) some Facebook comments I made to a post. 

One would expect that the Scripture would have a stronger condemnation against heterosexual polygamy - akin to the indisputable and obvious condemnation (death sentence for example) it offers against homosexual activity.  Since a marriage implies sexual activity, it stands to reason that a homosexual "marriage" would be equally condemned by God even though the Bible itself is silent concerning the prohibition of same-sex/homosexual marriage - but this is because marriage is already defined in Scripture by Jesus in Matthew 19 and Genesis 2 as a union between a man and a woman.  Therefore, the Bible simply does not consider same-sex "marriage" to be marriage, so it doesn't talk about it.  However, even though Scripture defines marriage as a union between TWO of the opposite sex, we often find instances of one man + multiple wives which are not condemned outright.  In fact, often these same men are praised by God - albeit for things other than their plural marriage.  To make a thought comparison, one would not expect a homosexual Jacob or other patriarch, or a homosexual King David (No, don't even try and suggest he and Jonathan had a homosexual relationship) to receive like praise and blessing from God as the Biblical polygamous Jacob and David do.  I believe one could even envision a church or churches, otherwise orthodox, and especially those strongly advocating "patriarchy" (father-rule) becoming either tacitly or boldly accepting of polygamous marriages in the near-future provided that the husbands in such marriages do not seek church office - (since there is explicit Biblical instruction regarding that those seeking and keeping church office be husbands of ONE wife.)

If the Church is faced with polygamous families and men seeking church membership, I think families and men should be welcomed.  Divorcing or "putting away" wives who are probably significantly dependent on the husband's financial provision - not to mention the damage caused by severance of children/mother ties that would necessarily ensue, would be cruel and sinful in God's eyes unless it were a direct command coming from Him. However, those in such marriages should not seek church office and should also be confirmed to acknowledge that the God-given design of marriage is 1 man + + 1 woman.  Traditional, Biblical, Jesus-defined 1 man + 1 woman marriages should continue to be promoted by the Church as God's preferred arrangement.   

What about polygamous marriage and the secular culture?  What about polygamous marriages and theologically liberal churches?  I think the modern mainstream/liberal "Church" will be loathe to accept polygamy even though they are quick to accept and embrace homosexuality and same-sex "marriage." In other words, though acceptance may be a logical slippery slope, the logical slippery slope would not necessarily result in acceptance. Why? Homosexuality and same-sex marriage is acceptable to the secular culture of the West - and the churches who follow the "world" rather than the WORD (or who follow the WORD only when it agrees with the "world") object to polygamy not because it doesn't conform to Scripture's definition of marriage, but because they believe it subordinates women. In other words, it goes completely against the Feminist agenda and would move womens' rights (as they see it) backward more than Biblical man-woman marriage.  Therefore, polygamy and polygamous marriage would be abhorrent to them.  For them (these churches) polygamy would always be extreme and unacceptable; homosexuality and same-sex marriage loving and acceptable.

Here's another thought: Even though the The LDS "Church" is known historically for its past practice of polygamy, the LDS church (now) actually has better grounds to militate against polygamy than traditional Bible-believing Christians - especially Sola Scriptura Reformation-minded Protestant Christians. Why? They (Mormons) don't have a closed canon. They always have a living "apostle" to steer the ship - doctrinally and otherwise. So, when their then-living prophet said that polygamy was to be no more, they were internally consistent when they subsequently abandoned it and forbade it.  The Roman Catholic Church also will have an easier time being internally consistent regarding prohibition of polygamy; they have the Magisterium and the pope.  Biblical Protestant Christians on the other hand don't have that handy "thus saith the Lord" type of condemnation ready to issue.  It will be interesting to see history unfold.  For as for me and my house, we're staying non-polygamous!  

A Father's Prayer For Race-Day Success

Friends,

I thought I'd compose a prayer for the running and race-day success of both myself and that of my two children (Brenna and Liam) who will be running in the Modesto Turkey Trot this Thanksgiving.  Feel free to modify it for your own situation if you like it.  The only thing I ask is that it be sincere.  I am convinced that our Lord is not pleased by empty prayers and numb rote recitations.  It is my hope that this prayer if of help to you in some way.

Here it is - in blue:

Father, you are Infinite, Eternal, and Unchangeable.  You are All-Wise, All-Powerful, and Holy, Holy, Holy.  Your Justice is Perfect and You are All-Good.  You are Truth Itself, and there is no shadow of turning in You.  You hate a lying tongue and you hate a lie.  You are good to Your children.  You are good to these same children who have often made idols of things which do not last - and of themselves.  You are Gracious, Forgiving, and You dwell in the Light.  You, Three Persons in One Godhead - Father, Son, Holy Spirit, are Light and Life itself.  You are King of the Universe and Lord of everything in it.  You are a Mighty Warrior and a Gentle Shepherd.  Praise be to Your Name! 

I have sinned.  My children have sinned.  We have made idols of those things which cannot save.  We have made idols of ourselves, our accomplishments, and those things we hope to accomplish.  I have been guilty of claiming the name of a disciple of Christ, yet have sought my own glory.  I have thought heady thoughts, and embraced the allure and false beauty and false virtue of the Renaissance spirit. I have took hold of the Humanistic lie "homo mensura" instead of accepting my own creatureliness - and Your Lordship over me as the Potter over the clay. Though I have wanted to serve you and have endeavored to run for Your Glory, my pious thoughts and intentions have been mixed with pride and self-interested ambition - seeking my own glory and relishing the defeat of others.  I have sinfully been energized by the desire to be dominant for the sake of dominance.  I have sinfully made sacrifices - but sacrifices for the wrong reasons - sacrifices for my own glory and success rather than for Your Glory.  I have been spiritually lazy.  Father, you know my thoughts.  There is much more.  My best thoughts and efforts are still tainted with sin.

But I trust in You.  You have been Faithful.  You have given this vain man success and happiness he does not deserve.  You have given this undeserving man the ability to withstand pain.  You have given me the gift of endurance, stamina, and the ability to find a strange kind of joy in physical exertion, suffering, and fatigue.  You have given me patience and perseverance.  You have even given me a measure of wisdom and know-how in regards to the discipline of running.  You have given me general good health. You have, at times, given me victory over my competitors and over my own self-doubt.  By Your Providence, You gave me a dad who cared enough to cultivate my latent and undiscovered gifts when I was a shy, physically lazy,  non-athletic kid.  You gave him patience with me - and you provided an outlet and opportunity for strengthening our relationship through running.  Through this outlet, you also showed me that though I may lack ball-handling skills, some social skills, and lack general sports know-how - I can suffer like no one's business.  I can endure - and many times gain the victory over those who have more natural speed and talent.  You have blessed my wife and me with children as well.  You have blessed me with children who trust in you as I do.  They even seem to have these same gifts - and seemingly without much of the sin baggage that my gifts are accompanied with - though I know they still have sin baggage too. Thank you for their love for You and their love for me.  Thank you for their patient character, their energy, their love of movement, and their desire to do a good job.  Thank you for their love of running and how this unites us even closer together.

Father, may it be that You would cause us to use our gifts to Your Glory!  Cause us to understand that we would be nothing without You and any perceived greatness we had, have, or will have is only through Your Power!  Cause us to run well and to run swiftly!  Cause us to endure physical pain and suffering!  If we feel like quitting - or the voice inside our heads tells us to "take it easy" when we start to feel the burning in the legs and in the lungs, shut that voice down!  Give us the victory over our nagging spirit of laziness and half-hearted efforts!  May it please You to work through us - as examples of perseverance, strength, swiftness, and grace!  May Brenna more fully discover and experience her God-given gifts!  May you give her the victory over doubt and fear! May Liam discover his unique gifts as well as taste the warrior spirit you give to your sons!  May they both praise Your Name in victory as well as in defeat!  Give us the heart and compassion to value others' efforts and seek their good as well as our own!  Lord, help us balance the desires that so often seem at odds with one another!  I pray that though we may not win this race or other races - that we would have a victory over all slothfulness, faithlessness, and those things which would cause us to falter and not to do our very best!  Give us the victory over self-pride!  May we dedicate our running efforts to You - and that we would run our races as living sacrifices of praise to You our Lord and our God!  

Changing Focus: Fitness to Health

I've been so negligent when it comes to keeping up this blog that it's laughable.  I hope to have composed something of worth. This unplanned trip into blog-composing mode owes itself to recent ruminations on my not-so-invincible body, the persistence of aging, and considerations into the things that actually matter - and what I should and shouldn't spend my time doing.

Note: Even for this "Grammar Nazi"(Yours Truly) I'm not even going to worry about proper paragraph division.  I might have a big lump of several subjects smooshed together in one big blob of words or I may hyper-fracture something that should be just one paragraph.  I'm not going to worry about it - and that's it.  I may overuse the dash and/or the hyphen and it doesn't matter much to me.  I'm going to go "stream of consciousness" as much as I can.

Sometimes I feel great.  I feel like a very fit 37-year-old.  I feel boastful.  I sometimes boast to my patient and tolerant wife about my abdominal definition and other things that really should be left to adolescent males to boast about.  I'm glad I have such a patient and tolerant wife.  Those on the outside still see my humble side - I hope.  It's really the better side.

I've changed focus from fitness to health over the last several years.  Sometimes the health mistakes I made in my 20's and early 30's are enough to trigger a little depression...but I attempt to quickly squelch that.  After all, you can't change the past.  In my 20's didn't take sleep seriously.  I swallowed hook line and sinker the sentiment that sleep is for the weak - and that the strong can adapt.  It's really fits well with a USMC-type mentality.  Yes, I spent time in the USMC (Reserve) where I was further indoctrinated with this idea.  Adaptation only goes so far - and no further.  Five hours or less of sleep per day was pretty much the norm for me.  If I heard of someone who thrived on 3 hours per night I would think I could do it too.  I was even consistently advised by my dad that I needed to get more sleep.  I ignored it because of my conviction that I was different - others may, but certainly not me.  Ignored were the signs of falling asleep on the couch while reading to the kids, falling asleep for a split-second while drinking coffee - and then spilling it on myself, and needing to do "stay awake" tricks while driving.

What did I spend that extra time doing in which I could have been sleeping?  Well, for several years I worked two jobs - and really couldn't afford to sleep much...but at other times I could.  Believe it or not, I had (and still have to some degree) an insecurity about my perceived knowledge and intelligence.  Well, I also have a genuine thirst for knowledge.  One (the first) is something not to be proud of - It's a fault.  The other is a laudable thing - It's good.  However, sacrificing needed sleep to get more time reading Tolkien, or a "classic" that every "educated" person should be conversant with, or studying my Latin just may mean that the time I spend doing those things may be nearly wasted.  Have you ever noticed that you don't retain information as well when you're tired?  This leads to more self-imposed fatigued studying, more frustration, and little gain - except you can boast you read this or you read that.  Oh, you can also boast you only sleep x number of hours per day.  It would have been worth it if it were spent saving lives or doing something else which made a definite contribution to the well being of others - but  it wasn't.  For me much of it was for prideful vanity.  This is not a good reason.

Is it a good time for a new paragraph?  Ok.  Let's have at it!  Diet.  In my 20's and early 30's I ate a great deal of saturated fat, sugar, and calories.  The calories I may have needed - but the other stuff I could have done without.  My focus then was on fitness.  If I had abdominal definition and could run a 5-minute mile (or sub 5-minute mile) I was golden.  I didn't have to worry about globs of cheese, HUGE desserts, and a paucity of fresh fruits and vegetables.  I was invincible.  I was different.  Well, that's what I would tell myself!  Wow.  My focus in my mid and late 30's is much different - health first, fitness 2nd.  I wish I could go back in time - but I can't.  A fit body can be an unhealthy body, and in the end, the lack of true health may be the total undoing of the fit body.  I limit my desserts and limit my saturated fat now.  Blood sugar level, blood pressure, cholesterol level, and other things I used to not even think about because I could do well in races - yes, these things matter.

The utter insanity of being a personal trainer and fitness instructor while living with the delusion of health invincibility.  I know, it's not a complete sentence.  You know what I mean.  Probably the funnest time I had while making good money was when I was teaching bootcamp-style exercise classes and holding some personal training sessions.  I'm sure there are some young trainers/instructors out there who had and have the same problem as I did...they thought the rules didn't apply to them!  Hey, I thought the rules didn't apply to me in regards to health...just read my previous paragraphs!  Some participants would speak wisdom to me concerning sleep or diet and I wouldn't really take it to heart because I thought I was different - better.  I know now that adaptation only goes so far.  It's not normal to fall asleep at the drop of a hat or to catch every cold that goes around.  The type of pride that makes one muscle through things like that without thought of lifestyle changes is a stupid kind of pride.  I would be a much better and more well-rounded fitness instructor now than I was back then - and also much more empathetic.

Dental health.  I didn't take it seriously comparatively recently.  This was a mistake.  With age and experience as the Teacher, I'm trying to make up for lost time and rectify past mistakes.  However, it's easier to keep good health in this area if you take it seriously from the very beginning.  Probably one of the most stupid things I did was back in my teens when I would eat alot of dried fruit (in the interest of health) but ignored how the dried fruit, most of the time raisins, would stick to my teeth.  Stupid.  I might as well have been eating actual candy - and I would have at least enjoyed it more.  Lack of flossing was another thing I wish I could go back in time and correct.

Currently, with my focus on health, I pay more attention to sleep, eat healthfully, and take meticulous care of my teeth and gums.  I'm more alert and get fewer colds.  I try and take the wide-angle-lens approach and recognize that what's done is done - I cannot go back in time and correct the past.  I really don't know the extent of the damage I've done.  The good news is that I never smoked or did drugs.  I've also never been drunk - though I still enjoy a few beers a week.  Still, it's amazing the amount of damage that can be done even if the usual health culprits are avoided!  The best way to take things now is to focus on the present and the future - because the past cannot be changed.   I'm enjoying my alertness and lack of colds.  I view keeping my teeth and my own oral health a challenge - and it's best to make it into a "challenge" rather than a self-pity party.

Nagging clicks and very minor pains of the body and joints.  Could these have been prevented? Maybe.  No sense worrying about the past.  For the present, I don't make mega mileage and "MUST do-it" a god when it comes to workout schedule.  Sure, I'm driven - but I'm acknowledging that I'm not invincible...and I may never run high-mileage weeks again.  It's much better to have a balance - and to be healthy.

Cold weather.  It turns out I suffer from a condition in which blood flow is markedly limited to the extremities during cold weather or extreme stress - and fingers and toes become colder than they would for the average person.  It might be hereditary - as there are two family members I know who suffer from the same thing.  When I finally realized that my extremities really did become colder than most around me, it solved the puzzle as to why I had difficulty tying my boots and shoes during cold weather times during military training.  It solved the puzzle as to why I had problems with normal operation and usage of my service rifle during military training and my 9mm gun in police academy when the weather got colder.  It wasn't because I was lazy or stupid...it was because my hands were colder and number than than those peoples' hands around me.  There will be no moving to North Dakota for us, thank you very much!

The acknowledgment of real health issues reset my focus from fitness to health.  Health is primary, fitness is secondary.  What's more, it is not just for me.  It is for my family.  It doesn't solve the whole problem though.  Even in the best conditions, I will grow old and eventually die.  This prompts increased recognition of the importance of peace with God.  This is the culmination and necessary component of true health. I've had a faith in Jesus Christ for as long as I can remember, but in the face of inevitable physical decline and eventual bodily death, Jesus really is ultimately my only hope.  It brings me peace to think about this.  Really, more people need to think about the inevitability of death in this world.  I still suffer from pride and fitness-pride.  I'm working on it.  In the end, Jesus is my only hope for not only an indestructible resurrected body - but much more importantly he is my only hope for peace with God the Father.  He is not only my only hope, but he is the only hope of anyone. The whole lesson - that of the salvation of physical health as well as ultimate salvation (which is ultimately more important) is one I hope to live by and one I hope to teach my children and anyone who will listen.  By the way, this is not some smug Sunday-School lesson...this is what I'm really convinced of and am endeavoring by God's grace to do.

Once Upon a Time I owned a '67 Ford Thunderbird

Many cars were out today for the Labor Day weekend - zooming past Prius C-driving-in-the-slow-lane-me. The Testosteronemobiles (Mustangs, Chargers, Cameros, and other muscle-type cars) were conspicuously consuming - their fuel. The several gas stations I passed were overflowing with these hungry cars and their paying drivers. Meanwhile, I was perfectly comfortable with my masculinity in my puny-engined car, getting 56mpg, wearing my Oakleys, and zipping past these gas stations while listening to cool 80's music.

Still, Once Upon a Time I owned a '67 Ford Thunderbird, magnificent in her power, awesome in her rumble, and thirsty in her need for fuel...Beautiful.

Thoughts about Labels, Words, and Disney

This post is another post born of a Facebook comment.  Facebook is a great place for short one-liners, but not a great place for my kind of answers, comments, or analysis.  I've edited my comment slightly to make a better blog post.  The situation was this: someone, in a Facebook comment to a friend's post, in an "out-of-the-blue" sort of way, made the assertion that Walt Disney was an anti-Semite.  While I couldn't outright disprove his claim - and had no real reason to disprove it...because, after all, he might have technically been an anti-Semite - (and I do in fact care about the truth) it struck a chord with me and got my mental gears turning.  For the record, I'm not a dedicated Disneyphile.  I will not defend all things Disney.  The worldview, themes, and ideas promoted in some (especially the more modern Disney films) often only have a faux wholesomeness.  That being said, my Facebook response to the "anti-Semite" charge (edited slightly) is below:

We need to be careful throwing around terms like "anti-Semite" - especially when referring to people from the past who cannot defend themselves against the allegation. The historical context matters a great deal too. Much of the evidence for Disney's alleged anti-Semitism is based on the "guilt by association" assumption. Any German filmmaker of the 1930's for instance pretty much HAD to be associated with the Nazi Party to even be in business! Disney's associations, and whom he visited/consulted with do not necessarily make him guilty of anti-Semitism any more than me having associations with Atheists would make me anti-religious or "anti-Christian." The list of comparisons could go on. Negative stereotypes concerning Jews were indeed found in Disney pictures - especially the shorts. That's not a point of dispute. However (and this is important), if you look at the cultural/historical context, this sort of thing was practically everywhere. Does this make it right? No it doesn't...but we must be aware that even Warner Brothers had films and shorts with negative Jewish stereotypes - and the head of Warner Brothers at the time was Jewish! Would we call him an "anti-Semite" as well? I don't think so. Perhaps Disney had some anti-Semitic tendencies, but we must be aware that if we judge many of his contemporaries by the same standard, so did they. This leaves us with a large number of otherwise decent people we must now decry as anti-Semitic and bigoted because they don't meet our modern criteria and/or they had associations with people who didn't meet our modern criteria. This leaves many people from the present as well! So, why all the fuss from me about this? "Anti-Semitic" and "bigot" (as well as some other labels casually thrown about) are strong terms. They can be reputation-destroying and can pretty much damn someone in the eyes of the public - who often don't do the research to find out exactly why someone was affixed with that label or if the strong term is really appropriate given the situation, time, et cetera. I would advocate tempering the use of these strong terms...especially with an otherwise decent man like Disney.

I hope I'm thinking properly about this and not just being contentious or nit-picky.  The "other labels" I alluded to are the oft-used "racist," "homophobic," and "sexist," and the less-frequently used labels "misogynist." Also, the prefix "anti" is easily and often applied to nouns and adjectives in a way that immediately puts the recipient of such a label on the defensive.  The point is, these labels, in our contemporary climate, immediately put someone on the defensive because they are so toxic.  They can be reputation-destroyers.  They are an easy weapon.  You'll find some of these terms dispensed when an argument is failing and the person losing needs to stop the quickly staunch the flow of blood (figuratively speaking) and quickly gain the upper hand - not with a good argument, but with argument-stoppers such as these.  For the good of all concerned, and with an eye toward truth rather than just cheap victory, we need to be careful how we use these words.  God-willing,  I will practice my own advice.

A Simple Response to Cultural Degradation

I'm not really interested in hearing any more about Miley Cyrus' latest lewd performance - or other instances of cultural degradation right now.  I think I know enough.  Don't you?  There is nothing new under the sun. There is a danger in focusing too much on the negative and getting mired down, even despairing. Instead, the best thing for me and my better half to do is to concentrate on nurturing our marriage and discipling our own children and the fashioning/sharpening of these "arrows" (our children) - who will go out before/ahead of us. If we focus on these most important things, we can be more sure of not just being unhappy critics of the culture - but instead, by God's grace be salt and light - taking every thought captive to Christ and thus effectively demolishing the strongholds of the Enemy.

Fuel-Sipping Cars and Gas-Guzzling Bodies

If the oft-imagined "visitor from another planet" was visit the USA, he would likely be puzzled by our desire for fuel efficiency and high mpg in regards to our cars - while we desire the exact opposite for our own bodies.  Don't you think?  After he would have acclimated himself to our atmosphere and conducted a little field research he would soon discover the cause of our love of efficiency in one area and hatred for it in another.  He would discover that food is much more than "fuel" to us American earthlings.  It is also a source of comfort and pleasure.  Food is relatively cheap and plentiful, but bodily activity is not - at least it is not "plentiful." We seem to have to go out of our way to get the activity!  On the other hand, these same earthlings' cars often are forced to be overly-active due to long work commutes and other needed trips while their own required fuel is increasingly expensive and said to be ultimately limited.  Such is life!

With Americans' desire for food (and lots of it!) a given, and with their concomitant desire for a lean, muscular and/or "toned" body also assumed, some practical instruction is in order to allow these same beings to "have their cake and eat it too."

Here are some practical tips:

1. The run/ride/workout includes all those things you want to avoid when driving for high mpg.  
2. (Further describing #1) Make sure you include plenty of hard starts, quick accelerations, and quick decelerations.
3. (Further describing #1) Make sure you push the pace on on the uphills.  
4. (Further describing #1) Avoid coasting.
5. (Further describing #1) With resistance exercise, avoid "coasting" - instead, accentuate the negative portion of the rep by strictly controlling the descent.  This is somewhat equivalent to using the brakes on the downhills.

Of course, the above tips are with the average workout-enthusiast in mind.  This person wants to spend the most fuel (i.e. calories) on their workout as possible so they can eat/guzzle more fuel and still look fit.  If, on the other hand, you're running a long-distance race, you'll want to be very EFFICIENT with your fuel-usage.  To do this, drive your body like you drive you car when you're trying to get high miles-per-gallon...and then your body will get high miles-per-gallon as well.

To get maximum workout benefit, drive your body as if it was a muscle car or a race car - not a Prius hybrid.

Thoughts on the Zimmerman Case and Verdict

As often is the case, a Facebook comment of mine originally intended to be short and pithy turned into into a somewhat lengthy piece - lengthy for a Facebook comment.  This made it suitable to be slightly edited (paragraph breaks, parentheses, and some other minor changes) and transformed into a blog post.

Here it is:

I essentially told someone recently that I wouldn't touch this subject with a 10-foot pole, but I guess I am touching it by even posting this.  I'm really troubled that this whole case had to become a political issue. It shouldn't be! It shouldn't be a Right vs. Left issue. Unfortunately, many who glory over their own tolerance and non-judgmentalism are the quickest to judge Zimmerman.  Many who claim to be the most enlightened and rational become the most irrational and emotional when fired up by their political leaders, celebrities, and other quasi-idols - and by their fixation on race issues both real and imagined. Amazing! No, not really...unfortunately. One side sometimes demonized Martin, the other sometimes demonized Zimmerman. The truth is, the overwhelming majority of us (of both sides) are very sad that an unarmed 17th year old adolescent (I wouldn't call him "kid") had to die that night. However, it is downright dangerous thinking to turn that sadness and anger into the irrational "someone has to PAY for this!" type of thinking.  

The fact is, the Zimmerman trial was about deciding if Zimmerman was guilty of 2nd degree murder or manslaughter.  All considerations regarding what type of guy Zimmerman was, his race, whether or not he profiled, the character of Martin, his age, race, etc. were totally irrelevant to the case.  Bringing these things up as if they are actually relevant to the actual court case instead work to subvert our whole "guilty until proven innocent" legal system which demands the criterion of "beyond a reasonable doubt" to justly render a "guilty" verdict. The fact is, there was simply not enough evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman did not act in self defense. It's that simple! Even if Zimmerman was a horrible person and Martin was a virtual angel, it wouldn't matter. Why should this be so hard for people to understand? I'm not going to make Zimmerman into a hero and I'm not going to make Martin a thug, but I will simply say that the jury arrived at the only possible decision they could come to based on the available evidence.  This is key.  Going beyond the available evidence in order to placate mass groups of people and/or prevent possible civil unrest sets a very dangerous precedent.  Surely we do not want a judicial system which goes beyond the available evidence.  Imagine if you were the one in the cross hairs of the prosecution. Though the verdict was emotionally unsatisfying to many, it should at least be rationally satisfying because it showed that the jurors and judge did not go outside the narrow confines of the charges actually in question.  When there is reasonable doubt, it is better that a possibly guilty man go free than an innocent (innocent of the particular things he is charged with) be condemned.

It troubles me that I am even hesitant to voice my opinion on this matter due to my being a conservative white male (not to mention homeschooler and Christian) and the irrational and emotion-driven response some who hear it may react with (i.e. "he's a racist! I knew it!). It shouldn't be that way.  It really shouldn't.  Sometimes silence on an issue is commendable and prudent, but other times it is cowardly.  When I start to sense self-protective cowardice in myself,  I know that it is probably the right time to speak out.  This is especially the case when we hear of nationwide demonstrations (sometimes with non-peaceful elements) protesting the verdict, and tweets from professional athletes suggesting the the jury of the Zimmerman case should "kill themselves." Enough said.

The Real Thing vs. The Idea

We, especially those who claim the name "Christian" need to ask the following questions of ourselves:

1. Do you love biblical Jesus? - OR do you love the IDEA of loving the biblical Jesus.

2. Do you love the Bible? - OR, do you love the IDEA of loving the Bible.

I am convinced that an examination of these questions and their answers if of primary importance.  Every day I see evidence of the IDEA being promoted and professed, but the substance itself being rejected.  If you can't stand what the Scripture says, read it only selectively, or if you consistently shy away from it, apologize for it, or avoid reading it because deep-down you don't want to be confronted and challenged by it, then perhaps you don't really love it - and by necessary implication, perhaps you do not really love Jesus.  This is just the plain truth.  We (of course including ME) need to regularly examine ourselves honestly and repent if necessary.  Let's not be foolish and attempt to fool ourselves.  

The Father-Daughter Date

I'm really composing this blog entry on a whim this morning, but for a couple weeks I've been thinking about doing it.  The subject is the father-daughter date.  It is inspired by my own experience.

A couple weeks ago my wife and older daughter (13 years old) were wanting to watch a movie together which my wife and I both agreed our 2nd-born daughter might not be quite ready for.  Our solution was to let older daughter and wife stay at home and watch the movie (after younger children had gone to bed) - meanwhile our 2nd-born daughter (10 years old) would go to Starbucks and watch a movie of her choice on my laptop computer.  I brought up the idea to daughter #2 during our morning dog walk.  To my mild surprise, she wasn't unhappy at all that she was missing out on the movie her older sister wanted to see.  Instead, she was excited to be able to spend special time with me and watch our own movie.  She picked The Fellowship of The Ring.  Good choice.

That evening was a special time.  My coffee-and-movie date actually got prettied-up for me!  How dare I treat this time like anything less than special.  I looked slovenly in comparison, but I was touched by the importance she placed on this time with Dad.  I reminded myself of my ongoing commitment to treat my daughters with the same respect I expect future suitors to treat them with, knowing that a young lady will knowingly or unknowingly seek out men who are like their fathers.  For this reason as well as others, I need to be the best model of a man, father, and husband that I can be.  Starbucks was noisy.  There was no way we'd be able to plug in and watch our movie with all that noise.  I bought her a hot chocolate (which she finished in barely any time at all), and after a brief time trying to watch inside, we moved to the car where I sat the laptop on the dashboard in a way we both could see it.  It was lightly raining outside, but the interior was quiet enough that the movie could be easily heard as well as seen.  We had a very enjoyable evening watching the movie.  Inexpensive outing, but so valuable!

When we returned home, wife and older daughter had enjoyed their movie and time together, and me and my 10-year old little lady had enjoyed ours.  Honestly, here is one man (me) that begins to get teary-eyed when he thinks about the special time and special relationship he has with each of his kids.  This evening, however, was about daughter #2.  She is a little shy, just like I am.  She has the tendency to be a little insecure and to feel like she's not quite fitting in.  This has been true of me too.  She has been self-conscious about her looks.  Again, me too.  However, this same girl who gets down on herself has a tremendous amount to offer.  This same girl probably does not recognize her real worth - but I do.  Whether we're talking about her simple love of walking the dog with me, her care of animals and all things living, her spunkiness, her attention to detail and steadfast, patient, and almost perfectionist nature, she is a treasure and a joy.  Her heartfelt and serious theological questions and pondering which have arisen of late also have shown her to be someone who takes the eternal issues seriously.  She will be a great treasure and joy for the man who eventually wins her hand.

The father-daughter date really helped to bring things into focus.  I am tremendously blessed to be entrusted with the children I have, and to be equally-yoked with the wife I have in our joint pursuit of shaping these arrows.  When the time of courtship and suitors comes, I will accept no less than the best for my daughters.

Being The Church

I'm generally inclined to dislike meetings, and I don't particularly enjoy being around or in large groups of people.  I'm really an introvert who is generally uncomfortable in large groups.  Why do I go to church?

To many, "going to church" is like going to a club meeting, a venue of public entertainment with a religious/spiritual flavor, or an obligatory "to-do" done out of habit, obligation, or both.  This is probably why many people stop going.  Church leadership vigorously attempts to attract people to come - or to come more regularly - but without the desired results.  I'm convinced that in the majority of cases this is because of a faulty starting point.  No amount of exciting programs, good music, free coffee, or other attractions can make up for a faulty starting point.  If I don't have the right starting point when it comes to how I understand the church, I might as well just go to a movie, see a motivational speaker, or any number of things when I want a lift, community, or excitement.

This past Lord's Day (for the uninitiated this is also known as "Sunday") the sermon dealt with the subject of church.  Quite simply, (and I'm going to put this as simply as I can), "going to church" should not been seen as "going to a building we call a 'church' in the hopes of  'getting something' out of it.  Instead, "going to church" should be seen as "going to BE the church."

Why? Scripture speaks of the "church" in a way that is not limited to a physical building with four walls and a roof.  The "church" is a local physical manifestation of Christ's body on Earth.  Even so, GOD is the focus, not ourselves.  He is the only being anywhere at any time who is actually worthy of worship.  As a local manifestation of Christ's body on Earth, this does not mean that we, the people gathered, are divine.  We are Christ's body in a mystical way.  There is something special when believers, united by faith in Christ and faithfulness to the covenant, come together corporately for worship - as Christ's body, for divine worship.  As such, this group of people are united in a very special way that is much different than coming together for any other meeting.

The church is also spoken of in Scripture as the "bride" of Christ.  Wow.  This puts special meaning on not just the faithfulness and love we should have to Christ as our mystical husband, but also reminds us of the importance of marriage - and more specifically our own marriages!  Christ is faithful to His church.  I should be faithful to my wife.  Christ cares for His church.  I should care for my wife.  Christ loves the church.  I should love my wife as Christ loves the church!  God uses pictures and symbols all throughout Scripture to get truth into our heads and righteousness into our actions.  I'm only touching the surface.   When I understand the Scriptural presentation of marriage as an analogy/picture of Christ and His church, marriage is filled with meaning - and becomes much much more than a contract between two people who care about each other and may or may not want to raise a family.  How could a marriage EVER be hum-drum if I understand it as Scripture presents it?  It is a tremendous responsibility, but it is also a tremendous joy.  When I understand church in this way,  church becomes exciting, rich, and special - as does marriage.

These things are not new to me.  I've read alot of theology - and for those who want to know, this subject in particular would be properly under the subgroup of theology known as ecclesiology.   However, just like being told "I love you" by my wife or kids, hearing these truths and thinking about these truths repeatedly and consistently is important.  Sometimes I need to be reminded - and with the reminder comes a refreshing that wakes up my lazy mind and heart.

Quasi Barefooter Becomes Shoe-Wearer

I really like the Vibram Five-Fingers "barefoot" idea, I really do.  I really have enjoyed many walks and runs with my barefoot-like footwear (i.e. Vibram Five-Fingers Bikila and Treksport models).   However, I've come to the place where I must put my barefoot sensibilities on the shelf - or in my case, in the closet.  After all, it isn't like it it's the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I can edit, change, or dispense with my barefoot ideology all I want.  This is a blessing.

As it turns out, my non-professionally-diagnosed tendon and/or ligament injury I have sustained to my foot becomes much less painful when I wear boots and conventional running shoes with my Superfeet insoles.  This makes me a happier man right now.  Many times I can't feel any discomfort or problem whatsoever.  These are relatively heaven-like experiences: "Yes!  Look at me walking - normally!"

Why the stark difference between going barefoot and wearing footwear with Superfeet insoles?  The shoes and insoles are doing much of the work my foot (especially the arch of the foot) would have to do otherwise.  I can't walk in Vibram Five-Fingers without pain, and I can't walk barefoot without pain. I can't even use my Nike "Free" shoes without pain.  I have to dispense with the ideological barefooted naturalness and wear shoes with arch-supporting insoles - even in the house.  This would have been UNTHINKABLE before.  I hated wearing shoes in the house...but now I do it so I can function normally.

Foot injuries take a while to heal.  It may even be months before I run in the "barefoot" style again.  I'm not going to force running upon myself yet even with the conventional running shoes and Superfeet insoles.  I'll let it heal.  When I can wake up and step out of the bed barefoot without any discernible difference between the left foot and the right, only THEN will I ditch the shoe-wearing in the house.  What a relief that will be!  That will also be the time that I start wearing the Vibram Five-Fingers again for WALKING.  I'll build up strength gradually and work to the point I can briskly walk our dog Duke for 30 or more minutes in them.  As for running, I may never try and phase in quasi-barefoot running again.  At this point I don't think I want to take the chance.  I'm 36 years old and want to be able to run - safely and without injuries.  I want to run fast, and I want to run long.  I don't want any injuries.  I guess maybe I can't be quite the crunchy bare-footer I wanted to be.  Darn.

Eternal Sweetness, Richness, and Beauty

As I read my copy of Roma Aeterna (my current Latin language-learning text) I am reminded of St. Augustine's De Civitate Dei (i.e. The City of God).  Augustine, during the time of the Western empire's collapse, compared the City of Man with the City of God.  One was imperfect and temporary; the other was perfect and eternal.  I get great enjoyment from reading about Rome, the Roman Empire, and all things pertaining to it - especially in the Latin language.  There is something majestic and special about it.  Even a Christian like me can appreciate the civic virtues so valued and practiced in the ancient Roman Republic - and even the power and might which characterized the later Roman Empire.  Rome was known as the "Eternal City." However, Rome fell.  Attempts at resurrecting the empire have failed - and brought death and destruction in their wake.  Rome was not eternal.  Only the City of God is Eternal.

The City of Man is right before my eyes.  It attracts me.  It beckons me with various diversions and amusements.  It even beckons me with things of true beauty and seeming richness.  I love my family.  I am blessed by God for the wife and children He has given me.  They are all beautiful.  The plans I have for us, the love we share, and the warm feelings I have would almost lead me to believe that it (the big "IT") is all about family.  I am almost entranced by salukis.  They are beautiful, and their countenances suggest far-seeing wisdom; their movement suggests effortless almost-divine activity.  It is no secret that I am a saluki fan and that I adore my better-than-mere-dog dog.  I enjoy physical exercise.  The feeling I get from feeling my body move, from setting and training towards goals, and competition itself has been almost a "spiritual"-type feeling.  All these things I have mentioned increase my enjoyment of life.  However, in the end, all of these things come to an end.  Every saluki will eventually weaken and die - even mine.  The family life I enjoy now will not exist forever.  They will change, and it will change.  The body and physical ability I possess now will eventually decrease and come to an end - even with the best training and personal upkeep.  The things of this world that I value so much, that possess so much beauty and sweetness for me, will come to an end.

These things I have mentioned are not bad.  God has created them.  Their beauty and sweetness is real, but it is a reflected beauty and sweetness.  They are not the Source.  Their source is God.  Their reflected beauty can be snares.  I would be lying if I said I was immune to an inordinate focus on these things.  At root, my problem really seems to be the inordinate focus on myself.  Is IT all about ME, or is IT all about God? Scripture tells me that indeed the main character throughout all of history is God.  It is clearly all about God and His glory.  How wonderful it is that the Creator of all things, Who has no beginning and no end, has revealed Himself through Scripture.  The more I understand this, the more I have joyfully - and not just through a feeling of obligation -  applied myself to reading the Bible.

When I reflect upon God, His glory, and His unchanging nature, it gives me peace.  There is a richness, sweetness, and a profound and perfect beauty to it.  The sweetness of Christ is better than the best desert.  The richness and depth of God in His HolyTrinity is immeasurably more than the best cup of Peet's coffee I have ever had.  It is older, wiser, and more cherished than the best-smelling old book.  It is fresher and more relevant the the newest product from Apple.  When I read His Word, I taste the sweetness of Christ.  When I contemplate Him I feel his richness.  I can even "see" His beauty.  Those things which I know are real, yet cannot be seen, tasted, or touched in this natural world, are in fact the most real things of all.  The more I understand this the more joyful I become.  It makes me sad when I see others not sharing this.  The City of God is the True Eternal City.  May God grant me the boldness and love for neighbor to proclaim His kingdom and His Eternal City.

A Candid Look Into The Mind of the Walking Wounded

Injuries and other setbacks can cause us to modify our goals and explore options.   Due to the recent foot injury I have explored some options and even implemented some of them.  

I dusted the cobwebs off the rowing machine.  I made my bike ready for almost-daily use.  Crank hard for 1/2 hour to substitute in some way for the 1/2 hour run I would have done.  Perhaps daily pushups, squats, chin ups, even crawling.  I know crawling may look strange, but I don't care.  Perhaps crawling wouldn't hurt my foot.  Where can I get a good crawling workout?  Uh, I haven't started the crawling thing in earnest yet - but if don't have access to a bike or rowing machine for more than a day, well, I'll probably do a crawling workout.  Perhaps I can step up and down over and over again on...something...and without bending my foot in the way that hurts.  Hmmm.  I'll need a good podcast or music for that sort of drudgery, but I'll do it.  Jumping rope?  No.  That hurts...right away!  Exercise in the car...perhaps isometrics?  Tighten the muscles: Quads, abs, arms, then relax.  Wallsits.  Planks.  I wonder if using a pogo stick would be a good workout? Where can I get a good pogo stick?  How about Rollerblades?  Oh...I don't have several hundred dollars to spend.  Darn.  Too bad it can't be cheap like running.  There are many options I explore - all to keep some semblance of the athletic identity I've created for myself and which somewhat defines me.  

I'm a committed fitness person...and somewhat fanatic and obsessive.  I read once that famed Czechoslovakian runner Emil Zatopek would run, in place, in a large laundry bucket when he could not run in the normal fashion outside.  At least he could run - albeit in-place.  I can identify with Zatopek.  Great guy.  I wonder what he would do if he had a foot injury like mine.  I wonder if he liked Latin.

For now, the rowing machine and cycling will substitute for the running.  I really like rowing.  It's a great workout - though 30 minutes seems like 2 hours.  What if my foot never is 100% again?  I could remake myself as a rower - a stationary rower.  No REAL rowing (i.e. in the water).  I don't like the water and don't have that sort of time.   I'll try and be prudent and careful enough not to hurt my back while rowing - on my back porch.  If I hurt my back...well, I don't even want to contemplate it.  I'll be careful.   The cycling is going well.  I'd like a track bike.  Perhaps I could get into track cycling.  Track bikes are simple, less expensive, and easier to maintain that multi-speed road bikes.  I could be a competitive age-group (masters) track cyclist that limps when he gets off the bike.  I wouldn't care about the limp then.  I'll be a competitive age-group track cyclist stationary rower pull-up push up and wall-sit champion who also reads Latin, is a homeschooler, and knows a bit of theology...and who owns the only saluki in Los Banos.  Yeah, that's it.  

Religiosity and The Church

I recently read of a new Atheist "church" about to be launched in London.  It is interesting but not surprising.  There are even many Christians who seem to value going to church primarily for the social, musical, or ritualistic element - rather than obedience to the scriptural command to assemble together and worship God corporately as Christ's spiritual "body" on earth.  If the primary motivations for Christians often don't depend on theological convictions, then the reasons they DO go to church would probably be attractive to Atheists as well.  I think this "church" is an example of this.  This seems to also be evidence for an inherent religiosity among humans- even among the supposedly non-religious.

The social, ritual, and musical reasons are all powerful reasons for church-going.  However, for Christians they should never dominate.  The more they do, the more "religious" we may become - but the less Christian we will be.  In my own life I actually am not that attracted to the social, musical, or ritualistic element of church-going.  If I was not convinced of the scriptural command to assemble together for worship, of Christ's own institution of the physical "church",  and of the Biblical teaching of the church being representative of Christ's body on earth, I simply would not attend.  I would use that time for something else.  I am simply much more interested in Christianity and Christ than I am in Churchianity and religiosity.

Why is this important?  Christians need to make the preaching and hearing of the Word (God's Truth and marching orders) of utmost importance in the church.  The less this is done, then the more the side-benefits of church attendance will seem to be the main reasons for it.  When this happens, people like me who care little for the side elements will simply not attend.  This is already happening.  This is one reason I think church attendance has plummeted in many areas and among many denominations.

Still,  people who care little for God or are complete Atheists - but like the side benefits (mentioned in the first paragraph) will launch their own "churches." They will still value the churchiness of church. These churches will be almost indistinguishable from the supposedly "Christian" churches they mimic.  Style will reign over substance and the Christian church on earth will seem to have lost its saltiness.  This too is already happening.  Religiosity does not save the sinner from the wrath of God.  Time for another Reformation.

Homeschool Latin 2012 Success

This past year of 2012 was a success in terms of Latin language teaching and learning.  After a couple years of using Memoria Press materials, I started oldest daughter Fiona on Hans Orberg's Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata.  The first of the two books in this series is Familia Romana, a story of a first-century Roman family - completely told in Latin.  This is the same text I had struggled teaching when I taught for one year at a private Classical Christian school a few years ago.  This time however, after a couple years of my own study - my own studied application to the teaching of my own oldest daughter met with great success!  

I will outline a more detailed explanation of method later, but I will nevertheless say a few things now:

1. Year-round schooling is a good thing.
2. #1 is true because short breaks don't hurt the memory, but longer breaks do.
3. Taking only 1 chapter per month is PLENTY for this particular text.  
4. Slow and steady is good.
5. Repetition is good.
6. Over-learning is not "over" or "too much" anything.  It is probably just the right amount!
7. Going through the whole text - including doing the exercises yourself - BEFORE teaching them to your child is extremely helpful.  

Again, more specifics will (hopefully) follow.  2013 will include chapters 13-24 for Fiona.  2013 will also contain chapters (from the 2nd book, Roma Aeterna) 36-46 for me.  Like I did when  I went through the first book, I will keep a binder containing my completed exercises - much like the binder I am currently requiring for Fiona.  By the time Fiona is done with Familia Romana (end of 2014) I will have finished Roma Aeterna (56 chapters) and it will then be her turn.  Slow and steady.  Enjoy the journey.