Theological training

Sunday morning cuddling on the couch with Caleb, we had this brilliant conversation. We were watching a cooking show on TV when someone cooked something that looked like fish to Caleb. That was the thing that prompted this exchange.

Caleb: I wish my my Oscar grew really big and strong. I really wanted him to.

Me: but he didn't huh?

Caleb: No the Cichlid ate him; the Oscar's big and strong now, though, stronger than the Cichlid... even stronger than me.

Me: Because he is in Heaven?

Caleb: Yeah

Me: Well, what about the Cichlid? Is he is heaven? Was he a good fish?

Caleb: Only animals that believe in Jesus go to heaven.

You have to love when your five year old corrects your obvious error in doctrine.

Why I don't own an iPhone

Recently an article in Relevant Magazine captured my attention. I think the primary reason this article enthralled me so, was that it gave me ammo to battle some of my boys... read here adult male friends- not my children. For whatever reason, we fight constantly, and every time a trump card like this appears, I must slam it on the table.

The article was titled "Just a Phone?", and was about the author's internal struggle over whether to buy the iPhone. Here is why the author of the article is wary of the iPhone with my comments in parentheses.

1. He can't afford it (I could technically afford an iPhone, but it is expensive. I have been accused of being cheap, but the reality is I don't mind splurging on a present or something. I just vehemently dislike adding any monthly committed payments to my budget; that is a commitment I don't need.)

2. The attraction to the iPhone seems to suggest that one's primary problem is a lack of information and entertainment. The problems of the world are peace, economic justice ecological health, political honesty, family and community stability. (sin)

3. We purchase for fairly high prices the lie that we are happier and more time available when the background costs are often the earth and our sanity. (Um... not feeling the whole earth thing, but I am down with more sanity. I have a stinking blackberry and it buzzes continually never allowing me three coherent thoughts. I don't need more info or entertainment. I could use much maturity, discipline, compassion and Godliness however, and I don't think the iPhone has those apps yet)

4. Does owning another toy make me any more likely to give? (no)

Truth is, the iPhone is super cool. I often look on other's phones with desire. I love toys and the iPhone is the ultimate toy right now, but I want to refuse to give in to an attraction which will ultimately cost me more money, drain more time away from my family and feed a lie.

Boom Simplified

Ty

What is hope?

I have been confronted again with my thin understanding of hope. So often we use the word hope when we are merely saying wish. "I hope it doesn't rain. I hope she likes me. I hope everything turns out ok." All those phrases are mere well wishes- not hope. I couldn't define hope better than Reuben Alves who said, "Hope is hearing the music of the future; faith is to dance to it."

Other's thoughts

I love Frederich Beuchner’s words regarding anger.

“Of the Seven Deadly Sins, anger is possibly the most fun. To lick your wounds, to smack your lips over grievances long past, to roll over your tongue the prospect of bitter confrontations still to come, to savor to the last toothsome morsel both the pain you are given and the pain you are giving back -- in many ways it is a feast fit for a king. The chief drawback is that what you are wolfing down is yourself. The skeleton at the feast is you."

Things that make me wince

Walking toward Comerica Park with my children and father-in-law, we witnessed a not uncommon sight.  Two cops had a pan handler against their car and were giving the "handler" a verbal lashing as they checked his pockets.  The tone and the words exchanged were not pleasant but not vulgar either.  I tried to engage both of my sons in conversation quickly as I shielded them from the scene that was no more than 5 feet from us as we passed.  Neither boy reacted and frankly the scene quickly slipped my mind.  After we entered the park, climbed up to the nose-bleeds and watched an inning or so, I noticed that Caleb seemed melancholy.  I couldn't get him to talk about what he was feeling, but he climbed up in my lap.  20 minutes, a carousel ride and some foam paws later, Caleb's normal spunk returned.  Driving home in the car, he piped up.  "Daddy, do you know why I was sad in the game?  It is because I don't want to go to jail like that man we saw as we were walking".

I tried to explain that good men who make good choices need not fear jail or the police. I am not sure what he understood of what I said, but within seconds, Caleb responded by saying he would like to be a police officer, and Nolan said "me too".

It is always interesting watching little boys trying to process man size information.