Faith Is a Highway

Over the past month, I have driven to and from Dallas, Austin, and Nashville, and in the coming weeks, I will be driving to and from San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas. I got an oil change less than a month ago, and I already need another one (every 3,000 miles). Throughout my college career, I have taken many road trips to and from the same locations, and I have become so familiar with the routes, that these three, four, or five hour car rides are no problem for me.

Of all the metaphors that I hear about faith, spirituality, and relationships with God, the most common relates all of these to a journey. Some believe the journey started when we entered Sunday School. Others believe that the journey commenced on the day of our baptism. We start out as children of faith, and through teaching and studying we begin to grow and mature. The journey gets boring sometimes.

Have you ever been on your way to work or school, zoned out for a little bit, and thought, "Did I run that stop sign back there?" When we take the same route, do the same thing over and over, it becomes routine, and we go about the task absentmindedly. It sounds dangerous, but it is something that most of us have done. We go through the motions, but our focus is not on the what we are actually doing. On my trips to and from the different destinations listed above, I know all of the towns that I will pass through in order, where the state troopers usually hide, where the good places to eat are, where the exits are, and how long I have remaining in my trip.

The journey through life as a Christian becomes like one of those trips. Christians usually find themselves getting locked into a lifestyle or routine that defines their identity, and it gets boring (common). As a product of a Christian middle school, high school, and university, I have been steeped in Christian living - how Christians are supposed to live - and frankly, some Christians live very boring lives. There seems to be nothing new to spice things up, because we are told that the spicy things are probably sinful. Christians need spontaneous revivals for the same reason that travelers love to take random road trips. It is something new, unique, and exciting.

After my Sophomore year of college, my roommate and I took a road trip from Houston, TX, to Tuscon, AZ, to Tijuana, Mexico (we craved Mexican food for lunch), to San Diego, CA, to Los Angeles, CA, to Phoenix, AZ, to Abilene, TX, and back to Houston. It was quite the drive, but it was exciting because it was something new. I had never driven through the southern portions of New Mexico and Arizona. Even though there was not much to look at, it was still exciting. I had never even been to Arizona or California at all for that matter. The road trip was not a part of my routine. Traffic was terrible in LA, but it was fun, because I had never been in traffic that bad.

For Christians to grow to reach their full potential, we need to do something that is out of the ordinary - take a spiritual road trip. According to Crocodile Dundee, Australians go on walk-abouts for mental and physical rejuvenation. They come back with a renewed outlook on life - a renewed spirit. Christians can do the same thing. Some fast by abstaining from eating, while others go off by themselves for some solitude. These are just two examples, but there are many other things Christians can do to strengthen their faith without getting into trouble.

I feel like we'll enjoy the journey a little bit more if we break away from our routines for a while.

The Crescent Moon and the Cross

I attended a forum last night to hear Dr. Dan McVey speak on the topic of Islam from a Christian perspective. I expected to hear insight as to why Christianity is God's religion and that all Muslims are extremists, but that is not at all what was said. The purpose of this forum, as displayed on the opening slide of the Powerpoint presentation, was to achieve a better understanding.

To learn.

Of the 60 minutes that Dr. McVey had to speak, 45 of it was informative. Islam is this. Islam is that. Mohammed did this. Muslims do that. It was amazing to hear how much Dr. McVey, a Christian, knew about Islam. How and why did he know so much about this, and why do I need to know this? I'm not a Muslim, so why do I need to know the Arabic translation of the word "submit?" For your information, Islam is translated to mean "submit." Now you know.

Why does it matter?

The heart of the issue is that approximately 90% of Muslims have never met a Christian, but they claim to know a lot about us. On the other hand, a huge number of Christians have never met a Muslim, yet we claim to know a lot about Islam. How well do you know a person if you have never met them? How do I know if what I hear about Muslims is true? Knowledge suppresses ignorance.

The reason Dr. McVey knows so much about Islam was because he served as a Christian missionary in areas of Africa and Asia where the majority of religious people were Muslims. When I first heard this, I thought that he would have met heavy resistance because of the way Muslims are protrayed on TV, but that was not the case. He said, "Whenever someone approached me and found out that I was a Christian, they said, 'Praise Allah.'" Wait, I thought we were "infidels," but they are excited to see us? He had to know their religion to be an effective communicator with them. Knowledge suppresses ignorance.

Prior to this forum, I understood that not every Muslim is a terrorist, despite what several card-carrying members of the NRA might say, and Dr. McVey explained that of all the Muslims, the extremists we hear about so often on the airwaves make up the smallest population in the Islamic faith. Knowledge suppresses ignorance.

"What does jihad mean?" asked Dr. McVey. After a quick pause, the audience began to whisper, and a general consensus was reached that jihad is Arabic for "holy war," because that's what we have been told. Much to our dismay, we were wrong. Jihad means struggle, and this war that we often refer to in terms of jihad is actually a struggle against oppression, a retaliation of sorts. Knowledge suppresses ignorance.

Ultimately, I write this post as a declaration that I do not know everything about Islam, and my presuppositions on this religion and its followers is mostly flawed. I feel like it is reasonable to say the same for the majority of non-Muslims in this world. As Christians, we must begin converasations to bridge gaps between people of different religious, social, and racial backgrounds. We need to learn who they are and stop making judgements based on what they are. If we expect the same from them, we should start the process.

I also learned that is it written in the Qur'an that Muslims are encouraged to have civil discussions with Jews and Christians, so that we may all come to an agreement about our beliefs. Sounds reasonable. We did all start from the same spot.

The Content of His Character

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.
-Martin Luther King, Jr.

These words, first heard by the nation on August 28, 1963, have been forever ingrained in the hearts of millions who have fought in the civil rights movement. Before our country's birth, social caste systems were established to set certain races, genders, and nationalities above others, and Dr. King challenged the status quo with his heartfelt speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Today, it may seem that race is no longer an issue worth debating or marching over; however, discussions of race and color have seemed to perpetuate through several generations, and discrimination and prejudice still disenfranchises many.

So many subjects for discussion can be derived from the statement above - racism, equality, segregation, prejudice - but the last line seems applicable to the discussion of Christianity and culture. By believing King's statement to be true, then we are judged by our character, but what defines our character? What makes my character different from the person sitting next to me? I act like a good person, but so does that guy. I live my life the right way, but she does, too. Are we all of good character then?

Our character is defined not by how we act, but by how we react. According to Sir Isaac Newton's third law of motion, for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Therefore, motion and energy is continued through the reacting forces. When a baseball bat connects with the ball traveling toward home plate, the ball reacts in the opposite direction of its path in the direction of the motion of the bat.

What does this physics lesson have to do with Christianity?

Getting stuck in traffic makes us react a certain way - frustration, anger, annoyance, impatience - and the way we react gives glimpse into the framework of our character. When we hear about culture wars in Madagascar, we react another way - ignorance, compassion, judgment. When a loved one dies of an incurable disease, our reaction brings out a new set of emotions that have been tapped before. In each case, reactions shed light on character.

When bad things happen, it is human nature to wonder, "WHY?" That is a reaction. The reaction makes us ask more questions, and sometimes we become even more confused. As a Christian, my reaction tends to be a little bit different because of an awareness of the big picture; there's more to this life than what we experience. A God-follower's character shows differently.

In the same way, Jesus acted as a model of God's character on this earth, but his character was not defined by his actions. The content of His character was defined by His reactions. While thousands of people mocked him, he did not waver. While dozens of Roman soldiers beat him before his execution, he did not recant his confession to be the Savior. When he hung on the cross as onlookers rolled dice for his clothes, he asked God to forgive them.

His reactions portray the content of His character.

Oh, Dear Christian College

Currently, the university that I attend is under the microscope for shady actions by its students and faculty in three different areas. First, a student, who was arrested for the murder of his parents in the fall of 2005, is now on trial for these charges. Second, the NCAA has addressed numerous violations in the track & field and football programs. Third, our student congress president was impeached Wednesday for several integrity violations. This third issue was written up in a local newspaper, and a person on this article online saying, "Why is this even in the paper? Anytime someone at ACU even sneezes, it makes the front page." The reason it makes the front page is because we are called to a higher standard, but we are failing to keep up with what we profess.

The frustrating thing about being associated with a Christian institute is that it seems like someone is always out to find your mistakes, and when these slip-ups are exposed, the whole world knows how we have failed. For years, my university has pledge to be a light to the world around us, but it feels as if that light is beginning to fade - at least the problems we are facing have made me feel this way - and it has made me realize how difficult is it to profess Christianity in a culture that looks for reasons to condemn us we when make the wrong choices.

I know that I will receive my degree from a business college that has excellent accreditation, and I also know that I have grown as a Christian over the four years that I have been here. But as I prepare to graduate from this institution, I am worried that when people hear that I am a graduate from the university that was involved in several scandals, they will hold it against me. Granted, most people are unaware of what has been going on in recent months here, but the fact that I am associated with it still makes me nervous.

Ultimately, the challenge that our university must face everyday is that same challenge that any person that is associated with any given religious, moral, political, or social doctrine must face: how will you remain unwavering in your beliefs despite persecution. I understand that persecution might be a strong word in the case, but its sting presents imagery that we can all associate with. No matter what I profess, there will always be someone who professes opposite ideals. Through this, as Christians and as a university, we must reset the course and conduct ourselves in a manner that is exemplary to others. Everyone fails and is judged for it. Growth and maturity comes by working to get it right again.

iJesus

Thanks to Apple's innovation with iTunes, iPhones, and iPod Touches, we are now able to access thousands of games, news sources, and social web applications with just a few taps on a screen. Since I am a Verizon Wireless customer, I do not have access to an iPhone unless I switch over to the new AT&T system and pay a hefty price for it. Since I appreciate the value that iPhones have, I decided to drop some money on an iPod Touch, which has all of the same functions of an iPhone except the ability to make phone calls and send text messages. However, with its wireless internet capabilities, I have access to Twitter, Gmail, and pretty much any other channel of hand-held communication. I even have a Bible application.

I have never been the guy who gets excited about reading. I made it through high school and three and a half years of college by reading only three books from cover-to-cover that I was required to read . Many of my friends make fun of me for this, but devote my time to things that I do like, and reading is not one of those things. As a Christian, this has posed a major hindrance to my spiritual growth because God's word and instructions for life are written down, and to learn them, I have to...Read.

One of my friends with an iPhone is an elder at my church back home, and he showed me the Bible application on his iPhone. With this application, I can follow along with a daily Bible reading course, look up verses in nearly 15 different versions and 20 different languages, and find commentaries of any verse that confuses me just by tapping the screen of my iPod Touch. Just like Twitter and Facebook connect people to the social web, this application helps reconnect me to God. It's weird to think about.

My "get-my-life-right" initiative started Sunday night when I went to buy groceries at Wal-Mart. Whole grain bread, skim milk, Total cereal, 100% orange juice, and other items that are potentially beneficial to my health were on the list. I started training for a half-marathon. I wake up early to eat a bowl of Total cereal, drink a glass of orange juice and a glass of coffee, and pull out my iPod Touch to guide me through the day's Bible study. I have tricked myself into reading the Bible. Since I'm not holding a book in my hands, it just doesn't feel like reading, and I am now connected to God's Word again. I feel like I'm missing something, though.

Even though I am reading the Bible, I still feel like the personal aspect is missing. When I have the Bible application open, I am still one tap away from checking the weather with my Weather Channel application, tweeting my status on the Twitter application, checking the sports scores on the Sportacular application, and finding a movie to go see with the Flixter application. Instead of taking a timeout from my on-the-go lifestyle, I have simply implemented Bible study time into it, creating a false sense of pausing with God. I read, scroll down, read, scroll down, and even when I learn something new from reading I Corinthians, the process feels rushed, forced, and impersonal.

I suppose that one of the reasons why spiritual growth is a journey is because I not only have to figure out what path God wants me to take, but I also need to find out my method of transportation - how I will get from point A to point B. Reading is a tedious task for me, but I understand it to be a necessity for spiritual growth. iPhone or not, having a personal Bible study must be personal. I'm working on it.

The Gospel in LOST

Before the days of DVR technology, I would have to rush home from church to watch episodes of "LOST" every Wednesday night. Thanks to the power of SuddenLink's DVR capabilities, I can watch ABC's hit drama whenever I feel like watching it. Now in its 5th season, "LOST" has millions of people still baffled and asking, "What was that?!?" At each commercial break I have about 15 seconds to wonder what is going to happen next (before the days of DVR I had about 6 minutes), and I am still blown away that after watching this show for four years, I am still surprised every episode.

The episode that was extremely surprising was aired yesterday, Feb. 18, when the Gospel of Jesus was spoken through the character Ben. The setting is a sanctuary, and the scene opens with Ben, a shady character who seems to make everything topsy-turvy, sitting in a pew with his hands folded in front of his face. John Locke, a wise old man who was paralyzed from the waist down after surviving a fall out of a high-rise apartment but was then healed when his plane crashed on a mysterious island, walks in and sees Ben praying. They begin talking about doubting their current circumstances, and Ben walks over to a painting of Thomas reaching out to touch Jesus' wounds following the resurrection.

Ben refers to the story in John 11 when the disciples debate with Jesus about returning to Judea, a place where Jews where especially unruly toward the idea of Jesus being the Messiah. The disciples tell Jesus that he should not go because it is unsafe, and Ben quotes Thomas who said, "Let us go also, that we may die with him." Ben adds that, unfortunately, Thomas is not remembered for this statement of faith, but that he is remembered for his doubt. It was Thomas who did not believe in the resurrection of Jesus and stated that he would have to see and touch the wounds to believe.

Typically, all of the off-the-wall comments and occurrences that happen in "LOST" all fly together at this point - a secret government program to keep the island's experiment a secret, polar bears, human extermination, romance, a crazy French lady, a Scottish sailor, time travel - but this three minute scene stood out to me because it was the Gospel. It mentioned Jesus, his disciples, his death, and his resurrection.

This was not an in-depth look at the Gospel by any means, but I cannot doubt that someone watching "LOST" last night realized that he/she was Thomas, doubting the existence and divinity of God. That person could have been looking for something to fall into his/her lap as a sign of the Truth. Today is it more likely to hear Jesus' name in a derogatory fashion, and it is far more likely to hear $%@$# than the Gospel. It could be that the writers of "LOST" intended for this scene to fit into the list of crazy things that don't make any sense. Even still, the story of Jesus and his resurrection was revealed, and millions heard it.

Valentine's Day...Ugh.

Remember the days in elementary school when you would go to the grocery store, pick out some totally sweet Ninja Turtles or Barbie (gender appropriate, of course) Valentines cards, and give one to every person in your class during the Valentine's Day party? If you are a boy, then I'm giving you a Ninja Turtles Valentine. If you are a girl, then you're still getting a Ninja Turtles Valentine.

Luckily, my fiance is pretty low maintenance and told me that she didn't want anything for Valentine's Day. After conferencing with several of my peers, the results are in...When a girl says this, she is lying. That is why Nuns cannot get married or date. Every year for Valentine's Day, they would say to their boyfriends, "Oh, honey, I don't want anything for Valentine's Day." That is a lie, lying is a sin, and Nuns cannot sin.

I made cookies for my fiance for Valentine's Day. The recipe (yes, this recipe was on the side of the Betty Crocker box) said that I could make approximately 38 cookies. I only made 9. It is not like I got carried away and made them all the size of a personal pan pizza from Pizza Hut. I only made 9 because I burned all the rest of them. I blame my oven.

All the hopeless romantics out there and my good friend Krista might think, "Aww, that is so sweet. He made her cookies, and he even burned them. What a cute boyfriend." Thanks for the encouragement, but since only nine cookies came out right, I was only able to eat one. If I ate more, I would look like a slob. Eating 4 out of 38 cookies isn't a bad percentage, but 4 out of 9 will put you on Mauri with the fat babies.

We went to dinner and then went out to see He's Just Not That into You. As far as chick-flicks go, this one was pretty good. It had humor, and it made some valid points that could make life easier for every person on the planet. If a guy wants to date a girl, then he will do whatever he can to make it happen. No more waiting for the guy or girl to call, talking to your friends at work or school, or sleepless night thinking, "Is this person going to dream about me tonight?" President Obama should enact a social policy forcing schools to make the viewing of this movie mandatory for all eight grade students. That is a change I can believe in.

This post is also dedicated to my good friend, Krista.