Welcome

WELCOME

I say that to greet you with a glad heart and a inviting gesture into the new year. What's cool is when you are welcomed some where you have entered in and here we have done just that with 2011. It's a present, right now type thing. This is life! This is it right now, with the seconds ticking by through another year. Another test to brave. Another division to blame for wasted time.

But it won't be wasted time. There's just no telling what could happen this year. The mystery is exciting. Dare me to move. We'll make an adventure out of this yet.

Somebody said a few minutes ago that they think "we all make a pretty good team." I think that's beautiful, that we can have friends and Christ in us, the hope of glory. I think this whole life concept that I'm repeatedly stepping in is beautiful.

So here we are. Welcome to 2011. I'm so glad you are here. May God bless you with His friendship and fatherhood and make you saturated with good things.

Showtime.

Sweet Little Jesus Boy...A Christmas Carol

Ave Maria Gratia plena! That is, Ave Maria! Ave Maria! maiden mild! Angels from the realm of glory! Hark the Herald Angels sing! That is listen to the news these mighty warrior spirits are singing to you. "It's more fearsome than we! More awesome, this tiny babe!" "Oh night divine!" they swear, "Fall on your knees, you arrogant beloved!" It came upon a midnight clear, that glorious song of old. Midnight. How poetic. Joy to the world! The Lord has come. Let heaven, yea, let even nature sing about it. This is the show. The axis tilted. Boom. This is the first Noel! Let's say it in French. Let everyone know. Say it with bells. A carol thereof. Oh how they pound, raising the sound. All that jazz. And years from that day, I mean now, in modern times, there will be a formal party with champagne and the like. It will be Christmas and we'll get wind of war, and some noble, living in the wrong era will stand and toast and say, "God rest ye merry gentlemen, let nothing you dismay, remember Christ the Saviour was borne today." "Don't you understand?" he'd continue as they sat in silence, "Peace on earth! Comfort and joy!" and then they'd burst out in cheers and tip the bubbly into their mouths, being of good cheer and all.

To our Saviour. These carols applaud and celebrate His arrival. Grandiose? Oh yes. Romance? It bleeds it, dramatically too. Thrilling? Like hope it is!

Come all ye faithful? Really? Come all ye tax collectors and sinners, and you blamed fishermen that dropped out of school because you were too dense or too lazy to memorize the Torah! Come adulterers and half-crucified thieves! Silent Night? You mean the same night weeping wheeled out and sirens peeled the silence with the slaughter of babes as the dragon aimed to stop the whole salvation scheme in its tracks? What child is this that can cause this manner of revolution without any propaganda at all? Was he a self-proclaimed Messiah at birth that Kings would bring him gifts? Did a few shepherds want there name in the paper that they would leave their flocks and livelihood and travel to a random barn? And the astros? Star of wonder. A tail as big as a kite. But what? He was tucked away in a manger? The Magi got it. The Sheep men got it. Where was everyone else? Where were we when the sweet, sweet, little Jesus boy was born?

More than that, where we we when he was baptized? That was a landmark, oh boy. Where were we when he read the scriptures and claimed they spoke of Him? We were filled with wrath trying to throw him off a cliff is where we were. Who would do that to the King of the Earth? The Prince of Peace? The Wonderful Counselor? The Christ? Immanuel? Were we mad when we called him demon-possessed? We priced God's son at 30 pieces of silver. Why the heck would we do that? He was sweating blood in fear and we were napping. What kind of nerve is this? Then to top it off, we lied about him, flogged him, tacked him to a cross and were done with it.
Why?

Could it be that, we didn't know who He was? Have we found out who He is today even?
I think the African-America spiritual Sweet Little Jesus Boy is beautiful. It's actually a little more modern than you'd think as most get the idea of slaves singing this song out in the field. It was actually written by Robert McGimsey on Christmas Eve in 1932. The story goes he was walking home from a Christmas Eve service and he passed some sots who were drinking and swearing and he thought it was blisteringly irreverent. Didn't they know who He was? Didn't He know we were celebrating His blessed birth? Well I think that the Pharisees and Nazarenes and disciples and the Romans were blisteringly irreverent. I think we've kept up the tradition of this Christmassic desecration from then until now.
I think we owe Jesus Christ an apology, and that's what this song is. It's Christmas Eve, 78 years from the day this song was first penned and nigh 2011 since He came to live life, experience pain, guilt, and temptation, since he showed us how it was done, and since he took our sins upon himself in the bloodiest of ways. I've only been around nearly 18 years of that, but even in that short time, I've had cause to sing this sincerely myself. Christmas is a time for joy and peace on earth. Oh, I know that. I think we should pay some kind of heed to how Jesus showed us how to do things you know? He came to earth and in between saving our souls he showed us how we should live life. The world is mean. It's hungry. It treated him like dirt instead of royalty and it's doing the same to us today. That is simply how things are done here, but he showed us how. Sweet Little Jesus Boy. Sweet Little Holy Child. Master. Sir. I'm sorry. We treated you mean, we made you be born in a manger. I'm thankful for what you did. Help us all to not forget who you are now. Let us remember that you are our Saviour and with that we owe your praise and respect and dedication for life. Merry Christmas! Thanks for the peace on earth and the goodwill toward men we get each year this time that wasn't lavished on you when you came.


From me to you again citizens Merry Christmas! Thanks for reading and commenting and complimenting and disagreeing. I think you're swell. Here's to a Merry Christmas to you and your families. I hope it is filled with joy and peace and nostalgia and all those good feelings. I hope also that you get to know your Saviour, let us never be a stranger to him again. I love you, enjoy your Christmas, be of good cheer and keep driving and turning and getting lost and getting found and lapping those green lights on yours, mine, and our...Classical Ride.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Lyrics Sweet little Jesus Boy
They made you be born in a manger
Sweet little Holy Child Didn't know who You was?

Didn't know you come to save us, Lord?
To take our sins away
Our eyes was blind, we couldn't see
We didn't know who You was.

Long time ago, you was born Born in a manger low Sweet little Jesus Boy.

The world treat You mean, Lord
Treat me mean, too
But that's how things is down here
We didn't know t'was You.

You done showed us how
We is trying
Master, You done showed us how
Even when you's dying.

Just seem like we can't do right
Look how we treated You.
But please, sir, forgive us Lord
We didn't know 'twas You.

Sweet little Jesus Boy
Born long time ago
Sweet little Holy Child
And we didn't know who You was.

For last year's Christmas Eve blog: http://theclassicmc.blogspot.com/2009/12/coursing-indepthrible-plasms-fictitious.html

The Monetary Message of "...Grinch..." along with a healthy dosage of Linus Van Pelt's clarifying theology

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!
And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling:
How could it be so?

It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages boxes, or bags!

And he puzzled and puzzled, till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
Maybe Christmas… perhaps… means a little bit more."


I won't try and riddle this post with symbolism, hidden meanings, or why Dr. Seuss made the Grinch green. I haven't extracted anything innovative from the classic tale, and I'm shy about using a cliche. Most of you are familiar with this Dr. Seuss classic, but despite the obvious message in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" we still say noble things to silence our complaining kids like,

"You know some kids don't even get a Christmas at all. Why, you should just be thankful for what you get!"

This over-used adage simply is not true. Every single person that has ever lived since B.C. transferred to A.D. has gotten a Christmas. For too many it has come "...ribbons and tags, and packages, boxes, and bags..." It has come without the traditions that seem to be the personification of Christmas when really they aren't at all.

I wish every child could receive a gift on Christmas. I think it's a beautiful concept this gift-giving. The fact still stays that the gifts and feasting and carols and decorations aren't what make Christmas Christmas. Christmas, I'd say "means a little bit more."

This is why the Grinch couldn't snatch Christmas away. This is why no one can. Nor poverty, nor bondage, nor tragedy. We all get a Christmas and we all get an equal portion.

Our Christmas, this holiday we celebrate each year, is the birth of Christ. Our Christmas isn't expensive electronics wrapped up in pristine packaging and gaudy glamour. It's not even mistletoe or sappy love stories or some chilling, thrilliant feeling. In fact our Christmas is this:


And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
(Luke 2:8-14)

"And that's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown"

Jon the Christmas Hater

I have this friend who hates Christmas. When we walk through Wal-mart before Thanksgiving he tells me about how much he hates Christmas. It was after Thanksgiving when we were in McDonald's talking about it. He looked very out of place with the classic American burger, fry, and orange drink. He's not the traditional type really. I asked him if he hated Christmas. He said yes. I asked him why. He said it was annoying, cliche, and there are a bunch of greedy kids. Jon the Christmas Hater says that the gifts are just awful. He says that most people get gifts before the actual day anyway so what are we celebrating? He says that the kids get disappointed when they don't get what they want. I asked him if he didn't think that there were a lot of people that celebrated the right way. I think he thought that it was so. He had a sports page in front of him with Cam Newton on it and I thought he was going to give me a really clever analogy. He didn't. He wadded it up eventually I think. Jon the Christmas Hater feels that Christmas has become cliche. He really hates most of the Christmas music and all the terrible Hallmark movies. I said they were pretty fun to make fun of. He took another bite of his burger. He says he did however enjoy the family get-togethers. I said that how could you have those if you didn't have a holiday? He says we should change it to something else, like "go to grandmother's house day." I felt like a really good religious fellow for a second and asked him with a spice of drama if he would trade a "go to grandmother's house day" for the celebration of the birth of Christ. He took a sip of his orange drink and said he'd never use a lid again. I didn't deserve an answer I don't suppose. But he finally decided to give me one anyway. He said he thought the birth of Christ should be celebrated every day. I explained to him that if Christmas is already cliche once a year, everyday would be crush it. He asked me if breathing was cliche since we do that everyday, we both agreed that this was a pretty crummy comparison. But I did agree with him. I have a bad habit of trying to catch people in their words. I asked him if there was a perfect Christmas for him. He said that it would be better if he didn't get any gifts. You see his folks get him gifts and apparently there is nothing he can do about it.

I agree sometimes with Jon the Christmas Hater. He is one of my best friends you see? I even agree to a point on his Christmas theories. He is right about the cliches and the greed and commercialization. But I told him there is also an undeniable feeling to Christmas. Everyone feels it and it emerges through the dirt and refuse of our perversion of Christmas.

You know giving gifts seems like something selfish we've come up with. I don't think it is that way at all. After all, when Mordecai in the book of Esther was hosting his own little holiday he made this recommendation: "He told them to celebrate these days with feasting and gladness and by giving gifts of food to each other and presents to the poor." (9:22). Feasting, gladness, gifts to each other and to the poor. Of course it says food, in the King James it says "portions." Either way it's a gift. It's true a lot of us forget the giving to the poor. This is a tragedy. It seems like God cares an awful lot for the poor.

The world has created a lot of secular diversions from the meaning of Christmas. Jon the Christmas Hater doesn't like this at all. I don't either. They seem really irrelevant. Some of them are nice and give me a good feeling. This makes them seem really crafty and maybe sort of a trap. Now I feel like a jerk. But I agree with me.

There's a lot wrong with the way people celebrate Christmas. But there is more right about Christmas than any other time of year. It's like what John Greenleaf Whittier wrote:

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing,
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing,
Returns to you glad.

Somehow not only for Christmas...The feeling is there. Smell it, taste it, hear it, see it, feel it. Give gifts to one another, but not so it is stressful and in excess. Don't leave the poor out of your merriment, for they haven't got it as good as you. Don't get caught up so much in other traditions that you forget what happened and why it is momentous.

(Oh and Jon the Christmas Hater isn't a modern day scrooge or anything. I imagine he agrees with the spirit of Christmas if not the materialistic mask of it. He is as good a Christ-follower and friend as you'll ever meet.)

Family

How thankful am I for my family. No one really likes to read about other people's families (except me). But how can I help but overflow with thanks for my wonderful family.

Dad: In the grand tradition of the Capps family, he is a classy fellow. A hard worker. He is smart which a lot of people don't know. I think he reads the newspaper a lot. He can tell you every single thing about the game of football and I think he the go-to guy for Crimson Tide trivia. I'm glad to get several of his genes. Like the affinity for the MAN persona. No room for sissies you know. He lives up to it. He is a gentleman of the old school. He picks on his family a lot. This can be funny or a nuisance. I never hear him say anything bad about someone and really mean it behind their back. In fact I think he finds it easier to compliment people behind them. He believes in smelling good and being well groomed and clean with pressed clothes and normally a tucked in shirt. He tries to read the Bible and serve the Lord. He even witnesses to people especially with his life really, but with words too. I've heard stories. He cooks really good and has a whole lot of practical knowledge.

Mom: She is a mother. She read the Bible to me all my life. Would you believe it. She is talented in a lot of ways though I think she might be blisteringly insecure. She knows sign language and she can make jewelry. I don't mean kid stuff but the real deal, it's very nice. She's a beautiful lady really and she prays a lot. I think that runs in her family. She can sing, not like a professional, but like a mother should. One of the best things she did is gave me good taste in movies and music and the like. I was puzzled when I was younger because she wouldn't let me watch certain television shows even though there was nothing wrong with them. The grand plan was to give me good taste, I'm very thankful for that. She can cook really well. She cooked for me my whole life. She has taken a lot of pictures which I like to look back at. She did a good job raising me.

Wes: He's my older brother and he was my imaginative counterpart growing up. Our playtime was foolish, but genius, sheltered but epic. He's a good peer to have around on account of he is a connoisseur of old movies. He leaves up to the practical Capps genes better than I and he looks more like a Capps but I am better looking so it is quite alright. He's been an alright brother.

Julia: She is my little sister and she takes after my mom a lot personally. She'll make a good hostess one day. We think alike sometimes and get sad in the same manner. I hope she'll be tough emotionally. She'll be ladylike. She is after all a Capps.

Grandmother: Actually my maternal great-grandmother. She was the third parent really. She gave me so much childhood. I love her a whole lot. She is a genius in keeping a house, she embraces the God-given role of a woman. She is a wonderful lady. She is always good natured and always laughing even though she's been through the worst. She is always thankful, always honest. Her house is old and beautiful. She owns so much history. I love to hear her stories. I can could pull volumes of fiction (except it would be true) from her. She is an incurable giver. She helped me memorize my phone number and address. She is unconquerable because she won't let anything get her down. Tough as nails. A beauty. My wonderful great-grandmother.

Pawpaw: My maternal great-grandfather. Literally the most intelligent man I've ever known. He only had a sixth grade education but he is pure genius. He is a master carpenter. He's built houses. He built all the furniture in his house nearly. He plants several gardens to this day (he is in his eighties). He has so much history in his head. His childhood was unimaginably difficult. He is weathered and I think that is beautiful. I wish he could write a book. He is brilliant.

Granddaddy: He is my maternal grandfather. He is smart and a hard worker. He is an incurable giver too. He is solid. He isn't wishy-washy I mean. He has good taste and likes a particular way of running things. He cares genuinely about people and is humble. He chews tobacco which probably isn't a good habit but I think it smells good. He looks very at home sitting at the beach. He reads just a whole lot of books, which, even though they are fiction must mean he is awfully intelligent. This shows up anyway. I like that he is calm and cool and under control. He's a good man.

Nana: This is my maternal grandmother. She, again, is an incurable giver. She seems to repulse at injustice and she believes in prayer to a fault (which is how much everyone should believe in it). She is diligent! If she starts a project she will normally work around the clock to finish it. She is thoughtful and very creative. She can design things and think up uses for things that you never thought would be of use at all. She is a hostess too probably so Julia must have gotten some of that. She's a leader I think too. I've seen first hand that she won't be pushed around or cheated.

Papa: My paternal grandfather. He is the classiest man I have ever known. You should see this man. Just one look at him and you might be convinced. Immaculate. He can cook. He's worked hard. He was a paratrooper. Airborne. He can cook like no man I've ever seen. His house is beautiful. He has a wife now. And a dog, which he named Shorty. He is complimentary and caring. He gives without want of return. He is loyal and tough as nails. He is a winner. Nothing but a winner. He has excellent taste. In decor and clothing. I don't know what to say except that he is the classiest man I know.

My Uncle Steve Robertson is a sold out man for God. He is very well read and intelligent and he stops at nothing. He's a missionary, he is married to my young and kind Aunt Dawn. My cousin Caleb is their first son and he is a great guy who appreciates things and is good to share time with. Briana is their daughter and she's just a little character, but a sweetheart. They are extraordinary and talented all.

My Uncle Charles Capps Jr. We call him Uncle Bubba, which is strange but familiar and I like it. He is a comedian for sure. He is clean at all times and immaculate as well. Class is another name of his. Clean cut you know. I think he is a great and kind and caring man who loves his family.

My Aunt Mary Hardin is a wonderful lady who is interested in what her younger family is interested in. She reads and likes good music I think. She is accepting and treats people with respect no matter where they are from or their background or anything. She is rare, she believes people are equal. I love her.

My Aunt Robbi is a Capps all over you know. She is always happy to see me, which makes me happy. She is married to my Uncle Stuart who is a clean funny guy. I think he's a whole lot of smart too and he loves his family. Admirable. Virginia is a potent young lady. She is going to do great things. I agree with her a lot more than I let on. Sarah is an actress and a dear young lady. She makes me happy.

I have a lot more family. If you are my family and you are reading this. Leave me a comment. I'll tell you how special you are and how much you mean to me. It is actually 12:02 right now. November 26, 2010. I was trying to get this in before Thanksgiving ended, but you know according to Washington who initiated the holiday, it is on the 26th. So...Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Praise God for the thing I am most thankful for. My family.

Happy=Healthy

Why is laughter better than a Tylenol? A hearty smile a suitable supplement? A pat on the back a viable vitamin? It makes us happy! In thinking, I have developed a wholly uninformed, unreasonable, silly idea (or ideal) that I completely believe.

So my great-grandfather is nearing his mid-eighties. He plants a garden every year. He is one of the most brilliant carpenters I've ever known. He can split wood better than a youth. I kid you not. His body is worn, but strong. He eats a slab of salt pork nearly every morning. I'm not saying he's in perfect health, but what has it hurt him?

I know a great deal of people who are calorie obsessive. They shun sugar, steer clear of salt and fats, and have created a potently profitable market for "health food." I don't know many of them that can claim better health than I. I am not really careful as to what I eat, albeit I'm very young. I eat plenty of salt and fat, I am a Coca-Cola man and those killer cannisters often make there way in my system, but I'd match myself to a great deal of people health-wise.

I believe the key might be: 1. Don't be a glutton. 2. Stay active. If you are doing these two things I don't see how you can go wrong. I certainly would not say that emptying a few packages of Oreo's a day is a intelligent diet or that making a pyramid with your used Cola cans would not harm you, but within reason, truly, eat what you want.

I think at times that if people constantly watch what they eat, they will be worse off than those who are happily healthy. If one eats what they like it will curb it. That's generally what I do. I eat what I want, and what I like to eat. If I didn't eat what I wanted to I would be missing a little joy in life and for what? I get joy out of trying different foods and I don't want to let the fact that they are unhealthy hold me back.

So, in short, my health philosophy is don't eat too much of what's bad (but by all means eat it) and stay active. Eat happy, eat healthy.

*If I am found dead of nutritional problems in a few years we will all no my theory was wrong. (Don't count on it). I certainly would not want to steer someone in the wrong direction health-wise, so take care in following this bit of direction.

Quote Commentary 15...Brennan Manning (The Mask)

When I was eight the impostor, or false self, was born as a defense against pain. The impostor within whispered, 'Brennan, don't ever be your real self anymore because nobody likes you as you are. Invent a new self that everybody will admire and nobody will know.'

Brennan Manning

I received this particular quote secondarily, by way of a book called "Wild at Heart" by John Eldridge, he was representing this concept in a negative light. In the context, Manning was also condemning this practice. However, when I saw it I instantly connected with it. It seems that that may just be what I have been doing for a very long time. Living the masquerade that is Mitch Capps. My Classical Ride has been a Classical Show. It's been a great act. But how long can you be something before you become that something? Perhaps this created me is the me I chose for myself, and therefore truly is...me.

I am familiar with the fact that from kindergarten on we have been lambasted into believing that we should "always be ourselves." Oh it's a noble idea and I'll be attacked if I attack it, but who decides who we are? We are divinely created and then let loose. Who decides? We know our environment plays a crucial role. The personalities we surround ourselves with are our borrowing grounds. Then of course we have some amount of innate self, I know that, but do we not choose? I ask you, do we not?

In trying out this idea on some friends I have been repeatedly assured that they like "the real Mitch." I have a problem with that promise because quite frankly, they've never seen the real Mitch. So admittedly, for some, they like the fake me. This chap they've been friends with, this joe that they break bread with, this mug that they've grown to associate with Mitch Capps, is not Mitch Capps at all, but a prolonged and prestigious act. That is who they like.

For some an air of indignance comes along with what they call a "lie." I see this as a double standard. This is the me that I like, this is the me that you like, essentially, this is a better Me.

At the same time there is a mystery about this "false self" that must be maintained at all times. You have to learn about this person, but keep him and the You behind the curtain out of mind and out of state. You are behind the wheel with this person. You are bottled up inside (this is obviously not for everyone). You are ostentatiously reserved. You are shyly social. You have secrets. Secrets so petty and trivial that people would pay out the nose to find them out, but you won't let them. And to tell you the truth, they don't want to know. They want to have their faith rewarded, they want to have a mystery to solve. They want the sensationalized, glamourized, theatrical, fun You.

And so you give it to them.

*Naturally one does not have to agree with these theories. Besides that, this theory is not applicable for everyone, one must work these things out for themselves, and that is precisely what I'm trying to do, I am not trying to lay down the law or the truth, but allow you to be a guest on my hunt.

Newspaper Article

By Emily Towns and Mitch Capps (Me). This was written for the high school newspaper. It remains unpublished, so I'll whip it out here.

"We ride through the traffic of a thousand sins each day. And as we ride, can we honestly say we don't run a few red lights ourselves? There is terror in the streets.
But before any of this happened, there existed a foreign government: paradise. Almighty God had laid out a spread for us so scrumptious we can not dare to envision it's taste, lest we understate it to the point of blasphemy. What a racket we had. But as it would happen there was an intruder. An intruder who must have been something of a mystic. For in his cunning he persuaded a perfectly clean pair of lips to wrap themselves with relish around a forbidden fruit.
Then everything changed.
Humanity was cursed to the dirt and sweat and sin that would begin to shape civilization forever. The world began to tear itself apart.
Cain killed his brother. The earth was flooded clean from violence and immorality, but the second batch proved as bad. Noah became a drunkard, Babel built itself higher in their arrogance, Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed in their sin, Abraham turned his back on his wife to save his skin--twice, with his son following suit, Jacob hijacked his brother's birthright, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and unsuccessfully seduced by Potiphar's wife. When God had had enough and laid down his commandments they were smashed by the sight of God's people worshiping a calf of gold. Sampson was shamed, a virgin daughter of Israel raped until death, medium's were consulted, Saul committed suicide, David committed adultery and murdered. Bael was esteemed, the prophet's of the Lord were killed, the priests married heathen wives.
The planet was in sad shape. A hero was coming...for a price.
It is recognized that this hero was of a divine nature. A painful metamorphosis had to be undergone. His motivation? That would be us. But not the 'us' that you find going to church, singing hymns, or with our nose in the Bible, oh no. The 'us' that you find wasting the blood he spent in saving our skins. The 'us' that on a regular basis spits in the face of salvation and sins anyway. He was going to enter a sin-wired body for this? He was going to mingle with the traitors, the thieves, and the liars for this?
He absolutely was, and He absolutely did. Why? Because we were His children, He loved us, and we needed Him."

On a related note, I was lying down beside a campfire recently and I got to thinking along the lines of the crucifixion and it got me to thinking what love was. I wonder what love is a lot and I often wonder if feelings have to be present or not. Then I wonder if Jesus felt love for us when he was going through all of this. I wonder if he didn't just do it because he loved us (whatever that means) and not because he felt a good feeling towards us that is often related to love, but because we were his kids and he had always known what love really was and its definition. It's a series of acts that are for someone else's benefit. So you know love isn't that fun a lot of the time. I wonder of most of it isn't tough stuff. I wonder if I've ever really acted in love. You wonder a lot of things lying by a campfire. You should give it a whirl.

School: A Most Vexatious Project

The school year is often characterized by boredom, but it's adventurous yet.

School is socially, psychologically, emotionally, physically, mentally, economically, and spiritually trying. I want to say it is an organized mess. It taxes our time and our sanity. Pressure builds and explodes. We sweep up the debris stuff it in a file and try to prioritize before we truly clean up the mess. We scribble, note, and write upon random slips of paper, our hands, legs, arms. We fold, crumple, wad and lose various paper matter. We inhale (barely) and exhale (hardly) what knowledge we've "managed." We make attempts at a constant demeanor. We forget, fail, confuse, and dismiss. We schedule and break, practice politics and engineer purpose. We drag ourselves out of bed, we count down minutes, we get by. We stay after school, we try and justify extra-curricular activities. We read, write, ponder, and orate. We strive, try, believe, do well. We are frustrated, procrastinated and regrettable. We lament and praise. We appreciate and despise. We waste and save. We shove and maneuver. We are nostalgic and impatient. We are spit on and esteemed. We are outnumbered and united. We sit and desks we try to focus. We get behind, we get ahead. We sweat, we toil. We simmer, we boil. We understand, we are hopeless. We work together, we work alone. We work hard in school.

Most of us do.

A Good Reason to Adjust

Christianity began when Jesus started his public ministry. The first guy to ever start tailing him and doing what he did like a kid brother or something was the first Christian. They probably started following him around because he made some conversation with them. They probably were looking over their shoulder to see if he was talking to someone else. They probably did this because they were the scum of the earth. They were probably only ever talked about. And I mean in derision and disgust. Jesus probably said something complimentary and *gasp* shook his hand. He probably asked him why he was wasting his time on such sinful hobbies and told him to come hang out with him instead. Now there was a heart alive. You have no idea how happy that made that fellow. For him to have a friend. Now Jesus' following grew, I imagine, in much this same way and these guys started turning into some decent chaps, lowly though they were. On the other hand all the big, fancy-dressed, scholarly joes of Israel have got their robes in a tangle. The idea that Jesus is running around wising everybody up and breaking bread with sinners just eats them through their ephods.

Nearly 2,000 years later...

The modern Christian is a little different. He is fashionable to a tee. Well read and educated. He walks around being kind to people, because well, they need him. They won't be caught dead sinning (in public) and Jesus is there answer to everything. Really, politics, social opinions. You name it. Our sinners of the day have changed too. They have their own union. Christianity repulses them, but not half so much as Christians.

What changed? Did Christians ride on grace to a loftier castle? Listen to author Philip Yancey's take on the evolution in his book The Jesus I Never Knew:

The more unsavory the characters, the more at ease they seemed to feel around Jesus. People like these found Jesus appealing: a Samaritan social outcast, a military officer of the tyrant Herod, a quisling tax collector, a recent hostess to seven demons.
In contrast, Jesus got a chilly response from more respectable types. Pious Pharisees thought him uncouth and worldly, a rich young ruler walked away shaking his head, and even the open-minded Nicodemus sought a meeting under the cover of darkness.
I remarked...how strange this pattern seemed, since the Christian church now attracts respectable types who closely resemble the people most suspicious of Jesus on earth. What has happened to reverse the pattern of Jesus' day? Why don't sinners like being around us?

It's a question. Sinners liked being around Jesus. Sinner's don't like being around us. Could it be that we have become very much unlike Christ? Could it be that Christian has become nothing but a whopping misnomer?

We need to adjust.

Grace, Lord, Grace.

Those poor crowd-sculpted equestrian figures. High horse and pedestals and all that jazz. Until recently I was dishonest with myself about putting certain people on a pedestal and projecting them places they cannot possibly measure up to. Now quite frankly I admit it. Not so much with negative connotations though. It would neither surprise me nor discourage me if one of these heroes or heroine were to "disappoint." In fact, I know they display fallibility in the same way I know God created the universe. I cannot possibly fathom it, because it has not happened on my senses, but I know it is a fact of life. Truth be told, the chances are high that in the instance they did become dethroned, I would still hold them in the same esteem. My sanity and my stability are a product of grace, not of endurance or strength. Woe be to me if I don't grant the same to my fellow man. I find the denial of grace to be heathenistic, heretical, and horrific. I realize such a statement puts me in an imperative position to be tested. So be it. I cannot and will not go on with this hypocrisy. If God is capable of this amazing feat, and I am on relative terms with His Spirit, and sent-Comforter, and earthly manifestation, then I have no excuse in not participating in the act of forgiveness. Right now it seems mighty easy to forgive. I don't know if this is some sort of inexperienced deception or not. But if I've been wrong or let down, life will go on, and so will my love. This is the power of the almighty God in us. This gift is real and potent. I am repulsed by sin, and will mourn for those who fall temporarily to its arsenal, but I will never, ever have esteem for someone in a moment and disdain in the next. God help me, it was be a crime in itself. I cannot judge lest, Heaven forbid, I be judged. If one falls, they are tortured enough, be gentle in your rescue, I implore you readers. Half our heroes are just ragamuffins. Those that Brennan Manning speaks of: "the bedraggled, beat-up, and burnt out, the sorely burdened still shifting the heavy suitcase from one hand to another. The wobbly and weak-kneed who know they don't have it all together..." or those named "legion" that C.S. Lewis speaks of that look at them selves and see "a zoo of lusts, a bedlam of ambitions, a nursery of fears, and a harem of fondled hatreds." To often we are proudly pounding the gavel and haughtily and often dishonestly saying, "May God have mercy on your soul." May God have mercy on all our souls. Grace, Lord, grace.

"To punch and to kick"

"Anybody can teach you how to punch and kick."

If I've heard it once I've heard it a million times. It's what set him apart. Him being Master Scott Heath. An unsung hero of sorts.

Well he's a lot of things. He is a Christ-follower, husband, father, defender, investigator, martial artist, storyteller, teacher, mentor, friend, dreamer, worker, and the list could go on.

He's a mensch. He's always tried to be a man of integrity and as his life testifies, whatever he tries at, he succeeds at.

He has a story that I could never do justice to. Though it is an inspirational one. For all the "can't do's" he's been thrown, he's retaliated with a "can do." Perhaps one day I can get him to offer his story forth to the Classical Ride readers.

But somewhere in that story, that is continuing as I type, he wound up in our lives, and it was no accident.

On a personal note, he revolutionized my lifestyle and my persona. I was weak and he made me stronger in many ways through his classes. I was a sniveling, self-depreciating, sometimes bratty kid. In a lot of ways I was a loser. I knew it. I know it better now. But he renovated my spirit in a way. It was God, oh sure I know that, but he was a vessel. Probably the greatest gift he gave me was confidence. With it came freedom from fear and also ability. The way I looked at myself and acted changed. It was like having a brand new heart. I felt purpose for the first time in a long time.

So here's to Master Heath.

You sir, have left a legacy.

Walk the Line

This is nearly my life's philosophy. It's funny that one's whole journey on planet earth can be summed up in three words scrawled out in a backstage dressing room and put to a "freight train" rhythm. The writer, Johnny Cash, had a sweet promise to stay true to his love in mind. So do I, just maybe in a broader sense. I am not specifically talking about a relationship between a man and his wife, though that is noble and can come in the package. I mean more along the lines of doing what is right. Walking the line. In this world there is plenty to get drunk on. We are plenty educated on that. We need a Saviour to sober us up and He will. Many in the world are alcoholics and this is a tragedy. Sometimes intervention is necessary. Sometimes rehab isn't such a bad thing. Sometimes we need a guiding hand. Sometimes we need the humility of a black get-up. Sometimes we need to be hurt. Sometimes we need to look back on our past and feel the regrets. Sometimes we need a best friend. But we always need a Father, and He's always there. When you're so sloppy drunk you can't hear Him or see Him. When you wake up half dead of a hangover. He sits beside your bed with the hot coffee. He gets you back on your feet, combs your hair buttons up your shirt and gives you a little shove. Fall in love...

Walk the Line

Question II...The Derived Persona

Once again I have to revoke my Cool Hand Luke borrowed phrase "I can eat fifty eggs" and admit, I just don't know. I have often theorized, as I'm sure others have with me, that perhaps individuality is but a myth. Tinkering with such a time-honoured claim is foolish if one wants to maintain a fanbase. However, I prefer answers to fickle fans. Could it be that each man or woman's persona is only derivative of those one surrounds themselves with. Then, our "uniquity" could be explained by the fact that we each surround ourselves with a different social set. And we give and we take and even create from what we see and hear from around us. These things we call original are not our invention at all, but a beautiful conglomeration of outside ingredients. I would appreciate anyone's response on the matter. Don't me dogmatic, don't be shy. The question:

Is there an innate personality?

Action, the Myth, and Myrrh

"Wrestling Till Dawn" by Jean Blomquist was a novel. That is to say it was a brand new idea, not a long storybook. A novelty I plucked from it was in regard to faith. Faith without belief. Shocking isn't it? These two words are usually synonymous. A couple. Holy matrimony and all that jazz. So we think. We're not talking divorce here, we're talking these two were never married to start with. It's a myth. Or at least that's the way I see it for now.

Mrs. Blomquist brings proof with a brilliant analogy. She says that faith is to disbelief in much the same way that courage is to fear. This is the "in spite of" theory. One may act in courage in a situation in which they are very much afraid. Likewise, one may act on their faith in a situation in which they do not believe can have positive results.

It is logical to say that when events, circumstances, prior knowledge, facts, and reason contradict something it is beyond one's mental capabilities to believe it. We just cannot fathom the outcome in our head. But when we act anyway we are rewarded. This is the noblest of faiths.

How are our ill-financed human spirits charged enough to take such a leap? Assuredly it is none to our credit. The only way we have this faith is that God gives it to us. Freely and without reserve, I will add, if we take it.

Luckily for my mind that ever gravitates towards an argument, this theory has produced lots of criticism and disagreement. Tell me your own theories on faith, if you can counter mine.

Campest

I have this big, inborn love for camping in me. Something about "roughing it" attracts me so much that I intentionally contradict my natural needs. Discomfort is sometimes welcome, I stage it myself. Being wet, cold, sleepless and slightly hungry is supreme. To just elaborate a little more on this whole camping thing, I have a hard time believing that anything can be considered camping that includes a camper (such a misnomer), running water, beds, air conditioning, and anything electronic. Shelter in a tent is acceptable, but much better is the wide open sky as your ceiling.
Perhaps what is so appealing about camping, in part, is its raw contact with nature. In "Total Truth" by Nancy Pearcey, she writes that God communicates with us in at least three ways, "His Word (the Bible), through history, and through Creation." To the last, I can testify. Some of my closest moments with God are spent in the middle of nothing but his own. The chimeric thoughts that haunt me elsewhere cannot be found. I can get up close, or zoom out, and both viewpoints "declare the glory of God." Running water, and stars, and tall grass, and majestic trees, and fire, and birds, and crickets, and creatures; they make you realize who you really are, and who breathed life into you. We crave these things. They bring us close to God and His joy. They "sentence us shivers." Much unlike the man-made things we surround us with. These are much more common, much more plastic.
Remniscent of a peculiar anecdote that happened to me once. Sitting at home on Facebook, I was reminded by a status or something that all I had to do was look around to see the glory of God's Creation. This is what I did, and I saw a computer, water contained in a bottle, furniture, a television set, and a bottle of Pledge window cleaner. In a fit of frustration I grabbed the Pledge bottle by the neck and yelled at it, "You are not beautiful!!" (You did know I was crazy?) But so true it was, and too I could rush to the window and see nothing but a cloned neighbourhood and roads and grass that was laid out like carpet. I felt very stifled in that moment. After you are surrounded by material as that, and you realize it, all you have left of sanity is a human, God's greatest creation.

And so much better than the fineries of home, with the cozy bed and heat and comfy clothes, is the soaked, "mugged array," of the campest's bed. That choking smell of smoke is lovely. Eating of a stick you yanked from a tree is lovely. Telling long stories, often of the macabre, is lovely. Speculating the morrow's venture, of swimming (in a creek or a river, not a pool) or canoeing is lovely.

Camping is nice.

Reservations and Review

This next May will mark the one year anniversary of Classical Ride. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Chiefly because of feedback, whether good or bad. But in almost ten months it is easy to believe that I might have changed some of my opinions, or made some new realizations. This blog is the blog I would write now in place of some of the ones I have thrown out there.

1. I think the first mistake I made was a technical one and not a content one. It was a send-off of a very close friend of mine in prayer. My mistake was I included a picture of myself in plain view. My intentions later evolved into a much more anonymous methodology of never including a picture that fully showed my face. So, if you want, by all means go back to the blog entitled "Sarah Jane Murray" and take a look. I have deleted the picture that included my own face.

2. The next reservation is not so much a mistake as an imformative gesture of professionalism. I wrote a blog called "Proverbs...A Wise Man." Later, I wanted to add on with advice from another wise man, so I changed the aforementioned to "Proverbs...Wise Man I" and a whole series of "Wise Men" was sparked. That was simple enough.

3. This too, is not a big one, but I regret to have used the same picture in two separate blogs. Especially two that I liked very much. "Television Shows" and "The Gentleman's Handshake" both showed the same original picture. To me that just seems very unprofessional. Apologies.

4. Alright, this one is a real change of opinion. Sort of. In the blog "Inspire Me" I railed a bit against inspiration and how useless it is. It is something I have been thinking about ever since I wrote it. I have asked many good friend's opinions on it and gotten wonderful answers. I still don't really believe there is a permanent and quenchable inspiration. However, I longer believe to inspire someone alone is to fail. I no longer believe inspiration is useless. Perhaps Zig Ziglar put it best in saying, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing that's why we recommend it daily." What did I ever think was wrong with constant refilling anyway?

5. In "Quote Commentary 10...Leeland Mooring" I criticize mildly the lyrics of a song that talk about the "...tears of the saints for the lost and unsaved..." Now I recognize that, still, it will take more than tears, but that raw, sincere emotion is vital in reaching the world. You have to have a heart for the lost, to build relationships and bring them home.

6. I think since "The Gentleman's Handshake" has one of the highest comment responses of any of my blogs that it deserves to be mentioned. Know this: it is not in modern etiquette the true proper way to shake a girl's hand I suppose. (Though the male instruction was the most widely approved way). Most people will tell you that a man should shake a woman's hand the same as anyone. It depends on where you stand in the feminist movement. Thanks to all for the comments, whether approved, practiced, interested, or annoyed. I love feedback.


7. Maybe my most controversial (unintentionally, though foreseen) post of all was "Science." This one I really went out on a limb and I do not expect to revoke any of my statements very much. I said that Christians should not ardently study science, and with good reason, science is now presented as free from supernatural explanation and that defies the prescence of Almighty God. But if one is firm in belief, "so firm," as one commenter put it so that "NO-THING can move us." If this is right, then be a scientific genius and be ready to argue the natural-obsession out of other scientists. By all means do. I would like to myself, had I the mental capabilities to get a lot of it. One reader rightly put that "Early science pioneers actually looked at science as a way to understand the world that God created, thereby coming to a greater understanding of God." and that "you are learning about God's creation and there is nothing to fear there." Maybe there is something to fear, then again maybe I'm wrong. In any case I will heed the book suggestion "Total Truth" by Nancy Peary that one reader offered. Our anonymous reader goes further on to say this "atheists believe that Christians are too stupid to appreciate the scientific intellect and rational thought, and I think most Christians are too afraid b/c they believe the lies of the atheists." That too I can finally agree with.



8. In "Born" I relate my experiences with "getting saved" or entering a relationship with Christ. Two rememberances have crossed my path either by verbal reminder or sudden nostalgic thought. The first was that my mother did indeed talk to me about what it meant to be a Christian and led my brother and I in the "sinner's prayer." So it was discussed with me to a state of apparent understanding, but not rememberance. Further brain racking reminded me of "getting saved" (if not the actual experience itself, the after effects) and my dad telling me the first thing I should read in the Bible is the book of John.


9. In "The Now" I am afraid that I gave the impression that Now was not a time to be treasured. I hammered it too hard. What I wanted to get across was that, we should never settle for less, at the same time we should not postpone present discomfort, because it only grows with time. No reservations though, just I may not have written on an appropriate degree. I spoke truth along with my fellow bloggeress Sarah Jane Murray. Co-writing is something I enjoyed very much, and plan to do in the future again.


10. "Welcome to America" Parts I and II were the scariest thing I ever posted. I was not sure if I agreed with myself or not. As Marshall McLuhan said, "I don't necessarily agree with everything I say." In part one "Definitions" I began to address the problem: the de-civilization of the United States. It is true in a lot of ways. Is there reason for hope? Sure, I am all about hope. In Part II, "Part of the Problem" I suggested a sure cure. For the record, I am a patriot. I love the U.S.. Tough love is a must at times. The blogs were tough love in words.

11. I made a big mistake in "Principle and Carpetball." It should have been in the Wise Man series (whether than "Anti-Climatic" really, though those were wise men), because the person who gave the advice is someone I consider very wise. Just know that, and I will not feel bad about not putting "wise man" in the title.

12. "..." is by far the weirdest blog I ever wrote. It was like trying to run for political office against a punctuation mark. The reason I wrote it is because I was reading a daily devotional that often would cut half a scripture out and change the meaning. I though that was very wrong. The Word of God needs no help or deception to prove a point. So I guess I just unleashed a little frustration on my readers. I had fun, but apologies.

13. "Wasted Laughter" makes people mad at me. I LOVE TO LAUGH! In fact I wrote an entire reservation blog called "Well-Spent Laughter" so there! I meant what I said in the first blog though. Laughter CAN be wasted.

14. "Author" was my response to all the 'lu-lus' who try and catch God with his own words. End of story.




15. "'Coursing Indepthrible Plasms': A Fictitious Christmas Prelude" felt daring at the time, but I was so blessed with a big response. It has sparked a much bigger project, stay tuned for details.

16. I was ashamed of "Extraordinary" when I wrote it and still kind of am. But it is alright. It sounded so arrogant, so I understand if you got that impression. I am still toying with the theory of one's 'extraordinariness.' I have come to the conclusion that everyone has the same amount, only the greats all capitalize on it. That's the trick. Capitalize. Just a thought.

17. I am usually pretty good about giving credit for my sources. However, I failed to note the quotations that acted as anecdote in "Points of No Return." For those of you who didn't know. It was "Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain.


18. I was excited about the response in "Question...The New Morality." From what I have gathered, the only thing that seems to be agreed on morally is that "if it hurts people it is wrong." I feel there must be more to it than that. Many believe that morality is subjective, or as one anonymous reader commented, "Morality is just a set of standards for a particular social group..." The same commenter goes on to state that morality simply isn't real. He then tries to prove his statement with one of our own, C.S. Lewis which gives me the impression he/she is well read. The quote was, "Human beings, all over the earth,have this curious idea that they ought to behave in a certain way,and cannot really get rid of it." This quote however was more assuring us that there is definitely a right and a wrong, but as to what is or isn't, it remains unclear. Another reader and fellow blogger ginniajo (http://ginniajo.blogspot.com/) suggests that it "very well could be piety." A logical guess. Sarah Jane (http://mitiocbygrace.blogspot.com/) agrees it is a "man-made set of rules" and makes good points from a Christian standpoint. The war goes on. I am starting to think Morality cannot be bound by reason. We have to know as C.S. Lewis talks about in "Mere Christianity" (the source of the anonymous reader's quote) that there is something bigger than us out there, and he gave us a really thick book to tell us things we couldn't possibly get together on our own.

Well those are my reservations for the year. Once again thank you for coming along on the always...Classical Ride.

The Real Jesus

In an earlier blog, "Test of Time" we took a look at Downhere's song "The Real Jesus." The song contains the line "Jesus sparked a controversy." It's a legitimate claim, in truth it is beyond doubt. With it he has sparked a world-shattering legacy. He was the archetype for a new brand of heroism. Epochal among epics. A giant. Out of everyone's league, still on everyone's level. Wars, depictions on film and stage, governments, genocides, novels, poems, paintings, sculptures, magazines, companies, songs, schools, theories all have bore his name. Some undoubtedly with his blessing, others out of line. He's been summoned upon in nearly every U.S. court session, presidential innauguration, and sporting event. He presides weekly over the largest gathering of anyone anywhere for any reason in church. He has made his way into every single aspect of our lives. He meets many before every meal and many more before the lights are dimmed down for slumber. He is responsible for the biggest sensation in celebrations in Christmas. The emblem of the cross is popular jewelry for the believer and unbeliever alike. He is on T-shirts he is on ball caps he is on wallets and watches. He is in our vernacular. He is everywhere and still for many we find it so hard to talk about him.

I for one can talk about Jesus Christ all day long. But before you type-cast me as a bible-thumping mugwump allow me to explain how I'm not all that statement cracked me up to be. I find it easy to argue about the contraversy He's stirred. Talk to me about evolution and I can explode into a pro-creation tirade. Give me your worldwide mythologies and I would love to give you truth in its stead. Give me excuses for immorality and and I will feed you scripture in a spoon of reason. That's for the unbeliever. For the believer I am just as bad. Let's talk about predestination, age of accountability, was Jesus a pacifist? Forget who He was and what He did. Forget creation, just speculate as to whether it was seven days humanly speaking or if it was God's 1,000 year day?* Why do I rant and rave in the debate but when it comes to my true purpose of day to day, lifestyle worship I stutter and lack justice? I believe it is noble to defend the law and holy name of Jesus Christ but how immaturely I attempt it. My defense should be grounded in faith in Him and obedience to His commandments and practice of His love. Back to that line. That glorious line that fires me up for the battle of words and truth. "Jesus sparked a controversy." Sure He did. I know that. But what about the succeding line. "...Jesus known for His mercy, gave the blind man sight...Jesus loves the children, holds the lambs, Jesus prays a lot, Jesus has distinguishing marks on his hands..." That's where it's at. Mercy and Grace and Love. That is the real Jesus.

*"...God's thousand year day" comes from Psalm 90:4
To read "Test of Time": http://theclassicmc.blogspot.com/2010/01/test-of-time.html
To listen to "The Real Jesus: http://www.playlist.com/searchbeta/tracks#The%20Real%20Jesus%20downhere

Sit Down

As one number of everyone's favourite Brando-Sinatra musicals sings "Sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, sit down, you're rockin' the boat!" It isn't too illogical a request to make considering we are all in the same boat. One standing above the rest can throw the balance.

If you've read the gospels you'll notice that Christ handles every sin he encounters with easy grace and scarce anger. That is except for hypocrisy. Hypocrisy entails a dishonesty that chafes like sand. In Brennan Manning's The Ragamuffin Gospel he paints a picture of the church. He says:

The pious fellowship permits no one to be sinners. So everyone must conceal his sins from himself and from their fellowship. We dare not be sinners.

The church has fast been accumulating the barnacles of a bad rep to its pious planked hull. Possibly because we have forgotten the truth of Morton Kelsey's correction, "The Church is not a museum for saints, but a hospital for sinners."

We do not go to parade or flaunt. We go to heal. True too, after your renewal, it is acceptable to pass from hospital to gymnasium, in hopes of spiritual brawn. However, you must resist the reflex to flex and flaunt your alleged gains. Lording over the diligent rowers will only propel them to despair. The truth is we are all unclean. Were it we could bring ourselves to admit it.

Casting Crowns asserts there disapproval of "rocking the boat" in their song "Stained Glass Masquerade" asking listeners,

Are we happy plastic people under shiny plastic steeples, with walls around our weakness and smiles to hide our pain, but if the invitation's open, to every heart that has been broken, maybe then we close the curtain, on our stained glass masquerade.

Their is forgiveness and love in the confessional to Christ, but there is freedom and fellowship in the testimony to our brothers and sisters. I am not all pessimist in blogging you know. Chances are high that there are plenty in your church that would be happy to listen, forgive, and accept you. Could it be that those that are so repulsed by the mention of sin are so because it has taken or is taking a toll in their life?

The problem with churches is they are full of people and people are full of flaws. The great thing about churches should be that everyone is willing to machete the vines and brush until the oasis is reached and in some places this is the case. Where it is not. Sit down!

Question...The New Morality

I do not mean to imply with the title that one of the most central and greatest truths of all time is now dated and therefore be classed into 'old' and 'new.' Not at all. However, the perspectives and mindsets are reeling. I am really bad about giving out absolutes. I am often called upon to grudgingly admit that I just don't know. Well now I do it with unclenched fists. My question: What is morality? We all seem to know that it is what will hold everything together. The Christian faith bases it on the Word of God, the Bible. I feel like the world has come to view it as, if it doesn't hurt anyone then it isn't wrong. Well that seems like a pretty solid definition. A definition that no doubt politically correct thinkers would applaude with a smug look. But one that Christians may have a hard time tangibly justifying. They will realize that there are a few 'no-nos' that they may not quite have an explanation for as to "how it hurts." While it strains in explanation, it cries "duh" in sense. If an omniscient God says it's wrong it is wrong. But we are all over reason these days. Fact trumps belief in interplanetary eyes. So this blog is centered on feedback. My question is not a thesis for me to answer. It is for you.

What is morality?

Well Spent Laughter...Wise Man (Men) IV

Life lessons from dad are treasured things. More treasured than even the gold dust uncovered in "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre" which happens to be the movie in view when one of the earliest remembered pieces of fatherly advice was given. With Humphrey Bogart already dead we see the remaining prospectors losing their fortune in gold to the wind and sands of the desert. They begin laughing in hysteria. My inquisitive older brother questioned my old man as to why they were laughing. This was a crisis after all! My dad said something profound almost, "Well, you can either laugh or cry." We understood. When bad things happen, it is good to take it with a laugh. Much later we have almost the same conversation about espionage sitcom Get Smart. This time it is me reminding him. "We should all try and be like Maxwell Smart" says I as Max jokes about his apartment's explosion. My dad, ever a critic of his stupidity raises more than one eyebrow. I go on to explain the lesson he taught me much before "it is good to take our crises in life with a little laugh." He agreed.

When I was in Ecuador, each morning at breakfast one of the adult leaders would share a sort of daily devotional. On our last morning in Sucua a good man began to share a little of his life's story. He told of some very tragic and difficult times. This was not the expected imparture from our normally jovial friend. After little thought however, it only enhanced his sincere joy. He was the product of a calloused life and what was left was an ever evident appreciation for the beauty in laughter. Adding to my admiration it was also clear as to his motives in spreading his tickled feelings.

A world without laughter is a sick envisionment. We thrive off laughter. While my claim still stands it can be wasted (http://theclassicmc.blogspot.com/2009/10/wasted-laughter.html) laughter is not something to be kept under lock and key. Spend it where you can, find joy in trivial things. Laugh.

Quote Commentary 14...Paul W. Bryant

The same things win that always won, you just have a different bunch of excuses if you lose

Paul W. Bryant

Best known as the University of Alabama's winningest football coach amassing six national titles and thirteen conference championships. He is a hero among sports fans everywhere.

I revisit the Quote Commentary in part, I suppose due to a little guilt over not having a blog oding the Crimson Tide's thirteenth national championship, and in part still that I've been hankering to do a new quote for quite some time now. Paramount among my range of reason, however, is the thick meaning that backs this simple statement.

Human beings just might be out to reform perfection. Though it is true that "the times are a' changin'" their is a control to this vast experiment called life. God is that control. It is written as I'm sure you've heard "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8). And if we have that to fall back on there is a lot of security. Don't mistake that security or that comfort with ignorance. Despite that security many refuse to accept the truth. They test out many different paths that they assume will lead them to a victory. With our salvation and time on earth at stake, is it really worth experimenting with the skinning of cats? I think not! People are tangled up in all the ropes, ladders, and stairways that will allegedly get them to the top. They assert that "While this may work for you, this is more suited to my abilities or tastes." It is wrong. Defineably wrong. What has been winning will continue to win. Jesus Christ, "Love thy neigbor," kindness, righteousness, and love. It isn't picking out a car, a suit of clothes, or a spouse. In the end you can say "this is the reason this failed, not because I didn't do things the right way," but you will be wrong. All the excuses in the world won't make it right. Life is war. A twisted game of sorts. A business. It has definitive objectives. How you play the game is up to you, and it will determine how things turn out.