8 Years

Blogger has been around for 8 years now, and I've been on board (in some form or another) for 5 of those. For some reason, that seems strange.

It's also weird how my interest in politics has massively quieted down. A friend pointed out recently that might be because being in school allows for massive amounts of news reading and political discourse on a daily basis, which simply isn't present post-school. An astute point.

Broken People, Broken Programs

Over the last while, I've been engaging in a debate (both in the blogosphere and face-to-face) about the merits of "church". This has led to a label of me arguing the "pro-church" position on these issues. The fact that there would be a "pro-church" view implies there is an "anti-church" view, which I presume would have to be the opposing position. I presume this implies "church" as a "structural building with traditional Sunday services", although I would be interested in hearing what the actual definition being referred to is.

This blog post is largely, although not exclusively, inspired by this post. Reading it will help in understanding the topics on which I am commenting.

I'll start by disagreeing with the statement: "There's no problem with the programs, it's a problem with the people." To imply that nothing is wrong with church programs is a wrong statement - or at the very least, less than perfectly true. More accurate might be "Church programs, though not perfect, can be valuable tools in growing, reaching and encouraging people."

Programs might be (and most probably are) flawed, but people unequivocally are flawed. That's why it's a prima facie, de facto problem with the people. If people were perfect, there would likely be perfect programs. Unfortunately, people aren't.

I'm not saying traditional church (or its associated programs) are perfect. I'm just saying it's pretty darn good. They help many, many people. And people are pretty darn bad.

You know what? I'm immature, incompetent, unwilling, rebellious, selfish and lazy, in addition to being slothful, greedy, lustful, weak and cowardly. Among many, many other "not-so-nice" labels. That's just the start. Throw me a few more and I'll sign up for those too. I am a complete and utter sinner, and the only reason I'm on this earth today is by the unconditional grace of God, without which I would be even more decrepit than I am today, as I am utterly and completely deserve to be burning in hell for eternity, and thanks to His great mercy, I have been given new birth.

In my prideful opinion (missed that one in the first list), there is a great degree of personal responsibility in each of our lives, period. And we shouldn't expect the church to do any of it for us. At the end of the day, we're not responsible for what the "church" did to us, or what quality of "programs it offered" - we're responsible for our actions and our own spiritual health.

Although saying "there is no problem with the programs, it's a problem with the people" might be giving the programs too much credit, I don't believe it's selling the people out at all. The programs aren't sinfu - but people are.

I am not willing to attack people, because I have no right to. How dare I point the finger at another when I am guilty as charged? The parable in Matthew 18:21-35 feels directly on point.

That's not an exercise in self-flagellation, simply an honest assessment of myself. I'm a broken individual, ergo, I will inevitably create broken programs.

If the people are the cause of the programs, then let's work on the people as opposed to blowing up the programs.

Baseball Trades

If the proposed Rios-for-Lincecum trade happens, JP should follow up with Burnett-Kemp. I would like that very much.

Golden Compass, Golden Scandal

2 Thoughts for today:

1) I'm not sure that going around screaming "The Golden Compass is evil! The Golden Compass is evil!" is going to accomplish much. Simply saying something is evil/bad/etc. rarely does the trick. Far more effective is explaining why something is wrong, etc.

I'm currently reading the book. I'll get back to you.

2) I am at a serious loss to explain this ridiculous lack of decorum. Think of how this sells for the NDP: "Young Conservative MP caught looking at scantily-clad women on laptop on Parliament Hill". Sounds like a pretty good smear, no?

Except it has a perfectly valid explanation: the pictures were of said young Conservative MP's girlfriend.

How is this possibly defended? How embarrassing would this be if in a public setting accusations were made by someone who had been snooping on you? I can't imagine the situation Moore must have felt he was in.

And to paint this as anything other than a blatant and embarrassing attempt to smear Moore is impossible.

I'm actually in shock that any MP would try this. Mathyssen should be absolutely ashamed of herself.

Christian Gossips

Why are Christians the worst at this? Is there any possible justification for this?

Why is it that people avoid working at churches because they are hives of gossip?

Why is it that we have roast pastor for lunch way too many Sundays?

Why is it that when someone comes to us with a problem we tend to quickly share it with a "friend" with some sort of ill-conceived rationale?

Where along the way did we forget Proverbs 16:28: "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends?"

Wedding Invite Rules

1) Don't invite yourself to anything.

2) If you're not invited to something, it doesn't mean the bride and groom don't like you.

3) Don't invite yourself to anything.

4) It costs alot of money to have a wedding, and every single seat at a reception costs money. Don't be offended if the bride and groom decide that they would prefer to spend more money on establishing their new life together, and less on more people at the reception.

5) Just because someone else is invited doesn't mean you should feel jealous.

6) Don't invite yourself to anything.