Why I Believe – A Pause to Respond to Comments 5

Greetings Dear Reader,

Sometimes things are profound in their simplicity.  The comment I received from one reader on the item concerning love as a reason I believe had this impact on me.  Patrick wrote “Love tempered with wisdom is surely the birthplace of all pure things. Removing the specter of "if" from the concept ‘I love you.’ can only create beauty in the world.”

I find the comment so vital to living out what one believes.  It is vital that we remove conditions from our love for others if what we believe is to matter at all.  In his Blog, God’s Own Fool he has also written, “Follow Jesus now, not in hope of things to come, but for the sake of everyone around you. IF we Christians would actually try to follow Jesus, if all of us would, Heaven wouldn't really need to come to us.”

I think this is why our love is to be our benchmark.  This also flies in the face of much practical wisdom.  When we choose that love is going to be our prime mover we will seem mad to some people.  I think that as Patrick has noted we will also become bearers of something that is barrier crushing.  We cannot let the failings of others or the foolishness of misguided zealots deter us from this.

If our love is not our prime mover the other aspects of following Christ will become skewed and we will harm others and the name of God.  This is why we must be known for our love.

I will depart from talking about why I believe and begin to discuss how to follow Christ.  This is not going to be a to-do list but rather a review that addresses a very important issue.  No matter how much I believe it cannot be validated by others unless I do things that are truly following Christ.  Since this issue is easily skewed I will examine what I think to hone my ability to live it.  Come with me if you wish.  Perhaps you can aide me in following more closely.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – Morals and Values

Greetings Dear Reader,

When I first pondered this as a reason to believe that there is something beyond me in the universe that is responsible for my existence it seemed simplistic.  Then as I pondered and read about it I realized that the simplicity of the argument is the rational for it.

Why would we conceive of truth, right, and justice if there was nothing outside of us to influence it?  Why would violation of those things be onus to society were there not a code written into us that proposed the value of them?

I have read many things that try to reason man away from an outside influence in this area but the arguments seem circular.  It does not seem reasonable that we would evolve a set of behaviors that would have moral imperatives.

I am not going to review all of the arguments here as others have done it far better than I can.  It is, however, key to why I believe.  I am not obligated to any moral code that does not come from outside of fallible man.  If that code is not imposed from something greater than me then it has no authority over me. 

If there is no morality beyond man then man can only impose his moral code on me because of his power over me by sheer numbers.  This use of might makes right flies in the face of the code that it presumes to enforce.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – The Command to Love

Greetings Dear Reader,

I cannot pretend that I understand the intricacies of the Old Testament law or the way in which these laws work in relation to the world at large.  I do know that central to all the things contained in the law is the command to love.  I have written about this before and will not belabor it too much.

What I want to make clear is that we are to love God and our neighbors including our enemies. This is the focus of all that God commands us to do. This is what Christ pointed out as the foundation of the law.  It becomes very complex very quickly if we do not establish love as the foundation for all of our theology.

We must do things that are centered on loving God and each other.  The failures of Christ followers both globally and individually are anchored in the failure to follow this mandate.  The seminal character flaws in man are linked to this failing.  If I do not embed each action with love for God and my neighbor I am destined to act in a self-centered, self-righteous, and self-absorbed manner.

Any God that wants me to love my enemy must have confidence in his approach to the cosmos.  If any man follows this simple but difficult command he will face difficulties.  I have to work to keep my own interests at bay and to love others.  Even those who wrong, misunderstand, or hate me are to be targets of my love. 

I have seen this work.  I think that when I withhold my love from someone for some slight, real or imagined it damages my faith and my ability to follow Christ.  When I love someone beyond my faults and his I create a space in which respect and understanding can grow.  Problems can get solved.

I believe because God wishes for us to love each other.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – Forgiveness Part 2

Greetings Dear Reader,

In pondering why I believe I have to review the things that hinder or have hindered my faith.  Forgiveness is positively one of them.  When I do not forgive others it impacts my ability to be loving, kind, gentle, and meek with them and others.  When I do not seek forgiveness when I have wronged someone it makes me proud, arrogant, and dismissive.

I think that Christ followers have moved from seeking genuine forgiveness from others to simply apologizing or worse simply saying they are “sorry” when they have wronged someone.  It takes humility to truly ask for forgiveness.  We hand the power of a situation over to the one we have wronged.  We give the wronged person a choice to forgive or not forgive.  We become vulnerable to their choice of right or wrong.

When we simply say we are sorry we do not give the other person true humility.  I think we are not even expressing true sorrow over what we have done.  We retain the power.  We will even use it later to exert power if the individual is still hurting.  “Well I said I was sorry” seems an entirely prideful statement.  It seems that we more want out from under the ramifications of what we have done wrong.

In the same vein we must be very willing to offer forgiveness from a place of humility.  When we are given the power to forgive or not forgive we must remember how in need of forgiveness we are.  If we think we do not need forgiveness at a deep level we need only ask those closest to us.  Once given this power we need to use it lovingly and with great grace. 

Both seeking and granting forgiveness must come from a place of humility.  Failing this we will not achieve true reconciliation.  I think that failure to own our wrongs or forgive the wrongs of others puts in place a barrier between us and God.  If we act out of pride we cannot see our need for redemption.  We do not trust God to handle things.  We begin to question his place in things.  Forgiveness is both a motivator and feeder for faith.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – Forgiveness

Greetings Dear Reader,

Yesterday an observation was made that I wish to agree with wholeheartedly.  The question was posed and posted: “Why is it that Christians so quickly brush off the "bad behavior" of themselves and remind everyone else that God is still loving. There is something deeply troubling about this. The claim the salvation of eternity and then write off the pain or suffering that they cause as temporary and meaningless. Worse still, there are times when Christians cause a great deal of suffering and pain and claim that it is the will of God.”

I think we do brush aside our bad behavior often.  I know that I am either much harder or too often easier I my own actions than I am on others.  Christ followers often fail to own the depth and impact of their sin.  We behave as if our ultimate forgiveness somehow mitigates the impact of our actions. 

I know that I personally feel the depth of the consequences of my failures to follow Christ over the years.  It continues to impact others and even though there is forgiveness from Christ there is no assurance that this heals the damage my actions do to others.  In fact the very idea that I feel that I am forgiven by God may be odious to people who have not forgiven me.

Take the extreme case of someone who has murdered another person.  The killer may truly see how wrong his actions are and seek the redemption and forgiveness that is in Christ.  He may even feel forgiven and somewhat relived.  This does not mean that he has been forgiven by the family of the person he murdered.  He must always be aware of what he taken from them.  Even if they do forgive him it does not heal the damage or remove the loss. 

I believe this is why Christ made it so very clear that the forgiveness of God and our forgiveness of each other is so closely related.  It is why when we wrong others we are to do what is necessary to heal and repair the situation.  It is why Jesus put it upon us to act when we realize that someone has something against us. 

Forgiveness is a bi-axis and multidirectional concept.  When I do wrong the matter is not resolved until I have the forgiveness of God and of those I have wronged.  It is my responsibility to seek the forgiveness of all who are involved.  Paradoxically but still true is the matter that I am obligated to forgive those who have wronged me.  No matter how much I am hurt, angered, or betrayed by what happens Christ insists that I forgive the one who wronged me.

I believe that this is one of the great hindrances to faith.  If I do not see my own failings, pride, and self-centeredness then I will not realize how much I need the forgiveness that Christ bought for us.  If I think that forgiveness from Christ dismisses the obligation I have to live humbly before others then I am mistaken.  If I do not acknowledge my failures as they relate to those around me I appear arrogant and unloving.  The same is true if I do not actively forgive those who wrong me.  My not forgiving others makes me hard hearted and bitter so easily.  A balance must exist between all of these in the way I think and live.

Imagine how much easier it would be to accept Christ followers, even if you did not believe if they did these things.  I know that just reviewing these concepts for this writing have reminded me of how important it is for me to keep them in mind as I deal with everyone.  I think that if I remain constantly aware of my own sinfulness when I deal with others it will work to make me more humble and much more forgiving.  That combined with the love I spoke of earlier can do much to show the true nature of God.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – Unique Direction Part 3

Greetings Dear Reader,

I spoke of how the Father loves us.  I think that this is one of the greatest ways in which to express trust is to love.  When we allow ourselves to love someone we become vulnerable and that is inherently a trusting act.

The essence of the Old Testament law and of Christ’s teaching is that we must trust the Father by becoming vulnerable to loving others and loving him.  It is not in our strength and riches that security is found.  It is in the vulnerability of trusting that all will be well if we love God and love each other.  It is the security that God will supply all our need and he will do it out of his abundance. 

The power of love the drives God to journey to me to draw me to him is one of the deepest reasons I believe.  I realize that this is irrational and subjective but in that I find it even more irrational not to believe. I am not perfect.  I am fallen.  I am in need of redemption.

The God of the Bible journeys to me to buy me back from my own brokenness.  No matter how many times his followers mask this by their bad behavior it is still true.  Focusing on this ignites a love in me that I cannot explain.  It draws me to God and to know him more deeply.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Blue Moon

Greetings Dear Reader,

Today there is a blue moon.  If you do not know it, a blue moon means that there are two full moons in the same month.  This happens rarely enough that people notice it and make a big deal of it.  The moon is not actually blue but rare events are referred to as “Once in a blue moon.”  A blue moon is said to have special arcane meaning.  People fall in love under a blue moon.  Some calendars are formed around blue moons.

There is also a song by the name Blue Moon.  I have always like this song since I heard Nat King Cole croon it when I was a boy.  Sometimes I can carry a tune and I sing this song to myself at times.  I used to help care for an elderly lady who when she became agitated could be calmed by my singing this song.

I have written before about how music connects to who I am in many ways.  This song played a part in a very important part of my life.  The first time I held my first Grandson, Orion, I found a new love that was different than anything I have ever felt.  This song leapt into my mind and I have sung it to him often to help him fall asleep.  Now that he is talking he and I sing it together.  We even sing it to his baby brother

You see great and wonderful Grandsons come along only once in a blue moon.

Blue Moon

Blue Moon

You saw me standing alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Blue Moon

You know just what I was there for

You heard me saying a prayer for

Someone I really could care for

And then there suddenly appeared before me

The only face my heart will ever love

Someone whispered please adore me

Then Moon it turned to gold

Blue Moon

Now I'm no longer alone

Without a dream in my heart

Without a love of my own

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – Unique Direction Part 2

Greetings Dear Reader,

Before I paused to respond to comments from others I was headed in a direction.  I stumbled by trying to show unclearly the Father heart of God in an analogy.  My point is that God loves us.  Behind all the trappings of the Old Testament law is a love for us that is deep and abiding.

When we reject God in any way he feels as a father feels when his children disobey.  A loving father feels hurt, anger, and sadness.  God measures out these things but the undercurrent is always love that moves him to grace, mercy, and reconciliation. 

The point is that we spend so much time seeing God in terms of theology and apologetics that we do not embrace the father’s love he holds for us.  I believe because the Father makes it clear that his feelings for us are familial. He wishes for us to know him in-depth in this way.

I have two Sons who I love deeply.  I have failed them in many ways but my love for them has never wavered.  My father never once told me he loved me.  He never held me by his side and expressed his confidence or belief in me.  I think they have no idea the potential they possess.

In that is the heart matter of my faith and belief.  God represents himself as a father to the fatherless.  He expresses over and over his desire to show us his plans for us if we will only accept his love for us.

This is not pabulum to placate the weak minded.  This is the core of the force that is unstoppable in my faith.  This is the focus that moved Jesus to the cross.  This is what we are to be recognized by.  This is to be our prime mover in showing our faith to others.

I believe that what I believe does not matter if I do not show love to others.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

An Aside - An Awaited Moment in Time

Greetings Dear Reader,

As a lifelong teacher I have harbored a dream that teachers harbor.   That is the dream of one day having one of my students become a teacher that works with you.   Teachers and I mean real teachers long to find their own kind and nurture them into the profession.  We understand the value of learning.  We get how the right investment of knowledge and confidence into a student can change a life.   We realize that very few people get the actual value of what we do.  When we see someone with that potential who loves our area of teaching we want to invest ourselves in them.

The whole reason I accepted a leadership role in academics is because I love mentoring other teachers.  I love helping them become better at their craft.  I love drawing the greatness out of them.  I also stand guardian over the quality of education.  I stand sentinel over the trust bond that must exist between student, teacher, and material.  I only want quality teachers entrusted to my students.

So I pass on a sacred legacy.  An academic leader entrusted a classroom to me once.  He allowed me to teach a class during my graduate program as part of my course requirements.  He guided me in becoming a good teacher.  He taught the arcane mysteries that have nothing to do with text books and lesson plans.  Now I get to pass this on to another.

Yesterday I began the process of hiring a student who graduated from my program as a teacher.  The Dean and Campus Director heartily approved.  All my colleagues were impressed with the young man.  This coming quarter I will get to birth a new teacher.  The fall quarter crisp with chilling air and new potential will arrive with a new man teaching new students how to become great.  This is why I do the work I do.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."

Why I Believe – A Pause to Respond to Comments 4

Greetings Dear Reader,

I want to address one more comment before I continue my thoughts.  I will return to comments a little further down the path.  Before that I would also like to encourage my readers to encourage Patrick Sharp.  After his last comment I found his Blog.  I would like to encourage him to write more. I believe the stated purpose of his Blog may be the noblest there is. He is intelligent and articulate.  I would read his writing with joy. 

The comment I would like to respond to is one from Anonymous.  It is a though I share and that I find beautiful in its innocence.  Anonymous writes, “I must admit that though my faith is young I've never analyzed it like this before, in the first beginnings of my faith one thing was made very clear and that was: do I want a God that I could comprehend or a God that was bigger than me and in all ways is beyond us yet there for us. I took that proposed question and chose that I wanted a uncomprehendable God that was almighty and that I could know and rely on in all ways.”

I think this goes to the essence of faith.  I think it is also elemental to belief in God.  The quandary that we all face is the question of whether we believe that there is intelligence that is greater than ours.  No matter how shallow or deep one goes with this question, everyone answers it in some way.  Everyone chooses whether man is the ultimate there is or not. 

This leads me to thoughts on why we dismiss the idea of God.  I think the problem with us is us.  In so many ways we demonstrate that left to ourselves we are arrogant and self-absorbed.  I am not judging anyone because I am guilty of this as well.  If we do not accept that there is more to the universe than us and that there is power beyond ours we are in danger. 

I would posit that we want a God that is beyond our comprehension on one hand and we want a God we can shape to our own wants on the other.  We place requirements on God.  In the words of Michael Card “we’ve made you in our image so our faith is idolatry.” 

I think that those who do not believe in God do the same.  They fashion a straw god and then dismiss him.  They do this with questions that seem to make the straw god unjust or unloving.  I think that one of the hinges on which faith must swing to be reasonable is a humble acceptance that we are not the top.  We are great and amazing as humans but we are also fallen and flawed. 

The acceptance that I need something greater than me leads me to seeking in truth what that something is.  I think I will again refer to the words of Patrick Sharp, “I'm trying to fight for something. I believe that something is unashamed, relentless, barrier crushing love. It strikes me that Jesus of Nazareth understood what that is and teaches us how to be loving like that. I say fighting for that is the hardest and best thing anyone can do.”

This thought in different words has been a guiding principle for me of late.  Thank you Anonymous and Patrick for helping me crystalize my thinking.  I am a failure in many ways and others have paid the price of that failure.  I can only try to do better today and hope that the pursuit of love can outweigh and heal past pain.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store."