The Highest Form of Hope

It has recently come to my attention that I am thoroughly postmodern. It is my normal mode of thinking - I have always been postmodern. I don't find myself fussing over specifics or agonizing for proof. I enjoy ambiguity and mystery. I did not undergo any crisis of faith where I feared that God did not exist. My crises of faith often involve a questioning of God's character, the exclusivity of Christianity's claim and the relevence of the church. Diffinitive answers leave me feeling empty and cheated.
This is why I love the paradox.
I am resigned to believe that I will always struggle with the exclusive claim of Christianity. But recently, while reading Ethics by Bonhoeffer (by coincidence my best friend also had started reading Ethics at the same time I was - creepy) I came across a paradox that I had never heard of before. Bonhoeffer takes it from Mark 9:40; "He that is not against us is for us" and Matt 12:30; "He that is not with me is against me". He uses these passages to build an argument for the infinite exclusiveness and inclusiveness of Christ.
The two sayings necessarily belong together as the two claims of Jesus Christ, the claim to exclusiveness and the claim to totality. The greater the exclusiveness, the greater the freedom. But in isolation the claim to exclusiveness leads to fanaticism and to slavery; and in isolation the claim to totality leads to secularization and self-abandonment of the Church.
As post-modernity seems to be pushing culture and society further and further away from definitive answers in terms of ethics, this paradox holds even more meaning for Christians in an increasingly uncertain world. The values and ethics society has held to seem to be in need of some justification. As a post-modern Christian in the secular world I find myself increasingly trying to justify the Christian faith by pointing to values and ethics such as truth, compassion, freedom that Christianity supports... But I think I might had gotten it all backwards.
It is not Christ who must justify Himself before the world by the acknowledgement of the values of justice, truth and freedom, but it is these values which have come to need justification, and their justification can only be Jesus Christ. It is not that a “Christian culture” must make the name of Jesus Christ acceptable to the world; but the crucified Christ has become the refuge and justification, the protection and claim for the higher values and their defenders that have fallen victim to suffering.

Me and Paul at the prestigious education grad. Coffee, cranberry juice and bulk cookies were to follow.... Makes those four years all the more worth it! Good luck to all my classmates!

This is the first post written on my brand new computer!

During sunday school last week, a question about world views arrose. Is there such thing as a biblical world view? How would we define such a world view and how could we separate our own cultural norms from biblical truth?

I guess if I had to give an answer I would say that the Bible is not free from cultural world views. It was written within a culture and within history. We cannot "free" ourselves from our cultures; I don't believe that it has ever been God's intention that the Christian call means giving up cultural identity - nor does it mean that one cultural identity is more "Christian" than another. God is interested in the redemption of cultures.

I never finished my list from so long ago (too much navel gazing for one evening) - so I'm finishing it now.

88. I dyed my hair red in high school.
89. I had a crush on Thomas Yu and I never revealled it - until now.
90. I had braces.
91. I chew my nails.
92. I prefer snakes to mice.
93. I like to play practical jokes.
94. I prefer rice to potatoes.
95. I love to swim.
96. My favorite flower is the Iris.
97. The worst show on TV (in my opinion) is CSI Miami. How many bikini models are killed in Miami everyday? It must be a dangerous job.
98. I was a nerd, but at least I can say that I was never into Star Wars.
99. I drink tea twice a day.
100. I don't do drugs and I drink my milk (thanks Mr. T).

This week I've had the happy coincidence of viewing two great little films. I watch way too many movies and it's not often that I see two good ones in the space of a week.

The first film I saw was Paradise Now, a story about two Palestinian men who embark on a suicide mission. This film does a wonderful job of exploring the intricacies of the Intifada with compassion for both sides and even some humor.

The second film I saw was Everything is Illuminated based on the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer. It's the story of a young man travelling to Ukraine to find the woman who saved his grandfather's life during the second world war. This is probably the only American film that I have ever seen about Ukraine. The depiction of Ukrainian culture is really accurate - some of the conversations that the characters have in the film are conversations I've had or witnessed while we were in Ukraine 5 years ago (I can't believe its been that long!). The theme of Everything is Illuminated is that our histories illuminate our present. It's a great conversation starter - and if your ever planning on travelling to Ukraine, this movie can give you a few tips on what you can expect if you're a vegitarian.

Both of these movies are definately worth the rental fee - happy viewing!

Velazquez, Christ in the house of Mary and Martha

Walking briskly through a crowded intersection
My nearsighted eyes
(In an unhappy accident)
Meet someone else's
And we both look away

Ashamed in all our glory
In secret knowledge
(Good and evil)
Truthfulness and beauty
Completely disenfranchised from our

Origin of all sacred unity
All I know is myself
(Constantly judged)
Weighed and examined
Has left me devoid of

Action in perfect freedom
Hearing, seeing, believing
(In redemptive reality)
Completed by an act
Of perfect submission to my

Origin

Tomorrow I begin teaching a four part Sunday school class on the relationship between Aboriginal people and the church. Part one is basically a rationale and some background knowledge in order to discuss the topics ahead. I am really looking forward to the 14th when I get to talk about Canadian history (I'm such a nerd). On the 21, a guest speaker is coming and on the 28 we're going to talk about practical applications.

This is a topic that I have not always been passionate about - In fact I've been downright ignorant. But I'm happy to share my journey despite my lack of experience - I've enlisted the help of Rick Guenther, a missionary with NAIM and the knowledge of others that I have talked to including a fellow education student in ITEP. I am still totally ignorant. I have almost no experience working in ministry with Aboriginal people. And this scares me. I'm wondering if I have any authority at all to teach this stuff, but I know that we have to talk about it and I have the means to instigate discussion.

Needless to say, I'm going to have a hard time sleeping tonight.