some old thoughts

From a response to a lecture I heard in Bible College:

“I think it is very important to realize that we are just as much (personally, I sometimes think I am more!) fallible human beings as anyone else. We don’t have all the answers. And so much of our theology is shaped by other humans – what we hear from our parents, what we are taught in church, in Bible College, etc. That doesn’t mean it’s wrong just because we’ve heard it from humans, but nor does it mean it’s right. I think it is very healthy to have a heart that is willing to challenge your own theology – and it is also a humble attitude to have. We need to be willing to look at the evidence, look at other viewpoints, and challenge ourselves.

But, it is also important to remember that we need not be afraid of this. Sometimes it seems that we are tempted to stick our fingers in our ears and not hear any contradictory viewpoints. I know I am. But remember that God is truth and He is able to defend and prove Himself. If we are so scared of hearing other viewpoints, I question what we are more concerned about: being right, or God’s truth. If we have God’s truth, we need not fear – and if we don’t, wouldn’t we rather we did?

Defending the Lord’s truth is His battle – and whose side are we going to be on? Our own pride, or the Lord’s truth? Let us make sure we are seeking after the Lord and His truth, and not after our own agendas.

The LORD is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
-Psalm 145:18″

And a somewhat related quote:

“It is idle to talk always of the alternative of reason and faith. Reason is itself a matter of faith. It is an act of faith to assert that our thoughts have any relation to reality at all.” – G.K. Chesterton

creativity

For the first time in a very long time, I spent some quality time with a dear old friend of mine – photography. Actually, I wouldn’t really call it quality time – more like frustrating, challenging effort. My creativity, it seems, needs some effort to churn back to its old strength (and, I certainly hope, surpass it). I really have not exercised any creative effort (or, at least none that I have been passionate about) for at least a year. It seems that my decline in passion for creativity aligns with some challenging times in my walk of faith – and I think that is no coincidence. After all, all creativity stems from our Creator.

I hope this trend shall reverse. Often, I can be apathetic or discouraged about my creativity. Sometimes, like with my words, I feel almost suffocated by trying to portray what I see and want to share, but being restrained by not quite getting it out right. I so long to be able to portray the beauty of our fragile world. A world marred by sin, yes, and damaged and decrepit. But there is still beauty! There is hope! It may be faint sometimes, but it is there. And to be able to show creation – at its highest and lowest – for the world to see, and to hopefully see the Creator in it – is something I would love to do. And, even beyond that, the mere act of creating – regardless of the presence of a human audience to behold it or not – seems to be something so precious and valuable, like somehow I am created to create.

The idea of creativity and the life of faith is very intriguing to me, and it is something I have heard very few words on (though the few I have, have been deeply impacting). I wish there was more discussion on this matter.

“Remember that as a creative person the important thing is to create. Who sees what you make, where it goes, and what it does is a secondary consideration; the first is to exercise the talent God has given you.” – Franky Schaeffer, Addicted to Mediocrity: 20th Century Christianity and the Arts (on my list of books to read).

“The camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to see.” - Ernst Haas

p.s. – I had another cappuccino today. And don’t worry, the last post was a false alarm. I still hate coffee.

cappuccino

I tried a cappuccino today. Not only tried, but ordered and paid for. And consumed the whole thing.

I am getting a bit concerned that my years of coffee-hatred may be drawing to a close. I no longer dislike coffee, though I am not quite to the point of actually enjoying it, either. But today, as the rain poured in droves down from the troubled sky, and my skin was shrouded in long sleeves and a scarf for one of the first times in ages, I came to the conclusion – a foamy, vanilla cappuccino (nonfat and sugar free, bien sûr!) just seemed so right. So cosmopolitan, too. I’m like a little kid wearing lipstick – drinking espresso, though a non-event to 99% of the population, provides me with a slight feeling of being more “adult” than I really am. Even though… I am an adult.