October: bookenit, midterms, sports and other things.

hey everybody,

so midterm week is almost over, only 1 exam left! I had HROD last friday, FNCE monday, OPMA tuesday, MKTG wednesday and i have MGIS tomorrow night. I'll be glad to be done the midterms, but the semester keeps on rolling, a group meeting tomorrow and 2 assignments due next week.

As I mentioned before, i finished up a book called "A new Kind of Christian" by Brian McLaren. one of my friends from Capernwray suggested (on a comment on facebook) that I get another one of his books, "A Generous Orthodoxy". I went to Chapters to buy some new books and use a gift certificate from about 7 years ago (they accepted it). I couldnt find that book, but bought another of his books called "the story we find ourselves in" and another book by Rob Bell, "Velvet Elvis".

In "The story we find ourselves in" the author looks at the history of the world from a slightly different perspective from the bible, but at essentially the same story. the 1st part is creation. talking about how God created us and everything around us, so that the creation creates more, for example: God created us, we create ideas, societies, inventions, stories, new people etc. another thing the character in the story stresses is how we often look at genesis as a textbook, but he believes in genesis as the ancient nomads huddled around a fire listening to the story would have believed it, with its poems and story that forms us inwardly.
he second part of the story is Chaos. God gave us the riegns, and he wanted it to be a real world, where real things happen and can go wrong. one example he gave was that in the story of Cain and Abel, Abel had gone beyond his ancestors, from hunter gatherer to pastoralist, a herder of sheep or animals. its a step up because you have more freedom to wander. cain brought plant crops to God, he had moved farther to a sophisticated agriculturist. he gained more independance from God because he had control over the crops. when you settle down you accumulate things, then you want to protect them from others who will steal. if someone trespasses, you have to do something...and of course cain killed abel in a field.... interesting perspective. basically the idea is that as people became more independant, they developed social structures and as they got farther from God, they found it harder to get along and a flood of chaos and destruction happens.
in both parts of the story, it is still happening, we still create and there is always some form of crisis or chaos.
the 3rd part is "calling". as in, God has called us to be a blessing. we are not here for our own agenda, a national agenda or an economic agenda, but for God's agenda, part of God's ongoing creation in the world.
the 4th part is conversation. in most of the old testament, God gives us a calling, then the people drifted, eventually going to the wrong side, then repenting and coming back to God. the focus is Gods faithfulness and patience through all that happens. in the book, converstation is summed up through priests, prophets, poets and philosophers. one quote ill throw in "sometimes, i think the bible is more of a question book than answer book; it raises questions that bring people together for conversation about life's most important issues."
so whats next? Christ
the need for Christ comes from the crisis part of the story, we make all these choices and the world gets more messed up. if God lets things go, like Cain and Abel, than you have to question Gods justice and love for everyone, but if he intervenes and punishes us, then we are finished, so God sends Jesus. basically you would write alot about Jesus, and trying to see the whole picture is like trying to see the whole sky from inside a hospital, looking through a bunch of little windows. there are different aspects of why Jesus came (the author suggests 6, but I'll let you read the book if your really interested).
anyways, another part of the book talks about following Jesus. paraphrasing here. Christianity started as a middle eastern religion, the word 'guru' is close to the word for 'master' in Jewish. thats where we get the name 'lord'. master was often a name given to a rabbi, master doesnt mean master in reference to a slave, but master in a sense of beign the master of ...martial arts, or a master craftsman or violin master. a violin master can take some wood and wire and horsehair and create music more beautiful than anyone else can play. that would mean that noone else could take the materials of life - skin, bone, blood, space, time, words, deeds, eating, sleeping, waking etc and elicit a beautiful song of truth and goodness, as jesus did. the disciples realized that out fo the self seeking of the collaborators, the judgemental pharisees, isolationist essenes, and violent zealots, Jesus way was higher, more brilliant. when you think about it, who today is studying the teachings of herod or ceasar. lets say you are a disciple, you start following him, but you dont really know what his plan is, he's not affiliated with any partys or groups, but hes doing these crazy signs and wonders. then he gets hung on the cross, killed by the people the disciples thought he would defeat. the bad guys win, its tragic. but then he is ressurected, the best sign of them all. showing us that no matter what hte worst people do, how bad things get, dont be afraid cuz God is going to triumph. God's revolution can be resisted, but never defeated.

wow ok so i wrote alot there, but the author has some pretty cool perspectives, anyways, this is a blog so ill move on and finish this up.

I went to the Stamps-Bombers game on saturday with a bunch of people from my church and youth group, it was a good time, (even tho the game wasnt close) and we got to meet some players and hear thier stories afterwards, also Burris signed my Burris jersey. also went to the flames-Avalanche game last week with my buddy Mac, that was fun. anyways, ive been hanging out with friends, working on projects, watching sports and hanging out with the youth. also on of my best buds from Capers is coming to Calgary in November for a few weeks, so thats pretty awesome. also found out from school when my final exams are, my last exam is December 15th. yay. also already got invited to a turkey dinner on boxing day, way cool.

Ive been putting pictures in a contest on facebook and its been cool to see the talent all the people have in the group and trying to find good pics for the themes.

so thats about it for this post

thanks for reading,

Adam

Fall is here

Hey everybody,

With the Leaves turning yellow and falling, the temperature dropping from highs of 25 last week to highs of 10-15 this week, its definitly fall here in Calgary. luckily the snow hasnt fallen yet and its still sunny all day it seems, not a bad start to fall actually. another sign of fall hockey starting up, times getting busier (youth, school, soccer etc) and the turkeys at the supermarkets. hmm turkey. thanksgiving is now less than a week away, a time when we are thankful for all that we have been blessed with. I am thinking as I write this, but for people who don't believe in God, when you are thankful for something (like being born in a safe enviroment, free from the worries in third world countries, for example) who are you thanking? i mean, you're probably glad, but if there isnt God, your just lucky or something...anyways i digress. I am thankful that God has blessed me with the people in my life and everything I have (or have access to) including my health, and the experiences I have been able to have so far in life, and probably more I can't think of.

a little update on me. Ive been busy the last few weeks, going to youth events and 4c, doing wingnights with the guys, playing poker with friends, doing homework and a saturday morning quiz (really!?!) watching football and hockey with friends, listening to music, working... you get the idea. last week I had my first soccer game with my team in the Calgary sport and social club indoor soccer league, it was lots of fun. I realized how out of shape I am, but I did manage to score a goal and we won 3-2. fun times.

I bought a new mp3 last weekend, out of necessity, kind of (like when you want something and get used to having it, when it goes away, it almost becomes a need). After going to see a movie (Get Smart, funny movie) with Caleb and Matthias, I was at home and couldnt find my Mp3 player anywhere, I bought it in November last year (oddly enough, out of necessity after the previous one fell out of a pocket, needing some music for the 4 hour plane ride to Toronto for the Grey cup). anyways that mp3 lasted really well, making it to Australia, being dropped several times (benefits of a flash mp3, harder to break!) and some more drops back home. anyways this one must have fallen out of my pocket, the next morning (a friday) i looked everywhere and retraced my steps, no luck. went to school, came home, no music, which was actually fine. some good thinking/reading time on the train, and some prayer time as i walked home. that night I went to youth, we had a good time. saturday morning i did some research and decided to buy a new one. I ended up going for a Microsoft Zune, 8gb. it has a touch pad (better functionality than a scroll wheel, imo) and its own program, like itunes. its pretty sweet, ive been enjoying it. hopefully this one lasts me a little longer.

also I have updated my Sports blog, link on the right.

a few pics for ya from September

thanks for reading,

Adam

randomness

Hello everybody,

Here are some of my thoughts from today as i made the hour long trek home from school. sitting on the train, i was listening to my favourite music, Switchfoot, and some of the lyrics made me think/reminded me of Capernwray. its been a few weeks since i really missed it, but I was thinking about what would have happened if I had stayed there for the next semester. It would've have been interesting, but I can't know what would have happened, plus thats not the way it happened, so its kinda pointless.

I was also thinking about career/jobs. I don't know what i want to do, but thats ok. I could do one thing but change after a few years. as much as I want to be done with school (believe me, I do) the thing is that taking all the courses for my B.comm means that getting further degrees in other fields wont take as long, which is great. My business degree will help me get jobs in other areas if thats what happens, but we'll see what happens in business first of course.

I decided to finish off the book i have been reading "A new kind of Christian". it was a great book, and the end has a readers guide with discussion points. anyways a few things that stuck out to me(from the discussion points and other random thoughts): we focus sometimes too much on "conversions" (stick with me here), when maybe we should be more focused on conversations. people coming to christ is great, but there is more to salvation and being right with God than saying a little prayer at the end of a book. As we seek to know God better and walk with Jesus, having discussions with people is what has an impact. we can't force someone to accept that God is there, we shouldnt be just focused on trying to "market" God or Jesus to others. We should inspire others to evaluate what they believe and hope they see the Holy Spirit working through us.
In the move from modern to post-modernism (the focus of the book here is that the world is moving into post modernism and Christianity in effect should do the same, not necesarily becoming overly worldly, but being relevant to the time) the focus on things is moving from the view of being on a line (to the left of where you are is conservitive, the right is the liberal, for example) to somewhere hovering the line, if that makes sense. not stuck on a point on a continuim, but having a view of everything, going who knows where from that...
One of the great things about a book is it can get you thinking
I read a preview at the end for another book by the author, and it got me thinking about people falling away from God. when someone says they are falling away from God, are they really? I mean, when you are falling away from God (letting God slip out of your focus, mind, not giving God control) it is when you stop trying etc, when you say "i think i'm falling away from God" it means you are looking at where your faith is at seriously and reevaluating it. true, you could still be walking away from God, but often it leads to questions, and more genuineness, as well seeking God out more. so by that you are actually falling back into God. hmm, so yea those are some thoughts.

I need to stop procrastinating and catch up on school, but hopefully this has given whoever is reading this some insight into what I was thinking today. you may or may not agree with everything I said, feel free to add your thoughts, and keep seeking God (for those that are!)

As for day to day stuff, i have been super busy lately, went to a Stamps game saturday with some guys from youth and work, and yesterday went to the flames preseason home opener with my buddy Mac, its been a fun couple of days. the next month will be a little wild with soccer starting and assignments and midterms in october. thats the deal, off to wings for guys night tonight.

thats all for now,

Adam