I know I haven't posted on here in ages, but I felt I had to resuscitate this old blog just to post a link to this article, by Kelby Carlson, on the theology of disability. It had a profound impact on me...these are issues that are near-constantly on my mind even though I'm not a theologian and can't articulate my thoughts very well. This article is both articulate and does an excellent job at steering between some extremes that many people go to when discussing disability and the Christian life.
Here's a quote from the closing paragraph:
"Living with a disability, offering my body as a living sacrifice (Rom. 12:1) is my ultimate goal. It is a constant journey, guided by the Holy Spirit into continuous reliance upon the strength of God in my weakness. I pray that this essay would be one more step in articulating a path in which those with disabilities and those who know them can seek the narrow path walked by our master, Jesus."
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Putting Our Hope in Princes…
“Put not your hope in princes…” Isn’t that what government-run health care is all about? Putting your trust in princes? Expecting the state to look after all your needs?
The crux of the matter I think is that we don’t have a high enough view of God. We want the government to look after us because we don’t trust God to provide for all our needs. (Not only that, but I think in our society needs and wants have gotten pretty mixed up.) In scripture as far as I can tell caring for those in need is the job of individuals and the church.
I’m afraid that government control of healthcare eventually leads to euthanasia. Charity ends up being a burden. People like me (although I would rather not accept government money most programs and resources for the blind are government funded) end up being a drain on the government and it’d rather knock us off than spend money on what some people might consider "unproductive" citizens. Where does something like this stop?
No one stops to consider implications for the future. No, it’s all about now, about us. We’re giving away our freedoms! Selling our birthright for a pot of soup! But that’s what happens in a nation of incredibly self-centered people with an ‘entitlement’ complex looking for instant gratification. We want what we want when we want it at any cost. You know, I think we have an overblown opinion of ourselves, in the US these days, and what we deserve. I know what I deserve and it’s not very pleasant.
We should expect suffering, not ease or comfort. We should strive to follow God, not to gain material wealth, a problem-free life. Problems, suffering, disappointments are what often sanctify us and yet we want to avoid them at any cost. Anything but what would ultimately make me more Christ-like.. We need to get our priorities straight. If god ever gives me children I hope i will not instill in them a desire for the ‘American dream’ but a desire to see God’s ‘kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The other things just aren’t so important as we seem to think and yet we set so much store in them and spend our lives and energy pursuing them.
What does it profit if we gain the whole world and lose our souls?
The crux of the matter I think is that we don’t have a high enough view of God. We want the government to look after us because we don’t trust God to provide for all our needs. (Not only that, but I think in our society needs and wants have gotten pretty mixed up.) In scripture as far as I can tell caring for those in need is the job of individuals and the church.
I’m afraid that government control of healthcare eventually leads to euthanasia. Charity ends up being a burden. People like me (although I would rather not accept government money most programs and resources for the blind are government funded) end up being a drain on the government and it’d rather knock us off than spend money on what some people might consider "unproductive" citizens. Where does something like this stop?
No one stops to consider implications for the future. No, it’s all about now, about us. We’re giving away our freedoms! Selling our birthright for a pot of soup! But that’s what happens in a nation of incredibly self-centered people with an ‘entitlement’ complex looking for instant gratification. We want what we want when we want it at any cost. You know, I think we have an overblown opinion of ourselves, in the US these days, and what we deserve. I know what I deserve and it’s not very pleasant.
We should expect suffering, not ease or comfort. We should strive to follow God, not to gain material wealth, a problem-free life. Problems, suffering, disappointments are what often sanctify us and yet we want to avoid them at any cost. Anything but what would ultimately make me more Christ-like.. We need to get our priorities straight. If god ever gives me children I hope i will not instill in them a desire for the ‘American dream’ but a desire to see God’s ‘kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” The other things just aren’t so important as we seem to think and yet we set so much store in them and spend our lives and energy pursuing them.
What does it profit if we gain the whole world and lose our souls?
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Happy Easter!
In Christ Alone
Stuart Townend, Keith Getty
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Stuart Townend, Keith Getty
In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
this Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease!
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.
In Christ alone! who took on flesh
Fulness of God in helpless babe!
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save:
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid;
Here in the death of Christ I live.
There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain:
Then bursting forth in glorious Day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.
No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath.
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man,
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Three Things
Hi,
I know I’ve been negligent with this blog recently. I’ve been sick this past week and a half with a nasty virus which I think it’s behind me now. At least I sure hope so.
This is going to be short as there were just three things I wanted to say:
1. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It’s funny – well, not exactly funny, sad, really – how many people celebrate holidays that have a Christian origin without even giving a thought to what’s behind it. Patrick was a real man of God, though, it seems, and he suffered a lot for the gospel. I believe I have some Irish in me somewhere. But even apart from that the spread of the gospel is always an amazing and wonderful thing and definitely a reason for celebration.
2. I owe an apology for my last post. It was supposed to be only humorous. It wasn’t my intention to sound ungrateful or griping but going back over it that’s certainly what it conveys.
3. I wanted to ask prayer for someone close to me who I care a great deal about. He’s going through some major struggles in his life right now. This includes drinking too much. I’d like to ask prayer that he’ll turn back to the Lord and find his hope and comfort and especially grounding in Him.
Thanks so much and God bless!
Goodnight,
Jason
I know I’ve been negligent with this blog recently. I’ve been sick this past week and a half with a nasty virus which I think it’s behind me now. At least I sure hope so.
This is going to be short as there were just three things I wanted to say:
1. Happy St. Patrick’s Day. It’s funny – well, not exactly funny, sad, really – how many people celebrate holidays that have a Christian origin without even giving a thought to what’s behind it. Patrick was a real man of God, though, it seems, and he suffered a lot for the gospel. I believe I have some Irish in me somewhere. But even apart from that the spread of the gospel is always an amazing and wonderful thing and definitely a reason for celebration.
2. I owe an apology for my last post. It was supposed to be only humorous. It wasn’t my intention to sound ungrateful or griping but going back over it that’s certainly what it conveys.
3. I wanted to ask prayer for someone close to me who I care a great deal about. He’s going through some major struggles in his life right now. This includes drinking too much. I’d like to ask prayer that he’ll turn back to the Lord and find his hope and comfort and especially grounding in Him.
Thanks so much and God bless!
Goodnight,
Jason
Friday, March 5, 2010
Jason’s Bad Day
Well, folks, I had a really bad day today. Gosh, it was just one mishap after another.
The day got off to a bad start when Shadow and I got back from our walk this morning. I was tending to a slice in my finger that’s refusing to heal up and keeps bleeding sporadically and while I was doing that my mom came to tell me that Shadow tracked in a lot of mud. What could I do but say I’m sorry? She was the one who had to clean up the mess. So, anyway, it was straight to the bathtub for Shadow. Shadow hates baths. He and I both: I hate giving him baths in the winter. Now my bathroom stinks of wet dog. It’s really pretty gross. Shadow’s an unusually decent-smelling dog but he’s still a dog and he shook all over my bathroom.
Well, after that I had loads of laundry to do. So I dumped my clean laundry on my bed and started to fold it and put it away. Somehow, don’t ask me how it happened, but some of the family’s laundry must have gotten mixed in with mine. What a nightmare. I spent all morning sorting it all out. At least it seemed like it took all morning. And my closet is probably still full of their stuff…
Then I settled down to finish a project I’m working on that I need to have done by this weekend for my Dad. And what do you know but somehow the whole thing I’d been working on for the past week got ruined. I still haven’t figured out what I did wrong but everything went berserk with the layout. It’s really frustrating trying to fix it. I worked on it for an hour but then I had appointments so that was it.
This afternoon I went to get a haircut and we ran into a little trouble there too. For some reason Shadow didn’t like the girl who cut my hair; she wasn't the usual one. He kept edging up to me and whimpering and licking my hands. I don’t know what he didn’t like about her. He’s never done that before. It was weird. She was really condescending to me anyway, and talked in a loud, fake voice the whole time, so, not to be mean or anything, but personally I thought it was kind of funny how Shadow was acting. She didn’t know how to take it.
But the worst thing that happened today. I got home and realized I’d left my ipod on the bus. Stupid me. I can’t believe I did that. I called customer service and for some reason they were surprisingly rude and suspicious. Anyway, they say they don’t have it and so now I’m thinking someone must have stolen it.
Anyway... so you’d think all that would be enough, right? Apparently not. On top of all that I spent a good hour or more making a dinner which I poured right down the garbage disposal. My soup was too full for the pot I had it in so I put another pot in the sink to transfer it into. I went to pour it and scalded my hand with extremely hot soup and in my surprise I spilled everything into the sink and on my feet. Don’t even ask me how I managed it. It was such a mess.
So I rushed around in a big hurry trying to get everything clean and throw together something else before the family got home. (It totally slipped my mind that Ava had ballet practice after school so they were going to be late getting home. I didn’t need to get so stressed out about it.) I’m usually a pretty good cook, I promise. Today was just not my day.
And, of course, my dad walked in the door when Mom and Ava were still gone and I was still cleaning up the mess I made in our kitchen. I wasn’t expecting him. He’s rarely home and I thought he was going to spend the night in Lincoln – business. Well, naturally, the first thing he asks is if I got the work done and I was so humiliated. I am really good at what I do. Usually. Everything was just screwed up today. I could hardly put a coherent sentence together to explain to him what happened. My dad intimidates me so much. I don’t know, I think I need to find another job. I love my dad and I’m glad he gave me the job but I know I’m capable of getting a job on my own and I think it might be less of a strain on familial relations.
So after that – after I got the kitchen clean – I sat on the sofa and played the guitar. I figured that was pretty safe, lol! Whew.
So is that a bad day or what? Gosh am I ever ready for bed.
I just hope my bed doesn’t fall apart or something when I get in it. Haha!
Blessings,
Jason
The day got off to a bad start when Shadow and I got back from our walk this morning. I was tending to a slice in my finger that’s refusing to heal up and keeps bleeding sporadically and while I was doing that my mom came to tell me that Shadow tracked in a lot of mud. What could I do but say I’m sorry? She was the one who had to clean up the mess. So, anyway, it was straight to the bathtub for Shadow. Shadow hates baths. He and I both: I hate giving him baths in the winter. Now my bathroom stinks of wet dog. It’s really pretty gross. Shadow’s an unusually decent-smelling dog but he’s still a dog and he shook all over my bathroom.
Well, after that I had loads of laundry to do. So I dumped my clean laundry on my bed and started to fold it and put it away. Somehow, don’t ask me how it happened, but some of the family’s laundry must have gotten mixed in with mine. What a nightmare. I spent all morning sorting it all out. At least it seemed like it took all morning. And my closet is probably still full of their stuff…
Then I settled down to finish a project I’m working on that I need to have done by this weekend for my Dad. And what do you know but somehow the whole thing I’d been working on for the past week got ruined. I still haven’t figured out what I did wrong but everything went berserk with the layout. It’s really frustrating trying to fix it. I worked on it for an hour but then I had appointments so that was it.
This afternoon I went to get a haircut and we ran into a little trouble there too. For some reason Shadow didn’t like the girl who cut my hair; she wasn't the usual one. He kept edging up to me and whimpering and licking my hands. I don’t know what he didn’t like about her. He’s never done that before. It was weird. She was really condescending to me anyway, and talked in a loud, fake voice the whole time, so, not to be mean or anything, but personally I thought it was kind of funny how Shadow was acting. She didn’t know how to take it.
But the worst thing that happened today. I got home and realized I’d left my ipod on the bus. Stupid me. I can’t believe I did that. I called customer service and for some reason they were surprisingly rude and suspicious. Anyway, they say they don’t have it and so now I’m thinking someone must have stolen it.
Anyway... so you’d think all that would be enough, right? Apparently not. On top of all that I spent a good hour or more making a dinner which I poured right down the garbage disposal. My soup was too full for the pot I had it in so I put another pot in the sink to transfer it into. I went to pour it and scalded my hand with extremely hot soup and in my surprise I spilled everything into the sink and on my feet. Don’t even ask me how I managed it. It was such a mess.
So I rushed around in a big hurry trying to get everything clean and throw together something else before the family got home. (It totally slipped my mind that Ava had ballet practice after school so they were going to be late getting home. I didn’t need to get so stressed out about it.) I’m usually a pretty good cook, I promise. Today was just not my day.
And, of course, my dad walked in the door when Mom and Ava were still gone and I was still cleaning up the mess I made in our kitchen. I wasn’t expecting him. He’s rarely home and I thought he was going to spend the night in Lincoln – business. Well, naturally, the first thing he asks is if I got the work done and I was so humiliated. I am really good at what I do. Usually. Everything was just screwed up today. I could hardly put a coherent sentence together to explain to him what happened. My dad intimidates me so much. I don’t know, I think I need to find another job. I love my dad and I’m glad he gave me the job but I know I’m capable of getting a job on my own and I think it might be less of a strain on familial relations.
So after that – after I got the kitchen clean – I sat on the sofa and played the guitar. I figured that was pretty safe, lol! Whew.
So is that a bad day or what? Gosh am I ever ready for bed.
I just hope my bed doesn’t fall apart or something when I get in it. Haha!
Blessings,
Jason
Friday, February 26, 2010
Home
Hi,
I’m home again. I unpacked this morning.
Wow. I miss everyone so much already. My aunt and uncle, the animals, the family next door.
I have mixed feelings about being back: I’m glad to see the family again, especially my little sis, but I miss the farm a lot. I spent such a worthwhile and motivating time there. It was an awesome experience. Maybe I can go back again someday; I hope so. Now that I’m home things are just like usual: I can’t imagine making time in my schedule to ride – finding a stable, working out a way to get there and back – it’s a shame, really, because I like riding so much. Why is it that we're always so busy in the city and relaxed in the country? Is it just the atmosphere? Because there's a heck of a lot more actual work at the farm. Weird...
Well, I had a great time getting to know my aunt and uncle. They’re wonderful people. I don’t know what God might be doing in their lives, but I hope my witness has some impact on them.
It seems like they enjoyed my visit, too, and were sad to see me go. My aunt made me cry. She hugged me, yesterday morning when I brought my bags down from my room, and she said “What did we ever do without you, Jason. You’re a joy to have around.” She’s too kind, really. I was very humbled. I’m so greatful God allowed me to be a blessing to them and I hope I was a good testimony to them while I was there. My uncle said if I ever want to come again I’m hired.
I learned SO much while I was there. It really amazed me the things I could do that I’d never ever imagined I would be able to handle. It’s been a great confidence-building experience. My aunt and uncle told me they learned a lot too!
Also, my aunt took some pictures of me that I’d like to post sometime if she sends them to me.
Goodnight,
Jason
I’m home again. I unpacked this morning.
Wow. I miss everyone so much already. My aunt and uncle, the animals, the family next door.
I have mixed feelings about being back: I’m glad to see the family again, especially my little sis, but I miss the farm a lot. I spent such a worthwhile and motivating time there. It was an awesome experience. Maybe I can go back again someday; I hope so. Now that I’m home things are just like usual: I can’t imagine making time in my schedule to ride – finding a stable, working out a way to get there and back – it’s a shame, really, because I like riding so much. Why is it that we're always so busy in the city and relaxed in the country? Is it just the atmosphere? Because there's a heck of a lot more actual work at the farm. Weird...
Well, I had a great time getting to know my aunt and uncle. They’re wonderful people. I don’t know what God might be doing in their lives, but I hope my witness has some impact on them.
It seems like they enjoyed my visit, too, and were sad to see me go. My aunt made me cry. She hugged me, yesterday morning when I brought my bags down from my room, and she said “What did we ever do without you, Jason. You’re a joy to have around.” She’s too kind, really. I was very humbled. I’m so greatful God allowed me to be a blessing to them and I hope I was a good testimony to them while I was there. My uncle said if I ever want to come again I’m hired.
I learned SO much while I was there. It really amazed me the things I could do that I’d never ever imagined I would be able to handle. It’s been a great confidence-building experience. My aunt and uncle told me they learned a lot too!
Also, my aunt took some pictures of me that I’d like to post sometime if she sends them to me.
Goodnight,
Jason
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Still Farming!
Hi,
I wish I could write down every moment of this time I spend here. But I’ve been far to busy for that. The work is hard and time consuming, for me at least, although it’s been very rewarding. It’s amazing the sense of accomplishment I have when I finally sit down in the evening totally exhausted and cold but pretty proud at the amount of work I’ve done completely on my own.
In a lot of ways it seems like I just got here – I’m still getting the hang of this type of work, getting to know the animals, growing familiar with the landscape of the farm, and it’s hard to realize that my stay here is soon coming to an end. I’m going to miss this farm so much, and my Uncle Alan and my Aunt Judith. They’ve been so good to me. My uncle is a veritable gold mine of information about farming and he’s been so patient with me, explaining the workings of the farm, answering my questions, giving me helpful instructions, and not flipping out when I make dumb mistakes. (And trust me I’ve made them.)
I know this place has got to be even better in the summer. Apparently there’s a lot more work to do in the summer, but i think it could be done easier and faster in good weather. It’s amazing how drastically snow alters the landscape. For a city boy like me whose used to being indoors most of the time that’s taken some getting used to. Every time we get more snow the landscape changes – landmarks, the way things sound. I’ve dealt with that at home before on a smaller scale, but at home at least our sidewalks and driveway are always cleared. Here I’ve put in so many hours just shoveling paths. And on the few warmer days we’ve enjoyed here everything was slushy in the day and icy at night. It’s rough for the inexperienced city boy like me.
The boy next door has been a great help. He’s really good at what he does but then he’s lived on a farm all his life. I'm greatful to him for coming over. He’s home-schooled so he said he can adjust his schedule to help. He’s really funny: he’s always full of questions, mostly about how I do different things, and he talks to me the whole time we work. He’s a much nicer kid than I was at twelve. I hope we can still keep in touch once I go home.
Anyway, that’s all I have to say for now. I’m having fun and learning lots. This is very different from my ordinary life I’m used to and I’m really enjoying it. (All except the cows. They make me nervous and I make them nervous.) :)
Goodnight,
Jason
I wish I could write down every moment of this time I spend here. But I’ve been far to busy for that. The work is hard and time consuming, for me at least, although it’s been very rewarding. It’s amazing the sense of accomplishment I have when I finally sit down in the evening totally exhausted and cold but pretty proud at the amount of work I’ve done completely on my own.
In a lot of ways it seems like I just got here – I’m still getting the hang of this type of work, getting to know the animals, growing familiar with the landscape of the farm, and it’s hard to realize that my stay here is soon coming to an end. I’m going to miss this farm so much, and my Uncle Alan and my Aunt Judith. They’ve been so good to me. My uncle is a veritable gold mine of information about farming and he’s been so patient with me, explaining the workings of the farm, answering my questions, giving me helpful instructions, and not flipping out when I make dumb mistakes. (And trust me I’ve made them.)
I know this place has got to be even better in the summer. Apparently there’s a lot more work to do in the summer, but i think it could be done easier and faster in good weather. It’s amazing how drastically snow alters the landscape. For a city boy like me whose used to being indoors most of the time that’s taken some getting used to. Every time we get more snow the landscape changes – landmarks, the way things sound. I’ve dealt with that at home before on a smaller scale, but at home at least our sidewalks and driveway are always cleared. Here I’ve put in so many hours just shoveling paths. And on the few warmer days we’ve enjoyed here everything was slushy in the day and icy at night. It’s rough for the inexperienced city boy like me.
The boy next door has been a great help. He’s really good at what he does but then he’s lived on a farm all his life. I'm greatful to him for coming over. He’s home-schooled so he said he can adjust his schedule to help. He’s really funny: he’s always full of questions, mostly about how I do different things, and he talks to me the whole time we work. He’s a much nicer kid than I was at twelve. I hope we can still keep in touch once I go home.
Anyway, that’s all I have to say for now. I’m having fun and learning lots. This is very different from my ordinary life I’m used to and I’m really enjoying it. (All except the cows. They make me nervous and I make them nervous.) :)
Goodnight,
Jason
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