"Stand in the place where you live, now face north. Think about direction, wonder why you haven't before." -R.E.M.
iPod nano (RED)
Well, there’s an additional way you can help out, and this time it’s with your purchasing dollars. You’re already going to buy some things anyway (like clothes from the Gap, an iPod nano, a Motorola phone, etc.) so you might as well get the RED versions of them, and by doing so have a portion of the proceeds go directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS in Africa.
One of the very first American products to do this is the new RED iPod nano. You want a nano anyway, and now you can help out an awesome cause while still getting a beautiful iPod and listening to your tunes (as well as going running with it). Go get one!
Full details here.
Down and Out?
It’s not like we didn’t expect for the team to go over a few bumps along the road this year. After all, we lost of the greatest running backs to ever play the game (Jerome Bettis), our best trick play guru (Antwaan Randle El), and our star quarterback almost died in the off-season...twice! (For those of you who’ve been living in a cave, Roethlisberger was involved in brutal motorcycle accident this summer, and then had an emergency appendectomy two nights before the season opener.)
My hope was that after we nailed Kansas City last week 45-7, we’d tear off on a streak and never look back. Unfortunately we’re getting close to a point of no return. And yet...
I’m not ready to throw in the terrible towel. We should have won yesterday (we beat ourselves by turning the ball over three times, giving Atlanta 21 points) and the offense at least seems to be clicking. We have a game against Oakland this week, and I’m pretty sure I could beat that team using only myself and the children’s choir at church....they’re awful! Hopefully we’ll get things back on track and then head to Denver to tame those wild Broncos just like we did in last year’s playoffs. I think that’ll be the test: if we can stomp Oakland and put Denver away, I feel like we’ll regain control of our season.
And if we regain control of our season, I feel good about my chances of waving my terrible towel at the TV screen come Super Bowl XLI. Don’t count us out just yet...
***The author realizes that he repeatedly referred to the team as “we” throughout the article as if he personally had something to do with the outcome. Instead of chastising him, joshcrain.com requests that you continue to allow him the delusion of being a part of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Thank you for your cooperation.
Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...
I knew this was coming, but I was thinking mid- to late-Novemberish. Growing up in the Dallas area, you really only expect to see snow about two or three days out of the year at most, so I know this is going to be a change for us.
The good news? Emily’s family has a tradition where her grandma makes homemade doughnuts at the first snowfall every year. Since we’re a long way from home, Emily called her grandmother to get the recipe and then made a LOT of doughnuts that night; probably 45 in all. No wonder her grandmother always has the whole family over-it’s a BIG recipe!
I’m currently trying to change the tradition from doughnuts at the first snowfall to doughnuts at every snowfall. That way we can finish the winter up 20% happier and 45 pounds heavier.
God bless doughnuts...
Review: Nike + iPod
In case you’re unfamiliar, Nike recently released a line of shoes and a wireless sensor in collaboration with Apple that works with iPod Nanos. The idea is that this sensor, placed in your running shoe, sends information to your iPod and allows the Nano to keep up with your average pace, your distance, and your calories burned. All of this information can then be sent to Nike’s website and your statistics can be easily kept up with and your progress can be tracked.
So how well does it work? I’ve been using it for about two months and I’ve already run almost 90 miles. That’s 90 more miles than I ran last year. Why? Because being able to keep track of my progress without running in place on a treadmill is fun. I can run anywhere I want and still get accurate results. The female voice on the iPod encourages me with her sweet words (haha), and I get to pick my own running soundtrack.
The Nike+ website is also pretty incredible. As you can see in the screenshots, it gives you many different ways to keep up with your progress, including goals you can set for yourself to earn virtual medals. It may sound cheesy, but it feels good to earn those medals (I earned my first one by running over 16 miles in just under two weeks).
I recommend this for anyone who is interested in getting in better shape through solid exercise. Go at your own pace, listen to your own music, and enjoy getting some fantastic conditioning. I’m actually planning on running a marathon the first half of 2008, and I never thought I’d do that six months ago. Get out there and run!
Review: Superman Returns
I can’t believe that I’m writing this, but I have to say that I’m severely disappointed.
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Driving: Dallas vs. Chicago
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The Alligator Debacle
...an alligator.
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The Gospel of Judas, Part 1: The Basics
- The document is over 1,700 years old.
- The document is a copy, not an original. The original is thought to date back to the second century.
- The document is likely mentioned in the writings of Irenaeus, an early church father in a text called Against Heresies, authored around the year 180. In the text, Irenaeus speaks out against Gnostics; at one point in his diatribe Irenaeus writes, “They produce a fictitious history of this kind, which they style The Gospel of Judas.”
- The document portrays Judas Iscariot not as the one who betrayed Christ, but as the only disciple who truly understood Jesus’ message. Jesus tells Judas that he will exceed the others because Judas will be the one to help Christ “sacrifice the man that clothes me,” then gives him the command to turn Him over to the Romans.
So what is a Christian believer to do with this new discovery? Well, I suppose we could run for the hills, hole up in caves, sing a rousing chorus of When We All Get to Heaven, and prepare ourselves for the second coming while we avoid the rest of the evil outside world that seeks to destroy everything that we hold dear.
I’d like to think that’s not the best option.
Judas has been a great topic of Christian interest for almost 2,000 years. The man lived and traveled with Jesus just as the other apostles did. And yet, when the time came, he chose to betray the most influential figure to ever walk the face of the earth. That is a fascinating fact to say the least.
Christians have often wondered what would cause Judas to do such a thing. The thought process that must have gone through his mind is something we can only speculate about. And speculate we have. The Gospel of Judas isn’t the only place we find the examination of why or how Judas betrayed the Son of Man:
- Dante’s Inferno portrays Judas as being condemned to the lowest circle of hell where he is punished for all eternity by being chewed in the mouth of a three-headed Satan.
- Jorge Luis Borges’ short story Three Versions of Judas gives several interpretations of Judas’ story, one of which concludes that Judas is the true savior of humanity.
- Edward Elgar’s large-scale musical work, The Apostles, depicts Judas as wanting to force Jesus to declare his divinity and establish the kingdom on earth.
- Several early church fathers and notable theologians, including the aforementioned Irenaeus, Origen, Thomas Aquinas, etc. wrote notably long examinations of Judas.
- The Last Temptation of Christ, an extremely controversial film released in 1988, portrayed Judas in much the same way as The Gospel of Judas. It shows a close follower of Christ who is asked by Jesus to give Him up to the Romans. Judas is tormented about doing this, but ultimately succumbs to his Master’s wishes.
- In the film Dracula 2000, we are told that Dracula is actually Judas Iscariot. After betraying Christ he was damned to roam the earth for all eternity a restless wanderer (this is arguably my weakest source…haha).
The Gospel of Judas, however, is being seen as a very important discovery. National Geographic deemed it, “The most significant ancient, nonbiblical text to be found in the past 60 years,” and several news sources wrote articles giving the impression that this find was incredibly damaging to Christians and Christianity.
This, however, is simply not the case. The Gospel of Judas, properly understood, is an interesting piece of writing that simply has no historical or spiritual value. Though it’s remarkable reading material, one finds its theology and its narrative to be completely out of place when set into a biblical context. Because of this, The Gospel of Judas may be difficult to understand for those unacquainted with the theology and the philosophy behind its words.
To understand the writing we must first understand its authors. The Gospel of Judas was written by a group of Cainite Gnostics who, according to Irenaeus, made a name for themselves by rehabilitating disgraced biblical characters such as Cain, the Sodomites, and of course, Judas.
Check back soon for Part 2 of The Gospel of Judas, where we’ll take a closer look at the Gnostics who wrote this book.
Scuba Away the Troubles
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Worship Wars
The way that we were treated by the church, however, made me wish I had given them the weekend off...
My Love Affair With Apple
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Whirlyball
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Why I'm Glad I Saw Brokeback Mountain
Say what you want about Brokeback Mountain, but there’s no denying that the film has taken the national media and popular culture by storm. The movie has done more to force the homosexual agenda into the national spotlight than any other single issue, policy, or debate in the last ten years. Thursday I sat down for a free screening of the film.
Already there will be some Christians who will be upset with me. “How can you watch that?” “That movie is from the Devil himself!” “A Christian has no business seeing that filth.”
So why do most Christians feel that they shouldn’t see the film? In general I continue to hear two basic reasons:
Many Christians are (understandably) uncomfortable with the subject matter. They believe that homosexuality is sin (a belief that the Bible teaches, and that I whole-heartedly agree with) and they don’t want to see it portrayed in the cinema.
Many Christians don’t want their money to go toward what they perceive as supporting the homosexual agenda (as of the time of this writing, Brokeback had taken in nearly $79 million).
Most Christians have no problem going to see movies that portray violence, divorce, gossip, lying, profanity, drug use, or a host of other things that the Bible teaches against. Even PG and G rated films often portray some of the above. To compound the argument: gossip, divorce, and lying are preached against much more in the Bible than homosexuality is. For most of us to say that we won’t see Brokeback Mountain because of the fact that it portrays sin is hypocritical.
But why should we see the movie? Please don’t misunderstand me; I don’t think every Christian needs to see this film (although I certainly would encourage ministers to). However, I think it helps us in an area that we desperately need help in as a Christian community: coming to a point where we can, at least to some degree, understand and sympathize with homosexuals. And I believe that is the number one reason most Christians don’t want to see this movie: we want nothing to do with the homosexual community, and we certainly don’t want to sympathize with them.
[Warning: Spoilers Ahead]
The film itself is very well made. The acting is superb, and the cinematography of the Wyoming mountains and sky is breathtaking. However, the content is what has made this film so important. It portrays two young cowboys who fall in love with one another over the course of several months while keeping watch over a large flock of sheep.
When the time comes for their job to end, both men part ways, marry women, have children and begin families of their own. Over the next twenty years they see each other when they can, continuing the love affair that began when they were young men.
As a Christian, there is nothing comfortable about this subject matter. However, the film does a remarkable job of showing the pain that their relationship caused them, their wives, and their families. One man ends up divorced while the other is eventually murdered for his sexual persuasion. Unfortunately, the unspoken message that seems to come through is that if only the two men had decided to see each other exclusively from the beginning, no one would have been hurt.
No matter what your opinion on the morality of homosexuality is, this is a sad film. Two women are emotionally scarred for life; another is made to feel like it’s her fault that a serious relationship ended. Heath Ledger’s two daughters are left torn between their mother and father in a difficult divorce situation. Two men that love each other are left heart broken over the way their lives have turned out. If you say you are a kingdom of God person and that you love people, this is a sad story.
Sadder still is the fact that there are homosexuals all over the United States that feel much the same way as these men feel in the movie: sad, beaten down, disappointed. What they don’t need is for the church to come against them in anger and show them their sin while bashing gays and yelling about morality and the sanctity of marriage (more than a few critics of Christianity have noticed that, ironically, the divorce rate is higher among Christians who are screaming about the sanctity of marriage than among unbelievers). What they do need is for the church to show them the love of Jesus Christ and wrap their arms around them. We need to embrace homosexuals, not shun them.
Does that mean that we embrace homosexuality? No—not by any means. Homosexuality is not the problem, though; a fallen world that needs Christ is the problem. Homosexuality is merely one symptom. Once homosexuals or liars or drug addicts or gossipers or pornographers or murderers come to Christ, then they can worry about having Him clean them up and rescue them from their sin.
We all struggle with something whether it is homosexuality or anger or gossip. What I’m desperately tired of seeing the Christian church do is elevate the sins that most of us don’t struggle with (i.e., homosexuality, abortion) above the ones that we do (i.e., divorce, judgmentalism).
What Brokeback Mountain did for me was open my heart a little more to the homosexual community. Though we can’t and shouldn’t try to justify the sin, we should make every effort to love and understand the people. They don’t need an angry mob waving signs (honestly, has that ever worked?). Just like us, they need Jesus Christ to rescue them from a fallen condition.
I’m glad I saw the movie.
Unattractive Christianity
Why is it so difficult for us to go and speak to our brothers and sisters in Christ that we have a problem with? Read More...
Welcome Back; Now Let's Do Something
In the midst of this negativity, I feel like we need to remember that we’re still the church. We are still called to love like Christ at all times and in all places, forsaking selfish ambition and following after Him. We are still called to be a part of the kingdom of God right now, to meet the needs of others right now. The truth is, however, that it’s often much easier to criticize a group, polarize over a theological issue, or take exception with a fellow brother in Christ than it is to take his hand and be the kingdom together.
What we want is one sweeping solution that will easily allow us to be the kingdom. We want a law to be passed that bans homosexuality or abortion. Maybe we want the government to enforce prayer in public schools and the conservation of the phrase “one nation under God” in our national pledge. What we often fail to realize is that our vote on any one of these given issues is not our unique kingdom authority. We can legislate morality to some degree, and we can enforce that legislation by having consequences for lawbreakers. But what we cannot do through laws is share the radiant love of Christ. We cannot reach out to others who desperately need our help and His forgiveness.
There is no one sweeping solution that will allow us to be the kingdom. We must be like Christ every day: meeting the needs of others and proclaiming the kingdom is at hand. It’s not the way I vote; it’s the kindness I showed to that child who desperately needed a friend. It’s not the candidate I support; it’s the love God has given me for that elderly woman in my church that needs someone to pick up groceries for her once a week. It’s not the legislation I endorse; it’s the school that I helped to fix up through hours of hard work because I wanted to show Jesus to our community. These aren’t easy, sweeping solutions. Being the kingdom is hard work and it never ends. But we have to start somewhere.
That is why I am supporting, and hope you will to, the ONE Campaign. Every three seconds a human being dies needlessly of starvation or sickness that could have been treated. Poverty the world over has caused this epidemic, and now there is a group that is speaking up and asking our leaders to do more.
What can you do? The ONE Campaign is not asking for our money, but rather for our voices. I have been a part of this movement for three months now, and it’s as simple as signing up and sending emails to our nation’s leaders, urging them to help those in impoverished nations that cannot help themselves. This is not about a handout; it’s about releasing impoverished countries from debt so that they can use their money to pay for education and medical treatment instead of paying off loans. It’s about giving an individual with aids $6 a month for treatment so that they can live long enough to see their children become adults and instruct them the whole way through.
Movie stars and rock stars are supporting the ONE Campaign. Pat Robertson is supporting the ONE Campaign; so is Michael W. Smith. The Nazarene, Methodist, and Episcopal churches are supporting this potentially world changing campaign. Bill and Melinda Gates (of Microsoft) and Bono (of U2) were recently named Time Magazine’s “People of the Year” for their work with ONE.
It’s time for us to get our priorities straight and be the Kingdom. I heard more complaining about Wal-Mart from Christians over the holidays than I did complaint about the pitiful impoverished state that many of the world’s countries are suffering through right now. We have been given much so that we can bless others with it. Will you join me and Christians all over the planet as we stand with ONE voice and attempt to gain aid for a lost and dying world?
*To sign up for the ONE Campaign or for more information, visit www.ONE.org today.
Texas People and (Semi) Cold Weather
Here in Texas, however, we don’t quite have our cold weather act together. Every time the temperature drops below sixty I see men, women and children bundling up like they’re going out of the atmosphere. Read More...
Failing Starbucks
The Exorcism of Emily Rose
One thing I have always been interested in is the demonology of Hollywood. From The Exorcist to Constantine, and Rosemary’s Baby to Hellraiser it’s interesting to see Hollywood’s take on God’s greatest enemies.
What’s fascinating about The Exorcism of Emily Rose is that it chooses not to go over the top in its portrayal of the possession of a college age girl. There are no images of heads spinning around, crosses being defaced, or projectile vomit that encompasses family members or priests. No, what we are left with is something much more frightening.
We are left with a story that has an heir of truth about it. The movie is loosely based on the true story of a German girl named Anneliese Michel. You can find out more about Anneliese by checking out another story posted on my site here. However, though the story seems to ring more true and touch us at a more human level than The Exorcist, it certainly still has its fair share of Hollywood flare.
The good news is that we don’t have to be internet sleuths and find out just how accurate (or inaccurate) Emily Rose is when compared to true events. Intriguing as the movie is and regardless of how grounded in truth it turns out to be, it is my belief that it raises some questions for the Christian.
It has long been believed by a great many Christians that it is not possible for a Christian to be possessed by a demon. I hold to this belief as well, and the logic goes something like this: to be filled with Christ is to leave no room for demonic habitation. However, the movie begs the question: is it possible that this is merely wishful thinking?
*Warning, spoilers ahead…if you haven’t seen the movie, and don’t want anything to be ruined, cease to read immediately!
Emily Rose’s priest ends the movie by reading a letter to the jury that Emily wrote shortly after a dramatic exorcism attempt on the day after Halloween. Emily explains to him that after the failed attempt she fell asleep, only to be awakened a few hours later by someone calling her name. She leaves the house and walks toward a field, where she falls to the ground. Moments later, she has an out-of-body experience where she is greeted by the Virgin Mary and told that God sees her anguish and is offering to take her home to be with Him immediately.
However, the Virgin Mary tells Emily, if you choose to stay you will face great torment; but many people will hear of your struggle and will come to realize that there is a God by their knowledge that you fought with the Devil.
Obviously this scene is very Catholic in nature; obviously this entire encounter and conversation with Mary was scripted for a Hollywood movie and not taken from the life of Anneliese Michel. But just because this is a fictional story does not diminish the question: Is it possible for there to ever exist a circumstance that would require God to allow one of His children to withstand the horrors of possession in order for Him to further His purposes and propagate His glory on Earth?
It’s hard not to ask the question in light of our study of the book of Job. Job underwent so much torment; but what we ultimately find is that this torment was not for the purpose of testing Job, but for advancing the kingdom of light against the accusatory kingdom of darkness.
I continue to stand firmly in the camp that a Christ follower cannot be possessed by a demon. However, I would love to hear from others who feel that under certain circumstances, or in particular crises of spiritual warfare, there may very well be room for God’s allowing of the righteous to be turned over to the enemy in body alone.
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” -1 John 4:4
For further reading on this topic, feel free to check out the appendix of the fabulous book Across the Spectrum. It can be viewed in PDF form here.
Steelers Pull Through; Crain Has Heart Attack
Then, the unthinkable happened: Bettis, owner of some of the best hands in the NFL, fumbled the ball.
Seconds earlier I had been jumping up and down with elation, proclaiming the Steelers greatness to all four walls of my deserted living room. Now I sat on the couch, mouth agape, as I looked on in anticipation to see Ben Roethlisberger make an amazing tackle in the open field to save the Steelers’ season.
Now it’s on to the AFC Championship. My only request is that it be just a little less intense; I don’t know if my heart can take two games in a row of that. After it was over, I felt like I had just played in the game instead of sitting on the couch and participating in the rigorous exercise of adjusting the volume on the remote.
on the side...
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