The Cost of Convenience

Posted on July 25, 2006 by me

We, especially those of us in the good ol’ U S of A, love convenience. We’ve been raised believing that convenience is the sign of world domination. As long as we can get ours, fast (and at a reasonable cost), we’re leading the world. After all, it’s important that we get what we need, whether gas, breakfast-in-a-bag, or our drive-through venti iced soy mocha. That’s how I know we’re winning the war on terror.

Speaking of convenience and coffee, last night I ran a quick errand to our local Target, with the convenient Starbucks just inside the door. I needed some coffee beans, and rather than having to drive a couple of miles out of my way to go to my regular dealer, here was one right in front of me as I came through the check-out!

So, I drifted over to the bean display, and was glad to find the variety I was looking for. I took my selections to the girl at the counter, told her how I wanted them ground (ok, so I’m really lazy), and then I realized the true cost of convenience. These pocket-sized Starbucks, as convenient as they may be, are no substitue for a real, full-sized store. If anything, they are Starbucks “light.”

On one other occasion I had dared purchase a bag of beans at this particular store, and as is my usual habit, requested the beans be ground for a paper cone filter. I’ve done it for years. The girl replied, “what’s that?” I knew I was in for trouble, and I was right.

So, I should have known better, but again, this was convenient. Besides, I had carefully examined the machines at the other Starbucks, and now knew which setting I wanted the beans ground on. So, I walked up to the counter with self-assurance and made my request, only to discover that these mini-stores don’t have the same grinders! Ooops.

Convenience has its costs. You can’t always get what you want. There is no free lunch. And, you can’t get a properly ground bag of coffee at a mini-Starbucks. I think at some point the Starbucks Corp. will have to realize that these “express” are a corporate irresponsibility, and it will cost them… unless, they know the real truth: that their coffee contains a secret addictive ingredient, and they’re assured that you have to have their coffee, no matter how badly the beans are ground.

So, count the cost of convenience. I am, as I sit here typing, drinking my morning coffee made from poorly-ground Sumatra beans. But, I have to go now; my cup is empty.

Posted in Random Thoughts | 2 Comments

Remember Amalek

Posted on July 20, 2006 by me

Over the past couple of years I have read a few things by Jewish authors, both fact and fiction, and have found them fascinating. As Christians, we seem to forget that Jewish theologians and philosophers have something to say about God; after all, they’ve worshipped Him for a few thousand years more than our own traditions have. Certainly we believe they have misinterpreted some things, especially concerning the Messiah. However, they still have some important thoughts about God and how He relates to the world, things that could possibly enhance our own understanding of God. (I particularly find Jewish perspectives on science and God interesting.)

Rabbi Marc Gellman has a lot of things to say, as those of you who are familiar with him know. Yesterday’s article, Remember Amalek – What the Bible says about fighting terrorism, was outstanding (in my not-so-humble opinion). It’s so good, I’ll shut up now and just let you go read it.

Posted in Politics/Current Events | 2 Comments

Authority issues, revisited

Posted on July 19, 2006 by me

Suppose, for the sake of argument, that most Evangelical pastors accept the authority of the Bible, however they would interpret that phrase. Most will probably say, at the very least, that the Bible is the Word of God, inspired by the Holy Spirit. Suppose then, that it is their job to teach/preach/sermonize on Sunday mornings and at other times during the week.

Given these suppositions, wouldn’t you then conclude that these Evangelical pastors carefully examine the passages they reference in their sermons, checking their interpretations against the remainder of the Bible (I am also assuming they believe no one passage is more inspired than another)? Wouldn’t you also conclude that these pastors & teachers operate in “fear and trembling” lest they misrepresent the Word of God?

You’d think so, wouldn’t you? James even says, “Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.” However, I doubt very much that this is the case. All you have to do is listen to about 10 minutes of “Christian” broadcasting (radio, TV or the internet) to conclude that they must rank their own authority, or the authority of their own “revelations” above the authority of the Bible.

Here’s the deal: if pastors would take the authority of the Bible seriously, they’d probably have to spend about 10 times as long on sermon prep, and, they’d run the risk of finding Scripture that pulls the rug out from under their main point. Trust me, I know from experience. There’s nothing worse than having a great point, then running into a passage that argues against it, especially if you’ve just invested a few hours of study time. Plus, it could mean rethinking your entire approach, which could really be costly.

The authority of Scripture is dangerous, as the author of Hebrews warns: “For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” (Hebrews 4:12) It’s not only sharp on the leading edge, but you’ve also got a heck of a sharp edge pointing back at you.

I think it’s interesting that the more traditional churches, who devote more time reverently reading scripture as a part of worship also traditionally have the shortest sermons. It makes me wonder who it is who really believes in the authority of the Bible …

(For more thoughts on this subject, check out an old article of mine, Spinning the Word.)

Posted in Church, My Own Personal Religion | 1 Comment

Everything falls apart

Posted on July 18, 2006 by me

This morning in the shower I found myself thinking about redemption and about how when God says,

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways.
As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8,9)

He is talking about His plan for the redemption of all creation. The world doesn’t get it at all, and often neither do “the redeemed.” God’s plan is absolutely counterintuitive to our human, fallen nature.

As I thought in the shower (I don’t sing, I just think), my mental search utility dug up the lyrics to a song by Peter Stuart (aka Dog’s Eye View), Everything Falls Apart. It’s a humorous commentary on human nature and our fallen view of God:

I met God this afternoon ridin’ on an uptown train
I said, “Don’t you have better things to do?”
He said, “If I do my job what would you complain about?
So I let it go to Hell, now I’ll have something to do.
He said, “I’ll let it go to hell; does that sound familiar to you?”

Well everything falls apart
then I get to try to put it back together …

It’s interesting that one of the results of sin is now known as the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics (not entirely accurately understood as, “everything falls apart”). Our human nature desires to “fix” what is broken and falling apart, and to project onto our imaginary view of God that same imperative. Then, we get frustrated and disappointed and angry with God because he doesn’t “fix” things. Right?

God is not a “fixer.” If so, he could have dealt with the whole sin thing in the Garden. But, God is not a fixer, he’s a redeemer, and we don’t really get it. Neither do the angels, for that matter. We know that the death and resurrection of Jesus is at the very center of the plan, but we’ve only seen part of it; we don’t know yet how it will all shake out (regardless of “Left Behind”). As a result, we’ve developed a concept of redemption that is awfully close to the definition for “fix.”

So, we don’t get it. We still expect God to fix things according to our sense what is right, and when things continue to fall apart, we blame God and “lose faith.” But, we can’t really lose what we don’t have…

Is it “blind faith” to believe in this mysterious promise of redemption? Not at all; there are signs of redemption all around us, if we’d only take note. But, to do that, we have to first set aside our “guidelines for being God” and see what God himself would say. Perhaps instead of (or perhaps, along with) praying, “God, fix this…” our prayer should be, “show me your redemption.”

The coming of the Kingdom, as demonstrated by Jesus in the Gospels, reveals itself in little ways of redemption that do include “fixing” some things. People are sometimes healed, relationships are restored, and so on. However, we are promised that wars, natural disasters, and poverty will continue until that time that redemption is fully revealed. Things still break, restored relationships are still subject to damage, and people still get sick and die. It would seem that a “fix” is no substitute for redemption.

One thing we know: some day, all creation will be redeemed – until then, things continue to fall apart. A mystery, indeed.

Posted in Random Thoughts, Spiritual stuff | 1 Comment