Sunday, November 23, 2008
Occasional Updates
Please note that I occasionally update my blog posts below the original entries. Therefore, if you want to, you can scroll back and sometimes find updates.
Value in Fiction
Last week at church, the speaker told a heart-wrenching 9/11 story. Some of the college students in the congregation looked up the story on the internet and found out it was actually an urban legend. Today, our pastor used this example to emphasize the importance of distinguishing truth and lies.
As he preached today, I thought about the story. It was indeed a moving story, but the "facts" were not facts at all. However, the lesson behind the story did not lose its value because the story was fiction. After all, don't we read fables, fairy tales and parables? Although they are works of fiction, they have true lessons to be applied in our real lives.
Therefore, I think it would be unwise for us to throw the baby out with the bath water anytime we realize that someone has told us something false (whether intentionally or unintentionally). Instead, we should determine whether or not there is any lesson we can learn from it. Then, we can discard the untruth, but we can still learn.
In no way am I condoning lies or the intentional retelling of urban legends, but I believe that if we completely throw away the morals/lessons along with the untruths we hear, we lose out on the opportunity God gives us to become better people.
As he preached today, I thought about the story. It was indeed a moving story, but the "facts" were not facts at all. However, the lesson behind the story did not lose its value because the story was fiction. After all, don't we read fables, fairy tales and parables? Although they are works of fiction, they have true lessons to be applied in our real lives.
Therefore, I think it would be unwise for us to throw the baby out with the bath water anytime we realize that someone has told us something false (whether intentionally or unintentionally). Instead, we should determine whether or not there is any lesson we can learn from it. Then, we can discard the untruth, but we can still learn.
In no way am I condoning lies or the intentional retelling of urban legends, but I believe that if we completely throw away the morals/lessons along with the untruths we hear, we lose out on the opportunity God gives us to become better people.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Vote for the Cutest Baby!
This is a plea for everyone to vote for my friend's baby as Calgary's Cutest Baby. Please!!!!! I can't reveal his name (for privacy purposes), but he is soooo cute.
- Go on this site: http://vibemorningshow.com/gallery.html?page=36#thumb
- Vote for #1815. He is the baby with Curious George, the monkey next to him. (Please note that the number might change, though.)
- You can vote once per day on each IP Address until November 20th.
Updated on November 23, 2008: He didn't win.
Monday, November 10, 2008
What are the Chances?!?!
Back in May 2007, I wrote an entry entitled What are the Chances?!?! It was a story about a weird coincidence. I think I will call these "WATCh" stories. You've already read WATCh #1. Here are #2 and #3.
WATCh #2
A few weeks ago I went to a local dollar store by my home to buy toothpicks for baking. I hate walking into dollar stores when I'm specifically looking for one thing. The aisles are narrow and and cluttered with loads of knick-knacks. It's hard to find anything because of all the sensory overload. It's not uncommon to walk out buying a load of things, but not what you went there to buy in the first place.
Anyway, I mentally prepared myself this time. I just kept repeating "toothpicks, toothpicks, toothpicks" in my head. When I started heading down the aisle of kitchen stuff, there was a girl standing there holding a load of things—everything from gift bags to an ice cream scooper. She looked like she had been in the store for at least an hour. So, my theory was that if she had been in there long enough to pick out so many items, she may have come across the toothpicks at some point in time.
So, I kindly asked her if she had seen the toothpicks by any chance. She started laughing and said that she had walked into the store intending to buy toothpicks too, but ended up picking up all this other stuff, and that she had not seen the toothpicks at all. (She evidently did not mentally prepare herself like I did.) We both then started looking for the toothpicks. What are the chances that we would both be looking for toothpicks?!?!
Lo, and behold, she found the toothpicks!
Unfortunately, though, there was only one container. I thought to myself, "What are the chances that there would only be one container of toothpicks when there are two of us looking for them?!?!" But then, I realized that she must not need all 200 toothpicks that were in the container, so I asked to buy just 10 of them from her. She kindly refused my money and gave me some of the toothpicks. She gave me 27 of them.
WATCh #3
I had a research paper due at noon today. The professor wanted the paper emailed to him. I woke up very early this morning to work on it. At 11:45AM, I finally conceded and decided to email it to him. I logged online and upload the document onto Gmail.
Just as I was about click on "Send," the electricity went out. What are the chances?!?! Since I use the wi-fi from my landlords, no electricity equals no internet access. Unlike most Vancouver days, there was no rain or storm outside, so I thought the electricity would be back on at anytime. I waited patiently.
Finally at 11:55AM, I realized that I could wait no longer. I quickly threw on some street clothes (which is no easy task in a dark basement). I practically ran to the nearest coffee shop, but there was no electricity there either. By this time, it was well past noon. Since I was out of the house and my paper was already late, I decided to just head to school and send it there. As I was waiting for the bus, I realized that the bakery by the bus stop had free wi-fi and it was actually working.
So, I finally emailed my paper in at 12:52PM. Now, it's just a waiting game to see if my professor deducts any point for my tardiness. I explained why it was late in an email, but if I were him, I'm not sure I would believe it. What are the chances?!?!
WATCh #2A few weeks ago I went to a local dollar store by my home to buy toothpicks for baking. I hate walking into dollar stores when I'm specifically looking for one thing. The aisles are narrow and and cluttered with loads of knick-knacks. It's hard to find anything because of all the sensory overload. It's not uncommon to walk out buying a load of things, but not what you went there to buy in the first place.
Anyway, I mentally prepared myself this time. I just kept repeating "toothpicks, toothpicks, toothpicks" in my head. When I started heading down the aisle of kitchen stuff, there was a girl standing there holding a load of things—everything from gift bags to an ice cream scooper. She looked like she had been in the store for at least an hour. So, my theory was that if she had been in there long enough to pick out so many items, she may have come across the toothpicks at some point in time.
So, I kindly asked her if she had seen the toothpicks by any chance. She started laughing and said that she had walked into the store intending to buy toothpicks too, but ended up picking up all this other stuff, and that she had not seen the toothpicks at all. (She evidently did not mentally prepare herself like I did.) We both then started looking for the toothpicks. What are the chances that we would both be looking for toothpicks?!?!
Lo, and behold, she found the toothpicks!
Unfortunately, though, there was only one container. I thought to myself, "What are the chances that there would only be one container of toothpicks when there are two of us looking for them?!?!" But then, I realized that she must not need all 200 toothpicks that were in the container, so I asked to buy just 10 of them from her. She kindly refused my money and gave me some of the toothpicks. She gave me 27 of them.
WATCh #3I had a research paper due at noon today. The professor wanted the paper emailed to him. I woke up very early this morning to work on it. At 11:45AM, I finally conceded and decided to email it to him. I logged online and upload the document onto Gmail.
Just as I was about click on "Send," the electricity went out. What are the chances?!?! Since I use the wi-fi from my landlords, no electricity equals no internet access. Unlike most Vancouver days, there was no rain or storm outside, so I thought the electricity would be back on at anytime. I waited patiently.
Finally at 11:55AM, I realized that I could wait no longer. I quickly threw on some street clothes (which is no easy task in a dark basement). I practically ran to the nearest coffee shop, but there was no electricity there either. By this time, it was well past noon. Since I was out of the house and my paper was already late, I decided to just head to school and send it there. As I was waiting for the bus, I realized that the bakery by the bus stop had free wi-fi and it was actually working.
So, I finally emailed my paper in at 12:52PM. Now, it's just a waiting game to see if my professor deducts any point for my tardiness. I explained why it was late in an email, but if I were him, I'm not sure I would believe it. What are the chances?!?!
Added on Monday, November 18, 2008: No penalty! Praise God.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Rights, Privileges, Religion, Morality
See this article... it really struck me. As an event planner, am I allowed to refuse services for same-sex celebrations?
Gay Rights, Religious Liberties: A Three-Act Story
Gay Rights, Religious Liberties: A Three-Act Story
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
Now What?
After much thinking and worrisome thoughts, I decided to post a "Yes on Prop 8" video on this blog and on Facebook®. Although I did not receive any comments on this blog posting, I did receive several comments on Facebook®. Some comments affirmed my position, and some did not. There were also messages and a friend's posting on her own page that basically put down my position.
Although it was by a VERY narrow margin, Proposition 8 passed. Unless overturned by judges, California's state constitution will define marriage as only between a man and a woman. This is a bittersweet victory.
On the one hand, I am definitely glad that the majority of voters still adhere to the traditional definition of marriage. But it is sad that it is only be such a small margin—52% vs. 48% as of this posting.
The saddest thing, however, is that many Christians who pushed hardest for this proposition may now just sit back and enjoy the victory. However, it is my humble opinion that the hardest work should be taking place now. Many people, especially homosexual people, are feeling hurt and judged at this time. How do we, as Christians, express to others that they are very much loved?
How do we make church a welcoming place for them to fellowship—accepting them without endorsing their lifestyle? After all, if we limit church only to those without brokenness (especially sexual brokenness), most of us would not be allowed to step foot into a church building.
As hard as some church members pushed others to vote for Proposition 8, I pray that those same active church members will rally to strategically and lovingly show the public that Christians are not just an exclusive "holy huddle," but are people who believe in the example of Jesus Christ and will fellowship with those who are different from us. We are not better than the rest of God's created people. We just have been privileged to know Him... and don't we want others to know Him as well? If we stay within ourselves and just judge others, we're doing something very wrong.
May this loving of people who are different and think differently from us not only be an individual choice, but the choice of the entire church. May key leaders (lay and pastoral) step up in love and not cower for fear that other congregants will disagree.
Although it was by a VERY narrow margin, Proposition 8 passed. Unless overturned by judges, California's state constitution will define marriage as only between a man and a woman. This is a bittersweet victory.
On the one hand, I am definitely glad that the majority of voters still adhere to the traditional definition of marriage. But it is sad that it is only be such a small margin—52% vs. 48% as of this posting.
The saddest thing, however, is that many Christians who pushed hardest for this proposition may now just sit back and enjoy the victory. However, it is my humble opinion that the hardest work should be taking place now. Many people, especially homosexual people, are feeling hurt and judged at this time. How do we, as Christians, express to others that they are very much loved?
How do we make church a welcoming place for them to fellowship—accepting them without endorsing their lifestyle? After all, if we limit church only to those without brokenness (especially sexual brokenness), most of us would not be allowed to step foot into a church building.
As hard as some church members pushed others to vote for Proposition 8, I pray that those same active church members will rally to strategically and lovingly show the public that Christians are not just an exclusive "holy huddle," but are people who believe in the example of Jesus Christ and will fellowship with those who are different from us. We are not better than the rest of God's created people. We just have been privileged to know Him... and don't we want others to know Him as well? If we stay within ourselves and just judge others, we're doing something very wrong.
May this loving of people who are different and think differently from us not only be an individual choice, but the choice of the entire church. May key leaders (lay and pastoral) step up in love and not cower for fear that other congregants will disagree.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
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