Money, Athletics and Jobs
Ok as many of you know, I'm a huge fan of Arkansas State University football. What you also might not know is that I'm also a Saint Louis Cardinals fan. Recently both programs had some personell decisions to make.
Saint Louis was working on a contract with Albert Pujols, who is arguably the best player in all of baseball. Pujols has been with the Cardinals for the entirety of his professional baseball career. In 2000 he was in the Cardinals farm system and in 2001 he began starting for the major league team. In negotiations, Albert was looking for a 10-year contract in the range of $19 to $20 million per year. Through the mess of it all, the Cardinals made a final offer of around $200 million over 10 years only to be surpassed by an offer from the Los Angeles Angels for around $250 million over 10 years. Albert ends up signing an agreement with the Angels and leaves the team he has been with for 10 years.
Arkansas State was looking for a new head coach after the previous coach left for a job at the University of Mississippi. There was an intense search, but one night the athletic director, Dean Lee, received a call from Gus Malzahn. Malzahn was the offensive coordinator for Auburn University. The previous year, Auburn had won the National Championship in college football and their quarterback, Cam Newton, had won the Heisman Trophey. Gus was one of the most desired applicants for any open coaching position. It was reported that he turned down a head coaching job offer at Vanderbilt for $3 million per year in late 2010. He could have had most any job with just a phone call, and that phone call was to Dean Lee. It was reported that Malzahn was making approximately $1.1 million at Auburn and was the highest paid coordinator in all of college football. He would sign a contract to become the head coach of Arkansas State University for a base salary of $156,000 plus a series of perks that would be estimated to an annual salary of $750,000 to $800,000 per year.
Now I'm not sure of all the details surrounding the separate deals, but in my mind I see two examples of responses to money that are opposed. One in which money was given priority and one wasn't. Now there's a lot to be said about that, but I would just encourage everyone not to let money be your ultimate reason for making a decision. I've worked for three different companies since I've graduated and I can tell you that money and joy do not correlate.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I'll admit I'm one that has never appreciated Thanksgiving on a very deep level. Sure, I'm thankful for the people in my life, the opportunities and advantages I've had, my wife and family, dogs, ninja skills, etc. BUT... Shouldn't I always be thankful for those things? Being thankful one day a year isn't enough for all the blessings I've been given, right? Thanking God is kind of one of the things people of faith are supposed to do. Or, at least there are enough references in the Bible to lead one to that conclusion. So what's the big deal with having a holiday?
Don't get me wrong, I love Thanksgiving. I love just about everything about it- food, family, football (preferably of the Hog variety), and kitchy videos like the one below. Its probably my favorite holiday next to Christmas. However, what if we could make the holiday something more. What if we used Thanksgiving and the time surrounding it as an opportunity to give someone else something to be thankful for?
Kid’s Shows
Ok let me preface this post by saying it really has little to nothing to do with REstore. Ready? Ok.
I'm a weirdo that likes to watch children's shows. And the way I watch them is a little different than the way I would watch Monday Night Football or CSI. I study them and try and figure out what the show is trying to teach the kids and how the show is trying to teach them. I especially like shows that are bright and colorful. Example: Yo Gabba Gabba
Now I'm not sure what the ultimate lesson is here, but I know there are a lot of bright colors and there is dancing. I think maybe it's just enforcing the importance of moving.
It kind of reminds me of Rent. In rent there are 8 main characters. Four are girls. Four are boys. Four are white. Four are black. Four are gay. Four are straight.
It's like we're all different, but we're all the same.
Check out the Wiggles. They're similar, but they have the weirdo who is Captain Feathersword.
Can't forget the Teletubbies.
Here's a "Christian" kid's show, the Flizbins. Lots of autotune here.
No lesson or deep thoughts, just bright colors.
Let it all out
So this "Holy Conversation" series has really resonated with me, especially with my current season of life.
Like so many stories and testimonies we have heard these last couple of weeks, I too come from a heritage of Christ-following. I can remember being 3 years old and hearing my grandmother singing hymns while hand washing dishes. I can still feel her sweet and pleasant spirit and recall her daily quiet times that seemed to go on for hours. I grew up in a family that loves the Lord. My parents were ever faithful to take me to church, honored God in their discipline and made me feel so loved. I walked the aisle/prayed the prayer at age 8 at church camp and was baptized the next year. It was all so natural (and boring!) Those first steps as a Christian were nothing in comparison to what I have experienced in my entire life as a Christ-follower, specifically in the last year.
Some of you know that I am struggling with some unexplained fertility issues. Another part of my life that you probably don't know is that so far, I've been pretty spoiled. I had no real difficulty landing a (handsome, intelligent, and strong )husband, getting my credentials, and becoming gainfully employed all before turning 25. And all those things are blessings that I am so thankful for. But attaining those goals gave me a false sense of security and personal strength. I had become self-reliant. I could do anything I wanted! After graduate school we finally decided we were ready to move from training wheels (dogs) to the real deal (a baby!). Within the first month of trying, we got a positive pregnancy test! I couldn't believe it! I had done it again! I was so crafty that I made a person! Three days and a negative test later, I miscarried. I was devastated. I had an impending feeling of "This is it. This is going to be my testimony."
For the next several months we kept trying, hoping, praying with no results. I was so hurt and confused. I kept this secret of miscarriage and our trials all to myself. And it festered. The ugly cycle of hope and sadness, hope and sadness with no one to share it with. I decided to start telling people about our recent struggles and when I did it was like weights were being lifted, one by one off of my heavy heart. The process of trying unsuccessfully was still hard, but I knew that my family and friends supported me and it made me feel comfort.
So, we're still not pregnant, and that's okay. It's still hard and I'm not always positive. However, God has shown me so much grace and has fostered a reliance on Him that I would not have if I hadn't gone through this trial. I know he is faithful and feel Him working in my life. I tell you all this for two reasons:
1) I am a full believer that your testimony is ongoing. Now that I am going through this difficult time in my life, I can testify to God's goodness in the midst of my pain. My faith is strengthened knowing that if God can see me through this, then he will help me with even greater trials that are yet to come. God continues to move in all of our lives and will until we see Him again.
2)If you are going through a hard time, I know that it is easy to want to hold it inside and not let anyone know that you have a problem. But it hinders your healing. I pray that you allow others to share in your burden and God's community of faith to reach out to you and make you feel loved. It has healing powers-no lie!
This has been my anthem for the last year. Give it a listen.
"You say, "I know that this will hurt. But if I don't break your heart, then things will just get worse. When the burden seems too much to bear, remember, the end will justify the pain it took to get us there."
1 Peter 5:6-10
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 7Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 11 To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
Don’t Question the Church
I was having a good discussion with a friend/ co-worker the other day about different ways to approach belief and faith. One of the things that I was talking about was the importance of questioning my belief set on a regular basis. I'm almost constantly living in a state of semi-doubt. I know this may seem heretical to say this, but I think honest and openness are important too.
Anyway I guess the thing I wanted to say was I'm really glad to be going to a church like Second Baptist that encourages and welcomes questions. We/ I don't proclaim to have all the answers, but we/ I want to be apart of the journey of life with others. And the one thing I can't get past is that the teachings of Christ seem to be the best way that I've found to the best life. That is a pretty loaded statement that is influenced by a lot of aspects of the life I've lived, but I suppose that's something I can probably talk about better than typing out quickly. :)
Anyway, just something to think about. I encourage you to question everything so you can have a good foundation for your life. If you're in a situation/ group where questioning isn't welcome, question that. :) And if you want to be apart of this life journey with me, I want to be apart of it with you too.
Best,
JEE
Faith, Poverty, Government & Taxes
I had my first opportunity to make it to one of Sweet Justice presentations running this summer at 2BC. Wednesday night featured Ray Higgins (a familiar face) and Victor Claar, an economics prof from Henderson State. Dr. Claar is author of "Economics in Christian Perspective: Theory, Policy and Life Choices" and a noted advocate of the free market.
It was a good civil discussion on the poor and taxes and where government and the Church fit in there. Although, I don't think we really answered any questions, we certainly raised plenty. What role does the big C Church have in helping the poor? Is it living up to that role? Where does government fit in the equation? How does free market ideology fit in the sphere of Christianity? I certainly can't pretend to have any good answers. What do you think?
Lovin' them Free Markets and Jesus
Read this.
http://rachelheldevans.com/overcorrecting
Last night for Dad's Day, I fulfilled a simple request from my dad to attend an event at the church I grew up in-the one my parents still attend. I wasn't happy about it. I don't always agree with their theology. I am uncomfortable with their all male leadership. I often become frustrated wtih a place that doesn't seem to have changed much from the way it was when I was a kid. Simply the idea of smiling at 200 people I would need to make small talk with was exhausting. But my dad doesn't ask very much of me, so I went.
I'm a jerk.
There were some amazing people there. The woman who led my Sunday School class when I was in the 4th grade. Families who watched me grow into my own person across a the last decade or so. People who have cared for and loved me through various stages of my life. Some of them wouldn't agree on exactly where I've landed in my faith. Some of them might have problems with my language or love of mojitos.
But who cares!?!?
In my haste to figure things out, reform my faith and make sure I wasn't one of "them," I've discounted their positive impact. They taught me things and helped shape who I am today. I think I've been in danger of "overcorrecting" as Evans puts it in her post. The solution-slow down, listen more, and speak less. I often laugh at the "younger" version of me that thought I knew so much more than my parents. Now, almost 30, I have so much respect for what they know, the choices they've made and what they've overcome. I'm still working through this when it comes to applying this lesson to my faith tradition but last night was a reminder that there is still much to respect and learn from them- even if we don't quite agree on mojitos.
"Those of us whose faith journeys have taken us from one tradition to another often struggle with overcorrecting. We can get so focused on what we don’t want to be that we lose track of who we do want to be. We rebel like angsty teenagers against anything that resembles our parents, our background or, worst of all, our old selves. And if we’re not careful, we’ll throw the best of these traditions out with the worst."
Women’s Struggles
If you know much about my TV watching habits or my DVR recording schedule, you can quickly learn that I'm a fan of 60 minutes. A few weeks ago Lara Logan "broke her silence" on the program regarding the sexual assault she suffered while reporting from Egypt in the midst of their revolution. It's description that is graphic, but not gratuitous. She describes Tahrir Square in Eqypt when the camera battery dies in the midst of reporting. A few moments later, a crowd of men grab for her and eventually pull her from her security detail. She describes how she was assaulted, exposed, photographed and eventually saved. She describes how she thought of her children and family. She describes how she lost any sense of pride as she was violated. It was a very eye opening tale and just informed me to the thoughts and terrible experience this must have been.
I by no means profess to know what it's like to be a woman. I was born a man through no choice of my own. As a man I am sympathetic to the plight of women, but can by no means fully understand their experiences. However, Lara Logan's description of her experience helped me understand a little more what it may be like to live as a woman. I don't think that Lara Logan's specific experience is a common happening for Americans. I believe sexual assault happens but not in the specific way Lara dealt with it. But it makes me more aware of this issue.
I have no new conclusions, but rather questions and thoughts to ponder.
- Why didn't more people stand up for Lara?
- What would cause a group of what would otherwise seemingly be normal men to attack a vulnerable woman?
- Do women in America and the world have to be on guard 24/7?
- What is my role as a man? Do I protect and defend? Is that chauvinistic?
I hope this makes you think more either as a woman or how to treat women. I hope this is eye opening. I hope we can all learn and sympathize. I hope we can put an end to discrimination and sexual abuses.
The Dilemma
Ironically, many times as Christians, we find ourselves avoiding judgment on the hardest and most divisive moral decisions. It could be in a spirit of unity or maybe a result of the "absolute" stance many take on claiming the only moral compass. Essentially if the wrong decision is made that must mean the compass is off and therefore the faith is wrong. I would say that the reading of the compass was done poorly, but that's another blog post.
One of the biggest moral quandaries that I often hear posed is "Given the opportunity, would you kill Hitler (or you could insert an villain here)?"
A simple math equation seems to be justifiable logic.
Trade one life to save thousands of others. So kill him.
Another way of looking at it is that we have essentially given up on a person.
This person (Hitler or whoever) cannot turn their life around so for the benefit of the world, we'll end their life.
Of course there is the judgment and justice aspect of it too.
Hitler was responsible for the death of millions so he gets what's coming. He dies.
Then there's honoring life.
As terrible of a person as Hitler is, he's still God's creation. We let him live.
The idea of repentance comes in.
Hitler has free will to choose God. If we kill him before he chooses we're playing God.
I'm sure there are millions of other justifications for such an action.
This is a hard question.
We find ourselves giving differing importance to certain moral values. We honor all life and all creation. We honor repentance and free will (well at least this Christian believes in free will). And we honor God's authority of judgment.
May 1, 2011
I came home late to see that President Obama was to give an announcement to the world about the death of Osama bin Laden. It was a pretty crazy time for me on a moral and intellectual level. I'm not afraid to admit that I prayed for Osama and the world to find peace a few times. But I'm not saying I considered him a friend or empathized too much. But just from my experiences as a person, I know that no one person is all bad and no one person is all good. However when the death was announced, I must admit I had a sense of excitement mixed with relief. It was a pretty confusing time for me. Probably because I don't think I've resolved for myself whether or not I would or even could pull the trigger and be at peace with my fellow man and with God.
I'm not bashing the Navy Seal that did pull the trigger. I'm not bashing Obama for making the decision. I'm just stating that it's a complicated decision for me. It's hard to see how death breeds peace. But it's also hard to live out a life that is apathetic to mass murder.
I've read a few blogs and that gave opinions one way or the other from a Christian perspective. So I guess that displays the turmoil that surrounds this issue.
Here are some things that I would say that this issue has taught me fairly conclusively.
- If you're absolutely sure about your stance on this issue, good for you. But if you can't see how other people are confused or don't share your view, then you should evaluate that.
- I'm not God. I'm not bin Laden. I'm not President Obama. I have a hard time casting judgment on someone's motives or actions. But I know we can't live in a world without consequence.
- I'm glad to exist in a community that doesn't condemn or condone, but rather offers guidance. If you polled most of the folks that I go to church (Second Baptist) with you would undoubtedly see our diversity responses to the decision. But you probably wouldn't see too much condemnation of differing opinions. Rather you'd see guidance toward Christ-like-ness (that's a nice made up word).
- I think we honor the struggle that we have as humans in resolving these issues. Sometimes the good stuff isn’t the answer, it’s the struggle. Don’t short cut to the answer, honor the struggle.
So I hope this post provokes thought and not judgment. I hope you can seek to see things in the shoes of other people. I hope you can learn to challenge yourself in new ways. And I hope we can find some peace so we have fewer decisions that involve mortal consequences.
A random fact or two…
It is May 5th, 2011 and I am already tired of all the speculation concerning the 2012 Presidential election. However, being the data-nerd that I am I find the research leading up to the election fascinating.
The most interesting thing I've read in awhile comes out the Pew Research Center. They conducted massive surveys of over 3,000 people and used the information to develop a political typology report. They asked questions about government performance, religion, business, foreign policy, race and many other subjects.
Using all this data they determined there were 9 distinct political groups in American 2011: staunch conservatives, main street republicans, libertarians, disaffecteds, post-moderns, new coalition democrats, hard-pressed democrats, solid liberals and bystanders. They even developed a short quiz so you can see which group you most align with.
I love the random tidbits of data.
- 2 out of 10 of solid liberals watch The Daily Show on a regular basis.
- Libertarians have a low church attendance rates.
- 57% of staunch republicans own guns.
- 63% of post-moderns use social-networking
Take the quiz yourself!